Device for wirelessly charging electric vehicle during driving

Abstract

A device for wirelessly charging an electric vehicle during driving, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a battery; a motor; a DC / DC converter including at least one switch, and converting, into DC power, DC power supplied from the outside of an electric vehicle; an inverter including at least one switch, and supplying power to the motor; and a controller, wherein the controller can control the at least one switch included in the inverter and the at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter according to whether the electric vehicle receives the power from the outside during driving.

Description

A device that performs wireless charging of an electric vehicle while it is in motion

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle, and more specifically, to a device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle through switching control.

[0002] A power supply system (or wireless charging system) for an electric vehicle includes a power supply unit, a grounding assembly, and a vehicle assembly. Electric vehicles can be charged by receiving power while parked or stopped, and can also receive power while in motion. When charging while parked or stopped, a static wireless power transfer method can be used, while when charging while in motion, a dynamic wireless power transfer method can be used.

[0003] In static wireless power transfer (SWT), a ground assembly is placed on the parking lot floor, and the vehicle assembly attached to the electric vehicle allows the battery in the electric vehicle to be charged while the vehicle is parked or stopped. In SWT, wireless charging systems typically control the wireless charging of one electric vehicle at a time, allowing for relatively long charging times.

[0004] In dynamic wireless power transfer (DWT), the ground assembly is placed on the road, and can be charged while in motion via the vehicle assembly placed on the electric vehicle. In DWT, the wireless charging system may need to simultaneously control the wireless charging of multiple electric vehicles on the road, and may need to control the charging of electric vehicles for relatively short periods of time while they are in motion.

[0005] Meanwhile, it's important to distinguish between electric vehicles and other vehicles because, unlike when parked or stopped, they don't receive constant power while in motion. While in motion, electric vehicles must power the motor, and may also supply or drain power from the battery. This requires switching within the vehicle's internal components. Switching can result in significant power loss, potentially generating electromagnetic interference, and shortening the lifespan of switching elements.

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a device for performing wireless charging of an electric vehicle while it is in motion.

[0007] The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a device that performs wireless charging of an electric vehicle depending on whether power is supplied from an external source.

[0008] The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a device for performing wireless charging of an electric vehicle, which can solve a problem that may arise due to switching of internal components depending on whether or not power is supplied from the outside while the electric vehicle is driving.

[0009] In addition, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the technical problems described above, and other technical problems may exist.

[0010] A device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery, a motor, at least one switch, a DC / DC converter for converting DC power supplied from the outside of the electric vehicle into DC power, an inverter for supplying power to the motor, at least one switch, and a controller, wherein the controller can control at least one switch included in the inverter and at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter depending on whether the electric vehicle receives power from the outside while running.

[0011] In a device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, whether the electric vehicle receives power from an external source while running may vary depending on whether the electric vehicle is positioned on a coil on the road.

[0012] The controller of the device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention can control at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter to be alternately turned on and off when the electric vehicle receives power from an external source.

[0013] In a device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, the speed at which at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter is alternately turned on and off can be determined based on at least one of the speed of the electric vehicle, the condition of the road on which the electric vehicle is running, the degree to which the electric vehicle overlaps a coil on the road, and the battery charging mode of the electric vehicle.

[0014] In a device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, the battery charging mode of the electric vehicle may be either a constant voltage mode or a constant current mode.

[0015] In a device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, the switching speed of at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter may be alternately turned on and off, and may gradually become faster and then gradually become slower.

[0016] In a device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of alternating on and off of at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter may be determined based on at least one of the speed of the electric vehicle, the condition of the road on which the electric vehicle is running, the degree to which the electric vehicle overlaps a coil on the road, and the battery charging mode of the electric vehicle.

[0017] The controller of the device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention can control a switch included in the DC / DC converter to be turned off when the electric vehicle is not supplied with power from an external source.

[0018] The controller of the device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention can control a switch included in the inverter to turn on from off and off from on at a constant speed regardless of whether the electric vehicle is supplied with power from an external source.

[0019] According to the present invention, a device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle can be provided.

[0020] According to the present invention, a device for performing wireless charging of an electric vehicle depending on whether power is supplied from an external source can be provided.

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to solve a problem that may arise due to switching of internal configuration depending on whether power is supplied from the outside while an electric vehicle is driving.

[0022] In addition, the effects that can be obtained from the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing an example of a power supply system supplying power to a running electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b illustrate a power supply source and its related internal configuration of the first electric vehicle (111) of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b illustrate a power supply source and its related internal configuration of the second electric vehicle (113) of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIGS. 4A to 4D are diagrams showing the flow of current and switching of internal components depending on whether or not a running electric vehicle receives power from an external source, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0028] However, the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited to some of the embodiments described, but can be implemented in various different forms, and within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, one or more of the components between the embodiments can be selectively combined or substituted for use.

[0029] In addition, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted as having a meaning that can be generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, unless explicitly and specifically defined and described, and terms that are commonly used, such as terms defined in a dictionary, may be interpreted in consideration of the contextual meaning of the relevant technology.

[0030] Additionally, the terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are intended to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0031] In this specification, the singular may also include the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase, and when it is described as “A and / or at least one (or more) of B, C”, it may include one or more of all combinations that can be combined with A, B, C.

[0032] Additionally, in describing components of embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used.

[0033] These terms are intended only to distinguish one component from another, and are not intended to limit the nature, order, or sequence of the component.

[0034] And, when a component is described as being 'connected', 'coupled' or 'connected' to another component, it may include not only cases where the component is directly connected, coupled or connected to the other component, but also cases where the component is 'connected', 'coupled' or 'connected' by another component between the component and the other component.

[0035] Additionally, when described as being formed or arranged "above or below" each component, "above" or "below" includes not only cases where the two components are in direct contact with each other, but also cases where one or more other components are formed or arranged between the two components. Furthermore, when expressed as "above" or "below", it can include the meaning of a downward direction as well as an upward direction based on one component.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing an example of a power supply system supplying power to a running electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, at least a portion of a power supply system may be installed on a road (101) to supply power to a running electric vehicle. The power supply system may include, but is not limited to, a coil (121), a DC / DC converter (123), a link capacitor (125), and an AC / DC converter (127), for example. The AC / DC converter (127) may receive power from a grid (129). The AC / DC converter (127) may convert AC power (or voltage, current) supplied from the grid (129) into DC power. The link capacitor (125) may serve as an intermediate buffer between input and output, and the DC / DC converter (123) may convert DC power (or voltage, current) into DC power. The DC / DC converter (123) can transmit the converted power to the coil (121), and the power transmitted to the coil (121) can generate power in the coil or receiver placed inside the electric vehicle, thereby charging the battery of the electric vehicle. In addition to the configuration illustrated in Fig. 1, the power supply system may further include a communication unit (not illustrated), etc. The communication unit included in the power supply system can communicate with the electric vehicle and / or a server, if necessary.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the coil (121) disposed on the road (101) and the coil disposed on the electric vehicle may transmit power only when they are located within a certain area. In FIG. 1, the first electric vehicle (111) may be located between the coils (121) disposed on the road (101) and may not be charged, and the second electric vehicle (113) may be located on the coil (121) disposed on the road (101) and may be charged. The spacing between the coils (121) disposed on the road may be constant, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the spacing between the coils (121) may vary depending on the location of the road, the type of road, etc.

[0039] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b illustrate a power supply source and its related internal configuration of the first electric vehicle (111) of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Specifically, the first electric vehicle (111) of FIG. 1 is not positioned on a coil on the road and therefore cannot receive power from outside the electric vehicle. Referring to FIG. 2A, the electric vehicle can drive the motor (210) using the battery (220) inside. The charging circuit (240) may be physically connected to the battery (220) and the motor (210), but may not be electrically connected. FIG. 2B illustrates an example of the internal configuration of an electric vehicle to explain this.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 2B, a configuration for supplying power to a motor (210) of an electric vehicle may include a charging circuit (240), a battery (220), an inverter (230), and a controller (270). The charging circuit (240) may include a receiver (250) and a DC / DC converter (260), and may receive power from the outside of the electric vehicle and convert the power so that it can be used inside the electric vehicle. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, since the electric vehicle does not receive power from the outside, the charging circuit (240) may be controlled not to operate by the control of the controller (270). For example, the controller (270) may control a switch included in the DC / DC converter (260) to turn off to cut off power that may be supplied from the battery (220).

[0042] The inverter (230) can convert DC power into AC power. The inverter (230) can convert DC power supplied from the battery (220) into AC power required to drive the motor (210). The inverter (230) can include at least one switch to convert the DC power into AC power. According to one embodiment, the inverter (230) can control at least one switch included in the inverter (230) to convert the DC power into AC power.

[0043] The controller (270) can control the components for supplying power to the motor (210) of the electric vehicle. As described above, the controller (270) can control at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter (260) and at least one switch included in the inverter (230). The specific control of the at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter (260) and the at least one switch included in the inverter (230) and the resulting current flowing to the battery (220) and the motor (210) are described in detail in FIGS. 4A to 4D and thus may be omitted here.

[0044] In one embodiment, the battery (220) may be comprised of, but is not limited to, a capacitor.

[0045] FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b illustrate a power supply source and its related internal configuration of the second electric vehicle (113) of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Specifically, the second electric vehicle (113) of FIG. 1 can be positioned on a coil on the road and receive power from outside the electric vehicle. Referring to FIG. 3A, the electric vehicle can supply external power to the battery (220) and the motor (210) using the charging circuit (240). That is, the electric vehicle can charge the battery (220) and drive the motor (210) using the external power. In FIG. 2A, the charging circuit (240) is physically connected to the battery (220) and the motor (210) but not electrically connected. However, in FIG. 3A, the charging circuit (240) can be connected to the battery (220) and the motor (210) not only physically but also electrically. FIG. 3B is an example of an internal configuration diagram of an electric vehicle to explain this.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 3B, a configuration for supplying power to a motor (210) of an electric vehicle may include a charging circuit (240), a battery (220), an inverter (230), and a controller (270). The charging circuit (240) may include a receiver (250) and a DC / DC converter (260), and may receive power from the outside of the electric vehicle and convert the power so that it can be used inside the electric vehicle. Specifically, the receiver (250) may receive DC power from the outside. The receiver (250) may receive DC power wirelessly. For example, the receiver (250) may receive DC power by including a coil or a transformer. The DC / DC converter (260) may charge the battery (220) with the supplied DC power and convert it into DC power for driving the motor (210). The DC / DC converter (260) may include at least one switch to convert power. In this regard, detailed explanation is provided in Figs. 4a and 4c.

[0048] The battery (220) can be charged by supplying current through the charging circuit (240) when the electric vehicle receives power from an external source. Conversely, when the electric vehicle does not receive power from an external source, the battery (220) can supply current to drive the motor (210). Accordingly, the direction of the current flowing in the battery (220) can be reversed depending on whether the electric vehicle receives power from an external source.

[0049] The inverter (230) can convert DC power into AC power. The inverter (230) can convert DC power supplied from the DC / DC converter (260) into AC power required to drive the motor (210). The inverter (230) can include at least one switch to convert the DC power into AC power. According to one embodiment, the inverter (230) can control at least one switch included in the inverter (230) to convert the DC power into desired AC power.

[0050] In one embodiment, when the electric vehicle is in motion, the inverter (230) may be required to convert DC power into AC power to drive the motor (210), regardless of whether the electric vehicle is receiving external power. Accordingly, the inverter (230) may operate identically in both FIG. 2b and FIG. 3b. This will be described in detail in FIG. 4b and FIG. 4d .

[0051] The controller (270) can control components for supplying power to the motor (210) of the electric vehicle. For example, the controller (270) can control at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter (260) and at least one switch included in the inverter (230).

[0052] FIGS. 4A to 4D are diagrams showing the flow of current and switching of internal components depending on whether or not a running electric vehicle receives power from an external source, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] In one embodiment, a running electric vehicle may or may not receive power from an external source, depending on the vehicle's circumstances. As previously explained, if a running electric vehicle is positioned over a coil, it can receive power from an external source, and if not, it cannot receive power from an external source. To distinguish between these two, the state in which a running electric vehicle receives power from an external source will be referred to as the first state, and the state in which a running electric vehicle does not receive power from an external source will be referred to as the second state.

[0054] FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating current supplied to a battery of a running electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. Depending on whether the electric vehicle receives power from an external source, current may be supplied to or from the battery. Referring to FIG. 4A, the first section (410) and the third section (430) are sections in which current is supplied to the battery, and the electric vehicle may be in a first state in which power is supplied from an external source. In the first state, the battery may be charged. The second section (420) is a section in which current is supplied constantly from the battery, and may be in a second state in which the electric vehicle does not receive power from an external source. In the second state, power must be supplied from the battery to the motor, and thus, current may be supplied from the battery. In other words, the second state may be a state in which the battery is discharged. According to one embodiment, the motor may be driven at a constant speed by receiving a constant current from the battery.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the first to third sections (410, 420, 430) in FIGS. 4a to 4d may all be the same section and may mean the same time.

[0056] The present invention can switch the internal configuration of an electric vehicle to change the direction of current supplied to or from a battery. Specifically, at least one switch included in a DC / DC converter may need to be controlled. Switch control can result in power loss and electromagnetic interference. To mitigate this, zero-current switching technology can be applied. That is, the configuration of the internal circuit can be controlled so that the current becomes zero when switching the direction of current supplied to or from the battery. Control of the internal configuration of the electric vehicle for this purpose can be as shown in FIG. 4c.

[0057] FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the current supplied to the motor, which is a load of a running electric vehicle, according to one embodiment of the present invention. While the electric vehicle is running, power must always be supplied to the motor. That is, power must always be supplied to the motor regardless of whether the electric vehicle receives power from an external source. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the current flowing to the motor may be constant throughout the first section (410) to the third section (430). However, for convenience of explanation, FIG. 4B illustrates the electric vehicle traveling at a constant speed, and thus the current flowing to the motor is displayed as constant. If the electric vehicle stops, accelerates, or decelerates, the amount of power supplied to the motor may vary. To maintain the current flowing to the motor constant, as shown in FIG. 4B, the inverter may need to be controlled. That is, the current flowing to the motor may be controlled by controlling at least one switch included in the inverter. The control of at least one switch included in the inverter may be as shown in FIG. 4D. That is, you may need to alternately turn the switch on and off.

[0058] FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating the operation of a switch within a DC / DC converter to supply current to a battery of a running electric vehicle, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the DC / DC converter only supplies current to the battery of the electric vehicle and does not receive current from the battery. Therefore, when the battery supplies current, the switch included in the DC / DC converter may be controlled to be off. Here, the switch controlled to be off is only a switch involved in transferring the power supplied by the DC / DC converter to the battery, and does not include a switch performing any other function. In FIG. 4C, the second section (420) may be a section in which the switch is controlled to be off.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the DC / DC converter includes at least one switch, and can control the amount of current supplied to the battery by controlling the on / off of the switch. As shown in FIG. 4C, at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter in the first section (410) and the third section (430) can be controlled to be on or off, and can be switched alternately. The speed at which the switch is switched on and off alternately can be determined based on the efficiency with which the externally supplied power is converted. For example, if the speed of the electric vehicle is fast, each of the first section (410) to the third section (430) can be very short, and if the speed of the electric vehicle is slow, each of the first section (410) to the third section (430) can be long. As another example, the road conditions can affect the efficiency with which the power supplied from the outside of the electric vehicle is converted inside the electric vehicle. If there is a lot of foreign matter on the road, the electric vehicle may not be properly supplied with power even if it is positioned on the coil. Alternatively, it may be affected by slow driving due to the presence of many cars on the road. Furthermore, the degree to which the electric vehicle overlaps the coil on the road may also be affected. For example, if the installed coil is small, if the coil is installed offset to one side, or if the electric vehicle is stopped at a location that does not overlap the coil, etc., this may also have an effect. Another example is the charging mode of the electric vehicle while it is running. The charging mode of the electric vehicle can be divided into a constant voltage mode that charges with a constant voltage and a constant current mode that charges with a constant current, depending on the battery's charge level. As described above, the speed at which at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter alternates between on and off can be controlled based on various factors that may affect the efficiency of converting power supplied from outside the electric vehicle into the electric vehicle.Control of at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter can be performed by a controller.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the switching speed of at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter may be alternately turned on and off, gradually increasing and then decreasing.

[0061] FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating the operation of at least one switch within an inverter to supply current to a battery of a running electric vehicle, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The inverter is configured to supply power to a motor, and power must be constantly supplied to the motor while the electric vehicle is running. Accordingly, the switch included in the inverter can be turned on and off at a constant rate. The switch included in the inverter can be controlled by a controller.

[0062] Although the above description focuses on examples, these are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and applications not exemplified above are possible without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. For example, each component specifically shown in the examples can be modified and implemented. In addition, differences related to such modifications and applications should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Battery; motor; A DC / DC converter comprising at least one switch and converting DC power supplied from outside of an electric vehicle into DC power; An inverter comprising at least one switch and supplying power to the motor; and Including a controller, The above controller, A device for performing wireless charging of an electric vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, which controls at least one switch included in the inverter and at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter depending on whether the electric vehicle is supplied with power from an external source while in motion.

2. In paragraph 1, A device for performing wireless charging of an electric vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, wherein whether the electric vehicle receives power from an external source while in motion depends on whether the electric vehicle is positioned over a coil on the road.

3. In the second paragraph, the controller, A device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle, which controls the on and off switching of at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter alternately when the electric vehicle receives power from an external source.

4. In paragraph 3, A device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle, wherein the speed at which at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter is alternately turned on and off is determined based on at least one of the speed of the electric vehicle, the condition of the road on which the electric vehicle is running, the degree to which the electric vehicle overlaps a coil on the road, and the battery charging mode of the electric vehicle.

5. In paragraph 4, A device for performing wireless charging of an electric vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, wherein the battery charging mode of the electric vehicle is either a constant voltage mode or a constant current mode.

6. In paragraph 4, A device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle, wherein the switching speed of at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter is alternately turned on and off, and gradually becomes faster and then gradually becomes slower.

7. In paragraph 3, A device for performing wireless charging of a running electric vehicle, wherein the ratio of switching on and off of at least one switch included in the DC / DC converter alternately is determined based on at least one of the speed of the electric vehicle, the condition of the road on which the electric vehicle is running, the degree to which the electric vehicle overlaps a coil on the road, and the battery charging mode of the electric vehicle.

8. In paragraph 1, the controller, A device for performing wireless charging of an electric vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, which controls a switch included in the DC / DC converter to turn off when the electric vehicle is not supplied with power from an external source.

9. In paragraph 1, the controller, A device for performing wireless charging of an electric vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, which controls a switch included in the inverter from on to off and from off to on at a constant speed, regardless of whether the electric vehicle is supplied with power from an external source.

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