Method and system for tailoring a receiver of an electric vehicle configured for wireless power transfer based on electric vehicle properties

Abstract

A system and method for tailoring a receiver of an electric vehicle configured for wireless power transfer based on electric vehicle properties. The electric vehicle includes a versatile receiver where the parameters affecting the resonance such as the height of the airgap and the size and positions of the receiver coils and other properties are all factored in for selecting optimal resonance properties, mainly L and C values. The suggested design allows for a versatile receiver accommodating a wide gamut of models of electric vehicle with minimal variance of electromechanical changes.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TAILORING A RECEIVER OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CONFIGURED FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER BASED ON ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROPERTIES

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates generally to wireless power transmission in electric vehicles and more specifically to tailoring a receiver of an electric vehicle.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Prior to setting forth the background of the invention, it would be advantageous to provide some term definitions as follows:

[0006] The term ‘electric vehicle’ refers generally to a vehicle powered solely, or in part, by electrical energy stored (e.g., chemically) in a battery, or the like. In the present context, an ‘electric vehicle’ moreover has provision for receiving (e.g., at coils disposed on the underside of the vehicle) a wirelessly induced electromotive force (i.e., voltage) that may be stored, or otherwise utilized to recharge the battery. For an electromagnetically induced voltage to occur, the vehicle (i.e., the ‘conductor’) may be moving relative to a magnetic field which is, for example, projected about the road upon which the vehicle is travelling. Alternatively, the magnetic field may be periodically varied (e.g., through use of alternating current) thereby inducing a voltage at the vehicle.

[0007] The term ‘road section’ refers generally to a portion of, for example, a highway or motorway which has been modified to comprise a medium for wirelessly transmitting power (i.e., a ‘power transmitter’). This may mean that the road comprises a plurality of coils embedded beneath the surface of the road section which are operable to emit a magnetic field. In typical arrangements, the medium (coils) may be connected to an alternating current source, e.g. an electrical grid, and may generate a varying magnetic field, thereby inducing a voltage in any proximate conductor.

[0008] The term ‘ground assembly” refers generally to a portion of, for example, a road, a highway or motorway which has been modified to comprise a medium for wirelessly transmitting power (i.e., a ‘power transmitter’). This may mean that the road comprises a plurality of coils embedded beneath the surface of the road section which are operable to emit a magnetic field. In typical arrangements, the medium (coils) may be connected to an alternating current source, e.g. an electrical grid, and may generate a varying magnetic field, thereby inducing a voltage in any proximate conductor.

[0009] The term ‘vehicle assembly” refers generally to circuitry on board of the electric vehicle which includes a receiver to receive the power transmitted from the ground assembly, an energy regulator, as well as other circuitries as needed to ensure the battery of the electric vehicle and then the motor of the electric vehicle receive the energy per their requirements

[0010] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a prior art wireless power transmission system 100. Wireless power transmission system 100 may include a plurality of electric vehicles 150 comprising an attached power receiver, for example, to an underside of the vehicle. The plurality of electric vehicles may further travel upon a road section 101 having one or more power transmitters 120 disposed, for example, underneath the surface of the road section and fed by power converter 122 connected to an electrical grid. In some embodiments, each power receiver and power transmitter may comprise one or more wound or looped coils coupled, for example, to an alternating current source. In some arrangements, these coils may be operable to emit a static or varying magnetic field into a vicinity about the coils, for example around the road section or portions thereof. As each electric vehicle travels along road section 101, a magnetic field formed by power transmitters in road section 101 induces a voltage in each power receiver and is stored and / or converted by the electric vehicle into, for example, chemical energy in a battery. In alternative embodiments, the induced energy may be immediately used by an engine of the electric vehicle without storage.

[0011] Selecting the parameters at the resonance circuit at the receiver affects the efficiency of the wireless power transmission. The optimal parameters of the inductance and capacitance change from one electric vehicle to another because of the variance in the physical properties of the vehicles such as air gap, and further based on the power requirements of the electric vehicle which tend to vary from one vehicle to another.

[0012] There is therefore a need to address this variance by tailoring each receiver for the various models of electric vehicles.

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0014] The present invention provides a method and system for tailoring a receiver of an electric vehicle configured for wireless power transfer based on electric vehicle properties. The electric vehicle includes a versatile receiver where the parameters affecting the resonance such as the height of the airgap and the size and positions of the receiver coils and other properties are all factored in for selecting optimal resonance properties, mainly L and C values.

[0015] According to embodiments of the present invention, the suggested design allows for a versatile receiver accommodating a wide gamut of models of electric vehicle with minimal variance of electromechanical changes.

[0016] These and other advantages of the present invention are set forth in detail in the following description.

[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] For a better understanding of the invention and in order to show how it may be implemented, references are made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate corresponding elements or sections. In the accompanying drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing wireless power transmission system for an electric vehicle on a road in accordance with the prior art;

[0020] Figure 2 is a circuit diagram in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention; and

[0021] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating another aspect in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are for the purpose of example and solely for discussing the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention. The description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

[0025] Before explaining the embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following descriptions or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is applicable to other embodiments and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0026] Figure 2 shows an exemplary arrangement of receiver coils 210 in a receiver array 200. Receiving coils 210 may be disposed on the underside of an electric vehicle (not shown), parallel to a road having a road section disposed with transmitting coils 220. Receiving coils 210 may receive power transmitted by transmitting coils 220. Lower receiving coils 230B and 230C may be placed edge to edge thereby defining a joining line in the shared plane of the road section and of the coils. Such joined coils 230B and 230C may be referred to as a “figure- of-8” coil. An upper receiving coil 230A may be placed over top of the lower receiving coils 230B and 230C. Upper receiving coil 230A may have dimensions different than those of lower receiving coils 230B and 230C and upper receiving coil 230A may have dimensions identical to those of transmitting coils 200A and 220B. Upper receiving coil 230A may be placed so as to have its geometric center lying on the joining line of the lower receiving coils 230B and 230C. The geometric center of an object is defined as the mean position of all the points of the object in all of the coordinated directions. The configuration of upper and lower receiving coils 210 may be repeated periodically along the underside of the electric vehicle. The receiving coils 210 may be circular or rectangular or variations thereof, e.g., oval or oblong in shape.

[0027] Receiver array 200 may include a ferrite plate 205. The ferrite plate cannot be monolithic, and it effectively includes a plurality of plates on a common plane. Placing the ferrite plate too close to each other may cause issues with potential sparks and heat but placing them too far from each other affects electromagnetic compliance (EMC) issues so an optimal set up of the ferrite plates is desirable. When deployed ferrite plate 205 acts to shape and contain magnetic flux so as to prevent any adverse effects arising from transmission of magnetic flux through to the interior of the electric vehicle. The height between the lower coils 230B and 230V of the receiver and the coils 220B and 220A at the road is defined as air gap and indicated as “D”.

[0028] A capacitor (not shown here) is connected to receiving coils 210 so together with ferrite plates 205 they form a resonance circuit with inductance L and capacitance C that are selected to have optimal efficiency of the overall wireless power transfer from the coils of the road.

[0029] Since each electric vehicle has different power requirements affected for example by the weight of the vehicle, the type of the electric motor and other parameters, and since every electric vehicle has a different height above the ground defining a different airgap, there is a need to tailor the L, the C and the arrangement of the ferrite plates.

[0030] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a computer processor or any other processing unit (not shown here) is configured to receive as an input some or all of the following parameters:

[0031] • Number of receivers required per electric vehicle

[0032] • Power requirements of the motor of the electric vehicle

[0033] • Weight of the electric vehicle

[0034] • Physical dimensions of the electric vehicle

[0035] • Air Gap between underside of the electric vehicle and the road

[0036] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the computer processor applies calculations based on a model that has been developed in accordance with simulations for may models of electric vehicles and optimization processes and provides suggestions and potential values for the following elements:

[0037] • Number, size, shape, thickness of the coils

[0038] • Geometric and number of the loops in the coils

[0039] • Number, size and spacing of the ferrite shapes

[0040] • Value of capacitance of the capacitor

[0041] In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a casing which is designed to accommodate the coils, the ferrite plates and the capacitor is designed such that it can accommodate a wide gamut of different coils (shapes, size, number of loops) and ferrite plates (dimensions and spacing) in accordance with the values and parameters suggested by the computer. A versatile design of the casing is such that can accommodate a wide selection of values of the aforementioned elements with minimal design variance. Advantageously, a versatile casing will reduce manufacturing costs and assist with standardization of the manufacturing process of the receiver side of the electric vehicle.

[0042] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the casing for accommodating a plurality of wireless power transfer (WPT) receiver designs may include: designated grooves on one side of the casing shaped to accommodate two or more windings of two or more coils of at least two shapes and at least two sizes; at least one socket shaped to accommodate at least one capacitor of two or more sizes; and attaching elements suitable for holding two or more ferrite plates so that the two or more windings of coils are contained between the casing and the two or more ferrite plates.

[0043] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the two or more shapes of the windings of two or more coils comprises: circular, rectangular, oval, or variations thereof. The casing may be made of a polymer such as polycarbonate and is preferably monolithic and designed to hold all the WPT receiver elements on one side thereof.

[0044] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating another aspect in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. System 300 for automatically designing a wireless power transfer (WPT) receiver of an electric vehicle based on WPT and electromagnetic compliance (EMC) requirements and a plurality of available WPT receiver components. System 300 may include: a data collector 310 configured to receive: WPT and EPC requirements 30 for the WPT receiver and a plurality of available WPT receiver components values 20; a computer memory 320 connected via bus 320 to data collector 310 and configured to store a WPT receiver model 370 which has been trained on a database 330 of a plurality of parameters of WPT receivers for optimization of performance and packaging of the WPT receiver components in a WPT receiver casing; and a WPT receiver design generator 380 implemented by a computer processor 340 connected to computer memory 320 via a bus and configured to automatically generate one or more WPT receiver designs 40 based on the WPT and EMC requirements 30, the available WPT receiver components values 20, and the WPT receiver model 370.

[0045] According to some embodiments of the present invention, system 300 may further include a WPT data module 350 and an EMC data module 360 implemented by computer processor 340 and configured to train the WPT receiver model 370 based on the WPT and EPC requirements 30 for the WPT receiver and a plurality of available WPT receiver components values 20.

[0046] According to some embodiments of the present invention, system 300 may further include a user interface 390 configured to present a user 10 with one of the one or more WPT receiver designs 40 and receive a feedback from user 10, wherein the WPT receiver design generator 380 may be further configured to use the feedback for automatically generating an improved WPT receiver design.

[0047] According to some embodiments of the present invention, WPT receiver components may include at least: receiver coils, capacitors and ferrite plates.

[0048] According to some embodiments of the present invention, values of the WPT receiver components may include at least one of: shape, dimensions, position, capacitance, inductance, and resistance.

[0049] According to some embodiments of the present invention, WPT requirements may include: electric vehicle weight, airgap length between the WPT receiver and a road, and number of WPT receivers per electric vehicle.

[0050] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the WPT and the EMC requirements may comply with the SAE J2954 standard or similar standards that will be available in the future.

[0051] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a method of automatically designing a wireless power transfer (WPT) receiver of an electric vehicle based on WPT and electromagnetic compliance (EMC) requirements and a plurality of available WPT receiver components, is also described herein. The method may include the following steps: receiving, by a data collector, WPT and EPC requirements for the WPT receiver and a plurality of available WPT receiver components values; storing, on a computer memory, a WPT receiver model which has been trained on a database of a plurality of parameters of WPT receivers for optimization of performance and packaging of the WPT receiver components in a WPT receiver casing; and automatically generating, by a computer processor, a WPT receiver design based on the WPT and EMC requirements, the available WPT receiver components values, and the WPT receiver model. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method may further include the step of training, using a WPT data module and an EMC data module implemented by the computer processor, the WPT receiver model based on the WPT and EPC requirements for the WPT receiver and a plurality of available WPT receiver components values.

[0052] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method may further include ethe step of presenting, via a user interface, a user with the WPT receiver design and receiving a feedback from the user, via the user interface; and using the feedback for automatically generating an improved WPT receiver design by the computer processor.

[0053] The aforementioned diagrams illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each portion in the flowchart or portion diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the portion may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two portions shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the portions may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved, It will also be noted that each portion of the portion diagrams and / or flowchart illustration, and combinations of portions in the portion diagrams and / or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0054] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system or an apparatus. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit”, “module” or “system”.

[0055] The aforementioned figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems and apparatus according to various embodiments of the present invention. Where referred to in the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementation of the invention. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment.

[0056] Reference in the specification to “some embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “one embodiment” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. It will further be recognized that the aspects of the invention described hereinabove may be combined or otherwise coexist in embodiments of the invention.

[0057] It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only.

[0058] The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples.

[0059] It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention.

[0060] Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description above.

[0061] It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting of’ and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.

[0062] If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

[0063] It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not construed that there is only one of that element. It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

[0064] Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.

[0065] Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.

[0066] The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

[0067] The descriptions, examples and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only.

[0068] Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined.

[0069] The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice with materials equivalent or similar to those described herein.

[0070] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments. Other or equivalent variations, modifications, and applications are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system for automatically designing a wireless power transfer (WPT) receiver of an electric vehicle based on WPT and electromagnetic compliance (EMC) requirements and a plurality of available WPT receiver components, said system comprising: a data collector configured to receive: WPT and EPC requirements for the WPT receiver and a plurality of available WPT receiver components values; a computer memory configured to store a WPT receiver model which has been trained on a database of a plurality of parameters of WPT receivers for optimization of performance and packaging of the WPT receiver components in a WPT receiver casing; and a WPT receiver design generator implemented by a computer processor and configured to automatically generate a WPT receiver design based on the WPT and EMC requirements, the available WPT receiver components values, and the WPT receiver model.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a WPT data module and an EMC data module implemented by the computer processor and configured to train the WPT receiver model based on the WPT and EPC requirements for the WPT receiver and a plurality of available WPT receiver components values.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a user interface configured to present a user with the WPT receiver design and receive a feedback from the user, wherein the WPT receiver design generator is further configured to use the feedback for automatically generating an improved WPT receiver design.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the WPT receiver components comprises at least: receiver coils, capacitors and ferrite plates.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the values of the WPT receiver components comprises at least one of: shape, dimensions, position, capacitance, inductance, and resistance.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the WPT requirements comprise: electric vehicle weight, airgap length between the WPT receiver and a road, and number of WPT receivers per electric vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the WPT and the EMC requirements comply with the SAE J2954 standard.

8. A method of automatically designing a wireless power transfer (WPT) receiver of an electric vehicle based on WPT and electromagnetic compliance (EMC) requirements and a plurality of available WPT receiver components, said method comprising: receiving, by a data collector, WPT and EPC requirements for the WPT receiver and a plurality of available WPT receiver components values; storing, on a computer memory, a WPT receiver model which has been trained on a database of a plurality of parameters of WPT receivers for optimization of performance and packaging of the WPT receiver components in a WPT receiver casing; and automatically generating, by a computer processor, a WPT receiver design based on the WPT and EMC requirements, the available WPT receiver components values, and the WPT receiver model.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising training, using a WPT data module and an EMC data module implemented by the computer processor, the WPT receiver model based on the WPT and EPC requirements for the WPT receiver and a plurality of available WPT receiver components values.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising presenting, via a user interface, a user with the WPT receiver design and receiving a feedback from the user, via the user interface; and using the feedback for automatically generating an improved WPT receiver design by the computer processor.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the WPT receiver components comprises at least: receiver coils, capacitors and ferrite plates.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the values of the WPT receiver components comprises at least one of: shape, dimensions, position, capacitance, inductance, and resistance.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the WPT requirements comprise: electric vehicle weight, airgap length between the WPT receiver and a road, and number of WPT receivers per electric vehicle.

14. A casing for accommodating a plurality of wireless power transfer (WPT) receiver designs, said casing comprises: designated grooves on one side of the casing shaped to accommodate two or more windings of two or more coils of at least two shapes and at least two sizes; at least one socket shaped to accommodate at least one capacitor of two or more sizes; and attaching elements suitable for holding two or more ferrite plates so that the two or more windings of coils are contained between the casing and the two or more ferrite plates.

15. The casing according to claim 14, wherein the two or more shapes of the windings of two or more coils comprises: circular, rectangular, oval, or variations thereof.

16. The casing according to claim 1, wherein the casing is made of a polymer.

17. The casing according to claim 1 wherein the casing in monolithic.

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