Power receiver device, program, and control method for power receiver device

Abstract

A wireless power supply system includes a power transmitter device (20) including a power transmitter coil (22) and a power receiver device (100 including a power receiver coil (102).　 In the wireless power supply system, a power supply request signal for requesting power supply is transmitted from the power receiver device (100) to the power transmitter device (20), and upon receiving the power supply request signal, the power transmitter device (20) supplies power to the power receiver coil (102) in a wireless manner by energizing the power transmitter coil (22).　 The power receiver device (100) wirelessly transmits the power supply request signal from a power receiver side communication coil (170) to a power transmitter side communication coil (40) provided in the power transmitter device (20).　 When a traveling speed of a vehicle is low, a power receiver side control unit (230) reduces an intensity of the power supply request signal compared to when the traveling speed of the vehicle is high.

Description

POWER RECEIVER DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR POWER RECEIVER DEVICECross Reference

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Application No. 2024-208021 filed on November 29, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a power receiver device, a program, and a control method for the power receiver device.

[0003] A system for wireless power supply from a power transmitter device on the ground side to a power receiver device mounted on an electric vehicle while the vehicle is parked is disclosed. 　In order to appropriately supply power in a wireless manner from a power transmitter coil of the power transmitter device to a power receiver coil of the power receiver device, the relative positional relationship between the power transmitter coil and the power receiver coil is required to be proper.　 Patent Literature 1 describes an automatic parking assistance control for adjusting the relative positional relationship between the power transmitter coil and the power receiver coil to an appropriate positional relationship.

[0004] JP2021-154837A

[0005] When power is supplied in a wireless manner from a power transmitter coil to a power receiver coil, metal objects constituting a vehicle (for example, iron parts around the wheels and other suspension parts) may be affected.　 For example, when the traveling speed of the vehicle is low, such as when the vehicle is parked at an intersection with a traffic light (for example, a red light) displaying a stop signal, a bus stop, or a taxi pool, the effect of wireless power supply on metal objects constituting the vehicle continues for a longer period of time than when the traveling speed of the vehicle is high.　 For this reason, a technique is desired that limits the effect of wireless power supply on metal objects constituting the vehicle when the traveling speed of the vehicle is low.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and is to provide a power receiver device, a program, and a control method for the power receiver device that can supply power in a wireless manner from a power transmitter side to a power receiver side appropriately.

[0007] According to the disclosure, a power receiver device is to be applied to a wireless power supply system in which one of devices on a ground side and a vehicle side is a power transmitter device including a power transmitter antenna, and another device is the power receiver device including a power receiver antenna.　 The power receiver device is configured to transmit a power supply request signal to request power supply to the power transmitter device.　 The power transmitter device is configured to supply power to the power receiver antenna in a wireless manner by energizing the power transmitter antenna upon receiving the power supply request signal. 　The power receiver device is configured to wirelessly transmit the power supply request signal to a power transmitter side communication antenna provided in the power transmitter device by a power receiver side communication antenna. 　The power receiver device includes: a power receiver side control unit configured to cause the power receiver side communication antenna to transmit the power supply request signal.　 The power receiver side control unit is configured to reduce an intensity of the power supply request signal when a traveling speed of the vehicle is low, compared to when the traveling speed of the vehicle is high.

[0008] According to the above configuration, when the traveling speed of the vehicle is low, the intensity of a power supply request signal is reduced compared to when the traveling speed of the vehicle is high, making it more difficult to energize the power transmitter antenna.　 Therefore, it is possible to limit the effect of wireless power supply on a vehicle or metal objects around the vehicle when the traveling speed of the vehicle is low.　 As a result, it is possible to appropriately supply power in a wireless manner from the power transmitter side to the power receiver side.

[0009] The drawings described herein are intended to illustrate selected embodiments, do not depict all possible embodiments, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a wireless power supply system according to a first embodiment.FIG 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the wireless power supply system.FIG. 3 shows a power transmitter device and a power receiver device.FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a power receiver side coil unit.FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of wide-area wireless communication between the power transmitter device and a vehicle.FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a traveling speed Vsp and an intensity of a power supply request signal.FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the traveling speed Vsp and the intensity of the power supply request signal.FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the traveling speed Vsp and the intensity of the power supply request signal.FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for adjusting the intensity of the power supply request signal.FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for adjusting an intensity of a power supply request signal in a second embodiment.FIG. 11 is a top view showing a power transmitter coil on a ground side and a power receiver coil on a vehicle side.FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for adjusting an intensity of a power supply request signal in a third embodiment.FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship between the traveling speed Vsp and the intensity of the power supply request signal.FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between the traveling speed Vsp and the intensity of the power supply request signal.

[0011] Multiple embodiments will be described with reference to drawings.　 In the multiple embodiments, functionally and / or structurally corresponding and / or related portions may be labeled with the same reference numerals or with reference numerals that differ in the hundredth or higher digits.　 For corresponding and / or associated portions, reference may be made to the description of other embodiments.

[0012] <First Embodiment> A first embodiment of a wireless power supply system according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to drawings.

[0013] First, the overall configuration of the wireless power supply system will be described.　 As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a wireless power supply system 10 includes a power transmitter device 20 and a power receiver device 100.　 The power receiver device 100 is a vehicle-side device, which is mounted on a vehicle 11, as a moving object driving on a road RS.　 The vehicle 11 is, for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.　 While the vehicle 11 is driving or stopped, power is supplied from the power transmitter device 20 to the power receiver device 100.　 The wireless power supply system 10 performs wireless power transmission from the power transmitter device 20 to the power receiver device 100 by magnetic field resonant coupling (magnetic field resonance).　 The wireless power supply system 10 is also called a dynamic wireless power transfer (D-WPT) system.

[0014] The power transmitter device 20 is a device on the ground side including a power transmitter side coil unit 21 and a power transmitter side power source unit 51 that supplies power to the power transmitter side coil unit 21.　 The power transmitter device 20 is, for example, a stationary device.　 The power transmitter side coil unit 21 is installed (for example, buried) on the road RS, a parking lot, or the like.　 The power transmitter side power source unit 51 is installed, for example, at the side of the road RS.　 The power transmitter side coil unit 21 is connected to a power transmitter side power source unit 51.　 The power transmitter side power source unit 51 is connected to an AC power source 15 and supplies AC power from the AC power source 15 to the power transmitter side coil unit 21.　 The AC power source 15 is, for example, a commercial power source.　 Multiple power transmitter side coil units 21 are disposed along the lanes of the road RS.　 FIG. 2 shows an example in which four power transmitter side coil units 21 arranged along the road RS are connected to one power transmitter side power source unit 51.　 In other words, one power transmitter side power source unit 51 is provided for each of the four power transmitter side coil units 21.　 Multiple power transmitter side coil units 21 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vehicle traveling direction.　 The power transmitter side coil units 21 are installed such that the distance between the center positions of the power transmitter side coil units 21 in the vehicle traveling direction is, for example, about 1.5 to 2 m, and the distance between the power transmitter side coil units 21 is, for example, about 0.5 to 0.8 m.

[0015] The configuration is not limited to one power transmitter side power source unit 51 being provided for each of the multiple power transmitter side coil units 21, but may also be one power transmitter side power source unit 51 being provided for one power transmitter side coil unit 21.

[0016] The power transmitter side power source unit 51 includes a PFC circuit 61, an inverter 60, and a filter circuit 52.　 The PFC circuit 61 includes an AC / DC converter and is connected to the AC power source 15.　 The switching of the switching elements (for example, IGBTs or MOSFETs) included in the PFC circuit 61 is controlled so that the power factor of the AC power input from the AC power source 15 is improved and the input AC power is converted into DC power.

[0017] The inverter 60 is connected to the PFC circuit 61.　 The DC power input from the PFC circuit 61 is converted into AC power by controlling the switching of the switching elements (for example, IGBTs or MOSFETs) included in the inverter 60.

[0018] The filter circuit 52 removes noise contained in the AC current input from the inverter 60, and supplies the AC current from which the noise has been removed to the power transmitter side coil unit 21.　 The filter circuit 52 is, for example, an LC filter including a coil and a capacitor.　 As the filter circuit 52, circuits of various configurations are used, specifically, for example, a T-type filter circuit is used.

[0019] The power transmitter side coil unit 21 includes a power transmitter coil 22 (corresponding to a "power transmitter antenna"), a power transmitter side resonant circuit 30, and a power transmitter side communication coil 40 (corresponding to a "power transmitter side communication antenna").　 The power transmitter side resonant circuit 30 supplies the AC power supplied from the filter circuit 52 to the power transmitter coil 22.　 As the power transmitter side resonant circuit 30, various well-known resonant circuits such as a circuit including a resonant capacitor can be used.

[0020] The power receiver device 100 includes a power receiver side coil unit 101 and a power receiver side power source unit 181.　 The power receiver side coil unit 101 includes a power receiver coil 102 (corresponding to a "power receiver antenna").　 The power receiver side coil unit 101 is provided at the bottom of the vehicle body of the vehicle 11.　 The power receiver side coil unit 101 is provided at the bottom of the vehicle body to face the ground surface.　 When the vehicle 11 drives on the road RS in which the power transmitter coil 22 is buried, the power transmitter coil 22 on the ground side and the power receiver coil 102 provided on the vehicle 11 face each other in a vertical direction.

[0021] The power receiver device 100 includes a power receiver side resonant circuit 140.　 The power receiver coil 102 is connected to the power receiver side resonant circuit 140.　 Power is transmitted to the power receiver coil 102 from the power transmitter coil 22.　 The power receiver coil 102 supplies the received power to the power receiver side resonant circuit 140.　 As the power receiver side resonant circuit 140, various well-known resonant circuits such as a circuit including a resonant capacitor can be used.

[0022] The power receiver device 100 includes a filter circuit 182, a rectifier circuit 200 that functions as a DC / AC convertor circuit, and a smoothing capacitor 210.　 The filter circuit 182 removes noise contained in the AC current input from the power receiver side resonant circuit 140, and supplies the AC current from which the noise has been removed to the rectifier circuit 200.　 The filter circuit 182 of the present embodiment is, for example, an LC filter including a reactor and a capacitor.

[0023] The rectifier circuit 200 converts the input AC current into a DC current and outputs the DC current.　 The rectifier circuit 200 is, for example, a full-bridge circuit including semiconductor switching elements, or a diode rectifier circuit.　 A first end of the smoothing capacitor 210 is connected to a high potential side output terminal of the rectifier circuit 200.　 A second end of the smoothing capacitor 210 is connected to the low potential side output terminal of the rectifier circuit 200.　 The rectifier circuit 200 is also called an electronic rectification box (ERB).

[0024] The vehicle 11 includes a high-potential side main switch 301H, a low-potential side main switch 301L, and a high-voltage power storage battery 300 as a power storage unit.　 The high-potential side main switch 301H and the low-potential side main switch 301L are, for example, relays (specifically, mechanical relays).　 The high potential side output terminal of the rectifier circuit 200 is connected to the positive-electrode terminal of the high-voltage power storage battery 300 via the high-potential side main switch 301H.　 The low potential side output terminal of the rectifier circuit 200 is connected to the negative-electrode terminal of the high-voltage power storage battery 300 via the low-potential side main switch 301L.　 The high-voltage power storage battery 300 is a secondary battery that can be charged and discharged, and has a rated voltage of, for example, several hundred volts.　 The high-voltage power storage battery 300 is, for example, a lithium-ion power storage battery or a nickel-metal hydride power storage battery.

[0025] The vehicle 11 includes a driving inverter 310 and a rotatary electric machine 320.　 The driving inverter 310 is a three-phase inverter, and is connected to the high-voltage power storage battery 300 via the high-potential side main switch 301H and the low-potential side main switch 301L.　 An armature winding of the rotatary electric machine 320 is connected to the upper and lower arm switches constituting the driving inverter 310.　 With the high-potential side main switch 301H and the low-potential side main switch 301L turned on, the switching of the upper and lower arm switches of the driving inverter 310 is controlled such that the driving inverter 310 converts the DC power supplied from the high-voltage power storage battery 300 into AC power and supplies the AC power to the armature winding.　 This causes the rotor of the rotatary electric machine 320 to rotate, and the drive wheels of the vehicle 11 are rotated by the rotational power of the rotor.　 As a result, the vehicle 11 drives.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the power transmitter side power source unit 51 constituting the power transmitter device 20 includes a power transmitter side control unit 70.　 The power transmitter side control unit 70 includes a power transmitter side controller 71.　 The power transmitter side controller 71 is an electronic control unit (ECU) that performs various controls of the power transmitter device 20, and includes a processor as hardware, a storage unit, and a communication bus that connects the processor and the storage unit.

[0027] The storage unit includes memory and storage as hardware.　 The memory is a storage device for storing data used in the processing of the power transmitter side controller 71.　 The memory provides the processor with, for example, a working area for temporary use when the processor performs processing.　 The memory includes, for example, a ROM or a RAM.　 The storage is a storage device that stores various programs and data to be read and executed by the processor, and is a non-transitory tangible storage medium.　 The storage includes, for example, a HDD or a flash memory.　 The storage stores program information and the like for the processing described below.

[0028] The power receiver side power source unit 181 constituting the power receiver device 100 includes a power receiver side controller 231.　 The power receiver side controller 231 is an ECU that performs various controls of the power receiver device 100, and includes a processor as hardware, a storage unit, and a communication bus that connects the processor and the storage unit.

[0029] The storage unit includes memory and storage as hardware.　 The memory is a storage device for storing data used in the processing of the power receiver side controller 231.　 The memory provides the processor with, for example, a working area for temporary use when the processor performs processing.　 The memory includes, for example, a ROM or a RAM.　 The storage is a storage device that stores various programs and data to be read and executed by the processor, and is a non-transitory tangible storage medium.　 The storage includes, for example, a HDD or a flash memory.　 The storage stores program information and the like for the processing described below.

[0030] For example, program information stored in a non-transitory tangible storage medium is installed in the storage units of the power receiver side controller 231 and the power transmitter side controller 71.　 The storage medium is, for example, a USB memory, a CD-ROM, or a DVD.　 Furthermore, for example, program information transmitted via a communication network, such as over the air (OTA), is installed in the storage unit 233.

[0031] The power transmitter side controller 71 performs switching control of the PFC circuit 61 and switching control of the inverter 60.　 A high-frequency AC voltage is applied to the power transmitter coil 22 by controlling the switching of the inverter 60.　 Therefore, a high-frequency current flows through the power transmitter coil 22, and a magnetic field for power transmission is generated in the power transmitter coil 22.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the power transmitter side controller 71 controls the switching of the inverter 60 so that the frequency of the high-frequency voltage applied to the power transmitter coil 22 becomes a first specified frequency (specifically, 85 kHz) that is equal to or higher than 10 kHz and equal to or lower than 100 GHz.　 The resonance frequencies of the power transmitter side resonant circuit 30 and the power receiver side resonant circuit 140 are set to the same frequency as the first specified frequency or to a frequency close to the first specified frequency.

[0033] When the magnetic field generated in the power transmitter coil 22 interlinks with the power receiver coil 102 of the vehicle 11, a high-frequency current that fluctuates with the frequency of the high-frequency current flowing through the power transmitter coil 22 flows through the power receiver coil 102.　 The high-frequency current flowing through the power receiver coil 102 is supplied to the rectifier circuit 200 via the power receiver side resonant circuit 140 and the filter circuit 182.　 The rectifier circuit 200 converts the supplied AC current into a DC current and outputs the DC current.　 When the high-potential side main switch 301H and the low-potential side main switch 301L are turned on, the output current of the rectifier circuit 200 is supplied to the high-voltage power storage battery 300 and the driving inverter 310.

[0034] The vehicle 11 includes a low-voltage power storage battery 302.　 The rated voltage of the low-voltage power storage battery 302 is lower than the rated voltage of the high-voltage power storage battery 300.　 The low-voltage power storage battery 302 is, for example, a lead power storage battery.　 When power is supplied from the low-voltage power storage battery 302 to the power receiver side controller 231, the power receiver side controller 231 becomes operable.

[0035] The power receiver device 100 and the power transmitter device 20 have a configuration for communication between the power receiver device 100 and the power transmitter device 20.　 In detail, the power receiver side coil unit 101 constituting the power receiver device 100 includes a power receiver side communication coil 170 (corresponding to a "power receiver side communication antenna").　 The power receiver side control unit 230 includes a transmitter 240.　 The power receiver side communication coil 170 is a planar coil formed by winding a conductive wire in a planar shape.　 The power receiver side communication coil 170 is provided at the bottom of the vehicle body with the surface direction of the planar coil facing the ground surface.　 In the power receiver device 100, the power receiver coil 102 may also be configured as a planar coil.　 The same may be true for the power transmitter coil 22 and the power transmitter side communication coil 40 of the power transmitter device 20.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the power receiver side coil unit 101 including the power receiver coil 102 and the power receiver side communication coil 170.　 The power receiver coil 102 is configured by combining two types of coils.　 Specifically, the power receiver coil 102 is configured by combining a DD coil 111 and a Q coil 112, and the Q coil 112 is disposed overlapping the center of the DD coil 111.　 The DD coil 111 includes a first coil portion and a second coil portion that is disposed adjacent to the first coil portion and has a winding direction opposite to that of the first coil portion.　 The Q coil 112 is a annular-shaped coil.　 The Q coil 112 is provided to straddle adjacent portions of the first coil portion and the second coil portion of the DD coil 111.　 The power receiver side communication coil 170 is disposed to overlap the power receiver coil 102.　 The power receiver side communication coil 170 is provided in an orientation where the arrangement direction of DD coils 111 is the long side.

[0037] The power transmitter side coil unit 21 constituting the power transmitter device 20 includes the power transmitter side communication coil 40 (corresponding to a "power transmitter side communication antenna").　 The power transmitter side control unit 70 includes a receiver 80.　 The power receiver side communication coil 170 and the power transmitter side communication coil 40 are communication coils for performing short-range wireless communication.　 The short-range wireless communication is communication with a communication distance of less than 10 meters (for example, a maximum of about 3 meters).　 The short-range wireless communication has a shorter communication distance than wide-area wireless communication.

[0038] As the short-range wireless communication, various near field communication methods can be used, and for example, communication conforming to any communication standard established by IEEE, ISO, IEC, or the like is used.　 Specifically, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), radio frequency identification (RFID), or dedicated short range communication (DSRC) is used as the short-range wireless communication.

[0039] The transmitter 240 is connected to the power receiver side controller 231.　 The power receiver side communication coil 170 is connected to the transmitter 240.　 The power receiver side controller 231 controls the transmitter 240 to supply a power supply request signal COMM to the power receiver side communication coil 170.　 The power supply request signal COMM is a signal that requests the power transmitter coil 22 near the vehicle 11 to transmit power to the power receiver coil 102.

[0040] The power receiver side control unit 230 supplies the power receiver side communication coil 170 with the vehicle side signals, including the power supply request signal COMM and the traveling speed of the vehicle 11, in one frame.　 In the present embodiment, the power supply request signal COMM includes ID information of the vehicle 11 and requested power Weq, which is a requested value of power to be supplied to the vehicle 11.　 Therefore, a high-frequency voltage is applied from the transmitter 240 to the power receiver side communication coil 170.　 As a result, a high-frequency current flows through the power receiver side communication coil 170, and a magnetic field for information communication is generated in the power receiver side communication coil 170.

[0041] In the case where the power receiver side coil unit 101 of the vehicle 11 is close to the power transmitter side coil unit 21 on the ground side, when the generated magnetic field interlinks with the power transmitter side communication coil 40, a high-frequency current flows in the power transmitter side communication coil 40.　 This high-frequency current is input to the receiver 80.　 The receiver 80 recognizes the presence or absence of a power supply request and the ID information based on the input signal from the power transmitter side communication coil 40.　 The receiver 80 acquires the requested power Weq of the vehicle 11 having the recognized ID information based on the signal from the power transmitter side communication coil 40.　 The information recognized by the receiver 80 and the requested power Weq are input to the power transmitter side controller 71.

[0042] In the present embodiment, the power receiver side controller 231 controls the transmitter 240 so that the frequency of the high-frequency voltage applied to the power receiver side communication coil 170 becomes a second specified frequency that is equal to or higher than 10 kHz and equal to or lower than 100 GHz.　 In the present embodiment, the second specified frequency is a frequency that is shifted from the first specified frequency, and specifically, is a frequency that is higher than the first specified frequency (specifically, 13.56 MHz).

[0043] The power transmitter side controller 71 determines whether to energize the power transmitter coil 22 based on an input signal from the receiver 80.　 In detail, when it is determined that there is a power supply request based on an input signal from the receiver 80, the power transmitter side controller 71 applies a high-frequency voltage to the power transmitter coil 22 by controlling the switching of the inverter 60 and the PFC circuit 61.　 Therefore, power is transmitted in a wireless manner from the power transmitter coil 22 to the power receiver coil 102.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for illustrating wide-area wireless communication in the wireless power supply system 10.　 In the wireless power supply system 10, each vehicle 11 is capable of communicating with each power transmitter device 20 via a communication network 16.　 The communication network 16 includes, for example, a wide-area network (WAN), which is a public communication network such as the Internet, a telephone communication network for mobile phones, an information and communication network for ETC, and an information and communication network for the vehicle information and communication system (VICS (registered trademark)).　 The wide-area wireless communication is communication with a communication distance of, for example, 10 meters to 10 kilometers.　 The wide-area wireless communication has a longer communication distance than short-area wireless communication.　 Examples of wide-area wireless communication that can be used include 3GPP (registered trademark), 4G, LTE, 5G, and WiMAX (registered trademark) developed by IEEE.

[0045] The vehicle 11 includes a position sensor 330, a navigation device 331, and a communication unit 332.　 The position sensor 330 is a sensor that detects the current position of the vehicle, and is, for example, a GPS sensor.　 The storage unit (for example, storage) of the navigation device 331 stores map information including road information.　 The navigation device 331 receives information on the current position of the vehicle detected by the position sensor 330 and weather information.　 The power transmitter side control unit 70 of the power transmitter device 20 includes a communication unit 90.　 The communication unit 332 of the vehicle 11 and the communication unit 90 of the power transmitter side control unit 70 perform wide-area wireless communication via the communication network 16.

[0046] However, when power is supplied in a wireless manner from the power transmitter coil 22 to the power receiver coil 102, this may affect metal objects constituting the vehicle 11 or metal objects present around the vehicle 11.　 In detail, a magnetic field generated when the power transmitter coil 22 is energized may inductively heat the metal objects.

[0047] When the traveling speed of the vehicle is low, such as when the vehicle is parked at an intersection with a traffic light (for example, a red light) displaying a stop signal, a bus stop, or a taxi pool, the effect of wireless power supply on the metal objects continues for a longer period of time than when the traveling speed of the vehicle is high.　 In order to address this problem, in the present embodiment, when the traveling speed of the vehicle is low, the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced compared to when the traveling speed of the vehicle is high.

[0048] Specifically, the power receiver side control unit 230 sets the intensity of the power supply request signal based on the relationship shown in FIG. 6, for example.　 FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle and the intensity of the power supply request signal.　 In FIG. 6, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set within a predetermined signal intensity range R according to the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle.

[0049] Specifically, when the traveling speed Vsp is higher than a predetermined speed V1, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to an intensity X1, and when the traveling speed Vsp is lower than the predetermined speed V1, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to an intensity smaller than the intensity X1.　 The predetermined speed V1 is a speed threshold for determining that the vehicle 11 is in a predetermined low-speed state, and is, for example, 10 km / h.　 The intensity X1 is the upper limit value of the signal intensity range R.

[0050] When the traveling speed Vsp is lower than the predetermined speed V1, and the traveling speed Vsp is zero, that is, when the vehicle 11 is parked or stopped, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to an intensity X2, which is the lower limit value of the signal intensity range R.　 In the speed range in which the traveling speed Vsp is from zero to V1, a relationship is established where the lower the traveling speed Vsp is, the lower the intensity of the power supply request signal is.　 When the traveling speed Vsp is in an ultra-low speed range including zero speed (for example, 0 to 3 km / h), the intensity of the power supply request signal can be set to the intensity X2 (lower limit value).　 In the speed range in which the traveling speed Vsp is from zero to V1, the intensity of the power supply request signal can be set in multiple stages, such as two stages or three stages.

[0051] The power receiver side control unit 230 adjusts the intensity of the power supply request signal by controlling the amplitude of the high-frequency signal supplied to the power receiver side communication coil 170.　 For example, by reducing the amplitude of the high-frequency signal supplied to the power receiver side communication coil 170, it is possible to reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal.

[0052] The relationship between the traveling speed of the vehicle and the intensity of the power supply request signal may be as shown in FIG. 7 or 8.　 In FIG. 7, the relationship between the traveling speed of the vehicle and the intensity of the power supply request signal changes in a sigmoidal manner.　 In FIG. 8, the relationship between the traveling speed of the vehicle and the intensity of the power supply request signal changes in a stepwise manner.

[0053] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for adjusting the intensity of a power supply request signal.　 This processing is repeatedly executed by the power receiver side controller 231 at a predetermined control period, for example.

[0054] In FIG. 9, in step S11, the traveling speed of the vehicle 11 is acquired.　 The vehicle 11 is provided with a speed sensor that detects the traveling speed of the vehicle 11 based on, for example, the rotation speed of the wheels.　 In the present step, the traveling speed detected by the speed sensor is acquired.

[0055] In the following step S12, it is determined whether the vehicle 11 is in a parked or stopped state, that is, in a state in which the traveling speed is zero.　 When the vehicle 11 is parked or stopped, the process proceeds to step S13.　 In step S13, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to the intensity X2, which is the lower limit value of the signal intensity range R.　 In step S12, processing may be performed to determine whether the traveling speed Vsp is in an ultra-low speed range including zero speed (for example, 0 to 3 km / h).

[0056] Thereafter, in step S14, a user of the vehicle 11 is notified that the signal intensity is reduced.　 This notification may be made, for example, by using a display visible to the user inside the vehicle 11, or by audio.　 Alternatively, the notification may be made via a mobile terminal carried by the user.

[0057] When the vehicle 11 is not parked or stopped, the process proceeds to step S15.　 In step S15, it is determined whether the traveling speed Vsp is lower than the predetermined speed V1 (for example, 10 km / h).　 When the traveling speed Vsp is lower than the predetermined speed V1, the process proceeds to step S16.　 In step S16, it is determined whether the vehicle 11 is decelerating.　 For example, when the traveling speed Vsp gradually decreases over time, it is determined that the vehicle 11 is decelerating.　 Alternatively, it is also possible to determine that the vehicle 11 is decelerating based on map information and the vehicle's position.　 For example, when there is an intersection or a stop sign in front of the vehicle 11 on the road on which the vehicle 11 is driving, it is assumed that the vehicle 11 is in a state in which the vehicle 11 should decelerate, and it is indirectly determined that the vehicle 11 is decelerating.

[0058] When the vehicle 11 is decelerating, the process proceeds to step S17, and when the vehicle 11 is not decelerating, the process proceeds to step S18.　 When the vehicle 11 is accelerating, the result of step S16 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step S18.

[0059] In step S17, it is determined whether the vehicle 11 will come to a stop (that is, whether the vehicle 11 will come to a zero speed state) within a predetermined time from the current time onwards.　 This processing is for predicting whether the required time for the traveling speed Vsp to reach zero when the vehicle 11 is decelerating is longer than a predetermined time.　 The predetermined time is, for example, about several seconds to several tens of seconds.　 For example, the required time may be predicted based on traffic information around the vehicle 11 acquired by road-to-vehicle communication, current position information of the vehicle 11 received by wide-area wireless communication, traveling speed information of the vehicle 11, and road information.

[0060] For example, when the vehicle 11 is decelerating because the traffic light in front of the vehicle 11 is a stop signal (red light), it is considered that the required time for the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle 11 to reach zero will be relatively short.　 In this situation, step S17 is affirmative.　 In addition, step S17 is affirmative when it is recognized from map information, and the like that there is a stop sign in front of the vehicle, or when it is recognized from an image captured by an in-vehicle camera or vehicle-to-vehicle communication that a preceding vehicle is stopped in front of the vehicle.　 In this case, in the wireless power supply, it is preferable to give priority to limiting the effect of the magnetic field from the power transmitter coil 22 in anticipation of the vehicle 11 being stopped in the near future.

[0061] On the other hand, for example, when the vehicle 11 is decelerating due to low-speed traffic congestion occurring in front of the vehicle 11, it is considered that the required time for the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle 11 to reach zero will be relatively long.　 In this case, in anticipation of the vehicle 11 continuing to drive at a low speed, priority may be given to executing wireless power supply.

[0062] When the result of step S17 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S13, and when the result of step S17 is negative, the process proceeds to step S18.　 In step S13, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to the intensity X2, which is the lower limit value of the signal intensity range R.　 That is, when it is predicted that the required time for the traveling speed to reach zero will be shorter than a predetermined time, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to the lower limit value before the traveling speed Vsp reaches zero.

[0063] In step S18, the lower the traveling speed Vsp, the lower the intensity of the power supply request signal is set (see FIG. 6).　 At this time, when the vehicle 11 decelerates to a speed of zero or near zero, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to a smaller intensity as the traveling speed Vsp decreases.　 When the vehicle 11 accelerates from a speed of zero or near zero, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to a smaller intensity as the traveling speed Vsp decreases.

[0064] Step S18 is processing in which, when it is predicted that the required time for the traveling speed to reach zero is longer than a predetermined time, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to a value that is larger than a lower limit value within a predetermined range and that is smaller than the lower limit value as the traveling speed becomes lower.

[0065] When the traveling speed Vsp is higher than the predetermined speed V1, the process proceeds from step S15 to step S19.　 In step S19, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to the intensity X1, which is the upper limit value of the signal intensity range R.

[0066] In FIG. 9, the processing of steps S16 and S17 may be omitted.

[0067] According to the present embodiment described above, the following effects are obtained.

[0068] In the wireless power supply system 10, when the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle 11 is low, the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced compared to when the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle 11 is high, making it more difficult to energize the power transmitter coil 22.　 Therefore, it is possible to limit the effect of wireless power supply on the vehicle 11 or metal objects around the vehicle 11 when the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle 11 is low.　 As a result, it is possible to appropriately supply power in a wireless manner from the power transmitter side to the power receiver side.

[0069] When the traveling speed of the vehicle 11 is equal to or lower than predetermined value and the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced, the degree of effect on the vehicle 11 and metal objects around the vehicle 11 gradually increases as the traveling speed of the vehicle 11 approaches zero when the vehicle 11 is decelerating.　 As the traveling speed of the vehicle 11 increases from zero when the vehicle 11 is accelerating, the degree of effect on the vehicle 11 and metal objects around the vehicle 11 gradually decreases.　 In consideration of this point, when the vehicle 11 decelerates or accelerates near zero speed, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set according to the traveling speed of the vehicle 11.　 Therefore, it is possible to appropriately supply power in a wireless manner according to the driving conditions of the vehicle 11.

[0070] When the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle 11 is zero, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to the lower limit value (intensity X2) of a predetermined range.　 When the vehicle 11 is decelerating, it is predicted whether the required time for the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle 11 to reach zero is longer than a predetermined time, and when it is predicted that the required time is longer than the predetermined time, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to a value that is larger than a lower limit value within a predetermined range and that is smaller than the lower limit value as the traveling speed becomes lower, and when it is predicted that the required time is shorter than the predetermined time, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to the lower limit value.　 Therefore when the vehicle 11 is decelerating, it is possible to supply power appropriately in a wireless manner while taking into consideration the driving conditions of the vehicle 11 from the current time onwards.

[0071] When the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced according to the traveling speed of the vehicle 11, the user of the vehicle 11 is notified that the signal intensity is reduced.　 Therefore, the user of the vehicle 11 can understand the situation of the implementation of wireless power supply.　 Therefore, when a positional misalignment of the vehicle 11 causes a reduction in the intensity of the power supply request signal, it is possible to take measures to improve the situation.

[0072] <Second Embodiment> Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described with reference to drawings, focusing on differences from the first embodiment.　 In the present embodiment, power storage capacity information on the power storage capacity of the high-voltage power storage battery 300 and power consumption information on the power consumption of the electric load are acquired, and a reduction in the intensity of the power supply request signal is allowed based on these power storage capacity information and power consumption information.

[0073] In short, when the intensity of a power supply request signal is reduced, it is considered that the intensity of the power supply request signal received on the ground side will be weak, compared to when the signal intensity is not reduced.　 On the other hand, when the power storage capacity of the high-voltage power storage battery 300 is less than a predetermined value (for example, when the SOC is low), it is desirable to reliably supply power to the vehicle 11 in a wireless manner.　 Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the high-voltage power storage battery 300 has a low SOC, the reduction in the intensity of the power supply request signal is limited in order to give priority to the execution of wireless power supply.　 When the power consumption of the electric load is relatively large, that is, when the requested power is large, the reduction in the intensity of the power supply request signal is limited in order to give priority to the execution of wireless power supply.

[0074] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for adjusting the intensity of a power supply request signal in the present embodiment.　 This processing is a partial modification of the processing shown in FIG. 9, and steps S21 and S22 are added to the processing shown in FIG. 9.

[0075] In FIG. 10, after the processing of step S11, the process proceeds to step S21, where power storage capacity information on the power storage capacity of the high-voltage power storage battery 300 is acquired.　 The power storage capacity information is, for example, the state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage power storage battery 300.　 It is also possible to use the terminal voltage (for example, the open circuit voltage) of the high-voltage power storage battery 300 as the power storage capacity information.

[0076] In step S22, power consumption information on the power consumption of the electric load mounted on the vehicle 11 is acquired.　 The power consumption information is, for example, the power consumption of the rotatary electric machine 320 serving as an electric load.　 In the vehicle 11, the power consumption of the rotatary electric machine 320 increases during high-load driving, such as accelerating with the accelerator depressed or driving uphill.　 The electric load may include other than the rotatary electric machine 320, such as an air conditioning compressor.　 Each electric load can be driven by the power received by the power receiver coil 102.　 Each electric load can be driven by power supply from the high-voltage power storage battery 300 after the high-voltage power storage battery 300 is charged by the power received by the power receiver coil 102, and can also be driven by direct supply of power received by the power receiver coil 102.

[0077] Thereafter, in step S23, it is determined whether the state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage power storage battery 300 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value K1.　 When the power storage capacity is equal to or higher than the predetermined value K1, then in step S24, it is determined whether the power consumption of the vehicle 11 is less than a predetermined value K2.　 Step S24 may be processing of determining that the vehicle 11 is not driving under high load.

[0078] When the results of both steps S23 and S24 are affirmative, the process proceeds to step S12.　 From step S12 onwards, as described above, the processing of variably setting the intensity of the power supply request signal is performed in such a way that when the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle 11 is low, the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced compared to when the traveling speed Vsp is high.　 In this case, the intensity of the power supply request signal is allowed to be reduced, and the intensity of the power supply request signal is variably set based on the traveling speed Vsp.

[0079] On the other hand, when the result of either step S23 or S24 is negative, the process proceeds to step S19.　 In step S19, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to the intensity X1, which is the upper limit value of the signal intensity range R.　 In this case, the intensity of the power supply request signal remains constant regardless of the traveling speed Vsp.　 That is, reduction in the intensity of the power supply request signal is not permitted.

[0080] According to the present embodiment, when the power storage capacity of the high-voltage power storage battery 300 is less than the predetermined value K1 or the power consumption of the vehicle 11 is equal to or higher than the predetermined value K2, priority is given to supplying power to the vehicle 11 reliably in a wireless manner.　 Therefore, it is possible to supply power appropriately in a wireless manner while taking into consideration the power supply request on the vehicle 11 side.

[0081] At least one of the determination processing in steps S23 and S24 may be executed.　 It is also possible to omit the processing in steps S23 and S24.

[0082] <Third Embodiment> Hereinafter, a third embodiment will be described with reference to drawings, focusing on differences from the first embodiment.　 In the present embodiment, the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced depending on the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 on the vehicle side in the longitudinal direction relative to the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 on the ground side in the longitudinal direction.　 The details are described below.

[0083] FIG. 11 is a top view showing the power transmitter coil 22 buried on the ground side and the power receiver coil 102 on the vehicle 11 side overlapping above the power transmitter coil 22.　 The power transmitter coil 22 and the power receiver coil 102 are each a planar coil having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction that are perpendicular to each other in a plan view.　 Each of these coils 22 and 102 is a composite coil formed by combining a DD coil and a Q coil, and has an elongated shape as a whole (see FIG. 4).　 In FIG. 11, the coils 22 and 102 each consisting of a DD coil and a Q coil are simply shown.

[0084] The power transmitter coil 22 is provided in a power supply area E1 on the ground side that enables wireless power supply, with the longitudinal direction aligned in the direction in which the vehicle 11 is guided (the left-right direction in the figure).　 The power supply area E1 is, for example, a road or a parking space.　 Road signs such as white lines extending in the vehicle guiding direction may be painted in the power supply area E1.　 The power receiver coil 102 is mounted on the vehicle 11 with the longitudinal direction oriented in the vehicle traveling direction.

[0085] Here, as shown in FIG. 11, when the vehicle 11 is parked in the power supply area E1, when there is a misalignment in the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 on the vehicle side in the longitudinal direction relative to the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 on the ground side in the longitudinal direction, there is a high concern that the wireless power supply may have adverse effects on the vehicle 11 or the surroundings thereof.　 On the other hand, when the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced, there is a concern that wireless power supply may be stopped even in a situation where wireless power supply is desired.　 Therefore, in the present embodiment, on condition that it is determined whether the orientations of the power transmitter coil 22 and the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal directions are aligned or misaligned, and it is determined that the orientations in the longitudinal directions are misaligned, the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced when the traveling speed of the vehicle 11 is low.

[0086] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for adjusting the intensity of a power supply request signal in the present embodiment.　 The present processing is a partial modification of the processing shown in FIG. 9, and steps S31 and S32 are added to the processing shown in FIG. 9.

[0087] In FIG. 12, when it is determined in step S12 that the vehicle 11 is parked or stopped, the process proceeds to step S31.　 In step S31, orientation information on the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is acquired.　 The orientation information may be information recognized based on an image of the area in front of the vehicle captured by an in-vehicle camera in the vehicle 11, for example.　 In this case, road signs such as white lines may be recognized from the captured image, and the inclination of the vehicle traveling direction relative to the road signs may be acquired as orientation information.　 The orientation information may be acquired from the position information of the vehicle 11, map information, and the like.

[0088] Thereafter, in step S32, it is determined whether the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is aligned with the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 in the longitudinal direction.　 Specifically, in FIG. 11, it is determined whether an angle θ between the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 in the longitudinal direction and the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a predetermined angle threshold.　 The angle threshold may be, for example, about 10 to 30 degrees.

[0089] When it is determined that the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is not aligned with the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 in the longitudinal direction, the process proceeds to step S13.　 In step S13, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to the intensity X2, which is the lower limit value of the signal intensity range R.　 In other words, on condition that it is determined that the orientations of the power transmitter coil 22 and the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction are misaligned with each other, the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced when the traveling speed of the vehicle 11 is low.

[0090] On the other hand, when it is determined that the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is aligned with the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 in the longitudinal direction, the process proceeds to step S19.　 In step S19, the intensity of the power supply request signal is set to the intensity X1, which is the upper limit value of the signal intensity range R.　 In this case, the intensity of the power supply request signal remains constant regardless of the traveling speed Vsp.

[0091] According to the present embodiment, it is possible to preferably reduce adverse effects on the vehicle 11 caused by the wireless power supply while preventing the wireless power supply from being excessively restricted.

[0092] In step S32, the following method may be used to determine whether the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is aligned with the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 in the longitudinal direction.　 For example, while power is being supplied in a wireless manner from the power transmitter coil 22 to the power receiver coil 102, it may be determined whether the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is aligned with the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 in the longitudinal direction based on the power received on the power receiver coil 102 side.

[0093] In other words, as shown in FIG. 11, when the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is misaligned with the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 in the longitudinal direction, the amount of power received by the power receiver coil 102 on the vehicle 11 side decreases when power is supplied from the power transmitter coil 22 on the ground side.　 Therefore, the power receiver side controller 231 determines whether the power received on the power receiver coil 102 side is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.　 When the power received on the power receiver coil 102 side is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, it is determined that the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is aligned with the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 in the longitudinal direction.　 When the power received on the power receiver coil 102 side is less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is not aligned with the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 in the longitudinal direction.

[0094] Specifically, the power receiver side controller 231 acquires at least one of the current flowing through the high-voltage power storage battery 300, the current flowing through the power receiver coil 102, and the voltage applied to the power receiver coil 102 when power is supplied in a wireless manner, as information indicating the power received on the power receiver coil 102 side.　 When at least one of the current flowing through the high-voltage power storage battery 300, the current flowing through the power receiver coil 102, and the voltage applied to the power receiver coil 102 is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, it is determined that the orientation of the power receiver coil 102 in the longitudinal direction is not aligned with the orientation of the power transmitter coil 22 in the longitudinal direction.

[0095] <Other Embodiments> The above embodiments may be changed and carried out as follows.

[0096] The relationship between the traveling speed Vsp of the vehicle and the intensity of the power supply request signal may be as shown in FIG. 13.　 Here, the power receiver side control unit 230 acquires power storage capacity information (for example, SOC) on the power storage capacity of the high-voltage power storage battery 300, and changes the relationship between the traveling speed Vsp and the intensity of the power supply request signal based on the power storage capacity of the high-voltage power storage battery 300.

[0097] In FIG. 13, the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced within a speed range in which the traveling speed Vsp is equal to or lower than the predetermined speed V1.　 Within the speed range equal to or lower than V1, a relationship is established in which the intensity of the power supply request signal is relatively small when the high-voltage power storage battery 300 has a high SOC, and the intensity of the power supply request signal is relatively large when the high-voltage power storage battery 300 has a low SOC.　 Specifically, the intensity of the power supply request signal at zero speed is X21, X22, and X23, in order from the highest SOC (X21 < X22 < X23).　 Therefore, when the vehicle 11 is in a low-speed state and the SOC is high, priority is given to reducing the adverse effects of wireless power supply on the surrounding area of the vehicle, and the like, and when the SOC is low, priority is given to charging the high-voltage power storage battery 300 via wireless power supply.

[0098] The relationship between the traveling speed Vsp and the intensity of the power supply request signal may be as shown in FIG. 14.　 Here, the power receiver side control unit 230 acquires power consumption information on the amount of power consumed by the electrical loads in the vehicle 11, and changes the relationship between the traveling speed Vsp and the intensity of the power supply request signal based on the amount of power consumption.

[0099] In FIG. 14, the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced within a speed range in which the traveling speed Vsp is equal to or lower than the predetermined speed V1.　 Within the speed range equal to or lower than V1, a relationship is established in which when the power consumption in the vehicle 11 is low, the intensity of the power supply request signal is relatively low, and when the power consumption is high, the intensity of the power supply request signal is relatively high.　 Specifically, the intensity of the power supply request signal at zero speed is X21, X22, and X23 in order from the side with the least power consumption (X21 < X22 < X23).　 Therefore, when the vehicle 11 is in a low-speed state and the power consumption is low, priority is given to reducing the adverse effects of wireless power supply on the surrounding area of the vehicle, and the like, and when the power consumption is high, priority is given to charging the high-voltage power storage battery 300 via wireless power supply.

[0100] The configurations of the power transmitter coil 22 on the ground side and the power receiver coil 102 on the vehicle 11 side will be supplemented.　 For example, it is possible to use a DD coil as the power transmitter coil 22 on the ground side, and to use a composite coil formed by combining a DD coil and a Q coil as the power receiver coil 102 on the vehicle 11 side.　 Here, the DD coil is a coil in which a conducting wire is wound in the shape of a figure of 8, and currents flow in the opposite direction to each other in the two annular portions, which has the effect of reducing the leakage of the magnetic flux.　 However, when a DD coil is used as the power transmitter coil 22 on the ground side, there is a concern that power may be not supplied properly in a wireless manner unless the DD coil is aligned with the vehicle side.　 In this regard, in a wireless power supply system that assumes power supply while the vehicle 11 is driving, the power receiver coil 102 on the vehicle 11 side is a composite coil formed by combining a DD coil and a Q coil, thereby reducing the inconvenience caused by the positional misalignment.

[0101] Unlike the above, when the wireless power supply system mainly supplies power while the vehicle is stopped, both the power transmitter coil 22 on the ground side and the power receiver coil 102 on the vehicle 11 side can be DD coils.　 By using DD coils for both the coils 22 and 102, the power receiver circuit for the Q coil can be omitted, which reduces the cost and the size of the in-vehicle device.　 In this case, the stopping position of the vehicle is specified and the positional misalignment of the vehicle is reduced, thereby reducing the inconvenience caused by the positional misalignment.　 For example, the power transmitter side may perform positional alignment based on the reception state of a power supply request signal from the power receiver side.

[0102] The wireless power supply system may have a second function of supplying power in a wireless manner from a vehicle-side device to a device on the ground side, in addition to a first function of supplying power in a wireless manner from a device on the ground side to a vehicle-side device.　 In this case, the power receiver device 100 on the vehicle side has a power transmitting function in addition to a power receiving function.　 The power transmitter device 20 on the ground side has a power receiving function in addition to a power transmitting function.　 The second function will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.

[0103] The power receiver side controller 231 applies a high-frequency AC voltage to the power receiver coil 102 by controlling the switching of the rectifier circuit 200.　 Therefore, a high-frequency current flows through the power receiver coil 102, and a magnetic field for power transmission is generated in the power receiver coil 102.

[0104] When the magnetic field generated in the power receiver coil 102 interlinks with the power transmitter coil 22, a high-frequency current that fluctuates with the frequency of the high-frequency current flowing through the power receiver coil 102 flows through the power transmitter coil 22.　 The high-frequency current flowing through the power transmitter coil 22 is supplied to the AC power source 15 via the power transmitter side resonant circuit 30, the filter circuit 52, the inverter 60, and the PFC circuit 61.　 In this case, the power transmitter side controller 71 controls the switching of the inverter 60 and the PFC circuit 61.

[0105] In the wireless power supply system having the second function, for example, the power transmitter device 20 may include a transmitter that supplies a power supply request signal to the power transmitter side communication coil 40.　 The power receiver device 100 may include a receiver that receives the power supply request signal received by the power receiver side communication coil 170 and inputs the signal to the power receiver side controller 231.

[0106] The wireless power supply system may have a function of supplying power in a wireless manner from a vehicle-side device to a device on the ground side, instead of the function of supplying power in a wireless manner from a device on the ground side to a vehicle-side device.

[0107] The power receiver side communication antenna and the power transmitter side communication antenna are not limited to communication coils, and various antennas may be used.　 For example, the communication antenna is a dipole antenna or a monopole antenna.

[0108] The method of wireless power transmission by the power transmitter antenna and the power receiver antenna is not limited to the magnetic field resonance method, and may be an electric field coupling method.　 In this case, a power transmitter antenna and a power receiver antenna that are different in form from coils and that use an electric field coupling method may be used.

[0109] The vehicle on which the power receiver device 100 is mounted is not limited to a vehicle that drives on the road RS, and may be, for example, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) or a driving robot.　 In this case, the power transmitter side coil unit 21 does not need to be buried in the road RS, but may be installed on a sidewalk adjacent to the road RS, in a parking lot, or on a route along which the AGV drives.

[0110] The control units and methods thereof described in the present disclosure may be implemented by a dedicated computer including a processor programmed to execute multiple functions embodied by a computer program and a memory.　 Alternatively, the control units and the methods thereof described in the present disclosure may be implemented by a dedicated computer including a processor with one or more dedicated hardware logic circuits.　 Alternatively, the control unit and the method described in the present disclosure may be implemented by one or more dedicated computers including a combination of a processor and a memory programmed to execute one or multiple functions and a processor including one or more hardware logic circuits.　 The computer program may be stored in a computer-readable non-transitory tangible storage medium, as an instruction executed by a computer.

[0111] The present disclosure is described based on the examples, and it is understood that present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments or the structures.　 The present disclosure includes various modification examples and modifications within the equivalent scope.　 Although various combinations and forms are set forth in the present disclosure, other combinations and configurations, including only one element, more, or less, are also intended to fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0112] The technical ideas extracted from the above-described embodiments will be described below. (Configuration 1) A power receiver device (100) is to be applied to a wireless power supply system in which one of devices on a ground side and a vehicle (11) side is a power transmitter device (20) including a power transmitter antenna (22), and another device is the power receiver device (100) including a power receiver antenna (102).　 The power receiver device is configured to transmit a power supply request signal to request power supply to the power transmitter device.　 The power transmitter device is configured to supply power to the power receiver antenna in a wireless manner by energizing the power transmitter antenna upon receiving the power supply request signal. 　The power receiver device is configured to wirelessly transmit the power supply request signal to a power transmitter side communication antenna (40) provided in the power transmitter device by a power receiver side communication antenna (170). 　The power receiver device includes: a power receiver side control unit (230) configured to cause the power receiver side communication antenna to transmit the power supply request signal.　 The power receiver side control unit is configured to reduce an intensity of the power supply request signal when a traveling speed of the vehicle is low, compared to when the traveling speed of the vehicle is high. (Configuration 2) The power receiver device according to configuration 1, in which, when the vehicle decelerates to a speed of zero or near zero, or when the vehicle accelerates from a speed of zero or near zero, the power receiver side control unit is configured to reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal as the traveling speed becomes lower. (Configuration 3) The power receiver device according to configuration 1 or 2, in which the intensity of the power supply request signal is settable within a predetermined range.　 The power receiver side control unit is configured to set the intensity of the power supply request signal to a lower limit value in the predetermined range when the traveling speed of the vehicle is zero, predict whether a required time for the traveling speed of the vehicle to reach zero is longer than a predetermined time when the vehicle is decelerating, set the intensity of the power supply request signal to a value that is larger than the lower limit value within the predetermined range and that is smaller as the traveling speed becomes lower, when predicting the required time to be longer than the predetermined time, and set the intensity of the power supply request signal to the lower limit value when predicting the required time to be shorter than the predetermined time. (Configuration 4) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, in which the power receiver device is mounted on the vehicle.　 The vehicle has a power storage battery (300) configured to be charged by power received by the power receiver antenna.　 The power receiver side control unit is configured to acquire power storage capacity information on a power storage capacity of the power storage battery, and reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal on condition that the acquired power storage capacity of the power storage battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. (Configuration 5) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, in which the power receiver device is mounted on the vehicle.　 The vehicle has an electric load (320) configured to be driven by power received by the power receiver antenna.　 The power receiver side control unit is configured to acquire power consumption information on power consumption by the electric load, and reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal on condition that the acquired power consumption is less than a predetermined value. (Configuration 6) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, in which the power receiver device is mounted on the vehicle.　 The power receiver antenna and the power transmitter antenna are planar coils each having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to each other in a plan view.　 The power receiver antenna is mounted on the vehicle with the longitudinal direction oriented in a vehicle traveling direction.　 The power receiver side control unit is configured to determine whether the longitudinal directions of the power transmitter antenna and the power receiver antenna are aligned or misaligned in orientation with each other, and reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal when the traveling speed of the vehicle is low on condition that the power receiver side control unit determines that the longitudinal directions are misaligned in orientation. (Configuration 7) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, in which the power receiver side communication antenna and the power transmitter side communication antenna are communication coils for short-range wireless communication. (Configuration 8) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, in which the power receiver device is mounted on the vehicle.　 The vehicle has a power storage battery (300) configured to be charged by power received by the power receiver antenna.　 The power receiver side control unit is configured to reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal within a speed range in which the traveling speed of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed, acquire power storage capacity information on a power storage capacity of the power storage battery, and change a relationship between the traveling speed of the vehicle and the intensity of the power supply request signal based on the acquired power storage capacity of the power storage battery. (Configuration 9) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, in which the power receiver device is mounted on the vehicle.　 The vehicle has an electric load (320) configured to be driven by power received by the power receiver antenna.　 The power receiver side control unit is configured to reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal within a speed range in which the traveling speed of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed, acquire power consumption information on power consumption by the electric load, and change a relationship between the traveling speed of the vehicle and the intensity of the power supply request signal based on the acquired power consumption. (Configuration 10) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, in which when reducing the intensity of the power supply request signal according to the traveling speed of the vehicle, the power receiver side control unit is configured to notify a user of the vehicle that the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced.

Claims

1. A power receiver device (100) to be applied to a wireless power supply system in which one of devices on a ground side and a vehicle (11) side is a power transmitter device (20) including a power transmitter antenna (22), and another device is the power receiver device (100) including a power receiver antenna (102), the power receiver device configured to transmit a power supply request signal to request power supply to the power transmitter device, the power transmitter device configured to supply power to the power receiver antenna in a wireless manner by energizing the power transmitter antenna upon receiving the power supply request signal, the power receiver device configured to wirelessly transmit the power supply request signal to a power transmitter side communication antenna (40) provided in the power transmitter device by a power receiver side communication antenna (170), the power receiver device comprising: 　　　　　　 a power receiver side control unit (230) configured to cause the power receiver side communication antenna to transmit the power supply request signal, wherein 　　　　　　 the power receiver side control unit is configured to reduce an intensity of the power supply request signal when a traveling speed of the vehicle is low, compared to when the traveling speed of the vehicle is high.

2. The power receiver device according to claim 1, wherein 　　　　　　 when the vehicle decelerates to a speed of zero or near zero, or when the vehicle accelerates from a speed of zero or near zero, the power receiver side control unit is configured to reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal as the traveling speed becomes lower.

3. The power receiver device according to claim 1, wherein 　　　　　　 the intensity of the power supply request signal is settable within a predetermined range, and 　　　　　　 the power receiver side control unit is configured to 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 set the intensity of the power supply request signal to a lower limit value in the predetermined range when the traveling speed of the vehicle is zero, 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 predict whether a required time for the traveling speed of the vehicle to reach zero is longer than a predetermined time when the vehicle is decelerating, 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 set the intensity of the power supply request signal to a value that is larger than the lower limit value within the predetermined range and that is smaller as the traveling speed becomes lower, when predicting the required time to be longer than the predetermined time, and 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 set the intensity of the power supply request signal to the lower limit value when predicting the required time to be shorter than the predetermined time.

4. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 　　　　　　 the power receiver device is mounted on the vehicle, 　　　　　　 the vehicle has a power storage battery (300) configured to be charged by power received by the power receiver antenna, and 　　　　　　 the power receiver side control unit is configured to 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 acquire power storage capacity information on a power storage capacity of the power storage battery, and 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal on condition that the acquired power storage capacity of the power storage battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

5. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 　　　　　　 the power receiver device is mounted on the vehicle, 　　　　　　 the vehicle has an electric load (320) configured to be driven by power received by the power receiver antenna, and 　　　　　　 the power receiver side control unit is configured to 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 acquire power consumption information on power consumption by the electric load, and 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal on condition that the acquired power consumption is less than a predetermined value.

6. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 　　　　　　 the power receiver device is mounted on the vehicle, 　　　　　　 the power receiver antenna and the power transmitter antenna are planar coils each having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to each other in a plan view, 　　　　　　 the power receiver antenna is mounted on the vehicle with the longitudinal direction oriented in a vehicle traveling direction, and 　　　　　　 the power receiver side control unit is configured to 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 determine whether the longitudinal directions of the power transmitter antenna and the power receiver antenna are aligned or misaligned in orientation with each other, and 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal when the traveling speed of the vehicle is low on condition that the power receiver side control unit determines that the longitudinal directions are misaligned in orientation.

7. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 　　　　　　 the power receiver side communication antenna and the power transmitter side communication antenna are communication coils for short-range wireless communication.

8. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 　　　　　　 the power receiver device is mounted on the vehicle, 　　　　　　 the vehicle has a power storage battery (300) configured to be charged by power received by the power receiver antenna, and 　　　　　　 the power receiver side control unit is configured to 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal within a speed range in which the traveling speed of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed, 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 acquire power storage capacity information on a power storage capacity of the power storage battery, and 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 change a relationship between the traveling speed of the vehicle and the intensity of the power supply request signal based on the acquired power storage capacity of the power storage battery.

9. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 　　　　　　 the power receiver device is mounted on the vehicle, 　　　　　　 the vehicle has an electric load (320) configured to be driven by power received by the power receiver antenna, and 　　　　　　 the power receiver side control unit is configured to 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 reduce the intensity of the power supply request signal within a speed range in which the traveling speed of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed, 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 acquire power consumption information on power consumption by the electric load, and 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 change a relationship between the traveling speed of the vehicle and the intensity of the power supply request signal based on the acquired power consumption.

10. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 　　　　　　 when reducing the intensity of the power supply request signal according to the traveling speed of the vehicle, the power receiver side control unit is configured to notify a user of the vehicle that the intensity of the power supply request signal is reduced.

11. A program to be applied to a power receiver device (100) including a power receiver antenna (102), the power receiver antenna configured to be supplied with power in a wireless manner from a power transmitter antenna (22) of a power transmitter device (20), one of the power receiver device and the power transmitter device mounted on a vehicle (11), and another device provided on a ground side, the power receiver device including a power receiver side communication antenna (170) for wireless communication with the power transmitter device and a power receiver side control unit (230) configured to cause the power receiver side communication antenna to transmit a power supply request signal to request power supply to a power transmitter device, the power transmitter device including a power transmitter side communication antenna (40) for wireless communication with the power receiver device and configured to energize the power transmitter antenna to supply power to the power receiver antenna in a wireless manner when the power transmitter side communication antenna receives the power supply request signal, 　　　　　　 the program configured to carry out: 　　　　　　 executing a process to cause the power receiver side control unit to 　　　　　　 　　　　　　 perform processing to reduce an intensity of the power supply request signal when a traveling speed of the vehicle is low, compared to when the traveling speed is high.

12. A control method for a power receiver device (100) including a power receiver antenna (102), the power receiver antenna configured to be supplied with power in a wireless manner from a power transmitter antenna (22) of a power transmitter device (20), one of the power receiver device and the power transmitter device mounted on a vehicle (11), and another device provided on a ground side, the power receiver device including a power receiver side communication antenna (170) for wireless communication with the power transmitter device and a power receiver side control unit (230) configured to cause the power receiver side communication antenna to transmit a power supply request signal to request power supply to a power transmitter device, the power transmitter device including a power transmitter side communication antenna (40) for wireless communication with the power receiver device and configured to energize the power transmitter antenna to supply power to the power receiver antenna in a wireless manner when the power transmitter side communication antenna receives the power supply request signal, 　　　　　　 the control method comprising: 　　　　　　 executing a process to cause the power receiver side control unit to 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 reduce an intensity of the power supply request signal when a traveling speed of the vehicle is low, compared to when the traveling speed is high.

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