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

Abstract

A wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter device having a power transmitter coil, and a power receiver device having a power receiver side coil unit (101) and provided to a vehicle (400), in which the power receiver side coil units (101) are provided side by side at multiple positions of the vehicle body of the vehicle (400) facing the ground surface. A power receiver side control unit provided to the power receiver device executes a process to differentiate a usage mode of a power receiver coil, among the power receiver coils of each power receiver side coil unit (101), for receiving power transmitted from the power transmitter coil, between when the vehicle (400) travels and when the vehicle (400) is stopped.

Description

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

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Application No. 2025-019564 filed on February 07, 2025, 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] In the related art, as described in, for example, Patent Literature 1, a wireless power transfer system is known, which includes a power transmitting circuit having a power transmitter coil disposed in a traveling route of a vehicle, and a power receiving circuit having a power receiver coil and provided to the vehicle, for performing wireless power transfer from the power transmitter coil to the power receiver coil.

[0004] JP2024-122073A

[0005] There is a power receiver device in which multiple power receiver antennas are provided side by side at positions of the vehicle body of a vehicle facing the ground surface. In this power receiver device, it is desired to appropriately control wireless power transfer.

[0006] The primary object of the present disclosure is to provide a power receiver device, a program, and a control method for the power receiver device that can appropriately control wireless power transfer.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a power receiver device is applicable to a wireless power transfer system. The wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter device, which is a ground side device and includes a power transmitter antenna, and a power receiver device, which is provided to a vehicle and includes a power receiver antenna. The power receiver device includes a power receiver side communication antenna configured to transmit a power transfer request signal for requesting power transfer to a power transmitter side communication antenna of the power transmitter device. The wireless power transfer system is configured to supply power to the power receiver antenna in a wireless manner by energizing the power transmitter antenna, when the power transmitter device receives the power transfer request signal. The power receiver antenna is one of a plurality of power receiver antennas provided side by side at positions of a vehicle body of the vehicle facing a ground surface. The power receiver device comprises: a power receiver side control unit configured to execute a control process to differentiate a usage mode of the power receiver antenna among the power receiver antennas for receiving power transmitted from the power transmitter antenna between a usage mode while the vehicle travels and a usage mode while the vehicle is stopped.

[0008] In power transfer while the vehicle travels, wireless power transfer may be performed with a larger displacement of a power receiver antenna in the vehicle width direction relative to a ground side power transmitter antenna, compared to power transfer while the vehicle is stopped. According to the present disclosure, the usage mode of the power receiver antenna for receiving power transmitted from the power transmitter antenna is differentiated between when power transfer during traveling is performed and when power transfer while stopped is performed. This enables appropriate control of wireless power transfer.

[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.FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a wireless power transfer system according to a first embodiment.FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the wireless power transfer system.FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a power transmitter device and a power receiver device.FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of wide-area wireless communication between the power transmitter device and a vehicle.FIG. 5 is a side view of the vehicle.FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the vehicle.FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a coil usage differentiation process executed by the power receiver device.FIG. 8 is a top view showing an example of the arrangement of power transmitter side coil units used for power transfer while stopped.FIG. 9 is a top view showing an example of the arrangement of power transmitter side coil units used for power transfer during traveling.FIG. 10 is a diagram for illustrating lateral displacement of the vehicle.FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a process executed by the power receiver device.FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a process executed by the power transmitter device.FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a case where another vehicle travels in an adjacent lane of a subject vehicle according to a second embodiment.FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a selection mode of power receiver side communication coils for which signal transmission is prohibited.FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a transmission prohibition process executed by the power receiver device.FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a requested power reduction process executed by a power receiver device according to a third embodiment.FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a requested power reduction mode.FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a transmission prohibition process executed by a power receiver device according to a fourth embodiment.FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a selection mode of power receiver side communication coils for which signal transmission is prohibited.FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a selection mode of power receiver side communication coils for which signal transmission is prohibited.FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a selection mode of power receiver side communication coils for which signal transmission is prohibited, according to a modification example of the fourth embodiment.FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a selection mode of power receiver side communication coils for which signal transmission is prohibited, according to the modification example of the fourth embodiment.FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a selection mode of power receiver side communication coils for which signal transmission is prohibited, according to the modification example of the fourth embodiment.FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a requested power reduction process executed by a power receiver device according to a fifth embodiment.FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a requested power reduction mode.FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a requested power reduction mode according to a modification example of the fifth embodiment.FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a requested power reduction mode according to the modification example of the fifth embodiment.FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a transmission prohibition process executed by a power receiver device according to a sixth embodiment.FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a selection mode of power receiver side communication coils for which signal transmission is prohibited.FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a requested power reduction process executed by a power receiver device according to a seventh embodiment.FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a requested power reduction mode.FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a transmission prohibition process executed by a power receiver device according to an eighth embodiment.FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a selection mode of power receiver side communication coils for which signal transmission is prohibited.FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a requested power reduction process executed by a power receiver device according to a ninth embodiment.FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of a requested power reduction mode.FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a relationship between the bottom surface side of a vehicle body and a power transmitter coil according to a tenth embodiment.FIG. 37 is a flowchart of a transmission prohibition process executed by a power receiver device.FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a relationship between the bottom surface side of a vehicle body and a power transmitter coil according to an eleventh embodiment.FIG. 39 is a flowchart of a transmission prohibition process executed by a power receiver device.

[0010] Multiple embodiments will be described with reference to the 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 related portions, reference may be made to the description of other embodiments.

[0011] <First Embodiment> A first embodiment of a wireless power transfer system according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] First, the overall configuration of the wireless power transfer system will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a wireless power transfer 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 traveling on a road RS. The vehicle 11 is, for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. While the vehicle 11 is traveling or stopped, power is supplied from the power transmitter device 20 to the power receiver device 100. The wireless power transfer system 10 performs wireless power transfer from the power transmitter device 20 to the power receiver device 100 by magnetic field resonant coupling (magnetic field resonance). The wireless power transfer system 10 is also called a dynamic wireless power transfer (D-WPT) system.

[0013] The power transmitter device 20 is a ground side device 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) in 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 disposed side by side 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 four power transmitter side coil units 21.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] The inverter 60 is connected to the PFC circuit 61. The DC power input from the PFC circuit 61 is converted to AC power by switching control of the switching elements (for example, IGBTs or MOSFETs) S1H, S1L, S2H, S2L provided in the inverter 60.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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. 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 resonance capacitor can be used.

[0019] 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 facing the ground surface. When the vehicle 11 travels 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.

[0020] 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 resonance capacitor can be used.

[0021] The power receiver device 100 includes a filter circuit 182, a rectifier circuit 200 that functions as an AC / DC converter 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.

[0022] 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).

[0023] 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.

[0024] The vehicle 11 includes a driving inverter 310 and a rotary 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 rotary 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. Therefore, the rotor of the rotary electric machine 320 rotates, and wheels 12 (drive wheels) of the vehicle 11 rotate by the rotational power of the rotor. As a result, the vehicle 11 travels. In the present embodiment, the high-voltage power storage battery 300 and the driving inverter 310 correspond to "power transfer target devices".

[0025] 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 control device 71. The power transmitter side control device 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.

[0026] The storage unit includes a memory and storage as hardware. The memory is a storage device for storing data used in the processing of the power transmitter side control device 71. The memory provides the processor with, for example, a working area for temporary use when the processor executes 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.

[0027] The power receiver side power source unit 181 constituting the power receiver device 100 includes a power receiver side control device 231. The power receiver side control device 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.

[0028] The storage unit includes a memory and storage as hardware. The memory is a storage device for storing data used in the processing of the power receiver side control device 231. The memory provides the processor with, for example, a working area for temporary use when the processor executes 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.

[0029] The power receiver device 100 includes a temperature sensor 311. The temperature sensor 311 detects the temperature of various components of the vehicle 11 (specifically, for example, wheels, vehicle body, or components of the power receiver device 100). The detected value of the temperature sensor 311 is input to the power receiver side control device 231.

[0030] The power transmitter side control device 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.

[0031] In the present embodiment, the power transmitter side control device 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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 control device 231, the power receiver side control device 231 becomes operable.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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 3 meters). The short-range wireless communication has a shorter communication distance than wide-area wireless communication.

[0036] As the short-range wireless communication, various near field communication methods can be used, and for example, communication conforming to any communication standard defined 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.

[0037] The transmitter 240 is connected to the power receiver side control device 231. The power receiver side communication coil 170 is connected to the transmitter 240. The power receiver side control device 231 controls the transmitter 240 to supply a power transfer request signal COMM to the power receiver side communication coil 170. The power transfer 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.

[0038] The power receiver side control unit 230 supplies the power receiver side communication coil 170 with vehicle side signals including the power transfer request signal COMM in one frame. 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. In the present embodiment, the power transfer request signal includes ID information, which is identification information identifying the vehicle 11, and requested power Weq, which is the requested value of power transfer to the vehicle 11.

[0039] When 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 magnetic field generated from the power receiver side communication coil 170 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 transfer 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 control device 71.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the power receiver side control device 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).

[0041] The power transmitter side control device 71 determines whether to energize the power transmitter coil 22 based on an input signal from the receiver 80. In detail, the power transmitter side control device 71 applies high-frequency voltage to the power transmitter coil 22 by switching and controlling the inverter 60 and the PFC circuit 61 so that the power received by the power receiver coil 102 becomes the requested power Weq, on condition that it is determined that there is a power transfer request based on the input signal from the receiver 80.

[0042] In detail, when it is determined that there is no power transfer request, the power transmitter side control device 71 stops the switching control of the PFC circuit 61 and the inverter 60. The switching elements of the PFC circuit 61 and the inverter 60 are kept off and the power transmitter coil 22 is not energized.

[0043] On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a power transfer request, the power transmitter side control device 71 applies a high-frequency voltage to the power transmitter coil 22 by performing switching control of the PFC circuit 61 and the inverter 60 for a predetermined period of time. Therefore, a high-frequency current flows through the power transmitter coil 22 for a predetermined period of time. In this case, power is supplied in a wireless manner from the power transmitter coil 22 to the power receiver coil 102 that faces the power transmitter coil 22 in the vertical direction. After energizing the power transmitter coil 22 for a predetermined period of time, the power transmitter side control device 71 does not energize the power transmitter coil 22 until the next time it is determined that there is a power transfer request.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for illustrating wide-area wireless communication in the wireless power transfer system 10. In the wireless power transfer 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 has a longer communication distance than short-range wireless communication. The wide-area wireless communication is communication with a communication distance of, for example, 10 meters to 10 kilometers. Examples of wide-area wireless communication that can be used include 3GPP (registered trademark), 4G, LTE, 5G, and WiMAX (registered trademark) defined 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] The wireless power transfer system 10 includes a server 410. The server 410 is a cloud server, for example, and includes a server control device 411 and a communication unit 412. The server control device 411 is an electronic control unit (ECU) that performs various controls of the server 410 and includes a processor as hardware, a storage unit, and a communication bus connecting the processor and storage unit. The storage unit includes a memory and storage as hardware. The memory is a storage device for storing data used in the processing of the server control device 411. The memory provides the processor with, for example, a working area for temporary use when the processor executes 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.

[0047] The server control device 411 is connected to the communication unit 412. The server control device 411 performs wide-area wireless communication with the communication unit 332 of the vehicle 11 and the communication unit 90 of the power transmitter side control unit 70 via the communication unit 412 and the communication network 16.

[0048] For example, program information stored in a non-transitory tangible storage medium is installed in the storage units of the power receiver side control device 231, the power transmitter side control device 71 and the server control device 411. The storage medium is, for example, a USB memory, a CD-ROM, or a DVD. For example, program information transmitted via a communication network 16, such as over the air (OTA), is installed in the storage unit.

[0049] By the way, there is a vehicle in which multiple power receiver side coil units 101 are provided side by side at positions of the vehicle body of the vehicle facing the ground surface. Such vehicles are, for example, large vehicles such as trucks or articulated trucks that are coupled to a tractor, which is a towing vehicle, and a trailer, which is a non-towing vehicle. FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of such a vehicle 400. The vehicle 400 includes a cab 401 and a vehicle body unit 402 in which the power receiver side coil unit 101 is provided. Hereinafter, the vehicle longitudinal direction of the vehicle 400 is referred to as an X direction, the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 400 as a Y direction, and the vertical direction as a Z direction.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, multiple power receiver side coil units 101 are provided side by side in the X direction and the Y direction. In the present embodiment, three power receiver side coil units 101 are provided side by side in the X direction and the Y direction. In the present embodiment, the power receiver side power source unit 181 is provided corresponding to each power receiver side coil unit 101. Each power receiver side power source unit 181 is connected to the high-voltage power storage battery 300 via high and low potential side main switches 301H and 301L. In the present embodiment, for convenience of description, it is assumed that the rectifier circuit 200 and the transmitter 240 provided in each power receiver side power source unit 181 are controlled by the common power receiver side control device 231. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the rectifier circuit 200 and the transmitter 240 provided in each power receiver side power source unit 181 may be controlled by the power receiver side control device 231 provided in each power receiver side power source unit 181.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the center of the vehicle body in the Y direction, a front middle unit 110FM, a middle unit 110MM, and a rear middle unit 110RM are provided as the power receiver side coil units 101, in order from the front of the vehicle 400 in the X direction. A front side unit 110FS, a middle side unit 110MS, and a rear side unit 110RS are provided as the power receiver side coil units 101 at both ends of the vehicle body in the Y direction relative to the center.

[0052] The power receiver side control device 231 (specifically, a processor provided in the power receiver side control device 231) executes a process to differentiate which of the power receiver side coil units 101 is to be used depending on whether the vehicle 400 is in a traveling mode or a stopped mode. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of this process.

[0053] In step S10, the power receiver side control device 231 determines whether the current mode is the traveling mode or the stopped mode. The traveling mode is, for example, a mode in which the vehicle 400 is traveling on an ordinary road or an expressway. The stopped mode is, for example, a mode in which the vehicle 400 is parked or stopped in a parking lot or the vehicle 400 is temporarily stopped in response to a stop signal of a traffic light (specifically, for example, a red light). For example, the power receiver side control device 231 may determine whether the current mode is the traveling mode or the stopped mode based on the detected value of a vehicle speed sensor that detects the traveling speed of the vehicle 400.

[0054] When it is determined that the vehicle is in the stopped mode, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S11 to select one of the power receiver side coil units 101 to be used in the stopped mode. The power receiver side control device 231 permits the transmission of a power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication coil 170 included in the selected power receiver side coil unit among the power receiver side coil units 101. On the other hand, the power receiver side control device 231 prohibits the transmission of a power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication coil 170 included in the unselected power receiver side coil unit among the power receiver side coil units 101.

[0055] FIG. 8 shows an example of the power transmitter side coil unit 21 used in the stopped mode. Multiple power transmitter side coil units 21 are provided side by side in the X direction and the Y direction, and specifically, three power transmitter side coil units 21 are provided side by side in the X direction and the Y direction. In the example shown in FIG. 8, all nine power receiver side coil units 101 are selected in the stopped mode. When the vehicle 400 is parked or stopped, each power receiver side coil unit 101 faces the corresponding power transmitter side coil unit 21 in the vertical direction.

[0056] Returning to the description of FIG. 7 above, when it is determined in step S10 that the power receiver side control device 231 is in the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S12 to select the power receiver side coil unit to be used in the traveling mode from among the power receiver side coil units 101. The power receiver side control device 231 permits the transmission of a power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication coil 170 included in the selected power receiver side coil unit among the power receiver side coil units 101. On the other hand, the power receiver side control device 231 prohibits the transmission of a power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication coil 170 included in the unselected power receiver side coil unit among the power receiver side coil units 101.

[0057] FIG. 9 shows an example of the power transmitter side coil unit 21 used in the traveling mode. The power transmitter side coil units 21 are provided side by side at predetermined intervals in the vehicle traveling direction. In the example shown in FIG. 9, in the traveling mode, among the nine power receiver side coil units 101, only the front middle unit 110FM, the middle unit 110MM, and the rear middle unit 110RM, which are provided in the center of the vehicle body in the Y direction, are selected.

[0058] In power transfer while the vehicle 400 is traveling, wireless power transfer can be performed with a larger displacement of the power receiver coil 102 in the Y direction relative to the ground side power transmitter coil 22, compared to power transfer while the vehicle is stopped. According to the process shown in FIG. 7, the usage mode of the power receiver coil 102 for receiving power transmitted from the power transmitter coil 22 is differentiated between when power transfer during traveling is performed and when power transfer while stopped is performed. This enables appropriate control of wireless power transfer.

[0059] In the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 may select, in addition to the units 110FM, 110MM, and 110RM in the center of the Y direction, the units 110FS, 110MS, and 110RS adjacent to the units 110FM, 110MM, and 110RM in the Y direction. This selection method is in case of lateral displacement of the vehicle 400. As shown in FIG. 10, the lateral displacement is the displacement of the vehicle 400 from the center of a lane LL in the horizontal direction. D2 shown in FIG. 10 is the degree of lateral displacement, and is the distance in the Y direction between the center position of the power receiver side coil unit 101 in the Y direction and the center position of the power transmitter side coil unit 21 in the Y direction when the vehicle 400 is traveling on the lane LL.

[0060] By using the multiple power receiver side coil units 101 arranged in the Y direction, even when a lateral displacement occurs, the power receiver coil 102 provided in at least one of the selected power receiver side coil units 101 can receive power.

[0061] FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the transmission process of the power transfer request signal executed by the power receiver side control device 231.

[0062] In step S20, the power receiver side control device 231 determines whether there is a power transfer request. When it is determined that there is a power transfer request, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S21 to transmit a vehicle side signal including the power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in the power receiver side coil unit 101 selected in step S11 or S12 of FIG. 7.

[0063] On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no power transfer request, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S22 to control the power receiver side control device 231 to stop the transmission of the vehicle side signal from the power receiver side communication coil 170.

[0064] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the process executed by the processor of the power transmitter side control device 71 of each power transmitter side power source unit 51 disposed on the ground side.

[0065] In step S30, the power transmitter side control device 71 acquires the vehicle side signal received by the power transmitter side communication coil 40.

[0066] In step S31, the power transmitter side control device 71 determines whether there is a power transfer request based on the acquired vehicle side signal. When it is determined that there is no power transfer request, the power transmitter side control device 71 proceeds to step S32 not to energize the power transmitter coil 22 that is the target of the own energization control. In other words, the power transmitter side control device 71 does not perform switching control of the inverter 60 and the PFC circuit 61 that are the targets of the own energization control, and keeps the switches of the inverter 60 and the PFC circuit 61 turned off.

[0067] On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a power transfer request, the power transmitter side control device 71 proceeds to step S33 to energize the power transmitter coil 22 that is the target of the own energization control. In other words, the power transmitter side control device 71 performs switching control of the inverter 60 and the PFC circuit 61 that are the targets of the own energization control. The power transmitter side control device 71 performs the above switching control for a predetermined period of time after it is determined that there is a power transfer request.

[0068] According to the present embodiment described above, wireless power transfer can be performed appropriately depending on whether the vehicle 400 is in the traveling mode or the stopped mode.

[0069] <Second Embodiment> Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, focusing on differences from the first embodiment.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 13, while the subject vehicle 400 is traveling, another vehicle 500 may be traveling in an adjacent lane L2 of the lane L1 on which the subject vehicle 400 is traveling. When the power receiver device 100 of the other vehicle 500 is supplied with power in a wireless manner, the wireless power transfer to the power receiver device 100 of the subject vehicle 400 may affect the wireless power transfer to the power receiver device 100 of the other vehicle 500. Such a problem may also occur when another vehicle 500 is traveling near the front or rear of the subject vehicle 400 in the same lane as the lane L1 on which the subject vehicle 400 is traveling.

[0071] Therefore, in the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 prohibits the transmission of a power transfer request signal from the communication-prohibited coil, which is the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in the power receiver side coil unit near the end position in the X direction or in the Y direction among the power receiver side coil units 101.

[0072] FIG. 14 shows an example in which the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in the front side unit 110FS, the middle side unit 110MS, and the rear side unit 110RS, which are located at the end portion near the other vehicle 500 in the Y direction, are selected as communication-prohibited coils among the power receiver side coil units 101 among the power receiver side coil units 101. FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the vehicle body unit 402.

[0073] FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of a transmission prohibition process of a power transfer request signal, which is executed by the power receiver side control device 231.

[0074] In step S40, the power receiver side control device 231 determines whether another vehicle travels near the subject vehicle 400. For example, the power receiver side control device 231 is a device mounted on the subject vehicle 400, and determines whether another vehicle travels near the subject vehicle 400 based on image information from a camera device that captures images of the area around the subject vehicle 400, or detection information from a sonar device that detects objects near the subject vehicle 400.

[0075] When it is determined that another vehicle travels near the subject vehicle 400, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S41 to select a communication-prohibited coil from among the power receiver side coil units 101 based on the relative position information of the other vehicle with respect to the subject vehicle 400 acquired in step S40 (for example, the above-mentioned image information or detection information). The power receiver side control device 231 prohibits the selected communication-prohibited coil from transmitting a vehicle side signal including a power transfer request signal.

[0076] According to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the power transfer request signal transmitted from the subject vehicle 400 affects the wireless power transfer to the power receiver device 100 of the other vehicle.

[0077] <Third Embodiment> Hereinafter, a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, focusing on differences from the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, instead of prohibiting the transmission of a vehicle side signal including a power transfer request signal, the power receiver side control device 231 permits the transmission of the vehicle side signal and reduces the requested power Weq included in the vehicle side signal.

[0078] FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of the requested power reduction process executed by the power receiver side control device 231.

[0079] When it is determined in step S40 that the mode is the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S42. In step S42, the power receiver side control device 231 selects a target communication coil, which is the power receiver side communication coil 170 included in the power receiver side coil unit near the end position in the X direction or in the Y direction among the power receiver side coil units 101. Among the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in the respective power receiver side coil units 101, the power receiver side control device 231 sets the requested power Weq to be included in the vehicle side signal to be transmitted from the target communication coil to be lower than the requested power Weq to be included in the vehicle side signal to be transmitted from communication coils other than the target communication coil.

[0080] FIG. 17 shows an example in which the requested power Weq of the target communication coil provided in the front side unit 110FS, the middle side unit 110MS, and the rear side unit 110RS, which are located at both end portions of each power receiver side coil unit 101 in the Y direction, is lower than the requested power Weq of communication coils other than the target communication coil. A communication coil at 100% is a communication coil whose requested power is not reduced, and a communication coil at less than 100% is a target communication coil.

[0081] The example shown in FIG. 17 is an example in which other vehicles are traveling in the lanes on both sides of the subject vehicle 400 in the vehicle width direction. The power receiver side control device 231 may set the degree of reduction in the requested power Weq corresponding to the unit 110FS, 110MS, and 110RS provided at the end portion of the units 110FS, 110MS, and 110RS provided at the right and left end portions of the bottom of the vehicle body near the other vehicles in the X direction, to be greater than the degree of reduction in the requested power Weq corresponding to the unit 110FS, 110MS, and 110RS provided at the end portion farther from the other vehicles in the X direction.

[0082] According to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of a situation in which wireless power transfer to the subject vehicle 400 affects wireless power transfer to the power receiver device 100 of another vehicle.

[0083] <Fourth Embodiment> Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, focusing on differences from the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, when it is determined in step S10 that the vehicle is in the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S13 to select an adjacent communication coil from each power receiver side coil unit 101, which is the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in the power receiver side coil unit adjacent to the wheels 410 and 411. The power receiver side control device 231 prohibits transmission of a vehicle side signal from a selected adjacent communication coil from among the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in each power receiver side coil unit 101, and permits transmission of a vehicle side signal from communication coils other than the adjacent communication coil.

[0084] FIG. 19 shows an example in which, among the power receiver side coil units 101, the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in the two front side units 110FS adjacent to the front wheel 410 in the X direction and the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in the two rear side units 110RS adjacent to the rear wheel 411 in the X direction are selected as adjacent communication coils. The above-mentioned adjacent communication coil is the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in the power receiver side coil unit that is located within a predetermined distance from the wheels 410 and 411, which are specific parts where it is desired to avoid the influence of the magnetic flux generated by the implementation of wireless power transfer between the power receiver coil 102 and the power transmitter coil 22, among the power receiver side coil units 101. Depending on the size of the ground side power transmitter coil 22 and the magnitude of the magnetic flux, not only the power receiver side coil unit 101 adjacent to the wheels 410 and 411 but also the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in other power receiver side coil units 101 may be subject to the prohibition of transmission of a vehicle side signal. For example, FIG. 20 shows an example in which the power receiver side communication coils 170 included in the two middle side units 110MS are further selected as adjacent communication coils. The specific parts are not limited to the wheels 410 and 411.

[0085] In power transfer while the vehicle travels, wireless power transfer is performed with a larger displacement of the power receiver coil 102 in the X direction relative to the ground side power transmitter coil 22, compared to power transfer while the vehicle is stopped. When the displacement is large, there is a concern that the power receiver coil 102 adjacent to the wheels 410 and 411 and the wheels 410 and 411 may be magnetically coupled to the power transmitter coil 22, which may cause overheating of the wheels 410 and 411 and the surroundings thereof. According to the process shown in FIG. 18, the transmission of a vehicle side signal from the adjacent communication coils adjacent to the wheels 410 and 411 is prohibited. This can reduce the occurrence of overheating of the wheels 410 and 411 and the surroundings thereof. FIG. 21 shows an example in which the power receiver side coil units 101 are provided side by side in two rows in the X direction.

[0086] <Modification Example of Fourth Embodiment> As shown in FIG. 22, the power receiver side coil units 101 may be provided side by side in the X direction. FIG. 22 shows an example in which five power receiver side coil units 101 are provided side by side. The power receiver side coil unit 101 includes a front unit 110F adjacent to the front wheel 410 in the Y direction, a rear unit 110R adjacent to the rear wheel 411 in the Y direction, and a first unit 110A, a middle unit 110M, and a second unit 110B sandwiched between the front unit 110F and the rear unit 110R. When it is determined that the vehicle is in the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 selects the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in the front unit 110F and the rear unit 110R as adjacent communication coils.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 23, the power receiver side coil units 101 may be provided side by side in the Y direction. FIG. 23 shows an example in which three power receiver side coil units 101 are provided side by side. The power receiver side coil unit 101 includes side units 110S adjacent to the front wheel 410 and the rear wheel 411 in the X direction, and a middle unit 110M sandwiched between the two side units 110S. When it is determined that the vehicle is in the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 selects the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in each side unit 110S as an adjacent communication coil.

[0088] <Fifth Embodiment> Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, focusing on differences from the fourth embodiment. In the present embodiment, instead of prohibiting the transmission of a vehicle side signal including a power transfer request signal, the power receiver side control device 231 permits the transmission of the vehicle side signal and reduces the requested power Weq included in the vehicle side signal.

[0089] FIG. 24 shows a flowchart of the requested power reduction process executed by the power receiver side control device 231.

[0090] When it is determined in step S10 that the mode is the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S14. In step S14 , the power receiver side control device 231 selects an adjacent communication coil, which is the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in the power receiver side coil unit adjacent to the wheels 410 and 411, from among the power receiver side coil units 101. The power receiver side control device 231 sets the requested power Weq to be included in the vehicle side signal to be transmitted from an adjacent communication coil among the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in each power receiver side coil unit 101 to be lower than the requested power Weq to be included in the vehicle side signal to be transmitted from a communication coil other than the adjacent communication coil.

[0091] FIG. 25 shows an example in which the requested power Weq of adjacent communication coils provided in two front side units 110FS and two rear side units 110RS among the power receiver side coil units 101 is set lower than the requested power Weq of communication coils other than the adjacent communication coils. As in the fourth embodiment, the above-mentioned adjacent communication coil is the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in the power receiver side coil unit 101 that is located within a predetermined distance from the wheels 410 and 411, which are specific parts where it is desired to avoid the influence of the magnetic flux generated by the implementation of wireless power transfer between the power receiver coil 102 and the power transmitter coil 22, among the power receiver side coil units 101. Depending on the size of the ground side power transmitter coil 22 and the magnitude of the magnetic flux, not only the power receiver side coil unit 101 adjacent to the wheels 410 and 411 but also the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in other power receiver side coil units 101 may be subject to a reduction in the requested power Weq.

[0092] According to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the received power of the power receiver coils 102 adjacent to the wheels 410 and 411. This reduces the influence of the magnetic field on the wheels 410 and 411 and the surroundings thereof, and reduces the occurrence of overheating of the wheels 410 and 411 and the surroundings thereof.

[0093] <Modification Example of Fifth Embodiment> As shown in FIG. 26, the power receiver side coil units 101 may be provided side by side in two rows in the Y direction. The power receiver side coil unit 101 includes the front unit 110F adjacent to the front wheel 410 in the X direction, the rear unit 110R adjacent to the rear wheel 411 in the X direction, and the middle unit 110M sandwiched between the front unit 110F and the rear unit 110R. When it is determined that the vehicle is in the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 selects the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in the front unit 110F and the rear unit 110R as adjacent communication coils.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 27, the power receiver side coil units 101 may be provided side by side in the Y direction. FIG. 27 shows an example in which three power receiver side coil units 101 are provided side by side. The power receiver side coil unit 101 includes side units 110S adjacent to the front wheel 410 and the rear wheel 411 in the X direction, and a middle unit 110M sandwiched between the two side units 110S. When it is determined that the vehicle is in the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 selects the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in each side unit 110S as an adjacent communication coil.

[0095] <Sixth Embodiment> Hereinafter, a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings focusing on differences from each of the above-described embodiments. In the present embodiment, when it is determined that the power transmitter side coil unit 21 is facing both the opposing unit, which is a part of the power receiver side coil units 101, and the wheels while the vehicle 400 is stopped or traveling at an extremely low speed, the power receiver side control device 231 performs a transmission prohibition process of a vehicle side signal from the opposing communication coil, which is the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in the opposing unit.

[0096] FIG. 28 shows a flowchart of the transmission prohibition process executed by the power receiver side control device 231.

[0097] In step S50, the power receiver side control device 231 determines whether the vehicle 400 is stopped or the vehicle 400 is traveling at an extremely low speed based on, for example, the detected value of the vehicle speed sensor. Extremely low speed traveling is, for example, traveling at a speed of 5 km / h or less.

[0098] When it is determined that the vehicle is stopped or traveling at an extremely low speed, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S51 to determine whether the power transmitter side coil unit 21 is facing both the opposing unit, which is a part of the power receiver side coil units 101, and the wheel (specifically, the front wheel 410 or the rear wheel 411). For example, the power receiver side control device 231 may determine whether the power transmitter side coil unit 21 is facing both the opposing unit and the wheel based on the current position information detected by the position sensor 330 and the position information of the power transmitter side coil unit 21 stored in the memory. The power receiver side control device 231 may receive the position information of the power transmitter side coil unit 21 by, for example, the wide-area wireless communication described above, and store the received position information in the memory.

[0099] When it is determined that the power receiver side control device 231 is facing both the opposing unit and the wheel, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S52 to perform a process to prohibit the opposing communication coil of the opposing unit from transmitting a vehicle side signal.

[0100] FIG. 29 shows a state in which one rear side unit 110RS, one rear middle unit 110RM, and the rear wheel 411 all face one power transmitter side coil unit 21. In this case, the power receiver side control device 231 selects the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in one rear side unit 110RS and one rear middle unit 110RM as an opposing communication coil.

[0101] When the vehicle 400 is stopped or traveling at an extremely low speed, a situation may arise in which the power transmitter coil 22 faces both a part of the power receiver coils 102 and the wheel. In this case, there is a concern that a part of the power receiver coils 102 and the wheels may be magnetically coupled to the power transmitter coil 22, causing the wheels and their surroundings to overheat. In this regard, the process shown in FIG. 28 can reduce the occurrence of overheating.

[0102] <Seventh Embodiment> Hereinafter, a seventh embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, focusing on differences from the sixth embodiment. In the present embodiment, instead of prohibiting the transmission of a vehicle side signal including a power transfer request signal, transmission of the vehicle side signal is permitted while reducing the requested power Weq included in the vehicle side signal.

[0103] FIG. 30 shows a flowchart of the requested power reduction process executed by the power receiver side control device 231.

[0104] When a positive determination is made in step S51, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S53 to select the opposing communication coil described in the sixth embodiment. Among the power receiver coils 102 provided in the respective power receiver side coil units 101, the power receiver side control device 231 sets the requested power Weq to be included in the vehicle side signal to be transmitted from the opposing communication coil to be lower than the requested power Weq to be included in the vehicle side signal to be transmitted from communication coils other than the opposing communication coil.

[0105] FIG. 31 shows an example in which the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in one rear side unit 110RS and one rear middle unit 110RM of each power receiver side coil unit 101 is selected as an opposing communication coil.

[0106] According to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of overheating of the wheels and the surroundings thereof.

[0107] <Eighth Embodiment> Hereinafter, an eighth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings focusing on differences from each of the above-described embodiments. In the present embodiment, the power receiver side control device 231 prohibits transmission of a vehicle side signal from the power receiver side communication coil 170 included in the overheated power receiver side coil unit 101.

[0108] FIG. 32 shows a flowchart of the transmission prohibition process executed by the power receiver side control device 231.

[0109] In step S60, the power receiver side control device 231 acquires a temperature Tcl of each power receiver side coil unit 101 detected by the temperature sensor 311 (for example, the temperature of the power receiver side coil unit 101). The power receiver side control device 231 determines whether there is a unit among the power receiver side coil units 101 whose acquired temperature Tcl exceeds a temperature threshold Tth.

[0110] The power receiver side control device 231 may use the temperature of the power receiver side coil unit 101 estimated by the temperature estimation process instead of the detected value of the temperature sensor 311.

[0111] When it is determined that there is a power receiver side coil unit 101 that exceeds the temperature threshold Tth, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S62 to select the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in the power receiver side coil unit 101 that exceeds the temperature threshold Tth as an overheated communication coil (corresponding to an ''overheated communication antenna''). The power receiver side control device 231 executes a process to prohibit the overheated communication coil from transmitting a vehicle side signal. FIG. 33 shows an example in which the middle unit 110M is selected as an overheated communication coil.

[0112] According to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to reliably reduce the occurrence of overheating of the power receiver side coil unit 101 including the power receiver coil 102.

[0113] <Ninth Embodiment> Hereinafter, a ninth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, focusing on differences from the eighth embodiment. In the present embodiment, instead of prohibiting the transmission of a vehicle side signal including a power transfer request signal, the power receiver side control device 231 permits the transmission of the vehicle side signal and reduces the requested power Weq included in the vehicle side signal.

[0114] FIG. 34 shows a flowchart of the requested power reduction process executed by the power receiver side control device 231.

[0115] When a positive determination is made in step S60, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S62 to set the requested power Weq to be included in the vehicle side signal to be transmitted from the overheated communication coil among the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in each power receiver side coil unit 101 to be lower than the requested power Weq to be included in the vehicle side signal to be transmitted from the communication coils other than the overheated communication coil. For example, the power receiver side control device 231 may continuously or stepwise increase the degree of reduction in the requested power Weq as the acquired temperature Tcl increases. FIG. 35 shows an example in which the middle unit 110M is selected as an overheated communication coil.

[0116] According to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to reliably reduce the occurrence of overheating of the power receiver side coil unit 101 including the power receiver coil 102.

[0117] <Tenth Embodiment> Hereinafter, a tenth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings focusing on differences from each of the above-described embodiments. In the present embodiment, the power receiver side control device 231 selects a communication-prohibited coil from among the power receiver side coil units 101 based on the shape information of the power transmitter coil 22 and the shape information of the power receiver coil 102 while the traveling mode is being executed. The power receiver side control device 231 prohibits the selected communication-prohibited coil from transmitting a vehicle side signal including a power transfer request signal.

[0118] FIG. 36 shows the positional relationship between the power receiver side coil unit 101 provided on the bottom surface of the vehicle body and the power transmitter side coil unit 21 while the vehicle 400 is traveling. In FIG. 36, LA is an axis passing through the center position of each power transmitter side coil unit 21 in the Y direction. In FIG. 36, for convenience, the outline of each power receiver side coil unit 101 in a bottom view indicates the outline of the power receiver coil 102, and the outline of each power transmitter side coil unit 21 in a bottom view indicates the outline of the power transmitter coil 22.

[0119] (A) of FIG. 36 shows a case where dimensions LGX and LGY of the power transmitter coil 22 in the X and Y directions are equal to dimensions LVX and LVY of the power receiver coil 102 in the X and Y directions.

[0120] On the other hand, (B) of FIG. 36 shows a case where the dimension LGY of the power transmitter coil 22 in the Y direction is larger than the dimension LVY of the power receiver coil 102 in the Y direction. In this case, depending on the degree of lateral displacement D2 of the vehicle 400, there is a concern that the front wheel 410 and the power receiver coils 102 of the front side unit 110FS and the front middle unit 110FM may become magnetically coupled to the same power transmitter coil 22, or that the rear wheel 411 and the power receiver coils 102 of the rear side unit 110RS and the rear middle unit 110RM may become magnetically coupled to the same power transmitter coil 22. Therefore, the power receiver side control device 231 selects the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in each of the front side unit 110FS and the front middle unit 110FM and each of the rear side unit 110RS and the rear middle unit 110RM as communication-prohibited coils.

[0121] FIG. 37 shows a flowchart of the transmission prohibition process of a power transfer request signal, which is executed by the power receiver side control device 231.

[0122] When it is determined in step S10 that the mode is the traveling mode, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S70. In step S70 , the power receiver side control device 231 acquires shape information of the power transmitter coil 22. For example, the power receiver side control device 231 may acquire shape information of the power transmitter coil 22 based on information of the power transmitter coil 22 received by the wide-area wireless communication described above, information of the power transmitter coil 22 displayed on the traveling road surface captured by the camera device, or information of a signboard provided near the traveling road and displaying information of the power transmitter coil 22 captured by the camera device. The shape information of the power transmitter coil 22 may include, for example, information on the dimensions LGX and LGY of the power transmitter coil 22 in a top view, and information on the relative positional relationship between the power transmitter coil 22 and a reference axis (for example, the above-mentioned LA) extending along the traveling road.

[0123] In the following step S71, the power receiver side control device 231 determines whether the wheels and the power receiver coil 102 are magnetically coupled to the same power transmitter coil 22 based on the shape information of the acquired power transmitter coil 22 and the shape information of the power receiver coil 102 stored in the own memory. Specifically, the power receiver side control device 231 determines whether the front wheel 410 and the power receiver coils 102 of the front side unit 110FS and the front middle unit 110FM adjacent to the front wheel 410 in the X direction are magnetically coupled to the same power transmitter coil 22, or whether the rear wheel 411 and the power receiver coils 102 of the rear side unit 110RS and the rear middle unit 110RM adjacent to the rear wheel 411 in the X direction are magnetically coupled to the same power transmitter coil 22. The shape information of the power receiver coil 102 includes, for example, information on the dimensions LVX and LVY of the power receiver coil 102 in a top view, and information on the relative positional relationship between the power receiver coil 102 and a reference axis in the vehicle 400 (for example, an axis passing through the center position of the vehicle 400 in the vehicle width direction and extending in the X direction).

[0124] For example, when ΔL (> 0) is a predetermined dimension, the power receiver side control device 231 may determine that magnetic coupling occurs when it is determined that "LGY > LVY + ΔL". When "LGY > LVY + ΔL", there is a high possibility that the power receiver coil 102 of the front side unit 110FS (or rear side unit 110RS) and the front middle unit 110FM (or rear middle unit 110RM) and the front wheel 410 (or rear wheel 411) will overlap with the same power transmitter coil 22 in a top view of the power receiver coil 102.

[0125] When a positive determination is made in step S71, the power receiver side control device 231 proceeds to step S72 to select, from among the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in each power receiver side coil unit 101, the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in each front side unit 110FS and front middle unit 110FM and the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in each rear side unit 110RS and rear middle unit 110RM as communication-prohibited coils. The power receiver side control device 231 prohibits the selected communication-prohibited coil from transmitting a vehicle side signal including a power transfer request signal. When a negative determination is made in step S71, the power receiver side control device 231 permits transmission of a vehicle side signal from the power receiver side communication coil 170 included in each power receiver side coil unit 101.

[0126] According to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of overheating of the wheels 410 and 411 and the surroundings thereof.

[0127] <Modification Example of Tenth Embodiment> In step S72 of FIG. 37, the power receiver side control device 231 may select, as adjacent communication coils, from among the power receiver side communication coils 170 of each power receiver side coil unit 101, as in the fifth embodiment, for example, the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in each front side unit 110FS and front middle unit 110FM and the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in each rear side unit 110RS and rear middle unit 110RM.

[0128] In this case, the power receiver side control device 231 may set the requested power Weq to be included in the vehicle side signal to be transmitted from an adjacent communication coil among the power receiver side communication coils 170 of each power receiver side coil unit 101 to be lower than the requested power Weq to be included in the vehicle side signal to be transmitted from a communication coil other than the adjacent communication coil. (C) of FIG. 36 shows an example in which the requested power Weq of adjacent communication coils provided in two front side units 110FS and two rear side units 110RS among the power receiver side coil unit 101 is set lower than the requested power Weq of communication coils other than the adjacent communication coils.

[0129] <Eleventh Embodiment> Hereinafter, an eleventh embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, focusing on differences from the tenth embodiment. In the present embodiment, the power receiver side control device 231 further uses the degree of lateral displacement D2 to determine whether magnetic coupling occurs.

[0130] (A) of FIG. 38 shows a state in which a lateral displacement is added to the state shown in (B) of FIG. 36. Depending on whether the lateral displacement occurs toward the right or left side of the vehicle traveling direction, it may be possible to reduce the number of communication-prohibited coils. In the example shown in (A) of FIG. 38, compared to the example shown in (B) of FIG. 36, the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in the unit on the opposite side of the lateral displacement direction among the front side units 110FS is not selected as a communication-prohibited coil. Reducing the number of communication-prohibited coils improves the degree of freedom in wireless power transfer control.

[0131] (B) of FIG. 38 shows a case where the dimension LGX of the power transmitter coil 22 in the X direction is larger than the dimension LVX of the power receiver coil 102 in the X direction. In this example, the front wheel 410 and the power receiver coil 102 of the front side unit 110FS are magnetically coupled to the same power transmitter coil 22. The rear wheel 411 and the power receiver coil 102 of the rear side unit 110RS are magnetically coupled to the same power transmitter coil 22. The power receiver side control device 231 selects the power receiver side communication coils 170 provided in the front side unit 110FS on the lateral displacement direction side and the power receiver side communication coil 170 provided in the rear side unit 110RS on the lateral displacement direction side as communication-prohibited coils among the power receiver side coil units 101.

[0132] FIG. 39 shows a flowchart of the transmission prohibition process of a power transfer request signal, which is executed by the power receiver side control device 231.

[0133] In step S73, the power receiver side control device 231 acquires the shape information of the power transmitter coil 22 and the degree of lateral displacement D2. For example, the power receiver side control device 231 may acquire the degree of displacement D2 based on the current position information of the subject vehicle 400 detected by the position sensor 330 and road information which is information received by wide-area wireless communication.

[0134] In step S71, the power receiver side control device 231 further uses the acquired degree of lateral displacement D2 to determine whether magnetic coupling occurs. For example, when it is determined that there are the front wheel 410 and the power receiver coil 102 that overlap with the same power transmitter coil 22 in a top view of the power receiver coil 102, or when it is determined that there are the rear wheel 411 and the power receiver coil 102 that overlap with the same power transmitter coil 22, the power receiver side control device 231 determines that magnetic coupling occurs. Thereafter, in step S72, the power receiver side control device 231 selects the power receiver coil 102 determined to overlap as a communication-prohibited coil.

[0135] According to the present embodiment described above, it is possible to appropriately select the power receiver side communication coil 170 for which transmission of a vehicle side signal is to be prohibited.

[0136] The configuration of the present embodiment may be applied to the configuration described in the modification example of the tenth embodiment.

[0137] <Other Embodiments> The above embodiments may be changed and carried out as follows.

[0138] Transmission of a vehicle side signal from a power receiver side communication antenna adjacent to a vehicle component member that is affected by magnetic flux (for example, a brake pulse sensor provided near a wheel) may be prohibited, not limited to a wheel.

[0139] In the requested power reduction process described above, the power receiver side control device 231 may determine the manner of reducing the requested power Weq in consideration of the output history of the power transfer request signal.

[0140] 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.

[0141] The method of wireless power transfer 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.

[0142] The vehicle identification information used in the processing of the above embodiments is not limited to vehicle ID information, and may be, for example, a token or credit card information of a vehicle user.

[0143] The vehicle on which the power receiver device 100 is mounted is not limited to a vehicle that travels on the road RS, and may be, for example, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) or a traveling 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 travels.

[0144] 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-transient tangible storage medium, as an instruction executed by a computer.

[0145] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and constructions. To the contrary, the present disclosure is intended to cover various modification and equivalent arrangements. Furthermore, although various combinations and modes are described in the present disclosure, the scope and idea of the present disclosure further include other combinations and modes including only one element, more elements, or less elements in these.

[0146] Characteristic configurations extracted from the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described below. (Configuration 1) A power receiver device is applicable to a wireless power transfer system (10). The wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter device (20), which is a ground side device and includes a power transmitter antenna (22), and a power receiver device (100), which is provided to a vehicle (11, 400) and includes a power receiver antenna (102). The power receiver device includes a power receiver side communication antenna (170) configured to transmit a power transfer request signal for requesting power transfer to a power transmitter side communication antenna (40) of the power transmitter device. The wireless power transfer system is configured to supply power to the power receiver antenna in a wireless manner by energizing the power transmitter antenna, when the power transmitter device receives the power transfer request signal. The power receiver antenna is one of a plurality of power receiver antennas provided side by side at positions of a vehicle body of the vehicle facing a ground surface. The power receiver device includes: a power receiver side control unit (230) configured to execute a control process to differentiate a usage mode of the power receiver antenna among the power receiver antennas for receiving power transmitted from the power transmitter antenna between a usage mode while the vehicle travels and a usage mode while the vehicle is stopped. (Configuration 2) The power receiver device according to configuration 1, in which, while the vehicle travels, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to prohibit transmission of the power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, which is located near an end position in the vehicle body, among the power receiver antennas. (Configuration 3) The power receiver device according to configuration 1, in which, the power receiver side control unit is configured to transmit information on requested power, which is a requested value of received power of the power receiver antenna, from the power receiver side communication antenna, a power transmitter side control unit (70) of the power transmitter device is configured to perform energization control of the power transmitter antenna, such that the received power of the power receiver antenna becomes the requested power, and while the vehicle travels, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to reduce the requested power transmitted from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, which is located near an end position in the vehicle body, among the power receiver antennas. (Configuration 4) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, in which the power receiver antennas are provided side by side in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle. (Configuration 5) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, in which the power receiver antennas are provided side by side in a vehicle longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and while the vehicle travels, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute a process to prohibit transmission of the power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, which is located within a predetermined distance from a specific part (410, 411) where is desired to avoid influence of magnetic flux generated by wireless power transfer, among the power receiver antennas. (Configuration 6) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, in which the power receiver side control unit is configured to transmit information on requested power, which is a requested value of received power of the power receiver antenna, from the power receiver side communication antenna, a power transmitter side control unit of the power transmitter device is configured to perform energization control of the power transmitter antenna, such that the received power of the power receiver antenna becomes the requested power, the power receiver antennas are provided side by side in a vehicle longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and while the vehicle travels, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to reduce the requested power transmitted from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, which is located within a predetermined distance from a specific part (410, 411) where is desired to avoid influence of magnetic flux generated by wireless power transfer, among the power receiver antennas. (Configuration 7) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, in which when determining that the power transmitter antenna faces both a part of the power receiver antennas and a wheel (410, 411) of the vehicle, while the vehicle is stopped or the vehicle travels at an extremely low speed, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to prohibit transmission of the power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to the part of the power receiver antennas. (Configuration 8) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, in which the power receiver side control unit is configured to transmit information on requested power, which is a requested value of received power of the power receiver antenna, from the power receiver side communication antenna, a power transmitter side control unit (70) of the power transmitter device is configured to perform energization control of the power transmitter antenna, such that the received power of the power receiver antenna becomes the requested power, and when determining that the power transmitter antenna faces both a part of the power receiver antennas and a wheel (410, 411) of the vehicle, while the vehicle is stopped or the vehicle travels at an extremely low speed, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to reduce the requested power transmitted from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to the part of the power receiver antennas. (Configuration 9) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, in which the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to acquire a temperature of each of the power receiver antennas, select an overheated communication antenna, which is a power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, in which acquired temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, among the power receiver antennas, and prohibit transmission of the power transfer request signal from the selected overheated communication antenna. (Configuration 10) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, in which the power receiver side control unit is configured to transmit information on requested power, which is a requested value of received power of the power receiver antenna, from the power receiver side communication antenna, a power transmitter side control unit of the power transmitter device is configured to perform energization control of the power transmitter antenna, such that the received power of the power receiver antenna becomes the requested power, and the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to acquire a temperature of each of the power receiver antennas, select an overheated communication antenna, which is a power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, in which acquired temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, among the power receiver antennas, and reduce the requested power transmitted from the selected overheated communication antenna. (Configuration 11) The power receiver device according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, in which the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to acquire shape information of the power transmitter antenna, and change, while the vehicle travels, the usage mode based on the acquired shape information and shape information of the power receiver antenna. (Configuration 12) The power receiver device according to configuration 11, in which the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, in the control process, a process to acquire a degree of displacement of the vehicle in a vehicle width direction relative to the power transmitter antenna, and change the usage mode further using the acquired degree of displacement.

Claims

1. A power receiver device applicable to a wireless power transfer system (10), the wireless power transfer system including a power transmitter device (20), which is a ground side device and includes a power transmitter antenna (22), and a power receiver device (100), which is provided to a vehicle (11, 400) and includes a power receiver antenna (102), the power receiver device including a power receiver side communication antenna (170) configured to transmit a power transfer request signal for requesting power transfer to a power transmitter side communication antenna (40) of the power transmitter device, the wireless power transfer system configured to supply power to the power receiver antenna in a wireless manner by energizing the power transmitter antenna, when the power transmitter device receives the power transfer request signal, the power receiver antenna being one of a plurality of power receiver antennas provided side by side at positions of a vehicle body of the vehicle facing a ground surface, the power receiver device comprising: a power receiver side control unit (230) configured to execute a control process to differentiate a usage mode of the power receiver antenna among the power receiver antennas for receiving power transmitted from the power transmitter antenna between a usage mode while the vehicle travels and a usage mode while the vehicle is stopped.

2. The power receiver device according to claim 1, wherein while the vehicle travels, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to prohibit transmission of the power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, which is located near an end position in the vehicle body, among the power receiver antennas.

3. The power receiver device according to claim 1, wherein the power receiver side control unit is configured to transmit information on requested power, which is a requested value of received power of the power receiver antenna, from the power receiver side communication antenna, a power transmitter side control unit (70) of the power transmitter device is configured to perform energization control of the power transmitter antenna, such that the received power of the power receiver antenna becomes the requested power, and while the vehicle travels, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to reduce the requested power transmitted from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, which is located near an end position in the vehicle body, among the power receiver antennas.

4. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power receiver antennas are provided side by side in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle.

5. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power receiver antennas are provided side by side in a vehicle longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and while the vehicle travels, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute a process to prohibit transmission of the power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, which is located within a predetermined distance from a specific part (410, 411) where is desired to avoid influence of magnetic flux generated by wireless power transfer, among the power receiver antennas.

6. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power receiver side control unit is configured to transmit information on requested power, which is a requested value of received power of the power receiver antenna, from the power receiver side communication antenna, a power transmitter side control unit of the power transmitter device is configured to perform energization control of the power transmitter antenna, such that the received power of the power receiver antenna becomes the requested power, the power receiver antennas are provided side by side in a vehicle longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and while the vehicle travels, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to reduce the requested power transmitted from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, which is located within a predetermined distance from a specific part (410, 411) where is desired to avoid influence of magnetic flux generated by wireless power transfer, among the power receiver antennas.

7. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when determining that the power transmitter antenna faces both a part of the power receiver antennas and a wheel (410, 411) of the vehicle, while the vehicle is stopped or the vehicle travels at an extremely low speed, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to prohibit transmission of the power transfer request signal from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to the part of the power receiver antennas.

8. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power receiver side control unit is configured to transmit information on requested power, which is a requested value of received power of the power receiver antenna, from the power receiver side communication antenna, a power transmitter side control unit (70) of the power transmitter device is configured to perform energization control of the power transmitter antenna, such that the received power of the power receiver antenna becomes the requested power, and when determining that the power transmitter antenna faces both a part of the power receiver antennas and a wheel (410, 411) of the vehicle, while the vehicle is stopped or the vehicle travels at an extremely low speed, the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to reduce the requested power transmitted from the power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to the part of the power receiver antennas.

9. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to acquire a temperature of each of the power receiver antennas, select an overheated communication antenna, which is a power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, in which acquired temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, among the power receiver antennas, and prohibit transmission of the power transfer request signal from the selected overheated communication antenna.

10. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power receiver side control unit is configured to transmit information on requested power, which is a requested value of received power of the power receiver antenna, from the power receiver side communication antenna, a power transmitter side control unit of the power transmitter device is configured to perform energization control of the power transmitter antenna, such that the received power of the power receiver antenna becomes the requested power, and the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to acquire a temperature of each of the power receiver antennas, select an overheated communication antenna, which is a power receiver side communication antenna corresponding to a power receiver antenna, in which acquired temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, among the power receiver antennas, and reduce the requested power transmitted from the selected overheated communication antenna.

11. The power receiver device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, as the control process, a process to acquire shape information of the power transmitter antenna, and change, while the vehicle travels, the usage mode based on the acquired shape information and shape information of the power receiver antenna.

12. The power receiver device according to claim 11, wherein the power receiver side control unit is configured to execute, in the control process, a process to acquire a degree of displacement of the vehicle in a vehicle width direction relative to the power transmitter antenna, and change the usage mode further using the acquired degree of displacement.

13. A program applicable to a wireless power transfer system (10), the wireless power transfer system including a power transmitter device (20), which is a ground side device and includes a power transmitter antenna (22), and a power receiver device (100), which is provided to a vehicle (11, 400) and includes a power receiver antenna (102), the power receiver device including a power receiver side communication antenna (170) configured to transmit a power transfer request signal for requesting power transfer to a power transmitter side communication antenna (40) of the power transmitter device, the wireless power transfer system configured to supply power to the power receiver antenna in a wireless manner by energizing the power transmitter antenna, when the power transmitter device receives the power transfer request signal, the power receiver antenna being one of a plurality of power receiver antennas provided side by side at positions of a vehicle body of the vehicle facing a ground surface, the program configured to cause at least one processor to execute a control process to differentiate a usage mode of the power receiver antenna among the power receiver antennas for receiving power transmitted from the power transmitter antenna between a usage mode while the vehicle travels and a usage mode while the vehicle is stopped.

14. A control method applicable to a wireless power transfer system (10), the wireless power transfer system including a power transmitter device (20), which is a ground side device and includes a power transmitter antenna (22), and a power receiver device (100), which is provided to a vehicle (11, 400) and includes a power receiver antenna (102), the power receiver device including a power receiver side communication antenna (170) configured to transmit a power transfer request signal for requesting power transfer to a power transmitter side communication antenna (40) of the power transmitter device, the wireless power transfer system configured to supply power to the power receiver antenna in a wireless manner by energizing the power transmitter antenna, when the power transmitter device receives the power transfer request signal, the power receiver antenna being one of a plurality of power receiver antennas provided side by side at positions of a vehicle body of the vehicle facing a ground surface, the control method comprising: executing, by at least one processor, a control process to differentiate a usage mode of the power receiver antenna among the power receiver antennas for receiving power transmitted from the power transmitter antenna between a usage mode while the vehicle travels and a usage mode while the vehicle is stopped.

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