Contactless Charging System With Segmented Coils

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric charging systems lack safety features for contactless power transmission and data communication, which can lead to errors and safety concerns during battery charging and monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A contactless electric charging system with a stationary primary coil device and a mobile secondary coil device, allowing for safe transmission of charging energy and data signals without contact, using separate frequency ranges for data and energy transmission, and incorporating an energy charging mat for automatic positioning and secure data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If contactless power transmission is implemented using a single coil device for both energy and data, then device complexity is reduced and space is saved, but safety and reliability are compromised due to potential interference between power and data signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoil device structureVSAvoidcharging safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coil device is segmented into functionally independent components: a primary coil device for power transmission and a secondary coil device for data communication. This segmentation eliminates signal interference between power and data channels while maintaining compact integration within the charging system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary control unit that mediates between the primary and secondary coil devices. This control unit coordinates the operation of both coil devices, ensuring that power transmission and data communication occur simultaneously without mutual interference, thereby enhancing system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If manual positioning of the mobile unit on the charging station is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but charging efficiency and safety are reduced due to potential misalignment errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning operationVSAvoidcharging efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service positioning through automatic alignment mechanisms. The mobile unit automatically positions itself on the charging station using integrated sensors and control systems that detect and correct misalignment, eliminating the need for manual positioning while ensuring optimal charging efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical positioning is replaced with an automated electromechanical positioning system. This system uses sensors to detect the position of the mobile unit and automatically adjusts the alignment through controlled movement, thereby improving charging efficiency while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If separate coil devices are used for power transmission and data communication, then safety and reliability are improved through separate transmission paths, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transmission safetyVSAvoidcoil device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The primary coil device and secondary coil device are merged into a single integrated charging system with a unified control unit. This merging allows both power transmission and data communication to coexist in a compact configuration while maintaining separate functional paths, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If contactless charging without positioning guidance is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but charging safety and efficiency deteriorate due to misalignment errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging operationVSAvoidcharging safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback-based positioning guidance that provides real-time information to the user about the alignment status of the mobile unit on the charging station. This feedback mechanism guides the user to achieve optimal positioning while maintaining ease of operation, and simultaneously ensures charging safety by preventing misalignment-related errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures safe and efficient battery charging by minimizing errors and enabling real-time monitoring and maintenance data transmission, enhancing the security of both the charging system and the mobile unit.

Implementation Method 1

a charging energy for charging or discharging the battery can be transmitted without contact

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a data signal can be transmitted between the first and second coil devices, preferably bidirectionally

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2595834B1Electric charge system
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 SEW EURODRIVE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2595834B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2595834B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2595834B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an electrical charging system for charging a battery (14) of a mobile unit (18) without contact, wherein the electrical charging system has a stationary charging station, wherein a primary coil device (6) of the charging station is arranged in a stationary manner and a secondary coil device of the electrical charging system is arranged in the mobile unit, wherein the primary coil device and the secondary coil device are designed in such a way that, between the primary coil device and the secondary coil device in a charging position of the mobile unit relative to the primary coil device, charging energy for charging or discharging the battery can be transferred and data for communication between the mobile unit and the charging station can be received and/or transmitted without contact.