Contactless Power Transfer for Vehicle Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in efficiently powering electronic components during assembly and in vehicles, where temporary wiring is costly and labor-intensive, and defects can be difficult and expensive to detect and repair, especially when components are located far from the power source or in moving parts, leading to complex and susceptible cable systems.
Innovation Solution
A contactless power transfer system using electromagnetic fields generated by power transmitters, such as near-field resonant inductive coils, far-field RF antennas, and light sources, to wirelessly power various electronic components within vehicles, eliminating the need for physical connections and allowing for easier installation, testing, and replacement of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temporary wiring is installed to power electronic components during assembly, then the components can be tested before integration, but the cost and labor increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with an electromagnetic field-based power transfer system. A power transmitter generates an electromagnetic field that wirelessly powers electronic components during assembly and operation, eliminating the need for temporary physical wiring connections while enabling component testing and reducing assembly costs
2Ease of manufacture
If components are tested after the battery is installed, then the assembly process is simplified, but defective components become difficult and expensive to replace
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary testing of electronic components during the assembly process by providing power through the electromagnetic field before the battery is installed and before components are integrated into the finished product. This allows defects to be detected early when components are still accessible and easy to replace
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing the mechanical battery connection system with wireless electromagnetic power transfer, the patent allows components to be powered and tested at any stage of assembly without requiring the battery to be installed, thereby maintaining assembly simplicity while enabling early defect detection
3Use of energy by moving object
If cables extend from the battery to distant electronic components, then power can be delivered to all components, but the cable system becomes complex and susceptible to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the extensive mechanical cable system with an electromagnetic field-based power transfer system. The power transmitter generates an electromagnetic field that can reach distant electronic components without requiring physical cable connections, thereby eliminating cable complexity and susceptibility to failure from movement and pinching
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic field-based system provides universal power delivery to all electronic components within the vehicle without requiring separate cable runs to each component. The field-based approach naturally extends power delivery to distant and moving components while reducing the overall system complexity
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
This system reduces the complexity and cost of powering electronic components by enabling wireless operation, extending the life of components like air pressure sensors, simplifying the installation and customization of features like seat systems and wing mirrors, and reducing the need for extensive wiring, while allowing for efficient testing on assembly lines.
Implementation Method 1
A contactless power transfer system uses a power source electrically connected to a power transmitter and configured to generate an electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
A power receiver is coupled to the device and configured to receive energy from the electromagnetic field and convert the energy into power
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for powering components in a vehicle seat enables electronic components within the vehicle seat to receive power without wires connecting the seat to a vehicle body. The system includes a power transmitter that generates an electromagnetic field, and a power receiver located within the vehicle seat and the electromagnetic field. The power receiver is configured to generate electrical power from the electromagnetic field and deliver the power to at least one component in the vehicle seat.