Dynamic Road Charging Coils With Short-Circuit Position Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current contactless charging systems for electric vehicles face challenges such as high losses, health risks due to magnetic radiation, inefficiency in dynamic charging, and the need for dedicated lanes, particularly for conventional road vehicles, as they require long loops and lack adaptive coupling regulation.

Innovation Solution

A contactless charging method using a network of successive primary coils with short-circuiting and adaptive power transfer based on induced current or power thresholds, allowing efficient dynamic charging without dedicated lanes and minimizing magnetic radiation exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If long loops are used for contactless charging, then implementation is simplified and a single inverter can power a long stretch of road, but losses increase due to long loop lengths, Joule heating, and magnetic radiation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidenergy losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the road into multiple sections, each equipped with its own primary coil and inverter. This segmentation allows each loop to be optimized for short length, reducing energy losses while maintaining implementation feasibility through modular deployment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each primary coil is activated only in the local area where a vehicle is detected, rather than powering entire long stretches continuously. This local activation reduces overall energy consumption and Joule heating losses while maintaining charging capability where needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If long loops are used for contactless charging, then a single inverter can power a long stretch of road, but magnetic radiation increases posing health risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidmagnetic radiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the charging system into multiple short loops instead of one long loop, the magnetic field from each individual coil is confined to a smaller volume, reducing the overall radiation exposure to vehicles and pedestrians while maintaining charging functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection to identify vehicle presence before activating the primary coil. This ensures that magnetic radiation is only generated when and where needed, minimizing unnecessary exposure while maintaining system readiness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If small loops are used for contactless charging, then magnetic radiation is confined and compatibility with all road vehicles is achieved, but the system must switch primary loops rapidly for dynamic charging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic radiation confinementVSAvoidloop switching speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection using sensors to identify approaching vehicles before they reach the charging zone. This allows the appropriate primary coil to be activated in advance, eliminating the need for rapid switching during vehicle passage and enabling smooth continuous charging even at high speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses detection sensors to provide feedback on vehicle position and presence, which triggers automatic activation of the corresponding primary coil. This feedback mechanism ensures the correct loop is activated at the optimal moment, maintaining high-speed compatibility without requiring manual or rapid switching

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If receiver detection by transmitter is used, then static contactless charging is achieved, but dynamic contactless charging requires more rapid switching not supported by this method

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidswitching speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary detection sensor system that operates independently of the transmitter-receiver communication. These sensors detect vehicle presence and position, triggering primary coil activation without relying on slow pulse train analysis, thus enabling rapid response for dynamic charging while maintaining detection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables efficient and safe contactless charging of electric vehicles on conventional roads with reduced losses and radiation exposure, maintaining high transfer efficiency even at high speeds by using short-circuited loops as position sensors and adaptive power transfer mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

electrical energy being transferred by induction between a primary coil placed on the ground and a secondary coil mounted on the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

detecting exceedance of an induced current intensity or power threshold in the next primary coil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3182550B1Dynamic contactless charging method, and corresponding system
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 AMPERE SAS
  • EP3182550B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3182550B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3182550B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a power transfer method for the contactless charging of an electric battery of a moving electric or hybrid motor vehicle, electrical power being transferred by induction between a primary transmitting coil arranged in a section of road, and a secondary receiving coil (SB) mounted on said vehicle and connected to said battery, said primary coil belonging to a network of successive primary coils (PC) arranged regularly in a section of road, comprising power transfer steps: - between said primary coil and the vehicle - between the next primary coil and the vehicle characterized in that said method further comprises a step of short-circuiting the next primary coil before the transition of power transfer between the primary coil and the next primary coil.