Dynamic Primary Coil Segmentation for Interoperable EV Wireless Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless charging systems face incompatibility issues with vehicles of varying ground clearances due to the need for different primary coil sizes to efficiently transfer energy, leading to inefficiencies and wasted energy.
Innovation Solution
A wireless charging system with a primary coil that can dynamically adjust its active portion based on the calculated air gap between the primary and secondary coils, using a plurality of predefined portions and an LC circuit to control current flow, ensuring efficient energy transfer across different magnetic air gap classes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a larger primary coil is used to overcome larger magnetic air gaps, then energy transfer capability to high ground clearance vehicles is improved, but energy waste increases when charging low ground clearance vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The primary coil is divided into multiple independently controllable segments or portions. The system selectively activates only the necessary portions based on the detected air gap distance, rather than using the entire coil. This segmentation allows the charging system to adapt to different vehicle types while minimizing energy waste by deactivating unnecessary coil portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary coil's active configuration is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts which portions of the primary coil are active based on real-time detection of the air gap distance. This dynamic adaptation enables the same primary coil to efficiently charge both low ground clearance vehicles (using smaller active portions) and high ground clearance vehicles (using larger active portions), resolving the contradiction between versatility and energy efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If a smaller primary coil is used to reduce energy waste, then energy efficiency for low ground clearance vehicles is improved, but energy transfer capability to high ground clearance vehicles is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The primary coil is divided into multiple independently controllable segments or portions. The system selectively activates only the necessary portions based on the detected air gap distance, rather than using the entire coil. This segmentation allows the charging system to adapt to different vehicle types while minimizing energy waste by deactivating unnecessary coil portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the primary coil based on the detected air gap. By adjusting which portions are active and at what power levels, the system optimizes energy efficiency for each specific charging scenario, enabling both low and high ground clearance vehicles to be charged efficiently with a single primary coil infrastructure.
3Loss of energy
If different primary coil sizes are used for different vehicle types, then energy transfer efficiency is improved, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single primary coil design serves multiple functions by incorporating multiple independently controllable portions. This universal primary coil can efficiently charge various vehicle types (low ground clearance, high ground clearance, different vehicle sizes) without requiring separate specialized coils for each vehicle category. The multi-functionality is achieved through selective activation of coil portions based on detected air gap distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary coil's active configuration is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts which portions of the primary coil are active based on real-time detection of the air gap distance. This dynamic adaptation enables the same primary coil to efficiently charge both low ground clearance vehicles (using smaller active portions) and high ground clearance vehicles (using larger active portions), resolving the contradiction between versatility and energy efficiency.
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 a single primary charging system to be interoperable with vehicles of varying ground clearances, reducing incompatibility issues and optimizing energy transfer efficiency by adjusting the primary coil's active portion according to the calculated air gap.
Implementation Method 1
wireless charging relies on an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between a charging station (e.g., wireless charging assembly) and an electrical device... an induction coil in the wireless charging assembly (e.g., primary coil) uses electricity, often provided from the power grid, to create an alternating electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
An induction coil in the electrical device (e.g., secondary coil) may then receive power from the generated electromagnetic field and convert it back into electrical current to charge its battery
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes: receiving vehicle information from a wireless charging-capable vehicle via a wireless communication means; calculating an air gap between a primary coil of a wireless charging system that is operable to wirelessly charge the vehicle and a secondary coil of the vehicle based on the received vehicle information; and causing electric current to flow only through a portion of the primary coil having a size that is less than or equal to a size of the entire primary coil. The size of the portion of the primary coil through which the electric current flows is determined based on the calculated air gap between the primary coil and the secondary coil.