In-Wheel Motor Coils for Integrated Wireless EV Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless charging systems for electric vehicles require additional hardware components, increasing costs, weight, and complexity due to the need for separate receiver coils external to the electric motor.
Innovation Solution
The integration of in-wheel electric motor coils as receiver coils for wireless power transfer, utilizing a resonant network and switch configuration to connect and disconnect the coils for efficient high-frequency AC power reception, eliminating the need for a separate receiver coil and leveraging the motor's power electronics for rectification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate receiver coils external to the electric motor are used for wireless charging, then wireless charging functionality is achieved, but the number of components, costs, weight, and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the receiver coil functionality with the electric motor by using the motor's phase coils as the receiver coils for wireless charging. This integration eliminates the need for separate external receiver coils, thereby reducing the number of components while maintaining wireless charging functionality. The motor controller is configured to operate the phase coils in both motor operation mode and wireless charging reception mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase coils of the electric motor are designed to serve dual purposes: functioning as motor windings during motor operation and as receiver coils during wireless charging. This multi-functionality allows the same components to perform multiple roles, reducing overall system complexity and component count while achieving both propulsion and wireless charging capabilities.
2Reliability
If separate receiver coils external to the electric motor are used for wireless charging, then wireless charging functionality is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver coil functionality is merged with the electric motor structure by using the motor's phase coils as the receiver coils. This integration eliminates the need for separate external receiver coils and their associated mounting structures, thereby reducing the overall weight of the vehicle while maintaining wireless charging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase coils serve dual functions as both motor windings and wireless charging receiver coils. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated receiver coil components, thereby reducing the total weight of the vehicle while achieving wireless charging functionality.
3Reliability
If separate receiver coils external to the electric motor are used for wireless charging, then wireless charging functionality is achieved, but assembly effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver coil functionality is combined with the electric motor assembly, eliminating the need for separate installation of external receiver coils. The motor controller is configured to operate the existing phase coils in wireless charging mode, thereby reducing assembly steps and effort while maintaining wireless charging functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase coils are designed to serve both motor operation and wireless charging reception functions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate assembly of dedicated receiver coils, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly effort while achieving wireless charging capability.
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 solution reduces the number of components, costs, assembly effort, weight, and complexity, enabling compactness and potentially removing the on-board charger, while improving charging efficiency and reducing weight.
Implementation Method 1
Power is wirelessly transferred from external transmitter coils to the batteries through the motor windings and power electronics. The at least one phase coil is configured as a receiver coil to receive the high-frequency AC power from the at least one transmitter coil
Implementation Method 2
a resonant network, and at least one switch configured to selectively connect the resonant network to the at least one phase coil
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless power transfer (WPT) device includes an in-wheel electric motor having a rotor and a stator having at least one phase coil, a resonant network, and at least one switch configured to selectively connect the resonant network to the phase coil and disconnect the resonant network from the at least one phase coil. A processing device is configured to determine that the at least one phase coil is adjacent to at least one transmitter coil of a WPT transmitter that transmits high-frequency AC power, and operate the at least one switch to close a connection between the resonant network and the phase coil. The phase coil is configured as a receiver coil to receive the high-frequency AC power from the at least one transmitter coil when the at least one switch is closed.