Inductive EV Charger Feedback Control for Power Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inductive charging of electric vehicles faces high power losses and requires complex electronics due to the need to constantly adjust charging power, which is costly and inefficient without separate communication channels for power regulation.
Innovation Solution
A device with a secondary controller for stepwise adjustment of secondary power and a primary controller that measures and adjusts primary power using existing inductive transmission paths, eliminating the need for separate communication hardware by utilizing the existing inductive transmission path for information transfer without frequency multiplexing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If charging electronics are arranged on board the vehicle with constant maximum power offering on the primary side, then the vehicle can receive power independently, but power losses increase and the design of charging electronics becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the secondary controller measures the actual power drawn from the secondary inductance and communicates this information to the primary controller. The primary controller then adjusts the primary power accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that eliminates the need for constant maximum power offering and reduces energy losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the existing inductive transmission path for dual purposes: both for power transmission and for communication between primary and secondary controllers. This eliminates the need for separate communication hardware, reducing system complexity and cost while enabling effective power regulation.
2Ease of operation
If separate communication channel is used for power regulation between primary and secondary sides, then power can be regulated according to secondary side requirements, but additional communication hardware is required which increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the inductive transmission path serve dual functions: transmitting both power and control signals. The secondary controller modulates the load on the secondary inductance to encode power requirement information, which is detected by the primary controller through the same inductive coupling used for power transfer, eliminating the need for separate communication channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the power transmission function and the communication function into a single inductive coupling channel. By merging these two functions, the system eliminates redundant hardware components and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining full power regulation capability.
3Power
If primary power is constantly offered at maximum value, then the charging station can provide full power capability, but power losses increase and robust complex design is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power adjustment where the primary controller continuously adapts the primary power based on real-time feedback from the secondary controller about actual power requirements. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain maximum power capability when needed while operating at lower power levels during normal charging, reducing losses and design requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the primary power supply dynamically based on secondary side requirements. The primary controller adjusts parameters such as voltage and current in response to feedback signals from the secondary controller, enabling the system to operate efficiently at varying power levels rather than maintaining constant maximum power.
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 allows for efficient regulation of primary power based on secondary power requirements without additional hardware, reducing power losses and complexity, and enabling cost-effective control of the charging process.
Implementation Method 1
a primary inductance ( 10) which can be supplied with primary power (18) by a power supply device (11), and a secondary inductance (1) arranged to receive secondary power (19) from the primary power (18) inductively
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for the inductive transfer of electric energy from a stationary unit having a current supply device and a primary inductance which is connected thereto, to a vehicle that is adjacent to said unit and has a secondary inductance. The vehicle has a secondary control element for adjusting the secondary power taken from the secondary inductance and comprises a control device, said control device enabling the withdrawn secondary power to be modified in steps. Said stationary unit comprises a primary control element for adjusting the primary power which can be injected into the primary inductance, which contains a first measuring device, said measuring device enabling an operational parameter, influenced by the secondary power, of the current supply device to be measured. The primary control element adjusts the primary power which can be injected in accordance with modifications of the operational parameter measured by the first measuring device. The secondary power can be switched preferably between two steps by the switching device and has in one of the steps, a value which is at least approximately zero.