In-motion Power Supply Pre-check for Positioning Accuracy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems face challenges in determining the optimal positioning of a vehicle for battery charging during motion, leading to unnecessary current flow and loss generation, which affects charging efficiency and generates a leakage magnetic field.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic power supply system with pre-power-supply check mechanisms, where the power-supply-side and power-receiving-side controllers fix output voltages to predetermined values, allowing for efficient power transfer by checking the supplied electric power against a threshold before initiating main power supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the power supply device starts main power supply without pre-power-supply check, then power supply responsiveness is improved, but unnecessary current flow and energy loss occur when vehicle positioning is inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply responsivenessVSAvoidenergy loss from unnecessary current flow
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a pre-power-supply check before initiating main power supply. During this preliminary phase, the power supply device outputs a check voltage (lower than main power supply voltage) to verify proper vehicle positioning and power receiver connection. Only after successful verification does the system transition to main power supply mode, preventing unnecessary current flow and energy loss while maintaining fast responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Power

If the inverter circuit operates at high voltage continuously, then power supply capability is improved, but leakage magnetic field generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply capabilityVSAvoidleakage magnetic field
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic voltage levels based on operational phase. During the pre-power-supply check phase, a lower check voltage is applied. Only after successful positioning verification does the system switch to high voltage for main power supply. This periodic voltage adjustment ensures high power supply capability when needed while minimizing leakage magnetic field generation during positioning and verification phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If the power supply device uses voltage-based positioning detection alone, then detection simplicity is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to voltage variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection system complexityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary positioning verification by attempting to establish power transfer at a reduced check voltage level before committing to full power supply. This preliminary action allows the simple voltage-based detection system to verify actual power transfer feasibility, effectively filtering out false positives caused by voltage variations while maintaining system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If the system performs pre-power-supply check with fixed voltages, then power transfer efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional control steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts voltage levels based on operational phase. The power supply device switches between check voltage mode (lower voltage) and main power supply mode (higher voltage) based on whether positioning verification has succeeded. This dynamic voltage adjustment improves power transfer efficiency by ensuring proper coupling before full power transfer, while the control complexity is managed through straightforward state transitions rather than complex algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Ensures accurate determination of suitable charging positions, preventing unnecessary current flow and enhancing charging efficiency by optimizing power transfer efficiency and reducing losses.

Implementation Method 1

a power transmitter connected to the inverter circuit and configured to transmit an alternating-current electric power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a power receiver configured to receive the alternating-current electric power transmitted from the power transmitter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3979463B1In-motion power supply system
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 DENSO CORP
  • EP3979463B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3979463B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3979463B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A period for performing pre-power-supply check prior to main power supply from a power supply device (100) to a power reception device (200) is provided and, a power-receiving-side controller (220) is configured to: check a supplied electric power supplied from the power supply device (100) to the power reception device (200), in a state where an effective value of an output voltage of a inverter circuit (32) is fixed to a predetermined first voltage by the power-supply-side controller (16) and an input voltage of the DC-DC converter (238) is fixed to a predetermined second voltage by the power-receiving-side controller, in the pre-power-supply check, and cause, in response to the supplied electric power being equal to a predetermined electric power or more, the power supply device (100) to start the main power supply.