Movable Primary Coil for EV Charging Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charging stations for electric vehicles struggle to optimally position the primary coil relative to the secondary coil of the vehicle, especially when the vehicle is not centered or has varying heights, leading to inefficient energy transfer.

Innovation Solution

A charging station with a movably fastened primary coil that can be adjusted automatically by pivoting and translating along a rail, combined with a resilient telescopic device to compensate for lateral and height differences, ensuring optimal alignment with the secondary coil of the electric vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the primary coil is fixed in position, then the charging station structure is simple, but optimal alignment with the secondary coil cannot be achieved when the vehicle is not centered or has varying heights

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidcoil positioning mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The primary coil is made movable through a rail system that allows translation along the direction of travel and pivoting about a pivot axis. This dynamic positioning enables the coil to adapt to varying vehicle positions and heights, achieving optimal alignment without requiring complex active control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded telescopic device automatically adjusts the primary coil's position and height in response to vehicle entry, compensating for parking tolerances and height variations without external intervention. The system self-regulates to maintain optimal coupling between primary and secondary coils.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the primary coil is made movable to compensate for parking tolerances, then alignment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging reliabilityVSAvoidmovable coil mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rail-mounted primary coil can translate along the direction of travel and pivot about a pivot axis, providing two degrees of freedom for positioning. This mechanical flexibility ensures reliable charging by compensating for lateral and longitudinal parking tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded telescopic device changes the vertical position parameter of the primary coil automatically, adjusting height to match variations in vehicle suspension, tire pressure, or load conditions, thereby maintaining reliable coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the spring-loaded telescopic device is added to compensate for height differences, then vertical positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical positioning accuracyVSAvoidtelescopic device
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-loaded telescopic device dynamically adjusts the vertical position parameter of the primary coil, compensating for height variations caused by different vehicle designs, suspension conditions, or load states. This passive spring mechanism provides automatic height adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The telescopic device with spring loading automatically responds to vertical forces exerted by the vehicle, extending or retracting to maintain optimal coupling distance without requiring active sensors or actuators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Manufacturing precision

If the rail is made pivotable to accommodate lateral position variations, then lateral alignment is improved, but the mechanical complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral alignment precisionVSAvoidpivotable rail mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rail is designed to pivot about a pivot axis, providing rotational freedom that enables lateral repositioning of the primary coil. This simple mechanical degree of freedom allows the system to accommodate lateral parking tolerances and align with the vehicle's secondary coil.

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

Enables precise positioning of the primary coil relative to the secondary coil, ensuring efficient energy transfer and accommodating parking tolerances and height variations, thereby optimizing the charging process.

Implementation Method 1

the primary coil being resiliently mounted on the rail in such a way that it can be pushed downwards by the electric vehicle when it enters the area of the primary coil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a charging station (10) for the inductive charging of an electric vehicle (200)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2739501B1Charging station
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 VALEO EAUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
  • EP2739501B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2739501B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2739501B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates, inter alia, to a charging station (10) for inductively charging an electric vehicle (200). According to the invention, the charging station (10) has a movable primary coil (40) that can generate a magnetic field in order to charge the electric vehicle (200). The primary coil (40) is fixed in a movable manner such that the coil can be moved by the electric vehicle (200) and positioned relative to a secondary coil (220) of the electric vehicle (200) when the vehicle drives into the region of the charging station (10).