Wireless Vehicle Charging Power Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless charging systems for vehicles face interference and increased charging times due to uncoordinated power control between supply devices and power reception apparatuses, particularly when both lack power adjusting functions, leading to inefficient power transfer and potential battery deterioration.

Innovation Solution

The system determines the power adjusting functions of both the supply device and the power reception apparatus, allowing the vehicle to request appropriate power adjustments during charging, thereby preventing interference and ensuring efficient power transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If both the supply device and power reception apparatus have power adjusting functions, then power can be controlled to adapt to charging status variations, but interference between the two power control systems occurs causing hunting of received power and increased charging time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower adjustment capabilityVSAvoidcharging stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary communication mechanism where the power reception apparatus detects the supply device's power adjusting function capability and communicates this information back to coordinate control actions. This intermediary information exchange prevents direct conflict between the two power control systems by enabling one side to adapt its control behavior based on the other's capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If both the supply device and power reception apparatus lack power adjusting functions, then power control interference is avoided, but received power cannot be adjusted according to battery charging status causing battery deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging stabilityVSAvoidbattery deterioration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adaptability where the power reception apparatus can dynamically adjust its received power based on battery charging status when the supply device lacks power adjusting capability. The system transitions from a static fixed-power transfer mode to a dynamic adjustable mode, enabling the power reception side to optimize charging parameters in real-time according to battery needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the power reception apparatus requests power adjustment from the supply device, then efficient power transfer is achieved, but communication overhead and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication protocol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes parameter changes in the communication protocol to convey power adjusting function capability information. By encoding this capability information within existing communication parameters and using standardized message formats, the system achieves efficient coordination without requiring fundamentally new communication mechanisms, thus balancing charging efficiency gains with acceptable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3315351B1Vehicle and supply device
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3315351B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3315351B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3315351B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle includes a power reception apparatus (10) and an electric vehicle communication controller (31). The power reception apparatus (10) includes a secondary device (20) configured to wirelessly receive power from a primary device (60) of a supply device configured to transfer power and including the primary device (60). The electric vehicle communication controller (31) is configured to acquire information indicating whether or not the supply device has a function of adjusting power transferred from the primary device (60).