Wireless Charging Control via Parking Brake and Antenna Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current charging stations for electric vehicles, especially buses and trams, face challenges in providing efficient and safe high-power charging due to the need for lengthy charging times, heavy and bulky cables, and the requirement for precise vehicle positioning, while minimizing additional components on the vehicle and ensuring safety from accidental contact.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing wireless communication to determine the vehicle's state via its parking brake for initiating charging, employing directional antennas for precise positioning, and connecting the vehicle body to a reference potential for safety, with automatic start and stop of the charging process based on brake engagement and release, and using multiple contacts for efficient energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If high charging capacity (>100 kW) is used to reduce charging time, then charging speed is improved, but cable weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy cable and plug system from the charging setup by implementing wireless energy transmission. The charging station transmits electrical energy directly to the vehicle through electromagnetic fields, eliminating the need for physical cable connections and their associated weight and bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable-and-plug connection system with an electromagnetic field-based wireless transmission system. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact while maintaining high power transfer capability, resolving the contradiction between charging speed and cable weight.
2Reliability
If wired connections with cables and plugs are used for safe power transmission, then safety is improved, but device complexity and driver burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex wired connection system including cables, plugs, and associated safety mechanisms. Wireless energy transmission eliminates the need for physical connectors while maintaining safety through automated control systems that manage the energy transfer without driver intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system performs safety checks and authorization automatically without driver action. The control unit verifies vehicle stationary status through parking brake sensors, authorizes charging automatically, and manages the entire process without requiring the driver to handle connections or monitor safety parameters.
3Measurement precision
If precise vehicle positioning is required for charging connection, then charging accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical alignment requirements with electromagnetic field-based positioning. Directional antennas transmit and receive signals to determine vehicle position and orientation, allowing automatic adjustment without requiring precise manual positioning by the driver.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses directional antennas to continuously monitor vehicle position and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the energy transmission to maintain optimal charging conditions, eliminating the need for precise manual positioning while maintaining high accuracy.
4Weight of moving object
If minimal additional components are installed on the vehicle, then vehicle weight is reduced, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes existing vehicle components for charging functions. The vehicle's battery system, control unit, and communication systems are used for wireless charging, eliminating the need for dedicated charging hardware. This multi-functional approach reduces vehicle weight while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardization.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a charging method for an energy storage device (2) of a vehicle (30) by means of a charging station (10), wherein a release for the charging process of the energy storage device (2) is present when - wireless communication (3) exists between a vehicle-side communication device (31) and a communication device (11) of the charging station (10) and - a parking brake (32) of the vehicle (30) is activated.