908results about "Rail devices" patented technology

A first shielding box is disposed so that its first surface can be opposite to an electric power feeding unit. The first surface has an opening and remaining five surfaces thereof reflect, during reception of electric power from the electric power feeding unit, a resonant electromagnetic field (near field) generated in the surroundings of the electric power receiving unit. The electric power receiving unit is provided in the first shielding box to receive the electric power from the electric power feeding unit via the opening (first surface) of the first shielding box. A second shielding box has a similar configuration, i.e., has a second surface with an opening and remaining five surfaces thereof reflect the resonant electromagnetic field (near field) generated in the surroundings of the electric power feeding unit.

A wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter including a power transmission resonator composed of a power transmission coil and a resonant capacitance; and a power receiver including a power receiving resonator composed of a power receiving coil and a resonant capacitance. The system further includes a power transmission auxiliary device including an auxiliary resonator composed of an auxiliary coil and a resonant capacitance. The power transmission auxiliary device and the power transmission device oppose each other, forming a power receiving space for placing the power receiving coil between the power transmission coil and the auxiliary coil, and power transfer is performed in the power receiving space while involving a movement of the power receiving coil including at least one of a displacement and a rotation. The power transfer can be performed with stable efficiency in spite of the movement of the power receiver.

Secondary resonant pickup coils (102) used in loosely coupled inductive power transfer systems, with resonating capacitors (902) have high Q and could support large circulating currents which may destroy components. A current limit or "safety valve" uses an inductor designed to enter saturation at predetermined resonating currents somewhat above normal working levels. Saturation is immediate and passive. The constant-current characteristic of a loosely coupled, controlled pickup means that if the saturable section is shared by coupling flux and by leakage flux, then on saturation the current source is terminated in the saturated inductor, and little detuning from resonance occurs. Alternatively an external saturable inductor (1101, 1102) may be introduced within the resonant circuit (102 and 902), to detune the circuit away from the system frequency. Alternatively DC current may be passed through a winding to increase saturation of a saturable part of a core. As a result, a fail-safe pickup offering a voltage-limited constant-current output is provided.

This contactless electricity supply device, which contactlessly performs charging of the battery (28) of a vehicle, is provided with: an electricity transmission coil (12) disposed at a road surface; and an electricity reception coil (22) disposed in the vehicle. A foreign object detection coil (13) is provided to the upper surface of the electricity transmission coil (12), and on the basis of induced voltage arising at the foreign object detection coil (13) during a trial electricity supply, foreign objects between the electricity transmission coil (12) and the electricity reception coil (22) are detected.

An inductive power transfer system (10) for roadways includes at least one drive unit arrangement (50) coupled to at least one drive coil arrangement (40) disposed along a roadway (20) for generating a magnetic field extending upwardly from the roadway (20), and at least one vehicle (30) including a corresponding pickup coil arrangement (60) coupled to a power conditioning circuit arrangement (80, 200) for receiving the extending magnetic field for providing power to operate the at least one vehicle (30). The at least one drive unit arrangement (50) is operable to excite, for example at resonance, the at least one drive coil arrangement (40) at a fundamental frequency (f0) of at least 30 kHz, preferably at least 50 kHz, more preferably at least 100 kHz, and most preferably at least 140 kHz. The at least one drive coil arrangement (40) is implemented to be substantially devoid of ferromagnetic components for providing a path for the extending magnetic field. Optionally, the at least one drive unit arrangement (50) is operable to employ a balanced class-E amplifier arrangement for exciting the at least one drive coil arrangement (40) at the fundamental frequency (f0). Optionally, the at least one drive unit arrangement (50) is operable to employ one or more Silicon Carbide semiconductor devices for switching the currents provided to the corresponding at least one drive coil arrangement (40). Optionally, there is further included a passive and / or active suppression arrangement (100, 110, 120, 130, 140) for suppressing harmonic magnetic field components generated by the system (10) at multiples of the fundamental frequency (f0) when in operation.

The invention relates to systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.

Inductive power transfer across an extended gap (100) from a primary conductor (119) is provided by means of a resonant intermediate loop comprised of capacitor (118) with inductor (117) carrying a larger resonating current, that can in turn generate an inductive field to be collected by a pickup coil (120). This process and device find application in an electroluminescent advertising panel.

An object is to provide a moving object structure capable of reducing power loss caused when power is supplied from a power feeding device to a moving object by wireless communication. Another object is to provide a moving object structure capable of reducing the strength of a radio wave radiated to the surroundings. Before power is supplied to a moving object, a radio wave for alignment of antennas is output from a power feeding device. That is, radio waves are output from a power feeding device in two stages. In a first stage, a radio wave is output to align positions of antennas of the power feeding device and the moving object. In a second stage, a radio wave is output to supply power from the power feeding device to the moving object.

A wireless recharging system for battery or hybrid vehicles having an in-road magnetic power transmission assembly that interconnects to a magnetic power reception assembly onboard the vehicle. As the vehicle stops or passes over the in-road magnetic power transmission assembly, magnetic coupling transfers power to the magnetic power reception assembly which, in turn, is used to recharge the vehicle battery. The in-road magnetic power transmission assembly may be powered from the electrical grid or designated electrical generators and is preferably designed to build the powering magnetic field in response to the detection of an authorized vehicle in proximity to the transmission assembly.

A coil unit performs at least one of transmission and reception of electric power using electromagnetic resonance between the coil unit and a primary resonance coil disposed to face the coil unit. The coil unit includes a secondary resonance coil that includes a plurality of coils, and that electromagnetically resonates with the primary resonance coil. A first coil among the plurality of coils is disposed in a manner such that a magnetic field generated by the first coil has a phase opposite to a phase of a magnetic field generated by at least one coil other than the first coil among the plurality of coils, with respect to a plane that faces the primary resonance coil.

Retard energy regenerated from an electrical motor during braking action is reinjected into a power system via trolley lines. The retard energy may be transmitted to a bidirectional electric substation and returned to a utility grid. The retard energy may also be transmitted to an auxiliary energy storage system, such as an ultracapacitor system or a battery system. Installing trolley lines for mining haul trucks on a downhill slope may be used to capture and re-use substantial quantities of retard energy.

To provide a power feeding system and the like with which charging can be performed without a decrease in the power supply efficiency. To provide a power feeding system and the like with which can offer a power feeding service which is efficient to both a power feeding user and a power feeding provider. The power transmission state in each of power transmitting portions is monitored, the power transmitting portion having the highest power transmission efficiency is selected based on positional advantage, and the power transmitting resonance coil included in the selected power transmitting portion is kept at a first resonance frequency, whereby power transmission continues. The resonance frequency of the power transmitting resonance coil included in the non-selected power transmitting portion (the number of the non-selected power transmitting portions may be plural) is set to a second resonance frequency, whereby power transmission is stopped.

The invention relates to systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.

An electric vehicle receives electric power, in a non-contact manner, from an electric power transmitting coil provided externally to the vehicle. The electric vehicle includes an electric power receiving unit that is disposed at a bottom of the vehicle and receives electric power from the electric power transmitting unit via electromagnetic field resonance; a camera that captures an image of the outside; and a display unit that displays an outside view from the vehicle that is captured by the camera. The electric power receiving unit is disposed at a position that is offset toward a peripheral face, on which the camera is disposed, with respect to the center of the bottom in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Apparatus, systems and methods for levitating and moving objects are shown and described herein. The embodiments incorporate a track with lower rails having permanent magnets abutted against each other and aligned such that the upper surface of each of the lower rails has a uniform polarity; and the object with upper rails having permanent magnets aligned with the lower rails and oriented to oppose the polarity of the lower permanent magnets. Ferrous backing plates behind the lower rails and / or the upper rails may be incorporated. Embodiments may also incorporate a third rail of an electroconductive material, and a driving disc positioned near the third rail. Permanent magnets in the driving disc may be rotated with the driving disc in the presence of the third rail to accelerate the upper rails with respects to the lower rails.

A half-bridge inverter is used for a high frequency alternating current power supply to be connected to a primary side of a contactless power transformer, and a voltage-doubler rectifier is used to convert a secondary-side alternating current output of the contactless power transformer into a direct current.

Provided is a multiple layer composition and method for deposition of a solar energy harvesting strip onto a driving surface that will allow electric cars to charge by an inductive coupling. The multiple layer composition includes at least one magnetic material for generating a magnetic field, wherein at least one of the multiple layers comprises the magnetic material. Further, the a multiple layer composition includes at least one solar energy harvesting material for converting at least one of thermal and photonic energy into electrical energy, wherein at least one of the multiple layers comprises the at least one solar energy harvesting material and wherein the at least one solar energy harvesting material is located within a magnetic field generated by the at least one magnetic material. An alternative multiple layer composition includes a thermal energy harvesting material for converting thermal energy into electrical energy, wherein at least one layer comprises the thermal energy harvesting material, and a photonic energy harvesting material for converting photonic energy into electrical energy, wherein at least one layer comprises the thermal energy harvesting material. Additionally provided is a solar energy harvesting buckyball, inductive coupling device, vehicle chassis for storing electrical energy, atmospheric intake hydrogen motor, electrical energy generating tire and mechanical energy harvesting device.

In an example of a system, power is transferred from a transmission coil to a reception coil by electromagnetic induction. A detecting unit calculates a difference between a standard value and a measured value, detects presence of a metallic foreign object on the transmission coil based on the difference, and outputs a signal when the metallic foreign object is detected. The standard value is obtained by supplying electrical power to the transmission coil when a metallic foreign object is absent on the transmission coil. The measured value is obtained by supplying electrical power to the transmission coil. If PIN0 represents input power of the transmission coil, PL0 represents output power of the reception coil, Pc1 represents copper loss of the transmission coil, and Pc2, represents copper loss of the reception coil, the detecting unit uses a value expressed by (PIN0-PL0-Pc1-Pc2) as the standard value and the measured value.

An object is to provide a moving object structure capable of reducing power loss caused when power is supplied from a power feeding device to a moving object by wireless communication. Another object is to provide a moving object structure capable of reducing the intensity of radio waves radiated to the surroundings. A moving object having a plurality of antennas receives radio waves transmitted from a power feeding device. At least one of the plurality of antennas is installed apart from the other antenna(s) of the moving object. Then, the radio waves transmitted from the power feeding device are received by all the plurality of antennas and converted into electric energy. Alternatively, the radio waves transmitted from the power feeding device are received by one or more selected from the plurality of antennas and converted into electric energy.

Provided is a noncontact type power feeder system for feeding an electric power to a mobile object, which enables a quick charge and transmission of a high electric power and in which a power feeder and a power receiver can be readily manufactured at low cost, comprising a power feeder arranged along a running road surface for the mobile object 1, and a power receiver mounted to the mobile object, the power feeder and the power receiver being opposed fact-to-face to each other for feeding an electric power, wherein the power feeder is secured on the running road surface for the mobile object, or aerially above the running road surface while the power receiver is mounted at a position where the power receiver is opposed face-to-face to the power feeder with a predetermined gap therebetween when the mobile object is stopped at a position where the power feeder is set up, and each of the power feeder and the power receiver is composed of a planer core having long sides extended in the travel direction of the mobile object while the power feeder is fed thereto with an electric power through a power feed line laid underground or aerially.

This non-contact electric power supply device 6 is used to charge, for example, a battery of an electric vehicle, and electric power is supplied from a primary side, i.e., a primary coil 7 on an electric power supply side to a secondary side, i.e., a secondary coil 8 on an electric reception side based on a mutual induction effect of electromagnetic induction. The primary coil 7 and the secondary coil 8 are flatly and spirally wound in one plane, respectively, (by) making a plurality of parallel conducting wires a set and are twisted at a regular pitch interval along the way. A primary magnetic core 13 and secondary magnetic core 14 on which the primary coil 7 and the secondary coil 8 are disposed are made of ferrite and the like and are formed in a tabular shape. Outer surfaces of the primary coil 7 and the primary magnetic core 13 and outer surfaces of the secondary coil 8 and the secondary magnetic core 14 are covered and secured by molded resin 17, respectively. Foamed materials 18 are mixed in the molded resin 17.

Disclosed herein is a wireless electrical charging apparatus, including: a power-supply unit configured to generate power to be transferred to a power receiving apparatus; a power transferring device configured to transfer power generated by the power-supply unit to the power receiving apparatus; a power relaying device capable of relaying power transferred by the power transferring device to the power receiving apparatus; and a power-relaying-device moving mechanism section configured to move the power relaying device.

A wireless power feeding system capable of long distance and highly efficient space transmission of power is provided. A wireless power feeding system includes a power transmitter, a power receiver, and a power receiving body. The power transmitter generates electromagnetic waves. The power receiver is supplied with power by means of the electromagnetic waves received from the power transmitter using a magnetic field resonance phenomenon. The power receiving body is inserted into an electromagnetic field created by the power transmitter and the power receiver, and receives power by means of the electromagnetic field.

Apparatus for providing effective amounts of high-frequency AC power to a long primary trackway (1102), used for inductive power transfer includes transconductance-pi filters (1105) for deliberate mismatching; resulting in independence of current flow and track impedance. These cause the source (1101) to appear as a voltage source and the trackway to appear as a low reactance. Shorting the output (1106) cuts the connected trackway from power without harm. The filter can cause a voltage step-up so driving a longer track. Track termination apparatus is disclosed that acts as a short circuit at only the operating frequency while terminating the track at its characteristic impedance otherwise. Half-bridge and full-bridge power supplies (1101) are described for providing effective amounts of high-frequency AC power to a long primary trackway used for inductive power transfer.

A contactless power supply system contactlessly supplies electric power from a power transmitting device to a vehicle. The vehicle includes a power receiving unit contactlessly receiving electric power from the power transmitting device, an electrical storage device storing electric power received by the power receiving unit, and a vehicle ECU. The power transmitting device includes a power supply unit, a power transmitting unit contactlessly supplying electric power, supplied from the power supply unit, to the power receiving unit and a matching transformer used to adjust an impedance between the power supply unit and the power transmitting unit. The vehicle ECU is able to output, to the power transmitting device, a command to adjust the matching transformer, and sets an impedance of the matching transformer on the basis of a power transfer efficiency between the power transmitting unit and the power receiving unit while the electrical storage device is being charged.

Movable body equipment is provided with: a secondary-side resonance coil, which receives power from a primary-side resonance coil of power supply equipment; a rectifier, which rectifies the power received by the secondary-side resonance coil; and a secondary battery, to which to which the power rectified by the rectifier is supplied. A resonance-type non-contact power supply system is provided with: state of charge detection units, which detect the state of charge of the secondary battery; and an impedance estimation unit, which estimates an impedance estimation value for the secondary battery on the basis of the state of charge of the secondary battery. When the absolute value of the difference between the impedance estimation value and the current impedance value of the secondary battery exceeds a threshold, a determination unit determines that a foreign body is present between the primary-side resonance coil and the secondary-side resonance coil.

A non-contact power supply system is provided in which current phases of induction lines are matched. According to the output current of a power supply unit (21) and the power consumption of induction lines (19), a lead time corresponding to a phase difference between the output currents of the induction lines is determined. A signal for driving transistors (52) is advanced ahead of a drive synchronization signal (β) according to the lead time.

A charging station for a vehicle having supports (3 and 4), each of which holds a charging element (5 and 6), which are positioned such that when the bus is in position, the charging elements are positioned along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and can connect with charge receiving members on the vehicle, which are similarly spaced along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.