Magnetic Induction Patents (Class 191/10)
  • Patent number: 11945318
    Abstract: The power supply apparatus includes a power transmission apparatus configured to transmit power to a power reception apparatus of the vehicle by non-contact and a processor configured to control the power transmission apparatus, detect a pickup/dropoff operation at the vehicle when power is being supplied by non-contact from the power supply apparatus to the vehicle, and detect a number of surrounding vehicles being supplied with power by non-contact in a predetermined range at surroundings of the power supply apparatus. The processor is configured to decrease power transmitted from the power transmission apparatus to the power reception apparatus when detecting a pickup/dropoff operation, and determine an amount of decrease of the transmitted power based on the number of surrounding vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daiki Yokoyama, Toshiya Hashimoto, Shuntaro Okazaki, Shogo Tsuge, Kazuhisa Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11890945
    Abstract: An electric multi-mode drive system (400), a method for operating the same, a vehicle (110) and a track (401). The system is arranged for operating at one part (402) of the track (401), at a station (410; 411), an electric Linear Doubly Fed Motor, LDFM, (310) for launching the vehicle (110), and for operating at another part (403) of the track (401), between stations (410; 411), a further electric motor (320; 330; 340; 350), not an LDFM, arranged for at least one of accelerating, coasting and restarting movement of the vehicle (110) after launching. Electric power for operating the further electric motor (320; 330; 340; 350), is provided by an on-board rechargeable electrical energy storage device. With the LDFM (310), sufficient power is generated for accelerating the vehicle (110), and recharging the on-board electrical energy storage device during standstill, braking and/or launching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ENGIE ELECTROPROJECT B.V.
    Inventor: André Veltman
  • Patent number: 11831360
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for contactless powering and control of conveyors on shuttles. An example system may include a track, a first transmitter disposed at a first location along the track, the first transmitter configured to transmit power and data wirelessly, and a shuttle configured to move along the track. The shuttle may include a conveyor, and a first receiver configured to wirelessly receive the power and the data from the first transmitter, where the power is used to power the conveyor. The shuttle may not have an onboard power source coupled to the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, Vivek S Narayanan, Rajeev Dwivedi, Michael Alan Bray, Raja Santosh Akella
  • Patent number: 11749548
    Abstract: A transport system, including: a sensor, a controller and a power panel. The sensor determines a zone and sends a quantity information in response to a quantity of vehicles in the zone. The controller is arranged to send an output signal in accordance with the quantity information. The power panel is arranged to output a current in accordance with the output signal for driving vehicles in the zone, wherein the current is outputted to a cable extending through the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Hsien Li, Chi-Feng Tung, Hsiang Yin Shen
  • Patent number: 11652367
    Abstract: A circuit for energizing a magnetic flux coupling apparatus has a pick-up coil for receiving power inductively, a storage capacitor for storing energy from the received power, and an inverter for supplying electrical energy from the storage capacitor to the magnetic flux coupling apparatus. The circuit allows power transfer to a load to be supplied by the flux coupling apparatus to exceed the power received from the pick-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: AUCKLAND UNISERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: John Talbot Boys, Grant Anthony Covic
  • Patent number: 11651891
    Abstract: A roadway powered electric vehicle system includes a power supply (101) which makes power available inductively to one or more modules (111) provided in or under a roadway. Modules (111) make a magnetic field selectively available to one or more vehicles travelling over the roadway corresponding to the location of the vehicle. The presence or strength of the magnetic field provided on the roadway may be dependent upon the vehicle type or category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: AUCKLAND UNISERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: John Talbot Boys, Grant Anthony Covic
  • Patent number: 11522389
    Abstract: An Inductive Power Transfer System pickup provides a controlled AC power supply by controlled variation of the phase angle between the pickup coil induced voltage (jwMI) and the tuning capacitor C voltage. The phase angle can be varied by maintaining the tuning capacitor C voltage substantially constant for a selected time period. Switches S1 and S2 may be used to clamp the tuning capacitor C voltage at substantially zero volts during the selected time period. Switch S1 can be operated to prevent a rise in positive voltage across the tuning capacitor, and switch S2 can be used to prevent the voltage across the tuning capacitor from going negative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Auckland Uniservices Limited
    Inventor: John Talbot Boys
  • Patent number: 11318845
    Abstract: A system for wireless power transfer of on-road vehicles is provided herein. The system includes a plurality of base stations; a power transmission line located beneath a surface of a road having a plurality of segments, each segment having at least one pair of coils and at least one capacitor electrically connected via a switch to the coils in the segment; and at least one vehicle having at least one power receiving segment having at least two coils, connected to at least one capacitor, wherein the at least one vehicle further includes a communication transmitter configured to transmit a power requesting signal, wherein the coils of the power transmitting segment are configured to receive the power requesting signal; and wherein each of the base stations is further configured to feed a plurality of the power transmitting segments with current at a resonance frequency, responsive to the power requesting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Electric Road Ltd.
    Inventor: Hanan Rumbak
  • Patent number: 11285831
    Abstract: A DC matrix power switch structure mechanically and electrically connects m DC power modules to n charge dispensers for charging electric vehicles. The matrix includes an input structure having m conducting input busbar pairs and an output structure having n conducting output busbar pairs. A first busbar of n output busbar pairs is connected to a positive voltage terminal and a second busbar of n output busbar pairs is connected to a negative voltage terminal of each of n charge dispensers, producing two times m×n busbar crossing points. A power switch is mechanically mounted to a cross point or is moved to a crossing point and, when activated, connects to the associated busbar at the busbar crossing point providing power to the appropriate charge dispenser. A power switch includes one or more actuators to connect an input busbar to an output busbar with a flexible conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: WattEV, Inc.
    Inventors: Emil Youssefzadeh, Marcelo Barros, Salim Youssefzadeh
  • Patent number: 11214163
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device associates a charging coil with a coil identifier. The device sends the coil identifier to a communication module of the charging coil. The communication module of the charging coil forwards the coil identifier to an electric vehicle located above the charging coil. The device receives the coil identifier from the electric vehicle. The device associates the electric vehicle with the charging coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok Krishnaji Moghe, John George Apostolopoulos
  • Patent number: 11161422
    Abstract: A wireless charging station for charging an automatic mower including a cutting device, an energy storage unit, a wireless electric energy transmitter and a wireless electric energy receiver electrically connected with the energy storage unit. The wireless charging station is at least partially located in a movement range of the automatic mower, and the top of the wireless charging station is lower than the bottom of the cutting device. An automatic mower matching the wireless charging station and an automatic mowing system using the wireless charging station and the automatic mower is further provided. The wireless charging station, the automatic mower, and the automatic mowing system enable the automatic mower to trim a lawn closer to the charging station, reduce a cutting corner in a movable range of the automatic mower, and improve trimming capability of the automatic mower for the lawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Positec Power Tools (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Paolo Andriolo, Fangshi Liu
  • Patent number: 11114894
    Abstract: A charging apparatus for wireless charging of one or more robotic devices includes a power transmitting unit having a plurality of conducting wires each configured to carry a respective alternating current signal and to generate a time-varying magnetic flux when the conducting wire carries the alternating current signal, a processor configured to detect a presence or an absence of an induction coil of a robotic device within a predetermined distance of a conducting wire and to generate control data based on the result of the detection, and a control unit configured to control at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of each respective alternating current signal supplied to each of the conducting wires based on the control data, where the control unit is configured to increase at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of an alternating current signal supplied to a conducting wire in response to control data indicating the presence of the induction coil within the predetermined distance of the conducting
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver George Hume, Robert Keith John Withey, Michael Eder
  • Patent number: 11062588
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for detecting, by a device, an increase in temperature at certain parts of an electrical system, and taking appropriate responsive action. The method may include measuring temperatures at certain locations within the system and estimating temperatures at other locations based on the measurements. Some embodiments disclosed herein include an integrated cable combining electrical conduction and heat-detection capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoav Galin, Meir Adest, Israel Gershman, Guy Sella
  • Patent number: 11034252
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging assembly includes a plurality of charge transmitters that are each embedded into a roadway. The charge transmitters are spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other and are distributed along an entire distance of the roadway. Moreover, each of the charge transmitters broadcasts a charging signal. A charge transceiver is coupled to an electric vehicle and the charge transceiver is in electrical communication with batteries of the electric vehicle. The charge transceiver is in wireless communication with each of the charge transmitters when the electric vehicle is driven on the roadway. The charge transceiver receives the charge signal for charging the batteries in the electric vehicle while driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventor: Kristopher Barnes
  • Patent number: 11034250
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for activating a segment for enabling electrical power delivery to vehicles, the segment being one of a plurality of segments consecutively arranged along a single track line of an electric road system that further comprises a base station, the method comprising: receiving, at the base station, identification data transmitted from a vehicle, the identification data identifying the vehicle; associating an activation key with the identification data with each other; transmitting the activation key from the base station to the segment; receiving, at the segment and via short range radio communication, an activation request sent from the vehicle, wherein the activation request comprises an identification key associated with the identification data; confirming, at the segment, that the received identification key is associated with the received activation key; and upon positive confirmation, activating the segment for enabling power delivery to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ELONROAD AB
    Inventors: Dan Zethraeus, Andreas Sörensen
  • Patent number: 11011933
    Abstract: A contactless electric power supply device configured to widen a range in which power supply is possible to a moving body in a connection direction by supplying electric power from a supply coil to the moving body provided with the receiving coil in a contactless manner and connecting power supply modules provided with the supply coil, wherein, when at least one of the receiving coils is positioned to be able to receiver power from at least one of the supply coils, the contactless electric power supply device performs communication from the power supply module to an alternating module that supplies alternating current and performs communication from the alternating module to the power supply module, and causes a semiconductor switch provided on the power supply module to conduct electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Nomura, Shinji Takikawa, Shinichi Kato
  • Patent number: 11005295
    Abstract: A non-contact power feeding device includes multiple power feeding elements that are disposed spatially separated from one another in a movement direction, an AC power supply that supplies AC power to the power feeding elements, multiple power receiving elements that are provided in a moving body and that receive AC power in a non-contact manner, and a power receiving circuit that converts the AC power received by the power receiving elements and that outputs to an electrical load. When a length of the power feeding elements in the movement direction is LT, a separation distance between the power feeding elements is DT, a length of the power receiving elements in the movement direction is LR, and a separation distance between the power receiving elements is DR, the relationship DT?DR and the relationship (2×LR+DR)?LT are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Nomura, Shinji Takikawa, Masayuki Oki
  • Patent number: 10991505
    Abstract: A coil unit connection structure is provided which can integrate locations connected to a power cable into one side in an arrangement direction of a plurality of coil units. In a coil unit connection structure that electrically connects a plurality of coil units, each of the coil units includes a coil and a return wire. A plurality of the coils of the plurality of coil units is electrically connected to each other. A plurality of the return wires of the plurality of coil units is electrically connected to each other. A terminal unit is provided which includes a connecting wire that electrically connects the coil and the return wire of the coil unit at the terminal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Unno, Hirofumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10967740
    Abstract: This invention relates to a wireless vehicle recharging apparatus for an energy storage element of a vehicle. The apparatus has at least one drive unit arrangement coupled to at least one drive coil arrangement disposed for generating a magnetic field extending from the drive coil arrangement, and includes a corresponding vehicle-mounted pickup coil arrangement coupled to a power conditioning circuit arrangement for receiving the extending magnetic field. The drive unit arrangement is operable to excite the drive coil arrangement at a fundamental frequency and the drive coil arrangement is implemented to be substantially devoid of ferromagnetic components for providing a path for the extending magnetic field. Additional aspects of the invention relate to vehicle power coupling apparatus including pickup coil arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Nicholas Dames, Andrew Howe, Timothy Sweyn Norris
  • Patent number: 10875413
    Abstract: A shear panel for a forward structure of a body of a vehicle includes a receiving area having fastening devices for mechanically fastening a secondary coil of an inductive energy transmission system configured to charge an electric energy accumulator of the vehicle. The shear panel may be made of metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Birkholz, Jochen Muellhaeuser
  • Patent number: 10857893
    Abstract: A ground-side power feeding device includes a ground-side power feeding coil that wirelessly transmits or receives power to or from a vehicle-side power feeding coil mounted in the vehicle via a magnetic field having a first frequency, a light emitting unit that is disposed at any position at least around the ground-side power feeding coil and in an upper portion of the ground-side power feeding coil when the ground-side power feeding coil is seen from above, and a light emitting power transmitting coil that wirelessly transmits power to the light emitting unit. The light emitting unit has a light emitting power receiving coil which wirelessly receives power from the light emitting power transmitting coil via a magnetic field having a second frequency different from the first frequency, and a light emitting body which emits light with power received by the light emitting power receiving coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Motonao Niizuma
  • Patent number: 10855118
    Abstract: Wireless power transmitting devices according to embodiments of the present technology may include a contact surface configured to support one or more wireless power receiving devices. The wireless power transmitting devices may include a plurality of coils. The wireless power transmitting devices may also include a shield positioned between the plurality of coils and the contact surface. The shield may include one or more shield members, each shield member axially aligned with a separate coil of the plurality of coils, and may include a multilayer structure exhibiting various conductivities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Andro Radchenko, Vaneet Pathak, Martin Schauer, Cheung-Wei Lam, Rahul A. Sabnani
  • Patent number: 10770922
    Abstract: A system that converts between electromagnetic configurations for power transfer including an inductive power supply defining a driver, a primary resonator coil, a secondary resonator coil, a secondary inductive coil and an electromagnetic shield. The primary resonator coil is powered by the driver. The secondary resonator coil is electromagnetically coupled to the primary resonator coil. The secondary inductive coil transfers power to a wirelessly powered device, and the secondary inductive coil is electrically connected to the secondary resonator coil. The electromagnetic shield is positioned to provide electromagnetic shielding of the secondary inductive coil from the secondary resonator coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Group Dekko, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Baarman
  • Patent number: 10727693
    Abstract: A power transmitter module is disclosed. In embodiments, a power transmitter module includes a module LC input filter configured to receive regulated DC current, a module transmitter circuit configured to receive the regulated DC current from the module LC input filter and generate a high-frequency AC current. A power transmitter module further includes a module transmitter coil and compensation circuit comprising a transmitter coil, and a first capacitor in parallel with the transmitter coil. The module transmitter coil and compensation circuit are configured to receive the high-frequency AC current from the module transmitter circuit and generate a time-varying magnetic field emitted from the transmitter coil. Additionally, a power transmitter module further includes a module controller configured to receive a power transmission input signal and further configured to control a state of the module transmitter circuit based on the power transmission input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Hongjie Wang, Regan A. Zane
  • Patent number: 10714986
    Abstract: A system for intelligent initiation of an inductive charging process. In accordance with an embodiment, the system comprises a receiver coil or receiver associated with a mobile device, and provided as a separable or after-market accessory for use with the mobile device. When the mobile device is placed in proximity to a base unit having one or more charger coils, the charger coil is used to inductively generate a current in the receiver coil or receiver associated with the mobile device, to charge or power the mobile device. The base unit and mobile device communicate with each other prior to and/or during charging or powering to determine a protocol to be used to charge or power the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
    Inventor: Afshin Partovi
  • Patent number: 10699305
    Abstract: Systems of an electrical vehicle and the operations thereof are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 10661662
    Abstract: The battery charger (1) for electric vehicles comprises a container (2), a first power unit (3) housed inside said container (2), connectable at input to an external power supply line (L) and connectable at output to a battery (B) of an electric vehicle (V), and an electronic control unit (4) housed inside the container (2) and operatively connected to the first power unit (3), and a second power unit (6) housed inside the container (2), operatively connected to the electronic control unit (4), connectable at input to at least an external power supply line (L) and connectable at output to the battery (B) of the electric vehicle (V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Meta System S.p.A.
    Inventor: Cesare Lasagni
  • Patent number: 10644544
    Abstract: A mobile vehicle wirelessly receives AC power from a power transmission device including first and second power transmission electrodes arranged along a road surface. The mobile vehicle includes: a sensor that detects an obstacle located at least either on a route of the mobile vehicle or under the mobile vehicle; a first power reception electrode that forms electric field coupling with the first power transmission electrode when facing the first power transmission electrode; a second power reception electrode that forms electric field coupling with the second power transmission electrode when facing the second power transmission electrode; an actuator that moves at least the part of the first power reception electrode in a direction of gravity; and a control circuit that controls the actuator based on a result of detection by the sensor to avoid contact between the first power reception electrode and the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kanno
  • Patent number: 10611251
    Abstract: A control system for a rechargeable vehicle control system, comprises: a processor and a computer readable medium, in communication with the processor, that comprises processor executable instructions. The processor executable instructions comprise: a vehicle tracker that identifies rechargeable electric vehicles currently using a transportation network and tracks a last known position in the transportation network of each rechargeable electric vehicle and a vehicle router that directs the rechargeable electric vehicles to one of plural charging segments located along the transportation routes in the transportation network to receive a charge, thereby load balancing the rechargeable electric vehicles over the plurality of charging segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 10611263
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a wireless power supply apparatus, which has a power pickup core formed to wrap a corner of a power pickup cable to increase an inductive electromotive force induced in a power pickup unit, has a power feeding unit configured to transfer a magnetic flux by only a power feeding cable without a power feeding core, to reduce the enormous cost for materials required to fabricate the power feeding core and thus enhance the price competitiveness, and reduce the weight and volume thereof and thus simplify the installation thereof, and has the power pickup core configured to include a plurality of power pickup core members, to reduce the weight and volume of the power pickup unit and thus increase the operational efficiency of the vehicle under which the power pickup unit is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Dong-ho Cho, Gu-ho Jung, Bo-yune Song, Seung-yong Shin, Chung-hee Lee
  • Patent number: 10427530
    Abstract: A system and method for charging a receiving vehicle, the system comprising: a receiving vehicle comprising an electrical storage unit; a charging panel in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit, the charging panel configured to receive a charge from a charging source and charge the electrical storage unit; and a vehicle controller configured to identify one or more charging sources and further configured to transmit a query to the one or more charging sources and receive at least charging data from the one or more charging sources; and one or more charging sources, each comprising: a charging plate configured to provide a charge to the charging panel; and a charging source controller configured to transmit at least charging data to the vehicle controller in response to the query; wherein if the vehicle controller determines that the charging data received is acceptable, the receiving vehicle is charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 10336194
    Abstract: Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to electric vehicle charging systems and associated methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, a system for aligning a charging panel of an electrical vehicle to receive a charge from an external source is provided, the system comprising a charging panel interconnected to the electrical vehicle; an actuator interconnected to the charging panel; a sensor configured to sense an alignment measurement between the charging panel and an external power source; and an alignment controller that receives the alignment measurement and determines a required alignment adjustment, wherein the charging panel may be adjusted to receive the charge from the external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 10329025
    Abstract: A rotorcraft including a fuselage, one or more motor-driven rotors for vertical flight, and a control system. The motors drive the one or more rotors in either of two directions of rotation to provide for flight in either an upright or an inverted orientation. An orientation sensor is used to control the primary direction of thrust, and operational instructions and gathered information are automatically adapted based on the orientation of the fuselage with respect to gravity. The rotors are configured with blades that invert to conform to the direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Todd Keennon, Karl Robert Klingebiel
  • Patent number: 10270289
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polyphase inductive power transfer (IPT) system comprising a primary power supply comprising a plurality of primary conductors, the primary conductors being individually selectively operable to provide or receive a magnetic field for inductive power transfer; and at least one pick-up comprising one or more pick-up conductors, the one or more pick-up conductors each being individually selectively operable to magnetically couple with a primary conductor to control power transfer between the primary power supply and a load coupled or coupleable with the respective pick-up. The polyphase primary power supply may be used to power a plurality of single-phase pick-ups, one or more polyphase pick-ups, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed are polyphase primary and secondary converters for use in such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited
    Inventors: Udaya Kumara Madawala, Duleepa Jayanath Thrimawithana
  • Patent number: 10220880
    Abstract: A vehicle lower section structure includes: a suspension member, formed in a frame shape, including left and right side-rails extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, and front and rear cross members coupling the left and right side-rails together in a vehicle width direction; a contactless charger fastened to both a left side and a right side of a front portion and a rear portion of the suspension member, and being supported by the suspension member; and an electrical component disposed above the contactless charger and is electrically connected to the contactless charger, the electrical component is fastened to both the left side and the right side of the front portion and the rear portion of the suspension member and is supported by the suspension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ayukawa
  • Patent number: 10220963
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle having a vision based navigation system for capturing an arresting cable situated at a landing site may comprise a fuselage having a propulsion system; an arresting device coupled to the fuselage, the arresting device to capture the arresting cable at the landing site; a camera situated on the aerial vehicle; an infrared illuminator situated on the aerial vehicle to illuminate the landing site, wherein the arresting cable has two infrared reflectors situated thereon; and an onboard vision processor. The onboard vision processor may (i) generate a plurality of coordinates representing features of the landing site using an image thresholding technique, (ii) eliminate one or more coordinates as outlier coordinates using linear correlation, and (iii) identify two of the plurality of coordinates as the two infrared reflectors using a Kalman filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: James Peverill, Terrence McKenna
  • Patent number: 10189363
    Abstract: Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to electric vehicle charging systems and associated methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, a system for charging an electric vehicle comprises an electrical storage unit, an external power source, a charging panel, and a vehicle controller configured to determine if the electrical storage unit requires charging and configured to determine if conditions allow for deployment of a charging panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 10181756
    Abstract: Disclosed are a wireless power transmitter and a power transmission method thereof. The wireless power transmitter includes a plurality of transmission resonance units, a detection power applying unit applying detection power to the transmission resonance units to detect a location of the wireless power receiver, and a current measuring unit measuring current generating from an inner part of the wireless power transmitter based on the applied detection power. The wireless power transmitter transmits the power through at least one transmitting resonance unit corresponding to the location of the wireless power receiver based on the measured current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Su Ho Bae, Ki Min Lee
  • Patent number: 10164503
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power generation system using a vehicle. The power generation system includes: a vehicle, such as an automobile, a train, an airplane, and an escalator, for carrying people or freight; a movement route, such as a road, a railroad, and a runway, formed so that the vehicle can move thereon; and a power generation unit including a magnetic force generation portion and a magnetic force receiving portion alternatively installed in the vehicle and the movement route, and configured to generate electric energy using electromagnetic induction occurring due to relative movement between the magnetic force generation portion and the magnetic force receiving portion according to movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventor: Hyeon Cheol Moon
  • Patent number: 10124690
    Abstract: Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular for positioning a charging panel of an electrical vehicle to receive a charge, are provided. In one embodiment, a system for positioning a charging panel of an electrical vehicle to receive a charge comprises an armature disposed on an electrical vehicle; a charging panel interconnected to the armature; and an actuator configured to maneuver the armature and position the charging panel relative to an external surface, the external surface in communication with a power source configured to provide a charge to the charging panel, wherein the charging panel is configured to receive the charge from the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 10116144
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure and a coil assembly in the enclosure. The coil assembly includes a magnetic core and a coil disposed on the magnetic core. The magnetic core is positioned adjacent a wall of the enclosure such that a direction of a main flux path in the magnetic core is through at least one portion of the wall having a magnetic permeability greater than air. Such an arrangement may be used for a wireless power receiver unit configured to be installed in an equipment rack in data center applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Jun Xu, Xiaojun Wang, Yilei Gu, Qinjie Zheng, Bobby Leonard Compton, Birger Pahl
  • Patent number: 10099561
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a power unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that may generate a current from a conductor of an overhead power line carrying an AC power signal. The power UAV has a receptor that includes a secondary coil. Current is generated by the secondary coil of the receptor from magnetic fields emanating from the overhead power lines while the power UAV is flying. The generated current may be used to fly the power UAV, recharge an energy storage device of the power UAV, or be provided to another UAV. In various implementations, while the power UAV is flying, the power UAV may receive another UAV, recharge the other UAV, and then release the UAV to resume flying. In various implementations, the power UAV may also monitor characteristics of the power delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peruvemba Ranganathan Sai Ananthanarayanan, Anuj Dron, Adrian Napoles, Rohit Sammeta, Ming Zheng
  • Patent number: 10071641
    Abstract: A system for charging an electrical storage unit of an electric vehicle through a contact device, the system comprising: the contact device interconnected to the electrical storage unit of an electric vehicle and configured to receive an electrical charge from an external power source; a contact arm interconnected to the contact device, the contact arm configured to position the contact device at a first position relative to the external power source; and a contact device controller interconnected to the contact arm and configured to control the contact arm wherein the first position is maintained; wherein the contact device receives the electrical charge from the external power source; wherein the electrical storage unit of the electric vehicle is charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: NIO USA, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 10065515
    Abstract: On the ground, a plurality of primary power supply transformers are separately installed with a longitudinal direction of magnetic poles matching a vehicle traveling direction. The primary power supply transformers each include a double-sided coil with an H-shaped core around which a wire is wound. On a vehicle, a secondary power supply transformer including an H-shaped core is mounted with a longitudinal direction of magnetic poles matching a vehicle front-back direction. The distance between the primary power supply transformers is set such that the distance between the centers of the magnetic poles of the neighboring primary power supply transformers does not exceed 3D where D represents the size of the magnetic poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TECHNOVA INC.
    Inventors: Tomio Yasuda, Hiroyuki Kishi, Isami Norigoe
  • Patent number: 10040362
    Abstract: Provided are a secondary charging pad alignment method, a wireless charging control apparatus, and a method of operating a charger. The secondary charging pad alignment method includes monitoring signals induced at a plurality of hall sensors arranged in a vehicle, estimating a position of a primary charging pad of a charger based on measured values of the plurality of hall sensors, and generating one of movement information for moving a secondary charging pad disposed in the vehicle to the estimated position of the primary charging pad and steering information of the vehicle corresponding to the movement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Do Hoon Kim, Jae Yong Seong, Zeung Il Kim
  • Patent number: 10027147
    Abstract: A holder configured to hold one or more components of a wireless charging power transfer system is provided. The apparatus comprises a first surface having one or more grooves configured to receive at least a portion of a conductor of a coil that spans the holder and at least one other holder, the coil configured to inductively transfer power via a magnetic field. The apparatus comprises one or more mechanical connectors configured to fasten the holder to the at least one other holder. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of transverse grooves on the first surface that extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of extension of the one or more grooves, the plurality of transverse grooves configured to guide the conductor of the coil from the holder to the at least one other holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Simon Peter Islinger, Steven Daniel Niederhauser
  • Patent number: 9987948
    Abstract: A conductor line for supplying an electric load movable on the conductor line in the longitudinal direction of the conductor line, includes at least one conductor strand which runs in the longitudinal direction and has an electrically conductive profiled conductor section for contacting a sliding contact of a current collector of the load and at least one elongated slotted waveguide, which runs in the longitudinal direction, with a longitudinal slot for receiving an antenna which can be moved together with the load. A related current collector and a conductor line system are also provided. The aim is to allow a compact and material-saving design with good fault-tolerant transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: CONDUCTIX-WAMPFLER GMBH
    Inventor: Bernd Maier
  • Patent number: 9975634
    Abstract: Embodiments include devices and methods for navigating an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) based on a measured magnetic field vector and strength of a magnetic field emanated from a charging station. A processor of the UAV may navigate to the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength. The processor may determine whether the UAV is substantially aligned with the charging station, and the processor may maneuver the UAV to approach the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength in response to determining that the UAV is substantially aligned with the charging station. Maneuvering the UAV to approach the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength may involve descending to a center of the charging station. The UAV may follow a specified route to and/or away from the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: William Henry Von Novak, III, Joseph Maalouf, Sumukh Shevde
  • Patent number: 9951800
    Abstract: A surface plasma actuator includes a conducting wire attached to a surface of a target object and electrically insulated from the target object. Surface plasma is generated along a neighborhood of the conducting wire by applying a pulse voltage between the conducting wire and a conductive portion on a side of the target object. An induced gas flow is generated by the surface plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Takehiko Segawa, Takayuki Matsunuma, Timothy Jukes
  • Patent number: RE48475
    Abstract: Provided is an amplifying repeater to intensify and amplify a magnetic field of electromagnetic waves. Also provided is a wireless power conversion charging device using the magnetic field of electromagnetic waves, which is located between an electromagnetic wave generating source transmitter and a receiving coil or attached to a transmitter and a receiving coil. Accordingly, charging power for various electronic devices can be provided and power can be wirelessly supplied to various loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: JC Protek Co., Ltd., Andong National University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventor: Hyung-Joo Lee