Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining one or more tractor units for a tractor-trailer in a system including a plurality of electrically driven tractor units. Each tractor unit is configured to form a tractor-trailer with a respective trailer and to tow the respective trailer. The method includes: receiving a first item of transport order information, representing a loading position and an unloading position, receiving first items of tractor unit information representing a current position of the respective tractor unit and an estimated current range of the respective tractor unit, determining the first tractor unit in order to form a first tractor-trailer for transporting the goods along a first section of a transport route, the determination of the first tractor unit being performed while considering the first item of transport order information and the first items of tractor unit information.

Abstract: A trailer, in particular a utility trailer, for road vehicles on which an extendable current collector or an electrical contact element for an inverted current collector is placed.

Abstract: A method for providing a communication connection between a stationary electric charging station and a motor vehicle arranged in an environment of the charging station. The communication connection is established by a controller and trajectory data of a current approach trajectory of the motor vehicle are determined during an approach of the motor vehicle toward the charging station. At least one characteristic approach trajectory leading to the charging station is provided and compared with the current approach trajectory and, if the current approach trajectory fulfills a predetermined offset criterion regarding any characteristic approach trajectory, an alternating signal is generated which signalizes that the communication connection is dis-connected and a new communication connection should be established to a different charging station.

Abstract: A secondary unit arrangement of an inductive power transfer system includes a secondary unit having a secondary winding structure for receiving a magnetic or electromagnetic field generated by a primary unit, a detector device including plurality of detection elements for detecting an arrangement comprising the primary unit, a determination unit for determining at least one electrical property of the detector device with respect to different regions of an arrangement, thereby generating determination results consisting of a determination result for different regions of the arrangement, a comparison unit for comparing the determination results with existing information about the arrangement to be detected, wherein the existing information includes information about expected values for the different regions of the arrangement, thereby generating a comparison result, and a decision unit for deciding from the comparison result whether the determination results indicates that the detector device has detected the a

Abstract: A secondary unit arrangement of an inductive power transfer system includes a secondary unit having a secondary winding structure for receiving a magnetic or electromagnetic field generated by a primary unit, a detector device including plurality of detection elements for detecting an arrangement comprising the primary unit, a determination unit for determining at least one electrical property of the detector device with respect to different regions of an arrangement, thereby generating determination results consisting of a determination result for different regions of the arrangement, a comparison unit for comparing the determination results with existing information about the arrangement to be detected, wherein the existing information includes information about expected values for the different regions of the arrangement, thereby generating a comparison result, and a decision unit for deciding from the comparison result whether the determination results indicates that the detector device has detected the a

Abstract: An inductive power transfer system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle. The system includes a wayside electric conductor arrangement and a vehicle side receiving device. The wayside electric conductor arrangement is combined with an array of a plurality of sensor coils, placed side by side to form the array. The array extends in directions transverse to a field direction of the electromagnetic field, which field direction extends from the wayside electric conductor arrangement to the vehicle side receiving device during transfer of the energy to the vehicle. A detector arrangement is connected to the plurality of the sensor coils and adapted to detect an effect of any magnetic and/or electrically conducting body, that is possibly located in the field direction on at least one electrical property of at least one of the sensor coils. At least one marker body is combined with the vehicle side receiving device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method of operating an inductive power transfer system for transferring power to a vehicle. The inductive power transfer system includes a primary winding structure for generating an alternating electromagnetic field and a secondary winding structure for receiving the alternating electromagnetic field and generating an alternating current output voltage, wherein the alternating current output voltage is rectified and supplied to at least one energy storage element. The rectified output voltage is adjusted by varying a gap size of a gap between the primary winding structure and the secondary winding structure, wherein the gap size is adjusted to prepare and/or to initiate and/or to control an energy transfer process depending on charging characteristics of the at least one energy storage element.

Abstract: The invention relates to method of detecting an arrangement having a primary unit of an inductive power transfer system and/or a secondary unit of the inductive power transfer system. The method including: using a detector device to detect the arrangement, the detector device having at least one electrical conductor, determining at least one electrical property of the detector device and generating determination results consisting of a determination result for each of different regions of the arrangement, and comparing the determination results with existing information about the arrangement to be detected. The existing information includes information about expected values for the different regions of the arrangement, thereby generating a comparison result, and deciding from the comparison result whether the determination results indicate that the detector device has detected the arrangement as expected.

Abstract: The invention relates to an object detection system for an inductive power transfer system, in particular for transferring power to a vehicle on a surface of a route, wherein the inductive power transfer system includes a primary winding structure and a secondary winding structure, wherein a charging volume is assigned to the inductive power transfer system during inductive power transfer, wherein the object detection system includes at least one sensing device, wherein the sensing device has a detection volume, wherein the at least one sensing device is arranged such that the detection volume is fully arranged outside the charging volume or includes only an edge portion of the charging volume. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for detecting a foreign object, an inductive power transfer system and a vehicle.

Abstract: An object detection system for an inductive power transfer system, for transferring power to a vehicle on a surface of a route. The object detection system comprises at least one LC oscillating circuit and at least one driving circuit. An input side of the driving circuit is connected to a power supply circuit and an output side of the driving circuit is connected to the at least one LC oscillating circuit. The driving circuit provides an alternating current voltage to the at least one oscillating circuit. The object detection system comprises at least one means for capturing an input power to the driving circuit provided by the power supply circuit and the object detection system comprises at least one detection means for detecting a foreign object depending on the captured input power.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method of operating an inductive power transfer system for transferring power to a vehicle. The inductive power transfer system includes a primary winding structure for generating an alternating electromagnetic field and a secondary winding structure for receiving the alternating electromagnetic field and generating an alternating current output voltage, wherein the alternating current output voltage is rectified and supplied to at least one energy storage element. The rectified output voltage is adjusted by varying a gap size of a gap between the primary winding structure and the secondary winding structure, wherein the gap size is adjusted to prepare and/or to initiate and/or to control an energy transfer process depending on charging characteristics of the at least one energy storage element.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing a land vehicle, with electric energy includes producing an electromagnetic field on a primary side located on the track of the vehicle and/or located at a stop of the vehicle, by receiving the magnetic component of the electromagnetic field on a secondary side on board the vehicle above the source of the electromagnetic field and by magnetic induction on the secondary side. The arrangement includes a secondary side conductor assembly made of electrically conducting material which produces an electromagnetic stray field during operation while the electrically conducting material carries an alternating electric current and a secondary side shielding assembly made of magnetizable material. The secondary side shielding assembly extends sideways of the secondary side conductor assembly on the same level as the secondary side conductor assembly, thereby shielding regions, which are located beyond the magnetizable material, from the electromagnetic stray field.

Abstract: The invention relates to method of detecting an arrangement having a primary unit of an inductive power transfer system and/or a secondary unit of the inductive power transfer system. The method including: using a detector device to detect the arrangement, the detector device having at least one electrical conductor, determining at least one electrical property of the detector device and generating determination results consisting of a determination result for each of different regions of the arrangement, and comparing the determination results with existing information about the arrangement to be detected. The existing information includes information about expected values for the different regions of the arrangement, thereby generating a comparison result, and deciding from the comparison result whether the determination results indicate that the detector device has detected the arrangement as expected.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing a vehicle with electric energy, wherein the arrangement includes a generating device for inducing an alternating electric current by magnetic induction in a corresponding receiving device, wherein the arrangement comprises a base to which the generating device is attached, the base defines a vehicle location an elevated region sideways of the vehicle location, wherein an upper surface of the elevated region is elevated compared to an upper surface of the base under the vehicle location, an elongated profile includes an electrically conducting material and/or a magnetizable material, wherein the elongated profile is attached to the elevated region and extends along an extension of the generating device in a longitudinal direction of the arrangement and wherein an elevated profile extends upwards towards a level of the upper surface of the elevated region and also extends towards the vehicle location.

Abstract: The invention relates to an object detection system for an inductive power transfer system, in particular for transferring power to a vehicle on a surface of a route, wherein the inductive power transfer system includes a primary winding structure and a secondary winding structure, wherein a charging volume is assigned to the inductive power transfer system during inductive power transfer, wherein the object detection system includes at least one sensing device, wherein the sensing device has a detection volume, wherein the at least one sensing device is arranged such that the detection volume is fully arranged outside the charging volume or includes only an edge portion of the charging volume. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for detecting a foreign object, an inductive power transfer system and a vehicle.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle. The system includes a wayside electric conductor arrangement and a vehicle side receiving device. The wayside electric conductor arrangement is combined with an array of a plurality of sensor coils, placed side by side to form the array. The array extends in directions transverse to a field direction of the electromagnetic field, which field direction extends from the wayside electric conductor arrangement to the vehicle side receiving device during transfer of the energy to the vehicle. A detector arrangement is connected to the plurality of the sensor coils and adapted to detect an effect of any magnetic and/or electrically conducting body, that is possibly located in the field direction on at least one electrical property of at least one of the sensor coils. At least one marker body is combined with the vehicle side receiving device.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing a vehicle with electric energy, wherein the arrangement includes a generating device for inducing an alternating electric current by magnetic induction in a corresponding receiving device, wherein the arrangement comprises a base to which the generating device is attached, the base defines a vehicle location an elevated region sideways of the vehicle location, wherein an upper surface of the elevated region is elevated compared to an upper surface of the base under the vehicle location, an elongated profile includes an electrically conducting material and/or a magnetizable material, wherein the elongated profile is attached to the elevated region and extends along an extension of the generating device in a longitudinal direction of the arrangement and wherein an elevated profile extends upwards towards a level of the upper surface of the elevated region and also extends towards the vehicle location.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing a land vehicle, with electric energy includes producing an electromagnetic field on a primary side located on the track of the vehicle and/or located at a stop of the vehicle, by receiving the magnetic component of the electromagnetic field on a secondary side on board the vehicle above the source of the electromagnetic field and by magnetic induction on the secondary side. The arrangement includes a secondary side conductor assembly made of electrically conducting material which produces an electromagnetic stray field during operation while the electrically conducting material carries an alternating electric current and a secondary side shielding assembly made of magnetizable material. The secondary side shielding assembly extends sideways of the secondary side conductor assembly on the same level as the secondary side conductor assembly, thereby shielding regions, which are located beyond the magnetizable material, from the electromagnetic stray field.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical connector housing (100) for connecting an optical fiber to an optical element, such as a diode or a further optical fiber. The housing (100) comprises a substantially tubular receptacle (102) for one or more optical fibers and a retention member (104), which is received with interlocking fit in the housing (100) and is displaceable vertically to the optical fiber. In order to provide a housing (100) which fixes the optical fiber easily and inexpensively, yet securely, according to the invention the retention member (104) is manufactured from the same material and integrally with the housing (100). In the pre-assembly position, the retention member (104) is supported by webs (106) on the housing (100). During assembly, the retention member (104) is displaced in such a way that it engages the optical fiber and secures it against axial displacement.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical connector housing (100) for connecting an optical fiber to an optical element, such as a diode or a further optical fiber. The housing (100) comprises a substantially tubular receptacle (102) for one or more optical fibers and a retention member (104), which is received with interlocking fit in the housing (100) and is displaceable vertically to the optical fiber. In order to provide a housing (100) which fixes the optical fiber easily and inexpensively, yet securely, according to the invention the retention member (104) is manufactured from the same material and integrally with the housing (100). In the pre-assembly position, the retention member (104) is supported by webs (106) on the housing (100). During assembly, the retention member (104) is displaced in such a way that it engages the optical fiber and secures it against axial displacement.