Inductev, Inc.

Momentum Dynamics Corporation

Francis J McMahon

Matthew L Ward

Andrew William Daga

Edward J Gander

Peter C Schrafel

Bruce Richard Long

John M Wolgemuth

Benjamin H Cohen

Moses M Keener

Kyle R Abramowitz

Anthony Calabro

Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage medium for improving the efficiency of charging a fleet of electric vehicle (EV) that follow a prescribed route. The efficiency of charging the fleet of electric vehicle is improved by receiving telemetry data from the fleet of EVs, receiving charger data from a plurality of charges along the prescribed route, determining a charging plan for the fleet of the EVs based on a total cost per distance (TCD) of travel over each of the plurality of route segments that comprise the prescribed route and controlling a particular charger along the prescribed route to charge one of the EVs according to the charging plan.

Strategic opportunity charging for on-route electric vehicles

Modular coil assemblies for wireless charging of vehicles have coil geometries and communications designed to limit electromagnetic field (EMF) levels in regions where humans or other living objects may be present. The modular coil assemblies are designed with the ability to shape the magnetic field to be predominately within shielding provided by the auto chassis by, for example, providing side-by-side phase cancellation or diagonal versus front-to-back (for 1×3, 2×3 array configurations) phase cancellation. The power levels and frequency offset pairwise compensation of the respective coils may be controlled to improve cancellation and thus to reduce magnetic field exposure potential. The phase cancellation of the magnetic flux density from respective coil assemblies varies over a range to provide, for example, ˜50% cancellation at 125° offset and up to ˜100% cancellation at 180°. Charging profiles for vehicles and charging stations may be used to maximize the magnetic flux density cancellation during charging.

Modular magnetic flux control

A thin resonant induction wireless power transmission transfer coil assembly designed for low loss and ease of manufacturing includes one or more printed circuit boards having a first conductor pattern wound in a spiral on a first side and a second conductor pattern wound in a spiral on a second side thereof, where the second conductor pattern is aligned with the first conductor pattern whereby the second conductor pattern reinforces magnetic flux generated by the first conductor pattern. The first and second conductor patterns are placed relative to one another so as to provide flux transmission in a same direction. One or more of such printed circuit boards form a wireless power transmission coil assembly with a conductive winding layer, a ferrite flux diversion layer, conformal spacing layers, an eddy current shield layer and an assembly enclosure.

Wireless power transfer thin profile coil assembly

Modular coil assemblies for wireless charging of vehicles have coil geometries and communications designed to limit electromagnetic field (EMF) levels in regions where humans or other living objects may be present. The modular coil assemblies are designed with the ability to shape the magnetic field to be predominately within shielding provided by the auto chassis by, for example, providing side-by-side phase cancellation or diagonal versus front-to-back (for 1×3, 2×3 array configurations) phase cancellation. The power levels and frequency offset pairwise compensation of the respective coils may be controlled to improve cancellation and thus to reduce magnetic field exposure potential. The phase cancellation of the magnetic flux density from respective coil assemblies varies over a range to provide, for example, −50% cancellation at 125° offset and up to −100% cancellation at 180°. Charging profiles for vehicles and charging stations may be used to maximize the magnetic flux density cancellation during charging.

A contactless battery system includes a sealable case, a battery unit disposed within the sealable case, and at least one wireless power transmission coupler connected to the battery unit and disposed within the sealable case. The battery unit includes an arrangement of serially connected battery cells in a fixed number of banks of battery cells to deliver a set voltage and current. The wireless power transmission coupler is disposed with respect to at least one face of the sealable case to enable magnetic inductive signaling for charging, discharging, and communication with the battery unit. A battery management controller communicates bidirectionally with the contactless battery systems and with electrically powered equipment to control charging. A distribution system manages distribution of the contactless battery systems to a plurality of depots adapted to store, charge, or exchange depleted contactless battery systems under control of at least one management unit.

Contactless swappable battery system

A contactless battery system includes a sealable dustproof and waterproof case that houses a battery unit and at least one wireless power transmission coupler connected to the battery unit. The at least one wireless power transmission coupler is disposed with respect to at least one face of the sealable case to enable magnetic inductive signaling for charging, discharging, and communication with the battery. Without physical contacts, the battery is inherently safe since voltage and current are not available to the touch. The lack of physical contacts also means that contact wear is eliminated and the battery modules have the benefit of inherent galvanic isolation. Since the battery system is sealed, internal intrusion detection systems may be used to detect improper attempts at battery changes or attacks on the electronics containing the usage and charging records in an attempt to increase the battery unit's value on the secondary battery market.

A full duplex, low latency, near field data link controls a resonant induction, wireless power transfer system for recharging batteries. In an electric vehicle embodiment, an assembly is aligned with respect to a ground assembly to receive a charging signal. The vehicle assembly includes one or more charging coils and a first full duplex inductively coupled data communication system that communicates with a ground assembly including one or more charging coils and a second full duplex inductively coupled data communications system. The charging coils of the ground assembly and the vehicle assembly are selectively enabled based on geometric positioning of the vehicle assembly relative to the ground assembly for charging. As appropriate, the transmit/receive system of the ground assembly and/or the vehicle assembly are adjusted to be of the same type to enable communication of charging management and control data between the ground assembly and the vehicle assembly during charging.

Near field, full duplex data link for resonant induction wireless charging

A resonant induction wireless power transfer coil assembly designed for low loss includes a wireless power transfer coil, a non-saturated backing core layer adjacent the wireless power transfer coil, an eddy current shield, a gap layer between the backing core layer and the eddy current shield, and an enclosure that encloses the wireless power transfer coil, backing core layer, gap layer and eddy current shield. The gap layer has a thickness in a thickness range for a given thickness of the backing core layer where eddy current loss in the eddy current shield is substantially flat over the thickness range. A thickness of the backing core layer and a thickness of the gap layer are selected where a total power loss comprising power loss in the backing core layer plus eddy current loss over the gap layer is substantially minimized.

Efficiency gains through magnetic field management

A vehicle alignment system is adapted to align a vehicle with a wireless power induction coil for wireless charging through use of magnetic resonant induction. The system includes a transmission line disposed in the parking slot so as to guide the vehicle to the wireless power induction coil for charging. The transmission line leaks a signal having an operating frequency that is detected to align the vehicle left-right in the parking slot when the vehicle is aligned for charging by the wireless power induction coil. At least two vehicle mounted antennas mounted on opposite sides of transmission line when the vehicle is aligned in the parking slot detect the operating frequency from the transmission line, and signal processing circuitry detects a relative signal phase between signals detected by the antennas that is representative of alignment of the vehicle with respect to the wireless power induction coil and the parking slot.

Method and apparatus for the alignment of vehicles prior to wireless charging

A full duplex, low latency, near field data link controls a resonant induction, wireless power transfer system for recharging batteries. In an electric vehicle embodiment, an assembly is aligned with respect to a ground assembly to receive a charging signal. The vehicle assembly includes one or more charging coils and a first full duplex inductively coupled data communication system that communicates with a ground assembly including one or more charging coils and a second fill duplex inductively coupled data communications system. The charging coils of the ground assembly and the vehicle assembly are selectively enabled based on geometric positioning of the vehicle assembly relative to the ground assembly for charging. As appropriate, the transmit/receive system of the ground assembly and/or the vehicle assembly are adjusted to be of the same type to enable communication of charging management and control data between the ground assembly and the vehicle assembly during charging.

A full duplex, low latency, near field data link controls a resonant induction, wireless power transfer system for recharging electric vehicles. An assembly of a vehicle is aligned with respect to a ground assembly to receive a charging signal. The vehicle assembly includes one or more coils, each coil having a full duplex inductively coupled data communication system that communicates with a ground assembly including one or more coils, with each coil also having a full duplex inductively coupled data communications system. The coils of the ground assembly and the vehicle assembly are selectively enabled based on geometric positioning of the vehicle assembly relative to the ground assembly for charging. As appropriate, the transmit/receive system of the ground assembly and/or the vehicle assembly are adjusted to be of the same type to enable communication of charging management and control data between the ground assembly and the vehicle assembly during charging.

A vehicle alignment system is adapted to align a vehicle with a wireless power induction coil for wireless charging through use of magnetic resonant induction. The system includes a transmission line disposed in the parking slot so as to guide the vehicle to the wireless power induction coil for charging. The transmission line leaks a signal having an operating frequency that is detected to align the vehicle left-right in the parking slot when the vehicle is aligned for charging by the wireless power induction coil. At least two vehicle mounted antennas mounted on opposite sides of transmission line when the vehicle is aligned in the parking slot detect the operating frequency from the transmission line, and signal processing circuitry detects a relative signal phase between signals detected by the antennas. The relative phase differences between the detected signals from the antennas are representative of alignment of the vehicle with respect to the wireless power induction coil and the parking slot.

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Malvern, PA, United States of America

Francis J McMahon