A power reception coil is a circular coil having a hollow portion formed in a center portion of the power reception coil in a radial direction. The power reception coil, a resonant capacitor, and a magnetic member are arranged in a power reception coil unit forming a contactless power reception device. The power reception coil unit is attached to a member element serving as a frame member of a vehicle body. A hollow portion corresponding region which is a portion of the power reception coil unit corresponding to the hollow portion of the power reception coil is in contact with the member element.

Systems and methods for charging an electric bus having a charging interface on its roof may include determining that an approaching bus is supposed to be charged at the charging station, lowering the charging head of the charging station to land on the roof of the bus, and moving the bus with the charge head on its roof to engage the charging head with the charging interface.

Example wirelessly powered unmanned aerial vehicles and tracks for providing wireless power are described herein. An example apparatus includes a track section having a transmitter coil to generate an alternating magnetic field and an unmanned aerial vehicle having a receiver coil. The alternating magnetic field induces an alternating current in the receiver coil when the unmanned aerial vehicle is disposed in the alternating magnetic field.

A system for supplying power to a trolley chain. The system includes: a trolley chain, consisting of at least two trollies coupled with one another, wherein the trolley chain has a closed bus; and a stationary energy conductor along the track of the trolley chain. The stationary energy conductor consists of one or more successive segments, which are spaced apart from each other. The closed bus has several transmission heads, which are designed to supply the closed bus with electricity from the stationary energy conductor without contacting the stationary energy conductor, if they are within a pre-determined distance to the stationary energy conductor. During a journey of the trolley chain along the track, at each moment in time, at least one of the transmission heads supplies the closed bus with electricity from the stationary energy conductor.

A method and associated system for determining a maintenance status for a pantograph arranged on a vehicle and/or a contact wire intended to be in electrical contact with the pantograph. Monitoring at least longitudinal, vertical or lateral accelerations of the pantograph. Detecting an acceleration pattern based on the monitored accelerations of the pantograph. Determining accelerations in a direction above a predetermined value in the detected acceleration pattern. Determining a maintenance status for the pantograph and/or the contact wire based on the detected acceleration pattern, and wherein the maintenance status indicates a level of wear on the pantograph and/or the contact wire.

An inductor unit according to one embodiment includes a first inductor comprising a first core and a first winding wound around the first core; and a second inductor comprising a second core and a second winding wound around the second core. The first inductor and the second inductor are disposed so that an angle is larger than 0 degree and smaller than 90 degrees. The angle is formed by: a first straight line coupling a first intersection point of a first center line in parallel with a first magnetic flux direction of the first core and a second center line perpendicular to the first magnetic flux direction, and a second intersection point of a third center line in parallel with the second magnetic flux direction of the second core and a fourth center line perpendicular to the second magnetic flux direction; and the first center line.

An apparatus in which electric power is generated for an electrical load from differentials in electric field strengths within a vicinity of powerlines includes: a plurality of electrodes separated and electrically insulated from one another for enabling differentials in voltage resulting from differentials in electric field strength experienced there at; and electrical components electrically connected therewith and configurable to establish one or more electric circuits whereby voltage differentials cause a current to flow through the established electric circuit for powering the electrical load. Preferably, the apparatus includes a control assembly having one or more voltage-detector components configured to detected relative voltages of the electrodes; and a processor enabled to configurebased on the detected voltages and based on voltage and electric current specifications for powering the electrical loadone or more of the electrical components to establish an electric circuit for powering the electrical load.

A data transmission device has an elongated hollow profile with a hollow space extending in a longitudinal direction of the hollow profile, with the hollow profile having a longitudinal slot extending in the longitudinal direction for a transmission unit which moves relative to the hollow space at least in the longitudinal direction and which extends at least partially into the longitudinal slot. At least one sealing element extending along the hollow profile for sealing off at least one portion of the hollow space is provided. A conductor rail system includes a conductor rail for supplying at least one electrical load with electrical power, which load can be moved in the longitudinal direction along the conductor rail, with at least one conductor strand extending in the longitudinal direction with an electrically conducting conductor profile for contacting a sliding contact of the load and with at least one data transmission device extending in the longitudinal direction.

A system includes an AC power module structured to provide alternating current (AC) electrical power; a power distribution wiring harness structured to receive the AC electrical power from the AC power module; a plurality of inductive coupling modules coupled to the power distribution wiring harness, and configured to transmit the AC electrical power to at least one load; and, a signal injection module structured to inject a communication signal on the power distribution wiring harness using signal modulation during a transient moment of operation corresponding to a low electrical noise operating range of electromagnetic interference generated by components of a vehicle.

Disclosed is a method of and control system for operating a circuit arrangement, in particular a circuit arrangement of an electric vehicle for inductive power transfer to the vehicle. The circuit arrangement includes at least one phase line with at least one field receiving arrangement and at least one compensating arrangement with a variable reactance, wherein at least one current-dependent cost function is evaluated, wherein the reactance is varied such that the cost function is optimized.