A position alignment method performed by a ground assembly for wireless power transfer includes measuring, through at least one low frequency (LF) receiver of the ground assembly, a first magnetic flux density for a magnetic field emitted from at least one LF transmitter of a vehicle assembly; measuring, through the at least one LF receiver, a second magnetic flux density for a magnetic field emitted from the at least one LF transmitter; configuring a received signal measurement based on a comparison result of the first magnetic flux density and the second magnetic flux density; and providing the configured received signal measurement to a vehicle.

Techniques for electric vehicle systems, and in particular to a vehicle optical charging system and method of use. In one embodiment, a system for vehicle optical charging comprises: an optical charging station configured to transmit an optical signal, the optical charging station comprising a directive element configured to direct the transmitted optical signal; a receiving vehicle comprising an electrical storage unit and a receiver configured to receive the transmitted optical signal, the receiver in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit; wherein the received optical signal enables charging of the electrical storage unit.

An IPA-ECU recognizes a position of a power transferring unit by image recognition based on image information from a camera incorporated in a vehicle. Then, the IPA-ECU performs guidance control such that the vehicle is guided to the power transferring unit based on a result of the image recognition (first guidance control). A resonant ECU estimates a distance between the power transferring unit and a power receiving unit based on an electric power feeding condition from the power transferring unit to the power receiving unit. When the power transferring unit comes under a body of the vehicle, an HV-ECU performs guidance control of the vehicle such that a position of the power receiving unit is adjusted to a position of the power transferring unit based on distance information from the resonant ECU (second guidance control).

The present disclosure covers apparatuses and associated methods for embedding a wireless power transfer coil in concrete. In embodiments, a wireless power inductor pad embedded in concrete includes a wireless power inductor pad comprising a first and second layer of continuously strung stranded wire, each layer arranged in a circular pattern. The first layer is positioned above the second layer such that the stranded wire of the first layer is offset vertically from the stranded wire of the second layer by a vertical wire-to-wire distance. Additionally, the first layer is offset horizontally from the second layer such that the stranded wire of the first layer is offset horizontally from the stranded wire of the second layer by a horizontal wire-to-wire distance; the horizontal wire-to-wire distance being zero inches. Finally, concrete permeates between the first and second layers and between the stranded wires of each layer.

A UAV in which electric power is generated for an electric 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 thereat; and electrical components electrically connected therewith and configurable to establish one or more electric circuits whereby voltage differentials causes a current to flow through the established electric circuit for powering an electric load. Preferably, the UAV includes a control assembly having one or more voltage-detector components configured to detect 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 electric loadone or more of the electrical components to establish an electric circuit for powering the electric load.

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.

Apparatus for generating electric power within vicinity of powerlines using varying electric fields and an electrical pathway to ground are disclosed. Such apparatus preferably include, for example, UAVs, charging stations, and power strips mountable to a powerline transmission tower. Methods and systems utilizing such apparatus further are disclosed. The electrical pathway to ground may include an interface that is tethered to a UAV and that is dragged along a shield wire behind the UAV as the UAV travels along the powerlines. The electrical pathway to ground alternatively may include an electrical connection to a ground of a support structure of the powerlines when the apparatus is a power strip mounted to the support structure.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a charging station for charging of a UAV within a vicinity of powerlines includes an interface for electric coupling with the UAV for charging of a rechargeable battery of the UAV; a power supply having first and second electrodes separated and electrically insulated from each other for enabling a differential in voltage at the first and second electrodes resulting from a differential in electric field strength experienced at the first and second electrodes when within the vicinity of the powerlines; and electrical components electrically connected with the first and second electrodes and configured to establish a circuit with the rechargeable battery of the UAV when electronically coupled with the interface. The differential in voltage between the first and second electrodes causes electric current to flow through the electric circuit for charging the battery of the UAV.

A fixing structure for a coil device according to an aspect of the disclosure is an attachment structure for a coil device which attaches a flat coil device including a coil portion to an attachment portion, the attachment structure including a cylindrical holding portion provided in the attachment portion to hold the coil device, and a cylindrical engaged portion provided in the coil device and engaged with the holding portion, wherein the holding portion and the engaged portion are disposed along an axis extending in a thickness direction of the coil device, and the engaged portion is engaged over an entire circumference thereof with the holding portion.

A fixing structure for a coil device according to an aspect of the disclosure is an attachment structure for a coil device which attaches a flat coil device including a coil portion to an attachment portion, the attachment structure including a cylindrical holding portion provided in the attachment portion to hold the coil device, and a cylindrical engaged portion provided in the coil device and engaged with the holding portion, wherein the holding portion and the engaged portion are disposed along an axis extending in a thickness direction of the coil device, and the engaged portion is engaged over an entire circumference thereof with the holding portion.