This disclosure provides systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.

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 detect relative voltages of the electrodes; and a processor enabled to configure—based on the detected voltages and based on voltage and electric current specifications for powering the electrical load—one or more of the electrical components to establish an electric circuit for powering the electrical load.

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.

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for inductive positioning of a current collector (14; 24) on a vehicle relative to a stationary current conductor (13; 23; 33; 43; 53). The invention involves transmitting a signal having predetermined phase characteristics using a signal transmitter (37; 47; 57) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the current conductor (13; 23; 33; 43; 53); detecting the transmitted signal using a signal receiver on the vehicle, which signal receiver comprises at least one vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b); detecting the phase characteristics of the signal induced in the at least one vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b), indicating the relative location of the vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b) and the signal transmitter (37; 47; 57) in the transverse direction of the vehicle; and controlling the positioning means (25, 26) in dependence of the received signals.

In an implanted medical device system, an external power transmitter and methods for adjusting a rate of search pulse transmission by an external power transmitter of an implanted medical device system are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes detecting a condition of the external power transmitter, and selecting among rates of transmission of search pulses based on the detected condition.

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.

In one implementation, a matching network is provided comprising a pair of input terminals; a pair of output terminals; and at least two reactive components disposed between the pair of input terminals and the pair of output terminals. At least one of the reactive components comprises a coupled-inductor. In various implementations, the second reactive component can be a capacitor, and the capacitor can be at least partially realized using the parasitic capacitances of the environment. The matching network may be disposed in a capacitive wireless power transfer (WPT) system. In other implementations, inductors and coupled-inductors are further provided. In some implementations, for example, an inductor, such as but not limited to a coupled-inductor, may comprise a toroidal or semi-toroidal core comprising foil wire interleaved without notches.

A driverless transport vehicle, a conveying system, and a method for transporting piece goods. The driverless transport vehicle overcomes a climbing section equipped with a primary side of an energy transmission device. The driverless transport vehicle, which can be moved individually and autonomously on a conveying plane, has a secondary side for energy pick-up in order, assisted by the energy pick-up, to overcome a height difference of the climbing section and/or a transition between the conveying plane and the climbing section. The formation of a connection between the primary side and the secondary side and the overcoming of the climbing section and of the transition between the conveying plane and the climbing section take place at a throughput speed without a slowing-down.

A system and method for providing power to independent movers traveling along a track in a motion control system without requiring a fixed connection between the mover and a power source external to the mover. In one embodiment, a sliding transformer transfers power between the track and each mover. In another embodiment, an optical transmitter transfers power between the track and an optical receiver mounted on each mover. In yet another embodiment, a generator includes a drive wheel engaging the track as each mover travels along the track. A power converter on the mover receives the power generated on and/or transmitted to the mover to control an actuator or a sensor mounted on the mover or to activate drive coils mounted on the mover to interact with magnets mounted along the track and, thereby, control motion of each mover.

A system and method for providing power to independent movers traveling along a track in a motion control system without requiring a fixed connection between the mover and a power source external to the mover. In one embodiment, a sliding transformer transfers power between the track and each mover. In another embodiment, an optical transmitter transfers power between the track and an optical receiver mounted on each mover. In yet another embodiment, a generator includes a drive wheel engaging the track as each mover travels along the track. A power converter on the mover receives the power generated on and/or transmitted to the mover to control an actuator or a sensor mounted on the mover or to activate drive coils mounted on the mover to interact with magnets mounted along the track and, thereby, control motion of each mover.