A vehicle charging system includes a sensor, a traveling control processor, a traveling drive unit, a transmitter provided on a vehicle configured to travel on a traveling road, and a power-feeding facility provided on the traveling road. The sensor detects obstacles present around the vehicle. The traveling control processor performs traveling control of the vehicle based on the result of detection by the sensor. The traveling drive unit drives the vehicle to travel and includes: a power receiver receiving electric power from the traveling road; a battery storing the electric power; a motor; and an inverter driving the motor with the electric power. The transmitter sends a power-feeding control signal when the sensor detects an obstacle. The power-feeding facility includes: a receiver receiving the power-feeding control signal; a power feeder performing a power-feeding operation; and a power-feeding control unit controlling the power-feeding operation based on the power-feeding control signal.

The present invention provides a method for charging an electric vehicle. The method includes two steps. The first step is to move at least one of a transmitter coil of a charger and a receiver coil arranged at an upper end of a chassis of an electric vehicle relative to the other. The second step is to align the transmitter coil with the receiver coil such that the transmitter coil is arranged above and proximal to the receiver coil. The present invention also provides an electric vehicle arranged to be charged by the above method, a method for manufacturing such electric vehicle, and a charger or charging station that is arranged to charge electric vehicles using the above method.

The present invention provides a method for charging an electric vehicle. The method includes two steps. The first step is to move at least one of a transmitter coil of a charger and a receiver coil arranged at an upper end of a chassis of an electric vehicle relative to the other. The second step is to align the transmitter coil with the receiver coil such that the transmitter coil is arranged above and proximal to the receiver coil. The present invention also provides an electric vehicle arranged to be charged by the above method, a method for manufacturing such electric vehicle, and a charger or charging station that is arranged to charge electric vehicles using the above method.

A ground contact unit for a vehicle battery charging system comprises a base body, at least one potential layer, a plurality of contact areas, a plurality of switching units and a plurality of switching lines by means of which the switching units can be actuated, wherein a plurality of switching units are provided on each of the switching lines. The switching lines are subdivided into at least two groups, and each of the switching units is provided on at least two switching lines from at least two different groups, so that the switching state of the switching unit depends on the signal state on its associated switching lines. Each switching unit is coupled to at least one contact area such that the switching unit can electrically connect and interrupt the corresponding at least one contact area to the at least one potential layer assigned to the contact area. A method of switching a contact area is also shown.

A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a disaster-stricken area specification device including a processor configured to determine whether or not a disaster occurs at a place where power feed to a target to be charged is performed, based on power feed efficiency by noncontact charging to the target to be charged.

A parking aid system aids in alignment parking of a vehicle to a parking space. The vehicle includes: a power receiving unit which receives the electrical power for alignment by way of a power receiving coil; a voltage measuring unit which measures voltage of the power receiving coil; a coil type specifying unit which specifies a type of the power supply coil during the alignment parking; and an alignment aid unit which calculates a target position of the power receiving unit, based on a voltage measured value. The alignment aid unit, in a case of the type of the power supply coil being a DD-type coil, calculates the position of a first peak P1 in the voltage measured value when changing the relative position between the power supply unit and the power receiving unit, and then calculates the target position based on the position of the first peak P1.

A parking aid system aids in alignment parking of a vehicle to a parking space. The vehicle includes: a power receiving unit which receives the electrical power for alignment by way of a power receiving coil; a voltage measuring unit which measures voltage of the power receiving coil; a coil type specifying unit which specifies a type of the power supply coil during the alignment parking; and an alignment aid unit which calculates a target position of the power receiving unit, based on a voltage measured value. The alignment aid unit, in a case of the type of the power supply coil being a DD-type coil, calculates the position of a first peak P1 in the voltage measured value when changing the relative position between the power supply unit and the power receiving unit, and then calculates the target position based on the position of the first peak P1.

A charging system includes: a movable body including a frame and a battery provided in the frame; and a charging station configured to charge the battery. The movable body includes: a pressure detection unit configured to detect pressure in the frame; and a charging permission signal output unit configured to output a charging permission signal indicating that the pressure in the frame is detected to be equal to or higher than a threshold pressure. The charging station includes: a charging permission signal acquisition unit configured to acquire the charging permission signal from the charging permission signal output unit; and a power transmission unit configured to execute non-contact charging of the battery when the charging permission signal is acquired by the charging permission signal acquisition unit.

A charging system includes: a movable body including a frame and a battery provided in the frame; and a charging station configured to charge the battery. The movable body includes: a pressure detection unit configured to detect pressure in the frame; and a charging permission signal output unit configured to output a charging permission signal indicating that the pressure in the frame is detected to be equal to or higher than a threshold pressure. The charging station includes: a charging permission signal acquisition unit configured to acquire the charging permission signal from the charging permission signal output unit; and a power transmission unit configured to execute non-contact charging of the battery when the charging permission signal is acquired by the charging permission signal acquisition unit.

In a moving-object power supply system, a control unit selects, as a power transmission segment, one of segments included in at least one power transmission section. The control unit supplies, through a power supply circuit, power to the power transmission segment to thereby generate a magnetic field through a power transmission coil of the power transmission segment. The control unit determines, based on an ascertained first electrical characteristic of the power transmission segment and an ascertained second electrical characteristic of at least one power non-transmission segment, whether there is a malfunction in each of the power transmission segment and the at least one power non-transmission segment.