B60L53/39

UNDERBODY CHARGING OF VEHICLE BATTERIES

A system for charging one or more batteries of a vehicle may include a charging box mounted to a vehicle to facilitate connection to a charge coupler from under the vehicle. The charge coupler may be configured to provide an electrical connection between an electrical power source and the charging box. A vehicle including the charging box may maneuver to a position above the charge coupler, after which electrical contacts of the charging box and the charge coupler may be brought into contact with one another. The charge coupler and/or the charging box may be configured to provide electrical communication between the electrical power source and the one or more batteries, so that the electrical power source may charge one or more of the batteries. Thereafter, the electrical contacts may be separated from one another, and the vehicle may maneuver away from the charge coupler.

UNDERBODY CHARGING OF VEHICLE BATTERIES

A system for charging one or more batteries of a vehicle may include a charging box mounted to a vehicle to facilitate connection to a charge coupler from under the vehicle. The charge coupler may be configured to provide an electrical connection between an electrical power source and the charging box. A vehicle including the charging box may maneuver to a position above the charge coupler, after which electrical contacts of the charging box and the charge coupler may be brought into contact with one another. The charge coupler and/or the charging box may be configured to provide electrical communication between the electrical power source and the one or more batteries, so that the electrical power source may charge one or more of the batteries. Thereafter, the electrical contacts may be separated from one another, and the vehicle may maneuver away from the charge coupler.

PARKING ASSISTANCE METHOD AND PARKING ASSISTANCE DEVICE
20200406774 · 2020-12-31 · ·

The parking assistance method includes: measuring a first received voltage generated in a receiving coil; and assisting alignment between coils by presenting to a vehicle occupant a result of having determined whether or not power can be supplied on the basis of a potential difference previously obtained and the first received voltage. The previously obtained potential difference is a potential difference between a second received voltage of the receiving coil measured when the alignment between the coils is executed before assisting the alignment between the coils, and a third received voltage of the receiving coil measured after the alignment and the power supply are completed.

PARKING ASSISTANCE METHOD AND PARKING ASSISTANCE DEVICE
20200406774 · 2020-12-31 · ·

The parking assistance method includes: measuring a first received voltage generated in a receiving coil; and assisting alignment between coils by presenting to a vehicle occupant a result of having determined whether or not power can be supplied on the basis of a potential difference previously obtained and the first received voltage. The previously obtained potential difference is a potential difference between a second received voltage of the receiving coil measured when the alignment between the coils is executed before assisting the alignment between the coils, and a third received voltage of the receiving coil measured after the alignment and the power supply are completed.

Mobile object apparatus, non-contact power feed system, and method of driving mobile object apparatus
10875416 · 2020-12-29 · ·

A mobile object apparatus includes an electric power reception unit that receives electric power transmitted in a non-contact manner from, out of a plurality of power feed apparatuses that are allocated to a plurality of small areas within a predetermined area and are capable of transmitting electric power in a non-contact manner, the power feed apparatus allocated to the small area adjacent to the mobile object apparatus, a drive unit that executes a movement operation on the predetermined area, and an electric power storage unit that stores an electric power amount requisite for the movement operation to the small areas within a predetermined range from the adjacent small area.

Mobile object apparatus, non-contact power feed system, and method of driving mobile object apparatus
10875416 · 2020-12-29 · ·

A mobile object apparatus includes an electric power reception unit that receives electric power transmitted in a non-contact manner from, out of a plurality of power feed apparatuses that are allocated to a plurality of small areas within a predetermined area and are capable of transmitting electric power in a non-contact manner, the power feed apparatus allocated to the small area adjacent to the mobile object apparatus, a drive unit that executes a movement operation on the predetermined area, and an electric power storage unit that stores an electric power amount requisite for the movement operation to the small areas within a predetermined range from the adjacent small area.

ON-TRAVEL POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM, POWER SUPPLY FACILITY, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE
20200398682 · 2020-12-24 ·

An on-travel power supply system is provided to include (i) a power supply facility including a plurality of power supply apparatuses arranged along a traveling road, and (ii) an electric vehicle including a power reception apparatus configured to receive power supply from the power supply apparatuses and charge a battery while traveling on the traveling road. The electric vehicle is configured to acquire, from the power supply facility, a failed road segment in which power supply is disabled from the power supply apparatuses along the traveling road. The electric vehicle is further configured to calculate a required energy amount required for the electric vehicle to pass through the failed road segment, and secure the calculated required energy amount before the electric vehicle reaches the failed road segment.

Method for Docking an Autonomous Mobile Green Area Maintenance Robot to a Docking Station, Docking Station System, Green Area Maintenance System, and System
20200393844 · 2020-12-17 ·

A method docks an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot to a docking station. An electrical conductor arrangement runs in the region of the docking station, wherein the conductor arrangement is designed such that a periodic current flows through the conductor arrangement, wherein the current generates a periodic magnetic field. The green area maintenance robot has two magnetic field sensors, wherein the two magnetic field sensors are designed such that the magnetic field respectively causes a periodic sensor signal in the magnetic field sensors. The method has the steps of: determining a phase shift between the two sensor signals or signals based on the sensor signals, and controlling movement of the green area maintenance robot for docking on the basis of the determined phase shift.

Method for Docking an Autonomous Mobile Green Area Maintenance Robot to a Docking Station, Docking Station System, Green Area Maintenance System, and System
20200393844 · 2020-12-17 ·

A method docks an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot to a docking station. An electrical conductor arrangement runs in the region of the docking station, wherein the conductor arrangement is designed such that a periodic current flows through the conductor arrangement, wherein the current generates a periodic magnetic field. The green area maintenance robot has two magnetic field sensors, wherein the two magnetic field sensors are designed such that the magnetic field respectively causes a periodic sensor signal in the magnetic field sensors. The method has the steps of: determining a phase shift between the two sensor signals or signals based on the sensor signals, and controlling movement of the green area maintenance robot for docking on the basis of the determined phase shift.

Multi-turn configurable grid charging coil

Methods, systems, and devices for an external vehicle charging system. The external vehicle charging system includes a first set of inductive coils. The first set of inductive coils include a first inductive coil and a second inductive coil and are configured to provide an alternating magnetic field to one or more inductive loops of a vehicle. The external vehicle charging system includes a sensor configured to detect a position of the one or more inductive loops and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a first threshold distance between the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil to reduce or eliminate interference. The processor is configured to activate the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil so that the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil align with the one or more inductive loops based on the detected position and the first threshold distance.