Devices for the Contactless Inductive Charging of an Electrical Energy Store

Abstract

The invention relates to a module for contactless inductive energy transfer, including a coil with a magnetic core for emitting or receiving electrical energy using inductive coupling, and a wireless communication device, the magnetic core having a hole forming a communication channel for signals from the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. A module for contactless inductive energy transfer, the module comprising: a coil with a magnetic core for emitting or receiving electrical energy using inductive coupling; and a wireless communication device; wherein the magnetic core has a hold forming a communication channel for signals from the wireless communication device.

2. The module according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic core consists of a ferromagnetic material.

3. The module according to claim 1, wherein the hold is designed as a through channel.

4. The module according to claim 3, wherein the through channel has a rectangular, round, or elliptical cross section.

5. The module according to claim 1, wherein the hold is arranged centrally with respect to the magnetic core of the coil.

6. The module according to claim 1, wherein the module has a shield, the shield has a signal-permeable region for the signals to enter or exit.

7. The module according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is an antenna for transmitting or receiving the signals, the antenna installed in a region of the hole.

8. The module according to claim 7, wherein an opposite pole of the antenna is designed as a shield.

9. A system for inductive energy transfer to a vehicle for charging a vehicle-mounted energy store, the system comprising: a first ground pad module (GPM module) arranged in a stationary manner on a ground, the first GPM module having a primary coil; and a second car pad module (CPM module) arranged in the vehicle, the second CPM module having a secondary coil, the first GPM module and/or the second CPM module being a module according to claim 1.

10. A vehicle having a module according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In the drawings:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematically illustrated embodiment of a module according to the invention in cross-sectional view; and

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematically illustrated embodiment of a module 100 according to the invention for contactless inductive energy transfer in a cross-sectional view. The module 100 has a flat coil 110 via which electrical energy can be transferred to a further module 100 (not shown) via an inductive coupling. A ferromagnetic core 120, which is used to guide the magnetic field, is arranged within the flat coil 110. The ferromagnetic core 120 has a hole 140 in the middle/center that, in the present case, is designed as a through channel 150. In the present case, an antenna 160 of a communication device 130 is again arranged in the middle/center in the region of the through channel 150. The communication device 130 has transmission/reception electronics that control the antenna 160 to emit signals and evaluate signals received by the antenna 160. The transmission/reception electronics connected to the antenna 160 are shielded in the present case by a copper layer 190 that is arranged below the antenna 160 and that serves in particular to shield the main magnetic field during energy transfer. Further electronic components (not shown) are arranged in this region of the module 100. The module has a housing 180 that is designed in the region above the antenna 160 in such a way that signals can pass almost unhindered.

[0032] The hole 140, designed as a through channel 150, in the magnetic core 120 of the coil 110 creates a communication channel for signals from the communication device through which substantially all of the signals emitted or received by the communication device are passed. The module 100 shown enables secure, robust communication even during the inductive energy transfer into or from the coil.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in plan view. The almost rectangular guidance of the flat coil 110, the magnetic core 120 made of a ferrite material arranged within the flat coil, and the hole 140 arranged centrally within the magnetic core 120, which hole forms a through channel 150 through the magnetic core, can be clearly seen. The antenna 160 of the communication device 130 is again arranged centrally in the region of the through channel 150.

[0034] The modules proposed here are particularly suitable for use in a system for inductive energy transfer to a vehicle for charging a vehicle-mounted energy store. Such a system has, in particular, a first GPM module that is arranged in a stationary manner on the ground and has a primary coil, and a second CPM module that is arranged in the vehicle and has a secondary coil. Both the first GPM module and the second CPM module are advantageously designed as a module 100 according to the invention.

[0035] This enables improved, more reliable and more robust communication between the first GPM module and the second CPM module. In a first phase, the communication serves to optimally position the vehicle or the second CPM module above the first GPM module. After the vehicle is optimally positioned, the communication is used to optimally control the inductive energy transfer from the first GPM module to the second CPM module.

[0036] Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in greater detail by means of preferred example embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations may be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. It is therefore clear that there are a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments cited by way of example actually only constitute examples that are not to be interpreted in any way as a limitation of the scope, of the potential applications, or of the configuration of the invention. Instead, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to specifically implement the example embodiments, wherein the person skilled in the art has knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept and is able to make numerous changes, for example, with respect to the function or the arrangement of individual elements cited in an exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as a further explanation in the description.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0037] 100 module for contactless inductive energy transfer

[0038] 110 coil

[0039] 120 magnetic core

[0040] 130 communication device

[0041] 140 hole

[0042] 150 through channel

[0043] 160 antenna

[0044] 170 control/evaluation electronics

[0045] 180 housing

[0046] 190 copper layer for shielding