Arrangement and method for active alignment control of a contact element

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (100) for active alignment control of a contact element (110) of a charging device (104) for a vehicle (1) for driving on an electrical road system (ERS) comprising a charging surface (3) configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle via the charging device. The arrangement comprises the charging device (104) comprising a base (106), a linkage arm (108), and an electrical contact element (110) and a pivot joint (107) arranged for allowing a movement of the contact element around an axis (105). A control unit is configured to activate an actuator module to align said contact element (110) with said trajectory of said charging surface based on trajectory data and an angle between the vehicle heading and the charging surface. The invention further relates to a method and to a vehicle.

Claims

1. An arrangement for active alignment control of a contact element of a charging device for a vehicle for driving on an electrical road system comprising a charging surface configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle via the charging device, wherein the arrangement is characterized by: the charging device comprising a base, a linkage arm, and an electrical contact element for making electrical contact with said charging surface of the electrical road system, and a pivot joint arranged for allowing a movement of the contact element around an axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface; wherein the contact element and the base are connected to opposite ends of said linkage arm, and wherein the linkage arm is at least horizontally displaceable for aligning the contact element with the charging surface; a charging surface detection sensor for determining trajectory data indicative of the trajectory of the charging surface; an angle detection sensor module for determining the angle between a vehicle heading and said charging surface in the horizontal plane; an actuator module for controlling said movement of the electrical contact element around said axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface and for controlling the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm, and a control unit connected to said charging surface detection sensor, and said angle detection sensor module, and said actuator module and configured to activate said actuator module to align said contact element with said trajectory of said charging surface based on said trajectory data and said angle between the vehicle heading and said charging surface.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by: an actuator sensor module configured to determine measurement data indicative of the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm, and a rotation position of the contact element around said axis, wherein the actuator sensor module is configured to provide said measurement data to said control unit, whereby said control unit is configured to activate said actuator module to align said contact element with said trajectory of said charging surface based on said trajectory data, said angle between the vehicle heading and said charging surface, and said measurement data.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 characterized in that said horizontal displacement is a rotational displacement a rotation angle of said linkage arm with respect to said base.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3 characterized in that said control unit is configured to activate said actuator module to control said rotation angle of the linkage arm with respect to the base for aligning said contact element with said trajectory of said charging surface.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1 characterized in that said horizontal displacement is a linear displacement of said base with respect to a guiding rail on which said base is guided.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5 characterized in that said control unit is configured to activate said actuator module to control said linear displacement of the linkage arm with respect to the base for aligning said contact element with said trajectory of said charging surface.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1 characterized in that said linkage arm comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the pivot joint is arranged to join said first portion with said second portion.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1 characterized in that said charging device comprises a charging head on which said charging element is attached, wherein said pivot joint is arranged to join the linkage arm with the charging head.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1 characterized in that said charging device comprises a charging head on which said charging element is attached, wherein said charging head is mechanically attached to said linkage arm, and wherein said pivot joint is arranged to join the charging head with the charging element.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the angle detection sensor is one of a steering sensor for said vehicle, a camera, a laser sensor, a lidar, or a radar.

11. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the charging surface detection sensor is one of a, a camera, a laser sensor, a lidar, a global positioning system, or a radar.

12. A vehicle comprising: a charging surface configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle via a charging device, the charging device comprising a base, a linkage arm, and an electrical contact element for making electrical contact with said charging surface of the electrical road system, and a pivot joint arranged for allowing a movement of a contact element around an axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface; wherein the contact element and the base are connected to opposite ends of said linkage arm, and wherein the linkage arm is at least horizontally displaceable for aligning the contact element with the charging surface; a charging surface detection sensor for determining trajectory data indicative of the trajectory of the charging surface; an angle detection sensor module for determining the angle between a vehicle heading and said charging surface in the horizontal plane; an actuator module for controlling said movement of the electrical contact element around said axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface and for controlling the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm, and a control unit connected to said charging surface detection sensor, and said angle detection sensor module, and said actuator module and configured to activate said actuator module to align said contact element with said trajectory of said charging surface based on said trajectory data and said angle between the vehicle heading and said charging surface.

13. A method for active alignment control a contact element of a charging device for a vehicle for driving on an electrical road system, said charging device comprising a base, a linkage arm, and an electrical contact element for making electrical contact with a charging surface of the electrical road system, and a pivot joint arranged for allowing a movement of the contact element around an axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface; wherein the contact element and the base are connected to opposite ends of said linkage arm, and wherein the linkage arm is at least horizontally displaceable for aligning the contact element with the charging surface; characterized by: determining trajectory data indicative of the trajectory of the charging surface; determining the angle between a vehicle heading and said charging surface in the horizontal plane; aligning said contact element with said trajectory of said charging surface based on said trajectory data and said angle between vehicle heading and said charging surface by: controlling said movement of the contact element around said axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface, and controlling the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm.

14. The method according to claim 13 characterized by: determining measurement data indicative of the horizontal position of the linkage arm, and a rotation position of the contact element around said axis, wherein said aligning is further based on said measurement data.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising program code for controlling active alignment control a contact element of a charging device for a vehicle for driving on an electrical road system, said charging device comprising a base, a linkage arm, and an electrical contact element for making electrical contact with a charging surface of the electrical road system, and a pivot joint arranged for allowing a movement of the contact element around an axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface; wherein the contact element and the base are connected to opposite ends of said linkage arm, and wherein the linkage arm is at least horizontally displaceable for aligning the contact element with the charging surface, a processor when executing the computer-readable instructions is configured to: determine trajectory data indicative of the trajectory of the charging surface; determine the angle between a vehicle heading and said charging surface in the horizontal plane; align said contact element with said trajectory of said charging surface based on said trajectory data and said angle between vehicle heading and said charging surface by: controlling said movement of the contact element around said axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface, and controlling the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm.

16. A control unit for controlling active alignment control a contact element of a charging device for a vehicle for driving on an electrical road system (ERS), said charging device comprising a base, a linkage arm, and an electrical contact element for making electrical contact with a charging surface of the electrical road system, and a pivot joint arranged for allowing a movement of the contact element around an axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface; wherein the contact element and the base are connected to opposite ends of said linkage arm, and wherein the linkage arm is at least horizontally displaceable for aligning the contact element with the charging surface; the control unit being configured to perform a method comprising: determining trajectory data indicative of the trajectory of the charging surface; determining the angle between a vehicle heading and said charging surface in the horizontal plane; aligning said contact element with said trajectory of said charging surface based on said trajectory data and said angle between vehicle heading and said charging surface by: controlling said movement of the contact element around said axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface, and controlling the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a vehicle in the form of a truck according to example embodiments of the invention;

(4) FIG. 2 is a conceptual drawing of embodiments of the invention;

(5) FIG. 3 conceptually illustrates an overview of an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 4a-b each conceptually illustrates an embodiment of the invention in a respective operative situation;

(7) FIG. 5a-c conceptually illustrates locations of a pivot joint on the charging device;

(8) FIG. 6 is a flow-chart of method steps according to embodiments of the invention; and

(9) FIG. 7 conceptually illustrates another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(10) The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness. The skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims. Like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description.

(11) FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle in the form of a truck 1. The truck is operative on an electrical road system (ERS) comprising a charging surface 3. The truck 1 comprises a charging device 104 comprising a base 106, a linkage arm 108, and a contact element 110 arranged on a charging head 122. The charging device is part of an arrangement 100 for active alignment control of the contact element 110 (the contact element is sometimes referred to as “collector shoes”) with respect to the charging surface 3 in the road. The charging surface 3 of the electrical road system may for example be comprised in a rail provided in the road. In operation, the contact element 110 of the charging device 104 makes electrical contact with the charging surface such that electrical charge may be transferred from the electrical road system to the vehicle. In the vehicle (in this case the truck 1), the electrical charge may be used for powering an electrical engine 5 providing propulsion for the vehicle.

(12) The charging device 104 comprises a pivot joint (not shown in FIG. 1) which allows for movement of the contact element 110 around an axis 105 substantially perpendicular to the charging surface 3. The location of the axis 105 in FIG. 1 is exemplary and other locations may be possible, see for example FIGS. 4a-c. The contact element 110 and the base 106 are connected to opposite ends of the linkage arm 108. The linkage arm 108 is at least horizontally displaceable for aligning the contact element 110 with the charging surface 3, as will be further described below with reference to subsequent drawings. Further details of embodiments of the invention will now described with reference to the subsequent drawings.

(13) FIG. 2 conceptually illustrates embodiments of the invention and further defines angles and directions for ease of understanding subsequent figures and descriptions. In FIG. 2 a vehicle such as the truck 1 is seen from above. As was described with reference to FIG. 1, the charging device comprises a base 106, a linkage arm 108, and a contact element 110 attached to a charging head 122. In practice and as will be described with reference to e.g. FIG. 4a-c, the contact element 110 (in reality there may be more than one contact element but only one is shown here to avoid cluttering the drawing) is attached to the underside of the charging head 122 and facing the charging surface.

(14) FIG. 2 further defines a vehicle heading 125 and also shows a charging surface trajectory 4. The vehicle heading 125 and the charging surface trajectory 4 are not aligned, thus there is an angle β between the vehicle heading 125 and the charging surface trajectory 4. There is further shown an angle A which is the angle that the contact element 110 needs to be rotated around the axis 105 orthogonal to the figure plane (see also FIG. 1) in order to be aligned with the charging surface trajectory 4. The double arrow 200 illustratively shows the extension of the contact element 110 desirable to align with the charging surface trajectory 4. In case where the contact element 110 is aligned with the linkage arm 108, the angle A can be computed from trigonometry using the angles α and β. However, during active control of the movement of the contact element 110 around the axis 105, the contact element 110 is unlikely aligned with the linkage arm 110 at all times, therefore, in that case an actuator sensor module (not shown) is configured to determine the rotational position of the contact element with respect to e.g. the linkage arm 108 or another reference point.

(15) FIG. 2 further shows an angle α between the vehicle heading 125 and the linkage arm 108. The angle α is associated with one embodiment where the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm is a rotation of the linkage arm such that the angle α is varied. In other embodiments, the angle α is fixed (e.g. at 90°) and instead the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm is a linear displacement in a side-to-side manner as conceptually illustrated by double arrow 202.

(16) In accordance with the above, in order to determine a necessary movement of the contact element 110 and the necessary horizontal displacement of the linkage arm 108 for aligning the contact element 110 with the charging surface trajectory 4, data related to the trajectory of the charging surface 4 is needed, the angle β between the vehicle heading 125 and the charging surface trajectory 4, and the present horizontal displacement (either linear along axis 202 or rotational with angle α) of the linkage arm 108. In some embodiments additional data related to the rotational position (A) needs to be acquired as well.

(17) FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an arrangement 100 for active alignment control of a contact element 110 of a charging device 104 for a vehicle for driving on an electrical road system. The electrical road system comprising a charging surface configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle via the charging device 104. The charging device 104 (see also e.g. FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4a-b, and FIGS. 5a-c) comprises a contact element 110 for making electrical contact with the charging surface of the electrical road system, and a pivot joint (not shown in FIG. 3) which provides for movement of the contact element around an axis 105 substantially perpendicular to the charging surface. The charging device further comprises a base 106 and a linkage arm 108. The contact element 110 and the base 106 are connected to opposite ends of the linkage arm.

(18) As will be described with reference to FIGS. 4a-b, and FIGS. 5a-c, and was described with reference to FIG. 2, the linkage arm 108 is at least horizontally displaceable for aligning the contact element 110 with the charging surface.

(19) The arrangement 100 described in FIG. 3 further comprises a charging surface detection sensor 111 for determining trajectory data indicative of the trajectory of the charging surface. The detection sensor 111 may for example be a camera, a laser, a radar, a lidar, or a similar type of sensor capable of providing forward looking data of the trajectory of the charging surface. In one embodiment, the trajectory data is determined by a charging surface detection sensor 111 in the form of a GPS. With a GPS, the trajectory data is based on data indicative of the road trajectory which is assumed to be parallel with the charging surface trajectory. The arrangement 100 further comprises an angle detection sensor module 112 for determining the angle (β) between a vehicle heading 125 and the charging surface in the horizontal plane. Such a sensor module may comprise a single one or several of a camera, a laser, a radar, a lidar, a steering angle sensor or a similar type of sensor. The charging surface detection sensor 111 and the angle detection sensor module 112 may share sensors. The arrangement 100 also comprises an actuator module 114 for controlling the movement of the electrical contact element around the axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface and for controlling the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm. The actuator module 114 is controlled by a control unit 116 which is connected to the charging surface detection sensor 111, the actuator module 114, and the angle detection sensor module 112. The control unit 116 is configured to activate the actuator module to align the contact element 110 with the trajectory of the charging surface based on the trajectory data and the angle between the vehicle heading and the charging surface. The actuator module may comprise electrical actuators known in the art.

(20) FIG. 4a conceptually illustrates the operation of one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4a illustrates a vehicle (e.g. the truck in FIG. 1) driving on a road comprising an electrical road system with an electrical charging surface arranged along a trajectory 4. The truck 1 is equipped with an arrangement for active alignment control of a contact element 110 of a charging device (see 104 in FIG. 1). In the first position (A), the vehicle is driving on a relative straight part of the road and the contact element 110 which is here attached to a charging head 122, is aligned with the trajectory 4 of the charging surface (the charging surface is not shown, but of course follows the trajectory 4). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4a, the base 104 is arranged on a guiding rail 124 attached to the vehicle. The guiding rail 124 provides for a horizontal displacement of the linkage arm 108 together with the base 106 in a linear fashion in a side-to-side manner on the vehicle 1 as indicated by the double arrow 126. The contact element 110 is further movable (due to a pivot joint, not shown) around an axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface (here the axis is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) such that the contact element 110 may be aligned with the trajectory 4 of the charging surface.

(21) With further reference to FIG. 4a, the arrangement comprises a charging surface sensor module (not shown) for determining trajectory data indicative of the trajectory 4, the trajectory data may include for example the location of the trajectory with respect to the vehicle. In addition, the arrangement comprises an angle detection sensor module (not shown but may be e.g. a camera, laser, radar, lidar, a steering sensor, etc) for determining the angle (13) between the vehicle heading 125 and the charging surface trajectory 4 in the horizontal plane (see also FIG. 2). With knowledge of the angle (β) and the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm, a control unit may activate an actuator module (not shown) to move the electrical contact element 110 around the axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface 4 and to control the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm 108, in this particular case the horizontal displacement is a linear displacement. As shown in FIG. 4a, when the vehicle has moved to the second location (B) and is travelling through a right-turn, the control unit is actively controlling the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm by linearly displacing the base 106 along the guiding rail 124, and actively controlling the rotational position of the contact element 110 such that the contact element is aligned with the charging surface.

(22) FIG. 4b conceptually illustrates the operation of another embodiment of the invention. The difference between the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4b and the embodiment in FIG. 4a is that the horizontal displacement in FIG. 4b is provided by a rotation of the linkage arm 108 with respect to the base 106. The horizontal displacement is here indicated by the angle α. Thus as the vehicle approaches the turn, the control unit uses knowledge of the angle (β) between a vehicle heading 125 and the charging surface trajectory 4 in the horizontal plane, and the angle α, to actively control an actuator module to control the horizontal displacement (e.g. rotation of the linkage arm), and the rotational position of the contact element 110 such that the contact element is aligned with the charging surface. In some embodiments, also the rotational position (A) of the contact element is used as input by the control unit.

(23) FIGS. 5a-c conceptually illustrates possible locations for a pivot joint 107 that provides the movement of the contact element 110 around the axis 105 substantially perpendicular to the charging surface. In each of FIGS. 5a-c, there is shown a charging head 122 which generally provides a supporting structures for control circuitry for the charging device and the for the contact elements 110

(24) In FIG. 5a, contact elements 110 are arranged on a charging head 122. The charging head 122 is connected to the linkage arm via the pivot joint 107. Thus, the charging head itself is also moveable around the axis 105 for moving the contact elements around the axis 105. Accordingly, the pivot joint 107 joins the linkage arm with the charging head.

(25) In FIG. 5b, contact elements 110 are arranged on a charging head 122. However, here the pivot joints 107 allow for movement of the contact elements 110 with respect to the charging head 122 about the axis 105. Thereby, the pivot joints 107 join the contact element with the charging head 122.

(26) In FIG. 5c, the linkage arm comprises a first portion 108a and a second portion 108a. The pivot joint is arranged to join the first portion with the second portion for providing movement of the contact elements 110 around the axis 105.

(27) FIG. 6 is a flow-chart of method steps according to an embodiment of the invention. In a first step S602 trajectory data indicative of the trajectory of the charging surface is determined. In another step S604 the angle between a vehicle heading and the charging surface in the horizontal plane is determined. Subsequently, S606 the contact element is aligned with the trajectory of the charging surface based on the trajectory data and the angle between vehicle heading and the charging surface by controlling the movement of the contact element around the axis substantially perpendicular to the charging surface, and controlling the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm.

(28) FIG. 7 conceptually illustrates another embodiment of the invention. The arrangement 700 comprises a charging device (not shown) as described with reference to any on the previous figures. The arrangement 700 further comprises the charging surface detection sensor 111, the angle detection sensor module 112, the actuator module 114, and the control unit as described above. Additionally, the arrangement 600 comprises an actuator sensor module 118 configured to determine measurement data indicative of the horizontal displacement of the linkage arm, and a rotation position of the contact element around the axis. The actuator sensor module 118 may be a separate module or it may be part of the actuator module, thus actuator sensor module 118 may be internal to the actuator module 114. The rotational position may be provided via an encoder which provides a step value indicative of the rotational position. The actuator sensor module is configured to provide the measurement data to the control unit 116. The control unit 116 is configured to activate the actuator module 114 to align the contact element 110 with the trajectory of the charging surface based on the trajectory data, the angle between the vehicle heading and the charging surface, and the measurement data. The arrangement may be operating as feedback system where the actuator sensor module continuously feeds back measurement data to the control unit which together with updated trajectory data and angle data (β) may update the controlling of the actuator module 114.

(29) The control unit (e.g. control unit 116) may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable digital signal processor or another programmable device. Thus, the control unit 116 may comprise electronic circuits and connections (not shown) as well as processing circuitry (not shown) such that the control unit 116 can communicate with different parts of the truck 1 such as the brakes, suspension, driveline, in particular an electrical engine, an electric machine, a clutch, and a gearbox in order to at least partly operate the truck 1. The control unit 116 may comprise modules in either hardware or software, or partially in hardware or software and communicate using known transmission buses such as CAN-bus and/or wireless communication capabilities. The processing circuitry may be a general purpose processor or a specific processor. The control unit 116 may comprise a non-transitory memory for storing computer program code and data upon. Thus, the skilled addressee realizes that the control unit 116 may be embodied by many different constructions.

(30) The control functionality of the present disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another purpose, or by a hardwire system. Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable medium for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

(31) Although the figures may show a sequence the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps and decision steps. Additionally, even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art.

(32) It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.