METHOD FOR OPERATING A SYSTEM WITH A PARKING LOT AND AT LEAST ONE MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A motor vehicle including a mobile induction charging device is disclosed. The motor vehicle is configured to: receive alignment fields generated by stationary induction charging devices of parking spaces of a parking lot and to detect the signal strength and alignment frequency of the alignment fields, recognize based on a stronger alignment field and the alignment frequency of the stronger alignment field that the mobile induction charging device is to be aligned with the stationary induction charging device associated with the parking space as it approaches one of the parking spaces, and output a navigation instruction for aligning the motor vehicle on the parking space via the alignment field associated with the approached parking space.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A motor vehicle, comprising a mobile induction charging device, wherein the motor vehicle is configured to: receive alignment fields generated by stationary induction charging devices of parking spaces of a parking lot and to detect the signal strength and alignment frequency of the alignment fields, recognize based on a stronger alignment field and the alignment frequency of the stronger alignment field that the mobile induction charging device is to be aligned with the stationary induction charging device associated with the parking space as it approaches one of the parking spaces, and output a navigation instruction for aligning the motor vehicle on the parking space via the alignment field associated with the approached parking space.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the motor vehicle is further configured to: receive a positioning field generated by one of the stationary induction charging devices, and output via the positioning field a navigation instruction for positioning the mobile induction charging device in relation to the stationary induction charging device of the approached parking space.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 18, wherein a near positioning of the mobile induction charging device in relation to the induction charging device associated with the approached parking space is carried out via the positioning field.

20. A method for operating a motor vehicle with a mobile induction charging device in a parking lot, comprising: receiving alignment fields generated by stationary induction charging devices of parking spaces of the parking lot, and detecting a signal strength and alignment frequency of the alignment fields, as one of the parking spaces is approached, detecting based on a stronger alignment field and the alignment frequency of the stronger alignment field that the mobile induction charging device is to be aligned with the stationary induction charging device associated with the parking space, and via the alignment field associated with the approached parking space, outputting a navigation instruction for aligning the motor vehicle on the parking space.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising: receiving a positioning field generated by one of the induction charging devices, and via the positioning field, outputting a navigation instruction for positioning the mobile induction charging device to the stationary induction charging device of the approached parking space.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein a near positioning of the mobile induction charging device in relation to the induction charging device associated with the approached parking space is carried out via the positioning field.

23. A parking lot, comprising: at least one first parking space and a second parking space, wherein: the first parking space can be driven into in a first parking direction, the first parking space is provided with a first stationary induction charging device configured to cooperate with a mobile induction charging device of a motor vehicle for wireless energy transfer, and the second parking space can be driven into in a second parking direction, the second parking space is provided with a second stationary induction charging device configured to cooperate with the mobile induction charging device of the motor vehicle for wireless energy transfer, wherein the first stationary induction charging device is configured to generate a first alignment field directed in the first parking direction with a first alignment frequency for aligning the mobile induction charging device with the first stationary induction charging device, and the second stationary induction charging device is configured to generate a second alignment field directed in the second parking direction with a second alignment frequency for aligning the mobile induction charging device with the first second stationary induction charging device.

24. The parking lot according to claim 23, wherein the first stationary induction charging device and/or the second stationary induction charging device is configured to generate a magnetic alignment field.

25. The parking lot according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the alignment fields propagates along the associated parking direction starting from the associated stationary induction charging device.

26. The parking lot according to claim 23, wherein the first alignment field and/or the second alignment field is used for far positioning the mobile induction charging device in relation to the stationary induction charging device associated with the approached parking space.

27. The parking lot according to claim 23, wherein the first stationary induction charging device and/or the second stationary induction charging device is configured to generate a positioning field directed parallel in relation to a normal of the associated parking space.

28. The parking lot according to claim 27, wherein the first stationary induction charging device and/or the second stationary induction charging device is configured to generate the positioning field from four or five magnetic fields offset in relation to one another.

29. The parking lot according to claim 28, wherein the four or five magnetic fields of the positioning field are respectively generated with an associated positioning frequency such that the positioning field: is comprised of a magnetic field having a first positioning frequency, a magnetic field having a second positioning frequency, a magnetic field having a third positioning frequency, and a magnetic field having a fourth positioning frequency, or is comprised of a magnetic field having a first positioning frequency, a magnetic field having a second positioning frequency, a magnetic field having a third positioning frequency, a magnetic field having a fourth positioning frequency, and a magnetic field having a fifth positioning frequency.

30. The parking lot according to claim 29, wherein the respective positioning frequency differs from the respective alignment frequency of the respective alignment field.

31. The parking lot according to claim 29, wherein the magnetic fields of the positioning field of the respective stationary induction charging device are generated with the same positioning frequencies.

32. The parking lot according to claim 23, wherein the first alignment frequency is 134.0 kHz or 135.0 kHz or 145.560 kHz and the second alignment frequency is 135.5 kHz or 136.5 kHz or 137.0 kHz or 145.985 kHz.

33. The parking lot according to claim 23, further comprising a third parking space and a fourth parking space, wherein: the third parking space can be driven into in a third parking direction, the third parking space is provided with a third stationary induction charging device configured to cooperate with the mobile induction charging device of the motor vehicle for wireless energy transfer and to generate an alignment field with a third alignment frequency directed in the third parking direction for the alignment of the mobile induction charging device to the third stationary induction charging device, and the fourth parking space can be driven into in a fourth parking direction, the fourth parking space is provided with a fourth stationary induction charging device configured to cooperate with the mobile induction charging device of the motor vehicle for wireless energy transfer and to generate an alignment field with a fourth alignment frequency directed in the fourth parking direction for the alignment of the mobile induction charging device to the fourth stationary induction charging device, wherein the third alignment frequency is 133.5 kHz or 146.843 kHz and the fourth alignment frequency is 137.0 kHz or 137.5 kHz or 147.275 kHz.

34. The parking lot according to claim 33, wherein the first parking space and the third parking space are arranged in a lengthwise row oriented parallel in relation to the first parking direction, the first parking space and the second parking space of a first transverse row are arranged oriented transversely in relation to the first parking direction, and the third parking space and the fourth parking space are arranged in a second transverse row adjacent to the first transverse row.

35. The parking lot according to claim 29, wherein: the first positioning frequency is 111.483 kHz or 134.5 kHz, the second positioning frequency is 111.982 kHz or 136.0 kHz or 136.5 kHz, the third positioning frequency is 112.994 kHz or 135.0 kHz, the fourth positioning frequency is 113.507 kHz or 135.5 kHz or 136.0 kHz, or the first positioning frequency is 111.483 kHz or 134.5 kHz, the second positioning frequency is 111.982 kHz or 136.0 kHz or 136.5 kHz, the third positioning frequency is 112.994 kHz or 135.0 kHz, the fourth positioning frequency is 113.507 kHz or 135.5 kHz or 136.0 kHz, the fifth positioning frequency is 116.009 kHz or 135.5 kHz or 137.0 kHz or 137.5 kHz.

36. A method for operating a parking lot according to claim 23.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION TO THE DRAWINGS

[0058] The drawings show, each schematically, in

[0059] FIG. 1 a simplified plan view onto a system with a parking lot and motor vehicles,

[0060] FIG. 2 a cross-section through the stationary induction charging device of the parking lot,

[0061] FIG. 3 a cross-section through the stationary induction charging device in another exemplary embodiment,

[0062] FIG. 4 a simplified plan view onto the system in another exemplary embodiment,

[0063] FIG. 5 a simplified plan view onto the system in a further exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] A system 1, as shown by way of example in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, comprises a parking lot 10 and at least one motor vehicle 100. The parking lot 10 comprises at least four parking spaces 11, and a plurality of parking spaces 11 in the shown exemplary embodiments. The respective parking space 11 can be driven into along a direction P, which is hereinafter also referred to as parking direction P. The respective parking space 11 is provided with a stationary induction charging device 12 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The stationary induction charging device 12 can be arranged on the parking space 11 or at least partially embedded in the parking space 11. The respective stationary induction charging device 12 is used for wireless, inductive energy transfer with a motor vehicle 100. For this purpose, the respective motor vehicle 100 comprises a not shown mobile induction charging device, with which the stationary induction charging device 12 interacts inductively.

[0065] Such a stationary induction charging device 12 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The respective stationary induction charging device 12 comprises an energy coil 13 for energy transfer with a mobile induction charging device. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the energy coil 13 is adapted as a flat coil 14. The respective energy coil 13 is wound about a winding axis A 1 oriented in parallel to the normal of the parking space 11.

[0066] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 and 5, at least two of the parking spaces 11 are arranged in a lengthwise row 15 oriented in parallel to the parking direction P and spaced apart from one another. Furthermore, at least two of the parking spaces 11 are arranged in a transverse row 16 oriented perpendicular to the parking direction P. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the respective parking space 11 is arranged in such a lengthwise row 15 and transverse row 16. As can further be seen from the figures, a traveling lane 17 of the parking lot 10 can be located between two consecutive transverse rows 16.

[0067] As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4 and 5, the respective stationary induction charging device 12, which is not shown in these figures, generates a field directed in parking direction P, which is hereinafter also referred to as an alignment field 18, in order to align a mobile induction charging device in relation to the stationary induction charging device 12. The alignment field 18 oriented in parking direction P is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4 and 5 by a correspondingly asymmetrical representation of the respective alignment field 18 in parking direction P. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the respective stationary induction charging device 12 generates a magnetic alignment field 18. For this purpose, the respective stationary induction charging device 12 comprises in the exemplary embodiments shownas only shown in FIG. 3a coil 19, which is hereinafter also referred to as alignment coil 19. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the alignment coil 19 is wound about a winding axis A2 oriented parallel to the parking direction P.

[0068] As can further be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 and 5, the induction charging devices 12 of the parking spaces 11 of at least one of the transverse rows 16 alternately generate the alignment field 18 with a first frequency and a second frequency, which are hereinafter also referred to as the first alignment frequency and the second alignment frequency. In FIGS. 1 and 4 and 5, the particular parking spaces 11 whose stationary induction charging devices 12 generate the alignment field 18 with the first alignment frequency are labeled with f1 and the particular parking spaces 11 whose stationary induction charging devices 12 generate the alignment field 18 with the second alignment frequency are labeled with f2. The different alignment frequencies are also indicated with a different representation of the alignment fields 18.

[0069] The respective motor vehicle 10 can receive the alignment fields 18 such that the motor vehicle 10 recognizes the local signal strength and the alignment frequency of the alignment fields 18. As a parking space 11 is approached, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 for motor vehicles 100, the fact that the mobile induction charging device is to be aligned with the stationary induction charging device 12 associated with the parking space 1 lit is recognized on the basis of the stronger alignment field 18 and the alignment frequency of the stronger alignment field 18. Furthermore, a navigation instruction for aligning the motor vehicle 100 on the parking space 11 is output by means of the alignment field 18 associated with the approached parking space 11. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the respective alignment field 18 is used for far positioning a mobile induction charging device (not shown) in relation to the stationary induction charging device 12 associated with the approached parking space 11. This means in particular that the mobile induction charging device is positioned by means of the respective alignment field 18 in relation to the stationary induction charging device 12 associated with the parking space 11 for distances greater than 0.5 m, in particular for distances between 1.5 and meter and 0.5 m.

[0070] In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 4, the stationary induction charging devices 12 of the parking spaces 11 of the respective transverse row 16 alternately generate the alignment field 18 with the first alignment frequency and the second alignment frequency. The stationary induction charging devices 12 of the parking spaces 11 of the lengthwise row 15 thus generate the alignment field 18 with the same alignment frequency. The exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 4 differ in that the parking lot 10 in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 comprises four transverse rows 16 and twelve lengthwise row 15 of the parking spaces 11, and the parking lot 10 in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 comprises three transverse rows 16 and twelve lengthwise row 15 of the parking spaces 11. A traveling lane 17 is located centrally between the lengthwise rows 15.

[0071] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the stationary induction charging devices 12 of the parking spaces 11 can generate the alignment field 18 along the transverse rows 16 and along the lengthwise rows 17, each with alternating alignment frequencies such that the stationary induction charging devices 12 of the parking spaces 11 alternately generate the alignment field with the first alignment frequency and the second alignment frequency in one of the transverse rows 16 and the stationary induction charging devices 12 of the parking spaces 11 alternately generate the alignment field 18 with a third alignment frequency and a fourth alignment frequency in the respectively adjacent transverse row 15. In FIG. 5, the particular parking spaces 11 whose stationary induction charging devices 12 generate the alignment field 18 with the third alignment frequency are labeled with f3 and the particular parking spaces 11 whose stationary induction charging devices 12 generate the alignment field 18 with the fourth alignment frequency are labeled with f4. As can further be seen in FIG. 5, the first to fourth alignment frequency causes the stationary induction charging devices 12 of the parking spaces 11 to generate the alignment field 18 in the respective lengthwise row 15, either alternating with the first alignment frequency and the third alignment frequency or with the second alignment frequency and the fourth alignment frequency. In this case, the parking lot 10 in FIG. 5 has three transverse rows 16 and twelve lengthwise rows 15 of the parking spaces 11, as shown in FIG. 4 strictly by way of example.

[0072] For the sake of clarity, only the inwardly oriented halves of the alignment fields 18 are shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 for the lowermost transverse rows 16 and for the outermost transverse rows 16. For the sake of clarity, FIG. 5 shows only half of the respective alignment field 18 with the first alignment frequency and the respective alignment field 18 with the second alignment frequency.

[0073] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 and 5, the respective alignment field 18 propagates from the associated stationary induction charging device 12 along the associated parking direction P. The respective motor vehicle 100 can thus also approach the respective parking space 11 at an incline in relation to the parking direction P and can nevertheless receive the corresponding alignment field 18.

[0074] In the exemplary embodiments shown, the respective stationary induction charging device 12 also generates a field that radiates from the plane of the associated parking space 11 and is hereinafter also referred to as a positioning field. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the positioning field serves for near positioning of a mobile induction charging device of a motor vehicle 100 in relation to the stationary induction charging device 12 following the far positioning. The respective motor vehicle 100 then receives the positioning field. A navigation instruction for positioning the mobile induction charging device of the motor vehicle 100 in relation to the stationary induction charging device 12 of the approached parking space 11 is output by means of the positioning field.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the respective stationary induction charging device 12 comprises either four or five coils 20 spaced apart from one another for generating the associated positioning field, which are hereinafter also referred to as positioning coils 20. The respective positioning coil 20 generates a magnetic field such that the respective positioning field consists of four or five magnetic fields offset in relation to one another. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the stationary induction charging device 12 comprises four positioning coils 20 such that the generated positioning field consists of four magnetic fields. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the stationary induction charging device 12 comprises five positioning coils 20 such that the generated positioning field comprises the five magnetic fields. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the respective positioning transmitter coil 20 is a flat coil 14 wound about a winding axis A3 oriented parallel to the normal of the parking space 11. The respective magnetic field of the positioning field is generated with an associated frequency, which is hereinafter also referred to as the positioning frequency. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the positioning field therefore comprises a magnetic field with a first positioning frequency, a magnetic field with a second positioning frequency, a magnetic field with a third positioning frequency, and a magnetic field with a fourth positioning frequency. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the positioning field comprises a magnetic field having a first positioning frequency, a magnetic field having a second positioning frequency, a magnetic field having a third positioning frequency, a magnetic field having a fourth positioning frequency, and a magnetic field having a fifth positioning frequency.

[0076] The respective frequency is in the kilohertz range in the exemplary embodiments shown. Additionally, in the exemplary embodiments shown, the respective positioning frequency differs from the respective alignment frequency of the respective alignment field. Furthermore, the magnetic fields of the positioning field of the respective stationary induction charging device 12 are generated with the same positioning frequencies in the exemplary embodiments shown.

[0077] For example, the first alignment frequency is 134.0 kHz or 135.0 kHz or 145.560 kHz, the second alignment frequency is 135.5 kHz or 136.5 kHz or 137.0 kHz or 145.985 kHz, the third alignment frequency is 133.5 kHz or 146.843 kHz, the fourth alignment frequency is 137.0 kHz or 137.5 kHz or 147.275. For example, the first positioning frequency is 111.483 kHz or 134.5 kHz, the second positioning frequency is 111.982 kHZ or 136.0 kHz or 136.5 kHz, the third positioning frequency is 112.994 kHz or 135.0 kHz, the fourth positioning frequency is 113.507 kHz or 135.5 kHz or 136.0 kHz, and the fifth positioning frequency is 116.009 kHz or 135.5 kHz or 137.0 kHz or 137.5 kHz.