초록 ▼

Apparatus (10) for delivering electrical energy from a charging station (12) to a vehicle (14), for example, to charge a vehicle battery (16). The apparatus (10) includes vehicle and station bumpers (18,20) each associated with a respective wire coil (28,24), and forming respective flux path element

Apparatus (10) for delivering electrical energy from a charging station (12) to a vehicle (14), for example, to charge a vehicle battery (16). The apparatus (10) includes vehicle and station bumpers (18,20) each associated with a respective wire coil (28,24), and forming respective flux path elements for the coils (28,24). Means (34) are provided for sensing the relative position of the first and second coils (24,28) and controllably delivering the electrical energy in response to the sensed position. Third and fourth coils (80,82) provide two-way communication between the station (12) and the vehicle (14), and blocking means (96) facilitates removal of the vehicle (14) from the station (12).

대표청구항 ▼

In an apparatus (10) for delivering electrical energy from a charging station (12) to a vehicle (14), said vehicle (14) including a battery (16) and an attached vechile bumper (18) and said charging station (12) including a source of electrical energy, the improvement comprising: said charging stati

In an apparatus (10) for delivering electrical energy from a charging station (12) to a vehicle (14), said vehicle (14) including a battery (16) and an attached vechile bumper (18) and said charging station (12) including a source of electrical energy, the improvement comprising: said charging station (12) having a station bumper (20), said station bumper (20) being ferromagnetic and including a first wire coil (24); said vehicle bumper (18) being ferromagnetic and including a second wire coil (28), said station and vehicle bumpers (20,18) forming respective magnetic flux path elements for said first and second wire coils (24,28); means (30) for positioning said vehicle (14) at a predetermined location relative to said charging station (12), said first and second coils (24,28) being magneticaly coupled by said ferromagnetic bumpers (18,20) in response to said vehicle (14) being positioned at said location; and, means (34) for sensing the relative position of said first and second coils (24,28) and controllably delivering said electrical energy from said charging station (12) to said vehicle (14) in response to the sensed position, said means (34) including means (60) for producing a signal current having a predetermined frequency and delivering said signal current to said first coil (24), said signal current flowing substantially continuously through said first coil (24).