초록 ▼

Method and apparatus of charging a battery of an electric vehicle through inductive coupling between a primary inductive device having a core and a primary coil connected to a power source and a secondary inductive device having a core and a secondary coil connected to the battery are disclosed. The

Method and apparatus of charging a battery of an electric vehicle through inductive coupling between a primary inductive device having a core and a primary coil connected to a power source and a secondary inductive device having a core and a secondary coil connected to the battery are disclosed. The primary inductive device is provided on a movable arm of a ground charger unit and the secondary inductive device is mounted on the bottom of the vehicle adjacent its rear end. The power source supplies to the primary coil selectively a charging current and a check current. When the check current is supplied to the primary coil, an electromotive force is induced in the secondary coil which varies with a change of the relative position between the primary and secondary inductive devices. The variation in the induced electromotive force causes a change of the check current flowing in the primary coil. The position where the primary inductive device should be placed with respect to the secondary inductive device just before coupling thereof is determined on the basis of the change of the check current which is monitored while moving the primary inductive device relative to the secondary inductive device.

대표청구항 ▼

Method of charging a battery of an electric vehicle by coupling a primary inductive device having a core and a primary coil with a secondary inductive device having a core and a secondary coil and carried by the electric vehicle, said primary inductive device being movable for positioning thereof re

Method of charging a battery of an electric vehicle by coupling a primary inductive device having a core and a primary coil with a secondary inductive device having a core and a secondary coil and carried by the electric vehicle, said primary inductive device being movable for positioning thereof relative to said secondary inductive device, said method comprising: supplying an electric power to one of said primary and secondary coils; moving said primary inductive device relative to said secondary inductive device so that a variable electromotive force is induced in the other of said primary and secondary coils; monitoring a change of electric power in one of said primary and secondary coils; and stopping said primary inductive device at a position where said primary inductive device is located substantially closest to said secondary inductive device on the basis of information of said change of electric power. Apparatus for charging a battery for an electric vehicle by coupling a primary inductive device having a core and a primary coil with a secondary inductive device having a core and a secondary coil and carried by the electric vehicle and then flowing a charging current in said primary coil thereby to induce an electromotive force in said secondary coil, said apparatus comprising: means for supplying electric power to one of said primary and secondary coils; means for moving said primary inductive device relative to said secondary inductive device so that a variable electromotive force is induced in the other of said primary and secondary coils; means for monitoring a change of electric power in one of said primary and secondary coils; and means for controlling said moving means on the basis of information of said change of the electric power so that said primary inductive device is stopped at a position where said primary inductive device is located substantially closest to said secondary inductive device.