JP7637648B2 - Non-contact power supply device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a non-contact power supply device that provides non-contact power supply between a current collecting coil installed on a vehicle traveling on a track.

A non-contact power supply device is known that provides non-contact power supply between a current collecting coil installed on a vehicle traveling on a track.

JP 2010-125974 A (Patent Document 1) discloses a technology for a contactless power supply system for railway vehicles, which includes a power supply coil that is placed between rails laid on a track and reduces the magnetic effect on the rails, a high-frequency power source that supplies power to the power supply coil, and a current collecting coil that is placed at the bottom of a vehicle that runs on the rails, faces the power supply coil when the vehicle is running, and reduces the magnetic effect on the rails.

JP 2016-175583 A (Patent Document 2) discloses a technology in which, in a contactless power supply device, a first conductor is arranged parallel to the first rail in a region between a first rail and a second rail that is close to the first rail, a second conductor is arranged parallel to the first rail in a position that sandwiches the first rail together with the first conductor, a third conductor is arranged parallel to the second rail in a region between the first rail and a second rail that is close to the second rail, and a fourth conductor is arranged parallel to the second rail in a position that sandwiches the second rail together with the third conductor.

JP 2015-27149 A (Patent Document 3) discloses a technology for a contactless power supply device that supplies power to a moving body traveling in a predetermined direction in a contactless manner, the technology comprising a power transmission coil that transmits power contactlessly by at least magnetic coupling to a power receiving coil provided on the moving body, and a control means that controls the power of the power transmission coil. In the technology described in Patent Document 3, the control means controls multiple switching units based on the movement of the moving body.

JP 2010-125974 A JP 2016-175583 A JP 2015-27149 A

In a non-contact power supply device that continuously supplies power non-contact between a moving object, i.e., a vehicle, traveling on a track, and a power supply coil (power transmission coil) that is provided in the non-contact power supply device and acts as a ground coil for non-contact power supply to the traveling moving object, needs to be installed over the entire area in which the moving object moves, i.e., over the entire track, and is preferably made of a long loop coil.

On the other hand, when the power supply coil is a long loop coil, the part of the power supply coil that does not face the power collecting coil (power receiving coil) is unnecessary for the function of contactless power supply between the power collecting coil and the power supply coil, and this increases losses and reduces power transmission efficiency.

Therefore, from the perspective of improving power transmission efficiency, a possible method would be to divide the entire track into multiple sections, each with a fixed length, and selectively pass current through only those sections that face the current collecting coil installed on the moving body. However, this method requires the installation of a feeder cable in parallel with the power supply coil, which increases the installation costs of the contactless power supply device.

In other words, with conventional non-contact power transfer devices, it is not possible to reduce losses in the power transfer coil and therefore improve power transfer efficiency, or it is not possible to omit the feeder cable and therefore it is not possible to reduce installation costs.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional technology as described above, and aims to provide a contactless power supply device that provides contactless power supply between a current collecting coil provided on a vehicle traveling on a track, reduces loss in the power supply coil, improves power transmission efficiency, and eliminates the need for a feeder cable, reducing installation costs.

A brief summary of the representative inventions disclosed in this application is as follows:

A non-contact power supply device according to one aspect of the present invention is a non-contact power supply device that performs non-contact power supply between a collector coil provided on a vehicle traveling on a track. The non-contact power supply device includes M coil units (M is an integer of 5 or more) arranged in a first direction along the track and each of which forms a first loop coil of 2N turns (N is an integer of 1 or more) that can face the collector coil, and a power source connected to an end of the first coil unit group on the first side in the first direction of the coil unit group consisting of the M coil units and that passes a current through any of the M coil units. Each of the M coil units includes 2N first conducting wires arranged on a second side in a second direction intersecting the first direction from a first line extending in the first direction and each extending in the first direction, 2N second conducting wires arranged on an opposite side to the second side in the second direction from the first line and away from the 2N first conducting wires and each extending in the first direction, and a connection switching unit that switches connections between the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires. The power source includes a first terminal and a second terminal opposite to the first terminal. In each of the M coil units, the connection switching unit switches between a first state in which the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires are connected in series to each other, and a first loop coil is formed by the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires connected in series to each other, and a second state in which, when N first conducting wires and N second conducting wires of the 2N first conducting wires and 2N second conducting wires are defined as 2N third conducting wires, and N first conducting wires and N second conducting wires of the 2N first conducting wires and 2N second conducting wires other than the 2N third conducting wires are defined as 2N fourth conducting wires, the 2N third conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other, and a first power supply line is formed by the 2N third conducting wires connected in parallel to each other, and the 2N fourth conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other, and a second power supply line is formed by the 2N fourth conducting wires connected in parallel to each other. The contactless power supply device further includes a control unit that controls the operation of M connection switching units that each of the M coil units has. When the current collecting coil faces a first coil unit that is an L-th coil unit (L is an integer of 3 or more and M-2 or less) from an end of a first coil unit group among the M coil units, the control unit controls the operation of the connection switching unit in the first coil unit so that a first loop coil is formed by switching the connection switching unit to a first state, and controls the operation of the connection switching unit in each of (L-1) second coil units that are (L-1) coil units arranged on a first side in the first direction from the first coil unit among the M coil units so that a first power supply line and a second power supply line are formed by switching the connection switching unit to a second state. The (L-1) first power supply lines formed in each of the (L-1) second coil units are connected in series to each other across the (L-1) second coil units, and the (L-1) second power supply lines formed in each of the (L-1) second coil units are connected in series to each other across the (L-1) second coil units. A first end on a first side in a first direction of a first power supply line group consisting of the (L-1) first power supply lines connected in series to each other is connected to a first terminal of a power source, and a second end on a first side in a first direction of a second power supply line group consisting of the (L-1) second power supply lines connected in series to each other is connected to a second terminal of the power source. The third end of the first power supply line group opposite the first side in the first direction is connected to the third terminal of the first loop coil formed by the first coil unit, and the fourth end of the second power supply line group opposite the first side in the first direction is connected to the fourth terminal opposite the third terminal of the first loop coil formed by the first coil unit.

In another embodiment, in each of the M coil units, the connection switching unit may switch between a first state, a second state, and a third state in which the 2N first conductors and the 2N second conductors are not connected in series, the 2N third conductors are not connected in parallel, and the 2N fourth conductors are not connected in parallel. When the current collecting coil faces the first coil unit among the M coil units, the control unit may control the operation of the connection switching unit to switch to the third state in each of the (M-L) third coil units, which are (M-L) coil units among the M coil units and are arranged on the opposite side to the first side in the first direction from the first coil unit, so that no current flows through each of the (M-L) third coil units.

In another embodiment, in each of the M coil units, N is 1, and in each of the M coil units, a first conductor that is one of the two first conductors and one of the two third conductors is designated as a fifth conductor, a first conductor that is one of the two first conductors and one of the two fourth conductors is designated as a sixth conductor, and a second conductor that is one of the two second conductors and one of the two third conductors is designated as a sixth conductor. a second conductor which is one of the third conductors of the first conductor and one of the second conductors which is one of the fourth conductors of the second conductor is an eighth conductor, a fifth end of the fifth conductor opposite to the first side in the first direction may be connected to a sixth end of the seventh conductor opposite to the first side in the first direction, and a seventh end of the sixth conductor opposite to the first side in the first direction may be connected to an eighth end of the eighth conductor opposite to the first side in the first direction. The connection switching unit may include a first connecting conductor for connecting a ninth end of the sixth conductor on the first side in the first direction and a tenth end of the seventh conductor on the first side in the first direction, a first switch for switching a connection between the ninth end of the sixth conductor and the first connecting conductor, and a second switch for switching a connection between the tenth end of the seventh conductor and the first connecting conductor. The M fifth conducting wires each of the M coil units may be connected in series with each other across the M coil units, and the M eighth conducting wires each of the M coil units may be connected in series with each other across the M coil units. When a coil unit arranged at an end of a first coil unit group of the coil unit group among the M coil units is defined as a first end coil unit, the fifth conducting wire of the first end coil unit may be connected to a first terminal of a power source, and the eighth conducting wire of the first end coil unit may be connected to a second terminal of the power source. Among the M coil units, when the Kth coil unit (K is an integer between 2 and M) from the end of the first coil unit group is defined as a fourth coil unit, and the (K-1)th coil unit from the end of the first coil unit group is defined as a fifth coil unit, the first switch of the fourth coil unit has a fourth state in which a ninth end of the sixth conductor of the fourth coil unit is connected to the first connecting conductor of the fourth coil unit, a fifth state in which the ninth end of the sixth conductor of the fourth coil unit is connected to the seventh end of the sixth conductor of the fifth coil unit, and a fifth state in which the ninth end of the sixth conductor of the fourth coil unit is connected to the first connecting conductor of the fourth coil unit. The second switch of the fourth coil unit may switch between a seventh state in which the tenth end of the seventh conductor of the fourth coil unit is connected to the first connecting conductor of the fourth coil unit, an eighth state in which the tenth end of the seventh conductor of the fourth coil unit is connected to the sixth end of the seventh conductor of the fifth coil unit, and a ninth state in which the tenth end of the seventh conductor of the fourth coil unit is disconnected from both the first connecting conductor of the fourth coil unit and the sixth end of the seventh conductor of the fifth coil unit. The first switch of the first end coil unit may switch between a tenth state in which a ninth end of the sixth conductor of the first end coil unit is connected to a first connecting conductor of the first end coil unit, and an eleventh state in which the ninth end of the sixth conductor of the first end coil unit is connected to a second terminal of the power source, and the second switch of the first end coil unit may switch between a twelfth state in which a tenth end of the seventh conductor of the first end coil unit is connected to the first connecting conductor of the first end coil unit, and a thirteenth state in which the tenth end of the seventh conductor of the first end coil unit is connected to a first terminal of the power source. When the collecting coil faces the first coil unit serving as the fourth coil unit among the M coil units, the control unit controls the operation of the connection switching unit so that, in the first coil unit serving as the fourth coil unit, the connection switching unit is switched to the first state, the first switch is switched to the fourth state, and the second switch is switched to the seventh state, thereby forming a first loop coil, and the connection switching unit is switched to the second state in each of the (L-1) second coil units serving as the (L-1) fourth coil units, except for the first end coil unit. The operation of the connection switching unit may be controlled so that the first switch is switched to the fifth state and the second switch is switched to the eighth state, thereby forming a first power supply line from the fifth and seventh conductors and a second power supply line from the sixth and eighth conductors; and in the first end coil unit, the operation of the connection switching unit may be controlled so that the first switch is switched to the second state, the first switch is switched to the eleventh state and the second switch is switched to the thirteenth state, thereby forming a first power supply line from the fifth and seventh conductors and a second power supply line from the sixth and eighth conductors.

In another embodiment, in each of the M coil units, the connection switching unit may switch between a first state, a second state, and a fourteenth state in which the two first conductors and the two second conductors are not connected in series, the two third conductors are not connected in parallel, and the two fourth conductors are not connected in parallel. When the current collecting coil faces the first coil unit serving as the fourth coil unit among the M coil units, the control unit may control the operation of the connection switching unit in the sixth coil unit, which is disposed on the opposite side of the first side in the first direction from the first coil unit among the M coil units and serves as the fourth coil unit, by switching the connection switching unit to the fourteenth state and switching the first switch to the sixth state or the second switch to the ninth state so that no current flows through the sixth coil unit.

In another embodiment, each of the M coil units may be for forming a first loop coil having an eight-shaped configuration with 2N turns. In each of the M coil units, the 2N second conductors may be arranged between the second and first wires, which are arranged parallel to the first wire on the opposite side of the first wire from the second side in the second direction. Each of the M coil units may have 2N ninth conductors arranged between the second and first wires, spaced apart from the 2N first conductors and each extending in the first direction, and 2N tenth conductors arranged on the opposite side of the second wire from the second side in the second direction from the 2N second conductors and the 2N ninth conductors, each extending in the first direction. In each of the M coil units, the connection switching unit switches between a first state in which the 2N first conducting wires, the 2N second conducting wires, the 2N ninth conducting wires, and the 2N tenth conducting wires are each connected in series to each other, and a first loop coil is formed by the 2N first conducting wires, the 2N second conducting wires, the 2N ninth conducting wires, and the 2N tenth conducting wires each connected in series to each other; and a second state in which, of the 2N ninth conducting wires and the 2N tenth conducting wires, N of the 9th conducting wires and N of the tenth conducting wires are set as 2N eleventh conducting wires, and the 2N ninth conducting wires and 2N tenth conducting wires are set as 2N eleventh conducting wires. When the N ninth wires and the N tenth wires other than the 2N eleventh wires are used as the 2N twelfth wires, among the ten conductors, the 2N third wires and the 2N eleventh wires are connected in parallel to each other, forming a first power supply line with the 2N third wires and the 2N eleventh wires connected in parallel to each other, and the 2N fourth wires and the 2N twelfth wires are connected in parallel to each other, forming a second power supply line with the 2N fourth wires and the 2N twelfth wires connected in parallel to each other.

In another embodiment, in each of the M coil units, the connection switching unit may switch between a first state, a second state, and a fifteenth state in which the 2N first conducting wires, the 2N second conducting wires, the 2N ninth conducting wires, and the 2N tenth conducting wires are not connected in series, the 2N third conducting wires and the 2N eleventh conducting wires are not connected in parallel, and the 2N fourth conducting wires and the 2N twelfth conducting wires are not connected in parallel. When the current collecting coil faces the first coil unit among the M coil units, the control unit may control the operation of the connection switching unit in each of the (M-L) seventh coil units, which are (M-L) coil units arranged on the opposite side to the first side in the first direction from the first coil unit, to the fifteenth state so that no current flows through each of the (M-L) seventh coil units.

In another embodiment, each of the M coil units may be for forming a first loop coil and a second loop coil of 2N turns connected in series with the first loop coil and wound in a direction opposite to the winding direction of the first loop coil. In each of the M coil units, the 2N second conductors are arranged between the first wire and a third wire arranged parallel to the first wire on the opposite side of the second side in the second direction from the first wire, and each of the M coil units may have 2N 13th conductors arranged between the third wire and the first wire and spaced apart from the 2N first conductors and extending in the first direction, and 2N 14th conductors arranged on the opposite side of the second side in the second direction from the third wire and spaced apart from the 2N second conductors and the 2N 13th conductors and extending in the first direction. In each of the M coil units, the connection switching unit switches between a first state in which 2N first conducting wires and 2N second conducting wires are connected in series with each other, a first loop coil is formed by the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires connected in series with each other, and 2N thirteenth conducting wires and 2N fourteenth conducting wires are connected in series with each other, and a second loop coil is formed by the 2N thirteenth conducting wires and the 2N fourteenth conducting wires connected in series with each other; and a second state in which N of the 2N thirteenth conducting wires and N of the fourteenth conducting wires are connected in series with each other, In a first state, the 2N third conducting wires and the 2N 15th conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other, and the 2N third conducting wires and the 2N 15th conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other to form a first power supply line, and in a second state, the 2N fourth conducting wires and the 2N 16th conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other, and the 2N fourth conducting wires and the 2N 16th conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other to form a second power supply line.

In another embodiment, in each of the M coil units, the connection switching unit may switch between a first state, a second state, and a sixteenth state in which the 2N first conducting wires, the 2N second conducting wires, the 2N thirteenth conducting wires, and the 2N fourteenth conducting wires are not connected in series, the 2N third conducting wires and the 2N fifteenth conducting wires are not connected in parallel, and the 2N fourth conducting wires and the 2N sixteenth conducting wires are not connected in parallel. When the current collecting coil faces the first coil unit among the M coil units, the control unit may control the operation of the connection switching unit in each of the (M-L) eighth coil units, which are (M-L) coil units arranged on the opposite side of the first side in the first direction from the first coil unit, to the sixteenth state so that no current flows through each of the (M-L) eighth coil units.

In another aspect, the number of turns of the first loop coil formed by each of the M coil units may be greater for the coil units located closer to the end of the first coil unit group among the M coil units. The control unit may control the operation of the power supply so that when the current collecting coil faces the first coil unit among the M coil units, the power supply passes current through the first coil unit. The control unit may control the operation of the power supply so that the amount of current passed through the first coil unit becomes smaller as the number of turns of the first coil unit facing the current collecting coil among the M coil units becomes greater.

In another embodiment, the vehicle running on the track is a railway vehicle running on rails provided on the track, and the M coil units may be arranged on the track in a first direction along the rails.

By applying one aspect of the present invention, in a non-contact power supply device that supplies power non-contact between a current collecting coil installed on a vehicle traveling on a track, it is possible to reduce loss in the power supply coil, improve power transmission efficiency, and omit a feeder cable, thereby reducing installation costs.

1 is a circuit diagram showing a non-contact power supply device according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the non-contact power supply device according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a three-dimensional calculation model of a coil unit. 13 is a graph showing the results of calculating the current density flowing through each conductor of the coil unit. 13 is a graph showing the results of calculation of magnetic flux density generated by current flowing through each conductor of the coil unit. FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a contactless power supply device according to a first modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a contactless power supply device according to a first modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of a contactless power supply device according to a first modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a contactless power supply device according to a second modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a contactless power supply device according to a second modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of a contactless power supply device according to a second modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of a contactless power supply device according to a third modified example of the embodiment.

Each embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Note that the disclosure is merely an example, and any appropriate modifications that a person skilled in the art can easily conceive of while maintaining the gist of the invention are naturally included within the scope of the present invention. In addition, in order to make the explanation clearer, the drawings may show the width, thickness, shape, etc. of each part diagrammatically compared to the embodiment, but these are merely examples and do not limit the interpretation of the present invention.

In addition, in this specification and each figure, elements similar to those previously described with respect to the previous figures are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions may be omitted as appropriate.

Furthermore, in the drawings used in the embodiments, hatching (shading) used to distinguish structures may be omitted depending on the drawing.

In the following embodiments, when a range is indicated as A to B, it means A or more and B or less unless otherwise specified.

(Embodiment)
<Non-contact power supply device>
First, a contactless power supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The contactless power supply device according to this embodiment is a contactless power supply device that performs contactless power supply between a current collecting coil provided on a vehicle traveling on a track. The contactless power supply device according to this embodiment can be applied to a contactless power supply device that supplies power to a train, a current collecting device for an electrically propelled vehicle, a contactless power supply device that supplies power to an electric vehicle, or a contactless power supply device that supplies power to a conveying machine.

Figure 1 is a circuit diagram showing a non-contact power supply device according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the non-contact power supply device according to an embodiment.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the non-contact power supply device SD1 of this embodiment includes M coil units UN (M is an integer of 5 or more), a power source PS1, and a control unit CT1. Note that Fig. 1 shows a case where M is 6. Also, although it is preferable that M is an integer of 5 or more, the non-contact power supply device SD1 of this embodiment can also be applied when M is 2, 3, or 4.

The M coil units UN (M is an integer of 5 or more) are arranged in a direction DR1 along the track TR1, connected in series with each other, and are intended to form a loop coil CL1 as a power supply coil (power supply coil wound with 2N turns) with a winding number, i.e., a number of turns, of 2N (N is an integer of 1 or more) that can face the current collecting coil RC1. Note that FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a case where N is 1. In the embodiment and the first and second modified examples of the embodiment, the case where N in each of the M coil units UN is equal to each other is illustrated, but as described in the third modified example of the embodiment, N in each of the M coil units UN may be different from each other. In the present specification, "connected in series" means electrically connected in series. In addition, when the track TR1 has a curved shape, the direction DR1 gradually changes along the track TR1.

The power supply PS1 is connected to the coil unit group end GE1 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the coil unit group UG consisting of M coil units UN, and passes current through the loop coil CL1 formed by one of the M coil units UN. Here, the first side in the direction DR1 means the power supply PS1 side in the direction DR1. The current passed is an AC current (high frequency current), and the power supply PS1 is an AC power supply (high frequency power supply). Note that in Figure 2, the direction of the current flowing through the conductor at a given moment is indicated by an arrow (the same applies to Figures 8, 11, and 12).

Each of the M coil units UN has 2N conductors CN1, 2N conductors CN2, and a connection switching unit SU1. The 2N conductors CN1 are arranged on the second side in a direction DR2 intersecting the direction DR1, relative to the first line LN1 extending in the direction DR1, and each extend in the direction DR1. The 2N conductors CN2 are arranged away from the 2N conductors CN1, on the opposite side of the second side in the direction DR2, relative to the first line LN1, and each extend in the direction DR1. The connection switching unit SU1 switches the connection between the 2N conductors CN1 and the 2N conductors CN2.

Power supply PS1 has terminal TM1 and terminal TM2 opposite terminal TM1.

In each of the M coil units UN, of the 2N conductors CN1 and 2N conductors CN2, the N conductors CN1 and N conductors CN2 are defined as 2N conductors CN3, and of the 2N conductors CN1 and 2N conductors CN2, the N conductors CN1 and N conductors CN2 other than the 2N conductors CN3 are defined as 2N conductors CN4. In this way, in each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 switches between a state ST1 in which the 2N conductors CN1 and 2N conductors CN2 are connected in series to the power source PS1 (between the terminals TM1 and TM2), and the loop coil CL1 is formed by the 2N conductors CN1 and 2N conductors CN2 connected in series to the power source PS1, and a state ST2 in which the 2N conductors CN3 are connected in parallel to the power source PS1, the power feed line FD1 is formed by the 2N conductors CN3 connected in parallel to the power source PS1, and the 2N conductors CN4 are connected in parallel to the power source, and the power feed line FD2 is formed by the 2N conductors CN4 connected in parallel to the power source. In this specification, "connected in parallel" means electrically connected in parallel.

The control unit CT1 controls the operation of the M connection switching units SU1 that each of the M coil units UN has. As the control unit CT1, for example, a computer including a calculation unit (Central Processing Unit: CPU) and a storage unit (memory) and in which the calculation unit executes a program stored in the storage unit can be used.

Consider a case where the collector coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1, which is the Lth (L is an integer between 3 and M-2) coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1, among the M coil units UN. In this case, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 in coil unit UN1 so that the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST1 to form a loop coil CL1. The control unit CT1 also controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 in each of (L-1) coil units UN2, which are (L-1) coil units UN arranged on the first side in the direction DR1 from coil unit UN1, among the M coil units UN, so that the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST2 to form a power supply line FD1 by 2N conductors CN3 connected in parallel to each other, and a power supply line FD2 is formed by 2N conductors CN4 connected in parallel to each other. For example, the position of the collecting coil RC1 is detected by a detection unit (not shown) that detects the position of the collecting coil RC1, and based on the detected position of the collecting coil RC1, it can be detected which of the M coil units UN the collecting coil RC1 faces.

When the collector coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the (L-1) power supply lines FD1 formed in each of the (L-1) coil units UN2 are connected in series to each other across the (L-1) coil units UN2, and the (L-1) power supply lines FD2 formed in each of the (L-1) coil units UN2 are connected in series to each other across the (L-1) coil units UN2.

When the collector coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the end EP1 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the power supply line group FG1, which is made up of (L-1) power supply lines FD1 connected in series with each other, is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1, and the end EP2 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the power supply line group FG2, which is made up of (L-1) power supply lines FD2 connected in series with each other, is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

In addition, when the collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the end EP3 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 of the power supply line group FG1 is connected to the terminal TM3 of the loop coil CL1 formed by the coil unit UN1, and the end EP4 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 of the power supply line group FG2 is connected to the terminal TM4 opposite the terminal TM3 of the loop coil CL1 formed by the coil unit UN1.

Here, we explain the problem that the non-contact power supply device of this embodiment aims to solve.

In a non-contact power supply device that continuously supplies power non-contact between a moving object, i.e., a vehicle, traveling on a track, and a power supply coil (power transmission coil) that is provided in the non-contact power supply device and acts as a ground coil for non-contact power supply to the traveling moving object, needs to be installed over the entire area in which the moving object moves, i.e., over the entire track, and is preferably made of a long loop coil.

On the other hand, when the power supply coil is a long loop coil, the portion of the power supply coil that does not face the power collecting coil (power receiving coil) is unnecessary for the function of contactless power supply between the power collecting coil and the power supply coil, and increases losses and becomes a factor in reducing power transmission efficiency. In other words, from the viewpoint of improving power transmission efficiency, when the power supply coil is a single long loop coil, there is a limit to the continuous installation distance of the power supply coils on the track.

Therefore, from the perspective of improving power transmission efficiency, a possible method would be to divide the entire track into multiple sections, each with a fixed length, and selectively pass current through only those sections that face the current collecting coil installed on the moving body. However, this method requires the installation of a feeder cable in parallel with the power supply coil in addition to the loop coil used as the power supply coil, which increases the installation costs of the contactless power supply device.

In other words, with conventional non-contact power transfer devices, it is not possible to reduce losses in the power transfer coil and therefore improve power transfer efficiency, or it is not possible to omit the feeder cable and therefore it is not possible to reduce installation costs.

In the technology described in Patent Document 3, the power transmission coil has a predetermined direction as its longitudinal direction, and has a plurality of expansion sections that extend the coil surface by extending the coil wiring at least in a direction other than the longitudinal direction on the opposing surface of the power transmission coil that faces the power receiving coil, and a plurality of switching sections that are provided corresponding to the plurality of expansion sections and switch between electrical conduction and cut-off between the expansion sections and the base.

However, the technology described in Patent Document 3 has a base with the wiring for the coil extending in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the feeder cable cannot be omitted, and installation costs cannot be reduced.

On the other hand, the non-contact power supply device SD1 of this embodiment includes M coil units UN (M is an integer of 5 or more) each forming a loop coil CL1 of 2N turns (N is an integer of 1 or more) arranged in a direction DR1 along a track TR1, and a power source PS1 connected to a coil unit group end GE1 on the first side in the direction DR1 of a coil unit group UG consisting of the M coil units UN and passing a current through any of the M coil units UN. Each of the M coil units UN has 2N conductors CN1, 2N conductors CN2 arranged away from the 2N conductors CN1, and a connection switching unit SU1 that switches the connection between the 2N conductors CN1 and the 2N conductors CN2. The connection switching unit SU1 switches between a state ST1 in which the 2N conductors CN1 and 2N conductors CN2 are each connected in series to the power source PS1, and a loop coil CL1 is formed by the 2N conductors CN1 and 2N conductors CN2 each connected in series to each other, and a state ST2 in which the power supply line FD1 is formed by the N conductors CN1 and N conductors CN2, and the power supply line FD2 is formed by the N conductors CN1 and N conductors CN2.

The non-contact power supply device SD1 of this embodiment further includes a control unit CT1 that controls the operation of M connection switching units SU1 that each of the M coil units UN has. When the current collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1, which is the Lth coil unit UN (L is an integer between 3 and M-2) from the coil unit group end GE1 among the M coil units UN, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of connection switching unit SU1 in coil unit UN1 so that a loop coil CL1 is formed by switching connection switching unit SU1 to state ST1. Furthermore, when the collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 in each of the (L-1) coil units UN2, which are the (L-1) coil units UN arranged on the first side in the direction DR1 from the coil unit UN1 among the M coil units UN, so that the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST2 to form a power supply line FD1 from 2N conductors CN3 connected in parallel to each other, and a power supply line FD2 is formed from 2N conductors CN4 connected in parallel to each other.

That is, in the non-contact power supply device of this embodiment, a coil unit group consisting of multiple coil units is divided into an opposing section that faces the current collecting coil and a non-opposing section that is located on the power source side of the opposing section and does not face the current collecting coil, and the method of connecting the conductors in the coil unit is switched at the boundary between the opposing section and the non-opposing section, i.e., the boundary between the sections. In the non-opposing section on the power source side of the opposing section, i.e., the power source side non-opposing part, multiple conductors are connected in parallel so that the return currents are paired, and the coil unit is used as a feeder with low impedance and small leakage magnetic field. Also, in the opposing section, i.e., the opposing part, the coil unit is used as a coil to generate magnetic flux. That is, in the non-contact power supply device of this embodiment, by changing the wiring that connects the conductors in the coil unit at the boundary between the power source side non-opposing part and the opposing part, the coil unit is used in a state where multiple conductors are connected in parallel in the power source side non-opposing part, and the magnetic fields generated by the multiple conductors are mutually canceled.

This allows the coil unit in the non-facing portion on the power source side to function as a power supply line with low impedance, and the coil unit in the facing portion to function as a power supply coil with a large number of turns. This makes it possible to omit the feeder cable and reduce loss in the power supply coil. In other words, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce loss in the power supply coil, improve power transmission efficiency, and omit the feeder cable to reduce installation costs.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the compensation capacitors can be consolidated in each section, which further reduces installation costs and reduces installation space.

Preferably, in each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 switches between state ST1, state ST2, and state ST3 in which the 2N conductors CN1 and 2N conductors CN2 are not connected in series to the power source PS1, the 2N conductors CN3 are not connected in parallel to the power source PS1, and the 2N conductors CN4 are not connected in parallel to the power source PS1. Also, when the current collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1 among the M coil units UN, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 in each of the (M-L) coil units UN3, which are (M-L) coil units UN arranged on the opposite side of the first side in the direction DR1 from the coil unit UN1 among the M coil units UN, so that no current flows through each of the (M-L) coil units UN3 by switching the connection switching unit SU1 to state ST3.

That is, in the non-contact power supply device of this embodiment, preferably, a coil unit group consisting of multiple coil units is divided into three sections consisting of an opposing section that faces the collector coil, and two non-opposing sections that are located on the power source side and the terminal side of the opposing section, respectively, and do not face the collector coil, and the method of connecting the conductors in the coil unit is switched at the boundary between the sections. Also, in the non-opposing section on the terminal side of the opposing section, i.e., the terminal side non-opposing section, no current is passed through the coil unit. This makes it possible to further reduce loss in the power supply coil.

In general, in contactless power supply that assumes high-frequency current, it is desirable to use expensive Litz wire as the conductor. On the other hand, as described above, in this embodiment, the amount of conductor used can be reduced. Therefore, when Litz wire is used as the conductor, the effect of reducing installation costs by this embodiment is even greater.

Preferably, the vehicle VC1 traveling on the track TR1 is a railway vehicle traveling on a rail R1 provided on the track TR1, and the M coil units UN are arranged on the track TR1 in a direction DR1 along the rail R1. That is, it is preferable that the vehicle traveling on the track is a railway vehicle. That is, it is preferable to apply the non-contact power supply device of this embodiment to a non-contact power supply device for railways (the same applies to the first to third modified examples of the embodiment).

In a contactless power supply device for railways, a rail, which is both magnetic and conductive, is present close to the ground coil, i.e., the power supply coil, and the AC magnetic field generated by the power supply coil may link with the rail, causing a large loss. On the other hand, as described above, in the contactless power supply device of this embodiment, the coil unit is used in the non-facing portion on the power source side with multiple conductors connected in parallel, and the magnetic fields generated by the multiple conductors cancel each other out. Therefore, by applying the contactless power supply device of this embodiment to a contactless power supply device for railways, the loss generated in the non-facing portion on the power source side can be significantly reduced.

When the contactless power supply device of this embodiment is applied to a contactless power supply device for railways, the width of the collector coil can be about 1 m, and the length of the collector coil along the track can be about 10 m, and the width of the coil unit, i.e., the section, can be about 1 m, and the length of the coil unit, i.e., the section along the track can be about 20 to 200 m (the same applies to the first to third modified examples of the embodiment).

<Configuration example of a non-contact power supply device according to an embodiment>
Next, a configuration example of a contactless power supply device according to an embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 will be described. In the configuration example shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, N is 1 in each of M coil units. That is, the configuration example shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is an example in which the contactless power supply device according to the present embodiment is applied to a case in which each of M coil units has two switches and a two-turn loop coil is formed, that is, a case in which two switches are used at the boundary between two sections and a two-turn rectangular coil is formed.

1 and 2, in each of the M coil units UN, the conductor CN1 which is one of the two conductors CN1 and one of the two conductors CN3 is designated as conductor CN5, the conductor CN1 which is one of the two conductors CN1 and one of the two conductors CN4 is designated as conductor CN6, and the conductor CN1 which is one of the two conductors CN1 and one of the two conductors CN4 is designated as conductor CN6. In each of the M coil units UN, the conductor CN2 which is one of the two conductors CN2 and one of the two conductors CN3 is designated as conductor CN7, and the conductor CN2 which is one of the two conductors CN2 and one of the two conductors CN4 is designated as conductor CN8. In this way, the end EP5 of the conductor CN5 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP6 of the conductor CN7 opposite the first side in the direction DR1, and the end EP7 of the conductor CN6 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP8 of the conductor CN8 opposite the first side in the direction DR1.

In each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 includes a connection conductor CC1, a switch SW1, and a switch SW2. The connection conductor CC1 is for connecting the end EP9 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the conductor CN6 to the end EP10 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the conductor CN7. The switch SW1 switches the connection between the end EP9 of the conductor CN6 and the connection conductor CC1. The switch SW2 switches the connection between the end EP10 of the conductor CN7 and the connection conductor CC1.

The M conductors CN5 of each of the M coil units UN are connected in series to each other across the M coil units UN, and the M conductors CN8 of each of the M coil units UN are connected in series to each other across the M coil units UN.

Of the M coil units UN, the coil unit UN arranged at the coil unit group end GE1 of the coil unit group UG is defined as the end coil unit EU1. In this way, the conductor CN5 of the end coil unit EU1 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1, and the conductor CN8 of the end coil unit EU1 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

Of the M coil units UN, the Kth (K is an integer between 2 and M) coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1 is coil unit UN4, and the (K-1)th coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1 is coil unit UN5. In this way, the switch SW1 of the coil unit UN4 switches between a state ST4 in which the end EP9 of the conductor CN6 of the coil unit UN4 is connected to the connection conductor CC1 of the coil unit UN4, a state ST5 in which the end EP9 of the conductor CN6 of the coil unit UN4 is connected to the end EP7 of the conductor CN6 of the coil unit UN5, and a state ST6 in which the end EP9 of the conductor CN6 of the coil unit UN4 is disconnected from both the connection conductor CC1 of the coil unit UN4 and the end EP7 of the conductor CN6 of the coil unit UN5.

The switch SW2 of the coil unit UN4 switches between a state ST7 in which the end EP10 of the conductor CN7 of the coil unit UN4 is connected to the connection conductor CC1 of the coil unit UN4, a state ST8 in which the end EP10 of the conductor CN7 of the coil unit UN4 is connected to the end EP6 of the conductor CN7 of the coil unit UN5, and a state ST9 in which the end EP10 of the conductor CN7 of the coil unit UN4 is disconnected from both the connection conductor CC1 of the coil unit UN4 and the end EP6 of the conductor CN7 of the coil unit UN5.

The switch SW1 of the end coil unit EU1 switches between a state ST10 in which the end EP9 of the conductor CN6 of the end coil unit EU1 is connected to the connecting conductor CC1 of the end coil unit EU1, and a state ST11 in which the end EP9 of the conductor CN6 of the end coil unit EU1 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

The switch SW2 of the end coil unit EU1 switches between a state ST12 in which the end EP10 of the conductor CN7 of the end coil unit EU1 is connected to the connecting conductor CC1 of the end coil unit EU1, and a state ST13 in which the end EP10 of the conductor CN7 of the end coil unit EU1 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power source SP1.

Consider a case where the collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1, which is coil unit UN4, among the M coil units UN. In this case, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 in coil unit UN1, which is coil unit UN4, so that the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST1, the switch SW1 is switched to state ST4, and the switch SW2 is switched to state ST7, thereby forming a loop coil CL1.

When the collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 so that, in all of the (L-1) coil units UN2 among the (L-1) coil units UN4, except for the end coil unit EU1, the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST2, the switch SW1 is switched to state ST5, and the switch SW2 is switched to state ST8, so that the power supply line FD1 is formed by the conductors CN5 and CN7, and the power supply line FD2 is formed by the conductors CN6 and CN8.

When the collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 in the end coil unit EU1 so that the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST2, the switch SW1 is switched to state ST11, and the switch SW2 is switched to state ST13, so that the conductors CN5 and CN7 form a power supply line FD1, and the conductors CN6 and CN8 form a power supply line FD2.

In such a case, even if N is 1, the coil unit in the non-facing part on the power supply side can function as a power supply line with low impedance, and the coil unit in the facing part can function as a power supply coil having a rectangular shape. This makes it possible to omit the feeder cable and reduce loss in the power supply coil.

Preferably, in each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 switches between state ST1, state ST2, and state ST14 in which the two conductors CN1 and the two conductors CN2 are not connected in series to the power supply PS1, the two conductors CN3 are not connected in parallel to the power supply, and the two conductors CN4 are not connected in parallel to the power supply PS1.

Also consider a case where the collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1, which is one of the M coil units UN and serves as coil unit UN4. In this case, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 in coil unit UN6, which is one of the M coil units UN and is located on the opposite side of the first side in direction DR1 from coil unit UN1 and serves as coil unit UN4, so that no current flows through coil unit UN6 by switching the connection switching unit SU1 to state ST14 and switching switch SW1 to state ST6 or switching switch SW2 to state ST9.

In such a case, even if N is 1, specifically, no current flows through the coil unit in the non-facing end portion. This can further reduce the loss in the power supply coil.

As described above, the configuration example shown in FIG. 1 is an example in which the contactless power supply device of this embodiment is applied when N is 1, that is, when two switches are used at the boundary between two sections to form a two-turn rectangular coil. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the resistance per unit length of the power supply line can be reduced to 1/2 compared to when a feeder cable is placed in parallel with the power supply coil.

On the other hand, when 4N-2 switches are used at the boundary between two sections to form a rectangular coil of 2N turns, the resistance per unit length of the power supply line can be reduced to 1/(2N) compared to when a feeder cable is placed in parallel with the power supply coil.

In addition, it is generally possible to form a loop coil by cutting all but two coil sides that connect at the boundary between the non-facing part on the power supply side and the facing part, and then changing the connection using a switch, so the minimum number of switches required at the boundary between the non-facing part on the power supply side and the facing part is the total number of coil sides - 2 (the total number of conductors CN1 and CN2 - 2).

Generally, the number of transverse sides required at the boundary between the power supply side non-facing portion and the facing portion (those arranged on the same line are counted as one) is as follows:
Two wires that combine the outgoing and return wires into one (these will be the transverse ends of the coil unit)
+ (total number of coil sides/2-1) (this will be the power supply side cross side of the coil unit)
= (total number of coil sides/2 + 1)

Preferably, two conductors CN1 form a twisted wire, and two conductors CN2 form a twisted wire. In other words, of the two conductors CN1 and two conductors CN2, it is desirable to make the two conductors that form a pair of return currents into twisted wires. This makes it possible to reduce the impedance in the non-facing portion on the power supply side, and also to reduce the magnetic field leaking from the power supply line.

To minimize losses, it is necessary to level out the current flowing through each side (each conductor) where the power supply line is formed in the non-facing part on the power supply side. However, for two conductors that are in phase when they become the non-facing part on the power supply side, it is preferable to short-circuit the conductors that do not need to be disconnected when they become the facing part by the crossing side. This makes it possible to level out the current flowing through each side (each conductor) and reduce the number of switches used.

At the boundary between two sections, there are switches that switch twice and switches that switch only once during a series of changes that change in the order of no current (non-opposing part on the terminal side), loop coil formation (opposing part), and power supply line formation (non-opposing part on the power supply side). That is, during a series of changes, there is a pair formed by two switches, one of which needs to be switched twice and the other once, and the number of times of switching can be assigned arbitrarily. For such pairs, it is preferable to switch the number of times of switching for each series of changes. This equalizes the number of times each of the two switches that form the pair needs to be switched, so that the period until the replacement life is extended and they can be replaced at the same time, which is efficient. Specifically, when a two-turn rectangular coil is formed, it is sufficient that one of the two switches is neutral and the other is connected when no current is applied, but it is preferable to switch the assignment of whether to be no current or connected for each series of changes.

<Magnetic Field Generated by the Configuration Example of the Non-Contact Power Supply Device of the Embodiment>
Here, in order to demonstrate the validity of the arrangement and connection method of the coil unit in the configuration example of the contactless power supply device of this embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the results of calculating the current density of the current flowing through each conductor of the coil unit and the magnetic flux density generated by the current flowing therethrough will be described.

Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional calculation model of the coil unit. Figure 4 is a graph showing the results of calculations of the current density flowing through each conductor of the coil unit. Figure 5 is a graph showing the results of calculations of the magnetic flux density generated by the current flowing through each conductor of the coil unit.

In the three-dimensional calculation model shown in Figure 3, the coil unit (coil unit UN3) corresponding to the terminal side non-opposing portion among the coil units of the non-contact power supply device shown in Figures 1 and 2 is omitted. Also, in Figure 3, the end on the power source side is written as the power source end, the periphery of the conductor connecting the conductors in the width direction is written as the crossover portion, and the periphery of the boundary between the power source side non-opposing portion and the opposing portion is written as the feeder-coil switching portion. Also, in Figure 4, the conductor connecting the conductors in the width direction is written as the crossover, the power source side non-opposing portion is written as the feeder portion, and the opposing portion is written as the coil portion.

As shown in Figure 4, in the coil section, current flows in the same direction through the two conductors that form one side of the two-turn rectangular coil, while in the feeder section, current flows in opposite directions through the two conductors that form one power supply line, and in the jumper, almost no current flows. Also, as shown in Figure 5, it was found that magnetic flux is formed, i.e., generated, inside the coil unit in the coil section, while no magnetic flux is generated inside the coil unit in the feeder section. Therefore, by switching the connection of the conductors at the boundary between the sections, it was shown that it is possible to use the coil unit as a feeder with low impedance and small leakage magnetic field in the non-facing part on the power supply side, and to use the coil unit as a coil in the facing part.

<First Modification of Contactless Power Supply Device>
Next, a first modified example of the non-contact power supply device of the embodiment will be described. The non-contact power supply device of the first modified example differs from the non-contact power supply device of the embodiment in that a loop coil having an 8-shape is formed by a coil unit. In the following, the non-contact power supply device of the first modified example will be described in terms of parts that differ from the non-contact power supply device of the embodiment, and a description of parts that are the same as those of the non-contact power supply device of the embodiment will be omitted (the same applies to a second modified example of the embodiment described later).

Figures 6 and 7 are circuit diagrams showing a non-contact power supply device of a first modified embodiment. Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the coil unit UN7 in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of a non-contact power supply device of a first modified embodiment. In Figure 8, the direction of the magnetic field generated by coil unit UN7 is indicated by a symbol representing the direction from the back to the front of the paper and a symbol representing the direction from the front to the back of the paper (the same applies to Figure 11 described later).

As shown in Figures 6 to 8, in the non-contact power supply device SD1 of this first modified example, each of the M coil units UN is intended to form a loop coil CL1 having an eight-shaped configuration with 2N turns. Note that Figures 6 to 8 show the case where N is 1.

Each of the M coil units UN has 2N conductors CN1, 2N conductors CN2, 2N conductors CN9, and 2N conductors CN10. In each of the M coil units UN, the 2N conductors CN2 are arranged between the first line LN1 and the second line LN2, which is arranged parallel to the first line LN1 on the opposite side of the second side in the direction DR2 from the first line LN1. The 2N conductors CN9 are arranged between the second line LN2 and the first line LN1, away from the 2N conductors CN1, and each extend in the direction DR1. The 2N conductors CN10 are arranged away from the 2N conductors CN2 and the 2N conductors CN9 on the opposite side of the second side in the direction DR2 from the second line LN2, and each extend in the direction DR1.

Of the 2N conductors CN9 and 2N conductors CN10, N conductors CN9 and N conductors CN10 are defined as 2N conductors CN11, and of the 2N conductors CN9 and 2N conductors CN10, N conductors CN9 and N conductors CN10 other than the 2N conductors CN11 are defined as 2N conductors CN12. When this is done, in each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 switches between a state ST1 in which the 2N conductors CN1, 2N conductors CN2, 2N conductors CN9, and 2N conductors CN10 are connected in series to the power source PS1, and the loop coil CL1 is formed by the 2N conductors CN1, 2N conductors CN2, 2N conductors CN9, and 2N conductors CN10 connected in series to each other, and a state ST2 in which the 2N conductors CN3 and 2N conductors CN11 are connected in parallel to each other, the power supply line FD1 is formed by the 2N conductors CN3 and 2N conductors CN11 connected in parallel to each other, and the 2N conductors CN4 and 2N conductors CN12 are connected in parallel to each other, and the power supply line FD2 is formed by the 2N conductors CN4 and 2N conductors CN12 connected in parallel to each other.

In such a case, by having the power supply coil shaped like an eight and the power collecting coil shaped like an eight, the magnetic field generated by the power supply coil can be concentrated and applied to the power collecting coil, thereby improving the power collection efficiency. Also, compared to a case where a feeder cable is arranged in parallel with the power supply coil, the resistance per unit length of the power supply line can be reduced to 1/(4N). Therefore, according to this first modified example, compared to the embodiment, the loss of the power supply coil can be further reduced and the power transmission efficiency can be further improved, and the feeder cable can be omitted, reducing installation costs.

Preferably, in each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 switches between state ST1, state ST2, and state ST3 in which the 2N conductors CN1, 2N conductors CN2, 2N conductors CN9, and 2N conductors CN10 are not connected in series to the power supply PS1, the 2N conductors CN3 and 2N conductors CN11 are not connected in parallel to the power supply PS1, and the 2N conductors CN4 and 2N conductors CN12 are not connected in parallel to the power supply PS1.

Also consider the case where the collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1 out of the M coil units UN. In this case, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 so that in each of the (M-L) coil units UN3, which are (M-L) coil units UN arranged on the opposite side of the first side in the direction DR1 from coil unit UN1 out of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST3, thereby preventing current from flowing through each of the (M-L) coil units UN3.

This prevents current from flowing through the coil unit in the non-facing end portion, further reducing losses in the power supply coil.

<Configuration Example of a Contactless Power Supply Device According to a First Modification of an Embodiment>
Next, a configuration example of a contactless power supply device according to a first modified example of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 to Fig. 8 will be described. In the configuration example shown in Fig. 6 to Fig. 8, N is 1 in each of the M coil units. That is, the configuration example shown in Fig. 6 to Fig. 8 is an example in which the contactless power supply device according to the first modified example is applied to a case in which each of the M coil units has six switches and a loop coil having a two-turn figure-of-eight shape is formed, that is, a case in which six switches are used at the boundary between two sections to form a two-turn figure-of-eight coil.

6 to 8, in each of the M coil units UN, the conductor CN1 which is one of the two conductors CN1 and one of the two conductors CN3 is designated as conductor CN13, and the conductor CN1 which is one of the two conductors CN1 and one of the two conductors CN4 is designated as conductor CN14. In each of the M coil units UN, the conductor CN2 which is one of the two conductors CN2 and one of the two conductors CN3 is designated as conductor CN15, and the conductor CN2 which is one of the two conductors CN2 and one of the two conductors CN4 is designated as conductor CN16. In this way, the conductors CN15 and CN16 are arranged between the first line LN1 and the second line LN2, which is arranged parallel to the first line LN1 on the side opposite the second side in the direction DR2 from the first line LN1.

Each of the M coil units UN has conductors CN17 to CN20. The conductors CN17 and CN18 are disposed between the second line LN2 and the first line LN1, away from the conductors CN13 and CN14, and extend in the direction DR1, respectively. The conductors CN19 and CN20 are disposed on the opposite side of the second side in the direction DR2 from the second line LN2, away from the conductors CN15, CN16, CN17, and CN18, and extend in the direction DR1, respectively. In addition, conductor CN17 is conductor CN9 and conductor CN11, conductor CN18 is conductor CN9 and conductor CN12, conductor CN19 is conductor CN10 and conductor CN11, and conductor CN20 is conductor CN10 and conductor CN12.

The end EP11 of the conductor CN13 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP12 of the conductor CN15 opposite the first side in the direction DR1, and the end EP13 of the conductor CN14 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP14 of the conductor CN16 opposite the first side in the direction DR1. The end EP15 of the conductor CN15 on the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP16 of the conductor CN19 on the first side in the direction DR1, and the end EP17 of the conductor CN16 on the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP18 of the conductor CN20 on the first side in the direction DR1. In addition, the end EP19 of the conductor CN17 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP20 of the conductor CN19 opposite the first side in the direction DR1, and the end EP21 of the conductor CN18 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP22 of the conductor CN20 opposite the first side in the direction DR1.

In each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 includes a connection conductor CC2 and switches SW3 to SW8. The connection conductor CC2 is for connecting the end EP23 of the conductor CN14 on the first side in the direction DR1 to the end EP24 of the conductor CN17 on the first side in the direction DR1. The switch SW3 switches the connection between the end EP23 of the conductor CN14 and the connection conductor CC2. The switch SW4 switches the connection between the end EP24 of the conductor CN17 and the connection conductor CC2. The switch SW5 switches the connection between the end EP12 of the conductor CN15 and the end EP19 of the conductor CN17. The switch SW6 switches the connection between the end EP14 of the conductor CN16 and the end EP21 of the conductor CN18. Switch SW7 switches the connection destination of end EP16 of conductor CN19. Switch SW8 switches the connection destination of end EP18 of conductor CN20.

The M conductors CN13 each of the M coil units UN are connected in series to each other across the M coil units UN, and the M conductors CN18 each of the M coil units UN are connected in series to each other across the M coil units UN.

Of the M coil units UN, the coil unit UN arranged at the coil unit group end GE1 of the coil unit group UG is defined as the end coil unit EU2. In this way, the conductor CN13 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1, and the conductor CN18 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

Of the M coil units UN, the Jth (J is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to M-1) coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1 is coil unit UN7, the (J-1)th coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1 is coil unit UN8, and the (J+1)th coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1 is coil unit UN9. When this is done, the switch SW3 of the coil unit UN7 switches between a state ST15 in which the end EP23 of the conductor CN14 of the coil unit UN7 is connected to the connection conductor CC2 of the coil unit UN7, a state ST16 in which the end EP23 of the conductor CN14 of the coil unit UN7 is connected to the end EP13 of the conductor CN14 of the coil unit UN8, and a state ST17 in which the end EP23 of the conductor CN14 of the coil unit UN7 is disconnected from both the connection conductor CC2 of the coil unit UN7 and the end EP13 of the conductor CN14 of the coil unit UN8.

The switch SW4 of the coil unit UN7 switches between a state ST18 in which the end EP24 of the conductor CN17 of the coil unit UN7 is connected to the connection conductor CC2 of the coil unit UN7, a state ST19 in which the end EP24 of the conductor CN17 of the coil unit UN7 is connected to the end EP19 of the conductor CN17 of the coil unit UN8, and a state ST20 in which the end EP24 of the conductor CN17 of the coil unit UN7 is disconnected from both the connection conductor CC2 of the coil unit UN7 and the end EP19 of the conductor CN17 of the coil unit UN8.

The switch SW5 of the coil unit UN7 switches between a state ST21 in which the end EP12 of the conductor CN15 of the coil unit UN7 is connected to the end EP19 of the conductor CN17 of the coil unit UN7, a state ST22 in which the end EP12 of the conductor CN15 of the coil unit UN7 is connected to the end EP15 of the conductor CN15 of the coil unit UN9, and a state ST23 in which the end EP12 of the conductor CN15 of the coil unit UN7 is disconnected from both the end EP19 of the conductor CN17 of the coil unit UN7 and the end EP15 of the conductor CN15 of the coil unit UN9.

The switch SW6 of the coil unit UN7 switches between a state ST24 in which the end EP14 of the conductor CN16 of the coil unit UN7 is connected to the end EP21 of the conductor CN18 of the coil unit UN7, a state ST25 in which the end EP14 of the conductor CN16 of the coil unit UN7 is connected to the end EP17 of the conductor CN16 of the coil unit UN9, and a state ST26 in which the end EP14 of the conductor CN16 of the coil unit UN7 is disconnected from both the end EP21 of the conductor CN18 of the coil unit UN7 and the end EP17 of the conductor CN16 of the coil unit UN9.

The switch SW7 of the coil unit UN7 switches between a state ST27 in which the end EP16 of the conductor CN19 of the coil unit UN7 is connected to the end EP20 of the conductor CN19 of the coil unit UN8, and a state ST28 in which the end EP16 of the conductor CN19 of the coil unit UN7 is disconnected from the end EP20 of the conductor CN19 of the coil unit UN8.

The switch SW8 of the coil unit UN7 switches between a state ST29 in which the end EP18 of the conductor CN20 of the coil unit UN7 is connected to the end EP22 of the conductor CN20 of the coil unit UN8, and a state ST30 in which the end EP18 of the conductor CN20 of the coil unit UN7 is disconnected from the end EP22 of the conductor CN20 of the coil unit UN8.

Of the M coil units UN, the second coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1 is defined as coil unit UN10. In this manner, the switch SW3 of the end coil unit EU2 switches between a state ST31 in which the end EP23 of the conductor CN14 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the connection conductor CC2 of the end coil unit EU2, and a state ST32 in which the end EP23 of the conductor CN14 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

The switch SW4 of the end coil unit EU2 switches between a state ST33 in which the end EP24 of the conductor CN17 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the connecting conductor CC2 of the end coil unit EU2, and a state ST34 in which the end EP24 of the conductor CN17 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1.

The switch SW5 of the end coil unit EU2 switches between a state ST35 in which the end EP12 of the conductor CN15 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the end EP19 of the conductor CN17 of the end coil unit EU2, a state ST36 in which the end EP12 of the conductor CN15 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the end EP15 of the conductor CN15 of the coil unit UN10, and a state ST37 (see FIG. 7) in which the end EP12 of the conductor CN15 of the end coil unit EU2 is disconnected from both the end EP19 of the conductor CN17 of the end coil unit EU2 and the end EP15 of the conductor CN15 of the coil unit UN10.

The switch SW6 of the end coil unit EU2 switches between a state ST38 in which the end EP14 of the conductor CN16 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the end EP21 of the conductor CN18 of the end coil unit EU2, a state ST39 in which the end EP14 of the conductor CN16 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the end EP17 of the conductor CN16 of the coil unit UN10, and a state ST40 (see FIG. 7) in which the end EP14 of the conductor CN16 of the end coil unit EU2 is disconnected from both the end EP21 of the conductor CN18 of the end coil unit EU2 and the end EP17 of the conductor CN16 of the coil unit UN10.

The switch SW7 of the end coil unit EU2 switches between a state ST41 in which the end EP16 of the conductor CN19 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1, and a state ST42 in which the end EP16 of the conductor CN19 of the end coil unit EU2 is disconnected from the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1.

The switch SW8 of the end coil unit EU2 switches between a state ST43 in which the end EP18 of the conductor CN20 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1, and a state ST44 in which the end EP18 of the conductor CN20 of the end coil unit EU2 is disconnected from the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

Consider a case where the collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1, which is one of the M coil units UN and serves as coil unit UN7. In this case, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 so that, in coil unit UN1, which serves as coil unit UN7, the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST1, the switch SW3 is switched to state ST15, the switch SW4 is switched to state ST18, the switch SW5 is switched to state ST23, the switch SW6 is switched to state ST26, the switch SW7 is switched to state ST28, and the switch SW8 is switched to state ST30, thereby forming a loop coil CL1.

In addition, when the current collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 switches the connection switching unit SU1 to state ST2, switches the switch SW3 to state ST16, switches the switch SW4 to state ST19, and switches the switch SW5 to state ST18 in the coil unit UN2 that is the (L-1)-th coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1 among the (L-1) coil units UN2 as the (L-1) coil units UN7. The operation of the connection switching unit SU1 is controlled so that switch SW5 is switched to state ST21, switch SW6 is switched to state ST24, switch SW7 is switched to state ST27, and switch SW8 is switched to state ST29, so that a power feed line FD1 is formed by conductors CN13, CN15, CN17, and CN19, and a power feed line FD2 is formed by conductors CN14, CN16, CN18, and CN20.

In addition, when the current collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 switches the connection switching unit SU1 to state ST2, switches the switch SW3 to state ST16, and switches the switch SW4 to state ST19 in all of the (L-1) coil units UN2 among the (L-1) coil units UN7, except for the (L-1)-th coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1 and the end coil unit EU2. The operation of the connection switching unit SU1 is controlled so that the power supply line FD1 is formed by the conductors CN13, CN15, CN17, and CN19, and the power supply line FD2 is formed by the conductors CN14, CN16, CN18, and CN20, by switching the switch SW5 to state ST22, the switch SW6 to state ST25, the switch SW7 to state ST27, and the switch SW8 to state ST29.

When the collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 in the end coil unit EU2 so that the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST2, the switch SW3 is switched to state ST32, the switch SW4 is switched to state ST34, the switch SW5 is switched to state ST36, the switch SW6 is switched to state ST39, the switch SW7 is switched to state ST41, and the switch SW8 is switched to state ST43, thereby forming a power supply line FD1 with the conductors CN13, CN15, CN17, and CN19, and forming a power supply line FD2 with the conductors CN14, CN16, CN18, and CN20.

In addition, the end EP15 of the conductor CN15 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1, and the end EP17 of the conductor CN16 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

In such a case, even if N is 1, the coil unit in the non-facing portion on the power source side can function as a power supply line with low impedance, and the coil unit in the facing portion can function as a power supply coil having an eight-shape. This makes it possible to omit the feeder cable and reduce loss in the power supply coil. Furthermore, by having the power supply coil in an eight-shape and the power collecting coil in an eight-shape, the magnetic field generated by the power supply coil can be concentrated and applied to the power collecting coil, thereby improving the power collection efficiency.

Preferably, in each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 switches between state ST1, state ST2, and state ST45 in which the two conductors CN1 and the two conductors CN2 are not connected in series to the power supply PS1, the two conductors CN3 are not connected in parallel to the power supply PS1, and the two conductors CN4 are not connected in parallel to the power supply PS1.

Furthermore, consider a case where, among the M coil units UN, the coil unit UN arranged at the coil unit group end GE2 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 of the coil unit group UG is defined as end coil unit EU3, and the collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1, which is coil unit UN7, among the M coil units UN. In such a case, in coil unit UN11, which is one of the M coil units UN and is located on the opposite side of the first side in direction DR1 from coil unit UN1, and is not an end coil unit EU3 but is a coil unit UN as coil unit UN7, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 so that no current flows through coil unit UN11 by switching the connection switching unit SU1 to state ST45, switching the switch SW3 to state ST17 or switching the switch SW4 to state ST20, switching the switch SW5 to state ST23, switching the switch SW6 to state ST26, switching the switch SW7 to state ST28, and switching the switch SW8 to state ST30.

In such a case, even if N is 1, specifically, no current flows through the coil unit in the non-facing end portion. This can further reduce the loss in the power supply coil.

As described above, this first modified example is an example of a contactless power supply device applied when N is 1, that is, when six switches are used at the boundary between two sections to form a two-turn figure-of-eight coil. Furthermore, in this first modified example, the resistance per unit length of the power supply line can be reduced to one-quarter compared to when a feeder cable is arranged in parallel with the power supply coil.

On the other hand, when 8N-2 switches are used at the boundary between two sections to form a figure-of-eight coil of 2N turns, the resistance per unit length of the power feeder can be reduced to 1/(4N) compared to when a feeder cable is placed in parallel with the power feeder coil.

Preferably, the non-contact power supply device SD1 of the first modified example further includes an end switch ES1 and an end switch ES2. The end switch ES1 switches between a first end state SE1 in which the end EP15 of the conductor CN15 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power source PS1 and a second end state (not shown) in which the end EP15 of the conductor CN15 of the end coil unit EU2 is disconnected from the terminal TM1 of the power source PS1. The end switch ES2 switches between a third end state SE3 in which the end EP17 of the conductor CN16 of the end coil unit EU2 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power source PS1 and a fourth end state (not shown) in which the end EP17 of the conductor CN16 of the end coil unit EU2 is disconnected from the terminal TM2 of the power source PS1. The control unit CT1 controls the operation of the end switch ES1 and the end switch ES2.

In addition, when the collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the end switch ES1 so that the end switch ES1 is switched to the first end state SE1, and controls the operation of the end switch ES2 so that the end switch ES2 is switched to the third end state SE3.

In such a case, the end EP15 of the conductor CN15 of the end coil unit EU2 can be securely connected to the terminal TM1 of the power source PS1, and the end EP17 of the conductor CN16 of the end coil unit EU2 can be securely connected to the terminal TM2 of the power source PS1.

<Second Modification of Contactless Power Supply Device>
Next, a second modification of the non-contact power supply device of the embodiment will be described. The non-contact power supply device of the second modification is different from the non-contact power supply device of the embodiment in that two rectangular coils connected in series to each other are formed by a coil unit.

Figures 9 and 10 are circuit diagrams showing a non-contact power supply device according to a second modified example of the embodiment. Figure 10 shows an enlarged view of the coil unit UN12 and its vicinity in Figure 9. Figure 11 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of the non-contact power supply device according to the second modified example of the embodiment.

As shown in Figures 9 to 11, in the non-contact power supply device SD1 of the second modified example, each of the M coil units UN is intended to form a 2N-turn loop coil CL1 and a 2N-turn loop coil CL2 that is connected in series with the loop coil CL1 and wound in the opposite direction to the winding direction of the loop coil CL1. Also, each of the M coil units UN is intended to form a loop coil CL3 having an 8 shape using the loop coils CL1 and CL2. Note that Figures 9 to 11 show the case where N is 1.

Each of the M coil units UN has 2N conductors CN1, 2N conductors CN2, 2N conductors CN21, and 2N conductors CN22. In each of the M coil units UN, the 2N conductors CN2 are arranged between the first line LN1 and a third line LN3 arranged parallel to the first line LN1 on the opposite side of the second side in the direction DR2 from the first line LN1. The 2N conductors CN21 are arranged between the third line LN3 and the first line LN1, away from the 2N conductors CN1, and each extend in the direction DR1. The 2N conductors CN22 are arranged away from the 2N conductors CN2 and the 2N conductors CN21 on the opposite side of the second side in the direction DR2 from the third line LN3, and each extend in the direction DR1.

Of the 2N conductors CN21 and 2N conductors CN22, the N conductors CN21 and N conductors CN22 are defined as 2N conductors CN23, and of the 2N conductors CN21 and 2N conductors CN22, the N conductors CN21 and N conductors CN22 other than the 2N conductors CN23 are defined as 2N conductors CN24. When this is done, in each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 switches the 2N conductors CN1 and 2N conductors CN2 in series with each other, forming a loop coil CL1, and the 2N conductors CN1 and 2N conductors CN2 in series with each other, forming a loop coil CL2, and the 2N conductors CN21 and 2N conductors CN2 in series with each other, forming a loop coil CL3, and the 2N conductors CN21 and 2N conductors CN2 in series with each other, forming a loop coil CL4, and the 2N conductors CN21 and 2N conductors CN2 in series with each other, forming a loop coil CL5. The switch switches between state ST1, in which loop coil CL2 is formed by 2, and state ST2, in which 2N conductors CN3 and 2N conductors CN23 are connected in parallel to each other, and a power feeder FD1 is formed by the 2N conductors CN3 and 2N conductors CN23 connected in parallel to each other, and 2N conductors CN4 and 2N conductors CN24 are connected in parallel to each other, and a power feeder FD2 is formed by the 2N conductors CN4 and 2N conductors CN24 connected in parallel to each other.

In such a case, by having the power supply coil shaped like an eight and the power collecting coil shaped like an eight, the magnetic field generated by the power supply coil can be concentrated and applied to the power collecting coil, thereby improving the power collection efficiency. Also, compared to a case where a feeder cable is arranged in parallel with the power supply coil, the resistance per unit length of the power supply line can be reduced to 1/(4N). Therefore, according to the second modified example, compared to the embodiment, the loss of the power supply coil can be further reduced and the power transmission efficiency can be further improved, and the feeder cable can be omitted, reducing installation costs.

Preferably, in each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 switches between state ST1, state ST2, and a third state in which the 2N conductors CN1, 2N conductors CN2, 2N conductors CN21, and 2N conductors CN22 are not connected in series with each other, the 2N conductors CN3 and 2N conductors CN23 are not connected in parallel with each other, and the 2N conductors CN4 and 2N conductors CN24 are not connected in parallel with each other.

Also consider the case where the collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1 out of the M coil units UN. In this case, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 so that in each of the (M-L) coil units UN3, which are (M-L) coil units UN arranged on the opposite side of the first side in the direction DR1 from coil unit UN1 out of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST3, thereby preventing current from flowing through each of the (M-L) coil units UN3.

This prevents current from flowing through the coil unit in the non-facing end portion, further reducing losses in the power supply coil.

<Configuration Example of a Contactless Power Supply Device According to a Second Modification of the Embodiment>
Next, a configuration example of a contactless power supply device according to a second modified example of the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 to Fig. 11 will be described. In the configuration example shown in Fig. 9 to Fig. 11, N is 1 in each of M coil units. That is, the configuration example shown in Fig. 9 to Fig. 11 is an example in which the contactless power supply device according to the second modified example is applied to a case in which each of M coil units has six switches and a loop coil having a two-turn figure-of-eight shape is formed, that is, a case in which six switches are used at the boundary between two sections to form a two-turn figure-of-eight coil.

9 to 11, in each of the M coil units UN, the conductor CN1 which is one of the two conductors CN1 and one of the two conductors CN3 is designated as conductor CN25, and the conductor CN1 which is one of the two conductors CN1 and one of the two conductors CN4 is designated as conductor CN26. In each of the M coil units UN, the conductor CN2 which is one of the two conductors CN2 and one of the two conductors CN3 is designated as conductor CN27, and the conductor CN2 which is one of the two conductors CN2 and one of the two conductors CN4 is designated as conductor CN28. In this way, the conductors CN27 and CN28 are arranged between the first line LN1 and the third line LN3, which is arranged parallel to the first line LN1 on the side opposite the second side in the direction DR2 from the first line LN1.

Each of the M coil units UN has conductors CN29 to CN32. The conductors CN29 and CN30 are disposed between the third line LN3 and the first line LN1, away from the conductors CN25 and CN26, and extend in the direction DR1, respectively. The conductors CN31 and CN32 are disposed on the opposite side of the third line LN3 to the second side in the direction DR2, away from the conductors CN27, CN28, CN29, and CN30, and extend in the direction DR1, respectively. In addition, conductor CN29 is conductor CN21 and conductor CN23, conductor CN30 is conductor CN21 and conductor CN24, conductor CN31 is conductor CN22 and conductor CN23, and conductor CN32 is conductor CN22 and conductor CN24.

The end EP25 of the conductor CN25 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP26 of the conductor CN27 opposite the first side in the direction DR1, and the end EP27 of the conductor CN26 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP28 of the conductor CN28 opposite the first side in the direction DR1. The end EP29 of the conductor CN29 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP30 of the conductor CN31 opposite the first side in the direction DR1, and the end EP31 of the conductor CN30 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 is connected to the end EP32 of the conductor CN32 opposite the first side in the direction DR1.

In each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 includes switches SW9 to SW14. The switch SW9 switches the connection between the end EP33 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the conductor CN26 and the end EP34 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the conductor CN27. The switch SW10 switches the connection between the end EP35 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the conductor CN29 and the end EP36 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the conductor CN32. The switch SW11 switches the connection between the end EP26 of the conductor CN27 and the end EP29 of the conductor CN29. The switch SW12 switches the connection between the end EP28 of the conductor CN28 and the end EP31 of the conductor CN30. The switch SW13 switches the connection between the end EP37 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the conductor CN31 and the end EP38 on the first side in the direction DR1 of the conductor CN28. The switch SW14 switches the connection destination of the end EP36 of the conductor CN32.

The M conductors CN25 of each of the M coil units UN are connected in series to each other across the M coil units UN, and the M conductors CN30 of each of the M coil units UN are connected in series to each other across the M coil units UN.

Of the M coil units UN, the coil unit UN arranged at the coil unit group end GE1 of the coil unit group UG is defined as the end coil unit EU4. In this way, the conductor CN25 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1, and the conductor CN30 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

Of the M coil units UN, the I-th coil unit UN (I is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to M-1) from the coil unit group end GE1 is coil unit UN12, the (I-1)th coil unit from the coil unit group end GE1 is coil unit UN13, and the (I+1)th coil unit from the coil unit group end GE1 is coil unit UN14. When this is done, the switch SW9 of the coil unit UN12 switches between a state ST46 in which the end EP33 of the conductor CN26 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the coil unit UN12, a state ST47 in which the end EP33 of the conductor CN26 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP27 of the conductor CN26 of the coil unit UN13, and a state ST48 in which the end EP33 of the conductor CN26 of the coil unit UN12 is disconnected from both the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the coil unit UN12 and the end EP27 of the conductor CN26 of the coil unit UN13.

The switch SW10 of the coil unit UN12 switches between a state ST49 in which the end EP35 of the conductor CN29 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP36 of the conductor CN32 of the coil unit UN12, a state ST50 in which the end EP35 of the conductor CN29 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP29 of the conductor CN29 of the coil unit UN13, and a state ST51 in which the end EP35 of the conductor CN29 of the coil unit UN12 is disconnected from both the end EP36 of the conductor CN32 of the coil unit UN12 and the end EP29 of the conductor CN29 of the coil unit UN13.

The switch SW11 of the coil unit UN12 switches between a state ST52 in which the end EP26 of the conductor CN27 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP29 of the conductor CN29 of the coil unit UN12, a state ST53 in which the end EP26 of the conductor CN27 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the coil unit UN14, and a state ST54 in which the end EP26 of the conductor CN27 of the coil unit UN12 is disconnected from both the end EP29 of the conductor CN29 of the coil unit UN12 and the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the coil unit UN14.

The switch SW12 of the coil unit UN12 switches between a state ST55 in which the end EP28 of the conductor CN28 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP31 of the conductor CN30 of the coil unit UN12, a state ST56 in which the end EP28 of the conductor CN28 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the coil unit UN14, and a state ST57 in which the end EP28 of the conductor CN28 of the coil unit UN12 is disconnected from both the end EP31 of the conductor CN30 of the coil unit UN12 and the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the coil unit UN14.

The switch SW13 of the coil unit UN12 switches between a state ST58 in which the end EP37 of the conductor CN31 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the coil unit UN12, a state ST59 in which the end EP37 of the conductor CN31 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP30 of the conductor CN31 of the coil unit UN13, and a state ST60 in which the end EP37 of the conductor CN31 of the coil unit UN12 is disconnected from both the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the coil unit UN12 and the end EP30 of the conductor CN31 of the coil unit UN13.

The switch SW14 of the coil unit UN12 switches between a state ST61 in which the end EP36 of the conductor CN32 of the coil unit UN12 is connected to the end EP32 of the conductor CN32 of the coil unit UN13, and a state ST62 in which the end EP36 of the conductor CN32 of the coil unit UN12 is disconnected from the end EP32 of the conductor CN32 of the coil unit UN13.

Of the M coil units UN, the second coil unit from the coil unit group end GE1 is coil unit UN15. When this is done, the switch SW9 of the end coil unit EU4 switches between a state ST63 in which the end EP33 of the conductor CN26 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the end coil unit EU4, and a state ST64 in which the end EP33 of the conductor CN26 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

The switch SW10 of the end coil unit EU4 switches between a state ST65 in which the end EP35 of the conductor CN29 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the end EP36 of the conductor CN32 of the end coil unit EU4, and a state ST66 in which the end EP35 of the conductor CN29 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1.

The switch SW11 of the end coil unit EU4 switches between a state ST67 in which the end EP26 of the conductor CN27 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the end EP29 of the conductor CN29 of the end coil unit EU4, a state ST68 in which the end EP26 of the conductor CN27 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the coil unit UN15, and a state ST69 (see FIG. 10) in which the end EP26 of the conductor CN27 of the end coil unit EU4 is disconnected from both the end EP29 of the conductor CN29 of the end coil unit EU4 and the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the coil unit UN15.

The switch SW12 of the end coil unit EU4 switches between a state ST70 in which the end EP28 of the conductor CN28 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the end EP31 of the conductor CN30 of the end coil unit EU4, a state ST71 in which the end EP28 of the conductor CN28 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the coil unit UN15, and a state ST72 (see FIG. 10) in which the end EP28 of the conductor CN28 of the end coil unit EU4 is disconnected from both the end EP31 of the conductor CN30 of the end coil unit EU4 and the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the coil unit UN15.

The switch SW13 of the end coil unit EU4 switches between a state ST73 in which the end EP37 of the conductor CN31 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the end coil unit EU4, and a state ST74 in which the end EP37 of the conductor CN31 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1.

The switch SW14 of the end coil unit EU4 switches between a state ST75 in which the end EP36 of the conductor CN32 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1 and a state ST76 (see FIG. 10) in which the end EP36 of the conductor CN32 of the end coil unit EU4 is disconnected from the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

Consider the case where the collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1, which is one of the M coil units UN and serves as coil unit UN12. In this case, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 so that, in coil unit UN1 serving as coil unit UN12, the connection switching unit SU1 is switched to state ST1, the switch SW9 is switched to state ST46, the switch SW10 is switched to state ST49, the switch SW11 is switched to state ST54, the switch SW12 is switched to state ST57, the switch SW13 is switched to state ST58, and the switch SW14 is switched to state ST62, thereby forming loop coils CL1 and CL2.

In addition, when the current collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 switches the connection switching unit SU1 to state ST2, switches the switch SW9 to state ST47, switches the switch SW10 to state ST50, and switches the switch SW1 to state ST51 in the coil unit UN2 that is the (L-1)-th coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1 out of the (L-1) coil units UN2 that are the (L-1) coil units UN12. The operation of the connection switching unit SU1 is controlled so that switch SW11 is switched to state ST52, switch SW12 is switched to state ST55, switch SW13 is switched to state ST59, and switch SW14 is switched to state ST61, so that the power supply line FD1 is formed by the conductors CN25, CN27, CN29, and CN31, and the power supply line FD2 is formed by the conductors CN26, CN28, CN30, and CN32.

In addition, when the collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 switches the connection switching unit SU1 to state ST2, switches the switch SW9 to state ST47, and switches the switch SW10 to state ST50 in all of the (L-1) coil units UN2 among the (L-1) coil units UN12, except for the (L-1)-th coil unit UN from the coil unit group end GE1 and the end coil unit EU4. The operation of the connection switching unit SU1 is controlled so that the power supply line FD1 is formed by the conductors CN25, CN27, CN29, and CN31, the power supply line FD2 is formed by the conductors CN26, CN28, CN30, and CN32, and the power supply line FD2 is formed by the conductors CN26, CN28, CN30, and CN32, by switching the switch SW11 to state ST53, the switch SW12 to state ST56, the switch SW13 to state ST59, and the switch SW14 to state ST61.

When the collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 so that in the end coil unit EU4, the switch SW9 is switched to state ST64, the switch SW10 is switched to state ST66, the switch SW11 is switched to state ST68, the switch SW12 is switched to state ST71, the switch SW13 is switched to state ST74, and the switch SW14 is switched to state ST75, thereby forming a power supply line FD1 with the conductors CN25, CN27, CN29, and CN31, and forming a power supply line FD2 with the conductors CN26, CN28, CN30, and CN32.

In addition, the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power supply PS1, and the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power supply PS1.

In such a case, even if N is 1, the coil unit in the non-facing portion on the power source side can function as a power supply line with low impedance, and the coil unit in the facing portion can function as a power supply coil having an eight-shape. This makes it possible to omit the feeder cable and reduce loss in the power supply coil. Furthermore, by having the power supply coil in an eight-shape and the power collecting coil in an eight-shape, the magnetic field generated by the power supply coil can be concentrated and applied to the power collecting coil, thereby improving the power collection efficiency.

Preferably, in each of the M coil units UN, the connection switching unit SU1 switches between state ST1, state ST2, and state ST77 in which the two conductors CN1 and the two conductors CN2 are not connected in series to the power supply PS1, the two conductors CN3 are not connected in parallel to the power supply PS1, and the two conductors CN4 are not connected in parallel to the power supply PS1.

Furthermore, consider a case where, among the M coil units UN, the coil unit UN arranged at the coil unit group end GE3 opposite the first side in the direction DR1 of the coil unit group UG is defined as end coil unit EU5, and the collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1, which is coil unit UN12, among the M coil units UN. In such a case, in coil unit UN16, which is one of the M coil units UN and is located on the opposite side of the first side in direction DR1 from coil unit UN1, and is not an end coil unit EU5 but is a coil unit UN as coil unit UN12, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the connection switching unit SU1 so that no current flows through coil unit UN16 by switching the connection switching unit SU1 to state ST77, switching the switch SW9 to state ST48 or switching the switch SW10 to state ST51 or switching the switch SW13 to state ST60, switching the switch SW11 to state ST54, switching the switch SW12 to state ST57, and switching the switch SW14 to state ST62.

In such a case, even if N is 1, specifically, no current flows through the coil unit in the non-facing end portion. This can further reduce the loss in the power supply coil.

As described above, the second modified example is an example of a contactless power supply device applied to a case where N is 1, that is, where six switches are used at the boundary between two sections to form a two-turn figure-of-eight coil, similar to the contactless power supply device of the first modified example of the embodiment. Also, in the second modified example, the resistance per unit length of the power supply line can be reduced to one-quarter compared to the case where a feeder cable is arranged in parallel with the power supply coil, similar to the first modified example of the embodiment.

On the other hand, when 8N-2 switches are used at the boundary between two sections to form a figure-of-eight coil of 2N turns, the resistance per unit length of the power feed line can be reduced to 1/(4N) compared to when a feeder cable is placed in parallel with the power feed coil, as in the first modified example of the embodiment.

Preferably, the non-contact power supply device SD1 of the second modified example further includes an end switch ES3 and an end switch ES4. The end switch ES3 switches between a fifth end state SE5 in which the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the terminal TM1 of the power source PS1 and a sixth end state (not shown) in which the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the end coil unit EU4 is disconnected from the terminal TM1 of the power source PS1. The end switch ES4 switches between a seventh end state SE7 in which the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the end coil unit EU4 is connected to the terminal TM2 of the power source PS1 and an eighth end state (not shown) in which the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the end coil unit EU4 is disconnected from the terminal TM2 of the power source PS1. The control unit CT1 controls the operation of the end switch ES3 and the end switch ES4.

In addition, when the collecting coil RC1 faces the coil unit UN1, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the end switch ES3 so that the end switch ES3 is switched to the fifth end state SE5, and controls the operation of the end switch ES4 so that the end switch ES4 is switched to the seventh end state SE7.

In such a case, the end EP34 of the conductor CN27 of the end coil unit EU4 can be connected to the terminal TM1 of the power source PS1, and the end EP38 of the conductor CN28 of the end coil unit EU4 can be connected to the terminal TM2 of the power source PS1.

Although illustrations and detailed description are omitted, instead of the first and second modified examples of the embodiment, in the embodiment, for example, a figure-of-eight coil can be formed by two adjacent coil units. In such a case, the resistance per unit length of the power feed line can only be reduced to 1/(2N) compared to when a feeder cable is arranged in parallel with the power feed coil. However, the minimum number of switches is the total number of coil sides minus 2 (the total number of conductors CN1 and CN2 minus 2), as in the embodiment, so it is possible to reduce the minimum number of switches compared to the first and second modified examples of the embodiment.

<Third Modification of Contactless Power Supply Device>
Next, a third modification of the contactless power supply device of the embodiment will be described. The contactless power supply device of the third modification is different from the contactless power supply device of the embodiment in that the number of turns of the loop coil is larger in the coil unit disposed closer to the power source.

Figure 12 is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent circuit of a contactless power supply device of a third modified example of an embodiment. In Figure 12, the number of conductors connected in parallel in the power supply side non-facing part is represented by the thickness of the power supply line, and the larger the number of conductors, the thicker the power supply line is represented.

As shown in Figure 12, in this third modified example, the number of turns of the loop coil CL1 formed by each of the M coil units UN is larger for the coil unit UN located closer to the coil unit group end GE1 among the M coil units UN. That is, the value of N in each of the M coil units UN is different, and the value of N in each of the M coil units UN is larger for the coil unit UN located closer to the coil unit group end GE1 among the M coil units UN. Also, when the collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1 among the M coil units UN, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the power source PS1 so that the power source PS1 passes current through the coil unit UN1. In addition, when the collecting coil RC1 faces coil unit UN1 of the M coil units UN, the control unit CT1 controls the operation of the power supply PS1 so that the amount of current flowing through coil unit UN1 decreases as the number of turns of the coil unit UN1 facing the collecting coil RC1 increases.

In the non-contact power supply device of the embodiment, the greater the number of conductors connected in parallel in the non-facing part on the power source side is set as large as possible, the greater the effect of reducing losses in the feeder (non-facing part on the power source side). In other words, by setting the number of turns from the perspective of leveling out the amount of heat generated by the current flowing through each side (each conductor) on which the power supply line is formed in the non-facing part on the power source side, the amount of conductor used can be reduced.

For example, the section (coil unit) closer to the power source has a longer current flow time, so the number of turns is increased and the resistance is reduced. Also, to ensure equal power supply performance (generated magnetic field) in each section (coil unit), the amount of current passing through the coil unit is changed depending on the coil unit (wired section) facing the current collecting coil (current is passed inversely proportional to the number of turns).

The total number of sections is n, and the moving speed v of the moving body is constant. In addition, in the k-th section (coil unit) from the power supply end, the number of turns in the section (coil unit) is _tk , and the section length (coil unit length) is _Lk . In this case, the total heat generation amount _Wk in the k-th section (coil unit) from the power supply end is expressed by the following formula (1).

Here, the first term on the right side of the above formula (1) represents the amount of heat generated when functioning as a feeder, and the second term on the right side of the above formula (1) represents the amount of heat generated when functioning as a coil. If t _k and L _k are determined so that this is constant for each k, the most efficient conductor arrangement will be obtained in terms of coil thermal design. For example, if the second term on the right side of the above formula (1) is ignored, that is, if the time during which the coil functions as a feeder is dominant, then both t _k and L _k should be made proportional to n-k.

The non-contact power supply device of this third modified example can be applied not only to the non-contact power supply device of the embodiment in which a rectangular coil is formed in the coil unit, but also to the non-contact power supply devices of the first and second modified examples in which a figure-of-eight coil is formed in the coil unit.

The invention made by the inventor has been specifically described above based on the embodiment thereof, but it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the invention.

A person skilled in the art may conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the concept of this invention, and it is understood that these modifications and alterations also fall within the scope of this invention.

For example, any embodiment described above in which a person skilled in the art has appropriately added or removed components or modified the design, or added or omitted steps or changed conditions, is also included within the scope of the present invention as long as it satisfies the essence of the present invention.

The present invention is effective when applied to a non-contact power supply device that supplies power non-contactly between a current collecting coil installed on a vehicle traveling on a track.

CC1, CC2 Connection conductors CL1 to CL3 Loop coils CN1, CN10 to CN19, CN2, CN20 to CN29 Conductors CN3, CN30 to CN32, CN4 to CN9 Conductor CT1 Control units DR1, DR2 Directions EP1, EP10 to EP19, EP2, EP20 to EP29 Ends EP3, EP30 to EP38, EP4 to EP9 Ends ES1 to ES4 End switches EU1 to EU5 End coil units FD1, FD2 Power supply lines FG1, FG2 Power supply line group GE1 to GE3 Coil unit group end LN1 First line LN2 Second line LN3 Third line PS1 Power source R1 Rail RC1 Collector coil SD1 Non-contact power supply device SP1 Power supply ST1, ST10 to ST19, ST2, ST20 to ST29 State ST3, ST30 to ST39, ST4, ST40 to ST49 State ST5, ST50 to ST59, ST6, ST60 to ST69 State ST7, ST70 to ST77, ST8, ST9 State SU1 Connection switching units SW1, SW10 to SW14, SW2 to SW9 Switches TM1 to TM4 Terminal TR1 Track UG Coil unit group UN, UN1, UN10 to UN16, UN2 to UN9 Coil unit VC1 Vehicle

Claims (10)

A non-contact power supply device that performs non-contact power supply between a current collecting coil provided on a vehicle running on a track,
M coil units (M is an integer of 5 or more) are arranged in a first direction along the track and each of the M coil units forms a first loop coil of 2N turns (N is an integer of 1 or more) that can face the current collecting coil;
a power source connected to a first coil unit group end portion on a first side in the first direction of the coil unit group consisting of the M coil units, and configured to pass a current through any one of the M coil units;
Equipped with
Each of the M coil units is
2N first conducting wires each extending in the first direction, the first conducting wires being disposed on a second side in a second direction intersecting the first direction with respect to a first line extending in the first direction;
2N second conducting wires that are disposed away from the 2N first conducting wires on a side opposite to the second side in the second direction from the first wires and that extend in the first direction;
a connection switching unit that switches connections between the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires;
having
The power source includes:
A first terminal;
a second terminal opposite the first terminal;
having
In each of the M coil units,
The connection switching unit is
a first state in which the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires are connected in series to each other, and the first loop coil is formed by the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires connected in series to each other;
a second state in which, when N first conducting wires and N second conducting wires of the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires are defined as 2N third conducting wires, and N first conducting wires and N second conducting wires of the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires other than the 2N third conducting wires are defined as 2N fourth conducting wires, the 2N third conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other, forming a first power supply line by the 2N third conducting wires connected in parallel to each other, and the 2N fourth conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other, forming a second power supply line;
Switch between
The non-contact power supply device further includes a control unit that controls operations of the M connection switching units included in each of the M coil units,
When the current collecting coil faces a first coil unit, which is an L-th coil unit (L is an integer not less than 3 and not more than M-2) from the end of the first coil unit group among the M coil units,
The control unit is
controlling an operation of the connection switching unit in the first coil unit such that the first loop coil is formed by switching the connection switching unit to the first state;
In each of (L-1) second coil units, which are (L-1) coil units arranged on the first side in the first direction relative to the first coil unit among the M coil units, the operation of the connection switching unit is controlled so that the first power supply line and the second power supply line are formed by switching the connection switching unit to the second state;
the (L-1) first power supply lines formed in each of the (L-1) second coil units are connected in series to each other across the (L-1) second coil units;
the (L-1) second power supply lines formed in each of the (L-1) second coil units are connected in series to each other across the (L-1) second coil units;
a first end portion on the first side in the first direction of a first power supply line group including the (L-1) first power supply lines connected in series to each other is connected to the first terminal of the power supply;
a second end portion on the first side in the first direction of a second power supply line group including the (L-1) second power supply lines connected in series with each other is connected to the second terminal of the power supply;
a third end portion of the first power supply line group opposite to the first side in the first direction is connected to a third terminal of the first loop coil formed by the first coil unit,
a fourth end portion of the second power supply wire group opposite the first side in the first direction is connected to a fourth terminal of the first loop coil formed by the first coil unit opposite the third terminal. The non-contact power supply device according to claim 1,
In each of the M coil units,
The connection switching unit is
the first state;
the second state; and
a third state in which the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires are not connected in series with each other, the 2N third conducting wires are not connected in parallel with each other, and the 2N fourth conducting wires are not connected in parallel with each other;
Switch between
When the collecting coil faces the first coil unit among the M coil units,
The control unit is
A contactless power supply device in which, in each of (M-L) third coil units, which are (M-L) coil units among the M coil units and are arranged on the opposite side to the first side in the first direction from the first coil unit, the connection switching unit is switched to the third state, thereby controlling the operation of the connection switching unit so that no current flows through each of the (M-L) third coil units. The non-contact power supply device according to claim 1,
In each of the M coil units, N is 1;
In each of the M coil units,
a first conducting wire that is one of the two first conducting wires and one of the two third conducting wires is a fifth conducting wire;
a first conducting wire that is one of the two first conducting wires and one of the two fourth conducting wires is a sixth conducting wire;
a second conducting wire that is one of the two second conducting wires and one of the two third conducting wires is a seventh conducting wire;
When a second conductor that is one of the two second conductors and one of the two fourth conductors is an eighth conductor,
a fifth end of the fifth conducting wire opposite the first side in the first direction is connected to a sixth end of the seventh conducting wire opposite the first side in the first direction;
a seventh end of the sixth conducting wire opposite the first side in the first direction is connected to an eighth end of the eighth conducting wire opposite the first side in the first direction;
The connection switching unit is
a first connection wire for connecting a ninth end of the sixth conducting wire on the first side in the first direction and a tenth end of the seventh conducting wire on the first side in the first direction;
a first switch that switches a connection between the ninth end of the sixth conducting wire and the first connecting conducting wire;
a second switch that switches a connection between the tenth end of the seventh conducting wire and the first connecting wire;
Including,
the M fifth conducting wires included in each of the M coil units are connected in series to each other across the M coil units,
the M eighth conducting wires of each of the M coil units are connected in series to each other across the M coil units,
When the coil unit arranged at the end of the first coil unit group of the coil unit group among the M coil units is defined as a first end coil unit,
the fifth conducting wire of the first end coil unit is connected to the first terminal of the power source;
the eighth conducting wire of the first end coil unit is connected to the second terminal of the power source;
Among the M coil units, when the K-th coil unit (K is an integer between 2 and M) from the end of the first coil unit group is defined as a fourth coil unit, and the (K-1)-th coil unit from the end of the first coil unit group is defined as a fifth coil unit,
The first switch of the fourth coil unit is
a fourth state in which the ninth end of the sixth conducting wire of the fourth coil unit is connected to the first connecting conducting wire of the fourth coil unit;
a fifth state in which the ninth end of the sixth conducting wire of the fourth coil unit is connected to the seventh end of the sixth conducting wire of the fifth coil unit;
a sixth state in which the ninth end of the sixth conducting wire of the fourth coil unit is disconnected from both the first connecting conducting wire of the fourth coil unit and the seventh end of the sixth conducting wire of the fifth coil unit;
Switch between
The second switch of the fourth coil unit is
a seventh state in which the tenth end of the seventh conducting wire of the fourth coil unit is connected to the first connecting conducting wire of the fourth coil unit;
an eighth state in which the tenth end of the seventh conducting wire of the fourth coil unit is connected to the sixth end of the seventh conducting wire of the fifth coil unit;
a ninth state in which the tenth end of the seventh conducting wire of the fourth coil unit is disconnected from both the first connecting conducting wire of the fourth coil unit and the sixth end of the seventh conducting wire of the fifth coil unit;
Switch between
The first switch of the first end coil unit is
a tenth state in which the ninth end of the sixth conducting wire of the first end coil unit is connected to the first connecting conducting wire of the first end coil unit;
an eleventh state in which the ninth end of the sixth conducting wire of the first end coil unit is connected to the second terminal of the power source;
Switch between
The second switch of the first end coil unit is
a twelfth state in which the tenth end of the seventh conducting wire of the first end coil unit is connected to the first connecting conducting wire of the first end coil unit;
a thirteenth state in which the tenth end of the seventh conducting wire of the first end coil unit is connected to the first terminal of the power source;
Switch between
When the current collecting coil faces the first coil unit as the fourth coil unit among the M coil units,
The control unit is
controlling an operation of the connection switching unit so that, in the first coil unit as the fourth coil unit, the connection switching unit is switched to the first state, the first switch is switched to the fourth state, and the second switch is switched to the seventh state, thereby forming the first loop coil;
in any of the second coil units excluding the first end coil unit among the (L-1) second coil units serving as the (L-1) fourth coil units, the operation of the connection switching unit is controlled so that the connection switching unit is switched to the second state, the first switch is switched to the fifth state, and the second switch is switched to the eighth state, thereby forming the first power supply line with the fifth conducting wire and the seventh conducting wire, and forming the second power supply line with the sixth conducting wire and the eighth conducting wire;
a contactless power supply device that controls operation of the connection switching unit so that, in the first end coil unit, the connection switching unit is switched to the second state, the first switch is switched to the eleventh state, and the second switch is switched to the thirteenth state, thereby forming the first power supply line from the fifth conducting wire and the seventh conducting wire, and forming the second power supply line from the sixth conducting wire and the eighth conducting wire. The non-contact power supply device according to claim 3,
In each of the M coil units,
The connection switching unit is
the first state;
the second state; and
a fourteenth state in which the two first conducting wires and the two second conducting wires are not connected in series with each other, the two third conducting wires are not connected in parallel with each other, and the two fourth conducting wires are not connected in parallel with each other;
Switch between
When the current collecting coil faces the first coil unit as the fourth coil unit among the M coil units,
The control unit is
A contactless power supply device in which, in a sixth coil unit which is one of the M coil units and is arranged on the opposite side to the first side in the first direction from the first coil unit and which is the fourth coil unit, the connection switching unit is switched to the fourteenth state, and the first switch is switched to the sixth state or the second switch is switched to the ninth state, thereby controlling the operation of the connection switching unit so that no current flows through the sixth coil unit. The non-contact power supply device according to claim 1,
Each of the M coil units is for forming the first loop coil having an eight-shape of 2N turns,
In each of the M coil units, the 2N second conducting wires are disposed between the first wire and a second wire disposed parallel to the first wire on a side opposite to the second side in the second direction from the first wire,
Each of the M coil units is
2N ninth conducting wires are disposed between the second wire and the first wire, spaced apart from the 2N first conducting wires, and each extending in the first direction;
a tenth conducting wire of 2N numbers, which is disposed away from the 2N second conducting wires and the 2N ninth conducting wires on a side opposite to the second side in the second direction from the second wire, and which extends in the first direction;
having
In each of the M coil units,
The connection switching unit is
a first state in which the 2N first conducting wires, the 2N second conducting wires, the 2N ninth conducting wires, and the 2N tenth conducting wires are connected in series with each other, and the first loop coil is formed by the 2N first conducting wires, the 2N second conducting wires, the 2N ninth conducting wires, and the 2N tenth conducting wires which are connected in series with each other;
a second state in which, when, among the 2N 9th conducting wires and the 2N 10th conducting wires, N 9th conducting wires and N 10th conducting wires are defined as 2N 11th conducting wires, and, among the 2N 9th conducting wires and the 2N 10th conducting wires, N 9th conducting wires and N 10th conducting wires other than the 2N 11th conducting wires are defined as 2N 12th conducting wires, the 2N 3rd conducting wires and the 2N 11th conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other, and the first power supply line is formed by the 2N 3rd conducting wires and the 2N 11th conducting wires connected in parallel to each other, and the 2N 4th conducting wires and the 2N 12th conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other, and the second power supply line is formed by the 2N 4th conducting wires and the 2N 12th conducting wires connected in parallel to each other;
A non-contact power supply device that switches between The non-contact power supply device according to claim 5 ,
In each of the M coil units,
The connection switching unit is
the first state;
the second state; and
a fifteenth state in which the 2N first conducting wires, the 2N second conducting wires, the 2N ninth conducting wires, and the 2N tenth conducting wires are not connected in series with each other, the 2N third conducting wires and the 2N eleventh conducting wires are not connected in parallel with each other, and the 2N fourth conducting wires and the 2N twelfth conducting wires are not connected in parallel with each other;
Switch between
When the collecting coil faces the first coil unit among the M coil units,
The control unit is
A non-contact power supply device in which, in each of (M-L) seventh coil units, which are (M-L) coil units among the M coil units and are arranged on the opposite side to the first side in the first direction from the first coil unit, the connection switching unit is switched to the 15th state, thereby controlling the operation of the connection switching unit so that no current flows through each of the (M-L) seventh coil units. The non-contact power supply device according to claim 1,
Each of the M coil units is for forming the first loop coil and a second loop coil of 2N turns that is connected in series with the first loop coil and wound in a direction opposite to the winding direction of the first loop coil,
In each of the M coil units, the 2N second conducting wires are disposed between the first wire and a third wire that is disposed parallel to the first wire on a side opposite to the second side in the second direction from the first wire,
Each of the M coil units is
2N thirteenth conducting wires are disposed between the third wire and the first wire, spaced apart from the 2N first conducting wires, and each extending in the first direction;
2N 14th conducting wires that are disposed away from the 2N second conducting wires and the 2N 13th conducting wires on a side opposite to the second side in the second direction with respect to the third wire, and that extend in the first direction;
having
In each of the M coil units,
The connection switching unit is
a first state in which the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires are connected in series with each other, the first loop coil is formed by the 2N first conducting wires and the 2N second conducting wires connected in series with each other, and the 2N thirteenth conducting wires and the 2N fourteenth conducting wires are connected in series with each other, and the second loop coil is formed by the 2N thirteenth conducting wires and the 2N fourteenth conducting wires connected in series with each other;
a second state in which, when, among the 2N 13th conducting wires and the 2N 14th conducting wires, N 13th conducting wires and N 14th conducting wires are defined as 2N 15th conducting wires, and, among the 2N 13th conducting wires and the 2N 14th conducting wires, N 13th conducting wires and N 14th conducting wires other than the 2N 15th conducting wires are defined as 2N 16th conducting wires, the 2N 3rd conducting wires and the 2N 15th conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other, and the first power supply line is formed by the 2N 3rd conducting wires and the 2N 15th conducting wires connected in parallel to each other, and the 2N 4th conducting wires and the 2N 16th conducting wires are connected in parallel to each other, and the second power supply line is formed by the 2N 4th conducting wires and the 2N 16th conducting wires connected in parallel to each other;
A non-contact power supply device that switches between The non-contact power supply device according to claim 7,
In each of the M coil units,
The connection switching unit is
the first state;
the second state; and
a sixteenth state in which the 2N first conducting wires, the 2N second conducting wires, the 2N thirteenth conducting wires, and the 2N fourteenth conducting wires are not connected in series with each other, the 2N third conducting wires and the 2N fifteenth conducting wires are not connected in parallel with each other, and the 2N fourth conducting wires and the 2N sixteenth conducting wires are not connected in parallel with each other;
Switch between
When the collecting coil faces the first coil unit among the M coil units,
The control unit is
A non-contact power supply device in which, in each of (M-L) 8th coil units, which are (M-L) coil units among the M coil units and are arranged on the opposite side to the first side in the first direction from the first coil unit, the connection switching unit is switched to the 16th state, thereby controlling the operation of the connection switching unit so that no current flows through each of the (M-L) 8th coil units. The non-contact power supply device according to claim 1, 2, 5 or 6,
the number of turns of the first loop coil formed by each of the M coil units is larger in the coil units arranged closer to an end of the first coil unit group among the M coil units,
the control unit controls an operation of the power source such that, when the current collecting coil faces the first coil unit among the M coil units, the power source passes a current through the first coil unit;
The control unit controls the operation of the power source so that the amount of current flowing through the first coil unit becomes smaller as the number of turns of the first coil unit to which the collecting coil faces becomes larger among the M coil units. The non-contact power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
the vehicle running on the track is a railway vehicle running on a rail provided on the track,
The M coil units are arranged on the track in the first direction along the rail.

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