Inductive power transfer system having inductive sensing array

摘要

A safety system for an inductive power transfer system for inductively supply power to a vehicle, comprises at least one primary winding 7 in a charging surface of a route (e.g. road or railway) for the vehicle. The primary winding generates an electromagnetic primary field for the inductive power transfer. The safety system comprises at least one inductive sensing system comprising multiple detection windings 2 arranged in an array structure 27 where the array structure at least partially covers the charging surface. The multiple detection windings may be connected to an evaluation unit 6 via a connecting means 3 e.g. a de-multiplexing unit. The detection windings may be part of an LC oscillating circuit and a predetermined number of oscillation circuits may be connected parallel to each other. The inductive sensing system may also include excitation windings arranged such that a foreign body located on the charging surface is between the excitation windings and the detection windings. The detection windings may be circular, hexagonal or rectangular shaped. The safety system may comprise a microwave or radar transmitting and receiving device and/or an acoustic sensor.