JP2004229427A - Transportation system using energy - Google Patents

Abstract

An energy-use transportation system for effectively utilizing electric power is provided.
In a traffic system using energy according to the present invention, a microwave generator converts electric energy generated by a renewable energy generator into a radio wave, and a microwave transmission antenna transmits the converted radio wave to the outside. I do. The radio wave transmitted by the microwave transmission antenna 22 is received by the rectenna 12 of the vehicle 10 and the rectenna 32 on the road. The roadside rectenna 32 converts the received radio wave into electric energy and supplies the converted electric energy to the streetlight 34.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technology for controlling energy used in vehicles and roadside facilities, and more particularly, to an energy utilization transportation system that supplies radio waves from roadside facilities to vehicles.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An energy supply system that supplies microwaves to vehicles and other moving objects from energy supply equipment such as microwave transmitters and satellites installed on the ground, and the moving objects convert microwaves into electric power to obtain electrical energy. Research is taking place. As such an energy supply system, there has been proposed a traffic system in which a plurality of microwave transmitters are arranged at appropriate intervals along a traveling path of an automobile (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-4-271201
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the above-described related art, microwaves are transmitted from a microwave transmitting station to a vehicle. However, the microwave receiving antenna of the vehicle cannot collect all the microwaves transmitted from the microwave transmitting station, and some of the microwaves not received by the microwave receiving antenna reduce the energy use efficiency as transmission loss. Can be a factor.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an energy-based transportation system for effectively utilizing electric power.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, an aspect of the present invention provides a transmitting unit that transmits a radio wave to a mobile object, provided within a range of a radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit, Receiving means for receiving the transmitted radio wave, power conversion means for converting the radio wave received by the receiving means into electric energy, and is provided for use by the mobile object or a passenger of the mobile object, And an electric load that operates using electric energy converted by the electric power conversion means. The reach of the radio wave may be determined based on the intensity and direction of the radio wave transmitted by the transmission unit.
[0007]
According to the energy use transportation system of this aspect, among the radio waves transmitted to the mobile object, the uncollected radio waves that the mobile object could not receive are received and collected by the receiving means of the energy use transportation system. Therefore, the recovery rate of the transmitted radio wave is improved, and the energy can be effectively used.
[0008]
The transmitting unit may be installed between a plurality of opposing running paths, and transmit a radio wave to a vehicle as the moving body. The ground located between a plurality of opposing running paths may be, for example, a median strip or a road side strip of a road. In particular, the area around the median strip where there are no pedestrians is suitable as a space for transmitting radio waves. The receiving means may be installed in a direction in which the transmitting means transmits a radio wave between the plurality of opposing running paths. “A plurality of opposing lanes” may be a plurality of roads in which the traveling directions of the vehicles are opposite to each other, and the plurality of roads may be in a relationship of being opposite lanes to each other.
[0009]
A reflector may be provided on the ground to accurately transmit the radio wave to the vehicle, and the installation angle of the reflector may be determined so that the radio wave reflected by the reflector is transmitted toward the vehicle. In this case, the receiving means of the energy use transportation system may be provided in the direction of the radio wave that does not hit the reflector. The electric load may be provided between the plurality of opposing running paths. The electric load may be, for example, electric equipment installed on a pillar erected on a median strip or a roadside zone, or a receiving unit may be further installed on a pole on which the electric load is installed. .
[0010]
Of the electrical energy supplied to the vehicle from the median strip or the roadside zone, electrical energy that is not recovered by the vehicle can be recovered by the receiving means provided near the electrical equipment. Accordingly, the recovery rate of the radio wave is improved, and the energy use efficiency as a whole is also improved. The electric load may be electric equipment that supports the traveling of the moving body. In this case, the electric energy that is not collected by the moving body is indirectly returned to the moving body through use of the electric load, so that the energy can be used for traffic support without waste.
[0011]
Another aspect of the present invention provides an energy-based transportation system including a roadside facility and a vehicle. The road-side equipment is a transmitting unit that transmits a radio wave to the vehicle, and a road-side receiving unit that is provided within a range of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit and that receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit. A road-side power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the road-side reception unit into electric energy, and an electric energy that is used by the vehicle or a passenger of the vehicle and is converted by the road-side power conversion unit. And an electric load that operates using the electric load. The vehicle includes a vehicle receiving unit that receives a radio wave from the roadside facility, a vehicle power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the vehicle reception unit into electric energy, and the vehicle power conversion unit. Energy storage means for storing the electric energy converted by the above.
[0012]
According to the energy use transportation system of this aspect, the radio wave transmitted by the transmission means is shared by the vehicle and the roadside facility. In particular, since radio waves that cannot be received by the vehicle are received by the roadside receiving means, energy can be used without waste. The electric load may be electric equipment that supports the traveling of the vehicle. In this case, electric energy that is not collected by the vehicle is indirectly returned to the vehicle through use of an electric load, so that the energy can be used for traffic support without waste.
[0013]
Yet another aspect of the present invention also provides an energy-based transportation system including a roadside facility and a vehicle. The road-side equipment is a transmitting unit that transmits a radio wave to the vehicle, and a road-side receiving unit that is provided within a range of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit and that receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit. A road-side power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the road-side reception unit into electric energy, and an electric energy that is used by the vehicle or a passenger of the vehicle and is converted by the road-side power conversion unit. And a roadside electric load that operates by utilizing. The vehicle includes a vehicle receiving unit that receives a radio wave from the roadside facility, a vehicle power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the vehicle reception unit into electric energy, and the vehicle power conversion unit. And a vehicle electric load that operates using the electric energy converted by the vehicle.
[0014]
Also in the energy use transportation system of this aspect, the radio wave transmitted by the transmission means is shared by the vehicle and the roadside equipment, and particularly, the radio wave which could not be received by the vehicle is received by the roadside reception means, so that the energy can be used without waste. can do. The road-side electric load may be electric equipment that supports the traveling of the vehicle. Also in this case, the electric energy that is not collected by the vehicle is indirectly returned to the vehicle through use of the roadside electric load, so that the energy can be used for traffic support without waste.
[0015]
Still another embodiment of the present invention also provides an energy-based transportation system including a roadside facility and a moving object. The roadside equipment includes a transmitting unit that transmits a radio wave to the mobile object, and a roadside reception device that is provided within a range of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit and receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit. Means, road-side power conversion means for converting a radio wave received by the road-side reception means into electric energy, and the road-side power conversion means provided for use by the mobile object or a passenger of the mobile object and converted by the road-side power conversion means. And an electric load that operates using electric energy. The mobile unit includes a mobile unit receiving unit that receives a radio wave from the roadside facility; a mobile unit power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the mobile unit into electric energy; Energy storage means for storing the electric energy converted by the body power conversion means.
[0016]
Also in the energy use transportation system of this aspect, the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting means is shared by the mobile unit and the roadside equipment, and the radio wave which cannot be received by the mobile unit is received by the roadside receiving unit. Can be used without. The electric load may be electric equipment that supports the traveling of the moving body. Also in this case, the electric energy that is not collected by the moving body is indirectly returned to the moving body through use of the roadside electric load, so that the energy can be used for traffic support without waste.
[0017]
Still another embodiment of the present invention also provides an energy-based transportation system including a roadside facility and a moving object. The roadside equipment includes a transmitting unit that transmits a radio wave to the mobile object, and a roadside reception device that is provided within a range of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit and receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit. Means, road-side power conversion means for converting a radio wave received by the road-side reception means into electric energy, and the road-side power conversion means provided for use by the mobile object or a passenger of the mobile object and converted by the road-side power conversion means. A roadside electric load that operates using electric energy. The mobile unit includes a mobile unit receiving unit that receives a radio wave from the roadside facility; a mobile unit power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the mobile unit into electric energy; A mobile electric load that operates using the electric energy converted by the electric power conversion means for the mobile object.
[0018]
Also in the energy use transportation system of this aspect, the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting means is shared by the mobile unit and the roadside equipment, and the radio wave which cannot be received by the mobile unit is received by the roadside receiving unit. Can be used without. The road-side electric load may be electric equipment that supports the traveling of the moving body. Also in this case, the electric energy that is not collected by the moving body is indirectly returned to the moving body through use of the roadside electric load, so that the energy can be used for traffic support without waste.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an energy-based transportation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the roadside equipment 50, a roadside rectenna 32 and a streetlight 34 as an electric load are installed above a pillar 38 provided in a median strip 36 between opposing runways. Although the street lamp 34 is illustrated as an example of the electric load in this diagram, as another example of the electric load, electric equipment such as a traffic light, a traffic information display device, and a road traffic information communication system that supports the traveling of the vehicle 10 is provided above the pillar 38. May be installed. Above the rectenna 32 on the roadside, a renewable energy generator 30 is further provided. The natural energy power generation device 30 is a device that generates electric energy using natural energy, such as a solar power generation device or a wind power generation device. The electric energy generated by the renewable energy power generator 30 is supplied to the street light 34 and to the microwave generator 20 via the power supply path 26.
[0020]
The microwave generator 20 converts electric energy supplied from the natural energy power generation device 30 into microwaves. The microwave transmitting antenna 22 functioning as a transmitting unit transmits the microwave converted by the microwave generator 20 to the outside. The microwave transmitted by the microwave transmission antenna 22 is received by the rectenna 12 functioning as a receiving unit of the vehicle 10. In the microwave transmission direction of the microwave transmission antenna 22, a plurality of reflectors 24 are provided at positions that limit a part of the transmission path of the microwave. A part of the microwave transmitted by the microwave transmission antenna 22 is reflected by the plurality of reflectors 24 and sent to the rectenna 12 provided on the plurality of vehicles 10. The installation angle of the plurality of reflectors 24 is such that the microwaves reflected by the plurality of reflectors 24 are transmitted toward the plurality of vehicles 10.
[0021]
Of the microwaves transmitted by the microwave transmitting antenna 22, the microwaves emitted upward without being hit by the plurality of reflectors 24 are converted to a roadside rectenna provided near the streetlight 34 above the central divider 36. 32 receives. Thereby, even if the microwave from the microwave transmitting antenna 22 leaks to the sky side, the leaked microwave is collected by the rectenna 32 on the road side. The roadside rectenna 32 includes a power receiving antenna functioning as roadside receiving means and a rectifying circuit functioning as roadside power conversion means, and has a function of directly extracting DC power from microwaves. The electric energy extracted by the roadside rectenna 32 is supplied to a street lamp 34.
[0022]
The rectenna 12 installed at the driver's side door of the vehicle 10 receives the microwave transmitted from the microwave transmitting antenna 22 or the microwave reflected by the reflector 24, and converts the received microwave into electric energy. The rectenna 12 of the vehicle 10 includes a power receiving antenna that functions as a receiving unit of the vehicle 10 and a rectifier circuit that functions as a power conversion unit of the vehicle 10, and has a function of directly extracting DC power from microwaves. The electric energy extracted by the rectenna 12 is stored in a battery 14 functioning as energy storage means. Motor generator 15 is driven using electric energy stored in battery 14 or electric energy converted by rectenna 12.
[0023]
The timing at which the microwave generator 20 generates microwaves and the intensity of the microwaves are controlled by an energy supply electronic control device (hereinafter, the electronic control device is referred to as “ECU”) 28. The microwave generator 20 may always generate a microwave, but when the vehicle 10 does not pass near the roadside equipment 50, the vehicle 10 cannot receive even if the microwave is transmitted. The ECU 28 may control the microwave generator 20 to generate microwaves only when the vehicle 10 passes.
[0024]
The energy management ECU 16 of the vehicle 10 monitors the state of accumulation of electric energy by the battery 14. When the energy management ECU 16 detects that the amount of electric energy stored by the battery 14 has fallen below a predetermined value, the transceiver 18 of the vehicle 10 issues a transmission command requesting the roadside transceiver 29 to transmit microwaves. send. The energy supply ECU 28 drives the microwave generator 20 in response to the reception of the transmission command by the roadside transceiver 29. The roadside equipment 50 may be buried under the median strip 36 as shown in the figure, but may be installed on the median strip 36 or on the road surface.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a flow in which the microwave transmitted by the microwave transmitting antenna 22 is received by the rectenna 32 on the road in the energy use transportation system. First, the natural energy power generation device 30 starts power generation (S10), and when a microwave transmission command is sent from the transceiver 18 of the vehicle 10 (S12Y), the microwave generator 20 is generated by the natural energy power generation device 30. The converted electric energy is converted into a microwave (S14). The microwave transmitting antenna 22 transmits the microwave converted by the microwave generator 20 to the outside (S16).
[0026]
A part of the microwave transmitted by the microwave transmission antenna 22 is received by the roadside rectenna 32 (S18), and the received microwave is converted into electric energy (S20). The electric energy converted by the rectenna 32 is used for lighting a street lamp 34 as an electric load (S22).
[0027]
The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications thereof are also effective as aspects of the present invention. In the embodiment, the electric energy converted by the roadside rectenna 32 is supplied to the street lamp 34, but in a modified example, the electric energy converted by the roadside rectenna 32 may be supplied to the microwave generator 20. .
[0028]
The electric load in the embodiment is assumed to be electric equipment that supports the traveling of the vehicle 10. The electric load in the modification may be electric equipment installed for a purpose other than the driving support of the vehicle 10. For example, an electric facility for use by the vehicle 10 or a passenger of the vehicle 10 such as an information posting device that posts an advertisement or empty information of a parking lot as an electric load, an air purifying device, and the like may be assumed.
[0029]
In the embodiment, a plurality of reflectors 24 that reflect the microwaves are provided so that the microwaves are efficiently transmitted to the driver's seat side door of the vehicle 10. In a modification, the installation angle of the microwave transmission antenna 22 may be adjusted so that the microwave is efficiently sent to the driver's seat side door of the vehicle 10 without using the reflection plate 24.
[0030]
In the embodiment, an automobile is mainly exemplified as a vehicle, but a vehicle as a modification may be a train or a train other than an automobile. The “road” in that case may be a track. In another modification, the present invention may be realized by an arbitrary moving body other than a vehicle. The moving body may be, for example, a navigation body such as a ship or an aircraft, and the “road” in that case may be a navigation route.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the energy utilization transportation system which can utilize electric power effectively between a vehicle and roadside equipment can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an energy use transportation system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which a microwave transmitted by a microwave transmitting antenna is received by a roadside rectenna in the energy use transportation system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle, 12 ... Rectenna, 20 ... Microwave generator, 22 ... Microwave transmission antenna, 24 ... Reflector, 30 ... Natural energy generator, 32 ... Rectenna, 34 ... streetlight, 36 ... median strip, 50 ... roadside equipment.

Claims (11)

Transmitting means for transmitting a radio wave to the moving object;
A receiving unit that is provided within a range of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit and receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit;
Power conversion means for converting the radio wave received by the reception means into electrical energy,
And an electric load provided for use by the moving body or a passenger of the moving body and operated by using the electric energy converted by the power converting means. The transmitting unit is installed between a plurality of opposing running paths, transmits a radio wave to a vehicle as the moving body,
The receiving means is provided in a transmission direction of a radio wave by the transmitting means between the plurality of opposed running paths,
The energy use transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the electric load is installed between the plurality of opposing running paths. The energy use transportation system according to claim 1, wherein the electric load is an electric facility that supports the traveling of the moving body. Equipped with roadside equipment and vehicles,
The road-side equipment is a transmitting unit that transmits a radio wave to the vehicle, and a road-side receiving unit that is provided within a range of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit and that receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit. A road-side power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the road-side reception unit into electric energy, and an electric energy that is used by the vehicle or a passenger of the vehicle and is converted by the road-side power conversion unit. An electrical load that operates using the
The vehicle includes a vehicle receiving unit that receives a radio wave from the roadside facility, a vehicle power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the vehicle reception unit into electric energy, and the vehicle power conversion unit. Energy storage means for storing electric energy converted by the energy storage system. The energy use transportation system according to claim 4, wherein the electric load is an electric facility that supports the traveling of the vehicle. Equipped with roadside equipment and vehicles,
The road-side equipment is a transmitting unit that transmits a radio wave to the vehicle, and a road-side receiving unit that is provided within a range of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit and that receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit. A road-side power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the road-side reception unit into electric energy, and an electric energy that is used by the vehicle or a passenger of the vehicle and is converted by the road-side power conversion unit. A roadside electrical load that operates using the
The vehicle includes a vehicle receiving unit that receives a radio wave from the roadside facility, a vehicle power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the vehicle reception unit into electric energy, and the vehicle power conversion unit. And a vehicle electric load that operates using the electric energy converted by the vehicle. The energy use transportation system according to claim 6, wherein the road-side electric load is an electric facility that supports the traveling of the vehicle. Equipped with roadside equipment and moving objects,
The roadside equipment includes a transmitting unit that transmits a radio wave to the mobile object, and a roadside reception device that is provided within a range of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit and receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit. Means, road-side power conversion means for converting a radio wave received by the road-side reception means into electric energy, and the road-side power conversion means provided for use by the mobile object or a passenger of the mobile object and converted by the road-side power conversion means. An electrical load that operates using electrical energy,
The mobile unit includes a mobile unit receiving unit that receives a radio wave from the roadside facility; a mobile unit power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the mobile unit into electric energy; Energy storage means for storing electric energy converted by the body power conversion means. The energy-based transportation system according to claim 8, wherein the electric load is an electric facility that supports the traveling of the moving body. Equipped with roadside equipment and moving objects,
The roadside equipment includes a transmitting unit that transmits a radio wave to the mobile object, and a roadside reception device that is provided within a range of the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit and receives the radio wave transmitted by the transmitting unit. Means, road-side power conversion means for converting a radio wave received by the road-side reception means into electric energy, and the road-side power conversion means provided for use by the mobile object or a passenger of the mobile object and converted by the road-side power conversion means. A roadside electrical load that operates using electrical energy,
The mobile unit includes a mobile unit receiving unit that receives a radio wave from the roadside facility; a mobile unit power conversion unit that converts a radio wave received by the mobile unit into electric energy; An energy use transportation system, comprising: a mobile body electric load that operates using the electric energy converted by the body power conversion means. The energy-based transportation system according to claim 10, wherein the road-side electric load is an electric facility that supports the traveling of the moving body.

Images