FEM and Circuit Simulation-Optimized WPT with Magnetic In-band Communication for E-bike Applications

Abstract

Coil optimization methodology and magnetic in-band communication-based control strategies tailored for electric bike (E-bike) inductive power transfer (IPT) systems are proposed in this paper. The transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) coils for e-bike IPT applications are optimized using finite element method (FEM) and circuit simulations to ensure efficient power transfer operation under rated charging conditions. Furthermore, the proposed magnetic in-band communication circuit and protocol enable reliable exchange of critical information, supporting functions such as battery state monitoring, constant current/constant voltage (CCCV) charging management, foreign object detection (FOD), and fault detection without requiring additional communication modules. By leveraging the proposed simple and intuitive design process along with the magnetic in-band communication protocol, the e-bike IPT system can achieve high coil efficiency while ensuring stable charging operation. The proposed system is validated through simulations and experimental results, demonstrating its ability to achieve stable 100 W charging with enhanced reliability and efficiency. The proposed coil design and in-band communication methodologies provide a practical and commercially viable solution for e-bike WPT systems, addressing key challenges in coil design, control, and communication. © 2013 IEEE.