CN-122029720-A - Wireless power supply on production line

Abstract

A wireless power system of a test system includes a transmitter associated with an assembly rail and a receiver associated with a component. The transmitter transmits wireless power to the receiver.

Inventors

• K. Tesfa Maryam
• A. Xiao Keli

Assignees

• 丰田纺织美国股份有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240830

Priority Date

20230901

Claims (15)

1. 1. A wireless power supply system for a test system, the wireless power supply system comprising: An emitter associated with the mounting rail, and A receiver associated with a component, wherein the transmitter transmits wireless power to the receiver.
2. 2. The wireless power supply system of claim 1 including a tray connected to the assembly and the tray moves relative to the mounting rail.
3. 3. The wireless power supply system of claim 1 including a power source to power the transmitter and the transmitter sends a wireless power signal to the receiver to wirelessly power the component during testing.
4. 4. The wireless power supply system of claim 3 wherein one of electromagnetic resonance or induction is used to wirelessly transmit power from the transmitter to the receiver.
5. 5. The wireless power supply system of claim 1 wherein the receiver is connected to the tray by a first attachment mechanism and the transmitter is connected to the mounting rail by a second attachment mechanism.
6. 6. The wireless power supply system of claim 5 wherein the first attachment mechanism and the second attachment mechanism are each threaded fasteners or screws.
7. 7. The wireless power supply system of claim 1 including a connector connecting the component to the receiver, wherein power travels from the receiver to the component through the connector for testing.
8. 8. The wireless power supply system of claim 1 including a controller, a display associated with the controller and a communication module, and data obtained during testing is wirelessly transmitted between the communication module and the controller by a bi-directional wireless signal and shown on the display.
9. 9. The wireless power supply system of claim 8 wherein the communication module is associated with the tray and a wireless data communication transceiver located between the controller and the communication module wirelessly transmits the data between the controller and the communication module.
10. 10. The wireless power supply system of claim 8 wherein the controller sends a signal to the transmitter over a wired line to control unidirectional transmission of wireless power from the transmitter to the receiver during testing.
11. 11. The wireless power supply system of claim 1 including a motor, a conveyor belt moved by the motor, a connection station, a test station, and a disconnection station, and a pallet and the assembly attached to the pallet move along the conveyor belt from the connection station to the test station to the disconnection station along the production line.
12. 12. The wireless power supply system of claim 11 including a host computer, wherein the test stations include a plurality of test stations, each test station including a controller, a sensor, and a display, wherein when each of the sensors detects that the tray is at one of the plurality of test stations, a signal is sent to the host computer to send a signal to the motor to stop the conveyor belt so that a test can be performed, and the controller sends a signal to the transmitter to begin transmission of wireless power from the transmitter to the receiver to power the test.
13. 13. The wireless power supply system of claim 12 wherein data obtained from the test at the test station is communicated to the host computer and the controller and shown on the display, and upon completion of the test, the host computer sends a signal to the transmitter to cease transmitting wireless power to the receiver.
14. 14. The wireless power supply system of claim 11 wherein if the assembly passes the test, the host computer sends a signal to the motor to move the conveyor belt such that the tray leaves the test station.
15. 15. The wireless power supply system of claim 11 wherein once testing is completed at the test station, the host computer sends a signal to the motor to move the conveyor belt such that the pallet leaves the test station and moves to the disconnect station where the component is disconnected from the pallet.

Description

Wireless power supply on production line Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/544,380, filed on 1 month 9 of 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background During manufacturing, workers in the assembly line perform certain tasks manually. For example, some components on an assembly line may need to be tested during production. This requires a worker to manually connect and disconnect the power supply to the assembly for testing. Disclosure of Invention A wireless power system of a test system includes a transmitter associated with an assembly rail and a receiver associated with a component. The transmitter transmits wireless power to the receiver. In one example wireless power system of the test system, a tray is connected to the assembly and the tray moves relative to the mounting rail. In one example wireless power system of the test system, the system includes a power source to power the transmitter, and the transmitter sends a wireless power signal to the receiver to wirelessly power the component during testing. In one example wireless power supply system of the test system, one of electromagnetic resonance or induction is used to wirelessly transmit power from the transmitter to the receiver. In one example wireless power system of the test system, the receiver is connected to the tray by a first attachment mechanism and the transmitter is connected to the mounting rail by a second attachment mechanism. In one example wireless power supply system of the test system, the first attachment mechanism and the second attachment mechanism are each threaded fasteners or screws. In one example wireless power system of a test system, a connector connects the component to the receiver, and power travels from the receiver to the component through the connector for testing. In one example wireless power system of a test system, the system includes a controller, a display associated with the controller, and a communication module. Data obtained during testing is wirelessly transmitted between the communication module and the controller via a bi-directional wireless signal and shown on the display. In one example wireless power system of the test system, the communication module is associated with the tray, and a wireless data communication transceiver located between the controller and the communication module wirelessly transmits the data between the controller and the communication module. In one example wireless power system of the test system, the controller sends a signal to the transmitter over a wired line to control unidirectional transmission of wireless power from the transmitter to the receiver during testing. In one example wireless power system of a test system, the system includes a motor, a conveyor belt moved by the motor, a connection station, a test station, and a disconnection station. A pallet and the assembly attached to the pallet move along the production line along the conveyor belt from the connection station to the test station to the disconnection station. In one example wireless power system of a test system, the system includes a host computer and the test station includes a plurality of test stations, each including a controller, a sensor, and a display. When each of the sensors detects that the tray is at one of the plurality of test stations, a signal is sent to the host computer to send a signal to the motor to stop the conveyor belt so that a test can be performed. The controller sends a signal to the transmitter to begin transmission of wireless power from the transmitter to the receiver to power the test. In one example wireless power system of a test system, data obtained from the test at the test station is transferred to the host computer and the controller and shown on the display, and upon completion of the test, the host computer sends a signal to the transmitter to cease transmitting wireless power to the receiver. In one example wireless power system of the test system, if the component passes the test, the host computer sends a signal to the motor to move the conveyor belt so that the tray leaves the test station. In one example wireless power system of a test system, once testing is completed at the test station, the host computer sends a signal to the motor to move the conveyor belt such that the pallet leaves the test station and moves to the disconnect station where the component is disconnected from the pallet. Drawings FIG. 1 shows the assembly at a test station on a production line, and Fig. 2 shows stations along the production line. Detailed Description Fig. 1 shows a test station 10 at the end of a production line 12. The assembly 14 is connected to a tray 16. In one example, the component 14 is a vehicle seat. Although a vehicle seat is illustrated and described below, other types of assemblies 14 may be tested on the