Reinforced roadway with wireless charging
A roadway section configured to wirelessly charge a vehicle driving on the roadway section. The roadway section comprises a reinforcement layer embedded within the roadway section. The roadway section additionally comprises a wireless power charger embedded within the roadway section, with the wireless power charger being configured to transmit energy wirelessly to the vehicle.
1 . A roadway section configured to wirelessly charge a vehicle driving over a top surface of the roadway section, said roadway section comprising:
a reinforcement layer embedded within the roadway section below the top surface, wherein the reinforcement layer comprises non-magnetic shielding material; and
a wireless power charger embedded within the roadway section below the top surface such that the wireless power charger is configured to transmit energy at least through the top surface of the roadway section wirelessly to the vehicle.
2 . The roadway section of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement layer is positioned above the wireless power charger.
3 . The roadway section of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement layer is a first reinforcement layer, further comprising a second reinforcement layer embedded within the roadway section.
4 . The roadway section of claim 3 , wherein the second reinforcement layer is positioned below the wireless power charger.
5 . The roadway section of claim 4 , wherein the second reinforcement layer is comprised of non-magnetic shielding material.
6 . The roadway section of claim 4 , wherein the second reinforcement layer is comprised of magnetic shielding material.
7 . The roadway section of claim 3 , further including at least one standoff element supporting the wireless power charger a predefined distance above the second reinforcement layer.
8 . The roadway section of claim 7 , wherein the standoff element contacts both the wireless power charger and the second reinforcement layer.
9 . The roadway section of claim 7 wherein the standoff element comprises a non-magnetic shielding material.
10 . The roadway section of claim 9 , wherein the non-magnetic shielding material of the standoff element is thermally conductive.
11 . The roadway section of claim 10 , wherein the non-magnetic shielding material of the standoff element comprises fine ceramics.
12 . The roadway section of claim 7 , wherein the predefined distance is at least four inches.
13 . The roadway section of claim 7 , wherein the wireless power charger is encased in a housing.
14 . The roadway section of claim 1 , wherein the roadway section is formed from concrete.
15 . The roadway section of claim 1 , wherein the roadway section comprises a cast-in-place slab.
16 . The roadway section of claim 1 , wherein the roadway section comprises a pre-cast slab in which the reinforcement layer and the wireless power charger are embedded, further comprising a plurality of load-transferring connectors embedded along one of a plurality of sides of the slab and attached to an adjacent structure, the plurality of load-transferring connectors being configured to transfer load on the precast slab corresponding to the passing vehicle between the precast slab and the adjacent structure.
17 . The roadway section of claim 1 , wherein the non-magnetic shielding material comprises glass fiber reinforced polymer.
18 . The roadway section of claim 1 , wherein the non-magnetic shielding material comprises basaltic material.
19 . The roadway section of claim 1 , wherein the non-magnetic shielding material comprises plastic material.
20 . A method of wirelessly charging a vehicle traveling over a top surface of a roadway section, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a reinforcement layer embedded within the roadway section below the top surface, wherein the reinforcement layer comprises non-magnetic shielding material;
(b) providing a wireless power charger embedded within the roadway section below the top surface; and
(c) transmitting, via the wireless power charger, energy at least through the top surface of the roadway section wirelessly to the vehicle as the vehicle travels over the roadway section.