Lateral positioning for wireless electric vehicle charging

A method of determining alignment of an inductive power coupler of an electric vehicle relative to an inductive power transmit element, the method comprising:

• receiving, at the electric vehicle, a first wireless signal and a second wireless signal;
• analyzing the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal to determine an alignment value, the alignment value being a magnitude of the first wireless signal relative to a magnitude of the second wireless signal or being a difference between a time of arrival of the first wireless signal and a time of arrival of the second wireless signal;
• and
• determining, based on the alignment value, an indication of a lateral offset of the inductive power coupler of the electric vehicle relative to the inductive power transmit element.

A wireless electric vehicle charging system comprising:

• an electric load;
• coupling means, communicatively coupled to the electric load, for receiving energy wirelessly from a power transmit element to at least one of charge the electric load or to operate the electric load;
• receiving means for receiving a first alignment signal and a second alignment signal;
• and
• first determining means for determining an alignment value associated with a first signal received by the receiving means and a second signal received by the receiving means, wherein the alignment value is a magnitude of the first signal relative to a magnitude of the second signal or is a difference between a time of arrival of the first signal and a time of arrival of the second signal;
• and
• second determining means for determining, based on the alignment value, an indication of a lateral offset of the coupling means relative to the power transmit element.