System and method of electric vehicle wireless charger output protection using zero voltage switching

A method for switching off a wireless charger output, the wireless charger including a powerline having a positive powerline conductor and a negative powerline conductor for transmitting AC power, and a rectifier for converting the AC power from the powerline into DC power, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a switch controller, an error signal indicative of a charging error from a battery monitoring circuit;
• receiving, at the switch controller, a positive voltage signal indicative of a positive powerline voltage from a positive powerline sensor in sensing relation to the positive powerline conductor;
• receiving, at the switch controller, a negative voltage signal indicative of a negative powerline voltage from a negative powerline sensor in sensing relation to the negative powerline conductor;
• and
• outputting, by the switch controller, in response to the error signal, a negative switch control signal to a negative switch connected to the positive powerline conductor causing the negative switch to change state when the positive voltage signal received from the positive powerline sensor indicates a zero-voltage crossing point.

A wireless charging unit comprising:

• a powerline sensor, in sensing relation to a powerline, configured to output a voltage signal indicative of a powerline voltage;
• a switch, connected to the powerline, configured to control electrical connection between a receive antenna and a rectifier;
• and
• a switch controller, connected to the powerline sensor and the switch, configured to receive an error signal indicative of a charging error from a monitoring circuit and output a switch control signal causing the switch to change state, in response to the error signal, when the voltage signal received from the powerline sensor indicates a zero-voltage crossing point.