# US 2021/0242716 A1 · Distributed receiver coils for wireless power transfer system

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- Number: US 2021/0242716 A1
- Document ID: US20210242716A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/778,695
- Filed: 2020-01-31
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-31
- Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Inventors: Jae Seung Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242716A1

## CPC

- H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling
- B60L 53/126: Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
- B60L 53/38: specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
- H02J 50/40: using two or more transmitting or receiving devices (H02J50/50 takes precedence)
- H02J 50/402: {the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas}
- H02J 50/80: involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
- H02J 50/90: involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
- B60K 6/28: characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
- B60L 2240/62: Vehicle position
- B60L 2260/32: Auto pilot mode
- B60Y 2200/91: Electric vehicles
- B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles
- H02J 7/02: for charging batteries from AC mains by converters
- H02J 2105/37: exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV]
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling wireless transfer of power to a vehicle. A method of wirelessly transferring power to a vehicle includes monitoring a power output of a plurality of receiver coils installed on the vehicle, storing power readouts for each coil of the plurality of receiver coils, selecting, based on the power readouts, a first set of receiver coils of the plurality of receiver coils, and forming a connection, via a switch network configured to deliver power to one or more electrical components of the vehicle, between the first set of receiver coils and an electrical component of the vehicle to power the electrical component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle including a wireless power transfer system, comprising:
a switch network configured to deliver power to one or more electrical components of the vehicle;
a plurality of receiver coils, distributed on an underside of the vehicle, configured to receive power wirelessly and connected to the switch network;
one or more processors; and
a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing:
a monitoring module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to monitor the plurality of receiver coils and output power readouts for each coil of the plurality of receiver coils; and
a controller module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to select, based on the power readouts, a first set of receiver coils of the plurality of receiver coils and form a connection, via the switch network, between the first set of receiver coils and an electrical component of the vehicle to power the electrical component, and selects a second set of receiver coils from the plurality of receiver coils different from the first set, and forms a connection, via the switch network, between the second set of receiver coils and a second electrical component of the vehicle to power the second electrical component.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller module further includes instructions to change the selection of the receiver coils that form the first set of receiver coils when the power readouts indicate an individual receiver coil in the first set of receiver coils is not producing power.

### Claim 3

(canceled)

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the controller module further includes instructions to receive a signal indicating an activation request for a third electrical component of the vehicle and change the switch network to form a connection between the third vehicle electrical component and at least one receiver coil selected from either the first set of receiver coils or the second set of receiver coils.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller module further includes instructions to compare a power reading of a first coil of the plurality of receiver coils with a power reading of a second coil of the plurality of receiver coils and determine an alignment position of the vehicle over a power transmission device based on the comparison.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the controller module further includes instructions to determine an optimal lateral position for the vehicle relative to the power transmission device based at least in part on the alignment position, and determine a steering adjustment for the vehicle based on the optimal lateral position and a current lateral position of vehicle relative to the power transmission device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the controller module further includes instructions to determine an optimal lateral position for the vehicle relative to the power transmission device based at least in part on the alignment position, and communicate guidance for achieving the optimal lateral position to a driver of the vehicle.

### Claim 8

A method of wirelessly transferring power to a vehicle, comprising:
monitoring a power output of a plurality of receiver coils installed on the vehicle;
storing power readouts for each coil of the plurality of receiver coils;
selecting, based on the power readouts, a first set of receiver coils of the plurality of receiver coils;
forming a connection, via a switch network configured to deliver power to one or more electrical components of the vehicle, between the first set of receiver coils and an electrical component of the vehicle to power the electrical component;
selecting a second set of receiver coils from the plurality of receiver coils, the second set being different from the first set; and
forming a connection, via the switch network, between the second set of receiver coils and a second electrical component of the vehicle to power the second electrical component.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising changing the selection of the receiver coils that form the first set of receiver coils when the power readouts indicate an individual receiver coil in the first set of receiver coils is not producing power.

### Claim 10

(canceled)

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
receiving a signal indicating an activation request for a third electrical component of the vehicle; and
changing the switch network to form a connection between the third vehicle electrical component and at least one receiver coil selected from either the first set of receiver coils or the second set of receiver coils.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
comparing a power reading of a first coil of the plurality of receiver coils with a power reading of a second coil of the plurality of receiver coils; and
determining an alignment position of the vehicle over a power transmission device based on the comparison.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
determining an optimal lateral position for the vehicle relative to the power transmission device based at least in part on the alignment position; and
determining a steering adjustment for the vehicle based on the optimal lateral position and a current lateral position of vehicle relative to the power transmission device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
determining an optimal lateral position for the vehicle relative to the power transmission device based at least in part on the alignment position; and
communicating guidance for achieving the optimal lateral position to a driver of the vehicle.

### Claim 15

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for wirelessly transferring power to a vehicle, including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
monitor a power output of a plurality of receiver coils installed on the vehicle;
store power readouts for each coil of the plurality of receiver coils;
select, based on the power readouts, a first set of receiver coils of the plurality of receiver coils;
form a connection, via a switch network configured to deliver power to one or more electrical components of the vehicle, between the first set of receiver coils and an electrical component of the vehicle to power the electrical component;
select a second set of receiver coils from the plurality of receiver coils, the second set being different from the first set; and
form a connection, via the switch network, between the second set of receiver coils and a second electrical component of the vehicle to power the second electrical component.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions to change the selection of the receiver coils that form the first set of receiver coils when the power readouts indicate an individual receiver coil in the first set of receiver coils is not producing power.

### Claim 17

(canceled)

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer-readable of claim 17, further comprising instructions to:
receive a signal indicating an activation request for a third electrical component of the vehicle; and
change the switch network to form a connection between the third vehicle electrical component and at least one receiver coil selected from either the first set of receiver coils or the second set of receiver coils.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer-readable of claim 15, further comprising instructions to:
compare a power reading of a first coil of the plurality of receiver coils with a power reading of a second coil of the plurality of receiver coils; and
determine an alignment position of the vehicle over a power transmission device based on the comparison.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The non-transitory computer-readable of claim 19, further comprising instructions to:
determine an optimal lateral position for the vehicle relative to the power transmission device based at least in part on the alignment position; and
determine a steering adjustment for the vehicle based on the optimal lateral position and a current lateral position of vehicle relative to the power transmission device.

### Claim 21 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the first set of receiver coils is further selected to meet a power requirement of the first electrical component.

### Claim 22 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
determining a threshold amount of power required for the first electrical component; and
analyzing the power readouts to determine how many and/or which of the plurality of receiver coils should be selected to form the first set of receiver coils to drive the electrical component.

### Claim 23 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
dynamically adjusting the switch network to reroute power from a redundant receiver coil among the plurality of receiver coils to replace power loss from a malfunctioning receiver coil among the first set of receiver coils.