Device alignment in inductive power transfer systems
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorKiyotaka Kawashima
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and particularly wireless power transfer to remote systems such as electric vehicles. In one aspect, a wireless power receiver includes a first inductive element configured to receive wireless charging power from a transmitter. The wireless power receiver further includes a second inductive element, laterally separated from the first, configured to receive wireless charging power from the transmitter. The wireless power receiver further includes a position detector configured to determine a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on characteristics of the first and second inductive elements.
Claims28
A wireless power receiver comprising:
- a first inductive element configured to receive wireless charging power from a transmitter;
- a second inductive element, laterally separated from the first, configured to receive wireless charging power from the transmitter;
- a switch configured to, intermittently, electrically couple a first node, common to both the first and second inductive elements, with a second node, common to both a first sensor and a second sensor;
- the first sensor configured to measure a characteristic between one end of the first inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node;
- the second sensor configured to measure a characteristic between one end of the second inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node;
- and
- a position detector configured to determine a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on the measured characteristics, and to provide at least one output for alignment of a vehicle comprising the wireless power receiver based on the determined lateral position.
A method of detecting alignment at a wireless power receiver, comprising:
- receiving wireless power at a first inductive element from a transmitter;
- receiving wireless power at a second inductive element from the transmitter;
- intermittently, electrically coupling a first node, common to both the first and second inductive elements, with a second node, common to both a first sensor and a second sensor;
- measuring, at the first sensor, a characteristic between one end of the first inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node;
- measuring, at the second sensor, a characteristic between one end of the second inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node;
- and
- determining a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on the measured characteristics;
- and providing at least one output for alignment of a vehicle comprising the wireless power receiver based on the determined lateral position.
An apparatus for detecting alignment at a wireless power receiver, comprising:
- a first inductive element configured to receive wireless charging power from a transmitter;
- a second inductive element configured to receive wireless charging power from a transmitter;
- means for, intermittently, electrically coupling a first node, common to both the first and second inductive elements, with a second node, common to both a first means for measuring and a second means for measuring;
- the first means for measuring a characteristic between one end of the first inductive element, opposite the first node, and a second node;
- the second means for measuring a characteristic between one end of the second inductive element, opposite the first node, and a second node;
- and
- means for determining a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on the measured characteristics;
- and means for providing at least one output for alignment of a vehicle comprising the wireless power receiver based on the determined lateral position.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes a wireless charging apparatus to:
- receive wireless power at a first inductive element from a transmitter;
- receive wireless power at a second inductive element from the transmitter;
- intermittently, electrically couple a node common to both the first and second inductive elements, with a second node, common to both a first sensor and a second sensor;
- measure, at the first sensor, a characteristic between one end of the first inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node;
- measure, at the second sensor, a characteristic between one end of the second inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node;
- and
- determine a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on the measured characteristics;
- and provide at least one output for alignment of a vehicle comprising the wireless charging apparatus based on the determined lateral position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.