Systems, methods, and apparatus for living object protection having extended functionality in wireless power transfer applications

• US 10,012,725 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sieber, Lukas, Ombach, Grzegorz Krzysztof, Widmer, Hans Peter, Bittner, Markus, Dimke, Bernward, Chopra, Swagat
• Primary Examiner(s): Brainard, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US14/817,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20160178740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 342 43, 342145
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/08 Systems for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/415 Identification of targets based on measurements of movement associated with the target
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for living object protection having extended functionality in wireless power transfer applications are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for detecting objects in a detection area near a wireless power transfer system is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of radar transceivers integrated into a wireless power transmitter, each transceiver configured to transmit and receive radar signals. The apparatus comprises at least one processor configured to receive radar data from the plurality of radar transceivers. The processor is configured to compare responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers. The processor is configured to determine a presence of a vehicle at a first distance from the plurality of radar transceivers based at least in part on a correlation of the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers. The processor is configured to filter portions of the received radar data corresponding to movement within a predetermined range of distances from the plurality of radar transceivers that includes the first distance.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting objects in a detection area near a wireless power transfer system, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of radar transceivers, each transceiver configured to transmit and receive radar signals; and

at least one processor configured to;

receive radar data from the plurality of radar transceivers,

compare responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers,

determine respective underbody height values of a vehicle at a first distance from the plurality of radar transceivers based at least in part on the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers, and

filter portions of the received radar data corresponding to movement within a predetermined range of distances from the plurality of radar transceivers that includes the first distance when further detecting objects in the detection area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a correlation of the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers comprises a correlation in a time of reception of the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first distance corresponds to the underbody height of the vehicle, and the processor is further configured to:

average the respective underbody height values for each of the plurality of radar transceivers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a position of the vehicle based on a radar signal received by the plurality of radar transceivers from a radar transponder fixed to the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to determine the position of the vehicle by:

receiving the radar signal from the radar transponder at each of the plurality of radar transceivers,

determining a respective distance between the radar transponder and each of the plurality of radar transceivers based on at least one characteristic of the received radar signal, and

determining the position of the vehicle based at least in part on the respective determined distances between the radar transponder and each of the plurality of radar transceivers.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the received radar signal comprises a modulated version of a radar signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of radar transceivers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a message comprising an identifier of the vehicle from a radar transponder fixed to the vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

detect a predetermined physical gesture based on the received radar data from at least one of the plurality of radar transceivers, and

reduce a level of wireless power transferred by the wireless power transfer system in response to detecting performance of the predetermined physical gesture.

9. A method for detecting objects in a detection area near a wireless power transfer system, the method comprising:

receiving radar data from a plurality of radar transceivers,

comparing responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers,

determining respective underbody height values of a vehicle at a first distance from the plurality of radar transceivers based at least in part on the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers, and

filtering portions of the received radar data corresponding to movement within a predetermined range of distances from the plurality of radar transceivers that includes the first distance when further detecting objects in the detection area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a correlation of the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers comprises a correlation in a time of reception of the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first distance corresponds to an underbody height of the vehicle, and further comprising:

averaging the respective underbody height values for each of the plurality of radar transceivers.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a position of the vehicle based on a radar signal received by the plurality of radar transceivers from a radar transponder fixed to the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the position of the vehicle comprises:

receiving the radar signal from the radar transponder at each of the plurality of radar transceivers,

determining a respective distance between the radar transponder and each of the plurality of radar transceivers based on at least one characteristic of the received radar signal, and

determining the position of the vehicle based at least in part on the respective determined distances between the radar transponder and each of the plurality of radar transceivers.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the received radar signal comprises a modulated version of a radar signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of radar transceivers.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a message comprising an identifier of the vehicle from a radar transponder fixed to the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting a predetermined physical gesture based on the received radar data from at least one of the plurality of radar transceivers, and

reducing a level of wireless power transferred by the wireless power transfer system in response to detecting performance of the predetermined physical gesture.

17. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus to:

receive radar data from a plurality of radar transceivers,

compare responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers,

determine respective underbody height values of a vehicle at a first distance from the plurality of radar transceivers based at least in part on the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers, and

filter portions of the received radar data corresponding to movement within a predetermined range of distances from the plurality of radar transceivers that includes the first distance when further detecting objects in the detection area.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein a correlation of the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers comprises a correlation in a time of reception of the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers.

19. The medium of claim 17, wherein the first distance corresponds to an underbody height of the vehicle, and the code, when executed, further causes the apparatus to:

averaging the respective underbody height values for each of the plurality of radar transceivers.

20. The medium of claim 17, wherein the code, when executed, further causes the apparatus to determine a position of the vehicle based on a radar signal received by the plurality of radar transceivers from a radar transponder fixed to the vehicle.

21. The medium of claim 20, wherein the code, when executed, further causes the apparatus to determine the position of the vehicle by:

receiving the radar signal from the radar transponder at each of the plurality of radar transceivers,

determining a respective distance between the radar transponder and each of the plurality of radar transceivers based on at least one characteristic of the received radar signal, and

determining the position of the vehicle based at least in part on the respective determined distances between the radar transponder and each of the plurality of radar transceivers.

22. The medium of claim 20, wherein the received radar signal comprises a modulated version of a radar signal transmitted from at least one of the plurality of radar transceivers.

23. The medium of claim 17, wherein the code, when executed, further causes the apparatus to receive a message comprising an identifier of the vehicle from a radar transponder fixed to the vehicle.

24. The medium of claim 17, wherein the code, when executed, further causes the apparatus to:

detect a predetermined physical gesture based on the received radar data from at least one of the plurality of radar transceivers, and

reduce a level of wireless power transferred by the wireless power transfer system in response to detecting performance of the predetermined physical gesture.

25. An apparatus for detecting objects in a detection area near a wireless power transfer system, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals; and

means for;

receiving radar data from the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals,

comparing responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals,

determining respective underbody height values of a vehicle at a first distance from the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals based at least in part on the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals, and

filtering portions of the received radar data corresponding to movement within a predetermined range of distances from the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals that includes the first distance when further detecting objects in the detection area.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a correlation of the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals comprises a correlation in a time of reception of the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first distance corresponds to an underbody height of the vehicle, the apparatus further comprising:

means for averaging the respective underbody height values for each of the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for determining a position of the vehicle based on a radar signal received by the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals from a radar transponder fixed to the vehicle.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

means for receiving the radar signal from the radar transponder at each of the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals;

means for determining a respective distance between the radar transponder and each of the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals based on at least one characteristic of the received radar signal; and

means for determining the position of the vehicle based at least in part on the respective determined distances between the radar transponder and each of the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

means for detecting a predetermined physical gesture based on the received radar data from at least one of the plurality of means for transmitting and receiving radar signals, and

means for reducing a level of wireless power transferred by the wireless power transfer system in response to detecting performance of the predetermined physical gesture.