Detecting and deterring foreign objects and living objects at wireless charging stations
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- activating a primary coil in a transmitter to generate an electromagnetic field in response to a receiver being positioned within a predetermined distance from the primary coil, the receiver being coupled to a battery in an electric vehicle for wirelessly receiving power from the transmitter for charging the battery;
measuring a voltage induced on a sensor coil in response to a foreign object being positioned within the electromagnetic field, the sensor coil comprising a first spiral coupled to a second spiral at a point, the first spiral being spiraled in a first direction away from the point and the second spiral being spiraled in a second direction away from the point;
determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage; and
recording information in a server, the information including a time that the foreign object is determined to be between the transmitter and the receiver.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Foreign objects at a wireless charging station can be detected and deterred by activating a primary coil in a transmitter to generate an electromagnetic field in response to a receiver being positioned within a predetermined distance from the primary coil. The receiver can be coupled to a battery in an electric vehicle for wirelessly receiving power from the transmitter for charging the battery. A voltage induced on a sensor coil in response to a foreign object being positioned within the electromagnetic field can be measured. The sensor coil can include a first spiral and a second spiral. The first spiral being spiraled in a first direction away from the point and the second spiral being spiraled in a second direction away from the point. The foreign object can be determined to be between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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activating a primary coil in a transmitter to generate an electromagnetic field in response to a receiver being positioned within a predetermined distance from the primary coil, the receiver being coupled to a battery in an electric vehicle for wirelessly receiving power from the transmitter for charging the battery; measuring a voltage induced on a sensor coil in response to a foreign object being positioned within the electromagnetic field, the sensor coil comprising a first spiral coupled to a second spiral at a point, the first spiral being spiraled in a first direction away from the point and the second spiral being spiraled in a second direction away from the point; determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage; and recording information in a server, the information including a time that the foreign object is determined to be between the transmitter and the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a sensor coil comprising a first spiral and a second spiral coupled at a point, the first spiral being spiraled in a first direction away from the point and the second spiral being spiraled in a second direction away from the point, the sensor coil being configured for detecting a foreign object between a primary coil of a wireless electric vehicle charging station and a receiver of an electric vehicle; and a server operable to record information about the foreign object in response to the sensor coil detecting the foreign object, the information including a time that the foreign object is detected. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium in which instructions executable by a processing device are stored for causing the processing device to:
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activate a primary coil in a transmitter to generate an electromagnetic field in response to a receiver being positioned within a predetermined distance from the primary coil; measure a voltage induced on a sensor coil in response to a foreign object being positioned within the electromagnetic field, the sensor coil comprising a first spiral and a second spiral, the first spiral being spiraled in a first direction away from the point and the second spiral being spiraled in a second direction away from the point; and determine the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage; and record information in a server, the information including a time that the foreign object is determined to be between the transmitter and the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification