Checking alignment of inductive charge pads in motion
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an approach module that determines that a wireless power transfer (“
WPT”
) secondary pad on a vehicle approaching a WPT primary pad is within an approach distance threshold from the WPT primary pad;
a pulse module that generates an electrical alignment pulse in one of the WPT primary pad and the WPT secondary pad in response to the approach module determining that the WPT secondary pad is within the approach distance threshold;
a measurement module that determines an amount of magnetic coupling between the WPT primary pad and the WPT secondary pad; and
a feedback module that provides an alignment signal to a driver of the vehicle, the alignment signal indicative of the amount of magnetic coupling,wherein the pulse module continues to provide electrical alignment pulses, the measurement module continues to determine an amount of magnetic coupling in response to the electrical alignment pulses, and the feedback module continues to provide the alignment signal to the driver indicative of an amount of the magnetic coupling as the vehicle moves in relation to the WPT primary pad.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An approach module determines that a wireless power transfer (WPT) secondary pad on a vehicle approaching a WPT primary pad is within an approach distance threshold from the WPT primary pad. A pulse module generates an electrical alignment pulse in the WPT primary pad or WPT secondary pad in response to determining that the WPT secondary pad is within the approach distance. A measurement module determines an amount of magnetic coupling between the WPT primary pad and the WPT secondary pad, and a feedback module that provides an alignment signal to a driver of the vehicle. The alignment signal represents magnetic coupling. The pulse module continues to provide electrical alignment pulses, the measurement module continues to determine an amount of magnetic coupling in response to the electrical alignment pulses, and the feedback module continues to provide alignment signals indicative of an amount of magnetic coupling as the vehicle moves in relation to the WPT primary pad.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an approach module that determines that a wireless power transfer (“
WPT”
) secondary pad on a vehicle approaching a WPT primary pad is within an approach distance threshold from the WPT primary pad;a pulse module that generates an electrical alignment pulse in one of the WPT primary pad and the WPT secondary pad in response to the approach module determining that the WPT secondary pad is within the approach distance threshold; a measurement module that determines an amount of magnetic coupling between the WPT primary pad and the WPT secondary pad; and a feedback module that provides an alignment signal to a driver of the vehicle, the alignment signal indicative of the amount of magnetic coupling, wherein the pulse module continues to provide electrical alignment pulses, the measurement module continues to determine an amount of magnetic coupling in response to the electrical alignment pulses, and the feedback module continues to provide the alignment signal to the driver indicative of an amount of the magnetic coupling as the vehicle moves in relation to the WPT primary pad. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a first stage of a wireless power transfer (“
WPT”
) system, the first stage comprising a WPT primary pad and one or more of a resonant converter and an alternating current (“
AC”
) to direct current (“
DC”
) converter, the first stage configured to wirelessly transmit power to a second stage on a vehicle, the second stage comprising a WPT secondary pad and a secondary circuit that receives power from the WPT primary pad and transfers power to a load of the vehicle;an approach module that determines that a WPT secondary pad on a vehicle approaching the WPT primary pad is within an approach distance threshold from the WPT primary pad; a pulse module that generates an electrical alignment pulse in one of the WPT primary pad and the WPT secondary pad in response to the approach module determining that the WPT secondary pad is within the approach distance; a measurement module that determines an amount of magnetic coupling between the WPT primary pad and the WPT secondary pad; and a feedback module that provides an alignment signal to a driver of the vehicle, the alignment signal indicative of the amount of magnetic coupling, wherein the pulse module continues to provide electrical alignment pulses, the measurement module continues to determine an amount of magnetic coupling in response to the electrical alignment pulses, and the feedback module continues to provide alignment signals to the driver indicative of an amount of magnetic coupling as the vehicle moves in relation to the WPT primary pad. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method comprising:
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determining that a wireless power transfer (“
WPT”
) secondary pad on a vehicle approaching a WPT primary pad is within an approach distance threshold from the WPT primary pad;generating an electrical alignment pulse in one of the WPT primary pad and the WPT secondary pad in response to determining that the WPT secondary pad is within the approach distance threshold; determining an amount of magnetic coupling between the WPT primary pad and the WPT secondary pad; and providing an alignment signal to a driver of the vehicle, the alignment signal indicative of the amount of magnetic coupling, wherein the method continues to provide electrical alignment pulses, continues to determine an amount of magnetic coupling in response to each of the electrical alignment pulses, and continues to provide alignment signals to the driver indicative of an amount of magnetic coupling as the vehicle moves in relation to the WPT primary pad. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification