Automatic lateral alignment for wireless charging systems

• US 10,336,204 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2017
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Chabaan, Rakan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Sun J
• Application Number:
  US15/790,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20190118663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2201/18 Machines moving with multiple degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/06 Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• 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

Abstract

A method includes: calculating a wireless power transfer efficiency during a wireless charging session involving a wireless charging assembly having a transmitting coil and an electronic device having a receiving coil mounted to a linear actuator mechanism; and controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in a lateral direction such that the wireless power transfer efficiency increases.

Claims

1. A method for automatic wireless charging alignment comprising:

calculating a wireless power transfer efficiency during a wireless charging session involving a wireless charging assembly having a transmitting coil and an electronic device having a receiving coil mounted to a linear actuator mechanism;

controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in a lateral direction such that the wireless power transfer efficiency increases;

determining whether to move the receiving coil in a first lateral direction or a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction; and

controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in a lateral direction determined in the determining.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in at least one of an x-direction and a y-direction such that the wireless power transfer efficiency increases.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator mechanism is operable to move the receiving coil in an x-direction and a y-direction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the calculating a wireless power transfer efficiency comprises:

detecting an amount of power transmitted by the transmitting coil and an amount of power received by the receiving coil; and

calculating the wireless power transfer efficiency by dividing the amount of power transmitted by the amount of power received.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an automatic wireless charging alignment signal from the electronic device from a remote site; and

in response to receiving the automatic wireless charging alignment signal, controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in the lateral direction such that the wireless power transfer efficiency increases.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a first wireless power transfer efficiency;

controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in the first lateral direction;

calculating a second wireless power transfer efficiency after the receiving coil is moved in the first lateral direction; and

controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in the second lateral direction when the second wireless power transfer efficiency is less than the first wireless power transfer efficiency.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the linear actuator mechanism to stop moving the receiving coil when the calculated wireless power transfer efficiency satisfies a predetermined target wireless power transfer efficiency threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in the lateral direction until the calculated wireless power transfer efficiency satisfies a predetermined target wireless power transfer efficiency threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling the linear actuator mechanism comprises controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil a predefined distance in the lateral direction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling the linear actuator mechanism comprises:

executing a receiving coil control loop including steps of;

controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil a predefined distance in the lateral direction;

calculating an updated wireless power transfer efficiency after the receiving coil is moved the predefined distance in the lateral direction; and

determining whether the updated wireless power transfer efficiency satisfies a target wireless power transfer efficiency threshold,

wherein the receiving coil control loop is executed until it is determined that the updated wireless power transfer efficiency satisfies the target wireless power transfer efficiency threshold.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling the linear actuator mechanism comprises:

controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in an x-direction such that the wireless power transfer efficiency increases; and

controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in a y-direction such that the wireless power transfer efficiency increases.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a vehicle.

12. A method for automatic wireless charging alignment comprising:

calculating a wireless power transfer efficiency during a wireless charging session involving a wireless charging assembly having a transmitting coil and an electronic device having a receiving coil mounted to a linear actuator mechanism;

controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in a lateral direction such that the wireless power transfer efficiency increases;

detecting a position of the receiving coil with respect to the transmitting coil using a look-up table; and

based on the detected position of the receiving coil, controlling the linear actuator mechanism to move the receiving coil in the lateral direction such that the wireless power transfer efficiency increases.

14. A linear actuator mechanism comprising:

an x-direction movement means configured to move a receiving coil platform laterally in an x-direction;

a y-direction movement means configured to move the receiving coil platform laterally in a y-direction; and

one or more motors configured to actuate the x-direction movement means and the y-direction movement means,

wherein a receiving coil is mounted on the receiving coil platform, such that actuation of the x-direction movement means causes a lateral movement of the receiving coil in the x-direction, and actuation of the y-direction movement means causes a lateral movement of the receiving coil in the y-direction.

15. The linear actuator mechanism of claim 14, wherein the x-direction movement means is mounted on a moving platform of the y-direction movement means, or the y-direction movement means is mounted on a moving platform of the x-direction movement means.

16. The linear actuator mechanism of claim 14, wherein the one or more motors include a first motor configured to actuate the x-direction movement means and a second motor configured to actuate the y-direction movement means.

17. The linear actuator mechanism of claim 14, further comprising:

one or more first support rails on which a moving platform of the x-direction movement means moves laterally in the x-direction; and

one or more second support rails on which a moving platform of the y-direction movement means moves laterally in the y-direction.

18. The linear actuator mechanism of claim 17, further comprising:

a first shaft coupled to the one or more motors operable to move the moving platform of the x-direction movement means along the one or more first support rails; and

a second shaft coupled to the one or more motors operable to move the moving platform of the y-direction movement means along the one or more second support rails.

19. The linear actuator mechanism of claim 17, wherein the receiving coil is mounted on the moving platform of the x-direction movement means or the moving platform of the y-direction movement means.