Multi-supply synchronization for wireless charging

• US 10,355,515 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2017
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Beaver, Jonathan, Huang, Chang-Yu, Kissin, Michael Le Gallais, Hao, Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Brian
• Application Number:
  US15/601,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20180337548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 320109, 320110
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 25/005 Circuits for comparing several input signals and for indicating the result of this comparison, e.g. equal, different, greater, smaller, or for passing one of the input signals as output signal
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to apparatus and techniques for wirelessly charging a device. An exemplary method generally includes receiving, at a first wireless power transfer device, a synchronization signal indicative of a phase for generating a wireless charging field, determining an adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field based, at least in part, on the received synchronization signal and one or more measurements taken at least one of the first wireless power transfer device or a second wireless power transfer device, wherein the one or more measurements are indicative of a phase difference between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device, and generating, at the first wireless power transfer device, the wireless charging field with the adjusted phase.

Claims

1. A method for wireless power transfer, comprising:

energizing a first wireless power transfer device;

receiving, at the first wireless power transfer device, a synchronization signal indicative of a phase for generating a wireless charging field;

using a second wireless power transfer device to measure a mutually coupled flux between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device;

determining an adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field based, at least in part, on the received synchronization signal and one or more measurements taken at the first wireless power transfer device or the second wireless power transfer device, the one or more measurements including at least the mutually coupled flux, the one or more measurements indicating a phase difference between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device; and

generating, at the first wireless power transfer device, the wireless charging field with the adjusted phase.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a first phase in a first distribution line used to supply power between the first wireless power transfer device and a first power supply; and

measuring a second phase in a second distribution line used to supply power between the second wireless power transfer device and a second power supply, wherein the one or measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase, wherein the determining of the adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field is further based on a comparison of the first phase and the second phase.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a first phase in the first wireless power transfer device; and

measuring a second phase in the second wireless power transfer device, wherein the one or measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase, wherein the determining of the adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field is further based on a comparison of the first phase and the second phase.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

energizing the second wireless power transfer device; and

using the first wireless power transfer device to additionally measure the mutually coupled flux between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device, wherein the one or more measurements comprise the additionally measured mutually coupled flux.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information regarding a first phase in a first distribution line used to supply power between the first wireless power transfer device and a first power supply; and

receiving information regarding a second phase in a second distribution line used to supply power between the second wireless power transfer device and a second power supply, wherein the one or measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information regarding a first phase in the first wireless power transfer device; and

receiving information regarding a second phase in the second wireless power transfer device, wherein the one or measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase, wherein the determining of the adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field is further based on a comparison of the first phase and the second phase.

7. A method for wireless power transfer, comprising:

energizing a first wireless power transfer device;

receiving, at the first wireless power transfer device, a synchronization signal indicative of a phase for generating a wireless charging field;

measuring cross-coupled power transferred between the first wireless power transfer device and a second wireless power transfer device when the second wireless power transfer device is energized;

determining an adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field based, at least in part, on the received synchronization signal and one or more measurements taken at the first wireless power transfer device or a second wireless power transfer device, the one or more measurements including at least the cross-coupled power, the one or more measurements indicating a phase difference between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device; and

generating, at the first wireless power transfer device, the wireless charging field with the adjusted phase.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the adjusted phase based on the cross-coupled power comprises adjusting a phase of a current supplied to the first wireless power transfer device until the cross-coupled power transferred between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device is minimized.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

measuring mutually coupled flux between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device when at least one of the first wireless power transfer device or the second wireless power transfer device is energized, wherein the one or more measurements comprise the measured mutually coupled flux.

10. An apparatus for wireless power transfer, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

energize a first wireless power transfer device;

receive, at the first wireless power transfer device, a synchronization signal indicative of a phase for generating a wireless charging field;

use a second wireless power transfer device to measure a mutually coupled flux between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device; and

determine an adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field based, at least in part, on the received synchronization signal and one or more measurements taken at the first wireless power transfer device or the second wireless power transfer device, the one or more measurements including at least the mutually coupled flux, the one or more measurements indicating a phase difference between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device; and

a wireless power transfer element configured to generate, at the first wireless power transfer device, the wireless charging field with the adjusted phase.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

measure a first phase in a first distribution line used to supply power between the first wireless power transfer device and a first power supply;

measure a second phase in a second distribution line used to supply power between the second wireless power transfer device and a second power supply, wherein the one or more measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase; and

use a comparison of the first phase and the second phase to determine the adjusted phase.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

measure a first phase in the first wireless power transfer device;

measure a second phase in the second wireless power transfer device, wherein the one or more measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase; and

use a comparison of the first phase and the second phase to determine the adjusted phase.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

energize the second wireless power transfer device; and

use the first wireless power transfer device to additionally measure the mutually coupled flux between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device, wherein the one or more measurements further comprise the additionally measured mutually coupled flux.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive information regarding a first phase in a first distribution line used to supply power between the first wireless power transfer device and a first power supply; and

receive information regarding a second phase in a second distribution line used to supply power between the second wireless power transfer device and a second power supply, wherein the one or measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive information regarding a first phase in the first wireless power transfer device; and

receive information regarding a second phase in the second wireless power transfer device, wherein the one or measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase.

16. An apparatus for wireless power transfer, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

energize a first wireless power transfer device and a second wireless power transfer device;

receive, at the first wireless power transfer device, a synchronization signal indicative of a phase for generating a wireless charging field;

measure cross-coupled power transferred between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device; and

determine an adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field based, at least in part, on the received synchronization signal and one or more measurements taken at the first wireless power transfer device or the second wireless power transfer device, the one or more measurements including at least the cross-coupled power, the one or more measurements indicating a phase difference between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device; and

a wireless power transfer element configured to generate, at the first wireless power transfer device, the wireless charging field with the adjusted phase.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the adjusted phase based further on the cross-coupled power by adjusting a phase of a current supplied to the first wireless power transfer device until the cross-coupled power transferred between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device is minimized.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

measure mutually coupled flux between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device when at least one of the first wireless power transfer device or the second wireless power transfer device is energized, wherein the one or more measurements further comprise the measured mutually coupled flux.

19. An apparatus for wireless power transfer, comprising:

means for energizing a first wireless power transfer device;

means for receiving, at the first wireless power transfer device, a synchronization signal indicative of a phase for generating a wireless charging field;

means for using a second wireless power transfer device to measure a mutually coupled flux between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device;

means for determining an adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field based, at least in part, on the received synchronization signal and one or more measurements taken at the first wireless power transfer device or the second wireless power transfer device, the one or more measurements including at least the mutually coupled flux, the one or measurements indicating a phase difference between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device; and

means for generating, at the first wireless power transfer device, the wireless charging field with the adjusted phase.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for measuring a first phase in a first distribution line used to supply power between the first wireless power transfer device and a first power supply; and

means for measuring a second phase in a second distribution line used to supply power between the second wireless power transfer device and a second power supply, wherein the one or more measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for measuring a first phase in the first wireless power transfer device; and

means for measuring a second phase in the second wireless power transfer device, wherein the one or more measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for receiving information regarding a first phase in a first distribution line used to supply power between the first wireless power transfer device and a first power supply; and

means for receiving information regarding a second phase in a second distribution line used to supply power between the second wireless power transfer device and a second power supply, wherein the one or measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for receiving information regarding a first phase in the first wireless power transfer device; and

means for receiving information regarding a second phase in the second wireless power transfer device, wherein the one or measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for wireless power transfer, comprising instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

energize a first wireless power transfer device;

receive, at the first wireless power transfer device, a synchronization signal indicative of a phase for generating a wireless charging field;

use a second wireless power transfer device to measure a mutually coupled flux between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device;

determine an adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field based, at least in part, on the received synchronization signal and one or more measurements taken at the first wireless power transfer device or the second wireless power transfer device, the one or more measurements including the mutually coupled flux, the one or more measurements indicating a phase difference between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device; and

generate, at the first wireless power transfer device, the wireless charging field with the adjusted phase.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

receive information regarding a first phase in a first distribution line used to supply power between the first wireless power transfer device and a first power supply; and

receive information regarding a second phase in a second distribution line used to supply power between the second wireless power transfer device and a second power supply, wherein the one or measurements comprise the first phase and the second phase.

25. An apparatus for wireless power transfer, comprising:

means for energizing a first wireless power transfer device and a second wireless power transfer device;

means for receiving, at the first wireless power transfer device, a synchronization signal indicative of a phase for generating a wireless charging field;

means for measuring cross-coupled power transferred between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device;

means for determining an adjusted phase for generating the wireless charging field based, at least in part, on the received synchronization signal and one or more measurements taken at the first wireless power transfer device or the second wireless power transfer device, the one or more measurements including at least the cross-coupled power, the one or more measurements indicating a phase difference between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device; and

means for generating, at the first wireless power transfer device, the wireless charging field with the adjusted phase.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

means for measuring mutually coupled flux between the first wireless power transfer device and the second wireless power transfer device when at least one of the first wireless power transfer device or the second wireless power transfer device is energized, wherein the one or more measurements comprise the measured mutually coupled flux.