Foreign object detection in inductive coupled wireless power transfer environment using thermal sensors

• US 20130163635A1
• Filed: 06/14/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Limited (Robert Bosch GmbH), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Limited (Robert Bosch GmbH), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Karanth, Avinash, Dorairaj, Hari Hara Kumaran, Kumar, Rajeev Balakrishnan Reinamma
• Application Number:
  US13/808,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20130163635A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/10 using induction coils
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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

A device for detecting a presence of a foreign object in an inductively coupled power transfer environment, including: a primary unit having a primary coil; a secondary unit having a secondary coil, which is adapted to receive power inductively from the primary coil; a sheet of thermal conductive material adapted to be placed between the primary unit and the secondary unit; at least one temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the sheet; and a control arrangement to control the supply of power to the secondary unit based on a temperature of the sheet measured by the temperature sensors.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A device for detecting a presence of a foreign object in an inductively coupled power transfer environment, comprising:

a primary unit having a primary coil;

a secondary unit having a secondary coil, which is adapted to receive power inductively from the primary coil;

a sheet of thermal conductive material adapted to be placed between the primary unit and the secondary unit;

at least one temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the sheet; and

a control arrangement to control the supply of power to the secondary unit based on a temperature of the sheet measured by the temperature sensors.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the sheet made of thermal conductive material is electrically non-conductive.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the thermal conductive material for the sheet is selected from at least one of the following group of materials, including boron nitride, aluminum nitride, ceramic coated with magnesium, titanium and composite materials.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein there are a plurality of temperature sensors displaced over the entire area of the sheet of thermal conductive material.

10. A method for detecting a presence of a foreign object in an inductively coupled power transfer environment, the method comprising:

placing a secondary unit on a primary unit having a thermal conducting sheet;

monitoring a temperature of a thermal conducting sheet by temperature sensors;

detecting a rise in temperature of the thermal conducting sheet;

interpreting a rise in temperature of the thermal conducting sheet as the presence of the foreign object; and

disconnecting a supply of power to the secondary unit by switching off power to the primary coil.