Wireless Charging System with Location Verification

• US 20140285317A1
• Filed: 03/25/2013
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Infotechnology Center Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Takayuki, Yokoyama, Akihisa, Kawakubo, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 9,582,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source

Abstract

The disclosure includes a system and method for charging a target object wirelessly. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the system to: receive data describing a code from a target object, the code being stored on a tagging device and configured to be read wirelessly by a reading device associated with the target object; verify the code; determine that a location associated with the target object satisfies a safe charging range responsive to the verification of the code, the verification of the code indicating a charging distance between a power transmitter and a power receiver associated with the target object satisfies a safe charging distance; and instruct the power transmitter to wirelessly transmit power to the power receiver associated with the target object responsive to determining that the location of the target object satisfies the safe charging range.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving data describing a code from a target object, the code being stored on a tagging device and configured to be read wirelessly by a reading device associated with the target object;

verifying the code;

determining that a location associated with the target object satisfies a safe charging range responsive to the verification of the code, the verification of the code indicating a charging distance between a power transmitter and a power receiver associated with the target object satisfies a safe charging distance; and

instructing the power transmitter to wirelessly transmit power to the power receiver associated with the target object responsive to determining that the location of the target object satisfies the safe charging range.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the safe charging range is a maximal range within which the target object is positioned and configured to be charged wirelessly by the power transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reading device is a radio frequency identification reader and the tagging device is a radio frequency identification tag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reading device is a near field communication reader and the tagging device is a near field communication tag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reading device is configured to be positioned within a first distance from the power receiver and the tagging device is configured to be positioned within a second distance from the power transmitter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reading device is attached to the power receiver and the tagging device is attached to the power transmitter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein verifying the code comprises:

retrieving verification data from a storage device;

determining whether the code matches the verification data; and

confirming the verification of the code responsive to determining that the code matches the verification data.

8. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive data describing a code from a target object, the code being stored on a tagging device and configured to be read wirelessly by a reading device associated with the target object;

verify the code;

determine that a location associated with the target object satisfies a safe charging range responsive to the verification of the code, the verification of the code indicating a charging distance between a power transmitter and a power receiver associated with the target object satisfies a safe charging distance; and

instruct the power transmitter to wirelessly transmit power to the power receiver associated with the target object responsive to determining that the location of the target object satisfies the safe charging range.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the safe charging range is a maximal range within which the target object is positioned and configured to be charged wirelessly by the power transmitter.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the reading device is a radio frequency identification reader and the tagging device is a radio frequency identification tag.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the reading device is a near field communication reader and the tagging device is a near field communication tag.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the reading device is configured to be positioned within a first distance from the power receiver and the tagging device is configured to be positioned within a second distance from the power transmitter.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the reading device is attached to the power receiver and the tagging device is attached to the power transmitter.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein verifying the code comprises:

retrieving verification data from a storage device;

determining whether the code matches the verification data; and

confirming the verification of the code responsive to determining that the code matches the verification data.

15. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to;

receive data describing a code from a target object, the code being stored on a tagging device and configured to be read wirelessly by a reading device associated with the target object;

verify the code;

determine that a location associated with the target object satisfies a safe charging range responsive to the verification of the code, the verification of the code indicating a charging distance between a power transmitter and a power receiver associated with the target object satisfies a safe charging distance; and

instruct the power transmitter to wirelessly transmit power to the power receiver associated with the target object responsive to determining that the location of the target object satisfies the safe charging range.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the safe charging range is a maximal range within which the target object is positioned and configured to be charged wirelessly by the power transmitter.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the reading device is a radio frequency identification reader and the tagging device is a radio frequency identification tag.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the reading device is a near field communication reader and the tagging device is a near field communication tag.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the reading device is configured to be positioned within a first distance from the power receiver and the tagging device is configured to be positioned within a second distance from the power transmitter.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the reading device is attached to the power receiver and the tagging device is attached to the power transmitter.