ULTRASONIC AND INFRARED OBJECT DETECTION FOR WIRELESS CHARGING OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A charging system comprising:
- a transmitter assembly, including a primary coil, configured to send a charging signal to a vehicle;
a sensor arrangement including first and second ultrasonic sensor arrays partially defining a boundary of a transmitter coil region adjacent the primary coil; and
an infrared sensor, the infrared sensor and ultrasonic sensor arrays being positioned such that same portions of the coil region are sensed by each of the sensor and arrays.
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Abstract
A wireless battery charging system for an electric vehicle can include a transmitter assembly configured to send a charging signal to a vehicle, an ultrasonic sensor configured to sense an unwanted object adjacent the transmitter assembly, and an infrared sensor configured to sense an unwanted object adjacent the transmitter assembly. The transmitter assembly includes a primary coil. The infrared sensor and the ultrasonic sensor can sense at least partially overlapping regions to sense an unwanted object in a coil region between the primary coil and a secondary coil of the vehicle.
32 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A charging system comprising:
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a transmitter assembly, including a primary coil, configured to send a charging signal to a vehicle; a sensor arrangement including first and second ultrasonic sensor arrays partially defining a boundary of a transmitter coil region adjacent the primary coil; and an infrared sensor, the infrared sensor and ultrasonic sensor arrays being positioned such that same portions of the coil region are sensed by each of the sensor and arrays. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of wireless battery charging comprising:
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ultrasonically sensing an object located within a portion of a transmitter coil region that is adjacent a wireless power transmitter; thermally sensing the object located within the portion of the coil region; and in response to ultrasonically and thermally sensing the object located within the portion of the transmitter coil region, reducing power output by the wireless power transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A wireless charge system comprising:
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a transmitter assembly including a primary coil configured to generate a field to wirelessly transfer power to a secondary coil of a vehicle; and first and second ultrasonic sensor arrays arranged to partially define a boundary of a transmitter coil region adjacent the primary coil such that same portions of the coil region are sensed by both of the sensor arrays. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification