WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER SYSTEMS HAVING GUIDES FOR FOREIGN OBJECT REMOVAL AND METHODS OF FABRICATION AND USE OF SAME
First Claim
1. A wireless power transmitter for transferring power to a wireless power receiver, the wireless power transmitter comprising:
- a transmitter magnetic system for creating a transmitter magnetic field;
a transmitter housing for supporting the transmitter magnetic system in an interior of the transmitter housing;
the transmitter magnetic field having a spatial configuration which varies about a transmitter axis, relative to the transmitter housing;
the transmitter housing comprising an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a guide; and
the guide comprising a guide surface which extends in one or more directions such that an orthogonal projection of the one or more extension directions of the guide surface onto a notional plane containing the transmitter axis forms one or more angles, α
, with the transmitter axis, wherein 0°
<
α
<
90°
.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A common problem in wireless charging systems in automotive applications is alignment of the wireless power transfer transmitter and receiver units. Poor alignment leads to poor power transfer capacity and a longer charging time. Costly optical sensors and electromechanical systems may be employed to align the transmitter and receiver units. A solution to this problem is to employ a freely moveable wireless power transmitter in at least one direction that is magnetically attracted to the wireless power receiver unit in the vehicle that does not require electrically powered sensors or mechanical alignment systems.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A wireless power transmitter for transferring power to a wireless power receiver, the wireless power transmitter comprising:
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a transmitter magnetic system for creating a transmitter magnetic field; a transmitter housing for supporting the transmitter magnetic system in an interior of the transmitter housing; the transmitter magnetic field having a spatial configuration which varies about a transmitter axis, relative to the transmitter housing; the transmitter housing comprising an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a guide; and the guide comprising a guide surface which extends in one or more directions such that an orthogonal projection of the one or more extension directions of the guide surface onto a notional plane containing the transmitter axis forms one or more angles, α
, with the transmitter axis, wherein 0°
<
α
<
90°
. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A wireless power receiver for receiving power from a wireless power transmitter, the wireless power receiver comprising:
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a receiver magnetic system for creating a receiver magnetic field; a receiver housing for supporting the receiver magnetic system in an interior of the receiver housing; the receiver magnetic field having a spatial configuration which varies about a receiver axis, relative to the receiver housing; the receiver housing comprising an outer surface, the outer surface comprising a guide; and the guide comprising a guide surface which extends in one or more directions such that an orthogonal projection of the one or more extension directions of the guide surface onto a notional plane containing the receiver axis forms one or more angles, β
, with the receiver axis, wherein 0°
<
β
<
90°
.
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21. A method for removing foreign objects from a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:
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providing a transmitter magnetic system for creating a transmitter magnetic field; supporting the transmitter magnetic system in an interior of a transmitter housing, the transmitter housing comprises an outer surface; moving a spatial configuration of the transmitter magnetic field about a transmitter axis, relative to the transmitter housing; providing the outer surface with a guide; and shaping the guide to provide a guide surface which extends in one or more directions such that an orthogonal projection of the one or more extension directions of the guide surface onto a notional plane containing the transmitter axis forms one or more angles, α
, with the transmitter axis, wherein 0°
<
α
<
90°
. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification