SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHARGING OR POWERING DEVICES, SUCH AS MOBILE DEVICES, MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT

• US 20190020210A1
• Filed: 07/16/2017
• Published: 01/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mojo Mobility, Inc.
• Inventors: Partovi, Afshin
• Granted Patent: US 10,367,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/147 electro magnetic [EMI]
• 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 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• 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: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/37 using optical position determination, e.g. using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/00032 characterised by data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 : Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 : Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 : Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 : Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• 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 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

In accordance with various embodiments, described herein are systems and methods for enabling efficient wireless power transfer and charging of devices and/or batteries, including in some embodiments freedom of placement of the devices and/or batteries in one or multiple (e.g. one, two or three) dimensions, and/or improved features such as ease of use and compatibility. Exemplary applications include beam inductive or magnetic charging and power for use in, e.g., mobile, electronic, electric, lighting or other devices, machines, batteries, power tools, kitchen, military, medical, industrial tools or systems, robots, trains, buses, trucks and/or vehicles, and other environments.

Claims

1. A system for enabling efficient wireless power transfer and charging of devices and/or batteries, comprising:

means, including a charger coil and a receiver coil, for inductively charging one or more mobile, electronic, electric, lighting, batteries, machines, power tools, kitchen, military, medical, industrial tools or systems, robots, trains, buses, trucks and/or vehicles, or other devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the charger coil and receiver coil and magnetics axes are crossed to provide overlap of some portion of the charger and receiver coil and magnetics over a wide range of x and y axes, allowing for a degree of positioning tolerance.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic emission from the charger is generally contained to the location where the receiver is in alignment with.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes one or more magnetic guiding layer(s) that extends beyond one or more of the charger coil and/or or receiver coil dimensions, to provide a low reluctance path for the magnetic field and improved power transfer efficiency.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system allows power transfer to one or more devices being charged at a variety of positions on the charger.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system enables power transfer to and/or charging of a moving device, including use of one or more one or more charger coils along a length upon which the device to be powered or charged moves.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a build-up of magnetic field between the coils at any particular location allows a change in the properties of a magnetic material to allow more efficient of power transfer from the charger to one or more receivers.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is one or more of a mobile, electronic, electric, lighting, battery, power tool, kitchen, military, medical, industrial tools or other device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is one or more electric vehicle, robot, train, bus, truck, electric bicycle, motorcycle, Segway type of device and/or other electric vehicles or other moving equipment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a communication between the charger and the receiver can follow one or a number of protocols, including in the case of an electric vehicle such as a wireless charging specific or automotive-specific procedures or protocols including DSRC.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the approach of a device including a receiver, such as a vehicle or system or robot to be charged, has been detected and verified through a communication such as RFID, Bluetooth, WiFi, Wireless USB, NFC, Felica, Zigbee, Wireless Gigabit (WiGig), WPC, A4WP, DSRC, or a ping or other communication is communicated from the charger to energize and power the receiver circuit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the charger and receiver can communicate information such as one or more output voltage, current, power, device or battery status, validation ID for receiver, end of charge or various charge status information, receiver battery, device, or coil temperature, and/or user data such as information about the user, verification of ability to account and charge a customer for a charging/power service, or other data that can be used to perform system or firmware updates, diagnostics, or other tasks.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein initiation of wireless charging can be signaled to the device, such as a vehicle, to provide visual and/or auditory signal to the user, disable the device or vehicle movement during charge, or other actions.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein initiation of wireless charging of the device, such as a vehicle can include billing/tolling of the electricity used during charging in public locations such as public or office parking, hotel, restaurant, roadway or other structures.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the charger, receiver or the device or vehicle connected to the receiver communicates with the owner or a designated person by text, email, telephone message, custom application or other means of communication about the state of charging of the device or vehicle, error conditions or other important information.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the charger and/or the receiver or the vehicle can also be programmed to contact utility service providers and optimize the charge commencement and/or termination time or charge rate for optimum network load, minimum electricity cost or other desirable performance attributes.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein a communication such as RFID or NFC, Bluetooth, or other wireless detection between the charger and receiver can be used to indicate approach of a valid device such as a vehicle.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein once a rough or approximate alignment is reached a wireless communication link between the charger and receiver and the battery and its charging system can be established and diagnostic tests, verification or other actions performed.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein a proximity sensor such as a capacitive, resistive, laser or diode or rangefinder, optical, thermal, photocell, radar, sonar, ultrasonic, weight or cameras or infrared sensors or other method of detection can be used to determine the presence of a live animal or person in a region of high magnetic field close to the charger or between the charger and receiver coils and take appropriate action.

20. A method for enabling efficient wireless power transfer and charging of devices and/or batteries, comprising the steps of:

providing means, including a charger coil and a receiver coil, for inductively charging one or more mobile, electronic, electric, lighting, batteries, machines power tools, kitchen, military, medical, industrial tools or systems, robots, trains, buses, trucks and/or vehicles, or other devices.