Vehicle wireless charger safety system

• US 9,145,110 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2013
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Kautz, Richard William, Salter, Stuart C., Gardner, Cornel Lewis, Price, Don David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US13/894,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20130249682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/147 electro magnetic [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• 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: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• 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

A vehicular charging system is provided that includes a battery and a charger region. The system also includes a wireless charger for generating an electric charging signal in the charger region to charge the battery, and a plurality of sensors located to sense foreign objects and living beings in proximity to the charger region. The system further includes a controller for controlling the charger to at least reduce the charging signal when a foreign object or a living being is in proximity to the charger region. The controller may be configured to terminate the charging signal and/or activate an alarm element when a foreign object or a living being is in proximity to the charger region.

Claims

1. A charging system for a battery-powered vehicle, comprising:

an on-board battery;

a charger region;

a wireless charger for generating an electric charging signal in the charger region to charge the battery;

a plurality of sensors located to sense living beings in proximity to the charger region; and

a controller for differentiating between transient conditions and living beings near the charger region, and only terminating the charging signal when a being is near the charger region.

2. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to activate an alarm component when a living being is in proximity to the charger region.

3. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors generate capacitance data to sense living beings in proximity to the charger region.

4. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors is coupled to the controller, and further wherein the controller evaluates the presence of living beings in proximity to the charger region based at least in part on input data from the sensors.

5. The charging system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a reference sensor.

6. A vehicular charging system, comprising:

a battery;

a charger region;

a wireless charger for generating an electric charging signal in the charger region to charge the battery;

a plurality of sensors located to sense foreign objects and living beings in proximity to the charger region, the plurality of sensors includes a reference sensor; and

a controller for controlling the charger to at least reduce the charging signal when a foreign object or a living being is in proximity to the charger region, the controller is further configured to filter transient conditions unrelated to the presence of foreign objects and living beings in proximity to the charger region based at least in part on input data from the sensors.

7. The charging system of claim 6, wherein the transient conditions include vehicular motion.

8. A charging system for a battery-powered vehicle, comprising:

an on-board battery;

a wireless charger that generates an electric charging signal in a charger region to charge the battery;

a plurality of capacitive sensors located to sense living beings near the charger region; and

a controller coupled to the sensors for differentiating between transient conditions and living beings near the charger region, and only terminating the charging signal when a being is near the charger region.

9. The charging system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to activate an alarm component when a living being is in proximity to the charger region.

10. The charging system of claim 8, wherein the controller evaluates the presence of living beings in proximity to the charger region based at least in part on input data from the sensors.

11. The charging system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a reference sensor.

12. A vehicular charging system, comprising:

a battery;

a charger region;

a wireless charger that generates an electric charging signal in the charger region to charge the battery;

a plurality of capacitive sensors located to sense foreign objects and living beings in proximity to the charger region; and

a controller that is coupled to the sensors for evaluating the presence of foreign objects and living beings in proximity to the charger region, the controller is further configured to filter transient conditions unrelated to the presence of foreign objects and living beings in proximity to the charger region based at least in part on input data from the sensors.

13. The charging systems of claim 12, wherein the transient conditions include vehicular motion.