Device alignment in inductive power transfer systems
First Claim
1. A wireless power receiver comprising:
- a first inductive element configured to receive wireless charging power from a transmitter;
a second inductive element, laterally separated from the first, configured to receive wireless charging power from the transmitter;
a switch configured to, intermittently, electrically couple a first node, common to both the first and second inductive elements, with a second node, common to both a first sensor and a second sensor;
the first sensor configured to measure a characteristic between one end of the first inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node;
the second sensor configured to measure a characteristic between one end of the second inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node; and
a position detector configured to determine a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on the measured characteristics, and to provide at least one output for alignment of a vehicle comprising the wireless power receiver based on the determined lateral position.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and particularly wireless power transfer to remote systems such as electric vehicles. In one aspect, a wireless power receiver includes a first inductive element configured to receive wireless charging power from a transmitter. The wireless power receiver further includes a second inductive element, laterally separated from the first, configured to receive wireless charging power from the transmitter. The wireless power receiver further includes a position detector configured to determine a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on characteristics of the first and second inductive elements.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A wireless power receiver comprising:
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a first inductive element configured to receive wireless charging power from a transmitter; a second inductive element, laterally separated from the first, configured to receive wireless charging power from the transmitter; a switch configured to, intermittently, electrically couple a first node, common to both the first and second inductive elements, with a second node, common to both a first sensor and a second sensor; the first sensor configured to measure a characteristic between one end of the first inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node; the second sensor configured to measure a characteristic between one end of the second inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node; and a position detector configured to determine a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on the measured characteristics, and to provide at least one output for alignment of a vehicle comprising the wireless power receiver based on the determined lateral position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of detecting alignment at a wireless power receiver, comprising:
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receiving wireless power at a first inductive element from a transmitter; receiving wireless power at a second inductive element from the transmitter; intermittently, electrically coupling a first node, common to both the first and second inductive elements, with a second node, common to both a first sensor and a second sensor; measuring, at the first sensor, a characteristic between one end of the first inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node; measuring, at the second sensor, a characteristic between one end of the second inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node; and determining a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on the measured characteristics; and
providing at least one output for alignment of a vehicle comprising the wireless power receiver based on the determined lateral position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for detecting alignment at a wireless power receiver, comprising:
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a first inductive element configured to receive wireless charging power from a transmitter; a second inductive element configured to receive wireless charging power from a transmitter; means for, intermittently, electrically coupling a first node, common to both the first and second inductive elements, with a second node, common to both a first means for measuring and a second means for measuring; the first means for measuring a characteristic between one end of the first inductive element, opposite the first node, and a second node; the second means for measuring a characteristic between one end of the second inductive element, opposite the first node, and a second node; and means for determining a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on the measured characteristics; and
means for providing at least one output for alignment of a vehicle comprising the wireless power receiver based on the determined lateral position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes a wireless charging apparatus to:
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receive wireless power at a first inductive element from a transmitter; receive wireless power at a second inductive element from the transmitter; intermittently, electrically couple a node common to both the first and second inductive elements, with a second node, common to both a first sensor and a second sensor; measure, at the first sensor, a characteristic between one end of the first inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node; measure, at the second sensor, a characteristic between one end of the second inductive element, opposite the first node, and the second node; and determine a lateral position of the receiver relative to the transmitter based on the measured characteristics; and
provide at least one output for alignment of a vehicle comprising the wireless charging apparatus based on the determined lateral position. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification