Method and apparatus for controlling stray electromagnetic fields and providing operator feedback when aligning a vehicle with an inductive charging system
First Claim
1. A method for controlling stray electromagnetic fields for a vehicle with an inductive charging system including a stationary primary coil, a secondary coil mounted to the vehicle, and at least one alignment coil assembly including at least three assembly coils, each assembly coil having a longitudinal axis and oriented orthogonally to a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of two other assembly coils, said alignment coil assembly being arranged in the vicinity of said secondary coil, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing sensors for detecting the voltage induced in each assembly coil by a magnetic field generated by the primary coil to determine the position of the primary coil relative to the position of the secondary coil;
(b) providing feedback to the vehicle operator to guide the alignment of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil;
(c) biasing the feedback so as to modify a shape and size of an alignment zone; and
(d) directing the vehicle operator to position the secondary coil within the modified alignment zone so as to control the stray electromagnetic fields.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling stray electromagnetic fields for a vehicle with an inductive charging system and a method for providing feedback to a vehicle operator for an inductive charging system is characterized by the addition of alignment coils to a vehicle mounted secondary coil. The methods provide sensors to detect the relative positions of the primary coil and secondary coil by determining voltages induced in the alignment coils by a magnetic field generated by the primary coil. The methods include providing feedback to the vehicle operator to guide the alignment of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil and directing the vehicle operator to position the secondary coil within an alignment zone so as to control stray electromagnetic fields.
13 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for controlling stray electromagnetic fields for a vehicle with an inductive charging system including a stationary primary coil, a secondary coil mounted to the vehicle, and at least one alignment coil assembly including at least three assembly coils, each assembly coil having a longitudinal axis and oriented orthogonally to a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of two other assembly coils, said alignment coil assembly being arranged in the vicinity of said secondary coil, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing sensors for detecting the voltage induced in each assembly coil by a magnetic field generated by the primary coil to determine the position of the primary coil relative to the position of the secondary coil; (b) providing feedback to the vehicle operator to guide the alignment of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil; (c) biasing the feedback so as to modify a shape and size of an alignment zone; and (d) directing the vehicle operator to position the secondary coil within the modified alignment zone so as to control the stray electromagnetic fields. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for providing feedback to a vehicle operator for an inductive charging system including a stationary primary coil, a secondary coil mounted to the vehicle, and at least one alignment coil assembly including at least three assembly coils, each assembly coil having a longitudinal axis and oriented orthogonally to a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of two other assembly coils, said alignment coil assembly being arranged in the vicinity of said secondary coil, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing sensors for detecting the voltage induced in each assembly coil by a magnetic field generated by the primary coil to determine the position of the primary coil relative to the position of the secondary coil; and (b) providing feedback to the vehicle operator to guide the alignment of the secondary coil relative to the primary coil, the feedback being based on the current alignment state which is determined based on the location of a vehicle within one or more alignment zones, the alignment state being further determined by the order in which the vehicle transitions through the one or more alignment zones. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 12. A method as defined in 11, wherein sub-alignment zones are provided within these zones, each of said sub-alignment zones providing different feedback.
Specification