Methods and systems for compatible operation between a wireless power transfer system and wirelessly communicating vehicle systems

• US 9,847,678 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Garcia Briz, Alberto, Lee, Joshua Reuben
• Primary Examiner(s): Siek, Vuthe
• Application Number:
  US14/858,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• 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 53/126 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 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• 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

Methods and apparatuses for wireless communication with a system of a vehicle are provided. One implementation includes an apparatus for wireless communication with a system of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a first antenna configured to receive a signal from the system of the vehicle. The apparatus comprises a processor configured to determine whether the first antenna is saturated by an external magnetic field. The processor is further configured to cause the at least one of the first antenna or a second antenna to transmit a frame indicating that the first antenna is saturated by the external magnetic field in response to determining that the first antenna is saturated. The frame is a periodic frame. The processor is further configured to transmit an identification frame identifying the apparatus in response to receiving a trigger signal. A wireless power transmitter is configured to reduce or discontinue wireless power transmission in response to receiving the frame.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communication with a system of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a first antenna configured to receive a signal from the system of the vehicle; and

a processor configured to;

determine whether the first antenna is saturated by an external magnetic field, and

cause at least one of the first antenna or a second antenna to transmit a frame indicating that the first antenna is saturated by the external magnetic field in response to determining that the first antenna is saturated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is a periodic frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit an identification frame identifying the apparatus in response to receiving a trigger signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the frame indicating that the first antenna is saturated has a different pattern compared to the identification frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a wireless power transmitter is configured to reduce or discontinue wireless power transmission in response to receiving the frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is transmitted at a frequency higher than a frequency of the external magnetic field.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery, wherein at least one of the first antenna and the second antenna is configured to receive wireless power from the external magnetic field sufficient to charge the battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a remote keyless entry fob, a handheld device configured to communicate with a remote keyless entry system, and a tire pressure management system.

9. A method for wireless communication with a system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining whether a first antenna is saturated by an external magnetic field, and

transmitting a frame indicating that the first antenna is saturated by the external magnetic field in response to determining that the first antenna is saturated.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the frame is a periodic frame.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting an identification frame in response to receiving a trigger signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the frame indicating that the first antenna is saturated has a different pattern compared to the identification frame.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein a wireless power transmitter is configured to reduce or discontinue wireless power transmission in response to receiving the frame.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the frame is transmitted at a frequency higher than a frequency of the external magnetic field.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving, via at least one of the first antenna and a second antenna, wireless power sufficient to charge a battery from the external magnetic field.

16. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus for wireless communication with a system of a vehicle to:

determine whether a first antenna of the apparatus is saturated by an external magnetic field, and

transmit a frame indicating that the first antenna is saturated by the external magnetic field in response to determining that the first antenna is saturated.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein the frame is a periodic frame.

18. The medium of claim 16, wherein the code, when executed, further causes the apparatus to transmit an identification frame in response to receiving a trigger signal.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the frame indicating that the first antenna is saturated has a different pattern compared to the identification frame.

20. The medium of claim 16, wherein a wireless power transmitter is configured to reduce or discontinue wireless power transmission in response to receiving the frame.

21. The medium of claim 16, wherein the frame is transmitted at a frequency higher than a frequency of the external magnetic field.

22. The medium of claim 16, wherein the code, when executed, further causes the apparatus to receive, via at least one of the first antenna and a second antenna, wireless power sufficient to charge a battery of the apparatus from the external magnetic field.

23. The medium of claim 16, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a remote keyless entry fob, a handheld device configured to communicate with a remote keyless entry system, and a tire pressure management system.

24. An apparatus for wireless communication with a system of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a signal from the system of the vehicle;

means for determining whether the means for receiving the signal is saturated by an external magnetic field, and

means for transmitting a frame indicating that the means for receiving the signal is saturated by the external magnetic field in response to determining that the means for receiving the signal is saturated.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the frame is a periodic frame.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for transmitting an identification frame identifying the apparatus in response to receiving a trigger signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the frame indicating that the means for receiving the signal is saturated has a different pattern compared to the identification frame.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a wireless power transmitter is configured to reduce or discontinue wireless power transmission in response to receiving the frame.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the frame is transmitted at a frequency higher than a frequency of the external magnetic field.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for storing electrical energy, wherein at least one of the means for receiving the signal and the means for transmitting the frame is configured to receive wireless power from the external magnetic field sufficient to charge the means for storing electrical energy.