System, apparatus and method for optimizing wireless charging alignment

• US 10,005,368 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jabil Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jabil Inc.
• Inventors: Caldwell, Barry E., Suarez, Gustavo Armando
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US14/724,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/39 with position-responsive activation of primary coils
• 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

An apparatus, system and method for wireless power transfer, where a wireless power signal is provided from a charger to a device. A moving mechanism coupled to one of the charger and the device, may move one of the charger and the device along a predetermined pattern along at least one of three axes while wireless power is provided. Wireless power characteristic data may be received from a plurality of locations. The wireless power characteristic data from at least some of the plurality of points are processed to determine at least one of a threshold and optimum wireless power characteristic data value. The moving mechanism may move the one of the device and the charger to a location within the predetermined pattern based on the processed wireless power characteristic data.

Claims

1. A wireless power transfer system, comprising:

a device, configured to receive wireless power;

a charger, configured to provide wireless power to the device; and

a moving mechanism, operatively coupled to one of the device and the charger, the moving mechanism being configured to provide unbounded movement to one of the charger and the device along a first predetermined pattern selected from linear, spiral, circumferential, course, fine, zigzag pattern, or combinations thereof, in three axes when the charger is providing wireless power to the device, wherein test points along the first predetermined pattern vary based on which is the selected one of the first predetermined pattern, the moving mechanism further being configured to (i) receive wireless power characteristic data when the one of the device and the charger is being moved, (ii) move the one of the device and the charger to an optimal charging location within the first predetermined pattern based on the wireless power characteristic data; and

, if no optimal charging location is located within the first predetermined pattern, providing unbounded movement to one of the charger and the device along a second predetermined pattern different from the first predetermined pattern and also selected from linear, spiral, circumferential, course, fine, zigzag pattern, or combinations thereof, in three axes when the charger is providing wireless power to the device, the moving mechanism further being configured to (iii) again receive the wireless power characteristic data when the one of the device and the charger is being moved through the second predetermined pattern, and (iv) move the one of the device and the charger to an optimal charging location within the second predetermined pattern.

2. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1, wherein the wireless power characteristic data comprises at least one of power transfer efficiency, energy transfer rate, and energy loss rate.

3. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1, wherein the device and the charger are configured to communicate wireless power characteristics using wireless data communication.

4. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is configured to move the one of the device and the charger to a location within the predetermined pattern based on the wireless power characteristic data meeting or exceeding a predetermined threshold.

5. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism is configured to move the one of the device and the charger to a location within the predetermined pattern based on the wireless power characteristic data being an optimal value.

6. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism comprises at least one of motors and actuators configured to move the one of the device and the charger along at least one of the x, y and z directions.

7. A method for wireless power transfer, comprising:

providing a wireless power signal from a charger to a device;

moving, in an unbounded manner, along three axes, and via a moving mechanism coupled to one of the charger and the device, one of the charger and the device along a first predetermined pattern selected from linear, spiral, circumferential, course, fine, zigzag pattern, or combinations thereof, when wireless power is provided, wherein test points differ based on the selected one of the first predetermined pattern;

receiving wireless power characteristic data when the one of the device and the charger is being moved by the moving mechanism;

moving, via the moving mechanism, the one of the device and the charger to an optimal charging location within the first predetermined pattern based on the wireless power characteristic data;

if no optimal charging location is located within the first predetermined pattern, moving in an unbounded manner one of the charger and the device along a second predetermined pattern different from the first predetermined pattern and also selected from linear, spiral, circumferential, course, fine, zigzag pattern, or combinations thereof, in three axes when the charger is providing wireless power to the device;

receiving the wireless power characteristic data when the one of the device and the charger is being moved through the second predetermined pattern; and

moving the one of the device and the charger to an optimal charging location within the second predetermined pattern.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless power characteristic data comprises at least one of power transfer efficiency, energy transfer rate, and energy loss rate.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising communicating wireless power characteristics using wireless data communication.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising moving, via the moving mechanism, the one of the device and the charger to a location within the predetermined pattern based on the wireless power characteristic data meeting or exceeding a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising moving, via the moving mechanism, the one of the device and the charger to a location within the predetermined pattern based on the wireless power characteristic data being an optimal value.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein moving one of the charger and the device comprises moving one of the charger and the device using at least one of motors and actuators in the moving mechanism along at least one of the three axes.

13. A method for wireless power transfer, comprising:

providing a wireless power signal from a charger to a device;

moving, in an unbounded manner and via a moving mechanism coupled to one of the charger and the device, one of the charger and the device along a first plurality of points which comprise a first predetermined pattern along at least one of three axes while wireless power is provided;

receiving wireless power characteristic data at the plurality of points in the first predetermined pattern while wireless power is provided;

processing the wireless power characteristic data from at least some of the plurality of points in the first predetermined pattern to determine at least one of a (i) threshold and (ii) optimum wireless power characteristic data value;

moving, via the moving mechanism, the one of the device and the charger to a location within the predetermined pattern based on locating an optimal charging location among the processed plurality of points according to the processed wireless power characteristic data;

if no optimal charging location is located, moving, in an unbounded manner and via the moving mechanism coupled to one of the charger and the device, one of the charger and the device along a second plurality of points which comprise a second predetermined pattern along at least one of three axes while wireless power is provided, wherein the second plurality of points are varied from the first plurality of points;

receiving wireless power characteristic data from the second plurality of points in the second predetermined pattern while wireless power is provided;

processing the wireless power characteristic data from at least some of the second plurality of points to determine at least one of a (i) threshold and (ii) optimum wireless power characteristic data value; and

moving, via the moving mechanism, the one of the device and the charger to a location within the second predetermined pattern based on locating an optimal charging location among the processed second plurality of points according to the processed wireless power characteristic data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless power characteristic data comprises at least one of power transfer efficiency, energy transfer rate, and energy loss rate.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising communicating wireless power characteristics using wireless data communication.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein moving one of the charger and the device comprises moving one of the charger and the device using at least one of motors and actuators in the moving mechanism along at least one of the three axes.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the device comprises one of an electronic device, a car, a bus, and a train.