Detecting and deterring foreign objects and living objects at wireless charging stations

• US 10,128,697 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HEVO Inc.
• Original Assignee: HEVO Inc.
• Inventors: Anwer, Umer, Shah, Alap
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• APPLICATION: US 20180316229A1
• Time in patent office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 11/182 by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 11/1831 with position related activation of primary coils
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• 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: H04B 5/0037 for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0043 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensor coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0081 with antenna coils loop aerials H01Q7/00
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Foreign objects at a wireless charging station can be detected and deterred by activating a primary coil in a transmitter to generate an electromagnetic field in response to a receiver being positioned within a predetermined distance from the primary coil. The receiver can be coupled to a battery in an electric vehicle for wirelessly receiving power from the transmitter for charging the battery. A voltage induced on a sensor coil in response to a foreign object being positioned within the electromagnetic field can be measured. The sensor coil can include a first spiral and a second spiral. The first spiral being spiraled in a first direction away from the point and the second spiral being spiraled in a second direction away from the point. The foreign object can be determined to be between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

activating a primary coil in a transmitter to generate an electromagnetic field in response to a receiver being positioned within a predetermined distance from the primary coil, the receiver being coupled to a battery in an electric vehicle for wirelessly receiving power from the transmitter for charging the battery;

measuring a voltage induced on a sensor coil in response to a foreign object being positioned within the electromagnetic field, the sensor coil comprising a first spiral coupled to a second spiral at a point, the first spiral being spiraled in a first direction away from the point and the second spiral being spiraled in a second direction away from the point;

determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage; and

recording information in a server, the information including a time that the foreign object is determined to be between the transmitter and the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a signal using a radar subsystem;

receiving a reflection of the signal using the radar subsystem, the reflection being generated by the signal contacting the foreign object; and

determining movement data about the foreign object based on a difference in the signal and the reflection, and

wherein determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver is further based on the movement data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing an image of an area between the primary coil and the receiver;

determining thermal data about the foreign object based on the image, and

wherein determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver is further based on the thermal data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing a power level of the primary coil from a first power level to a second power level in response to determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the second power level of the primary coil permits detection of a change in a location of the foreign object while using less power than the first power level.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

opening a retractable cover positioned between the transmitter and the receiver in response to the receiver being positioned within a preset distance from the primary coil, the retractable cover being part of a surface between the transmitter and the receiver such that opening the retractable cover prevents the foreign object from being positioned on the surface between the transmitter and the receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting an auditory alert using a piezoelectric device in response to determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver, the auditory alert for notifying a user of the foreign object or for deterring the foreign object from remaining between the transmitter and the receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a visual alert using a light source in response to determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver, the visual alert for notifying a user of the foreign object or for deterring the foreign object from remaining between the transmitter and the receiver.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a digital alert using a communication device in response to determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver, the digital alert for being received by a mobile device associated with the receiver and notifying a user of the foreign object.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the information further includes a location of the transmitter, and a type of foreign object, the method further comprising analyzing the information associated with the transmitter to determine the transmitter is being impacted by foreign objects at a frequency above a threshold value based on other transmitters.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor coil comprises a plurality of sensor coils, wherein measuring the voltage induced on the sensor coil comprises measuring the voltage induced on each sensor coil of the plurality of sensor coils positioned on a single plane parallel to the primary coil.

11. A system comprising:

a sensor coil comprising a first spiral and a second spiral coupled at a point, the first spiral being spiraled in a first direction away from the point and the second spiral being spiraled in a second direction away from the point, the sensor coil being configured for detecting a foreign object between a primary coil of a wireless electric vehicle charging station and a receiver of an electric vehicle; and

a server operable to record information about the foreign object in response to the sensor coil detecting the foreign object, the information including a time that the foreign object is detected.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a transmitter including;

the primary coil for producing an electromagnetic field; and

the sensor coil; and

a processing device communicatively coupled to the transmitter; and

a memory device on which instructions are stored for causing the processing device to;

activate the primary coil to in response to the receiver being positioned within a predetermined distance from the transmitter;

measure a voltage induced on the sensor coil in response to the foreign object being positioned within the electromagnetic field; and

determine the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a radar subsystem communicatively coupled to the processing device for measuring movement data about the foreign object, wherein the instructions are further for causing the processing device to determine the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage and the movement data.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising a camera assembly communicatively coupled to the processing device for measuring thermal data about the foreign object, wherein the instructions are further for causing the processing device to determine the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage and the thermal data.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions are further for causing the processing device to deactivate the primary coil in response to determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a retractable cover coupled to the receiver, the retractable cover being positionable in a first position between the transmitter and the receiver and movable to a second position in response to the receiver being positioned within a preset distance from the receiver to prevent the foreign object from being positioned between the transmitter and the receiver.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a piezoelectric device for outputting an auditory alert, wherein the instructions are further for causing the processing device to transmit a signal to the piezoelectric device in response to determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver for causing the piezoelectric device to create the auditory alert.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a light emitting diode (LED) array for outputting a visual alert that includes flashing individual LEDs of the LED array to deter the foreign object from remaining between the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the instructions are further for causing the processing device to transmit a signal to the LED array in response to determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver for causing the LED array to create the visual alert.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a communication device communicatively coupled to the processing device for transmitting a digital alert to a mobile device associated with the receiver, wherein the instructions are further for causing the processing device to transmit a signal to the communication device in response to determining the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver for causing the communication device to transmit the digital alert.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the server is coupled to the processing device for recording the information about the foreign object, wherein the instructions are further for causing the processing device to transmit a signal to the server for instructing the server to record the information.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor coil is three-dimensional, the first spiral and the second spiral being substantially perpendicular to a plane parallel to the primary coil and the sensor coil aligned with a litz wire of the primary coil.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor coil comprises a plurality of sensor coils, each sensor coil positioned on a single plane parallel to the primary coil and aligned with a litz wire of the primary coil.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium in which instructions executable by a processing device are stored for causing the processing device to:

activate a primary coil in a transmitter to generate an electromagnetic field in response to a receiver being positioned within a predetermined distance from the primary coil;

measure a voltage induced on a sensor coil in response to a foreign object being positioned within the electromagnetic field, the sensor coil comprising a first spiral and a second spiral, the first spiral being spiraled in a first direction away from the point and the second spiral being spiraled in a second direction away from the point; and

determine the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage; and

record information in a server, the information including a time that the foreign object is determined to be between the transmitter and the receiver.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising additional instructions executable by the processing device for causing the processing device to determine movement data about the foreign object using a radar subsystem, wherein the instructions are executable by the processing device for further causing the processing device to determine the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver based on the voltage and the movement data.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising additional instructions executable by the processing device for causing the processing device to reduce a power level of the primary coil in response to causing the processing device to determine the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising additional instructions executable by the processing device for causing the processing device to open a retractable cover positionable between the transmitter and the receiver in response to the receiver being positioned within a preset distance from the primary coil, the retractable cover being part of a surface between the transmitter and the receiver such that opening the retractable cover prevents the foreign object from being positionable on the surface between the transmitter and the receiver.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising additional instructions executable by the processing device for causing the processing device to create an auditory alert using a piezoelectric device in response to causing the processing device to determine the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver, the auditory alert notifying a user of the foreign object or deterring the foreign object from remaining between the transmitter and the receiver.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising additional instructions executable by the processing device for causing the processing device to create a visual alert using a light source in response to causing the processing device to determine the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver, the visual alert notifying a user of the foreign object or deterring the foreign object from remaining between the transmitter and the receiver.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the information further includes an identifier of the transmitter, and wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprising additional instructions executable by the processing device for causing the processing device to transmit a digital alert using a communication device in response to causing the processing device to determine the foreign object is between the transmitter and the receiver, the digital alert being receivable by a mobile device associated with the receiver for notifying a user of the foreign object.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the sensor coil comprises a plurality of sensor coils, wherein causing the processing device to measure the voltage induced on the sensor coil includes measuring the voltage induced on each of the plurality of sensor coils positionable on a single plane parallel to the primary coil.