Methods and apparatus utilizing multi-filar alignment assistance in wireless power transfer applications

• US 10,199,885 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2015
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Keeling, Nicholas Athol, Kissin, Michael Le Gallais
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US14/858,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 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: G01D 5/2006 by influencing the self-induction of one or more coils G01D5/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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

Abstract

An implementation provides an apparatus for determining an alignment of a wireless power coupler of a vehicle with a wireless power transmitter. The apparatus comprises a sensing circuit configured to measure a current in a plurality of separate conductors of the wireless power coupler. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to determine information related to an alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless power transmitter based at least in part on the measured current in the plurality of separate conductors. The controller is configured to determine the information related to the alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless charging power transmitter based on a difference between the measured current in the plurality of separate conductors. The information comprises a direction and distance of offset between the wireless power coupler and the wireless power transmitter. The measured current is a short circuit current.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining an alignment of a wireless power coupler of a vehicle with a wireless power transmitter, the apparatus comprising:

a sensing circuit electrically coupled to the wireless power coupler and configured to measure a current in a plurality of separate conductors of the wireless power coupler, the plurality of separate conductors comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, wherein for each turn of the second conductor, the first conductor is wound outside of the second conductor; and

a controller electrically coupled to the sensing circuit and configured to determine information related to an alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless power transmitter based at least in part on the measured current in the plurality of separate conductors, the information comprising an offset distance between the power coupler of the vehicle and the wireless power transmitter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the information related to the alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless charging power transmitter based on a difference between the measured current in the plurality of separate conductors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a direction of offset between the wireless power coupler and the wireless power transmitter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measured current is a short circuit current.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless power coupler comprises a double D coupler.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitter comprises a bipolar coil arrangement.

7. A method for determining an alignment of a wireless power coupler of a vehicle with a wireless power transmitter, the method comprising:

measuring a current in a plurality of separate conductors of the wireless power coupler, the plurality of separate conductors comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, wherein for each turn of the second conductor, the first conductor is wound outside of the second conductor; and

determining information related to an alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless power transmitter based at least in part on the measured current in the plurality of separate conductors, the information comprising an offset distance between the power coupler of the vehicle and the wireless power transmitter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining information related to an alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless power transmitter is based on a difference between the measured current in the plurality of separate conductors.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the information comprises a direction of offset between the wireless power coupler and the wireless power transmitter.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the measured current is a short circuit current.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless power coupler comprises a double D coupler.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless power transmitter comprises a bipolar coil arrangement.

13. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed, causes an apparatus for determining an alignment of a wireless power coupler of a vehicle with a wireless power transmitter to:

measure a current in a plurality of separate conductors of the wireless power coupler, the plurality of separate conductors comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, wherein for each turn of the second conductor, the first conductor is wound outside of the second conductor, and

determine information related to an alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless power transmitter based at least in part on the measured current in the plurality of separate conductors, the information comprising an offset distance between the power coupler of the vehicle and the wireless power transmitter.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the code, when executed, causes the apparatus to determine the information related to the alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless power transmitter based on a difference between the measured current in the plurality of separate conductors.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein the information comprises a direction of offset between the wireless power coupler and the wireless power transmitter.

16. The medium of claim 13, wherein the measured current is a short circuit current.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein the wireless power coupler comprises a double D coupler.

18. The medium of claim 13, wherein the wireless power transmitter comprises a bipolar coil arrangement.

19. An apparatus for determining an alignment of a wireless power coupler of a vehicle with a wireless power transmitter, the apparatus comprising:

means for measuring a current in a plurality of separate conductors of the wireless power coupler, the plurality of separate conductors comprising a first conductor and a second conductor, wherein for each turn of the second conductor, the first conductor is wound outside of the second conductor; and

means for determining information related to an alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless power transmitter based at least in part on the measured current in the plurality of separate conductors, the information comprising an offset distance between the power coupler of the vehicle and the wireless power transmitter.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for determining the information related to an alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless power transmitter is configured to determine the information related to the alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless charging power transmitter based on a difference between the measured current in the plurality of separate conductors.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the information comprises a direction of offset between the wireless power coupler and the wireless power transmitter.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the measured current is a short circuit current.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the wireless power coupler comprises a double D coupler.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the wireless power transmitter comprises a bipolar coil arrangement.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for measuring a current in a plurality of separate conductors of the wireless power coupler comprises a sensing circuit.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for determining information related to an alignment of the wireless power coupler with the wireless power transmitter comprises a controller.