Wireless power transfer metering

• US 10,732,251 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2018
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Michigan
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Avestruz, Al-Thaddeus, Haney, Spencer, Chu, Sung Yul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghera, Jas A
• Application Number:
  US16/030,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20190011523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/142 Arrangements for simultaneous measurements of several parameters employing techniques covered by groups G01R15/14 - G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/16 using capacitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/18 using inductive devices, e.g. transformers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/002 Measuring real component
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/005 Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

A system measures wireless power transfer between a transmitter and a receiver. The system includes a sensor circuit including a sensor. The sensor is configured and positioned to generate sensor data indicative of a field. The field is generated in connection with the wireless power transfer. The system further includes a processor coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to determine a power measurement based on the sensor data. The processor is further configured to determine misalignment of the transmitter or the receiver. The processor is also configured to correct an estimate of the power measurement based on the misalignment.

Claims

1. A system for measuring wireless power transfer between a transmitter and a receiver, the system comprising:

a sensor circuit comprising a a plurality of sensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensors being configured and positioned relative to the transmitter and the receiver to generate sensor data indicative of transfer power propagating from the transmitter to the receiver in connection with the wireless power transfer; and

a processor coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to determine a power measurement of the transfer power based on the sensor data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is positioned between the transmitter and the receiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the power measurement using pair-wise products of the plurality of sensors.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors includes a respective capacitive sense plate such that the transfer power propagates via an electric field.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors comprises a sense coil.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transfer power propagates via a magnetic field.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a misalignment of the transmitter or the receiver, and to correct an estimate of the power measurement based on the misalignment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power measurement is indicative of real power.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the power measurement via frequency domain computations.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the power measurement via binning in the frequency domain.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the power measurement via time domain computations.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuit is configured such that the sensor data disaggregates inefficiencies of the transmitter and inefficiencies of the receiver.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuit is configured such that the sensor data excludes losses from the transmitter and losses from the receiver.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the transfer power involves a field generated by the transmitter and a field generated by the receiver; and

the sensor circuit is configured such that the plurality of sensors resolve the field generated by the transmitter and the field generated by the receiver.

15. A method of measuring wireless power transfer between a transmitter and a receiver, the method comprising:

capturing field data with a plurality of sensors, each sensor of the plurality of sensors being configured and positioned relative to the transmitter and the receiver such that the field data is indicative of transfer power propagating from the transmitter to the receiver in connection with the wireless power transfer; and

determining a power measurement of the transfer power based on the field data.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising positioning each sensor of the plurality of sensors between the transmitter and the receiver.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the power measurement comprises determining a misalignment of the transmitter or the receiver.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the power measurement further comprises correcting the power measurement based on the misalignment.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the power measurement comprises binning in the frequency domain.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein capturing the field data with the plurality of sensors disaggregates inefficiencies of the transmitter and inefficiencies of the receiver.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein capturing the field data with the plurality of sensors excludes losses from the transmitter and losses from the receiver.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the transfer power involves a field generated by the transmitter and a field generated by the receiver; and

capturing the field data with the plurality of sensors resolves the field generated by the transmitter and the field generated by the receiver.

23. A method of calibrating a wireless power transfer measurement device, the method comprising:

positioning a test receiver relative to a transmitter and the wireless power transfer measurement device;

capturing field data for a load impedance with the wireless power transfer measurement device;

determining a power measurement based on the field data; and

determining a plurality of calibration factors for the wireless power transfer measurement device based on the power measurement.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein capturing the field data comprises varying a load impedance of the test receiver.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein capturing the field data comprises varying a load resistance of the test receiver.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein determining the plurality of calibration factors comprises performing an optimization to minimize measurement error.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein determining the plurality of calibration factors comprises performing a least squares approximation.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein capturing the field data comprises positioning multiple sense coils relative to the transmitter and the wireless power transfer measurement device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein capturing the field data comprises approximating a misalignment over multiple positions of the multiple sense coils.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein determining the power measurement comprises using pair-wise products of the multiple sense coils.