Vehicle Charger Safety System and Method

• US 20140084859A1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Hall, Katherine L., Kesler, Morris P., Fiorello, Ron, Schatz, David A., Kulikowski, Konrad J., Soljacic, Marin
• Application Number:
  US14/087,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20140084859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/46 by self learning
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• 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 5/005 with inductive power transfer for charging H02J7/025
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance
• 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

Wireless vehicle charger safety systems and methods use a detection subsystem, a notification subsystem and a management subsystem. The detection subsystem identifies a safety condition. The notification subsystem provides an indication of the safety condition. The management subsystem addresses the safety condition. In particular, undesirable thermal conditions caused by foreign objects between a source resonator and a vehicle resonator are addressed by sensing high temperatures, providing a warning and powering down a vehicle charger, as appropriate for the environment in which the charger is deployed.

Claims

1. A safety system for a charger to provide protection with respect to an object that may become hot during operation of the charger, the safety system comprising:

a detection subsystem configured to detect presence of the object in substantial proximity to the charger; and

a notification subsystem operatively coupled to the detection subsystem and configured to provide an indication of the object.

2. A safety system as in claim 1, further comprising a management subsystem operatively coupled to the detection subsystem and configured to mitigate an effect of the object.

3. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem includes a heat sensor.

4. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the notification subsystem includes an annunciator.

5. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem comprises heat sensitive paint.

6. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the notification subsystem comprises heat sensitive paint.

7. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem is configured to cool an area associated with the object.

8. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem is configured to move the object.

9. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem is configured to alter operation of the charger responsive to detection of the object.

10. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the charger includes a source resonator, wherein the detection subsystem is integrated with the source resonator.

11. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the charger includes a source resonator, wherein the notification subsystem is integrated with the source resonator.

12. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the charger includes a source resonator, wherein the management subsystem is integrated with the source resonator.

13. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem includes a wall-mounted sensor.

14. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem includes a light sensor.

15. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem includes a camera.

16. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem includes a sensor mounted on a vehicle.

17. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem includes a sensor integrated with a device resonator of a vehicle.

18. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem includes an ambient sensor not significantly responsive to whether the object is hot, the detection subsystem configured to use output from the ambient sensor for calibration.

19. A safety system as in claim 1, configured to use the detection system for baseline calibration before the charger commences charging.

20. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the notification subsystem includes an annunciator configured to provide a warning signal in an area proximate to the object.

21. A safety system as in claim 20, wherein the warning signal is a visual indication.

22. A safety system as in claim 20, wherein the warning signal is an aural indication.

23. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the notification subsystem is configured to provide a remote notification of the object.

24. A safety system as in claim 23, wherein the remote notification includes an electronically delivered message.

25. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the notification subsystem is enabled upon movement of a vehicle away from the object.

26. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the notification subsystem comprises a plurality of sensors, the notification subsystem being configured to detect presence of the object responsive to differential temperature indications from a subset of the plurality of sensors.

27. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem includes a coolant dispenser configured to supply a coolant to an area associated with the object responsive to detection of the object.

28. A safety system as in claim 27, wherein the coolant dispenser is further configured to provide movement of debris.

29. A safety system as in claim 27, wherein the coolant dispenser is further configured to move the object.

30. A safety system as in claim 27, wherein the coolant dispenser is integrated with a source resonator of the charger.

31. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem is configured to turn off the charger responsive to detection of the object.

32. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem is configured to reduce a charging level of the charger responsive to detection of the object.

33. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem is configured to change an operational parameter of the charger responsive to detection of the object.

34. A safety system as in claim 33, wherein the operational parameter relates to selection of a subset of plural resonators.

35. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem is integrated with a vehicle'"'"'s electronic systems.

36. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the notification subsystem is integrated with a vehicle'"'"'s electronic systems.

37. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem is integrated with a vehicle'"'"'s electronic systems.

38. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem includes a magnetometer.

39. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem includes a magnetometer integrated with a resonator.

40. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem is coupled with a charging subsystem of the charger, the detection subsystem taking as input operational parameters of the charging subsystem and determining presence of the object based on the operational parameters of the charging subsystem.

41. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem includes a surface configured to facilitate movement of the object.

42. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem includes a surface that moves so as to facilitate movement of the object.

43. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem includes a mechanism to sweep the object so as to cause it to move.

44. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem includes a mechanism to facilitate movement of the object using magnetism.

45. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the management subsystem includes a drain configured for fluid handling proximate to the object.

46. A safety system as in claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem and the notification subsystem are integrated.

47. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the detection subsystem and the management subsystem are integrated.

48. A safety system as in claim 2, wherein the notification system and the management subsystem are integrated.

49. A method to ensure safe operation of a charger with respect to an object that may become hot during operation of the charger, the method comprising:

detecting presence of the object; and

providing notification of the presence of the object.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising taking a management action responsive to detecting presence of the object.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein said detecting includes sensing heat associated with the object.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein said providing notification includes triggering a local indicator.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein said providing notification includes triggering a message to a remote location.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein said taking a management action includes cooling an area proximate to the object.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein said taking a management action includes moving the object.

56. The method of claim 50, wherein said taking a management action includes changing a mode of operation of the charger.