VEHICLE POSITIONING FOR WIRELESS CHARGING SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A vehicle charging system comprisinga charger induction coil,a passenger vehicle including a rechargeable battery and a vehicle induction coil coupled to the rechargeable battery, the vehicle induction coil configured to wirelessly receive power from the charger induction coil and to transmit power from the charger induction coil to the rechargeable battery, anda positioning system including at least one beacon, a camera configured to detect the at least one beacon, and a control system in communication with the camera to receive information associated with the at least one beacon, the control system being configured to determine a position of the vehicle induction coil relative to the charger induction coil based on information from the camera and to communicate to a driver an in-position message when the vehicle induction coil is in a predefined position that allows receipt of power from the charger induction coil or an out-of-position message when the vehicle induction coil is not in a predefined position that allows receipt of power from the charger induction coil so that the driver can adjust the position of the passenger vehicle along with the vehicle induction coil to establish charging of the rechargeable battery.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless vehicle charging system includes a charging station and an electric or hybrid passenger vehicle. The charging station is configured to wirelessly provide power to the passenger vehicle when the passenger vehicle is properly positioned in the charging station. The wireless vehicle charging system also includes a positioning system configured to guide the passenger vehicle into the charging station so that the passenger vehicle is properly positioned in the charging station to receive power from the charging station.
41 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A vehicle charging system comprising
a charger induction coil, a passenger vehicle including a rechargeable battery and a vehicle induction coil coupled to the rechargeable battery, the vehicle induction coil configured to wirelessly receive power from the charger induction coil and to transmit power from the charger induction coil to the rechargeable battery, and a positioning system including at least one beacon, a camera configured to detect the at least one beacon, and a control system in communication with the camera to receive information associated with the at least one beacon, the control system being configured to determine a position of the vehicle induction coil relative to the charger induction coil based on information from the camera and to communicate to a driver an in-position message when the vehicle induction coil is in a predefined position that allows receipt of power from the charger induction coil or an out-of-position message when the vehicle induction coil is not in a predefined position that allows receipt of power from the charger induction coil so that the driver can adjust the position of the passenger vehicle along with the vehicle induction coil to establish charging of the rechargeable battery.
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11. A passenger vehicle comprising
a power system including a rechargeable battery and a vehicle induction coil coupled to the battery, the vehicle induction coil configured to wirelessly receive power from a charger induction coil and to transmit power from a charger induction coil to the rechargeable battery, a camera configured to detect light-emitting beacons, and a controller coupled to the camera and configured to receive information from the camera and to determine a position of the vehicle induction coil relative to a charger induction coil based on the information received from the camera.
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19. A method of operating a vehicle charging system, the method comprising
receiving information from a camera associated with at least one light-emitting beacon, determining a position of a vehicle induction coil relative to a charger induction coil based on the information received from the camera, and communicating to a driver an in-position message when the vehicle induction coil is properly positioned in a predefined position or an out-of-position message when the vehicle induction coil is not in the predefined position.
Specification