Safety systems for wireless energy transfer in vehicle applications

• US 8,946,938 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2011
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Kesler, Morris P., Kulikowski, Konrad, Lou, Herbert Toby, Hall, Katherine L., Fiorello, Ron, Verghese, Simon, Kurs, Andre B., Karalis, Aristeidis, Campanella, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHILLON, JAGDEEP S
• Application Number:
  US13/276,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20120119576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 320/108, 320/109
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• 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: 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 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/502 the energy repeater being integrated together with the emitter or the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle powering wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply. The wireless receiver including a load configured to power the drive system of a vehicle using electrical power, a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed upon the vehicle and configured to be coupled to the load, a safety system for to provide protection with respect to an object that may become hot during operation of the first electromagnetic resonator. The safety system including a detection subsystem configured to detect the presence of the object in substantial proximity to at least one of the resonators, and a notification subsystem operatively coupled to the detection subsystem and configured to provide an indication of the object, wherein the second resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the first resonator to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the second resonator from the first resonator.

Claims

1. A vehicle powering wireless receiver, comprising:

a load coupled to a drive system of the vehicle;

an electromagnetic resonator coupled to the load and configured for attachment to the vehicle, wherein the electromagnetic resonator is configured to receive power from a resonant, non-radiative wireless power source and to deliver power to the load; and

a safety system configured to detect metal objects positioned in proximity to at least one of the power source and the electromagnetic resonator, the safety system comprising;

a detection subsystem comprising one or more inductive loops formed of conductive material; and

a notification subsystem coupled to the detection subsystem and configured to generate a notification signal when a metal object is detected by the detection subsystem.

2. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic resonator is configured to be disposed on an under-carriage of the vehicle.

3. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle.

4. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.

5. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the safety system is configured to detect metal objects positioned under the vehicle.

16. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the one or more inductive loops form a magnetometer.

17. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem is configured to detect metal objects within a range of distances that is less than a spacing between the detection subsystem and the wireless power source.

18. The wireless receiver of claim 1, wherein the detection subsystem comprises a second sensor configured to detect objects positioned in positioned in proximity to at least one of the power source and the electromagnetic resonator.

19. The wireless receiver of claim 18, wherein the notification subsystem is configured to generate the notification signal only when a metal object is detected by the one or more inductive loops and when the metal object is detected by the second sensor.

20. The wireless receiver of claim 18, wherein the second sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

21. The wireless receiver of claim 18, wherein the second sensor comprises a thermally activated material.

22. The wireless receiver of claim 18, wherein the second sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

6. A power source for wirelessly providing power to a power receiver coupled to a vehicle, the power source comprising:

a power supply; and

an electromagnetic resonator coupled to the power supply and enclosed in a housing, wherein the electromagnetic resonator is configured to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power transfer to the wireless power receiver; and

a safety system configured to detect metal objects positioned in proximity to at least one of the electromagnetic resonator and the power receiver, the safety system comprising;

a detection subsystem comprising one or more inductive loops formed of conductive material; and

a notification subsystem coupled to the detection subsystem and configured to generate a notification signal when a metal object is detected by the detection subsystem.

7. The power source of claim 6, wherein the power receiver is positioned on an under-carriage of the vehicle.

8. The power source of claim 6, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle.

9. The power source of claim 6, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.

10. The power source of claim 6, wherein the safety system is configured to detect metal objects positioned under the vehicle.

23. The power source of claim 6, wherein the one or more inductive loops form a magnetometer.

24. The power source of claim 6, wherein the detection subsystem is configured to detect metal objects within a range of distances that is less than a spacing between the detection subsystem and the power receiver.

25. The power source of claim 6, wherein the detection subsystem comprises a second sensor configured to detect objects positioned in positioned in proximity to at least one of the electromagnetic resonator and the power receiver.

26. The power source of claim 25, wherein the notification subsystem is configured to generate the notification signal only when a metal object is detected by the one or more inductive loops and when the metal object is detected by the second sensor.

27. The power source of claim 25, wherein the second sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

28. The power source of claim 25, wherein the second sensor comprises a thermally activated material.

29. The power source of claim 25, wherein the second sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

11. A vehicle wireless power system, comprising:

a power supply;

a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to the power supply;

a load coupled to a drive system of the vehicle; and

a second electromagnetic resonator coupled to the load and configured for attachment to the vehicle, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to wirelessly receive resonant, non-radiative power from the first electromagnetic resonator and to deliver power to the load; and

a safety system configured to detect metal objects positioned in proximity to at least one of the first and second electromagnetic resonators, the safety system comprising;

a detection subsystem comprising one or more inductive loops formed of conductive material; and

a notification subsystem coupled to the detection subsystem and configured to generate a notification signal when a metal object is detected by the detection subsystem.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be disposed on an under-carriage of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the safety system is configured to detect metal objects positioned under the vehicle.

30. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more inductive loops form a magnetometer.

31. The system of claim 11, wherein the detection subsystem is configured to detect metal objects within a range of distances that is less than a spacing between the first and second electromagnetic resonators.

32. The system of claim 11, wherein the detection subsystem comprises a second sensor configured to detect objects positioned in positioned in proximity to at least one of the first and second electromagnetic resonators.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the notification subsystem is configured to generate the notification signal only when a metal object is detected by the one or more inductive loops and when the metal object is detected by the second sensor.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the second sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the second sensor comprises a thermally activated material.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the second sensor comprises an infrared sensor.