System for wireless energy distribution in a vehicle

• US 9,744,858 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Original Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
• Inventors: Hall, Katherine L., Kulikowski, Konrad J., Kesler, Morris P., Kurs, Andre B., Ganem, Steven J., Schatz, David A., Giler, Eric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US15/130,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20160221441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 307 91
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• 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: 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/502 the energy repeater being integrated together with the emitter or the receiver
• 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: H03H 2001/0035 Wound magnetic core
• 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

Described herein are improved capabilities for a system and method for wireless energy distribution to a mechanically removable vehicle seat, comprising a source resonator coupled to an energy source of a vehicle, the source resonator positioned proximate to the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the source resonator generating an oscillating magnetic field with a resonant frequency and comprising a high-conductivity material adapted and located between the source resonator and a vehicle surface to direct the oscillating magnetic field away from the vehicle surface, and a receiving resonator integrated into the mechanically removable vehicle seat, the receiving resonator having a resonant frequency similar to that of the source resonator, and receiving wireless energy from the source resonator, and providing power to electrical components integrated with the mechanically removable vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A system for wireless energy distribution in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of source magnetic resonators each coupled to a vehicle power source and creating a wireless power zone within the vehicle, each of the plurality of source magnetic resonators configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field at a resonant frequency to transfer power wirelessly to one or more device magnetic resonators coupled to a load, each of the one or more device magnetic resonators in wireless communication with at least one of the plurality of source magnetic resonators; and

a power management facility in communication with the plurality of source magnetic resonators and the vehicle, wherein the power management facility coordinates power usage within the wireless power zone of the vehicle to allocate power to the one or more device magnetic resonators based on at least two modes of the vehicle, such that

when the vehicle is in a vehicle operational mode, the power management facility adjusts the power to the one or more device magnetic resonators using a smart auto-tuning algorithm, and

when the vehicle is in a conservation mode, the power management facility adjusts the power to the one or more device magnetic resonators to ensure the vehicle power source is never fully drained.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle power source is a battery.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power management facility is built into electronics of each of the plurality of source magnetic resonators.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronics of each of the plurality of source magnetic resonators includes at least one of tunable impedance matching circuits or drive frequency circuits to modulate the power supplied by the plurality of source magnetic resonators.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart auto-tuning algorithm implements a power control protocol.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the power control protocol causes at least one of the plurality of source magnetic resonators to power the one or more device magnetic resonators having the largest power draw.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the power control protocol causes at least one of the plurality of source magnetic resonators to implement a hierarchical algorithm.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the hierarchical algorithm prioritizes the one or more device magnetic resonators based on charges of the load of each of the one or more device magnetic resonators.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the power management facility is built into electronics of each of the one or more device magnetic resonators.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second power management facility using a second smart auto-tuning algorithm wherein the second power management facility is built into electronics of each of the plurality of source magnetic resonators.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second power management facility using a second smart auto-tuning algorithm wherein the second power management facility is built into electronics of each of the one or more device magnetic resonators.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second power management facility detunes a first of the one or more device magnetic resonators when the first of the one or more device magnetic resonators is fully charged.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the power management facility utilizes at least one of PMA, Qi, A4WP, or CEA protocols.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the power management facility coordinates power usage within the wireless power zone of the vehicle to allocate power to the one or more device magnetic resonators based on an emergency mode when the vehicle power source reaches a predetermined level.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of source magnetic resonators is arranged in at least one of a dashboard, a floor, a center console, a seat, or a cup holder of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more device magnetic resonators is located outside the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more device magnetic resonators is located inside the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more device magnetic resonators is a sensor in a tire to measure air-pressure.