Object detection for wireless energy transfer systems
First Claim
1. A living object detector for a wireless energy transfer system, comprising:
- a sensor comprising a first conductor positioned adjacent to a first surface of a substrate;
a shield comprising a second conductor different from the first conductor, wherein at least a portion of the second conductor is positioned proximal to the first conductor and adjacent to the first surface of the substrate;
a ground reference comprising a third conductor spaced from the substrate and positioned on a side of the substrate opposite to the first surface, wherein during operation of the living object detector, the third conductor is maintained at a ground reference electrical potential;
first and second switches; and
an electrical circuit coupled to the first, second and third conductors and to the first and second switches, and configured so that during the operation of the living object detector;
the electrical circuit applies a first electrical potential to the first conductor and a second electrical potential to the second conductor, the first and second electrical potentials being approximately similar; and
the electrical circuit can charge and discharge the first conductor by activating the first and second switches.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure features living object detectors for a wireless energy transfer systems that include a sensor featuring a first conductor positioned adjacent to a first surface of a substrate, a shield featuring a second conductor different from the first conductor, where at least a portion of the second conductor is positioned proximal to the first conductor and adjacent to the first surface of the substrate, a ground reference featuring a third conductor spaced from the substrate and positioned on a side of the substrate opposite to the first surface, and an electrical circuit coupled to the first, second and third conductors and configured so that during operation of the living object detector, the electrical circuit applies a first electrical potential to the first conductor and a second electrical potential to the second conductor, the first and second electrical potentials being approximately similar.
691 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A living object detector for a wireless energy transfer system, comprising:
-
a sensor comprising a first conductor positioned adjacent to a first surface of a substrate; a shield comprising a second conductor different from the first conductor, wherein at least a portion of the second conductor is positioned proximal to the first conductor and adjacent to the first surface of the substrate; a ground reference comprising a third conductor spaced from the substrate and positioned on a side of the substrate opposite to the first surface, wherein during operation of the living object detector, the third conductor is maintained at a ground reference electrical potential; first and second switches; and an electrical circuit coupled to the first, second and third conductors and to the first and second switches, and configured so that during the operation of the living object detector; the electrical circuit applies a first electrical potential to the first conductor and a second electrical potential to the second conductor, the first and second electrical potentials being approximately similar; and the electrical circuit can charge and discharge the first conductor by activating the first and second switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A wireless energy transfer system, comprising:
-
a chassis; a wireless energy source, wherein the wireless energy source is configured to transfer energy wirelessly to a wireless energy receiver; and a living object detection system positioned in proximity to the wireless energy source and comprising; a sensor comprising a first conductor positioned adjacent to a first surface of a substrate; a shield comprising a second conductor different from the first conductor, wherein at least a portion of the second conductor is positioned proximal to the first conductor and adjacent to the first surface of the substrate; a ground reference comprising a third conductor spaced from the substrate and positioned on a side of the substrate opposite to the first surface, wherein during operation of the living object detector, the third conductor is maintained at a ground reference electrical potential; and an electrical circuit coupled to the first, second, and third conductors and configured so that during the operation of the living object detector, the electrical circuit applies a first electrical potential to the first conductor and a second electrical potential to the second conductor, the first and second electrical potentials being approximately similar, wherein an extended portion of the second conductor is positioned between the wireless energy source and the chassis. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. A living object detector for a wireless energy transfer system, comprising:
-
a sensor comprising a first conductor positioned adjacent to a first surface of a substrate, wherein the sensor has a resistance Rsensor and a capacitance Csensor; a shield comprising a second conductor different from the first conductor, wherein at least a portion of the second conductor is positioned proximal to the first conductor and adjacent to the first surface of the substrate, and wherein the shield has a resistance Rshield and a capacitance Cshield; a ground reference comprising a third conductor spaced from the substrate and positioned on a side of the substrate opposite to the first surface, wherein during operation of the living object detector, the third conductor is maintained at a ground reference electrical potential; and an electrical circuit coupled to the first, second and third conductors and configured so that during the operation of the living object detector, the electrical circuit; applies a first electrical potential to the first conductor and a second electrical potential to the second conductor, the first and second electrical potentials being approximately similar; and applies the first and second electrical potentials to the first and second conductors so that a parasitic capacitance between the first and second conductors is within 30% or less of a minimum value of the parasitic capacitance between the first and second conductors, wherein the minimum value of the parasitic capacitance between the first and second conductors occurs when a switching frequency at which the first and second electrical potentials are applied to the first and second conductors is less than 1/(Rsensor*Csensor) and less than 1/(Rshield*Cshield). - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification