System and method for wireless power transfer and data modulation for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11938875-B2
Application number	US-202117164166-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2021
Priority date	Dec 18, 2020
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for wireless power transfer in a vehicle. A wireless power transfer system can include a high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) inverter electrically coupled to the power source and a transmitter to wirelessly transmit a HFAC power signal to at least one device of a vehicle, such as sensors (e.g., LiDAR, GPS etc.) and cameras. The HFAC power signal provides wireless power and a data signal to the at least one device of a vehicle. The wireless power transfer system can eliminate the need for cabling and wires to provide power to the device. Wireless power transfer can include use or a data modulation circuit and a pulse current source to inject a pulse current to the HFAC power signal as superimposed data. System configurations can power a plurality of devices. Systems can includes a plurality of HFAC inverters and transmitters to power multiple sets of devices.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wireless power transfer system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
a direct current (DC) electrical power source including at least one battery unit;
a high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) inverter electrically coupled to the DC electrical power source;
a transmitter electrically coupled to the HFAC inverter; and
a controller electrically coupled to the HFAC inverter and the transmitter, wherein the controller is configured to
enable the HFAC inverter and the transmitter,
control the transmitter to generate a data signal,
control the HFAC inverter and the transmitter to wirelessly transmit a HFAC power signal to at least one device of a vehicle, and
wherein:
the data signal is superimposed on the transmitted HFAC power signal, and
the HFAC power signal provides wireless power to the at least one device.

2. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery unit is coupled to the HFAC inverter by a transmission line.

3. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the HFAC inverter converts DC power received from the at least one battery unit to a high frequency AC power signal.

4. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is configured to generate a high frequency electric field to wirelessly power the at least one device.

5. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter includes a data modulation circuit using a pulse current source to inject a pulse current to the HFAC power signal to superimpose the data signaler on the transmitted HFAC power signal.

6. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein controlling the HFAC inverter and the transmitter for wireless power output includes activating the at least one device of the vehicle.

7. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) inverter electrically coupled to the DC electrical power source and at least one additional transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one additional HFAC inverter, wherein the at least one additional HFAC inverter and the at least one additional transmitter provide an additional HFAC power signal to provide and data to at least one additional device of a vehicle.

8. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the data signal activates the at least one device of the vehicle for operation.

9. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to deactivate power to the at least one device of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle system comprising:
a direct current (DC) power source including at least one battery unit;
a high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) inverter electrically coupled to the DC power source;
a transmitter electrically coupled to the HFAC inverter;
at least one device; and
a controller electrically coupled to the HFAC inverter and the transmitter, wherein the controller is configured to
enable the HFAC inverter and the transmitter,
control the transmitter to generate a data signal,
control the HFAC inverter and the transmitter to wirelessly transmit a HFAC power signal to the at least one device of a vehicle, and
wherein:
the data signal is superimposed on the transmitted HFAC power signal, and
the HFAC power signal provides wireless power to the at least one device.

11. The vehicle system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one battery unit is coupled to the HFAC inverter by a DC transmission line, and wherein the DC transmission line is coupled to a plurality of HFAC inverters.

12. The vehicle system of claim 10 , wherein the HFAC inverter converts DC power received from the at least one battery unit to a high frequency AC power signal.

13. The vehicle system of claim 10 , wherein the transmitter is configured to generate a high frequency electric field to wirelessly power the at least one device.

14. The vehicle system of claim 10 , wherein the transmitter includes a data modulation circuit using a pulse current source to inject a pulse current to the HFAC power signal to superimpose the data signal on the transmitted HFAC power signal.

15. The vehicle system of claim 10 , wherein controlling the HFAC inverter and the transmitter for wireless power output includes activating the at least one device of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle system of claim 10 , further comprising at least one additional high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) inverter electrically coupled to the DC power source and at least one additional transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one additional HFAC inverter, wherein the at least one additional HFAC inverter and the at least one additional transmitter provide an additional HFAC power signal to provide and data to at least one additional device of a vehicle.

17. The vehicle system of claim 10 , wherein the data signal activates the at least one device of the vehicle for operation.

18. The vehicle system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to deactivate power to the at least one device of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one device comprises at least one of a sensor, camera and vehicle device in general.

20. A method for controlling wireless power transfer for a vehicle, the method comprising:
enabling, by a controller, a high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) inverter electrically coupled to a DC power source and a transmitter electrically coupled to the HFAC inverter;
controlling the transmitter to generate a data signal;
controlling, by the controller, the HFAC inverter and the transmitter to wirelessly transmit a HFAC power signal to at least one device of a vehicle;
wherein:
the data signal is superimposed on the transmitted HFAC power signal, and
the HFAC power signal provides wireless power to the at least one device.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Univ Michigan Regents

Inventors

• Liu Yanghe
• Chou Chungchih
• Ukegawa Hiroshi
• Wu Qunfang
• Wang Mengqi
• Zhou Weiyang

Classifications

• H02J7/44

  between battery management systems and power sources · CPC title

• B60R16/023 Primary

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title

• B60R16/03

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• H02J50/40

  using two or more transmitting or receiving devices (H02J50/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J50/80

  involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices · CPC title