Method for wirelessly recharging electric vehicle using visible light communication and vehicle for carrying out the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016185236-A1
Application number	US-201514795780-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2015
Priority date	Dec 24, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for efficiently retrieving a charger to supply electric power to an electric vehicle and achieving maximum wireless recharging efficiency, using visible light communication, upon wirelessly recharging the electric vehicle. Wireless visible light communication can be realized, using the existing head lamp installed at the vehicle. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to provide separate communication equipment. In addition, enhanced physical security, efficient charger retrieval, and maximum wireless recharging efficiency can be achieved by virtue of straightness of light.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wireless recharging system of a vehicle comprising:
a light emitter operating as a transmitting stage of visible light communication recoginized by a wireless charger; a wireless charging unit for receiving electric power from the wireless charger; a wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the wireless charger in a wireless manner; and a controller for performing a control operation to transmit identification information of the wireless communication unit to a light receiver of the wireless charger via the light emitter, a control operation to receive, from the wireless charger, information of the wireless charger when the wireless charger is connected to the wireless communication unit, using the identification information, and a control operation to start wireless charging through the wireless charging unit, using the information of the wireless charger.

2 . The wireless recharging system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a light receiver for receiving guide information as to a parking position from the wireless charger through visible light communication with the wireless charger.

3 . The wireless recharging system according to claim 2 , wherein the light emitter comprises a first light emitter arranged at a left side of a front portion of the vehicle, and a second light emitter arranged at a right side of the front portion of the vehicle, each light emitter emitting visible light have unique identification information.

4 . The wireless recharging system according to claim 3 , wherein:
the controller performs a control operation to further transmit first identification information corresponding to the first light emitter to the light receiver of the wireless charger via the first light emitter; and the controller performs a control operation to further transmit second identification information corresponding to the second light emitter to the light receiver of the wireless charger via the second light emitter.

5 . The wireless recharging system according to claim 4 , wherein the light receiver of the wireless recharging system of the vehicle recognizes the guide information composed by the wireless charger using at least one of the received first identification information and second identification information.

6 . The wireless recharging system according to claim 1 , wherein the light emitter comprises a headlight having at least a portion constituted by a light emitting diode (LED).

7 . The wireless recharging system according to claim 1 , wherein the identification information of the wireless communication unit comprises at least one of a Bluetooth device address (BD_ADDR), a Wi-Fi media access control (MAC) address, and a wireless access password.

8 . A method for controlling a wireless recharging system of a vehicle, comprising:
transmitting identification information of a wireless communication unit to a light receiver of a wireless charger via a light emitter; receiving, from the wireless charger, information of the wireless charger when the wireless charger is connected to the wireless communication unit, using the identification information; and starting wireless charging through the wireless charging unit, using the information of the wireless charger.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving guide information as to a parking position from the wireless charger via a light receiver of the vehicle, using visible light communication.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the light emitter comprises a first light emitter arranged at a left side of a front portion of the vehicle, and a second light emitter arranged at a right side of the front portion of the vehicle, each light emitter emitting visible light have unique identification information.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the transmitting the identification information of the wireless communication unit to the light receiver of the wireless charger comprises:
transmitting first identification information corresponding to the first light emitter to the light receiver of the wireless charger via the first light emitter; and transmitting second identification information corresponding to the second light emitter to the light receiver of the wireless charger via the second light emitter.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the light receiver of the wireless recharging system of the vehicle recognizes the guide information composed by the wireless charger using at least one of the received first identification information and second identification information.

13 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the light emitter comprises a headlight having at least a portion constituted by a light emitting diode (LED).

14 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the identification information of the wireless communication unit comprises at least one of a Bluetooth device address (BD_ADDR), a Wi-Fi media access control (MAC) address, and a wireless access password.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee So Jin
• Kim Ji Hwon
• Yang Chang Min

Classifications

• H02J50/80

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

• Y02T90/16

  Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y04S30/14

  Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title

• B60L53/65

  involving identification of vehicles or their battery types · CPC title