System and method for charging or powering devices, such as robots, electric vehicles, or other mobile devices or equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9722447-B2
Application number	US-201313829786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Mar 21, 2012
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

In accordance with various embodiments, described herein are systems and methods for enabling efficient wireless power transfer and charging of devices and/or batteries, including in some embodiments freedom of placement of the devices and/or batteries in one or multiple (e.g. one, two or three) dimensions, and/or improved features such as ease of use and compatibility. Exemplary applications include beam inductive or magnetic charging and power for use in, e.g., mobile, electronic, electric, lighting or other devices, batteries, power tools, kitchen, military, medical, industrial tools or systems, robots, trains, buses, trucks and/or vehicles, and other environments.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for enabling efficient wireless power transfer and charging of one or more devices or batteries, comprising:
a charger coil and a receiver coil that, via an alternating current magnetic field that enables wireless power transfer from the charger coil to the receiver coil, wherein the receiver coil is electrically connected to the one or more devices or batteries for a vehicle like an automobile, train, bus, truck, electric bicycle, or other personal mobility or moving equipment like a Segway or robot;
one or more magnetic guiding layers sized for improved alignment and energy transfer efficiency that extend beyond one or more of the charger coil or receiver coil dimensions, and allow returning flux lines of the magnetic field to close on themselves, the magnetic field lines being substantially perpendicular to the one or more magnetic guiding layers, and provide a low reluctance path for the magnetic field and improved power transfer and charging efficiency; and a means for detecting and aligning the charger and receiver coils using RFID, NFC, Bluetooth or other electromagnetic or optical alignment or magnetic coupling or magnetic pinging means to optimize energy or power transfer efficiency.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger coil and receiver coil and magnetics axes are crossed to provide overlap of some portion of the charger and receiver coil and magnetics over a wide range of x and y axes, allowing for a degree of positioning tolerance.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic emission from the charger is generally contained to the location where the receiver is in alignment with.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system allows power transfer to one or more devices being charged at a variety of positions on the charger.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system enables power transfer to or charging of a moving device, including use of one or more charger coils along a length upon which the device to be powered or charged moves.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is one or more of a mobile, electronic, electric, lighting, battery, power tool, kitchen, military, medical, industrial tools or other device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein a communication between the charger and the receiver can follow one or a number of protocols, including in the case of an electric vehicle such as a wireless charging specific or automotive-specific procedures or protocols including DSRC, Bluetooth or WiFi.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the approach of a device including a receiver, such as a vehicle or system or robot to be charged, has been detected and verified through a communication such as RFID, Bluetooth, WiFi, Wireless USB, NFC, Felica, Zigbee, Wireless Gigabit (WiGig), WPC, A4WP, DSRC, or a ping or other communication is communicated from the charger to energize and power the receiver circuit.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger and receiver can communicate information such as one or more output voltage, current, power, device or battery status, validation ID for receiver, end of charge or various charge status information, receiver battery, device, or coil temperature, or user data such as information about the user, verification of ability to account and charge a customer for a charging/power service, or other data that can be used to perform system or firmware updates, diagnostics, or other tasks.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein initiation of wireless charging can be signaled to the device, such as a vehicle, to provide visual or auditory signal to the user, disable the device or vehicle movement during charge, or other actions.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein initiation of wireless charging of the device, such as a vehicle can include billing/tolling of the electricity used during charging in public locations such as public or office parking, hotel, restaurant, roadway or other structures.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger, receiver or the device or vehicle connected to the receiver communicates with the owner or a designated person by text, email, telephone message, custom application or other means of communication about the state of charging of the device or vehicle, error conditions or other important information.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger or the receiver or the vehicle can also be programmed to contact utility service providers and optimize the charge commencement or termination time or charge rate for optimum network load, minimum electricity cost or other desirable performance attributes.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein a communication such as RFID or NFC, Bluetooth, or other wireless detection between the charger and receiver can be used to indicate approach of a valid device such as a vehicle.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein once a rough or approximate alignment is reached a wireless communication link between the charger and receiver and the battery and its charging system can be established and diagnostic tests, verification or other actions performed.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein a proximity sensor such as a capacitive, resistive, laser or diode or rangefinder, optical, thermal, photocell, radar, sonar, ultrasonic, weight or cameras or infrared sensors or other method of detection can be used to determine the presence of a live animal or person in a region of high magnetic field close to the charger or between the charger and receiver coils and take appropriate action.

17. A method for enabling efficient wireless power transfer and charging of one or more devices or batteries, comprising the steps of:
providing a charger coil and a receiver coil, that, via an alternating current magnetic field that enables wireless transfer from the charger coil to the receiver at a noncontact distance, wherein the receiver coil is electrically connected to the one or more devices and or batteries for a vehicle like an automobile, train, bus, truck, electric bicycle, or other personal mobility or moving equipment like a Segway or robot,
one or more magnetic guiding layers sized for improved alignment and energy transfer efficiency, extend beyond one or more of the charger coil or receiver coil dimensions, and allow returning flux lines of the magnetic field to close on themselves, the magnetic field lines being substantially perpendicular to the one or more magnetic guiding layers and; providing a low reluctance path for the magnetic field and improved power transfer and charging efficiency; detecting and aligning the charger and receiver coils using RFID, NFC, Bluetooth or other electromagnetic or optical alignment or magnetic coupling or magnetic pinging means to optimize energy or power transfer efficiency.

Assignees

• Mojo Mobility Inc

Inventors

• Partovi Afshin

Classifications

• B60L53/122

  Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil · CPC title

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title

• H02J50/90

  involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

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

• B60L53/124

  Detection or removal of foreign bodies · CPC title