Winch system for implementing power transfer

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a "winch system to enable power transfer." A vehicle is disclosed that includes a vehicle main battery, a wheel and tire assembly, an inductive charging device, and a cable. The wheel and tire assembly can include a tire and a wheel. The inductive charging device can be installed in the wheel and tire assembly. The inductive charging device can receive power from an inductive power source and transfer power to the vehicle main battery. The cable can vertically move the wheel and tire assembly between a lowered position and a stowed position and enable power transfer between the wheel and tire assembly and the vehicle main battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, and more specifically to winch systems for realizing the transmission of electricity in electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] In many vehicles, such as pickup trucks, the spare tire is typically stored in the vehicle chassis to maximize space in the cargo bed or cargo area. Typically, the spare tire is connected to the chassis via a mechanical winch system (or crane cable). A mechanical winch system includes a cable that moves the spare tire vertically between raised / retracted and lowered positions, facilitating easy storage and access for the user. The mechanical winch system uses a drum or pulley to wind and unwind the cable to move the spare tire vertically between raised / retracted and lowered positions. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This disclosure describes a spare wheel and tire assembly that can be mounted on the chassis of a vehicle via a winch system. The spare wheel and tire assembly may include an inductive charging device that can receive power from an external inductive power source and transfer power to the vehicle's main battery (or traction battery). The inductive power source may include a first electromagnetic coil (e.g., a copper coil), and the inductive charging device may include a second electromagnetic coil. When the inductive charging device and / or the vehicle can be located near the inductive power source, the first and second electromagnetic coils may magnetically or via induction from the inductive power source to the inductive charging device facilitate power transfer. The spare wheel and tire assembly may also include a backup battery that can receive and store power from the inductive charging device, which can be supplied to the vehicle's main battery when needed.

[0004] The winch system may include multiple components, including but not limited to one or more cables, a crank or motor for winding or unwinding the cables, and a drum or pulley for facilitating the winding and unwinding of the cables. The winch system can control the movement of the spare wheel tire assembly. In some aspects, the winch system can move the spare wheel tire assembly vertically (e.g., closer to or farther from the ground, such as from a retracted position to a resting position on the ground / from a resting position on the ground to a retracted position; and depending on the conditions, may include slight tilting or swaying, and therefore should therefore be interpreted as including substantially vertically) so that the inductive charging device can approach and be positioned above the inductive power source (which may be located on the ground), thereby enabling the spare wheel tire assembly to receive power from the inductive power source. The winch system can also facilitate power transfer between the spare wheel tire assembly and the vehicle's main battery.

[0005] In some aspects, the winch system may include a single cable that can vertically move the spare wheel assembly between a lowered position and a retracted position, and facilitate power transfer between the spare wheel assembly (e.g., via an inductive charging device and / or a backup battery) and the vehicle's main battery. In this case, the single cable may include an electrical conductor capable of facilitating power transfer. In other aspects, the winch system may include different cables, such as a first cable and a second cable, to cause vertical movement of the spare wheel assembly and facilitate power transfer. In this case, the first cable may vertically move the spare wheel assembly closer to or further from the ground, and the second cable may facilitate power transfer between the spare wheel assembly and the vehicle's main battery. In this exemplary aspect, the second cable may include an electrical conductor capable of facilitating power transfer, and the first cable may not include an electrical conductor.

[0006] The vehicle may also include a tire management unit that can operate a winch system (including the aforementioned cables). This unit can control the vertical movement of the spare wheel tire assembly via the winch system to align the inductive charging device with the inductive power source. In some aspects, the unit can cause the spare wheel tire assembly to move to a lowered position via the winch system to receive power. In the lowered position, the inductive charging device included in the spare wheel tire assembly can be positioned close to the inductive power source and thus can receive power from the inductive power source via induction, as described above. When the spare wheel tire assembly is in the lowered position, the unit can also transfer power from the inductive charging device to the vehicle's main battery via the winch system.

[0007] In a further aspect, the unit can cause the inductive charging device included in the spare wheel assembly to receive power from the inductive charging device and store the power in the spare battery. The power stored in the spare battery can be used at a later stage to transfer power to the vehicle's main battery via a cable when needed. When the spare wheel assembly is in the retracted position, the unit can realize the power transfer from the spare battery to the vehicle's main battery.

[0008] In some aspects, the unit can prevent the vehicle from moving when the spare wheel assembly is in the lowered position. In one exemplary aspect, when a user attempts to move the vehicle and the spare wheel assembly is in the lowered position, the unit can automatically move the spare wheel assembly to the retracted position. In another exemplary aspect, when a user attempts to move the vehicle and the spare wheel assembly is in the lowered position, the unit can detach the spare wheel assembly from the cable.

[0009] This disclosure discloses a vehicle that charges itself using a spare wheel tire assembly and a winch system. When the spare wheel tire assembly is in a lowered position, the vehicle facilitates the connection of a power transmission device (e.g., an inductive power source). This disclosure further enables the spare wheel tire assembly to transmit power to another vehicle.

[0010] This document provides in detail these and other advantages of the present disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Specific embodiments are illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals may be used to indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and / or components other than those shown in the drawings, and some elements and / or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and / or components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, singular and plural terms may be used interchangeably depending on the context.

[0012] Figure 1 An example vehicle according to this disclosure is depicted.

[0013] Figure 2 A block diagram of a system for facilitating power transfer between a spare wheel tire assembly and a vehicle's main battery, according to this disclosure, is depicted.

[0014] Figure 3 An example view of the spare wheel tire assembly in the lowered and retracted positions according to this disclosure is depicted.

[0015] Figure 4 An example connection of a spare wheel tire assembly according to this disclosure is depicted.

[0016] Figure 5 A flowchart depicts an example method for facilitating power transfer between a spare wheel tire assembly and a vehicle's main battery, according to this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The present disclosure will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to be limiting.

[0018] Figure 1 An example vehicle 100 according to this disclosure is depicted. In the description... Figure 1 You can refer to this when... Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4Vehicle 100 can take the form of any passenger or commercial vehicle, such as a car, work vehicle, crossover, van, minivan, taxi, bus, etc. Furthermore, vehicle 100 can be a manually driven vehicle and / or configured to operate in fully autonomous (e.g., driverless) and / or partially autonomous modes. In some respects, vehicle 100 can be an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid vehicle. The vehicle may include a main battery 102 (or traction battery) that can provide energy for vehicle propulsion.

[0019] Vehicle 100 may include four main wheel tire assemblies 104a, 104b, etc. (hereinafter referred to as main wheel tire assemblies 104) having corresponding tires and wheels, which can be connected to corresponding vehicle axles. Vehicle 100 may also include a spare wheel tire assembly 106 (or spare wheel and tire assembly 106) having tires and wheels. Spare wheel tire assembly 106 may be positioned anywhere on vehicle 100 and may be connected to vehicle axles if needed (e.g., when any of the main wheel tire assemblies 104 may fail to function as required). In some aspects, spare wheel tire assembly 106 may be positioned / mounted on vehicle components, which may include, but are not limited to, vehicle cargo boxes, vehicle racks, or troughs located in the rear portion of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle tailgate). In an exemplary aspect, spare wheel tire assembly 106 may be positioned / mounted at the chassis of vehicle 100, such as... Figure 1 As shown in the image.

[0020] Vehicle 100 may also include an inductive charging device 108, which may be installed in and is part of the spare wheel tire assembly 106. In some aspects, the inductive charging device 108 may be installed at the center of the wheel in the spare wheel tire assembly 106, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application 18 / 943,658, filed November 11, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0021] The inductive charging device 108 can receive power from an inductive power source 110, which may be located on the ground (part of a road where the vehicle 100 may be situated). In some aspects, the inductive power source 110 may be located below the ground. The inductive power source 110 may be a static or movable device. The inductive charging device 108 can receive power from the inductive power source 110 when the inductive charging device 108 and / or the vehicle 100 can approach and be positioned above the inductive power source 110. The inductive power source 110 may include a first electromagnetic coil (e.g., a copper coil), and the inductive charging device 108 may include a second electromagnetic coil, which may magnetically or via induction from the inductive power source 110 to the inductive charging device 108 when the inductive charging device 108 and / or the vehicle 100 are positioned above the inductive power source 110. The inductive charging device 108 (or the vehicle 100) may not require a wired connection to the inductive power source 110 to receive power, and the inductive power source 110 may facilitate “wireless” power transfer to the inductive charging device 108. In other words, when the inductive charging device 108 is placed within a predetermined distance of the inductive power source 110, the inductive charging device 108 can wirelessly receive power from the inductive power source 110.

[0022] The inductive charging device 108 can be connected to the vehicle's main battery 102 (via a winch system described later below) and can deliver power to the vehicle's main battery 102 to charge it. In some aspects, the inductive charging device 108 can also provide power to other vehicle components / accessories to enable their operation. In a further aspect, the inductive charging device 108 can also provide power to other vehicles, and is not limited to providing power only to vehicle 100 (or only to the vehicle's main battery 102).

[0023] In a further aspect, vehicle 100 may include a backup battery 112 that can be installed in a spare wheel tire assembly 106. Backup battery 112 can receive power from inductive charging device 108 and store the received power. In a further aspect, backup battery 112 can transfer power to vehicle main battery 102 when needed. In some aspects, backup battery 112 can also provide power to other vehicle components / accessories and can also provide power to other vehicles (when needed). Additionally, backup battery 112 can also receive power from vehicle main battery 102 (if needed).

[0024] Vehicle 100 may also include a winch system or a crane (in Figure 2Shown as a winch system 240, this winch system or crane can connect the spare wheel tire assembly 106 to the chassis of the vehicle. The winch system allows a user to move the spare wheel tire assembly 106 vertically closer to the ground (and away from the vehicle chassis) or away from the ground (and closer to the vehicle chassis). When the user wishes to access the spare wheel tire assembly 106, the winch system can lower the spare wheel tire assembly 106 to move it closer to the ground. After using the spare wheel tire assembly 106, the winch system can raise the spare wheel tire assembly 106 back to its original position below the vehicle 100. The winch system may include multiple components, including but not limited to one or more cables (e.g., Figure 1 The cable shown is 114; a crank or motor for winding or unwinding the cable; a drum or pulley that can facilitate winding and unwinding the cable.

[0025] In an exemplary aspect, the winch system may include a single cable (i.e., Figure 1 The cable 114 shown is a single cable that can vertically move the spare wheel tire assembly 106 between a lowered position and a retracted position, and enables power transfer between the spare wheel tire assembly 106 and the vehicle's main battery 102. In this respect, cable 114 may include an electrical conductor capable of enabling power transfer. On the other hand, the winch system may include two different cables, such as a first cable 402 and a second cable 404, as shown. Figure 4 As shown in the diagram. The first cable allows the spare wheel tire assembly 106 to move vertically between a lowered position and a retracted position, and the second cable enables power transfer between the spare wheel tire assembly 106 and the vehicle's main battery 102. In this respect, the second cable may include an electrical conductor for power transfer, and the first cable may not include any electrical conductor. This will be discussed later in conjunction with... Figure 4 To describe different aspects of cables.

[0026] In some respects, the spare wheel tire assembly 106 can be mounted on the vehicle chassis, and when the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is in the retracted position, it can contact the chassis, such as... Figure 3 As shown in view 302. When the spare wheel assembly 106 is in the retracted position, a gap "G" may exist between the ground (or the inductive power source 110) and the spare wheel assembly 106. Furthermore, when the spare wheel assembly 106 is in the lowered position, it may be positioned close to the ground, as shown in view 302. Figure 3 As shown in view 304. When the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is in the lowered position, the spare wheel tire assembly 106 can effectively receive power from the inductive power source 110 because in this position, the inductive charging device 108 is close to or in contact with the inductive power source 110.

[0027] In some respects, the user (or vehicle 100) can move the spare wheel assembly 106 away from vehicle 100, and when the spare wheel assembly 106 is in the lowered position, it is positioned above the inductive power supply 110. In this case, the spare wheel assembly 106 can still be connected to vehicle 100 via a winch system (e.g., cable 114); however, the spare wheel assembly 106 can be physically positioned away from vehicle 100 at a certain distance. In this case, the winch system can unwind cable 114 to allow the user (or vehicle 100) to move the spare wheel assembly 106 away from vehicle 100 until a predetermined distance (which may be equivalent to the cable length).

[0028] As described above, in one exemplary aspect, cable 114 can facilitate the transfer of power between the spare wheel tire assembly 106 and the vehicle's main battery 102. Cable 114 may include electrical conductors that can facilitate the transfer of power. Specifically, cable 114 can facilitate the transfer of power from the inductive charging device 108 to the vehicle's main battery 102. In other words, the inductive charging device 108 can transfer power to the vehicle's main battery 102 via cable 114. In an additional aspect, cable 114 can facilitate the transfer of power from the backup battery 112 to the vehicle's main battery 102. In other words, in this case, the backup battery 112 can transfer power to the vehicle's main battery 102 via cable 114. In some aspects, cable 114 can also facilitate the transfer of power from the vehicle's main battery 102 to the backup battery 112.

[0029] Cable 114 may include a first connector "C1" at its proximal end and a second connector "C2" at its distal end. The first connector "C1" may engage with the vehicle's main battery 102 (e.g., via internal wiring), and the second connector "C2" may engage with the backup battery 112 and / or the inductive charging device 108 to facilitate power transfer, as described above. In some aspects, the backup battery 112 and / or the inductive charging device 108 may include an electrical connector that can engage with the second connector "C2" to facilitate power transfer between the backup wheel tire assembly 106 (i.e., the backup battery 112 and / or the inductive charging device 108) and the vehicle's main battery 102. In other aspects, the backup battery 112 and / or the inductive charging device 108 may include an inductive power transfer pad that can engage with the second connector "C2" (which may also include an inductive power transfer pad) to facilitate power transfer between the backup wheel tire assembly 106 and the vehicle's main battery 102. In this context, the inductive power transfer pad can be engineered to contact when the winch system is engaged or magnetically coupled or attached via another mechanical component (such as a bolt or other threaded fastener).

[0030] Vehicle 100 may also include a tire management unit capable of operating a winch system (including the aforementioned cables). Figure 2 (Seen as tire management unit 212). In some aspects, this unit can control the vertical movement of the spare wheel tire assembly 106 between a lowered position and a retracted position. Additionally, this unit can realize power transfer between the spare wheel tire assembly 106 and the vehicle's main battery 102. For example, the unit can lower the spare wheel tire assembly 106 to allow a user to access it or to allow it to receive power from the inductive power source 110, for example, based on user input via the vehicle's human-machine interface, user device, etc. The unit can also position the spare wheel tire assembly 106 such that the inductive charging device 108 can be aligned with the inductive power source 110 to facilitate efficient power transfer. The unit can also control the power transfer (transfer rate, etc.) from the inductive charging device 108 (or the spare battery 112) to the vehicle's main battery 102.

[0031] In a further aspect, the unit can prevent vehicle movement when the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is in the lowered position. In this case, in one exemplary aspect, when a user attempts to move vehicle 100 and the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is in the lowered position, the unit can automatically move the spare wheel tire assembly 106 to the retracted position to prevent any adverse events. In another exemplary aspect, when a user attempts to move vehicle 100 and the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is in the lowered position, the unit can detach the spare wheel tire assembly 106 from cable 114.

[0032] The following text combines Figure 2 Describe 100 details of another vehicle.

[0033] Vehicle 100 and / or the unit may perform and / or execute operations as described herein in accordance with the owner's manual and safety guidelines. Furthermore, any action taken by the user based on notifications provided by Vehicle 100 shall comply with all rules specific to the location and operation of Vehicle 100 (e.g., federal, state, national, city, etc.). Notifications provided by Vehicle 100 shall be considered advice and shall be followed only in accordance with any rules specific to the location and operation of Vehicle 100.

[0034] Figure 2 A block diagram of a system 200, according to this disclosure, for facilitating power transfer between a spare wheel tire assembly 106 and a vehicle main battery 102 is depicted. In the description... Figure 1 At that time, will refer to Figure 3 .

[0035] System 200 may include vehicles 100 (and other vehicles) that can be communicatively coupled to each other via one or more networks 206. Figure 2 (Not shown in the image) One or more servers 202 (or server 202) and user device 204. User device 204 may be associated with a vehicle user (e.g., a vehicle operator) and may include, for example, a mobile phone, computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, smartwatch, or any other device with communication capabilities. Server 202 may be part of a cloud-based computing infrastructure and may be associated with and / or include a Telematics Service Delivery Network (SDN) that provides digital data services to vehicle 100 and other vehicles that may be part of a vehicle fleet.

[0036] In a further aspect, server 202 may store information associated with the inductive power supply 110, such as information about the capacity and installation location of the inductive power supply 110. When vehicle 100 transmits a request to server 202 to receive such information, server 202 may transmit that information to vehicle 100. For example, when a user may wish to charge the vehicle's main battery 102 via the inductive power supply 110, vehicle 100 may transmit such a request to server 202.

[0037] Network 206 illustrates an example communication infrastructure in which connected devices discussed in various embodiments of this disclosure may communicate. Network 206 may be and / or include the Internet, a private network, a public network, or other configurations operating using any one or more known communication protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), Bluetooth, etc. ® Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi based on the IEEE standard 802.11, Ultra Wideband (UWB), and cellular technologies such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), High-Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPDA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and 5G, to name just a few.

[0038] Vehicle 100 may include multiple units, including but not limited to vehicle computer 208, vehicle control unit (VCU) 210, and tire management unit 212 (or unit 212). VCU 210 may include multiple electronic control units (ECUs) 214 that communicate with vehicle computer 208.

[0039] In some respects, according to this disclosure, the vehicle computer 208 and / or unit 212 can be installed anywhere within the vehicle 100. Furthermore, the vehicle computer 208 can operate as a functional part of unit 212. The vehicle computer 208 can be or include an electronic vehicle controller having one or more processors 216 and memory 218. Additionally, unit 212 can be separate from the vehicle computer 208 (e.g., Figure 2 (as shown in the diagram), or it can be integrated as part of the car computer 208.

[0040] Processor 216 can communicate with one or more memory devices (e.g., memory 218 and / or memory) of a corresponding computing system. Figure 2 The processor 216 may communicate with one or more external databases (not shown). The processor 216 may utilize the memory 218 to store programs in code and / or store data to execute aspects of this disclosure. The memory 218 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium or memory storing tire management program code. The memory 218 may include any or a combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), etc.) and may include any one or more non-volatile memory elements (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), etc.).

[0041] In some respects, VCU 210 may share a power bus with vehicle computer 208 and may be configured and / or programmed to coordinate data between vehicle 100's systems, connected servers (e.g., server 202), and other vehicles operating as part of a vehicle fleet. VCU 210 may include or communicate with any combination of ECUs 214, such as Body Control Module (BCM) 220, Engine Control Module (ECM) 222, Transmission Control Module (TCM) 224, Telematics Control Unit (TCU) 226, Driver Assistance Technology (DAT) Controller 228, etc.

[0042] VCU 210 may also include and / or communicate with a vehicle perception system (VPS) 230, which has connectivity with and / or controls one or more vehicle sensing systems 232 (or “sensor units”). The vehicle sensing system 232 may include one or more vehicle sensors, including but not limited to radio detection and ranging (radar) sensors, seating area latch sensors, seating area sensors, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors, door sensors, proximity sensors, temperature sensors, tilt and motion sensors, wheel sensors, ambient weather sensors, ambient light sensors, vehicle interior and exterior cameras, one or more rain sensors, humidity sensors, tire pressure sensors, ultrasonic sensors, etc., configured to detect and locate objects inside and outside the vehicle 100 using radio waves. In some aspects, the vehicle sensing system 232 may capture input (e.g., images) associated with the vehicle's surrounding environment. For example, an exterior vehicle camera may capture images of the area / space around the vehicle 100, which may assist the vehicle 100 in positioning the inductive charging device 108 above the inductive power supply 110.

[0043] In some respects, VCU 210 can control vehicle operation and implement one or more sets of instructions received from user equipment 204, one or more sets of instructions stored in memory 218, including instructions that operate as part of unit 212.

[0044] TCU 226 can be configured and / or programmed to provide vehicle connectivity to wireless computing systems on and outside the vehicle 100, and may include a navigation (NAV) receiver 234 for receiving and processing GPS signals, a BLE module (BLEM) 236, a Wi-Fi transceiver, a UWB transceiver, and / or other wireless transceivers configurable for wireless communication (including cellular communication) between the vehicle 100 and other systems (e.g., user device 204, key fob, NFC device, etc.), computers, and modules. Figure 2 (Not shown in the image). NAV receiver 234 can determine the real-time vehicle location. TCU 226 can communicate with ECU 214 via bus.

[0045] ECU 214 can control various aspects of vehicle operation and communication using inputs from the human driver, inputs from the autonomous vehicle controller, unit 212, and / or wireless signal inputs received from other connected devices (such as user device 204, server 202, etc.) via wireless connection.

[0046] The BCM 220 typically integrates sensors, vehicle performance indicators, and variable reactors associated with vehicle systems. It may also include processor-based power distribution circuitry that controls functions associated with the vehicle body, such as lights, windows, safety devices, cameras, fans, headlights, audio systems, speakers, wipers, door locks and entry controls, mirrors, various comfort controls, housing, winch system 240, etc. The BCM 220 can also operate as a gateway for bus and network interfaces to communicate with remote ECUs ( Figure 2 Interact with (not shown in the image).

[0047] The DAT controller 228 can provide Level 1 to Level 3 automated driving and driver assistance functions, which may include features such as active parking assist, vehicle reversing assist, and adaptive cruise control. The DAT controller 228 can also provide various aspects of user and environmental inputs that can be used for user authentication.

[0048] In some respects, the vehicle computer 208 may connect to the infotainment system 238 (or the vehicle human-machine interface (HMI) 238). The infotainment system 238 may include a touchscreen interface portion and may include voice recognition features, and the ability to identify users based on facial recognition, voice recognition, fingerprint recognition, or other biometric methods. In other respects, the infotainment system 238 may also receive user commands / inputs via the touchscreen interface portion, and / or display notifications / recommendations, navigation maps, etc., on the touchscreen interface portion.

[0049] The vehicle 100 may also include a main battery 102, a spare wheel tire assembly 106, and a winch system 240 (which includes cables 114).

[0050] The computing system architecture of the automotive computer 208, VCU 210, and / or unit 212 may omit certain computing modules. This should be easily understood. Figure 2 The computing environment depicted herein is an example of possible implementations according to this disclosure and should therefore not be considered restrictive or exclusive.

[0051] Depending on some aspects, unit 212 may be integrated with and / or performed as part of ECU 214. Unit 212 may include transceiver 242, processor 244, and computer-readable storage 246, whether it is integrated with vehicle computer 208 or ECU 214 or operates as a stand-alone computing system in vehicle 100.

[0052] Transceiver 242 can receive information / input from one or more external devices or systems (e.g., user device 204, server 202, etc.) via network 206. For example, transceiver 242 can receive input from a user via user device 204 and network 206. Furthermore, transceiver 242 can transmit notifications to external devices or systems. Additionally, transceiver 242 can receive information / input from components of vehicle 100, such as infotainment system 238, VCU 210, vehicle main battery 102 (e.g., receiving real-time battery SoC level from vehicle main battery 102), spare wheel tire assembly 106 (e.g., receiving real-time battery SoC level from spare battery 112, operational status of inductive charging device 108, etc.). Furthermore, transceiver 242 can transmit notification / command signals to components of vehicle 100 (such as VCU 210, infotainment system 238, BCM 220 (e.g., to control winch system 240)).

[0053] Processor 244 and memory 246 may be the same as or similar to processor 216 and memory 218, respectively. In some aspects, processor 244 may utilize memory 246 to store programs in code form and / or store data for execution of various aspects according to this disclosure. Memory 246 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium or memory storing tire management program code.

[0054] In operation, processor 244 can receive a trigger signal to charge the vehicle's main battery 102 via the spare wheel tire assembly 106. In some aspects, when a user desires to charge the vehicle's main battery 102 via the spare wheel tire assembly 106 (e.g., when the state of charge (SOC) level of the vehicle's main battery 102 may be below a threshold), processor 244 can receive the trigger signal from the user device 204 or infotainment system 238. In other aspects, when the SOC level of the vehicle's main battery 102 may be below a threshold, processor 244 can receive the trigger signal from any other vehicle component.

[0055] In response to receiving a trigger signal, processor 244 can determine the location of inductive power source 110 via information obtained from server 202. In response to determining this location, processor 244 can assist the user in moving the spare wheel assembly 106 (and / or vehicle 100) above the inductive power source 110. Alternatively, processor 244 can automatically move the spare wheel assembly 106 (e.g., via winch system 240) and / or vehicle 100 above the inductive power source 110. When the spare wheel assembly 106 can be aligned with the inductive power source 110, processor 244 can cause the spare wheel assembly 106 (via winch system 240) to be lowered and positioned above and near (e.g., touching) the inductive power source 110 to enable efficient wireless power transfer from the inductive power source 110 to the inductive charging device 108. In other words, when the spare wheel tire assembly 106 can be aligned with the inductive power supply 110, the processor 244 can cause the spare wheel tire assembly 106 to move to a lowered position (e.g., via the winch system 240) via the winch system 240. Figure 3 (As shown in view 304).

[0056] In some aspects, the processor 244 can cause the spare wheel tire assembly 106 to move to a lowered position based on user input / instructions. In response to the spare wheel tire assembly 106 being moved to the lowered position, the processor 244 can cause the inductive charging device 108 to transfer power (which the inductive charging device 108 receives from the inductive power source 110) to the vehicle's main battery 102 via the winch system 240 (e.g., cable 114). In some aspects, the spare wheel tire assembly 106 can remain connected to the winch system 240 (e.g., cable 114) while the inductive charging device 108 is receiving power from the inductive power source 110, thus enabling power transfer from the inductive charging device 108 to the vehicle's main battery 102. In this way, when the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is in the lowered position, the processor 244 enables power transfer via the spare wheel tire assembly 106 and the winch system 240 (e.g., cable 114). Therefore, the spare wheel tire assembly 106 can wirelessly receive power from the inductive power source 110 and supply the received power to the vehicle's main battery 102 via a wired connection (e.g., via cable 114).

[0057] In a further aspect, processor 244 can cause inductive charging device 108 to receive power from inductive power source 110 and store the received power in backup battery 112. The power stored in backup battery 112 can be used at a later stage to transfer power to vehicle main battery 102 via cable 114 when needed. In some aspects, when the spare wheel assembly 106 is in the retracted position, processor 244 can cause / enable power transfer from backup battery 112 to vehicle main battery 102. In this way, power continuity from spare wheel assembly 106 can be maintained even when spare wheel assembly 106 is in the retracted position. In a further aspect, even when spare wheel assembly 106 is in the lowered position, processor 244 can cause / enable power transfer from backup battery 112 to vehicle main battery 102.

[0058] In some aspects, when the spare wheel assembly 106 is in the lowered position, the processor 244 may output an alarm notification to the user via the user device 204 or the infotainment system 238 requesting the user not to move the vehicle 100. In some aspects, the processor 244 may output this notification before lowering the spare wheel assembly 106. Additionally, when the spare wheel assembly 106 is in the lowered position, the processor 244 may prevent the vehicle 100 from moving. In an exemplary aspect, the processor 244 may provide a override mechanism that, even when the spare wheel assembly 106 is in the lowered position, allows the user to move the vehicle 100 in some circumstances.

[0059] In some aspects, when a user desires to move vehicle 100 and the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is in a lowered position (e.g., using the aforementioned override mechanism), the user can request or notify processor 244 via user device 204 or infotainment system 238. In this case, when the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is in the lowered position, processor 244 can obtain a request (or notification or "first request") from the user for vehicle movement. Processor 244 can obtain the first request via infotainment system 238 or user device 204. In response to obtaining the first request, processor 244 can perform one or more predetermined actions. In an exemplary aspect, the predetermined actions may include automatically moving the spare wheel tire assembly 106 from the lowered position to the retracted position via winch system 240 (e.g., cable 114) to prevent any adverse events.

[0060] In another exemplary aspect, the predetermined action may include disengaging the winch system 240 (e.g., cable 114) from the spare wheel tire assembly 106. The processor 244 may disengage the winch system 240 from the spare wheel tire assembly 106 via one or more different mechanisms. For example, the processor 244 may disengage via a quick disconnect mechanism, pyrotechnics, pyrotechnics bolts, pyrotechnics shears, a pyrotechnics ejection mechanism, or an actuation-based mechanism (which may be part of the spare wheel tire assembly 106 and / or the winch system 240). In some aspects, the spare wheel tire assembly 106 and / or the winch system 240 may include a shearing mechanism that can cut the cable 114 to immediately stop power delivery when the user moves (or desires to move) the vehicle 100. Additionally, the spare wheel tire assembly 106 and / or winch system 240 may include a mechanism for cutting cable 114, similar to the tire deflation mechanism used for SORB, and in some cases for cutting tow hook bolts.

[0061] In a further aspect, the processor 244 can disengage the winch system 240 from the spare wheel tire assembly 106 via a reusable actuator-based mechanism (such as a grappling hook or gripper) (without requiring manual labor). The reusable actuator-based mechanism can also facilitate energy exchange between two vehicles (e.g., vehicle 100 and another vehicle). For example, the reusable actuator-based mechanism can be used to lower the spare wheel tire assembly 106 for charging, which can later be retrieved / reclaimed. In this way, other vehicles can use the spare wheel tire assembly 106 for charging or other purposes.

[0062] In a further aspect, for example, when a user desires to use the spare wheel tire assembly 106 in vehicle 100 (e.g., as a replacement for the main wheel tire assembly 104, or when the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is needed to provide power to another vehicle), processor 244 can receive a second request from the user to disengage the winch system 240 from the spare wheel tire assembly 106. Processor 244 can receive the second request via user device 204, infotainment system 238, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) communication, etc. In response to receiving the second request, processor 244 can disengage the spare wheel tire assembly 106 in the same manner as described above. In a further aspect, processor 244 can activate headlights to illuminate the location of the spare wheel tire assembly 106, facilitating convenient positioning of the spare wheel tire assembly 106 within vehicle 100 (or at any other location on the ground).

[0063] Figure 4 An example connection of the spare wheel tire assembly 106 according to this disclosure is depicted. Figure 4 As illustrated in the exemplary aspect, the winch system 240 may include a first cable 402 and a second cable 404 (instead of the single cable 114 as described above). The first cable 402 may be... Figure 3 The spare wheel tire assembly 106 is moved vertically between the lowered position and the retracted position shown. The second cable 404 may include an electrical conductor that enables power transfer between the spare wheel tire assembly 106 and the vehicle's main battery 102. In this configuration, the inductive charging device 108 and / or the spare battery 112 can transfer power to the vehicle's main battery 102 via the second cable 404. The second cable 404 may include a first connector "C1" at its proximal end and a second connector "C2" at its distal end. The first connector "C1" can engage with the vehicle's main battery 102, and the second connector "C2" can engage with the spare battery 112 and / or the inductive charging device 108 to facilitate power transfer, as described above. In some aspects, in this configuration, when a user attempts to move the vehicle 100 while the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is in the lowered position, the processor 244 can disconnect the spare wheel tire assembly 106 from both cables (i.e., the first cable 402 and the second cable 404) to prevent any adverse effects.

[0064] Figure 5 A flowchart depicts an example method 500 for facilitating power transfer between a spare wheel tire assembly 106 and a vehicle main battery 102 according to this disclosure. Further description can be made with reference to the preceding figures. Figure 5The following process is exemplary and is not limited to the steps described below. Furthermore, alternative embodiments may include more or fewer steps than shown or described herein, and may include these steps in a different order than that described in the following example embodiments.

[0065] Method 500 begins at step 502. At step 504, method 500 may include aligning the spare wheel tire assembly 106 with the inductive power source 110 by processor 244. For example, at step 504, processor 244 may cause the spare wheel tire assembly 106 (and / or vehicle 100) to move and position above the inductive power source 110. At step 506, when the spare wheel tire assembly 106 is aligned with the inductive power source 110, processor 244 may move the spare wheel tire assembly 106 to a lowered position via winch system 240. At step 508, method 500 may include enabling the inductive charging device 108 to receive power via cable 114 (or second cable 404) by processor 244. At step 510, method 500 may include enabling power transfer to the vehicle's main battery 102 by processor 244. For example, the processor 244 can transfer power from the inductive charging device 108 or the backup battery 112 to the vehicle's main battery 102 via cable 114 (or the second cable 404).

[0066] At step 512, method 500 stops.

[0067] In the foregoing disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the foregoing disclosure, illustrating specific implementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It should be understood that other implementations and structural changes may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References to “an embodiment,” “embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., in the specification indicate that the described embodiment may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but each embodiment may not necessarily include that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, when features, structures, or characteristics are described in connection with embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize such features, structures, or characteristics in conjunction with other embodiments, whether explicitly described or not.

[0068] Furthermore, where appropriate, the functions described herein may be performed by one or more of the following: hardware, software, firmware, digital components, or analog components. For example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) may be programmed to perform one or more of the systems and programs described herein. Certain terms are used throughout the specification and claims to refer to specific system components. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, components may be referred to by different names. This document is not intended to distinguish between components with different names but identical functions.

[0069] It should also be understood that the word “example” as used herein is intended to be non-exclusive and non-restrictive in nature. More specifically, the word “example” as used herein refers to one of several examples, and it should be understood that there is no undue emphasis or preference for any particular example described.

[0070] Computer-readable media (also known as processor-readable media) include any non-transitory (e.g., tangible) medium that contributes to providing data (e.g., instructions) that can be read by a computer (e.g., by the computer's processor). Such media can take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile and volatile media. A computing device may include computer-executable instructions, wherein the instructions may be executable by one or more computing devices (such as those listed above) and stored on a computer-readable medium.

[0071] Regarding the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc., described herein, it should be understood that although the steps of such processes, etc., are described as occurring in a certain ordered order, such processes can be practiced by performing the described steps in a different order than that described herein. It should also be understood that some steps may be performed simultaneously, other steps may be added, or some steps described herein may be omitted. In other words, the description of processes herein is provided for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments and should in no way be construed as limiting the claims.

[0072] Therefore, it should be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Many embodiments and applications beyond the examples provided will become apparent upon reading the above description. The scope should not be determined by reference to the above description, but rather by reference to the appended claims and the full scope of their equivalents. Future developments in the technology discussed herein are anticipated and expected, and the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In conclusion, it should be understood that modifications and changes are possible with this application.

[0073] Unless expressly indicated otherwise herein, all terms used in the claims are intended to be given their ordinary meaning as understood by one skilled in the art as described herein. Specifically, unless the claims explicitly limit the recitation to the contrary, the use of singular articles such as “a,” “the,” or “the” should be interpreted as one or more of the elements indicated by the recitation. Unless otherwise specifically stated or otherwise understood in the context of use, conditional language such as, in particular, “can,” “may,” “may,” or “may” is generally intended to express that some embodiments may include certain features, elements, and / or steps, while other embodiments may not include certain features, elements, and / or steps. Therefore, such conditional language is generally not intended to imply that one or more embodiments require each feature, element, and / or step in any way.

[0074] According to an embodiment, the first cable and the second cable are part of a winch system.

[0075] According to an embodiment, the inductive charging device is configured to deliver power to the vehicle's main battery via a second cable.

[0076] According to an embodiment, the invention is further characterized by a backup battery installed in the wheel and tire assembly, wherein the backup battery is configured to receive power from an inductive charging device and to transmit power to the vehicle's main battery via a second cable.

[0077] According to an embodiment: the second cable includes a first connector at the near end and a second connector at the far end, the first connector being configured to engage with the vehicle's main battery, and the second connector being configured to engage with at least one of a backup battery or an inductive charging device.

[0078] According to the present invention, a vehicle is provided, the vehicle comprising: a main battery; a wheel and tire assembly having tires and wheels; an inductive charging device installed in the wheel and tire assembly, wherein the inductive charging device is configured to receive power from an inductive power source; and a backup battery installed in the wheel and tire assembly, wherein the backup battery is configured to receive power from the inductive charging device; and a cable configured to: vertically move the wheel and tire assembly between a lowered position and a retracted position; and to realize power transfer between the wheel and tire assembly and the main battery.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising: Vehicle main battery; A wheel and tire assembly having a tire and a wheel; An inductive charging device is installed in the wheel and tire assembly, wherein the inductive charging device is configured to receive power from an inductive power source and to transfer power to the vehicle's main battery. and Cable, the cable being configured as follows: The wheel and tire assembly is moved vertically between the lowered position and the retracted position; and This enables the transfer of power between the wheel and tire assembly and the vehicle's main battery.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cable is part of a winch system.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the inductive charging device is configured to deliver power to the vehicle's main battery via the cable.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a backup battery installed in the wheel and tire assembly, wherein the backup battery is configured to receive power from the inductive charging device and to deliver power to the vehicle's main battery via the cable.

5. The vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein: The cable includes a first connector at the near end and a second connector at the far end. The first connector is configured to engage with the vehicle's main battery, and The second connector is configured to engage with at least one of the backup battery or the inductive charging device.

6. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein at least one of the backup battery or the inductive charging device includes an electrical connector to enable power transfer between the wheel and tire assembly and the vehicle main battery.

7. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein at least one of the backup battery or the inductive charging device includes an inductive power transfer pad to enable power transfer between the wheel and tire assembly and the vehicle main battery.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the wheel and tire assembly is configured to be mounted on the chassis of the vehicle, and wherein the wheel and tire assembly contacts the chassis in the retracted position.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to: When the wheel and tire assembly is in the lowered position, a first request to move the vehicle is received; and Upon receiving the first request, a predetermined action is performed.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to receive the first request via a vehicle human-machine interface or user device.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the predetermined action includes automatically moving the wheel and tire assembly from the lowered position to the stowed position.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the predetermined action includes disengaging the cable from the wheel and tire assembly.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: Receive a second request to disconnect the cable from the wheel and tire assembly; and In response to receiving the second request, the cable is disconnected from the wheel and tire assembly.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to receive the second request via a user device, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, or vehicle-to-the-world (V2X) communication.

15. A vehicle comprising: Vehicle main battery; A wheel and tire assembly having a tire and a wheel; An inductive charging device is installed in the wheel and tire assembly, wherein the inductive charging device is configured to receive power from an inductive power source and to transfer power to the vehicle's main battery. A first cable is configured to vertically move the wheel and tire assembly between a lowered position and a retracted position; and A second cable is configured to enable power transfer between the wheel and tire assembly and the vehicle's main battery.

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