Systems and methods for operating a wireless power transfer system

Abstract

Systems and methods are described herein for reducing communication latency in a wireless power transfer system. A method of switching the wireless power transfer direction between wireless power transfer coils of a vehicle unit and a ground unit comprises: receiving at the ground unit, one or more vehicle unit coil parameters, the one or more vehicle unit coil parameters including a vehicle unit coil position relative to the ground unit coil; determining, based on the vehicle unit coil position relative to the ground unit coil position, a coupling factor between the vehicle unit coil and the ground unit coil; determining, based on the coupling factor, one or more power transfer direction swap parameters; receiving at the ground unit, instructions to perform a power transfer direction swap; and performing, based on the determined one or more power transfer direction swap parameters, the power transfer direction swap.

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