919 results about "Foreign object detection" patented technology

A wireless energy transfer system includes a foreign object debris detection system. The system includes at least one wireless energy transfer source configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field. The foreign object debris may be detected by at least one field gradiometer positioned in the oscillating magnetic field. The voltage of the at least one field gradiometer may be measured using readout circuitry and a feedback loop based on the readings from the gradiometers may be used to control the parameters of the wireless energy source.

A primary device for inductive power transfer to a secondary device is disclosed. The primary device includes a primary coil, the primary device being configured to (i) operate in a first mode during which the primary coil transfers power through inductive coupling to the secondary device, and (ii) operate in a second mode during which a foreign object is detected. The primary device further includes a primary controller configured to operate the primary coil (i) using a first frequency during the first mode, and (ii) using a second frequency during the second mode. A method to detect a foreign object which is in proximity of an inductively coupled environment of a primary device is also disclosed.

A method and system for detecting an object or abnormality on or near a rail track. The system comprises scanning means for scanning on and near a portion of the rail track; and detection means for determining the presence and location of the object or abnormality on or near the portion of the rail track based on information from the scanning means.

This contactless electricity supply device, which contactlessly performs charging of the battery (28) of a vehicle, is provided with: an electricity transmission coil (12) disposed at a road surface; and an electricity reception coil (22) disposed in the vehicle. A foreign object detection coil (13) is provided to the upper surface of the electricity transmission coil (12), and on the basis of induced voltage arising at the foreign object detection coil (13) during a trial electricity supply, foreign objects between the electricity transmission coil (12) and the electricity reception coil (22) are detected.

A contactless power supplying system, which excites a primary coil of a power supplying device to generate an induced electromotive force at a secondary coil of an appliance arranged on the device and supply the induced electromotive force to a load of the appliance, includes a metal foreign object detection device. The metal foreign object detection device includes an antenna coil, an oscillation circuit, and a detection circuit. The oscillation circuit includes a component having a design value that generates oscillation in a range of oscillation conditions from immediately after the oscillation circuit starts to generate oscillation to just before a stable and continuous oscillation condition. The detection circuit detects a suspension of the oscillation or an attenuation in amplitude of the oscillation based on a change in an electric characteristic of the antenna coil caused by a metal foreign object on the power supplying device.

A system and method to detect a foreign object proximate to a source resonator that is part of a wireless energy transfer system. The wireless energy transfer system may be one used to wirelessly charge the batteries of an electric vehicle. Data from a visible light camera and a multiple zone temperature sensor are combined or fused to determine whether a foreign object, such a metallic object or an animal, is in the vicinity of, or in close proximity to, a source resonator. The system controls an electric current provided to the source resonator based on whether a foreign object is detected to reduce or inhibit energy emitted by the source resonator. The visible light camera may be a monochrome or color camera and the temperature sensor may be an infrared camera or a thermopile array.

A power transmission control device provided in a power transmission device of a non-contact power transmission system includes a drive clock signal generation circuit that generates a drive clock signal specifying a drive frequency of a primary coil, a driver control circuit that generates a driver control signal based on the drive clock signal, and outputs the driver control signal to a transmission driver, a waveform detection circuit that detects a change in waveform of an induced voltage signal of the primary coil, and a control circuit that performs foreign object detection based on a detection result of the waveform detection circuit. The drive clock signal generation circuit outputs the drive clock signal set at a foreign object detection frequency during foreign object detection, the foreign object detection frequency being a frequency differing from a normal power transmission frequency.

A wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter (101) providing power to a power receiver (105) via an inductive power signal. The power transmitter (101) and receiver (105) can operate in different modes including a test mode and a power transfer mode. Operating parameters of the power receiver (105) are constrained in the test mode relative (and specifically the loading). A foreign object detector (209) generates a foreign object detection estimate from a comparison of a measured load to an expected load of the inductive power signal when the power receiver is operating in the test mode. A controller (211) enters the power transmitter (101) and receiver (103) into the power transfer mode when the foreign object detection estimate is indicative of no detection of a foreign object. In the power transfer mode, a parasitic power loss detector (207) generates a parasitic power loss detection for the power transfer if a parasitic power loss estimate is outside a range.

The invention discloses a detection device for metal foreign matter. The detection device for metal foreign matter comprises m detection coils uniformly arranged in parallel in the first direction, and n detection coils uniformly arranged in parallel in the second direction, wherein the detection coils in the first direction overlap the detection coils in the second direction. Each detection coil is composed of k coil units, wherein every two coil units form one set from one end of the detection coil, the detection units included in each set are different, the two coil units in each set are equal in area and opposite in winding direction, and when the coil units of the detection coil are placed in a magnetic field, the voltage or current of the detection coil is within a preset value range. The invention further discloses a detection method and a judgment device for metal foreign matter and a wireless charging system. The metal foreign matter detection sensitivity of the wireless charging system is improved.

An apparatus and method for detecting a foreign object in a wireless power transmitting system are provided. In a case in which a foreign object is not detected prior to charging, an attempt to detect a foreign object detection during charging is performed, and when a foreign object is not detected while a power signal is being received, power is limited based on a temperature sensor.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling a wireless power transfer system based upon Inductive Charging Technology using frequency based signaling communication protocol, operable to function in modes of Standby, Digital Ping, Identification, Power Transfer and End of Charge (EOC). The power transfer system comprising at least one wireless power outlet associated with a wireless power transmitter coil and at least one electrical device associated with a wireless power receiver coil, where the wireless power receiver coil is in multi-directional communication with the wireless power transmission of a message transmitter coil. The amount of power transferred is controlled by feedback communication between the receiver and the transmitter configured to increase or NO decrease power. More specifically, the present disclosure supports wireless power transfer incorporating transmission opportunity extended signaling supporting uni-directional and bi-directional communication enabling data transfer over extended range, higher power levels of power transfer and improved foreign object detection functionality.

An image reading apparatus includes: a light source that irradiates a document; a sensor that receives reflection light reflected from the document; a reference member that is read by the sensor; and an abnormal site detection unit that detects, using first reading data acquired by reading the reference member according to a first reading condition set to the light source or the sensor and second reading data acquired by reading the reference member according to a second reading condition, which is different from the first reading condition, set to the light source or the sensor, abnormal sites in the first reading data or the second reading data.

An energy receiver includes: a power receiver coil configured to wirelessly receive power transmitted from a power transmitter; a detection section configured to detect a foreign object; and a power storage section configured to supply power to the detection section during detection of the foreign object.

A wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter (101) arranged to provide a power transfer to a power receiver (105) via a wireless inductive power signal. A parasitic power loss detector (207) is arranged to detect a parasitic power loss for the power transfer, and a user indicator (209) is arranged to initialize a user alert in response to the detection of the parasitic power loss. The system comprises an input (211) for receiving user inputs; and a controller (213) which is arranged to initiate an adaptation of a parasitic power loss detection operation performed by the parasitic power loss detector (207) to detect parasitic power losses if a user input meeting a criterion is not received. Each of the individual features may be implemented in the power transmitter (101), the power receiver (105), or may e.g. be distributed between these. The approach may allow improved foreign object detection in a wireless power transfer system.

The present invention provides a power transmission control device, a power transmission device, and the like which can improve the precision for the foreign object detection. A power transmission control device provided in a power transmission device of a non-contact power transmission system comprises a drive clock signal generation circuit (25) that generates a drive clock signal DRCK specifying a drive frequency of a primary coil, a driver control circuit (26) that generates a driver control signal based on the drive clock signal DRCK and outputs the driver control signal to a transmission driver, a waveform detection circuit (30) that detects a change in waveform of an induced voltage signal PHIN of the primary coil L1, and a control circuit (20) that performs foreign object detection based on a detection result of the waveform detection circuit (30). Wherein, the drive clock signal generation circuit (25) outputs the drive clock signal DRCK set at a foreign object detection frequency F2 during foreign object detection, the foreign object detection frequency being a frequency differing from a normal power transmission frequency.

The invention provides a foreign body detection method and system based on an impedance characteristic. The method comprises the steps that a detection coil is laid in an area to be detected, wherein the detection coil is connected with a capacitor element to form a resonant circuit, and a high frequency carrier signal is loaded on the resonant circuit; a resonant current signal on the resonant circuit is collected; other induction signals outside the frequency band of the high frequency carrier signal are filtered out; and finally, amplitude and phase analysis is carried out on the filtered resonant current signal to determine whether a foreign body is in the area to be detected. The method has the advantages that the impedance change of the detection coil is correspondingly acquired by detecting the change of the phase and amplitude of the resonant current signal, so as to judge whether a foreign matter exists. The method has the advantages of low cost and good effect. The original system is changed less. Especially for a wireless power transmission system, without affecting the efficiency of the original system, the method and system can be well adapted to foreign body detection in a variety of magnetic fields to improve the safety of the wireless power transmission system.

A three-dimensional object detection has an image capturing device, an image conversion unit, a three-dimensional object detection unit, a three-dimensional object assessment unit, first and second foreign matter detection units and a controller. The image capturing device captures images rearward of a vehicle. The three-dimensional object detection unit detects three-dimensional objects based on image information. The three-dimensional object assessment unit assesses whether or not a detected three-dimensional object is another vehicle. The foreign matter detection units detect whether or not foreign matter has adhered to a lens based on the change over time in luminance values for each predetermined pixel of the image capturing element and the change over time in the difference between an evaluation value and a reference value. The controller outputs control commands to the other means to suppress the assessment of foreign matter as another vehicle when foreign matter has been detected.

The invention relates to an algorithm for indirectly detecting metal foreign bodies for a wireless charger. When the metal foreign bodies appear between the wireless charger and mobile equipment, eddy-current loss of the metal foreign bodies is caused, heat is generated, and accordingly ignition and other security problems are brought. The algorithm is used for detecting heating of the metal foreign bodies and terminating power transmission in time. The core content of the algorithm is as follows: the difference between power transmitted from the transmitting end of the wireless charger and power received from the receiving end of the mobile equipment is detected so that loss power of the metal foreign bodies can be calculated, if the loss power exceeds a certain set value, power transmission is terminated, and thus the temperature of the metal foreign bodies is prevented from further rising. An indirect detection method is used for detecting transmission power, the vector difference of a voltage effective value and a current effective value is deduced so that a vector phase difference can be obtained, accordingly the vector phase difference between active power and apparent power is obtained, and the effective value of the active power is solved through the effective value of the apparent power and the vector difference; compared with a direct detection method, cost is obviously reduced.

A power transmission control device provided in a power transmission device of a non-contact power transmission system includes an amplitude detection circuit that detects amplitude information that relates to an induced voltage signal of a primary coil, an A / D conversion circuit that performs A / D conversion of the amplitude information, and a control circuit. The A / D conversion circuit performs A / D conversion of a detected voltage detected by the amplitude detection circuit at a conversion timing and determines digital data relating to a reference threshold voltage, the conversion timing being a timing after a given period has expired from a timing when the detected voltage has exceeded a provisional voltage. The control circuit performs at least one of data detection that detects data that has been transmitted from a power reception device by means of load modulation, foreign object detection, and detachment detection using the digital data relating to the reference threshold voltage.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a coin processing system includes a coin input area that receives coins from a user, a coin processing module that counts the received coins, and a foreign object detection system that detects a foreign object within the coin processing module subsequent to counting substantially all the received coins.

A power transmission control device provided in a power transmitting device of a non-contact power transmission system includes a driver control circuit that controls a power transmitting driver that drives a primary coil, a load state detection circuit that detects a power-receiving-side load state, and a control circuit that controls the driver control circuit. The control circuit performs a foreign object detection process based on load state detection information from the load state detection circuit after receiving ID authentication information from a power receiving device, and starts normal power transmission to the power receiving device after performing the foreign object detection process.

Provided is a non-contact power supply device which detects foreign objects interposed between a power transmission coil and a power receiving coil. This non-contact power supply device is provided with a second coil which contactlessly transmits power to or receives power from a first coil at least by means of magnetic coupling, multiple sensors for detecting position shifts between the first coil and the second coil, a position detection means which, on the basis of the output values of the sensors, detects the relative positions of the first coil and the second coil, and a foreign object detection means which compares the output values of the sensors and from these comparison results detects foreign objects between first coil and the second coil.

A foreign matter detecting system which can acquire a clear image and detect a foreign matter with high accuracy based on the acquired image regardless of whether a subject is located far or near from an image capturing device in spite of a depth variation or a level difference. An image capturing unit having an externally controllable focus position is disposed above or below a liquid surface, and a ray of light from an LED is illuminated toward the liquid surface from above or the side at least at a focus position of the image capturing unit so that a foreign matter on the liquid surface causes mirror reflection. The focus position of the image capturing unit is changed over the range from the top of a container containing a liquid to the bottom thereof. At each focus position, an input image from the image capturing unit is taken into an image input unit of an image processing section. An image selecting unit of the image processing section selects an image focused on the liquid surface or a clearest image of the liquid surface from among the input images. An image detecting unit of the image processing section checks the presence and position of the mirror reflection, thereby detecting the foreign matter.