Wireless Charging Coil Alignment Visualization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing parking assistance systems for wireless charging systems do not effectively help drivers understand the positional relationship between the power receiving device on the vehicle and the power transmission device on the ground, making accurate positioning challenging.

Innovation Solution

A parking assistance device that images and displays the power transmission coil on the road surface in conjunction with ground marks, and superimposes an image of the power receiving coil on the vehicle's display, allowing the driver to visualize the alignment of the coils for accurate positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the power receiving device and power transmission device are displayed as virtual images, then the distance between the devices can be determined, but the driver cannot instinctively figure out which direction the vehicle should be moved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance determination accuracyVSAvoiddriver's ability to understand positioning direction
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual image of the power transmission coil that replicates its actual position and orientation on the ground. This virtual copy is displayed on the vehicle's display device, allowing the driver to see where the coil is located and understand the positioning direction needed to align the power receiving device with it

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual image serves as an intermediary between the physical power transmission coil and the driver. It translates the physical positioning information into a visual representation that the driver can immediately comprehend, bridging the gap between measurement data and actionable driving decisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If accurate positioning of power receiving and transmission devices is implemented, then efficient wireless charging can be achieved, but the complexity of the positioning system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless charging efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging device serves multiple functions: it captures images of the ground, identifies the power transmission coil, determines its position and orientation, and provides this information to the display device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining accurate positioning capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with an optical imaging and image processing system. By using cameras and computer vision algorithms to detect and track the power transmission coil's position, the system achieves accurate positioning without the mechanical complexity of traditional alignment methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3100899B1Parking assistance device and parking assistance method
Publication Date: 2022.04.27 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3100899B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3100899B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3100899B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A parking assistance device includes: imaging means (30, 31) mounted on a vehicle to image a periphery of the vehicle; a coil for a vehicle (21) installed on a bottom surface of the vehicle; a displaying means (33) that displays an image imaged by the imaging means; and a controlling means (32) that performs a display control on the displaying means, wherein the controlling means stores a parking initial image imaged by the imaging means and simultaneously showing a power transmission coil (12) installed on a road surface in a parking space and ground marks (41, 42) provided at a predetermined distance from the power transmission coil, displays the power transmission coil on the displaying means with reference to the ground marks imaged by the imaging means and the parking initial image when a distance between the vehicle and a target parking position falls below a predetermined value, and superposes and displays an image indicating the coil for a vehicle on the displaying means.