EV Wireless Charging Pad Alignment Using UWB LOS Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless charging systems for electric vehicles face challenges in achieving precise alignment between the primary and secondary charging pads, which affects charging efficiency and convenience, particularly for autonomous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A wireless charging vehicle equipped with ultra-wideband (UWB) tags and a UWB controller that uses line of sight (LOS) sensor values to calculate the position of a primary charging pad, combining odometry information and filters to ensure accurate alignment and efficient charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless charging is implemented without precise alignment mechanisms, then charging convenience is improved, but charging efficiency deteriorates due to misalignment between primary and secondary charging pads
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning actions before charging begins. The UWB tags and controller calculate the position quadrant and coordinates of the primary charging pad in advance, allowing the vehicle to adjust its position to achieve precise alignment between the primary and secondary charging pads before the charging process starts, thus ensuring both convenience and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses UWB tags to continuously measure distance and position information, providing feedback to the controller. The controller calculates the position quadrant and coordinates based on this feedback, enabling real-time adjustment of the vehicle's position to maintain optimal alignment between charging pads during the charging process
2Productivity
If multiple UWB tags and positioning systems are added to achieve precise alignment, then charging efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UWB tags serve multiple functions: they measure distance, determine position quadrants, calculate coordinates, and provide alignment information. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate positioning components, achieving precise alignment while limiting the increase in overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that processes UWB signal data from multiple tags and converts it into actionable positioning information. By using the position quadrant concept as an intermediate step, the system simplifies the complex task of precise alignment into manageable computational steps
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise alignment of the secondary charging pad with the primary pad, optimizing charging efficiency and convenience by minimizing alignment errors through enhanced positioning techniques.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic field generated by the current flowing to a primary coil of a charger generates an induced current to a secondary coil of the battery, and the induced current charges the battery
Implementation Method 2
a UWB controller for performing a wireless charging arrangement mode for arranging the secondary charging pad on the primary charging pad by using a sensor value measured by the UWB tags
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment wireless charging vehicle includes a secondary charging pad configured to generate an induced current by a magnetic field generated to a primary charging pad of a wireless charging station and to charge a battery, a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) tags disposed to surround the vehicle, and a UWB controller configured to perform a wireless charging arrangement mode for arranging the secondary charging pad on the primary charging pad by using a sensor value measured by the UWB tags, wherein the UWB controller is configured to calculate a coordinate of the primary charging pad by using a line of sight (LOS) sensor value of a UWB tag having a line of sight from among the UWB tags.