Segmented Control Architecture for EV Wireless Power Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicle wireless power transmission systems lack a control architecture that ensures safe, efficient, and reliable performance while allowing for customization and interoperability between different wireless sources and devices, and integration with larger networks.

Innovation Solution

A segmented and distributed control architecture for electric vehicle wireless power transmission systems, where essential control functions are standardized and non-essential functions are reconfigurable, allowing for customization and integration with various networks, ensuring safe and efficient operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a unified control architecture is used for wireless power transmission systems, then system simplicity is maintained, but flexibility and customization capability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidcontrol architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control architecture is divided into multiple independent control modules, each responsible for specific functions such as power management, communication, and system monitoring. This segmentation allows individual modules to be customized or configured independently, enabling system flexibility without requiring complete architectural redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control architecture employs dynamic reconfiguration capabilities where control parameters and module connections can be adjusted during operation. This allows the system to adapt to different wireless power transmission scenarios and customization requirements while maintaining a unified base structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If standardized control functions are implemented, then interoperability between different systems is improved, but system differentiation and enhanced features are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinteroperabilityVSAvoidsystem differentiation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control architecture incorporates universal control interfaces and standardized communication protocols that enable different wireless power transmission systems to interoperate. Simultaneously, the modular design allows additional specialized modules to be added for system differentiation and enhanced features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If distributed control architecture is used, then system flexibility and customization are improved, but coordination complexity and communication overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem flexibilityVSAvoidcoordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A central coordinator module serves as an intermediary between distributed control modules, managing communication and coordination tasks. This mediator handles the complexity of inter-module communication, allowing individual modules to remain simple while achieving system-wide flexibility through coordinated operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If reconfigurable control circuits are allowed, then user customization capability is improved, but system reliability and safety may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser customization capabilityVSAvoidsystem safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation and verification of reconfiguration parameters before applying customizations. Safety checks and constraint verification are executed in advance to ensure that user customizations do not compromise system reliability or safety requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control architecture incorporates continuous monitoring and feedback mechanisms that track system state during reconfiguration operations. This feedback enables real-time verification that customization actions maintain system safety and reliability constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11097618B2Reconfigurable control architectures and algorithms for electric vehicle wireless energy transfer systems

Publication Date: 2021.08.24 WITRICITY AI TECH LLC

AI summary

A control architecture for electric vehicle wireless power transmission systems that may be segmented so that certain essential and/or standardized control circuits, programs, algorithms, and the like, are permanent to the system and so that other non-essential and/or augmentable control circuits, programs, algorithms, and the like, may be reconfigurable and/or customizable by a user of the system. The control architecture may be distributed to various components of the wireless power system so that a combination of local or low-level controls operating at relatively high-speed can protect critical functionality of the system while higher-level and relatively lower speed control loops can be used to control other local and system-wide functionality.