Sub-surface Wireless Charger Safety Pulse Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sub-surface wireless charging systems face challenges in ensuring safe and efficient power transfer, particularly in determining the optimal alignment and distance between the charger and receiver to maximize coupling efficiency and prevent damage from close proximity or foreign objects.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a sub-surface wireless charger with a transmitter coil and controller that uses protective pulses to assess safety and adjust energy levels, along with a sensing system to determine the location of maximum coupling and detect foreign objects, ensuring safe and efficient charging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the transmitter coil uses high energy to maximize power transfer efficiency, then charging efficiency is improved, but the risk of damage from close proximity or foreign objects increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging efficiencyVSAvoiddamage risk from close proximity or foreign objects

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a preliminary safety assessment using low-energy protective pulses before initiating high-energy charging. The controller sends a first protective pulse to detect the presence of foreign objects or close proximity conditions, then sends a second protective pulse with higher energy to further assess safety. Only after confirming safety does the system proceed to high-energy charging, thus preventing damage while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the energy parameter of transmitted pulses based on detected conditions. The controller varies the energy level of protective pulses (first protective pulse with lower energy, second protective pulse with higher energy) and adjusts charging energy based on safety assessment results, optimizing both safety and charging efficiency through parameter modulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the system uses protective pulses to assess safety before charging, then safety is improved, but the charging time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic protective pulse transmission during the charging process. Rather than a single pre-charging safety check, the controller continuously or periodically sends protective pulses throughout charging to monitor for foreign objects or close proximity conditions, enabling real-time safety assessment without significantly extending total charging time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The safety assessment process is integrated into the charging workflow rather than being a separate preliminary step. The protective pulse transmission and safety evaluation occur continuously or periodically during charging, ensuring safety monitoring does not interrupt the charging process and minimizing time loss while maintaining continuous safety oversight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of energy

If the system increases energy level to overcome coupling inefficiency, then power transfer is improved, but the risk of foreign object heating increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower transfer efficiencyVSAvoidforeign object heating

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from protective pulse responses to determine safe energy levels for charging. The controller analyzes the response to protective pulses to detect foreign objects or abnormal conditions, then adjusts the charging energy level accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures high energy transmission only occurs when safe, optimizing power transfer efficiency while preventing foreign object heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

This solution enhances safety by preventing damage from close proximity and foreign objects, while optimizing power transfer efficiency by aligning the charger and receiver for maximum coupling.

Implementation Method 1

a transmitter coil and a controller. The controller is configured to generate a protective pulse having a first energy... generate an operating pulse having a second energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11509169B2Sub-surface wireless charging

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 SPARK CONNECTED LLC

AI summary

In an embodiment, a sub-surface wireless charger includes a transmitter coil and a controller. The controller is configured to generate a protective pulse having a first energy, determine a characteristic of the transmitter coil based on the generated protective pulse, determine whether it is safe to begin wireless charging based on the determined characteristic, and when the controller determines that it is safe to begin wireless charging, generate an operating pulse having a second energy, where the second energy is higher than the first energy.