Vehicle Alignment System for Wireless Charging Coil Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Resonant induction wireless charging systems face efficiency degradation if the primary and secondary coils are not axially aligned, requiring precise and repeatable vehicle parking to ensure coil alignment for effective wireless power transfer.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle alignment system using a transmission line with a leaked signal guides the vehicle to the wireless power induction coil, employing vehicle-mounted antennas to detect signal phase differences and adjust alignment relative to the transmission line, ensuring proper axial alignment for efficient charging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If resonant induction wireless charging is used, then wireless power transfer is enabled, but power transfer efficiency degrades if coils are not axially aligned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless power transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcoil axial alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary alignment actions before wireless charging begins. A transmission line emits a guide signal that the vehicle's receiver antenna detects to determine positional offset. The system calculates required alignment adjustments and provides feedback to the vehicle positioning system, enabling the vehicle to pre-adjust its position to achieve optimal coil alignment before power transfer starts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the receiver antenna detects the guide signal from the transmission line, determines the vehicle's positional offset from the optimal charging position, and provides this alignment information back to the positioning control system. This feedback loop enables continuous adjustment of vehicle position to maintain optimal coil alignment during charging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If precise vehicle parking is required for coil alignment, then wireless charging efficiency is improved, but vehicle parking precision and repeatability become critical requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless charging efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle parking precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a transmission line with guide signal as an intermediary between the charging infrastructure and the vehicle. This intermediary provides a detectable reference signal that mediates the alignment process, allowing the vehicle to determine its position relative to the optimal charging position without requiring extremely precise manual parking or complex mechanical positioning systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces mechanical positioning requirements with an electromagnetic field-based guidance system. Instead of relying on precise mechanical parking alignment, the vehicle uses its receiver antenna to detect the electromagnetic guide signal from the transmission line, converting a mechanical alignment problem into an electromagnetic detection and computational positioning problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The system effectively aligns vehicles with wireless power induction coils, enhancing the efficiency of wireless charging by ensuring precise coil alignment and guiding vehicles to the charging position, thereby improving the overall power transfer efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a transmission line leaking a signal having an operating frequency and that is disposed in a parking slot containing the wireless power induction coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation leakage: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

At least two vehicle mounted antennas mounted on respective sides of, and typically symmetrically with respect to, the transmission line when the vehicle is aligned in the parking slot detect the signal that leaks from the transmission line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

wireless charging through use of magnetic resonant induction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic resonant induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11241970B2Method and apparatus for the alignment of vehicles prior to wireless charging

Publication Date: 2022.02.08 INDUCTEV INC

AI summary

A vehicle alignment system is adapted to align a vehicle with a wireless power induction coil for wireless charging through use of magnetic resonant induction. The system includes a transmission line disposed in the parking slot so as to guide the vehicle to the wireless power induction coil for charging. The transmission line leaks a signal having an operating frequency that is detected to align the vehicle left-right in the parking slot when the vehicle is aligned for charging by the wireless power induction coil. At least two vehicle mounted antennas mounted on opposite sides of transmission line when the vehicle is aligned in the parking slot detect the operating frequency from the transmission line, and signal processing circuitry detects a relative signal phase between signals detected by the antennas that is representative of alignment of the vehicle with respect to the wireless power induction coil and the parking slot.