Vehicle Communication Range Switching for Accurate Wireless Charging Pairing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In contactless power supply systems for electric vehicles, wide-area communication ranges can lead to incorrect pairing between power transmitting devices and vehicles, resulting in unintended power transmission to adjacent vehicles, especially in densely packed parking areas like commercial facilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communication range switching mechanism in both power transmitting and receiving devices, allowing them to switch between a wide-area and a narrow-area communication range, ensuring accurate pairing by controlling the communication range based on proximity and charging status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wide communication range is used to search for power transmitting devices, then the ability to locate and communicate with devices is improved, but incorrect pairing with adjacent devices occurs causing unintended power transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The communication unit dynamically switches between a first communication range (first range) and a second communication range (second range) based on the charging state. During device search and initial pairing, it uses the first range for wide coverage. Once pairing is established and charging begins, it switches to the second range to prevent interference with adjacent devices. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between needing wide coverage for device discovery and narrow coverage for reliable pairing.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication unit periodically switches between wide and narrow communication ranges based on the charging process stages. It alternates between using the first range (during search and pre-pairing) and the second range (during active charging), with the switching triggered by specific events such as successful device identification or charging completion. This periodic switching pattern ensures both comprehensive device discovery and accurate pairing.
2Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used for information transmission between power transmitting device and vehicle, then contactless power supply is achieved, but communication interference with adjacent devices occurs in densely packed parking areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the communication range based on the charging state to mitigate interference in densely packed areas. During the search phase, it uses the first range for wide coverage. Once pairing is established, it switches to the second range with reduced coverage, minimizing communication interference with adjacent vehicles while maintaining reliable contactless operation throughout the charging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication unit applies different communication characteristics to different stages of the charging process. During device search, it uses wide-range communication (first range). During active charging, it uses narrow-range communication (second range) localized to the paired device only. This local quality adjustment ensures contactless operation convenience while preventing communication interference with nearby devices in densely packed parking areas.
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 prevents incorrect power transmission and ensures that electric power is accurately supplied to the intended vehicle, enhancing charging efficiency and preventing accounting errors in densely packed environments.
Implementation Method 1
a power transmitting device that contactlessly supplies electric power to a power receiving device
Implementation Method 2
information about a charging efficiency, an amount of charge, and the like, is transmitted through wireless communication between the power supply facility and the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle is able to contactlessly receive electric power from a power transmitting device and to charge a mounted electrical storage device (electric load). The vehicle includes a communication unit that carries out wireless communication with the power transmitting device and a vehicle ECU (control unit) that controls the communication unit. The communication unit is able to switch a communication range between a wide communication range (wire-area communication) and a narrow communication range (narrow-area communication). The vehicle ECU, at the time of identifying a power transmitting device from which electric power should be received, controls the communication unit such that the communication unit communicates with the power transmitting device using the narrow-area communication.