Vehicle Wireless Charging Foreign Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless charging systems for electric and hybrid vehicles face safety concerns due to foreign objects, such as metallic objects, entering the charging field, which can absorb energy and cause damage before the system detects and shuts off, potentially leading to safety issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a vehicle-mounted system with Bluetooth antennas and a processor that detects the location of objects within the charging field, using signal strength analysis to determine the presence of objects and preemptively disable the wireless charging operation to prevent energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless charging is enabled without object detection, then charging speed and convenience are improved, but safety deteriorates due to foreign objects absorbing energy and causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs object detection using Bluetooth antennas before initiating wireless charging. By detecting the presence of foreign objects in advance and preventing charging from starting, the system avoids energy transfer to foreign objects while maintaining charging convenience when the area is clear.
Solution Approach 2:
Bluetooth antennas serve as an intermediary detection mechanism between the charging field and foreign objects. The antennas detect objects through Bluetooth signal interaction before energy transfer occurs, providing early warning capability without interfering with the normal charging process.
2Reliability
If object detection is implemented using Bluetooth antennas, then safety is improved by detecting foreign objects, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system reuses existing Bluetooth antennas already present in modern vehicles for their primary communication function also serves as foreign object detection. This multi-functional approach enables safety detection without adding dedicated sensor hardware, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The Bluetooth system serves itself by using its own communication signals for dual purposes: vehicle-to-device communication and foreign object detection. The same antenna and signal processing infrastructure handles both functions, eliminating the need for separate detection systems.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the charging field is activated, then energy transfer efficiency is improved, but harmful effects increase when foreign objects are present and absorb energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting foreign objects through Bluetooth signal analysis before activating the charging field. When objects are detected, the system prevents charging activation, thereby counteracting potential harmful energy absorption before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
Object detection is performed as a preliminary action before charging field activation. The system evaluates Bluetooth signal characteristics to identify foreign objects, and only permits charging when no objects are detected, ensuring safe energy transfer conditions are established first.
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 effectively prevents damage to foreign objects by accurately detecting their presence within the charging field and proactively disabling the charging process, enhancing safety and preventing energy absorption by unwanted objects.
Implementation Method 1
using signal strength analysis to determine the presence of objects
Implementation Method 2
The power may then be wirelessly transmitted to the vehicle battery in order to charge it
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing damage to an object within a charging field of a wireless vehicle battery charger. An example vehicle includes a wireless vehicle battery charger having a charging field, a plurality of Bluetooth antennas, and a processor. The processor is configured to identify a location of an object using one or more of the plurality of Bluetooth antennas, and, responsive to determining that the object is within the charging field, disable the wireless vehicle battery charger.