Wireless Charging Coil Array Position Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inductive charging systems in automotive applications experience interruptions, known as 'hard handoff,' when the wireless device's position changes relative to the charging pad, leading to unpleasant user experiences due to visual, audible, or tactile indications during charging sessions.
Innovation Solution
An inductive charging system with a plurality of transmitter coils arranged in a predetermined configuration, where a controller monitors electrical parameters of at least two coils to determine the receiver coil's position and selectively activates or deactivates them to maintain uninterrupted power transfer, using techniques such as voltage monitoring and a three-winding transformer model to adjust power transfer and avoid errors in position determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single transmitter coil is used for inductive charging, then the device structure is simple, but the receiver position cannot be tracked and power transfer is interrupted when the device moves
Solution Approach 1:
The charging pad is divided into multiple transmitter coils arranged in an array, each capable of independently transferring power. This segmentation allows the system to track receiver position by monitoring which coils are actively coupled, preventing interruptions when the device moves across the charging surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different transmitter coils based on real-time receiver position detection. By monitoring electrical parameters and determining receiver location, the controller activates the most appropriate transmitter coil to maintain continuous power transfer, creating a dynamic adaptation to device movement.
2Reliability
If multiple transmitter coils are used to track receiver position, then power transfer continuity is improved, but the device complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors electrical parameters (voltage, current, impedance) of multiple transmitter coils to detect changes in receiver position. This feedback mechanism enables the system to identify when the receiver moves and automatically switch to the appropriate transmitter coil, maintaining power continuity without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing electrical characteristics of the transmitter coils themselves to detect receiver position and trigger coil switching. By monitoring parameters such as voltage and current changes in the transmitter coils, the system self-determines when to switch coils without requiring additional sensors or complex external control systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hard handoff is used when switching transmitter coils, then the system can respond to position changes, but user experience deteriorates due to visual, audible, or tactile indications
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of electrical parameters to detect receiver position changes before they result in power transfer interruptions. By identifying position changes early through parameter monitoring, the controller can proactively switch transmitter coils to maintain continuous power transfer, preventing the conditions that would trigger hard handoff indications to the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous power transfer by seamlessly transitioning between transmitter coils based on receiver position. This continuity prevents interruptions in the charging process, thereby eliminating the visual, audible, or tactile indications that would otherwise be displayed during hard handoff events, improving overall user experience.
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 approach enables 'soft handoff' transitions without interrupting power transfer, improving user experience by eliminating visible, audible, or tactile indications during position changes, ensuring continuous charging and maintaining higher power transfer levels.
Implementation Method 1
Inductive charging is a type of wireless power transfer that uses electromagnetic induction to provide electrical energy to mobile or wireless devices
Implementation Method 2
monitoring electrical parameters of at least two transmitter coils of the plurality of transmitter coils, wherein the at least two monitored transmitter coils comprise at least one active transmitter coil
Implementation Method 3
the transmitter coil with the best inductive coupling with the receiver coil is identified and activated
Data Source
AI summary
Inductive charging techniques utilize a plurality of transmitter coils arranged in a predetermined configuration and each being configured to, when active, inductively transfer power to a receiver coil of a wireless device and a controller configured to control a charging session during which power is inductively transferred from at least one of the plurality of transmitter coils to the receiver coil of the wireless device, including monitoring electrical parameters of at least two transmitter coils of the plurality of transmitter coils, wherein the at least two monitored transmitter coils comprise at least one active transmitter coil, based on the monitoring, determining a position of the receiver coil relative to the plurality of transmitter coils, and selectively activating and/or deactivating at least one of the plurality of transmitter coils based on the monitoring when the position of the receiver coil changes to provide uninterrupted inductive power transfer.