Wireless Charging Failure Detection Using Antenna Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing failure determination apparatuses for relative position acquisition systems in non-contact charging systems are ineffective in accurately determining system failures, which hinders the reliable alignment and charging of electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A failure determination apparatus and method that utilize multiple antennas and wireless communication units to compare stored correlation data with actual reception results of wireless signals, determining system failure based on specific conditions related to reception intensities and antenna operations, and notify the driver if a failure is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a relative position acquisition system is used to accurately acquire the relative position between power transmission unit and power reception unit, then parking alignment accuracy is improved, but the ability to determine system failure is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by comparing the actual correlation of wireless signal reception results with pre-stored reference correlation data. The correlation acquisition unit continuously monitors the correlation between reception results from multiple antennas, and when the correlation deviates from the reference values beyond a threshold, the failure determination unit identifies a system failure. This feedback loop enables the system to self-diagnose and notify failures without compromising the high-precision relative position acquisition functionality.
2Measurement precision
If multiple antennas and wireless communication units are used for position acquisition, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing the wireless communication units and antennas to serve dual purposes: both acquiring relative position information and providing failure determination data. The same m-number of antennas and wireless communication units used for high-precision position measurement also generate the reception results whose correlation is analyzed for failure detection. This eliminates the need for separate diagnostic hardware, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
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
Enables accurate failure determination of the relative position acquisition system, ensuring reliable vehicle positioning and charging operations by effectively using the correlation between wireless signal reception results.
Implementation Method 1
a second wireless communication unit that transmits and receives the wireless signal to and from the first wireless communication unit via the second antennas of the m-number and the first antenna
Data Source
AI summary
An ECU in a failure determination apparatus receives a wireless LAN signal from a power-transmission-side wireless communication unit with a vehicle-side wireless communication unit and determines whether a relative position acquisition system fails based on whether predetermined expressions are established for the respective reception intensities of a low frequency signal at first to fourth power-transmission-side antennas, which are included in the wireless LAN signal.