Wireless Charging Space Detection for Reliable EV Chargeability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies do not effectively allow electric vehicle drivers to determine if a parking place has a vacant and usable charging space, especially when another vehicle or metallic foreign objects are present.

Innovation Solution

A chargeability presenting method and system that utilize a power transmitting coil, thermal sensors, and a circuit to assess the vacancy and foreign object presence in a charging space before allowing wireless charging, thereby determining the chargeability of a parking place.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If wireless charging is provided without verification, then charging speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to detect occupied or obstructed charging spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging speedVSAvoidcharging availability accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection actions before enabling wireless charging. The detection unit checks whether a charging space is occupied or obstructed by metallic foreign objects before the charging control unit activates charging. This preliminary verification ensures that charging is only provided when the space is safe and available, resolving the contradiction between fast charging and reliable charging availability information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If detection procedures are simplified, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates in detecting charging space occupancy and foreign objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoidcharging space status detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detection function is segmented into specialized units: a vehicle presence detection unit and a foreign object detection unit. Each unit focuses on detecting specific types of obstructions using appropriate sensing methods. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high detection precision for different objects while keeping the overall system operation simple through automated, dedicated detection processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If thermal sensors are used for foreign object detection, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases due to power consumption during detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign object detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection system power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal sensor performs foreign object detection periodically rather than continuously. The detection unit activates the thermal sensor at intervals to check for metallic foreign objects in the charging space. This periodic detection maintains measurement precision for foreign object detection while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and energy usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 electric vehicle drivers to reliably identify available charging spaces, preventing instances where vehicles cannot be charged due to occupied or obstructed facilities, thus ensuring timely charging for vehicles with low battery levels.

Implementation Method 1

a power transmitting coil for providing electric power

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a thermal sensor; and a circuit operative to: before start of transmitting first electric power for charging, cause the power transmitting coil to supply second electric power to a charging space; cause the thermal sensor to detect whether temperature in the charging space increases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS20250026210A1Chargeability presenting method and chargeability presenting system

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A device including a power transmitting coil for providing electric power; a thermal sensor; and a circuit operative to: before start of transmitting first electric power for charging, cause the power transmitting coil to supply second electric power to a charging space; cause the thermal sensor to detect whether temperature in the charging space increases after the second electric power is transmitted; before start of transmitting the first electric power, determine chargeability based on presence information and foreign object information, the presence information indicating whether a mobile object is present in the charging space, and the foreign object information indicating whether the temperature in the charging space increases, and cause the power transmitting coil to transmit the first electric power in a case the circuit determines chargeable. The second electric power is lower than the first electric power, and the second electric power is supplied before the mobile object is located on the charging space.