DEVICE ALIGNMENT AND IDENTIFICATION IN INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSFER SYSTEMS

• Main Authors: VAN BOHEEMEN, Edward L, KEELING, Nicholas A, KISSIN, Michael, BEAVER, Jonathan
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 25.09.2019
• Subjects: CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRICITY; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; GENERATION; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and particularly wireless power transfer to remote systems such as electric vehicles. In one aspect, a wireless power receiver includes a first inductive element, a power supply, and a communication receiver. The first inductive element is configured to receive wireless power from a first electromagnetic field generated by a wireless power transmitter including a second inductive element. The power supply is configured to supply a current to the first inductive element to generate a second electromagnetic field and induce a current in the second inductive element. The communication receiver is configured to receive an indication of a distance between the first inductive element and the second inductive element based on the induced current in the second inductive element.