Wireless power antenna alignment adjustment system for vehicles

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless charging and wireless power alignment of wireless power antennas associated with a vehicle. A wireless power charging apparatus includes an antenna including first and second orthogonal magnetic elements for detecting a horizontal component of a magnetic field generated from a second charging base antenna. A processor determines a directional vector between the antennas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for determining a position of a vehicle-based wireless power transfer device relative to a ground-based wireless power transfer device, the apparatus comprising:
 an ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit an ultrasonic signal suitable for ranging; and   an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive the ultrasonic signal and to measure a time of arrival of the ultrasonic signal at the ultrasonic receiver;   a processor configured to:   determine the position of the vehicle-mounted wireless power transfer device relative to the ground-based wireless power transfer device based on the measured time of arrival.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transmitter comprises a plurality of transmitters, each configured to transmit a respective ultrasonic signal. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the respective ultrasonic signals are of the same waveform but shifted at least in one of a time and frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic receiver comprises a plurality of receivers configured to receive the respective ultrasonic signal and to measure the respective time of arrival. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein any of the wireless power transfer devices includes at least one of the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein any of the wireless power transfer devices includes an ultrasonic transceiver comprising an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein any of the wireless power transfer devices includes an ultrasonic transponder comprising an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic signal is one of a pulse signal or of another wideband waveform suitable for ranging. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the measured time of arrival of the ultrasonic signal includes a round-trip time. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the vehicle-based wireless power transfer device relative to the ground-based wireless power transfer device includes at least an angle of direction. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor determines the position based on the measured time of arrival using a process of triangulation. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor continuously determines the position in real-time with a resolution in the centimeter range. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position is used for guidance and alignment of the vehicle-based wireless power transfer device relative to the ground-based wireless power transfer device. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ground-based wireless power transfer device is fixed and positioned in a parking space. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ground-based wireless power transfer device is configured to move automatically as an automated robot and to align with the vehicle-based wireless power transfer device. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transmitter comprises at least one ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic receiver comprises at least one ultrasonic sensor.