Wireless Network Pairing for Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging

Abstract

A vehicle is paired to a selected wireless charging station of a plurality of wireless charging stations by joining the vehicle to a first wireless network provided by a central access point, assigning a channel to use for pairing the vehicle to the selected wireless charging station by a network manager, transmitting a channel identifier to the vehicle over the first wireless network, and transmitting the channel identifier to the plurality of wireless charging stations. The vehicle then configures a beacon device coupled to the vehicle to use the assigned channel and moves into proximity of the selected wireless charging station. The selected wireless charging station detects a beacon signal of the beacon device, confirms that the beacon signal is using the identified channel, and transmits information identifying a second wireless network to the vehicle. The vehicle can then join the second wireless network using the transmitted information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for pairing a vehicle to a selected wireless charging station from a plurality of wireless charging stations, the method comprising:
 joining the vehicle to a first wireless network provided by a central access point;   assigning a channel to use for pairing the vehicle to the selected wireless charging station;   transmitting a channel identifier of the assigned channel to the vehicle over the first wireless network;   transmitting the channel identifier to the plurality of wireless charging stations;   configuring, based on the channel identifier, a beacon device coupled to the vehicle to use the assigned channel;   moving the vehicle into proximity of the selected wireless charging station;   detecting, by the selected wireless charging station, a beacon signal of the beacon device;   confirming that the beacon device is using the assigned channel;   transmitting information identifying a second wireless network to the vehicle;   joining the vehicle to the second wireless network using the transmitted information; and   after the vehicle has joined the second wireless network, providing alignment guidance from the selected wireless charging station to the vehicle over the second wireless network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein joining the vehicle to the first wireless network comprises the vehicle detecting the first wireless network and automatically joining the first wireless network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein joining the vehicle to the first wireless network comprises the vehicle receiving a user input selecting the first wireless network and instructing the vehicle to join the first wireless network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein joining the vehicle to the first wireless network comprises:
 determining that the vehicle is moving below a predetermined speed;   searching for available wireless networks;   detecting the first wireless network;   determining that the first wireless network is associated with the plurality of wireless charging stations; and   joining the first wireless network.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the information identifying the second wireless network to the vehicle is performed by a device other than the selected wireless charging station. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing information identifying the vehicle to the plurality of wireless charging stations; and   using the information identifying the vehicle to confirm, at the selected wireless charging station, that the detected beacon signal is provided by the identified vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second wireless network is activated before the beacon signal is detected by the selected wireless charging station.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after detecting the beacon signal and confirming that the beacon signal is using the assigned channel, activating the second wireless network.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 authorization for the vehicle to receive wireless power from the selected wireless charging station is communicated over the second wireless network between the vehicle and the selected wireless charging station communicate.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 parameters for power transfer between the vehicle and the selected wireless charging station are determined via communications between the vehicle and the selected wireless charging station over the second wireless network.   
     
     
         11 . A vehicle comprising:
 a wireless network interface;   a beacon device; and   a processor, the processor configured to establish communication between the vehicle and a selected one of a plurality of wireless charging stations by performing operations including:
 joining the wireless network interface to a first wireless network provided by a central access point; 
 receiving, over the first wireless network, a channel identifier of an assigned channel; 
 configuring, based on the channel identifier, the beacon device to use the assigned channel; 
 moving the vehicle into proximity of the selected charging station; 
 receiving, over the first wireless network, information identifying a second wireless network associated with the selected wireless charging station; 
 joining the wireless network interface, based on the received information, to the second wireless network; and 
 receiving alignment guidance from the selected wireless charging station over the second wireless network. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 disconnect the network interface from the first wireless network upon joining the second wireless network.   
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 communicate with the selected wireless charging station over the second wireless network to obtain authorization for the vehicle to receive wireless power from the selected wireless charging station.   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 communicate with the selected wireless charging station over the second wireless network to determine parameters for power transfer between the vehicle and the selected wireless charging station.   
     
     
         15 . A wireless charging station comprising:
 a wireless network interface; and   a processor, the processor configured to establish communication with a vehicle by performing operations including:
 using the wireless network interface to communicate with a network manager over a first wireless network; 
 receiving, from the network manager, a channel identifier of a channel assigned to the vehicle; 
 detecting a beacon signal operating at the assigned channel; 
 transmitting, to the network manager, information associated with the detecting of the beacon signal; 
 receiving a request from the vehicle to join a second wireless network provided by the wireless network interface; 
 enabling the vehicle to join the second wireless network; and 
 providing alignment guidance to the vehicle over the second wireless network. 
   
     
     
         16 . The wireless charging station of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide the second wireless network prior to detecting the beacon signal. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless charging station of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide the second wireless network only after detecting the beacon signal. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless charging station of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 communicate with the vehicle over the second wireless network to obtain authorization for the vehicle to receive wireless power from the selected wireless charging station.   
     
     
         19 . The wireless charging station of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 communicate with the vehicle over the second wireless network to determine parameters for power transfer between the vehicle and the selected wireless charging station.   
     
     
         20 . The wireless charging station of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive information identifying the vehicle; and   using the information identifying the vehicle to confirm that the detected beacon signal is provided by the identified vehicle.