Device and method for detecting an object within a wireless charging region

1. A method of detecting an object within a wireless charging region of an electric vehicle, comprising:

applying, by a controller, a voltage to the wireless charging region to generate a capacitance value;

measuring, by the controller, the capacitance value of an electromagnetic shield disposed on the underside of the vehicle;

monitoring, by the controller, the capacitance value of the electromagnetic shield;

detecting, by the controller, a change in the capacitance value when the object enters the wireless charging region;

identifying, by the controller, a type of the object which changes the capacitance value; and

generating, by the controller, a baseline reference capacitance value of an electromagnetic shield disposed on the underside of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adjusting, by the controller, a charge to the vehicle based on the detection of the object due to the capacitance value change.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

terminating, by the controller, a charge to the vehicle based on the detection the object due to the capacitance value change.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

alerting, by the controller, a driver of the change in the capacitance value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic shield includes a plurality of plates positioned in parallel to each other.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

monitoring, by the controller, thermal values of thermal gradient of the wireless charging region.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting, by the controller, a change in the thermal values of thermal gradient of the wireless charging region to indicate presence of the object in the wireless charging region.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charging region may be coupled to both a chassis ground and a local ground.

9. An electromagnetic shield assembly for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a base layer coupled to an underside of the vehicle;

a conductive layer having a ground connection to the vehicle and disposed on the base layer;

a capacitive sensing electrode electrically connected to a capacitance sensing circuit coupled to an interlayer disposed on the conductive layer; and

a magnetic field coupling layer connected to the interlayer,

wherein a plurality of bonding layers are disposed between each layer.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic shield assembly includes a plurality of plates positioned in parallel to each other.

11. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the base layer is rotatably coupled to the underside of the vehicle body.

12. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic shield assembly is rotatably positioned parallel to a chassis frame of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle.

13. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic shield assembly is rotatably positioned perpendicular to the chassis frame of the vehicle during charging of the vehicle.

14. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the capacitive sensing electrode is disposed on a lower portion of the electromagnetic shield assembly.

15. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the base layer is formed of a non-conductive material.

16. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the interlayer is formed of a non-conductive material.

17. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein a thickness of the base layer, the conductive layer, the interlayer or the magnetic field coupling layer is about 1 mm to about 2 mm.

18. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein a thickness of the capacitive sensing electrode is about 1 mm to about 2 mm.

19. A method of detecting an object within a wireless charging region of an electric vehicle, comprising:

applying, by a controller, a voltage to the wireless charging region to generate a capacitance value;

measuring, by the controller, the capacitance value of an electromagnetic shield disposed on the underside of the vehicle;

monitoring, by the controller, the capacitance value of the electromagnetic shield;

detecting, by the controller, a change in the capacitance value when the object enters the wireless charging region; and

generating, by the controller, a baseline reference capacitance value of an electromagnetic shield disposed on the underside of the vehicle.