IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,998,766
Granted Patent B2
US 10,998,766 · App. 16/634,601 · Granted May 4, 2021

Wireless charger activation

Inventor: Aed M. Dudar (Canton, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
H02J50/10B60L53/12B60L53/124H02J7/0044H02J7/0047H02J50/60H04B5/0037
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,998,766
App. No.
16/634,601
Granted
May 4, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer including a processor is programmed to determine that an object including ferrous material is in a charging field of an inductive charger, actuate the inductive charger, and determine a temperature of the object. The processor is further programmed to determine, based on the temperature, whether the inductive charger is operational.

Claims (28)

1. A computer, comprising a processor programmed to:

determine that an object including ferrous material is in a charging field of an inductive charger;

actuate the inductive charger;

determine a temperature of the object; and

determine, based on the temperature, whether the inductive charger is operational.

2. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine whether the inductive charger is operational only after determining that no mobile device is present in the charging field.

3. The computer of claim 2 , wherein the object is a cover, and the processor is further programmed to output, via a human machine interface, a request to remove a mobile device from the charging field and to close the cover.

4. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine the object is in the charging field based on data received from a position sensor.

5. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine the temperature of the object based on data received from a temperature sensor that is in the inductive charger.

6. The computer of claim 5 , wherein the inductive charger is disposed in a vehicle interior and the processor is further programmed to determine whether the temperature sensor is operational based in part on an exterior temperature.

7. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine the temperature based on thermal image data received from a camera with a field of view including the object.

8. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the object touches an outer surface of the inductive charger when disposed in the charging field of the inductive charger.

9. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine a rate of temperature change and determine whether the inductive charger is operational based on the determined rate of temperature change and a predetermined rate of temperature change threshold.

10. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to charge a mobile device in the charging field by actuating the inductive charger.

11. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to deactivate the inductive charger while determining the temperature of the object.

12. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the object is a cover that has an open position and a closed position, wherein the cover in the closed position is in the charging field and the cover in the open position is outside the charging field.

13. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the ferrous material is in the form of a layer, wherein at least one of the layer is disposed in the object and is attached to an outer surface of the object.

14. A method, comprising:

determining that an object including ferrous material is in a charging field of an inductive charger;

actuating the inductive charger;

determining a temperature of the object; and

determining, based on the temperature, whether the inductive charger is operational.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the object is a cover.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising outputting, via a human machine interface, a request to remove a mobile device from the charging field and to close the cover.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein determining that the object is in the charging field is based on data received from a position sensor.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the temperature of the object is based on data received from a temperature sensor that is in the inductive charger.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining a rate of temperature change and determining whether the inductive charger is operational based on the determined rate of temperature change and a predetermined rate of temperature change threshold.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising deactivating the inductive charger while determining the temperature of the object.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2020
From: DUDAR, AED M.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 051638/0149 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200161897A1 · May 21, 2020