Detection and navigation in wireless charging
A transmit charging coil is driven to wirelessly transfer energy to a receiving charging coil. The wireless energy transfer can be adjusted in response to detecting the receive charging coil. Navigation of an un-manned vehicle may be adjusted in response to the wireless energy transfer.
1. A method of navigating an un-manned vehicle to a charging station, the method comprising:
receiving by a receive charging coil of an un-manned vehicle, a first wireless energy signal from a transmit charging coil of the charging station, wherein the receive charging coil is coupled to charge a battery that powers the un-manned vehicle;
processing the first wireless energy signal to determine a magnitude of signal strength of the first wireless energy signal, wherein the magnitude of the signal strength corresponds to a distance between the un-manned vehicle and the transmit charging coil;
navigating the un-manned vehicle by determining the magnitude of the signal strength of the first wireless energy signal at a plurality of locations while navigating, wherein navigating the un-manned vehicle includes navigating the un-manned vehicle closer to the transmit charging coil;
selecting a position based on the magnitude of the signal strength, wherein the magnitude of the signal strength is higher at the selected position relative to non-selected positions;
receiving by the receive charging coil of the un-manned vehicle at the selected position, a second wireless energy signal from the transmit charging coil, wherein the second wireless energy signal is greater than the first wireless energy signal; and
charging the battery of the un-manned vehicle using the second wireless energy signal.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the signal strength is determined by measuring a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), wherein a magnitude of the RSSI increases as the un-manned vehicle navigates closer to the transmit charging coil.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charging station is configured to sense the un-manned vehicle prior to transmitting the first wireless energy signal to the un-manned vehicle by monitoring an amount of driving energy on the transmit charging coil, and wherein the method increases the amount of driving energy upon detecting the un-manned vehicle.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the driving energy comprises one or both of a DC voltage and a DC current.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
emitting a light from the un-manned vehicle using a light emitting diode positioned at a center of the receive charging coil;
detecting, at a photosensor positioned at a center of the transmitting charging coil, the emitted light; and
in response to detecting the emitted light from the un-manned vehicle, transmitting the first wireless energy signal to the receive charging coil.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining comprises continuously determining the magnitude of the signal strength while navigating the un-manned vehicle.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the un-manned vehicle is a quadcopter.
8. A method of navigating an un-manned vehicle to a charging station, the method comprising:
receiving by a receive charging coil of an un-manned vehicle, a first wireless energy signal from a transmit charging coil of the charging station, wherein the receive charging coil is coupled to charge a battery that powers the un-manned vehicle, wherein the first wireless energy signal comprises an electric field and a magnetic field;
processing the first wireless energy signal to determine a magnitude of the electric field, wherein the magnitude of the electric field increases as the un-manned vehicle navigates closer to an edge of the transmit charging coil;
navigating the un-manned vehicle based on the magnitude of the electric field at a plurality of locations during the navigation, wherein navigating the un-manned vehicle includes navigating the un-manned vehicle closer to the edge of the transmit charging coil;
selecting a position during navigating, wherein the magnitude of the electric field is higher at the selected position relative to non-selected positions, and wherein a distance to the edge of the transmit charging coil is greater at the selected position relative to non-selected positions; and
determining an accurate position, based on the magnetic field, that provides an increased wireless energy transfer efficiency between the transmit charging coil and the receive charging coil, relative to the position.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the accurate position comprises:
navigating the un-manned vehicle within a radius of the transmit charging coil;
determining a magnitude of the magnetic field at a plurality of positions within the radius of the transmit charging coil;
detecting the accurate position from each position within the radius of the transmit charging coil, the accurate position having higher magnitude of the magnetic field than other positions within the radius of the transmit charging coil;
receiving, by the receive charging coil of the un-manned vehicle at the accurate position, a second wireless energy signal from the transmit charging coil, wherein the second wireless energy signal is greater than the first wireless energy signal in magnitude of the electric field; and
charging the battery of the un-manned vehicle using the second wireless energy signal.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electric field is generated from an outer turn of the transmit charging coil, and wherein the magnetic field is generated from an inner turn of the transmit charging coil.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the charging station is configured to sense the un-manned vehicle prior to transmitting the first wireless energy signal to the un-manned vehicle by monitoring amount of driving energy on the transmit charging coil, and wherein the method increases the amount of driving energy upon detecting the un-manned vehicle.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the driving energy comprises one or both of a DC voltage and a DC current.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
emitting a light from the un-manned vehicle using a light emitting diode positioned at a center of the receive charging coil;
detecting, at a photosensor positioned at a center of the transmitting charging coil, the emitted light; and
in response to detecting the emitted light from the un-manned vehicle, transmitting the first wireless energy signal to the receive charging coil.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the un-manned vehicle is a quadcopter.
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the un-manned vehicle comprises a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect the electric field, and wherein the second sensor is configured to detect the magnetic field.