Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a method and apparatus for discovering a primary device of electric vehicle supply equipment and operating method of supply equipment communication controller, <CIT> discloses systems, methods, and apparatus related to detecting and identifying electric vehicle and charging station, <CIT> discloses systems, methods, and apparatus related to mutual detection and identification of electric vehicle and charging station.

In general, in some aspects, 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.

Implementations may include any of the following, in any combination. Joining the vehicle to the first wireless network may include the vehicle detecting the first wireless network and automatically joining the first wireless network. Joining the vehicle to the first wireless network may include the vehicle receiving a user input selecting the first wireless network and instructing the vehicle to join the first wireless network. Joining the vehicle to the first wireless network may include 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. The second wireless network may be provided by the selected wireless charging station. The plurality of wireless charging stations may each be connected to the first wireless network. The first wireless network may include a WiFi network; the second wireless network may include a WiFi network. Transmitting the information identifying the second wireless network to the vehicle may be performed by a device other than the selected wireless charging station.

Information identifying the vehicle may be provided to the plurality of wireless charging stations, and that information may be used to confirm, at the selected wireless charging station, that the detected beacon signal is provided by the identified vehicle. The second wireless network may be activated after detecting the beacon signal at the selected wireless charging station and confirming that the beacon signal is using the assigned channel. Alignment guidance may be provided from the selected wireless charging station to the vehicle over the first wireless network after detecting the beacon signal at the selected wireless charging station and confirming that the beacon signal is using the assigned channel. Alignment guidance may be provided from the selected wireless charging station to the vehicle over the second wireless network after the vehicle has joined the second wireless network. In some aspects, the network manager may determine which of the plurality of wireless charging stations are available for use by the vehicle, and the channel identifier may be transmitted to only the determined wireless charging stations that are available for use by the vehicle.

In general, in some aspects, a vehicle includes a wireless network interface, a beacon device, and a processor. The processor establishes communication between the vehicle and a selected one of a plurality of wireless charging stations by performing operations, including joining the vehicle's wireless network interface to a first wireless network provided by a central access point. The operations also include receiving, over the first wireless network, a channel identifier of an assigned channel to use for pairing the vehicle to the selected one of the plurality of wireless charging stations. In addition, the operations include configuring, based on the channel identifier, the beacon device to use the assigned channel. The operations further include receiving, over the first wireless network, information identifying a second wireless network associated with the selected one of the plurality of wireless charging stations. The operations also include joining the vehicle's wireless network interface, based on the received information, to the second wireless network to pair with the selected one of the plurality of wireless charging stations.

In general, in some aspects, a wireless charging station includes a wireless network interface and a processor. The processor establishes communication with a vehicle by performing operations, including providing a first wireless network and receiving, from a network manager, a channel identifier of an assigned channel to use for pairing with the vehicle. In addition, the operations include detecting a beacon signal operating at the assigned channel. The operations also include transmitting, to the network manager, information associated with the detecting of the beacon signal. The operations further include receiving a request from the vehicle to join the first wireless network and enabling the vehicle to join the first wireless network.

The processor may provide the first wireless network only after detecting the beacon signal. The processor may use the wireless network interface to communicate with the network manager over a second wireless network. The processor may communicate with the network manager over a network interface other than the wireless network interface.

In general, in some aspects, a network manager includes a wireless access point and a processor. The wireless access point is configured to provide a first wireless network. The processor is configured to coordinate pairing a vehicle to a selected wireless charging station of a plurality of wireless charging stations that are under control of the network manager by performing operations including receiving a request from the vehicle over the first wireless network and assigning a channel to use for pairing the vehicle to the selected wireless charging station. The operations also include transmitting a channel identifier of the assigned channel to the vehicle over the first wireless network to enable the vehicle to configure a beacon device coupled to the vehicle to provide a beacon signal using the assigned channel. In addition, the operations include transmitting the channel identifier to the plurality of wireless charging stations. The operations further include receiving an indication from the selected wireless charging station that the selected wireless charging station has detected the beacon signal using the identified channel. The operation also includes transmitting, to the vehicle, information identifying a second wireless network provided by the selected wireless charging station to enable the vehicle to pair with the selected wireless charging station.

In general, in some aspects, a secondary device can be paired to a selected one of a plurality of primary devices by a method including joining the secondary device to a first wireless network provided by a central access point, determining an identification of an assigned channel to use for pairing the secondary device to the selected one of the plurality of primary devices, and transmitting the channel identification to the secondary device over the first wireless network. The method also includes transmitting the channel identifier to the plurality of primary devices. The method further includes configuring a beacon device coupled to the secondary device to use the assigned channel and moving the secondary device into proximity of the selected primary device. In addition, the method includes detecting, at the selected one of a plurality of primary devices, a beacon signal of the beacon device using the identified channel. The method also includes, based on the detecting, transmitting information identifying a second wireless network to the secondary device, and joining the secondary device to the second wireless network based on the transmitted information.

Wireless charging of electric vehicles is described in detail in patents such as <CIT>, titled "Wireless energy transfer for vehicles," and <CIT>, titled "Wireless power transmission in electric vehicles," which are incorporated here by reference in their entirety. One aspect of wireless electric vehicle charging to be addressed is establishing network communications between the electric vehicle and the wireless charging station at which the electric vehicle is parked. This establishment of network communications can be particularly difficult in a facility with multiple wireless charging stations, at which multiple electric vehicles may be attempting to park at the same time.

As an example of one particular problem, a vehicle may establish network communications with a wireless charging station in an adjacent parking spot, determining that it has established communication with the correct wireless charging station in its own parking spot. When the vehicle requests power and does not receive it (because it is in communication with the wrong wireless charging station), the vehicle may not detect the source of the problem. Likewise, the wireless charging station in the adjacent parking spot may detect a fault because it is providing power and recognizing no load. This problem may be referred to as "cross-connect. " In addition to the primary function of providing power being compromised in a cross-connect situation, additional features (e.g., vehicle alignment guidance) and safety features (e.g., foreign-object detection) may not operate properly, if at all, when communications are not established between the vehicle and the correct wireless charging station.

<FIG> illustrates an example electric vehicle charging environment <NUM> including a parking facility with multiple wireless charging stations for use by electric vehicles. As shown in the illustrated example, multiple wireless charging stations <NUM> (e.g., GA1 <NUM>-<NUM>, GA2 <NUM>-<NUM>, GA3 <NUM>-<NUM>, GA4 <NUM>-<NUM>, GA5 <NUM>-<NUM>) are in communication with a central network manager (CNM) <NUM>, which includes a central access point. Any suitable number of wireless charging stations <NUM> can be implemented. The CNM <NUM> provides, or is coupled to, a first wireless network <NUM> with the network Service Set Identifier (SSID) (e.g., SSID WPT_CNM). A wireless access point <NUM> (e.g., central access point) providing the first wireless network with the network SSID WPT_CNM may be an integral component of the CNM <NUM>. In another example, the wireless access point <NUM> may be a stand-alone device or part of other network infrastructure in communication with the CNM <NUM> through other mechanisms, including a wired network or an internal data bus. While WiFi (IEEE <NUM>) is used in <FIG> and generally herein as an example communication standard, other network physical layers and higher-level protocols may also be used, such as Bluetooth® or IEEE <NUM>. <NUM> (low-rate wireless networks, such as ZigBee®).

In the illustrated example, each of the wireless charging stations GA1 <NUM>-<NUM> through GA5 <NUM>-<NUM> has a wireless network interface <NUM> (e.g., wireless network interfaces <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively), and is capable of functioning as a wireless access point for its own private network <NUM>, indicated by network SSID corresponding to the station's number: GA1 <NUM>-<NUM> broadcasts a private network <NUM>-<NUM> with the network SSID WPT_01, GA2 <NUM>-<NUM> broadcasts another private network <NUM>-<NUM> with the network SSIDWPT_02, and so forth. In some aspects, the charging stations <NUM> can communicate with the CNM <NUM> over a network interface other than the wireless network interface <NUM>. During the example scenario depicted in <FIG>, GA1 <NUM>-<NUM> is already charging a vehicle <NUM> (VA1 <NUM>-<NUM>) and using its own wireless network (e.g., private network <NUM>) to communicate with the VA1 <NUM>. The other wireless charging stations (GA2 <NUM>-<NUM> through GA5 <NUM>-<NUM>) are using their network interfaces to communicate with the CNM <NUM> over the first wireless network <NUM> with the network SSID WPT_CNM. A second vehicle (VA2 <NUM>-<NUM>) is searching for a place to park and charge and has also joined the first wireless network <NUM> (WPT_CNM).

<FIG> depicts a flow chart of an example method <NUM> for pairing a vehicle to one of multiple wireless charging stations, <NUM> in relation to the electric vehicle charging environment <NUM> of <FIG>. In particular, the method <NUM> depicted in <FIG> relates to pairing the second vehicle (e.g., VA2 <NUM>-<NUM>) to an available wireless charging station of the wireless charging stations <NUM>.

At step <NUM>, the vehicle <NUM> joins the wireless network <NUM> associated with the CNM <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. This step may be automatically initiated when, at step <NUM>, the vehicle <NUM> is moving below a predetermined speed (e.g., a threshold speed) associated with parking the vehicle <NUM>, such as <NUM>/h, and the vehicle <NUM>, at step <NUM>, searches for available wireless networks and detects a network SSID with prefix "WPT_", indicating to the vehicle <NUM> that the wireless network <NUM> is a wireless charging control network. Using the network SSID, the vehicle <NUM> may determine that the wireless network <NUM> is associated with multiple wireless charging stations <NUM>. Other factors, including the signal strength (e.g., RSSI level) of the wireless network <NUM>, may also be used to initiate a connection. Alternatively, the vehicle <NUM> may, at step <NUM>, display detected wireless networks on a user interface and, at step <NUM>, receive a user input selecting one of the detected networks (e.g., the wireless network <NUM>) that the user (e.g., driver) knows or suspects is associated with the wireless charging stations <NUM>. The user input may also instruct the vehicle to join the wireless network <NUM>.

After the vehicle <NUM> is joined to the wireless network <NUM>, then at step <NUM>, the CNM <NUM> assigns a passive beacon (PB) channel to the vehicle <NUM>. Then, at step <NUM>, the CNM <NUM> transmits an identifier (ID) (e.g., channel identifier) of that PB channel to the vehicle <NUM> and to all the available wireless charging stations <NUM>. In some examples, the channel assignment is a specified frequency. In other examples, the channel assignment may include other characteristics, such as encoding schemes or encryption keys.

In the example of <FIG>, the wireless charging stations <NUM> are only joined to the CNM's network (e.g., the wireless network <NUM>) if they are available, so step <NUM> is simply to broadcast the PB channel to all wireless charging stations <NUM> that are on the network at that time. In some aspects, the CNM <NUM> determines which of the multiple wireless charging stations <NUM> are available for use by the vehicle and transmits the channel identifier to only those wireless charging stations determined to be available. The CNM <NUM> may be aware of a state of each wireless charging station <NUM> (e.g., available, charging, not in service, out of order) based on, for example, having received an indication of such status from each of the wireless charging stations <NUM>.

The channel assignment and transmission of the channel identifier may be in response to a request from the vehicle <NUM> (not shown) or may be performed automatically in response to the vehicle <NUM> joining the wireless network <NUM>. Passive beacons are typically used for providing alignment guidance between the vehicle <NUM> and the wireless charging station, as described in <CIT>, titled "Hybrid Foreign-Object Detection and Positioning System," which is incorporated here in its entirety. In this case, however, the passive beacon is re-purposed for use as a pairing identifier to prevent cross-connect problems.

Upon receipt of the PB channel identifier, the vehicle <NUM>, at step <NUM>, configures its beacon device (e.g., passive beacon) to use the PB channel corresponding to the PB channel identifier, and the vehicle <NUM> proceeds towards a selected parking spot. The selection of which parking spot to use may be determined by the driver (human or autonomous) or may be assigned by the CNM <NUM>.

Each of the available wireless charging stations <NUM> listens for the passive beacon by energizing its foreign object detection (FOD) system or other systems used for detecting passive beacons during the parking procedure. At step <NUM>, if none of the wireless charging stations <NUM> detect the beacon signal on the assigned channel within a specified time (e.g., <NUM> seconds) ("NO" at step <NUM>), then at step <NUM>, the CNM <NUM> terminates the wireless network connection to the vehicle <NUM> to disconnect the vehicle <NUM> from the CNM network, and the vehicle <NUM> may be forced to restart or abort the pairing method <NUM>. When one of the available wireless charging stations <NUM> detects the beacon signal ("YES" at step <NUM>), then at step <NUM>, it determines which channel the passive beacon is using. At step <NUM>, the wireless charging station <NUM> detects the passive beacon on the assigned channel and, thus, confirms that the passive beacon is using the assigned channel. Responsive to detecting the beacon signal using the assigned channel, the wireless charging station <NUM>, at step <NUM>, reports the PB detection to the CNM <NUM>. In some cases, the wireless charging station <NUM> may, in response to detecting the beacon signal and confirming that the beacon signal is using the assigned channel, provide alignment guidance to the vehicle <NUM> over the wireless network <NUM>.

When the CNM <NUM> receives the indication from one of the wireless charging stations <NUM> that the passive beacon has been detected using the assigned channel, then at step <NUM>, the CNM <NUM> instructs that particular wireless charging station <NUM> to activate its own wireless network and also, at step <NUM>, transmits information identifying the wireless charging station's wireless network to the vehicle <NUM>, such as the SSID of the wireless charging station's wireless network. In some instances, the wireless charging station <NUM> may activate its own wireless network in response to detecting the beacon signal and confirming that the beacon signal is using the assigned channel. To further avoid cross-connect problems, the selected wireless charging station <NUM> may not broadcast the SSID of its own network (e.g., the SSID is hidden), but rather may depend on the vehicle <NUM> receiving the SSID from the CNM <NUM> so that other devices do not attempt to join the private network <NUM> of the selected wireless charging station <NUM>. If the private network <NUM> is secured using a password, such as through the WiFi Protected Access standard WPA2, WPA3, or other security measures, the password may be provided to the vehicle <NUM> by the CNM <NUM> at the same time as the SSID. Alternatively, the password may be pre-configured in the vehicle's memory, for example, if the selected wireless charging station <NUM> is part of a subscription service to which the vehicle's operator subscribes.

At step <NUM>, the vehicle <NUM> disconnects from the CNM network and connects to the private network <NUM> provided by the selected wireless charging station <NUM>. Because the selected wireless charging station <NUM> has already confirmed its close proximity to the vehicle <NUM>, per the detection of the beacon signal at the assigned channel, and only that particular vehicle <NUM> was given the wireless charging station's network SSID, it is assured that the vehicle <NUM> connecting to the wireless charging station's private network <NUM> is the correct vehicle. Accordingly, at step <NUM>, the pairing method is complete, and the vehicle <NUM> and the selected wireless charging station <NUM> can now use the network connection between them (over the wireless charging station's private network <NUM>) to negotiate any further configuration that is needed, including alignment guidance such as fine alignment of the vehicle <NUM> to a wireless charging coil of the wireless charging station <NUM>, authorization to charge the vehicle <NUM>, and parameters of the wireless charging field. In addition, after pairing is complete, the assigned channel can be reused for the next pairing process, e.g., for a different vehicle to pair with one of the other wireless charging stations <NUM>.

In some examples, vehicle alignment to the wireless charging station <NUM> is completed while the vehicle <NUM> and the wireless charging station <NUM> are both still communicating over the CNM's network. In other examples, only initial alignment (e.g., getting the passive beacon into the detection range of the wireless charging station <NUM>) is performed initially, and more-precise alignment is completed after the vehicle <NUM> has switched to the wireless charging station's network, possibly providing a lower-latency channel for communications as part of the alignment process.

In some examples, multiple vehicles <NUM> may simultaneously attempt to park. The CNM <NUM> can assign each vehicle <NUM> a different beacon channel and inform all the wireless charging stations <NUM> of all the assigned channels. When a given wireless charging station <NUM> reports which beacon channel is detected, the CNM <NUM> determines, based on the detected channel, which vehicle <NUM> to send the wireless charging station's SSID. More information can also be provided from the CNM <NUM> to the wireless charging stations <NUM>, such as the vehicle's own identification, to further confirm the correct matching of the wireless charging station to vehicle <NUM>. In this way, the wireless charging station <NUM> that detects the beacon signal can confirm that the detected beacon signal is provided by the identified vehicle <NUM>.

Another example is shown in <FIG>, which illustrates an example electric vehicle charging environment <NUM> including a parking facility with multiple wireless charging stations <NUM> for use by electric vehicles <NUM> (e.g., the VA1 <NUM>-<NUM> and the VA2 <NUM>-<NUM>). In the illustrated example <NUM>, the wireless charging stations <NUM> (e.g., GA1 <NUM>-<NUM>, GA2 <NUM>-<NUM>, GA3 <NUM>-<NUM>, GA4 <NUM>-<NUM>, GA5 <NUM>-<NUM>) each have a wired network connection <NUM>, such as ethernet, to the CNM <NUM>. This enables each of the wireless charging stations <NUM> to keep its own local network (e.g., the private network <NUM>) up continuously and may provide lower latency for communications between the wireless charging stations <NUM> and the CNM <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a flow chart of an example method <NUM> for pairing a vehicle to one of multiple wireless charging stations <NUM>, in relation to the electric vehicle charging environment <NUM> of <FIG>. The example method <NUM> is similar, although not identical, to the method <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, when the vehicle <NUM>, at step <NUM>, connects to the CNM <NUM> over the main wireless network <NUM>, the CNM <NUM>, at <NUM>, assigns a PB channel and, at <NUM>, communicates the PB channel to the vehicle <NUM> and the wireless charging stations <NUM>, as above. Also as above, at step <NUM>, the wireless charging station <NUM> (if any) that detects a beacon signal using the assigned channel (at step <NUM>) reports this, at step <NUM>, to the CNM <NUM>, which then, at step <NUM>, indicates to the vehicle <NUM> the SSID of the wireless charging station <NUM> that detected the beacon signal. The vehicle <NUM> can then, at step <NUM>, immediately connect to the wireless charging station's network (e.g., the private network <NUM>), without waiting for the wireless charging station <NUM> itself to transition from being a client on the main wireless network <NUM> to being a source of its own private network <NUM>. (In some examples, the wireless charging station <NUM> can be both a client and an access point simultaneously, depending on the capabilities of its network hardware. ) Notice that because the wireless charging stations <NUM> already have their private networks <NUM> activated, there is no need for the CNM <NUM> to instruct the wireless charging station <NUM> to activate its private network <NUM>. After the vehicle <NUM> has joined the wireless charging station's network (e.g., the private network <NUM>), then at step <NUM>, pairing is complete, and any further configuration and negotiation can be performed between the wireless charging station <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example device diagram <NUM> of the central network manager <NUM>, the wireless charging station <NUM>, and the vehicle <NUM> in more detail. In aspects, the device diagram <NUM> describes devices that can implement various aspects of wireless network pairing for wireless electric vehicle charging.

The CNM <NUM> may include processor(s) <NUM> and memory <NUM> (computer-readable storage media). Similarly, the vehicle <NUM> may include processor(s) <NUM> and memory <NUM> (computer-readable storage media). Likewise, the wireless charging station(s) <NUM> may include processor(s) <NUM> and memory <NUM> (computer-readable storage media). Any of the processor(s) <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be a single-core processor or a multiple-core processor composed of a variety of materials, such as silicon, polysilicon, high-K dielectric, copper, and so on. The computer-readable storage media described herein excludes propagating signals. The memories <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include any suitable memory or storage device such as random-access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), read-only memory (ROM), or Flash memory useable to store device data <NUM> of the CNM <NUM>, device data <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>, and device data <NUM> of the wireless charging station QQ, respectively. The device data <NUM> of the CNM <NUM> includes applications and/or an operating system of the CNM <NUM> that are executable by processor(s) <NUM> to enable wireless communication with the wireless charging station(s) <NUM> and the vehicle(s) <NUM>. The device data <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> includes user data, vehicle data (e.g., identification), applications, and/or an operating system of the vehicle <NUM> that are executable by processor(s) <NUM> to enable wireless communication with the wireless charging station(s) <NUM> and the CNM <NUM>. The device data <NUM> of the wireless charging station <NUM> includes applications and/or an operating system of the wireless charging station <NUM> that are executable by processor(s) <NUM> to enable wireless communication with the CNM <NUM> and the vehicle(s) <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> of the CNM <NUM> provides data-storage mechanisms to store device data <NUM>, as well as various device applications (not shown) and any other types of information and/or data related to operational aspects of the CNM <NUM>. The memory <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> provides data-storage mechanisms to store device data <NUM>, as well as various device applications (not shown) and any other types of information and/or data related to operational aspects of the vehicle <NUM>. The memory <NUM> of the wireless charging station <NUM> provides data-storage mechanisms to store device data <NUM>, as well as various device applications (not shown) and any other types of information and/or data related to operational aspects of the wireless charging station <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> of the CNM <NUM> also includes an access-point manager <NUM> (access-point manager application). Alternatively or additionally, the access-point manager <NUM> may be implemented in whole or part as hardware logic or circuitry integrated with or separate from other components of the CNM <NUM>. In at least some aspects, the access-point manager <NUM> configures transceiver(s) <NUM> to implement the techniques described herein for pairing the vehicle <NUM> to the wireless charging station <NUM> for wireless electric vehicle charging. The access-point manager <NUM> also configures network interface(s) <NUM> to relay communications between the central network manager <NUM>, the wireless charging station <NUM>, and the vehicle <NUM>.

Similarly, the memory <NUM> of the wireless charging station <NUM> includes an access-point manager <NUM> (access-point manager application). Alternatively or additionally, the access-point manager <NUM> may be implemented in whole or part as hardware logic or circuitry integrated with or separate from other components of the wireless charging station <NUM>. In at least some aspects, the access-point manager <NUM> configures transceiver(s) <NUM> to implement the techniques described herein for pairing the wireless charging station <NUM> to the vehicle <NUM> for wireless electric vehicle charging. The access-point manager <NUM> also configures network interface(s) <NUM> for communications with the CNM <NUM> and/or the vehicle <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> also includes an access manager <NUM> (access manager application). Alternatively or additionally, the access manager <NUM> may be implemented in whole or part as hardware logic or circuitry integrated with or separate from other components of the vehicle <NUM>. In at least some aspects, the access manager <NUM> configures transceiver(s) <NUM> to implement the techniques described herein for communicating with the CNM <NUM> and for pairing the vehicle <NUM> to the wireless charging station <NUM> for wireless electric vehicle charging. The access manager <NUM> also configures network interface(s) <NUM> for communications between the vehicle <NUM> and the central network manager <NUM> and/or the wireless charging station <NUM>.

The vehicle <NUM> also includes a beacon device <NUM>, which may include a beacon circuit coupled to one or more antenna circuits (not shown) and a controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to control the beacon device <NUM>. The beacon device <NUM> is configured to control one or more antenna circuits of the vehicle <NUM>, which may be referred to or configured as beacon loop antennas, such as a passive beacon or an active beacon (e.g., active beacon as described in <CIT> titled "Extended-Range Positioning System Based on Foreign Object Detection", <CIT>, titled "Integration of Solenoid Positioning Antennas in Wireless Inductive Charging Power Applications", <CIT> titled System, "Methods and Apparatuses for Guidance and Alignment in Electric Vehicles Wireless Inductive Charging Systems", and <CIT> titled "Systems, Methods and Apparatus for Guidance and Alignment Between Electric Vehicles and Wireless Charging". The beacon device <NUM> may be integrated into a power receive element <NUM>, or any other region of the vehicle <NUM> or the components thereof.

In an example implementation, the controller <NUM> is configured to control the beacon device <NUM> by sending control signals to the beacon device <NUM>. The beacon device <NUM> is configured to change electrical characteristics of the beacon loop antenna in response to the controller's <NUM> control signals. For example, the beacon device <NUM> can modulate, vary, or modify one or more electrical characteristics of the beacon antenna in response to the controller's <NUM> control signals. In aspects, the beacon device <NUM> can impart a distinctive modulation onto the electrical characteristic of the passive beacon, and the distinct modulation pattern may be used by a FOD circuit <NUM> and controller <NUM> of the wireless charging station <NUM> to uniquely identify the beacon device <NUM> (e.g., passive beacon) from another foreign object, as described in <CIT>, titled "Hybrid Foreign-Object Detection and Positioning System," which is incorporated here in its entirety.

The controller <NUM> of the wireless charging station <NUM> is operably coupled to transmit circuitry (not shown) and configured to control one or more aspects of the transmit circuitry or accomplish other operations relevant to wireless network pairing for wireless electric vehicle charging. The controller <NUM> may be a micro-controller or a processor. The controller <NUM> may be implemented as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The controller <NUM> may be operably connected, directly or indirectly, to each component of the transmit circuitry. The controller <NUM> may be further configured to receive information from each of the components of the transmit circuitry and perform calculations based on the received information. The controller <NUM> may be configured to generate control signals (e.g., the control signal) for a component that may adjust the operation of that component. As such, the controller <NUM> may be configured to adjust or manage inductive power-transfer based on a result of the operations it performs. The memory <NUM> may be configured to store data, for example, instructions for causing the controller <NUM> to perform particular functions, such as those related to management of wireless power-transfer and/or foreign object detection and positioning.

The FOD circuit <NUM> of the wireless charging station <NUM> is coupled to the controller <NUM> and is configured to communicate with the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to control the FOD circuit <NUM>. The FOD circuit <NUM> may be coupled to one or more FOD sense circuits (not shown), each including a FOD sense coils (not shown) used to inductively sense a foreign object within a magnetic field (e.g., a metal object, the vehicle <NUM>, the vehicle power receiving element <NUM>, the beacon device <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>). Each FOD sense circuit is configured to provide a detection signal indicative of a presence of the foreign object within a predetermined sensing area. The FOD circuit <NUM> then communicates a detection signals to the controller <NUM>, which is configured to determine the presence and a position of the foreign object relative to one or more of the FOD sense coils based on the detection signals.

The wireless charging station <NUM> also includes a power-transmitting element <NUM>, which is driven by a driver circuit (not shown) at, for example, a resonant frequency of the power-transmitting element <NUM> based on an input voltage signal. As a result of driving the power-transmitting element <NUM>, the power-transmitting element <NUM> may generate an electromagnetic field <NUM> to wirelessly transfer power at a level sufficient for charging a battery (e.g., a battery of the vehicle <NUM>) or otherwise powering a load. The power-receive element <NUM> may be used to couple to the electromagnetic field <NUM> and generate an output power for storing or consumption by the vehicle's battery (or load).

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and method steps described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. The described functionality may be implemented in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the described aspects.

The various illustrative blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general-purpose hardware processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose hardware processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the hardware processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A hardware processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The steps of a method and functions described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a hardware processor, or in a combination of the two. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium. A software module may reside in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read-Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), or any other form of storage medium known in the art. A storage medium is coupled to the hardware processor such that the hardware processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In another example, the storage medium may be integral to the hardware processor. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray™ disc, where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. The hardware processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC.

Unless context dictates otherwise, use herein of the word "or" may be considered use of an "inclusive or," or a term that permits inclusion or application of one or more items that are linked by the word "or" (e.g., a phrase "A or B" may be interpreted as permitting just "A," as permitting just "B," or as permitting both "A" and "B"). Further, items represented in the accompanying figures and terms discussed herein may be indicative of one or more items or terms, and thus reference may be made interchangeably to single or plural forms of the items and terms in this written description. Finally, although subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features or methodological operations, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or operations described above, including not necessarily being limited to the organizations in which features are arranged or the orders in which operations are performed.

Although subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features or methodological operations, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or operations described above, including not necessarily being limited to the organizations in which features are arranged or the orders in which operations are performed. For example, the context of the above description is wireless charging of electric vehicles, but these techniques may be used in other situations where a portable device needs to join a wireless network corresponding to a specific hardware component located in proximity to the wireless device, and multiple such components or networks may be present.

Claim 1:
A method for pairing an electric vehicle (<NUM>) to a first wireless charging station (<NUM>-<NUM>) from a plurality of wireless charging stations (<NUM>-n), the method comprising:
at a first processor (<NUM>) in the electric vehicle, joining the electric vehicle to a first wireless network (<NUM>) provided by a central access point (<NUM>);
at a second processor (<NUM>, <NUM>) associated with the selected wireless charging station,
assigning a passive beacon, PB, channel to use for pairing the electric vehicle to the selected wireless charging station by a network manager (<NUM>) at the central access point,
transmitting a channel identifier of the assigned channel to the electric vehicle over the first wireless network, and
transmitting the channel identifier to the plurality of wireless charging stations;
at the first processor, configuring, based on the channel identifier, a passive beacon device coupled to the electric vehicle to use the assigned PB channel;
moving the electric vehicle into proximity of the first wireless charging station;
at the second processor,
detecting a passive beacon signal of the passive beacon device,
confirming that the passive beacon device is using the assigned channel,
after detecting the passive beacon signal and confirming that the passive beacon signal is using the assigned PB channel, activating a second wireless network (<NUM>-<NUM>), and
transmitting information identifying the second wireless network to the electric vehicle; and
at the first processor,
joining the electric vehicle to the second wireless network using the transmitted information, and
after the electric vehicle has joined the second wireless network, providing alignment guidance from the selected wireless charging station to the electric vehicle over the second wireless network.