Vehicle charging system object detection system and method
阅读说明:本技术 车辆充电系统物体检测系统和方法 (Vehicle charging system object detection system and method ) 是由 马特乌什·扎德罗兹尼 克里斯托弗·W·贝尔 于 2019-08-12 设计创作,主要内容包括:本公开提供“车辆充电系统物体检测系统和方法”。一种车辆包括充电板,所述充电板被配置为当定位在充电区域时接收用于电池的电荷。所述车辆还包括相机系统和控制器,所述控制器被编程为当所述充电板接近所述充电区域时使所述相机系统在多个变址位置中的每一个处捕获校准图像。所述控制器还被编程为使所述相机系统针对所述变址位置的至少一个捕获当前图像,并且响应于所述当前图像与所述校准图像中的对应一个之间的差异超过像素方差阈值,防止启动充电程序。(The present disclosure provides a vehicle charging system object detection system and method. A vehicle includes a charging pad configured to receive charge for a battery when positioned in a charging area. The vehicle also includes a camera system and a controller programmed to cause the camera system to capture a calibration image at each of a plurality of indexed positions as the charging pad approaches the charging area. The controller is further programmed to cause the camera system to capture a current image for at least one of the indexed positions and prevent initiation of a charging procedure in response to a difference between the current image and a corresponding one of the calibration images exceeding a pixel variance threshold.)
1. A vehicle, comprising:
a charging plate configured to receive charge for a battery when positioned in a charging area;
a camera system; and
a controller programmed to
Causing the camera system to capture a calibration image at each of a plurality of indexed positions as the charging pad approaches the charging area,
causing the camera system to capture a current image for at least one of the indexed positions, an
Preventing initiation of a charging procedure in response to a difference between the current image and a corresponding one of the calibration images exceeding a pixel variance threshold.
2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of indexed positions is stored in association with an initialization program.
3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the current image is captured as part of a vehicle parking procedure.
4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the difference between the current image and the corresponding calibration image is derived from a pixel-by-pixel comparison.
5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the controller is further programmed to output a comparison image at a user display that includes the charging region, and wherein the comparison image includes a highlight of pixels that exceed the pixel variance threshold.
6. A vehicle battery charging system, comprising:
a vehicle charging coil;
a camera system configured to capture calibration images of a primary charging coil at a plurality of locations relative to the primary charging coil; and
a controller configured to allow charge to be received at the vehicle charging coil from the primary charging coil in response to a difference between a current image and a corresponding one of the calibration images being less than a pixel variance threshold.
7. The vehicle battery charging system of claim 6, wherein the camera system is further configured to initiate the capturing during an initialization procedure.
8. The vehicle battery charging system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to prevent charge from being received at the vehicle charging coil in response to the difference exceeding the pixel variance threshold.
9. The vehicle battery charging system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to capture the current image in response to initiation of a vehicle parking procedure.
10. The vehicle battery charging system of claim 6, further comprising a user display for outputting a comparison image of the primary charging coil derived from a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the current image and the corresponding one of the calibration images.
11. The vehicle battery charging system of claim 6, further comprising generating an object detection signal in response to the difference exceeding the pixel variance threshold.
12. A vehicle battery charging method, comprising:
indexing a camera through a plurality of positions having a primary charge plate within a field of view;
capturing a calibration image at each of the plurality of locations;
capturing a current image corresponding to at least one of the calibration images prior to initiating a charging procedure; and
in response to a difference between the calibration image and the current image exceeding a detection threshold, outputting an object detection signal.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said capturing of a calibration image is performed as part of an initialization procedure, and wherein said capturing of a current image is performed as part of a vehicle parking procedure.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising outputting a comparison image at a user display in response to the object detection signal, wherein the comparison image is indicative of a pixel-by-pixel comparison between the at least one calibration image and the corresponding current image.
15. The method of claim 12, further comprising preventing initiation of the charging procedure in response to the object detection signal.
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to recharging a vehicle battery.
Background
With advances in vehicle propulsion and battery technology, methods of charging motorized vehicles with electric storage devices have become increasingly common. Inductive charging may be convenient for a vehicle user because no direct physical connection between the charging source and the battery is required. However, the charging gap between the primary and secondary inductive charging plates may allow foreign objects to enter the charging field.
Disclosure of Invention
A vehicle includes a charging pad configured to receive charge for a battery when positioned in a charging area. The vehicle also includes a camera system and a controller programmed to cause the camera system to capture a calibration image at each of a plurality of indexed positions as the charging pad approaches the charging area. The controller is further programmed to cause the camera system to capture a current image for at least one of the indexed positions and prevent initiation of a charging procedure in response to a difference between the current image and a corresponding one of the calibration images exceeding a pixel variance threshold.
A vehicle battery charging system includes a vehicle charging coil and a camera system configured to capture calibration images of a primary charging coil at a plurality of locations relative to the primary charging coil. The vehicle battery charging system also includes a controller configured to allow charge to be received at the vehicle charging coil from the primary charging coil in response to a difference between a current image and a corresponding one of the calibration images being less than a pixel variance threshold.
A vehicle battery charging method includes indexing a camera through a plurality of locations having a primary charging pad within a field of view and capturing a calibration image at each of the plurality of locations. The method also includes capturing a current image corresponding to at least one of the calibration images prior to initiating a charging procedure. The method also includes outputting an object detection signal in response to a difference between the calibration image and a current image exceeding a detection threshold.
Drawings
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle parked at a charging station.
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a camera system arranged for object detection.
Fig. 3 is a flow chart of an algorithm for managing inductive charging, including detecting foreign objects near a charging area.
FIG. 4 is a first image representing a field of view of a camera-based object detection system.
FIG. 5 is a second image representing a field of view of a camera-based object detection system.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an alternative exemplary camera system arranged for object detection.
Detailed Description
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and that other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; certain features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. The principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, devices, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Such variations in the illustrated features may provide other representative embodiments for typical applications and are consistent with the teachings of the present disclosure. For example, the components of the system and apparatus may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and devices disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components, and the methods described may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, the steps of the methods may be performed in any suitable order.
It is not intended that any appended claims or claim element invoke 35u.s.c.112(f), unless the word "means for.
The vehicle may be powered solely by battery power (e.g., BEV) and by a combination of power sources including battery power. For example, a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) may be contemplated in which the powertrain is powered by both a battery and an internal combustion engine. In these configurations, the battery is rechargeable and the battery charger provides power to recover the battery after discharge.
Referring to fig. 1, a vehicle battery charging system is generally indicated by
The vehicle 14 includes a secondary coil housed within an
The vehicle 14 is provided with a
The charger 12 is provided with a charger controller 24 having wireless communication means. The charger controller 24 similarly has embedded software and is programmable to regulate the flow of power provided by the charger 12. The software included in the charger controller 24 also includes a timer to track the run time between specified events. Under selected conditions, or upon receiving specified instructions, the charger controller 24 may enable, disable, or reduce power flow through the charger 12. The charger 12 is configured to receive a signal indicative of a charging instruction from the
The
As mentioned above with reference to fig. 1, there is a gap between the vehicle secondary
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a
The vehicle controller is configured to receive the output signals from the
The camera system may be activated for monitoring before the charging is initiated and during the charging procedure. If an object is detected near the inductive charging pad, a detection signal indicating the presence of the object is output from the
Once the object is cleared near the charging pad and no longer detected, the
The
Referring to fig. 3, a
At step 304, the charger controller receives a prompt for an object detection check. In some examples, the object detection check prompt is generated immediately prior to the beginning of an upcoming charging cycle. In other cases, object detection cues are generated at periodic intervals during the charging cycle. In further examples, a prompt for object detection scanning is provided at the time of installation of the charging system as part of a calibration procedure.
The charge controller may be stored in a locationMinimum sizeAnd positionMaximum ofX predetermined positions in between. At step 306, the value of X is set to X ═ 1, corresponding to the first predetermined location. At step 308, the camera is adjusted to a positionXWhich in the initial case is the position1. At step 310, via locationXThe camera at (a) captures an image. The charge controller is further programmed to invoke a program corresponding to the current position (location)X) At least one of the stored calibration images. At step 312, the charge controllerWill and positionXAssociated current image and locationXThe associated stored calibration images are compared. In an alternative example, the camera system is arranged to capture images at predetermined time intervals for one or more camera positions. That is, if there is sufficient difference between the later image and the earlier image for a particular camera position, the system may be configured to output an object detection signal. The earlier image may be a reference image captured during an initialization procedure or may be an image taken at an earlier time that may be compared.
At step 314, the method includes calculating whether an object is present near the charging pad based on the image comparison. If no object is detected at step 314, the method includes indexing to the next predetermined location with the stored calibration image. At step 318, the method includes determining whether the camera has advanced to a maximum position of the available range, the positionMaximum of. If the maximum position has not been reached at step 318, the method includes setting the value of X to the next available position location at step 320. That is, the value of X is advanced by 1 increment equal to X + 1. The method also includes returning to step 308 to advance the camera position to the next position according to the updated X value.
Similar to the steps discussed above, the method includes capturing and updating the location at step 310XThe associated current image, and then at step 312 the image and the updated location are combinedXThe associated calibration images are compared. If no object is detected again at step 314, the method includes incrementally advancing the camera position through the remaining available range of predetermined camera positions. Once all locations have been exhausted and no objects have been detected, the value of X has reached a maximum value. If X equals the maximum value at step 318, the method includes transmitting a clear signal at step 322. The clear signal may be sent to the charging system and may be used as part of the authorization to begin the charging cycle. In some alternative examples, the purge signal includes one or more visual indicators to notify the user that the charge plate is purged.
If an object is detected by the image comparison at any location at step 314, the method includes generating an object detection signal at step 316. An object detection signal may be generated in response to a difference between a calibration image and a corresponding current image for at least one location exceeding a detection threshold. The detection signal may similarly be sent to the charging system and used as part of an authorization procedure to prevent the charging procedure from being initiated when an object is detected in the vicinity of the charging pad. In some other examples, the detection signal includes one or more visual indicators to notify the user that the charge plate is blocked. In a more specific example, a light indicator is displayed in the area of the parking spot to inform the user of the status of the charging pad. In other specific examples, a detection signal is sent to an incoming vehicle and a visual indicator is set at the user display to inform the driver of the state of the charge plate.
Referring to fig. 4 and 5, an exemplary image comparison is provided. Fig. 4 shows a
Fig. 5 shows the output of the image comparison analysis. Fig. 5 includes a
Referring to fig. 6, a second
When the vehicle 602 is subsequently parked toward the charging system, the
Upon approaching the final charging location of the vehicle, the
The processes, methods or algorithms disclosed herein may be provided to/implemented by a processing device, controller or computer, which may include any existing programmable or special purpose electronic control unit. Similarly, the processes, methods or algorithms may be stored as data and instructions that are executable by a controller or computer in a number of forms, including, but not limited to, information permanently stored on non-writable storage media such as ROM devices and information alterably stored on writable storage media such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CDs, RAM devices and other magnetic and optical media. A process, method, or algorithm may also be implemented in a software executable object. Alternatively, the processes, methods or algorithms may be implemented in whole or in part using suitable hardware components such as Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), state machines, controllers or other hardware components or devices, or a combination of hardware, software and firmware components.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously mentioned, features of the various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention, which may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments may have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations in terms of one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that one or more features or characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes may include, but are not limited to, cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, maintainability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, and the like. For this reason, embodiments described as being less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the present disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.
According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle having: a charging plate configured to receive charge for a battery when positioned in a charging area; a camera system; and a controller programmed to cause the camera system to capture a calibration image at each of a plurality of indexed positions when the charging pad is proximate to the charging area, cause the camera system to capture a current image for at least one of the indexed positions, and prevent initiation of a charging procedure in response to a difference between the current image and a corresponding one of the calibration images exceeding a pixel variance threshold.
According to an embodiment, each of the plurality of index positions is stored in relation to an initialization program.
According to an embodiment, the current image is captured as part of a vehicle parking procedure.
According to an embodiment, the difference between the current image and the corresponding calibration image is derived from a pixel-by-pixel comparison.
According to an embodiment, the controller is further programmed to output a comparison image including the charging area at a user display.
According to an embodiment, the comparison image comprises a highlighting of pixels exceeding the pixel variance threshold.
According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle battery charging system having: a vehicle charging coil; a camera system configured to capture calibration images of a primary charging coil at a plurality of locations relative to the primary charging coil; and a controller configured to allow charge to be received at the vehicle charging coil from the primary charging coil in response to a difference between a current image and a corresponding one of the calibration images being less than a pixel variance threshold.
According to an embodiment, the camera system is further configured to initiate the capturing of the at least one calibration image during an initialization procedure.
According to an embodiment, the controller is further configured to prevent charge from being received at the vehicle charging coil in response to the difference exceeding the pixel variance threshold.
According to an embodiment, the controller is further configured to capture the current image in response to initiation of a vehicle parking procedure.
According to an embodiment, the invention also features a user display for outputting a comparison image of the primary charging coil derived from a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the current image and the corresponding one of the calibration images.
According to an embodiment, the invention is further characterized by generating an object detection signal in response to the difference exceeding the pixel variance threshold.
According to the present invention, a vehicle battery charging method includes: indexing a camera through a plurality of positions having a primary charge plate within a field of view; capturing a calibration image at each of the plurality of locations; capturing a current image corresponding to at least one of the calibration images prior to initiating a charging procedure; and outputting an object detection signal in response to a difference between the calibration image and the current image exceeding a detection threshold.
According to an embodiment, said capturing of the calibration image is performed as part of an initialization procedure.
According to an embodiment, said capturing of the current image is performed as part of a vehicle parking procedure.
According to an embodiment, the invention is further characterized by outputting a comparison image at a user display in response to the object detection signal, wherein the comparison image is indicative of a pixel-by-pixel comparison between the at least one calibration image and the corresponding current image.
According to an embodiment, the invention is further characterized by highlighting pixels of the comparison image that exhibit a difference relative to the calibration image that exceeds a pixel variance threshold.
According to an embodiment, the invention is further characterized by preventing the start of the charging procedure in response to the object detection signal.
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