Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery, an auxiliary battery, a charger, and two DC-DC converters. A first DC-DC converter is connected between the traction battery and the auxiliary battery through a main contactor. A second DC-DC converter is connected between the charger and the auxiliary battery. The charger is configured to charge the auxiliary battery via the second DC-DC converter when the charger is receiving power. The second DC-DC converter is configured to charge the auxiliary battery when the first DC-DC converter is disconnected from the traction battery. The second DC-DC converter can charge the auxiliary battery independent of the charger charging the traction battery. The second DC-DC converter may be configured to generally maximize power conversion efficiency in a range of power outputs associated with charging the auxiliary battery.

Abstract: A park assist system may, in response to receiving a signal indicating that a remote inductive charge source is within a vicinity of a vehicle, transition from a park assist mode to a wireless charging mode. During the wireless charging mode, the park assist system generates instructions to assist a driver in positioning the vehicle relative to the inductive charge source.

Abstract: Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include a rechargeable traction battery. An automated vehicle charging system is configured to charge the traction battery with minimal operator intervention. The vehicle charging system includes at least one tire pad including a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors arranged at known locations of the tire pad and outputting signals having a magnitude indicative of a pressure applied by a tire at the known locations. The vehicle charging system also includes at least one controller programmed to receive the signals and control movement of a transmit coil according to a position of the tire on the tire pad that is derived from the signals. The known locations may be generally equally spaced or unevenly spaced across the tire pad. The tire pad may include a tire stop to limit motion of the tire in one direction.

Abstract: A system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a slidable bar, a connecting bar attached to the slidable bar and a charging device carried by the connecting bar and movable with the slidable bar.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a controller configured to, responsive to an alignment mode, disable a power rectifier configured to transfer charge between a secondary coil and battery, and enable a precision rectifier to output a voltage responsive to current induced in the secondary coil resulting from current through a corresponding primary coil, and responsive to the voltage exceeding a threshold, enable the power rectifier and disable the precision rectifier.

Abstract: An inductive charge system may include an inductive charging circuit having a switchgear configured to swap between a step-up converter and a step-down converter. The inductive vehicle charge station or system may include a controller configured to operate the switchgear to switch between the step-up converter and the step-down converter based on presence or absence of a load. The step-up converter may be a boost converter. The step-down converter may be a buck converter. The buck converter may have a maximum power output of 100 W. An output of the step-down converter may include a forward-biased diode to prevent backfeeding. The controller may be further configured to ramp an output voltage of the step-down converter from a coupling voltage to a charging voltage to prevent hard switching between the step-up converter and the step-down converter.

Abstract: A system and method for managing communications with a vehicle wireless charging station include a vehicle having a battery configured for wireless charging and a vehicle computing system having a transceiver and a processor programmed to broadcast a signal by the vehicle computing system using the transceiver to establish a communication link with a vehicle wireless charging station in response to a current vehicle location being within a specified range of a previously authorized vehicle wireless charging station. The system and method may include a vehicle HMI to prompt a user for input to authorize communication with a wireless charging station that is not recognized or that has not been previously authorized. Wireless charging related broadcasts may be inhibited when the vehicle is not within a specified range of a known wireless charging station location to conserve energy and reduce potential for unauthorized responses to the vehicle broadcasts.

Abstract: Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include a rechargeable traction battery. An automated vehicle charging system is configured to charge the traction battery with minimal operator intervention. The vehicle charging system includes a carousel, including a plurality of transmit coils, configured to move in a longitudinal direction and rotate about an axis. The vehicle charging system further includes at least one controller programmed to move the carousel in the longitudinal direction and rotate the carousel about the axis to align a selected transmit coil from the plurality of transmit coils with a vehicle receive coil. The vehicle charging system may receive positioning data from a vehicle and may move and rotate the carousel according to the positioning data to align the selected transmit coil with the vehicle receive coil.

Abstract: A parameter estimation system includes a first coil configured to be loosely inductively coupled to a second coil. A controller is programmed to output parameters of the first coil and second coil. The controller is programmed to estimate the parameters based on voltage and current measurement from only the first or the second coil. The voltage and current measurements may be used in a Kalman filter. In some configurations, the controller is further programmed to command a short circuit between terminals of the second coil and apply a test voltage to the first coil. The first coil may be part of a vehicle charging station and the second coil may be part of a vehicle. The parameters may be utilized to control charging of the vehicle.

Abstract: A wireless vehicle charging system includes at least one controller configured to operate an inverter to control a voltage input to a power converter in a vehicle to drive an impedance phase angle at an output of the inverter toward a predetermined angle and achieve a power demand at an output of the vehicle power converter. The at least one controller is further configured to operate the vehicle power converter to achieve the power demand. The at least one controller may control a frequency output of the inverter to adjust the voltage input to the power converter based on a rate of change of an objective function that is configured to reduce an output power error of the power converter and an impedance phase angle error at the output of the inverter.

Abstract: Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include a rechargeable traction battery. An automated vehicle charging system is configured to charge the traction battery with minimal operator intervention. The vehicle charging system includes at least one tire pad including a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors arranged at known locations of the tire pad and outputting signals having a magnitude indicative of a pressure applied by a tire at the known locations. The vehicle charging system also includes at least one controller programmed to receive the signals and control movement of a transmit coil according to a position of the tire on the tire pad that is derived from the signals. The known locations may be generally equally spaced or unevenly spaced across the tire pad. The tire pad may include a tire stop to limit motion of the tire in one direction.

Abstract: A charging system for charging a vehicle includes a charging station and a vehicle. The charging station includes a wireless charging coil, an infrared receiver oriented to receive infrared signals generated proximate the coil, and a first wireless communications device. The vehicle includes a charge plate, a first emitter configured to generate a first infrared signal, a second wireless communications device in communication with the first wireless communication device, an in-vehicle display, and at least one controller. The vehicle can include a second emitter to emit a second infrared signal. The controller is configured to present positional information via the display. The positional information corresponds to a vehicle position detected in response to the first infrared signal being received by the infrared receiver.

Abstract: An exemplary assembly for testing a wireless charge transmit system includes a portable tester that is configured to mimic a vehicle mounted charge receive system and to wirelessly interface with a wireless charge transmit system.

Abstract: A vehicle charging system may include a charge receptacle and an alignment pin mounted to a vehicle and a ground station. The ground station may include a guide having a locating region configured to receive the alignment pin and in response to the alignment pin contacting the locating region translate along a track. An electrical connector may be configured to engage the charge receptacle. The electrical connector may be disposed within a housing associated with the guide.

Abstract: A vehicle charging system may include a drive system mounted to a chassis, a positionable electrical connector assembly, a position sensor, a proximity sensor, and a control module. The control module may be programmed to operate the drive system to place the chassis proximate a vehicle electrical connector and operate the positionable electrical connector assembly to releasably engage the vehicle electrical connector.

Abstract: Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include a rechargeable traction battery. An automated vehicle charging system is configured to charge the traction battery with minimal operator intervention. The vehicle charging system includes a carousel, including a plurality of transmit coils, configured to move in a longitudinal direction and rotate about an axis. The vehicle charging system further includes at least one controller programmed to move the carousel in the longitudinal direction and rotate the carousel about the axis to align a selected transmit coil from the plurality of transmit coils with a vehicle receive coil. The vehicle charging system may receive positioning data from a vehicle and may move and rotate the carousel according to the positioning data to align the selected transmit coil with the vehicle receive coil.

Abstract: Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include a rechargeable traction battery. An automated vehicle charging system is configured to charge the traction battery with minimal operator intervention. The vehicle charging system includes at least one tire pad including a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors arranged at known locations of the tire pad and outputting signals having a magnitude indicative of a pressure applied by a tire at the known locations. The vehicle charging system also includes at least one controller programmed to receive the signals and control movement of a transmit coil according to a position of the tire on the tire pad that is derived from the signals. The known locations may be generally equally spaced or unevenly spaced across the tire pad. The tire pad may include a tire stop to limit motion of the tire in one direction.

Abstract: A charging system for charging a vehicle includes a charging station and a vehicle. The charging station includes a wireless charging coil, an infrared receiver oriented to receive infrared signals generated proximate the coil, and a first wireless communications device. The vehicle includes a charge plate, a first emitter configured to generate a first infrared signal, a second wireless communications device in communication with the first wireless communication device, an in-vehicle display, and at least one controller. The vehicle can include a second emitter to emit a second infrared signal. The controller is configured to present positional information via the display. The positional information corresponds to a vehicle position detected in response to the first infrared signal being received by the infrared receiver.

Abstract: A wireless battery charging system for an electric vehicle can include a transmitter assembly configured to send a charging signal to a vehicle, an ultrasonic sensor configured to sense an unwanted object adjacent the transmitter assembly, and an infrared sensor configured to sense an unwanted object adjacent the transmitter assembly. The transmitter assembly includes a primary coil. The infrared sensor and the ultrasonic sensor can sense at least partially overlapping regions to sense an unwanted object in a coil region between the primary coil and a secondary coil of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle charging system may include a charge receptacle and an alignment pin mounted to a vehicle and a ground station. The ground station may include a guide having a locating region configured to receive the alignment pin and in response to the alignment pin contacting the locating region translate along a track. An electrical connector may be configured to engage the charge receptacle. The electrical connector may be disposed within a housing associated with the guide.