A foreign object detection device includes a plurality of coils (240) each including a first conductive pattern mounted on one surface of a detection coil substrate (220) to be excited and thus generate a vibration signal, a detector (26) to detect the existence of a foreign object on the basis of the vibration signal, a first connecting line (230) to connect one terminals (T1) of the individual coils (240) to the detector (26), and a second connecting line (232) to connect the other terminals (T2) of the individual coils (240) to the detector (26). The first connecting line (230) and the second connecting line (232) extend in substantially identical paths in at least segments mounted on the detection coil substrate (220).

The present disclosure describes techniques for detecting foreign objects. In some aspects, an apparatus for detecting objects is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of sense circuits, each of the plurality of sense circuits including a primary sense coil having a first terminal and a second terminal, a secondary sense coil having a first terminal and a second terminal, and a capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the capacitor is electrically connected to the second terminals of each of the primary sense coil and the secondary sense coil. The apparatus further includes a driver circuit electrically connected to the first terminal of the primary sense coil of each of the plurality of sense circuits. The apparatus further includes a measurement circuit electrically connected to the first terminal of the secondary sense coil of each of the plurality of sense circuits.

An object detection apparatus includes a sensor module including a sensor, and a controller that controls the sensor and generates output information, based on a signal that the sensor outputs; and a detector that determines presence or absence of the object, based on the output information. The detector executes a reference object detection process of detecting a reference object existing at a predetermined position within the detection range, by comparing the output information and predetermined reference information, and, when the reference object is detected, executes a correction process of correcting at least one of the output information or a parameter for the sensor, based on the reference information and reference object information that is information indicative of the reference object in the output information.

An object detection apparatus includes a sensor module including a sensor, and a controller that controls the sensor and generates output information, based on a signal that the sensor outputs; and a detector that determines presence or absence of the object, based on the output information. The detector executes a reference object detection process of detecting a reference object existing at a predetermined position within the detection range, by comparing the output information and predetermined reference information, and, when the reference object is detected, executes a correction process of correcting at least one of the output information or a parameter for the sensor, based on the reference information and reference object information that is information indicative of the reference object in the output information.

A foreign object detection apparatus and method, and a wireless charger. In the foreign object detection apparatus, a signal generation module generates a first calibration excitation signal based on first indication information received from a processing module and generates at least two first calibration carrier signals based on the first indication information. A phase difference detection module determines, based on each first calibration carrier signal and a first current signal obtained by a foreign object detection module under an action of the first calibration excitation signal, a first phase difference between each first calibration carrier signal and the first current signal. The processing module determines a target initial phase based on the first phase difference, and then generates second indication information. The second indication information indicates the signal generation module to generate a detection carrier signal whose initial phase is the target initial phase.

A foreign object detection apparatus and method, and a wireless charger. In the foreign object detection apparatus, a signal generation module generates a first calibration excitation signal based on first indication information received from a processing module and generates at least two first calibration carrier signals based on the first indication information. A phase difference detection module determines, based on each first calibration carrier signal and a first current signal obtained by a foreign object detection module under an action of the first calibration excitation signal, a first phase difference between each first calibration carrier signal and the first current signal. The processing module determines a target initial phase based on the first phase difference, and then generates second indication information. The second indication information indicates the signal generation module to generate a detection carrier signal whose initial phase is the target initial phase.

A chargeability presenting method which includes before start of transmitting first electric power to an electric vehicle, wirelessly supplying second electric power to a charging space, detecting whether heat is generated by a foreign object in the charging space after the second electric power is transmitted, and before start of transmitting the first electric power, presenting chargeability information that is generated based on vehicle presence information and foreign object information, the vehicle presence information indicating whether the charging space is vacant, and the foreign object information indicating whether the heat is detected in the charging space.

A chargeability presenting method which includes before start of transmitting first electric power to an electric vehicle, wirelessly supplying second electric power to a charging space, detecting whether heat is generated by a foreign object in the charging space after the second electric power is transmitted, and before start of transmitting the first electric power, presenting chargeability information that is generated based on vehicle presence information and foreign object information, the vehicle presence information indicating whether the charging space is vacant, and the foreign object information indicating whether the heat is detected in the charging space.

A vehicle controller includes a processing unit which creates a power-supply plan that ensures a first amount of electric power needed for the vehicle to arrive at the destination from the current location along a travel route. The travel route includes a specified section on which wireless power-supply equipment, among a plurality of power-supply equipment, is disposed. Using weather information including the specified section, the processing unit creates the power-supply plan in which a ratio of a second amount of electric power, which is supplied from the at least one wireless power-supply equipment to the vehicle, to the first amount of electric power is less in a first case in which deposition is determined to be present on the specified section than in a second case in which deposition is determined to be not present on the at least one specified section.

A wireless power transmitter configured to transfer power to a wireless power receiver, including a coil assembly comprising first and second bottom coils placed adjacent to each other in a line and each consisting of a single layer of 11 turns and a top coil stacked on the first and second bottom coils and consisting of a single layer of 12 turns; and a full-bridge inverter. The first and second bottom coils and the top coil have a substantially rectangular frame structure with a through hole in the center, wherein the top coil lies on a plane surface in the middle between the first and second bottom coils, a distance from the center of the first and second bottom coils to the center of the top coil is set to a range of 21 mm to 25 mm, the first and second bottom coils have a height of 48 mm to 50 mm and a width of 43 mm to 45 mm, and the through hole in the first and second bottom coils has a height of 25 mm to 27 mm and a width of 21 mm to 23 mm, the top coil has a height of 45 mm to 47 mm and a width of 48.5 mm to 50.5 mm, and the through hole in the top coil has a height of 20 mm to 22 mm and a width of 24.5 mm to 26.5 mm, the first and second bottom coils and the top coil have a thickness of 0.9 mm to 1.3 mm, the wireless power transmitter uses an input voltage of the full-bridge inverter to control an amount of power which is transferred, the input voltage has a range of 1 V to 18 V, wherein an operating frequency to control the amount of the power is within a range of 140 kHz to 150 kHz, and the first and second bottom coils and the top coil have a inductance value within a range of 10.6 μH to 12.0 μH.