Ford Receives Patent for Wireless EV Charging System

Ford is trying to patent a way to make wireless charging of EVs more effective.

Wireless charging systems already exist, albeit mostly in aftermarket form. However, Ford's patent application, published June 1 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (originally filed November 30, 2021), details several potential improvements.

As Ford states in its patent application, most wireless EV charging systems use electromagnetic fields to transfer energy from a power source to a receiver on the vehicle without a physical connection. This energy transfer can be interrupted, especially if metal-containing objects are near the charging hardware.

The solution outlined in the patent application is to use a camera to detect objects that may disrupt charging and alert the driver with flashing lights or sound. Such a solution could utilize cameras, lights, and speakers installed in the vehicle, which would be networked to the charger, Ford states in the application.

Such a warning system could "reduce or eliminate inadvertent triggering of the low-power mode associated with charging system shutdown" if an object is detected that could block energy transmission between the wireless charger and receiver, the application states. The application states. However, that may not be the main issue preventing wireless charging.

Eliminating bulky cables makes wireless charging more convenient, and WiTricity, a leading aftermarket wireless charging company, says its technology can match the efficiency and output of most AC plug-in charging hardware. A factor hindering widespread adoption is cost, which Ford does not mention.