Abstract: The present invention provides an AC-DC converter and AC-DC conversion method for converting an AC input provided by a power transfer winding. The AC-DC converter includes a rectifying means for rectifying the AC input into a rectified output, and a control means for controlling the rectifying means based on a comparison between a reference signal and a voltage feedback signal, the voltage feedback signal being based on the rectified output.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable electronic device including an antenna having a major planar cross-section, and a power transfer coil having windings parallel to a coil plane, the coil plane extending to the perimeter of the power transfer coil. The antenna and the power transfer coil are arranged such that the major planar cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the coil plane if a line directed perpendicularly from the coil plane intersects the major planar cross-section. An associated method of assembling a portable electronic device is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antenna network for passively or actively enhancing signal transmission or reception of one or more portable transceiver devices. The antenna network includes one or more antennas, each having a coupling portion and a radiating portion, the coupling portion being distributed across a coupling area and the radiating portion being located away from the coupling area, whereby signal transmission or reception of the one or more portable transceiver devices can occur through the radiating portion when the one or more portable transceiver devices are located within the coupling area.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sleeve for holding a portable electronic device such as an MP3 player, mobile telephone, PDA and the like. The sleeve is provided with an integrally formed secondary winding that enables the sleeve to pick up magnetic flux from an inductive charging platform and associated circuitry for generating a DC charging voltage that can be used to charge a battery in the device while the device is received within the sleeve. The sleeve is formed with a connector designed to fit a power/data connection socket in the device, and may also be provided with a connection port enabling the device to be connected to a computer while it is received within the sleeve.

Abstract: Various circuit configurations and topologies are provided for single and multi-phase, single-level or multi-level, full and half-bridge rectifiers in which diodes are replaced by combinations of voltage-controlled self-driven active switches, current-controlled self-driven active switches and inductors in order to reduce the effects of conduction loss in the diodes.

Abstract: A full-bridge rectifier is configured to provide synchronous rectification with either a current-source or a voltage-source. The rectifier has an upper branch and a lower branch and two current loops, with each of the branches including voltage- or current-controlled active switches, diodes or combinations thereof that are selected such that each loop includes one active switch or diode from the upper branch and one active switch or diode from the lower branch, and each current loop comprises at least one diode or current-controlled active switch, and at least one voltage- or current-controlled active switch is included in one of the upper or lower branches.