Patents Examined by Joseph N Inge
  • Patent number: 11756728
    Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus which comprises a wireless power transfer (WPT) system. This system comprises features which allow it to transfer more power wirelessly at extended distances than other systems operating in the same frequency range. The system possesses heat dissipation features; these features allow it to operate effectively in elevated-temperature environments, and to transfer power at higher levels and/or greater distances than a typical power-transfer system. The system also might include design features to withstand mechanical shocks, stresses, and impacts for use in a rugged environment. The system can also comprise adaptations to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI), and can comprise specially shaped components with magnetic/ferrimagnetic properties that enhance performance. Other potential features include power conditioning by combining, within one circuit or one board, multiple elements that protect against excessive current, over-voltage, and/or reverse voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: NuCurrent, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavel Shostak, Oleg Los, Unnati Wadkar, Jason Luzinski, Md. Nazmul Alam, Mark D. Melone, Matt Zamborsky, Jacob Babcock, Alberto Peralta, Christine Frysz
  • Patent number: 11750034
    Abstract: A conductor arrangement for an inductive power transfer, the conductor arrangement comprising at least three coils arranged along a longitudinal axis and formed of at least one conductor; and at least two winding heads arranged opposite one another and in which conductor sections of each coil extend along one another and along the longitudinal axis; wherein, within at least one of the winding heads, the conductor sections of the first and second coils that extend along the longitudinal axis are arranged at a first distance to one another, the first distance ?zero, and the conductor section of the third coil that extends along the longitudinal axis is arranged at second distances to said conductor sections of the first and second coils, the second distances being larger than the first distance. Also disclosed are an inductive power transfer arrangement and methods for providing conductor arrangements for an inductive power transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Bombardier Primove GmbH
    Inventors: Konrad Woronowicz, Robert Czainski
  • Patent number: 11750026
    Abstract: An assembly for harvesting power from one or more power cables. The assembly includes a current transformer operable to harvest power from the one or more power cables and a controller operable to control an amount of power harvested by the current transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NOVINIUM, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Smith, Kenneth Taylor, Weston Philips Chapin Ford
  • Patent number: 11733101
    Abstract: This patent specification relates to various smart-home systems. Such a system may include a battery-powered smart home device that communicates using a first wireless protocol characterized by relatively low power usage and relatively low data rates. Such a system may further include a smart wall outlet device. The smart wall outlet device may include wireless communication circuitry comprising a first wireless interface and a second wireless interface. The first wireless interface may be configured to communicate with the battery-powered smart home device using the first wireless protocol. The second wireless interface may be configured to serve as a communication bridge between the battery-powered smart home device and a wireless network that uses a second communication protocol characterized by relatively higher power usage and relatively higher data rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew L. Rogers, Yoky Matsuoka, David Sloo, Maxime Veron, Isabel I. Guenette, Shigefumi Honjo
  • Patent number: 11722008
    Abstract: A wireless inductive power transfer system comprises a power transmitter for transmitting power inductively to a power receiver via transmitter coil 11 to receiver coil 21. In the system, a communication method comprises a step 37 of transmitting, by the power receiver, first data and second data to the power transmitter, the first data indicating a modulation requirement, and the second data indicating an inquiry message; a step 32 for receiving, by the power transmitter, the first data and the second data from the power receiver; a step 34 for transmitting, by the power transmitter, a response message for responding to said inquiry message, by modulating a power signal according to said modulation requirement so as to carry the response message; and a step 35 for receiving the response message by the power receiver by demodulating the modulated power signal carrying the response message received via the receiver coil from the power transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Andries Van Wageningen
  • Patent number: 11715981
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a power transmitting circuit configured to transmit power to a wireless power receiver, a communication circuit configured to perform communication with the wireless power receiver, and a control circuit configured to control the power transmitting circuit to apply first power to a coil of the power transmitting circuit, control the power transmitting circuit to stop applying the first power and to prevent power from being applied to the coil during a first period, identify a first Q-factor during the first period, control the power transmitting circuit to apply, to the coil, a second power based on a calibration operation for identifying at least one parameter used for identifying a power loss during power transmission, control the power transmitting circuit to stop applying the second power and to prevent power from being applied to the coil during a second period, identify a second Q-factor during the second period, and identify a validity of the at least one parameter based o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: Seho Park
  • Patent number: 11705756
    Abstract: An integrated circuit on a chip may include a plurality of capacitors that are connected in series and generate an AC noise signal. A selected bandwidth of the AC noise signal transmits through the series of capacitors as a first AC power signal. Respective rectifiers are positioned for receiving a positive cycle of the first AC power signal and a negative cycle of the first AC power signal. Output terminals are connected to the respective rectifiers and configured for connection to an off chip circuit. The capacitors may be fixed or variable gap capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Arkansas
    Inventor: Paul Thibado
  • Patent number: 11688214
    Abstract: A composite panel for a vehicle includes a plurality of layers bonded together by resin. A sensing assembly is arranged between at least two of the plurality of layers. The sensing assembly includes at least one of a piezoelectric layer to sense vibration of the composite panel when installed on the vehicle and a thermopile configured to sense changes in temperature of the composite panel when installed on the vehicle. The sensing assembly further includes a transmitter configured to transmit data to the vehicle based on an output of the at least one of the piezoelectric layer and the thermopile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Venkateshwar R. Aitharaju, Selina Xinyue Zhao, Andrew J. Galant, Dorel M. Sala, William R. Rodgers, Terrence Wathen
  • Patent number: 11677270
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating electric power from the motion of a vehicle according to the disclosure includes: a magnetic fluid storage unit in which a magnetic fluid is stored and from which the magnetic fluid is discharged by a pressing force of the vehicle; a pipe unit through which the magnetic fluid discharged from the magnetic fluid storage unit moves; and an induction coil unit arranged to surround a circumference of the pipe unit so that an induced electromotive force is generated when the magnetic fluid moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: KEPCO ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Dong Hwa Byun, Yeon Uk Jeong
  • Patent number: 11677274
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein comprise a distributed wireless power transmission system including a plurality of wireless power transmission systems (WPTSs) coordinating transmissions to create a virtual WPTS. The plurality of WPTS coordinate amongst each other to compensate for local phase shift differences between respective clock sources so that transmissions from the WPTSs constructively interfere at a wireless power receiver client (WPRC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: OSSIA INC.
    Inventors: Hatem I. Zeine, Philip L. Swan
  • Patent number: 11664724
    Abstract: A power system includes a power conversion stage that receives power from an input source and delivers power to a load via a power distribution bus. The power distribution bus may include a DC transformer such as a fixed ratio bus converter or VTM having an equivalent series resistance. A control system samples the voltage delivered by the power conversion stage at a location close to the output of the power conversion stage, and the load voltage at a location close to the load. The samples may be synchronized by means of a data bus that provides communication between a control device and an output monitor. Synchronization may be accomplished within a sampling period that is short relative to changes in the voltages and currents. Each set of samples may be used to determine a value of the bus resistance. Multiple samples may be averaged to improve accuracy in the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Vicor Corporation
    Inventor: Patrizio Vinciarelli
  • Patent number: 11664687
    Abstract: A power transmitter (101) provides power to a power receiver (105) via an electromagnetic power transfer signal. The power transmitter (101) comprises an output circuit (302, 103) with a transmitter coil (103) generating the power transfer signal in response to a drive signal generated by a driver (301). A configuration controller (303) switches between power transfer configurations having different maximum power limits and voltage amplitudes for the drive signal. A transmitter (307) transmits a power configuration message to the power receiver (105) comprising data indicative of a voltage amplitude for a first power transfer configuration a receiver (305) receives a power transfer configuration change request message from the power receiver (105). The configuration controller (303) switches the power transmitter (101) to the first power transfer configuration in response to the power transfer configuration change request message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Antonius Adriaan Maria Staring
  • Patent number: 11652368
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a transmission coil that supplies power to a power reception device, a power supply circuit that converts DC power supplied from a DC power source via a plurality of switching elements connected in a full bridge shape or a half bridge shape between DC power sources and the transmission coil into AC power and supplies the AC power to the transmission coil, a phase adjustment circuit having an LC series circuit connected in parallel with the transmission coil and a switching element connected in series with the LC series circuit, and a control circuit that controls switching on and off of the switching element of the phase adjustment circuit in accordance with a measured value of an amount of current when any of the plurality of switching elements of the power supply circuit is turned off by a current detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Goro Nakao, Atsushi Nomura, Yusuke Kawai, Masanobu Nakajo
  • Patent number: 11646592
    Abstract: Disclosed is an operating method for a wirelessly communicating electronic device, including the following steps: a) acquisition of a radio-frequency frame representative of at least one data item intended to be transmitted by the radio-frequency transmitter in a radio-frequency message; b) determination of the amount of power available in the power storage; c) determination of the length of the radio-frequency message to be transmitted; d) determination of transmission parameters of the radio-frequency transmitter, according to the values determined for the length of the message and the amount of power available in the power storage; e) and transmission of the message by the transmitter, using the determined transmission parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
    Inventor: Serge Robin
  • Patent number: 11637451
    Abstract: A power transmitter device of a non-contact power feeding device includes a transmitter coil configured to supply power to the power receiver device, a power supply circuit including a plurality of switching elements connected between a DC power supply and the transmitter coil in a full-bridge configuration or a half-bridge configuration. The power supply circuit may be configured to switch the plurality of switching elements to an on or off state at a switching frequency to convert DC power supplied from the DC power supply into AC power having the switching frequency and supply the AC power to the transmitter coil, and a phase control circuit including at least one LC series circuit connected to both ends of the transmitter coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Goro Nakao, Kenichi Tabata, Yusuke Kawai, Atsushi Nomura, Takahiro Takeyama, Masanobu Nakajo
  • Patent number: 11637460
    Abstract: A wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter including a high frequency power converter circuit that converts a direct current power into a high frequency power using a switching circuit, a power transmitter coil, and an electric field shield member close to the power transmitter coil and having a structure that uses a conductive member to form an equivalent capacitance between the electric field shield member and the power transmitter coil by electric coupling therebetween during a power transmitting operation such that the value of the equivalent capacitance becomes greater than the value of an equivalent capacitance formed between the power transmitter coil and ground. The power transmitter causes electric potentials in the electric field shield member to be identical using the conductive member, suppresses changes in an electric field in a vicinity of the power transmitter coil, and suppresses radiation of the electric field noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Nagai, Tatsuya Hosotani
  • Patent number: 11616392
    Abstract: The invention presents a rectifier circuit and a rectification method for harvesting light energy and RF energy, which uses light energy receiver to convert light energy into input direct-current voltage and RF energy receiver to convert RF energy into RF voltage simultaneously. Also, by combining with injection-locked oscillating circuit, oscillating frequency of injection-locked oscillating circuit is locked according to RF frequency also amplitude of RF voltage is enhanced. By using rectifier circuit to rectify and output corresponding output direct-current voltage, both light energy and RF energy may be harvested simultaneously and energy conversion efficiency is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tzuen-Hsi Huang, Dong-Yan Li, Yi-Yuan Lin
  • Patent number: 11611241
    Abstract: An extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) includes a resonant coil on a surface of the EMU to be coupled to a second resonant coil affixed to a structure via a resonant magnetic field. The EMU also includes a receiver in the EMU coupled to the resonant coil to provide a direct current (DC) voltage based on the resonant magnetic field. A battery in the EMU is charged based on the DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Savulak, Sean K. Murray, Gregory John Quinn
  • Patent number: 11608197
    Abstract: The present invention describes methods, systems, and devices for utilizing high-intensity regions within atmospheres of planetary bodies to receive and harvest electricity. Such high-intensity regions are formed as a result of the combined gravitational forces affecting a given planetary body and particularly the particles within the atmosphere of that planetary body. The combined gravitational forces result in a gravitational resonant frequency which affects the atmosphere most intensely within said high-intensity regions. By determining moments of gravitational resonant frequencies based on a given location, the methods, systems, and devices described herein utilize the energy provided within the high-intensity regions during the determined moments. Harvesting and further transmitting the collected energy is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventor: Vadim Kukharev
  • Patent number: 11601013
    Abstract: A system and method for wireless transmission of electricity through the air utilizes Earth's natural magnetosphere or an induced magnetosphere to produce electrons which may be systematically converted to almost weightless preparticles called muons that are transmittable from a tower with a low frequency radio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Ronald L. Besser