Abstract: An antenna to receive wireless power signals to charge a battery of an electronic device may include a first dipole antenna element disposed on a first side of a PCB. A second dipole antenna element may be disposed on the first side of the PCB, where the first and second dipole antenna elements may be configured to receive wireless RF signals at different polarizations. A third dipole antenna element may be disposed on a second side of the PCB. A fourth dipole antenna element may be disposed on the second side of the PCB, where the third and fourth dipole antenna elements may be configured to receive wireless RF signals at different polarizations. The first and third dipole antenna elements, and the second and fourth dipole antenna elements may be physically associated with one another to form respective first and second dipole antennas.

Abstract: Near-field power transfer systems can include antenna elements that constructed or printed close to each other in a meandered arrangement, where neighboring antenna elements conduct currents that flow in opposite directions. This current flow entirely or almost entirely cancels out any far field RF radiation generated by the antennas or otherwise generated by the electromagnetic effects of the current flow. For a first current flowing in a first path, there may be a second current flowing in a second cancellation path, which cancels the far field radiation produced by the first current flowing in the first path. Therefore, there may be no radiation of power to the far field. Such cancellation, may not occur in a near-field active zone, where the transfer of power may occur between the transmitter and the receiver. A ground plane may block the leakage of power from the back of a transmitter and/or a receiver.

Abstract: Methods of constructing a wireless power receiver that uses a battery as an antenna are provided. The method includes power conversion circuitry that has a connector, the first end connected to at least a part of a battery, and the part of the battery is configured to act as an antenna and receive radio frequency (RF) power signals. The second end of the connector is opposite to the first end and connected to the power conversion circuitry. The power conversion circuitry converts the RF power signals into a direct current (DC) voltage that is used to charge the battery. Additional, some methods for constructing a wireless power receiver include a different connector between the power conversion circuitry and charging circuitry. The charging circuitry is electrically coupled with at least the part of the battery via another connector and provides DC voltage to charge the battery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system including RF circuitry configured to generate an RF signal; a plurality of unit cells configured to receive the RF signal and to cause an RF energy signal having a center frequency to be present within the unit cells; and receiver circuitry configured to charge an electronic device in response to an antenna of the electronic device receiving the RF energy signal when the antenna is tuned to the center frequency and positioned in a near-field distance from one or more of the unit cells.

Abstract: A wireless charging system comprises a first coaxial structure configured to have an RF signal present on a conductor; and a second coaxial structure configured to have an RF signal present, power being transferred from the first coaxial structure to the second coaxial structure when the first coaxial structure and the second coaxial structure are excited in proximity to each other.

Abstract: An example radio frequency (RF) charging pad includes: at least one processor for monitoring an amount of energy that is transferred from the RF charging pad to an RF receiver of an electronic device. The pad also includes: one or more transmitting antenna elements that are in communication with the processor for transmitting RF signals to the RF receiver. In some embodiments, each respective transmitting antenna element includes: (i) a conductive line forming a meandered line pattern; (ii) a first terminal of the conductive line for receiving current at a frequency controlled by the processor; and (iii) a second terminal coupled with a component that allows for modifying an impedance value at the second terminal. In some embodiments, the processor adaptively adjusts the frequency and/or the impedance value to optimize the amount of energy that is transferred from the one or more transmitting antenna elements to the RF receiver.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein include a wireless-power-transmitting antenna formed from a stamped piece of metal. One such antenna includes: (i) a signal feed, defined by a single stamped piece of metal, that conducts a signal that controls wireless power transmission and (ii) resonators, each of which is defined by the single stamped piece of metal, that transmits power transmission waves in response to receiving the signal, where each resonator: (a) is planar with respect to a first plane and vertically aligned with each resonator, (b) is coupled to another resonator via curved sections of the stamped piece of metal that are in contact with the signal feed, each curved section extending along a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane such that respective gaps are formed between each resonator, and (c) receives the signal via a respective curved section of the single stamped piece of metal.

Abstract: Disclosed is methods and devices for charging an electronic device. An exemplary method includes receiving, by an antenna of an electronic device, a wireless signal. A receiver chip is embedded in the electronic device and connected to the antenna, and the receiver chip includes a switch and rectifier circuitry. The method further includes: (i) in response to determining that the antenna is receiving power above a threshold level, routing, via the switch, the received wireless signal to the rectifier circuity, the rectifier circuitry being configured to convert the wireless signal into usable energy for charging a battery of the electronic device connected to the rectifier circuitry, and (ii) in response to determining that the antenna is not receiving power above the threshold level, routing, via the switch, the received wireless signal to the transceiver, the transceiver being configured to process the wireless signal as data.

Abstract: An example antenna may include: (i) an electromagnetic band gap (EBG) ground plane, and (ii) a dipole antenna, coupled with a via that extends to the EBG ground plane, configured to transmit a wireless power signal having a wavelength to a wireless power receiver, the dipole antenna being positioned approximately one-quarter of the wavelength above the EBG ground plane. Furthermore, the via is configured to conduct the wireless power signal, and the wireless power receiver is configured to convert the wireless power signal into usable power.

Abstract: A receiver device including a housing that defines (i) a first gap within a first half of the housing and (ii) a second gap within a second half of the housing, where the housing includes a radio-frequency-reflective material, and the gaps are filled with a radio-frequency-transparent material. The receiver device further includes two antennas housed in the housing, each of the two antennas being configured to receive radio frequency (RF) wireless charging signals transmitted by a transmitter that enter the housing via the gaps. A first of the two antennas is positioned adjacent to and substantially within the first gap, and a second of the two antennas is positioned adjacent to and substantially within the second gap. The receiver device further includes circuitry housed in the housing and electrically coupled with the two antennas, the circuitry being configured to rectify the received RF wireless signals to produce a rectified signal.

Abstract: An antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves having different polarizations that comprises a plurality of slots defined by a piece of metal, and each of the plurality of slots includes at least two continuous segments. In addition, for each of the plurality of slots: a first segment of the at least two continuous segments is: (i) defined by the piece of metal in a first dimension, and (ii) configured to receive radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves having a first polarization, and a second segment of the at least two continuous segments is: (i) defined by the piece of metal in a second dimension, distinct from the first dimension, and (ii) configured to receive RF power transmission waves having a second polarization different from the first polarization.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wireless power transmitter for wirelessly delivering power to a receiver device, the wireless power transmitter including: a plurality of unit cells configured to radiate one or more radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves, each unit cell in the plurality of unit cells including: (i) a metal portion having an interior perimeter that surrounds an aperture defined by the metal portion; and (ii) an antenna that is aligned with the aperture in a first dimension, the antenna being configured to radiate one or more RF power transmission waves for wirelessly charging a receiver device. The one or more RF power transmission waves leak from the wireless power transmitter at least in part through the aperture when the receiver device is positioned within a threshold distance from the unit cell.

Abstract: The wireless power receiver includes at least one wire of a sound-producing device. The at least one wire configured for both conveying sound signals or securing at least part of the sound-producing device to a user, and receiving power waves. The wireless power receiver also includes power harvesting circuitry coupled with the at least one wire and a power source of an electronic device, like a battery. The power harvesting circuitry is configured to isolate the received power waves from the conveyed sound signals, convert the received power waves to usable energy, and provide the usable energy to the power source of the electronic device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system including RF circuitry configured to generate an RF signal; a plurality of unit cells configured to receive the RF signal and to cause an RF energy signal having a center frequency to be present within the unit cells; and receiver circuitry configured to charge an electronic device in response to an antenna of the electronic device receiving the RF energy signal when the antenna is tuned to the center frequency and positioned in a near-field distance from one or more of the unit cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods of wirelessly charging an electronic device. An example device disclosed is a near-field transmitter. The near-field transmitter includes a plurality of unit cells configured to radiate one or more radio frequency (RF) power transmission waves, each unit cell in the plurality of unit cells including: (i) a metal portion having an interior perimeter that surrounds an aperture defined by the metal portion and (ii) a patch antenna that is separate from and positioned underneath the aperture defined by the metal portion, the patch antenna being configured to radiate one or more RF power transmission waves for wirelessly charging an electronic device. The one or more RF power transmission waves are leaked at least in part through the aperture when an antenna of the electronic device is positioned in a near-field distance from the unit cell.

Abstract: An antenna may include an antenna mount defining an opening, and be configured to operate as (i) a resonator for transferring an RF signal and (ii) support member. The antenna may further include a ground plane configured to support the antenna mount, and a substrate extending through the opening and being perpendicular to the ground plane on which the antenna mount is being supported.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (400) for determining a Handheld Reader's (“HR”) location within a facility. The methods involve: performing first operations by HR to read RFID tags having locations within the facility that are unknown to the handheld reader; performing second operations by HR to receive signals from RF Enabled Devices (“RFED”) located at known locations within the facility; and determining HR's location/orientation using RSSI levels or TOF values of signals received from RFEDs, known locations of RFEDs, sensor data, known antenna patterns of RFEDs, a known antenna pattern of HR, and/or (9) information indicating which RFID tags were read by HR and at least one RFED. The first and second operations are performed while HR is being carried by a person throughout the facility.

Abstract: A near-field antenna is provided, which includes: a reflector and four distinct antenna elements, offset from the reflector, each of the four distinct antenna elements following respective meandering patterns. Two antenna elements of the four antenna elements form a first dipole antenna along a first axis, and another two antenna elements of the four antenna elements form a second dipole antenna along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The near-field antenna further includes: (i) a power amplifier configured to feed electromagnetic signals to one of the dipole antennas, (ii) an impedance-adjusting component configured to adjust an impedance of one of the dipole antennas, and (iii) switch circuitry coupled to the power amplifier, the impedance-adjusting component, and the dipole antennas. The switch circuitry is configured to switchably couple the first dipole antenna to the power amplifier and the second dipole antenna to the impedance-adjusting component, and vice versa.

Abstract: An example non-inductive, resonant near-field antenna includes: (i) a conductive plate having first and second opposing planar surfaces and one or more cutouts extending through the conductive plate from the first surface to the second surface; (ii) an insulator; and (iii) a feed element, separated from the first surface of the conductive plate by the insulator, configured to direct a plurality of RF power transmission signals towards the conductive plate. At least some of the plurality of RF power transmission signals radiate through the cutout(s) and accumulate within a near-field distance of the conductive plate to create at least two distinct zones of accumulated RF energy at each of the cutout(s). Furthermore, the at least two distinct zones of accumulated RF energy at the cutout(s) are defined based, at least in part, on a set of dimensions defining each of the cutout(s) and an arrangement of the cutout(s).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for using an existing components of a battery as an antenna for receiving wirelessly delivered power from radio frequency power waves are provided. A wireless power receiver includes a first connection with a battery. The first connection is configured to receive an alternating current that is generated by reception of wirelessly delivered radio frequency (RF) power signals. The RF power signals are received by at least a part of the battery that is acting as an antenna. The wireless power receiver further includes power conversion circuitry that is electrically coupled to the first connection with the battery. The power conversion circuitry is configured to convert the alternating current into a direct current (DC) voltage that is used to charge the battery.