Abstract: A component comprising a first outer region (11), at least one intermediate region (13) and a second outer region (12). The outer regions (11, 12) have a higher density and/or a higher elastic modulus than the at least one intermediate region (13). A polymer composition (21) can, preferably, be injected into the component (1) such that a mechanical connection (41) is fixed or can be fixed in the polymer composition (21). A method, a kit and the use thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes aspects of ripple current reduction for wireless electric vehicle charging. In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless power transmission includes an inverter circuit to provide alternating current and a resonant circuit having a tuning portion and a coil portion to transmit power based on the alternating current. The apparatus also includes a current sensor to provide an indication of peak-to-peak amplitude (e.g., ripple current) of the alternating current that flows to the coil portion of the resonant circuit. Based on this indication, a control signal of the inverter is altered to adjust the peak-to-peak amplitude of the alternating current, such as to reduce ripple current in the coil portion. By so doing, ripple current can be reduced in power-transmitting or power-receiving devices, which may improve power transmission efficiency, enable use of smaller decoupling capacitors, or reduce stress on elements of respective resonant circuits.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency. The resonant circuit includes a sense circuit including an electrically conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit coupled to the sense circuit. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit via the coupling circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured characteristic that depends on a frequency at which the resonant circuit is resonating and a corresponding characteristic that depends on the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The coupling circuit is configured to reduce a variation of the resonant frequency by the detection circuit in the absence of the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for an extended-range positioning system based on foreign-object detection (FOD). In particular, a power-transfer apparatus is disclosed that includes a coil and a foreign-object-detection (FOD) system. The coil is configured to generate a magnetic field based on an electric current running through the coil for transferring power to a receiver device. the FOD system includes a plurality of FOD sense loops, FOD circuitry, and active-beacon receive circuitry. The FOD sense loops detect metal objects within the magnetic field based on changes to an electrical characteristic(s) of one or more of the FOD sense loops. The FOD circuitry processes a modulation pattern of the electrical characteristic(s) of the one or more FOD sense loops and provides first positioning information. The active-beacon receive circuitry processes induced voltage in at least two sense loops to provide second positioning information.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure provides an apparatus for conveying wireless power. The apparatus comprises a circuit board disposed along one or more planar coils and a plurality of feeds. The circuit board is divided into a first area separate from a second area. The first area has a plurality of first voltage components and the second area has a plurality of second voltage components. The first voltage components operates at a lower voltage than the second voltage components. The plurality of feeds are coupled to the one or more planar coils and the circuit board. The plurality of feeds pass through the circuit board within the second area along a side of the circuit board and couple to one or more of the second voltage components.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes aspects of ripple current reduction for wireless electric vehicle charging. In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless power transmission includes an inverter circuit to provide alternating current and a resonant circuit having a tuning portion and a coil portion to transmit power based on the alternating current. The apparatus also includes a current sensor to provide an indication of peak-to-peak amplitude (e.g., ripple current) of the alternating current that flows to the coil portion of the resonant circuit. Based on this indication, a control signal of the inverter is altered to adjust the peak-to-peak amplitude of the alternating current, such as to reduce ripple current in the coil portion. By so doing, ripple current can be reduced in power-transmitting or power-receiving devices, which may improve power transmission efficiency, enable use of smaller decoupling capacitors, or reduce stress on elements of respective resonant circuits.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure provides an apparatus for conveying wireless power. The apparatus comprises a circuit board disposed along one or more planar coils and a plurality of feeds. The circuit board is divided into a first area separate from a second area. The first area has a plurality of first voltage components and the second area has a plurality of second voltage components. The first voltage components operates at a lower voltage than the second voltage components. The plurality of feeds are coupled to the one or more planar coils and the circuit board. The plurality of feeds pass through the circuit board within the second area along a side of the circuit board and couple to one or more of the second voltage components.

Abstract: An apparatus for wirelessly receiving power from a wireless power transmitter is provided. The apparatus comprises an active switching rectifier operably connected to a coupler and configured to operate in a first bridge mode and a second bridge mode. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to adjust an input resistance of the rectifier to a first value that provides a first wireless power transfer efficiency when the rectifier operates in the first bridge mode. The controller is configured to adjust the input resistance of the rectifier to a second value that provides a second wireless power transfer efficiency less than the first wireless power transfer efficiency while operating within one or more operating limitations when the rectifier operates in the second bridge mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a presence of an object can include a plurality of electrically conductive loops arranged in an array. The apparatus includes a sensor circuit configured to determine a characteristic associated with each of the plurality of loops. The apparatus includes a hardware processor configured to, for each loop of the plurality of loops, determine a parameter based on the characteristic associated with the loop and the characteristic associated with at least one adjacent loop. The hardware processor may be further configured to determine the presence of the object based on the parameter. The parameter may comprise a sum of a difference between the characteristic associated with the loop and a reference value for the characteristic, and a difference between the characteristic associated with each of the at least one adjacent loop and the reference value.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency. The resonant circuit includes a sense circuit including an electrically conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit coupled to the sense circuit. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit via the coupling circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured characteristic that depends on a frequency at which the resonant circuit is resonating and a corresponding characteristic that depends on the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The coupling circuit is configured to reduce a variation of the resonant frequency by the detection circuit in the absence of the object.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency. The resonant circuit includes a sense circuit including an electrically conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit coupled to the sense circuit. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit via the coupling circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured characteristic that depends on a frequency at which the resonant circuit is resonating and a corresponding characteristic that depends on the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The coupling circuit is configured to reduce a variation of the resonant frequency by the detection circuit in the absence of the object.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object in a magnetic field is provided. The apparatus includes a power circuit configured to generate the magnetic field and transfer power wirelessly at a level sufficient to power or charge a load via the magnetic field. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit configured to transmit signals and detect, based on a reflection of the transmitted signals, a frequency of vibration of the object caused by the magnetic field.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer. In one aspect an apparatus for wirelessly transferring power from a charging power source to a device is provided. The apparatus includes a first strand wound in one or more turns and operationally coupled to the charging power source and a second strand wound together with the first strand in one or more turns and operationally coupled to the charging power source. The apparatus further includes an inductor circuit connected to the first strand and disconnected from the second strand. The inductor circuit is further configured to reduce a current difference between a first current flowing through the first strand and a second current flowing through the second strand.

Abstract: An apparatus for wirelessly receiving power from a wireless power transmitter is provided. The apparatus comprises an active switching rectifier operably connected to a coupler and configured to operate in a first bridge mode and a second bridge mode. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to adjust an input resistance of the rectifier to a first value that provides a first wireless power transfer efficiency when the rectifier operates in the first bridge mode. The controller is configured to adjust the input resistance of the rectifier to a second value that provides a second wireless power transfer efficiency less than the first wireless power transfer efficiency while operating within one or more operating limitations when the rectifier operates in the second bridge mode.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. An apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided including a plurality of electrically conductive loops arranged in an array. The apparatus includes a sensor circuit configured to determine a characteristic associated with each of the plurality of loops. The apparatus includes a hardware processor configured to, for each loop of the plurality of loops, determine a parameter based on the characteristic associated with the loop and the characteristic associated with at least one adjacent loop. The hardware processor may be further configured to determine the presence of the object based on the parameter. The parameter may comprise a sum of a difference between the characteristic associated with the loop and a reference value for the characteristic, and a difference between the characteristic associated with each of the at least one adjacent loop and the reference value.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer. In one aspect an apparatus for wirelessly transferring power from a charging power source to a device is provided. The apparatus includes a first strand wound in one or more turns and operationally coupled to the charging power source and a second strand wound together with the first strand in one or more turns and operationally coupled to the charging power source. The apparatus further includes an inductor circuit connected to the first strand and disconnected from the second strand. The inductor circuit is further configured to reduce a current difference between a first current flowing through the first strand and a second current flowing through the second strand.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency. The resonant circuit includes a sense circuit including an electrically conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit coupled to the sense circuit. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit via the coupling circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured characteristic that depends on a frequency at which the resonant circuit is resonating and a corresponding characteristic that depends on the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The coupling circuit is configured to reduce a variation of the resonant frequency by the detection circuit in the absence of the object.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object in a magnetic field is provided. The apparatus includes a power circuit configured to generate the magnetic field and transfer power wirelessly at a level sufficient to power or charge a load via the magnetic field. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit configured to transmit signals and detect, based on a reflection of the transmitted signals, a frequency of vibration of the object caused by the magnetic field.