Abstract: An example method performed by a wireless-power-transmitting device including an antenna array is provided. The method includes, based on a location of the wireless-power-receiving device, selecting a first value for a first transmission characteristic that is used for transmission of electromagnetic waves by a first antenna group, and a second value, distinct from the first value, for the first transmission characteristic that is used for transmission of electromagnetic waves by a second antenna group. The method also includes transmitting to the location of the wireless-power-receiving device, by the first antenna group, first electromagnetic waves with the first value for the first transmission characteristic, and transmitting to a focal point that is further from the wireless-power-transmitting device than the location of the wireless-power-receiving device, by the second antenna group, second electromagnetic waves with the second value for the first transmission characteristic.

Abstract: A wireless-power harvester integrated in a small device, comprising a stamped metal harvesting antenna. The stamped metal antenna is formed into a meandering shape. A first end of the meandering shape is a free end positioned within free space of a housing of a small device, and a second end of the meandering shape is coupled to a PCB that includes electrical components for operating and powering the small device. The PCB is configured to operate as a ground plane for the stamped metal antenna. An intermediate portion, disposed between the first end and the second end of the meandering shape, is coupled to power-conversion circuitry that is separate from the PCB. The power-conversion circuitry is configured to convert the one or more RF power waves harvested by the stamped metal harvesting antenna into usable energy for charging a battery of the small device or for powering the small device.

Abstract: A near-field antenna is provided, which includes: a first dipole antenna, formed along a first axis, having a first meandering shape and a second dipole antenna, formed along a second axis different from the first axis, having a second meandering shape. The antenna also includes (i) a power amplifier configured to feed electromagnetic signals to at least one of the first and second dipole antennas, (ii) an impedance-adjusting component configured to adjust an impedance of at least one of the first and second dipole antennas, and (iii) switch circuitry configured to switchably couple the first dipole antenna, the power amplifier, the second dipole antenna, and the impedance-adjusting component.

Abstract: An example method is provided for detecting and classifying foreign objects, performed at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes obtaining a plurality of electrical measurements while a wireless-power-transmitting antenna is transmitting different power beacons. The method also includes forming a feature vector according to the plurality of electrical measurements. The method further includes detecting a presence of one or more foreign objects prior to transmitting wireless power to one or more wireless power receivers by inputting the feature vector to trained one or more classifiers, wherein each classifier is a machine-learning model trained to detect foreign objects distinct from the one or more wireless power receivers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling and managing operation of one or more power amplifiers to optimize the performance of one or more antennas are disclosed. An example wireless-power transmission system includes a power amplifier, one or more antennas, and one or more integrated circuits. The one or more integrated circuits are configured to adjust power provided to the one or more antennas from a power amplifier and adjust a power distribution for the transmission field based, in part, on the adjusted power provided to the one or more antennas from the power amplifier such that the adjusted power provided is evenly distributed across the power distribution for the transmission field of the antenna. The even distribution of the adjusted power results in a reduced power loss at an edge of the power distribution for the transmission field of the antenna from 30% to 10%.

Abstract: A method of wireless power transmission is performed at a wireless-power-transmitting device having one or more antennas configured to transmit wireless-power signals, one or more processors, and a wireless data transceiver.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a wireless power receiver comprises a wireless-power-receiving antenna configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals, and convert energy from the received RF signals into an alternating current. The power receiver also comprises a primary rectifier configured to: (i) receive a first portion of the alternating current, and (ii) rectify the first portion of the alternating current into primary direct current having a first power level, the primary direct current used to provide power or charge to an electronic device; and a secondary rectifier configured to: (i) receive a second portion of the alternating current, and (ii) rectify the second portion of the alternating current into a secondary direct current having a second power level. The second power level of the secondary direct current is less than the first power level of the primary direct current.

Abstract: An example near-field charging system includes a housing that includes a charging surface and at least one other surface, a radiating antenna, and a non-radiating element positioned above the radiating antenna within the housing such that the non-radiating element is closer to the charging surface than the radiating antenna. The radiating antenna produces a first electromagnetic-field distribution that is received by a receiver, the first electromagnetic-field provides usable power when the receiver is placed at any position on a first portion of the charging surface. The non-radiating element changes a distribution characteristic of the first electromagnetic-field distribution to produce a second electromagnetic-field distribution, the second electromagnetic-field distribution providing usable power to the receiver when the receiver is placed at any position across a second portion of the charging surface of the housing, and the second portion is at least 10% percent greater than the first portion.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a wireless communication signal indicating that a receiver is within a wireless-power-transmission range of a transmitter. In response to the receiving, the method further includes transmitting a plurality of radio frequency (RF) test signals using at least two test phases for a respective antenna. The method further includes receiving information identifying a first amount of power delivered to the receiver by a first RF test signal transmitted at a first of the at least two test phases, receiving information identifying a second amount of power delivered to the receiver by a second RF test signal transmitted at a second of the at least two test phases, and determining, based on the first and second amounts of power, an optimal phase for the respective antenna.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may generate and transmit power waves that, as result of their physical waveform characteristics (e.g., frequency, amplitude, phase, gain, direction), converge at a predetermined location in a transmission field to generate a pocket of energy. Receivers associated with an electronic device being powered by the wireless charging system, may extract energy from these pockets of energy and then convert that energy into usable electric power for the electronic device associated with a receiver. The pockets of energy may manifest as a three-dimensional field (e.g., transmission field) where energy may be harvested by a receiver positioned within or nearby the pocket of energy.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe a wireless power receiver including a synchronous transistor rectifier using a Class-E or a Class-F amplifier. The wireless power receiver includes at least one radio frequency (RF) antenna configured to generate an alternating current (AC) waveform from received RF waves. The wireless power receiver further includes a power line configured to carry a first signal based on the AC current generated by the least one RF antenna, and a tap-line coupled to the power line, the tap-line being configured to carry a second signal. The second signal is based on the AC current generated by the least one RF antenna and distinct from the first signal. The wireless power receiver also includes a transistor coupled to at least the power line and the tap-line. The transistor is configured to provide a direct current (DC) waveform to a load based on the first and second signals.

Abstract: An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a controller; one or more receiving circuits coupled to the controller, each receiving circuit configured to receive incoming RF signals from a receiver, the receiver transmitting a communication signal that identifies a location of the receiver; a plurality of transmitting circuits coupled to the controller, each transmitting circuit configured to generate outgoing RF signals based upon the incoming RF signals; and a plurality of antenna elements, the plurality of antenna elements including at least some dedicated antenna elements. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to: (i) select a first configuration of at least some of the dedicated antenna elements to be coupled to the receiving circuits, and (ii) select, based on the location, a second configuration of at least some of the plurality of antenna elements to be coupled to the plurality of transmitting circuits to transmit the outgoing RF signals.

Abstract: A wireless power transmitting system includes a power amplifier comprising a plurality of measurement points and a power amplifier controller integrated circuit (IC). In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC performs synchronization of the various components of the power amplifier, conducts impedance and temperature measurements at the measurements points, determines if a foreign object is within the transmission range of the wireless power transmitter, and decides if a shutdown of the power amplifier is needed. In some embodiments, the power amplifier controller IC determines through a transmitter controller IC, the presence of a foreign object within the transmission range and adjusts the power transmission to one or more receivers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless power transmission based on object identification are provided. A radio frequency wireless power transmitter is in communication with a video camera for capturing image data (e.g., a visual pattern) of at least a portion of a transmission field of the radio frequency wireless power transmitter. A processor of the radio frequency wireless power transmitter is configured to identify an object when the visual pattern matches a pre-stored visual pattern representing the object, and control transmission of one or more radio frequency power transmission waves to a receiving electronic device based on a location of the identified object, wherein the receiving electronic device uses the one or more radio frequency power transmission waves to power or to charge the receiving electronic device.

Abstract: An example method is performed at a near-field charging pad with a processor, a power-transferring element, a signature-signal-receiving circuit, and the processor of the near-field charging pad is in communication with a data source that includes predefined signature signals that each identify one of (i) a wireless power receiver, (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver, and (iii) a combination of a wireless power receiver and an object other than a wireless power receiver. The method includes: after sending a plurality of test radio frequency (RF) power transmission signals, detecting, using the signature-signal-receiving circuit, respective amounts of reflected power; generating, based on variations in the respective amounts of reflected power, a signature signal; and determining whether (i) an authorized wireless power receiver is present on the near-field charging pad and/or (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver is present on the near-field charging pad.

Abstract: An example method performed by a wireless-power-transmitting device that includes an antenna array is provided. The method includes radiating electromagnetic waves that form a maximum power level at a first distance away from the antenna array. Moreover, a power level of the radiated electromagnetic waves decreases, relative to the maximum power level, by at least a predefined amount at a predefined radial distance away from the maximum power level. In some embodiments, the method also includes detecting a location of a wireless-power-receiving device, whereby the location of the wireless-power-receiving device is further from the antenna array than a location of the maximum power level.

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: A system for wireless-power transmission includes a radio-frequency wireless-power transmitter that is in communication with a sensor for acquiring data for motion recognition and tracking of a plurality of objects within at least a portion of a transmission field of the radio-frequency wireless-power transmitter; and one or more processors of the radio-frequency wireless-power transmitter configured to: detect location and displacement of an object of the plurality of objects within the transmission field; and send instructions to cause adjustments to transmission of one or more radio-frequency power-transmission waves by the radio-frequency wireless-power transmitter to a receiving electronic device based on the location and displacement of the object. The receiving electronic device is configured to use energy from the one or more radio-frequency power-transmission waves to (i) power the receiving electronic device and/or (ii) to charge a power source of the receiving electronic device.

Abstract: A method of wireless power transmission includes transmitting, via antenna elements of an antenna array, a plurality of first signals having a first phase and a first gain. The method further includes determining a location of a receiver device based on the plurality of first signals transmitted by the antenna elements of the antenna array. The method includes adjusting, for the antenna elements of the antenna array, one of a phase and a gain based on the location of the receiver device. The method includes transmitting, via the antenna elements, a plurality of second signals having a second phase or a second gain such that the plurality of second signals are focused at a focus region that is approximately the size of an antenna array of the receiver device and provide energy at the focus region that is converted by the receiver device into usable power.

Abstract: Near-field antennas and methods of operating and manufacturing near-field antennas are provided herein. An example near-field antenna for transmitting radio frequency (RF) power transmission signals includes: (i) a conductive plate including one or more channels extending through the conductive place, a respective channel of the one or more channels having first and second segments, and (ii) a feed element configured to direct a plurality of RF power transmission signals towards the conductive plate. At least some of the RF power transmission signals cause an accumulation of RF energy within a near-field distance of the conductive plate. Furthermore, the accumulation of RF energy includes: (i) a first zone of accumulated RF energy at the first segment, and (ii) a second zone of accumulated RF energy at the second segment, the second zone of accumulated RF energy being distinct from the first zone of accumulated RF energy.