Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a method of providing a fuel gauge is provided. The method includes measuring a battery current through and a battery voltage across a battery; determining an equivalent resistance from the current and the voltage using a multiplier K; determining an open circuit voltage based, in part, on the equivalent resistance; determining a state-of-charge based on the open circuit voltage; and adjusting the multiplier K based on the current and the state-of-charge.

Abstract: In a wireless power transfer operation, the operating parameters are adjusted to improve efficiency by reducing the transmit and receive coil currents as follows. First, the transmitter causes the receiver to reduce the receive coil current to the lowest value based on the transmitter/receiver communication while still delivering the same amount of power to the load as before the AC current was adjusted to the minimum value. Then the transmitter may change the operating parameters to increase or preserve the power provided to the receiver without decreasing efficiency or with only small decrease in efficiency, or with increasing the efficiency. For example, the transmitter may increase the VBRG voltage (the DC voltage powering the transmit coil) or the operating frequency to maintain or increase output power levels at lower or the same AC and DC current levels. Other features are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a wireless power transmitter that dynamically adjusts the deadtime to reduce power loss. Specifically, the wireless power transmitter includes a transistor circuit for switching a first voltage at a first node and a second voltage at a second node, and a LC circuit coupled between the first node and the second node. The wireless power transmitter further includes a controller coupled to the transistor circuit. The controller is configured to determine whether either of the first voltage and the second voltage is negative during a deadtime of switching. The controller is configured to increment or decrement the deadtime by an adjustment amount depending on whether negative voltage is detected.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a transmit-receive switch circuit and a detector circuit. The transmit-receive switch circuit may be connected between an input port, an output port, and a common port, and configured to switch a transmit radio-frequency signal from the input port to the common port in a transmit mode and a receive radio-frequency signal from the common port to the output port in a receive mode. The detector circuit may be integrated within the transmit-receive switch and may be configured to generate a power detection signal in response to at least one of the transmit radio-frequency signal or the receive radio-frequency signal.

Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the present invention, embodiments of a photodiode circuit. A photodiode circuit according to some embodiments includes a transimpedance amplifier; a resistor coupled across the transimpedance amplifier; and an amplifier stage coupled to receive an output from the transimpedance amplifier, wherein the photodiode circuit provides dynamic range across a current range of the photodiode circuit. In some embodiments, the transimpedance amplifier includes a receive signal strength indicator that provides a DC current signal to a tail of a first amplifier stage, the tail providing a current that is adaptively related to the DC current. In some embodiments, the resistor is a shielded resistor. In some embodiments, the adaptive current sink includes a plurality of switchable parallel current sinks.

Abstract: According to another embodiment, a system includes a driver circuit that drives a first output and a second output; a coil coupled between the first output and the second output such that the driver circuit drives current through the coil in response to control signals; and a programmable slew circuit coupled to the driver circuit. In some embodiments, a switch is coupled between the first output and the coil. In some embodiments an over-voltage protection circuit is coupled to protect the driver circuit.

Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a wireless power circuit is presented. In some embodiments, the wireless power circuit includes one or more high-side transistors; one or more low-side transistors coupled in series with the one or more high-side transistors, wherein the one or more low-side transistors can be controlled as current sources.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit comprising (i) a first differential data strobe input/output circuit having a first set of driver and termination control inputs and (ii) a second differential data strobe input/output circuit having a second set of driver and termination control inputs. The first and the second sets of driver and termination control inputs are independently programmable. The first and the second differential data strobe input/output circuits operate in a first mode when the first differential data strobe input/output circuit is connected to a first memory device having a first data width and the second differential data strobe input/output circuit is connected to a second memory device having the first data width.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an amplifier circuit and a protection circuit. The amplifier circuit may be configured to generate an output signal by amplifying an input signal received at an input port. The input signal may be a radio-frequency signal. The protection circuit may be configured to (i) generate a detection signal by detecting when a level of the input signal exceeds a corresponding threshold, where the level is a power level, a voltage level or both, (ii) route the input signal away from the input port of the amplifier circuit and disable the amplifier circuit both in response to the detection signal being continuously active at least a first time duration and (iii) route the input signal to the input port of the amplifier circuit and enable the amplifier circuit both in response to the detection signal being continuously inactive at least a second time duration.

Abstract: A capacitor sensor array (or grid) over a wireless power transmission coil can include a first set of lines; a second set of lines intersecting the first set of lines; a first multiplexer coupled to provide a charge (e.g. in the form of a DC voltage) from a voltage source to the first set of lines and provide first signals to detect voltages on each line; and a second multiplexer coupled to provide a charge from the voltage source to the second set of lines and provide second signals to detect voltages on each line, wherein an object positioned with respect to the first set of lines and the second set of lines is located. According to some embodiments, a wireless power receive coil and a rectifier circuit can be used in forming a capacitor sensor, to sense the capacitance between the receive and transmit coils for better alignment between the two coils. Other embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a transmit coil configuration is provided. A coil configuration for a wireless transmitter according to some embodiments can include a plurality of turns coupled between a first tap coupled to an innermost turn and a second tap coupled to an outermost turn; and at least one adjustment tap coupled to at least one turn of the transmitter coil between the innermost turn and the outermost turn. The transmission coil can include an MST coil coupled to the second tap of the transmission coil. In some embodiments, the MST coil can include a plurality of turns arranged in one of a circle, an oval, an egg shape, or a square shape.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of transmitter channels and a plurality of feedback networks. Each of the plurality of transmitter channels may be coupled to a respective antenna element in a respective group of antenna elements of a phased array antenna. Each of the transmitter channels generally comprises a power amplifier circuit configured to drive the respective antenna element in the respective group of antenna elements to produce and steer a radio-frequency beam. Each of the plurality of feedback networks may be coupled between an output and an input of a respective power amplifier circuit of a respective transmitter channel. Each of the feedback networks generally comprises a resistor and a capacitor connected in series. The respective power amplifier circuit with the feedback network generally maintains a power matching condition with load variation associated with performing beam steering of the radio-frequency beam using the antenna elements of the phased array antenna.

Abstract: A wireless power transmitter according to some embodiments can include a transmitter circuit configured to be coupled across a series coupled capacitor and transmit coil; and a controller coupled to a node between the capacitor and the transmit coil, the controller configured to adjust a reactive energy in the series coupled capacitor and transmit coil in response to a change in operating frequency.

Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a method of synchronizing two integrated circuits is presented. A method of synchronizing two integrated circuits can include sending a first pulse from a master IC to a slave IC over a SYNC bus; receiving a second pulse on the SYNC bus from the slave IC; checking the second pulse; triggering an interrupt if a failure is detected; and initiating measurement if synchronization is detected.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an interface and a plurality of impedance branches. The interface may be configured to receive a data signal and a plurality of selection signals. The plurality of impedance branches may comprise a group of branches and a separated branch. The plurality of impedance branches may be configured to adjust an impedance value and a gain of a data path for the data signal in response to the selection signals. The group of branches may be controlled in response to the selection signals to select the impedance value and a first gain value in a first mode. The separated branch may replace one of the plurality of impedance branches in the group of branches in response to the selection signals to select a second gain value in a second mode.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method of minimizing timing error in a precise timing protocol system includes receiving an input 1PPS signal and a clock signal; outputting an output 1PPS signal a number of clock edges after receipt of the input 1PPS signal; adjusting the clock signal until the output 1PPS signal as jumped a clock cycle; and adjusting an offset to bring the output 1PPS signal to within a half clock period. In some embodiments, further adjustments can be made to the timestamp.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a threshold calibration system to provide a zero voltage switching signal is presented. The system includes a divider coupled to a switching node; a calibration ramp generator; a reference voltage generator; a comparator; a first multiplexer coupled to receive a divider output signal from the divider and a calibration ramp signal from the calibration ramp generator and provide a signal to the comparator based on a calibration enable signal; a second multiplexer coupled to receive reference voltages from the reference voltage generator, the second multiplexer provided a threshold signal to the comparator; and a digital feedback circuit receiving an output signal from the comparator and providing the zero voltage switching signal.

Abstract: A wireless power circuit is presented that includes a transmit coil coupled to a first node; a receive coil coupled to the first node; a switch circuit coupled to the transmit coil and the receive coil opposite the first node, the switch switching the transmit coil to a second node in a transmit mode and switching the receive coil to the second node in a receive mode; a controller coupled to the first node and the second node, the controller coupled to provide signals to the switch circuit; and a self-start circuit coupled to the receive coil (or Tx coil) that automatically selects one of the coils to be used, the self-start circuit providing power to the switch circuit to hold the switch circuit in the receive mode (or predefined coil to be selected by default).

Abstract: The invention discloses an inductive torque sensor and a combined inductive torque and angle sensor for position sensing. The object of the invention to propose a torque sensor as well as a combined torque and angle sensor which does not require a shielding of the sensor PCB and which can provide a plausibility check of the torque sensor when using only three sensors will be solved by an inductive torque sensor for detection of torque movements comprising a stationary printed circuit board (PCB) with sensing coils, a primary target and a secondary target, whereas the primary target and secondary target each comprise of different metallic patterns, whereas each target covers 50% of the sensing coils and the combined coverage of both targets varies between 50% and 100% depending on the relative position between the two targets.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of latches and a plurality of logic gates. Each latch may be setable and resettable. The logic gates may be connected to the latches to form a multi-modulus divider that generates an output clock signal by dividing an input clock signal in response to a command signal. Each latch may be commanded into a corresponding initial state while the command signal is in an initialization state. Each latch is generally free to change states while the command signal is in a run state. A modulus division operation of the multi-modulus divider may start upon an initial edge of the input clock signal after the command signal changes from the initialization state to the run state.