Patents Assigned to SPARK CONNECTED LLC
  • Patent number: 11621592
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a wireless power transmitter module includes a sensing grid configured to detect a receiver, a movable wireless power transmitter unit including a wireless power transmitter coil, and a two-dimensional linear motor including a plurality of linear motor coils configured to move the movable wireless power transmitter unit in a two-dimensional plane towards a location of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SPARK CONNECTED LLC
    Inventors: Petru Emanuel Stingu, Kenneth Moore, Yulong Hou, Ruwanga Dassanayake
  • Patent number: 11581757
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a wireless power transmitter includes a charging surface, a transmitting antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic field extending above the charging surface, a sensing array disposed between the transmitting antenna and the charging surface, and a controller coupled to the sensing array. The sensing array includes a plurality of sensors. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to generate a respective signal indicative of a strength of the electromagnetic field. The controller is configured to detect a presence of a metallic object, other than a receiving antenna of a power receiver, in the electromagnetic field based on the respective signal generated by one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SPARK CONNECTED LLC
    Inventors: Petru Emanuel Stingu, Kenneth Moore
  • Patent number: 11515739
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes: wirelessly transmitting power using a transmitter LC tank to a wireless power receiver having a receiver LC tank; receiving a first received power packet from the wireless power receiver, the first received power packet including a received power value field indicative of a power level; determining a first power difference between transmitted power and received power based on the first received power packet; calculating a first received power compensation factor based on the first power difference; interrupting wirelessly transmitting power for a first slot period after receiving the first received power packet; performing a first measurement of a first signal associated with the transmitter LC tank during the first slot period; determining a first Q factor value based on the first measurement; comparing the first Q factor value with a reference Q factor value; and detecting a metallic object based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SPARK CONNECTED LLC
    Inventors: Petru Emanuel Stingu, Ruwanga Dassanayake, Yulong Hou, Kenneth Moore
  • Patent number: 11509169
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a sub-surface wireless charger includes a transmitter coil and a controller. The controller is configured to generate a protective pulse having a first energy, determine a characteristic of the transmitter coil based on the generated protective pulse, determine whether it is safe to begin wireless charging based on the determined characteristic, and when the controller determines that it is safe to begin wireless charging, generate an operating pulse having a second energy, where the second energy is higher than the first energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SPARK CONNECTED LLC
    Inventors: Petru Emanuel Stingu, Kenneth Moore, Yulong Hou, Ruwanga Dassanayake
  • Patent number: 11394242
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for transmitting data from a wireless power receiver to a wireless power transmitter includes: wirelessly receiving power at a first frequency from a transmitter LC tank using a receiver LC tank; rectifying a voltage of the receiver LC tank using a rectifier; and while wirelessly receiving power, controlling a transistor coupled to the receiver LC tank to cause inflections in a transmitter current flowing through the transmitter LC tank to transmit data, detecting time locations of the inflections of the transmitter current within an oscillating cycle of the transmitter current based on a magnitude of the transmitter current, and determining the data based on the detected time locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SPARK CONNECTED LLC
    Inventors: Petru Emanuel Stingu, Kenneth Moore, Yulong Hou, Ruwanga Dassanayake
  • Patent number: 10847997
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for wirelessly transferring power through a low-e window includes: causing a first current to flow through a transmitter coil disposed in a first outer surface of the low-e window, the first current having a first frequency; inducing, with the first current, a second current to flow through a receiver coil disposed in a second outer surface of the low-e window, the low-e window having a metal or metal oxide layer having a first thickness; generating a voltage based on the second current; and powering an electronic device coupled to the receiver coil with the generated voltage, where the first frequency is associated with a first skin depth of the metal or metal oxide layer, and where the first skin depth is larger than the first thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SPARK CONNECTED LLC
    Inventors: Petru Emanuel Stingu, Kenneth Moore, Yulong Hou, Ruwanga Dassanayake
  • Patent number: 10714985
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a wireless power transmitter includes a charging surface, a transmitting antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic field extending above the charging surface, a sensing array disposed between the transmitting antenna and the charging surface, and a controller coupled to the sensing array. The sensing array includes a plurality of sensors. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to generate a respective signal indicative of a strength of the electromagnetic field. The controller is configured to detect a presence of a metallic object, other than a receiving antenna of a power receiver, in the electromagnetic field based on the respective signal generated by one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SPARK CONNECTED LLC
    Inventors: Petru Emanuel Stingu, Kenneth Moore