Abstract: The invention proposes a method of calculating power loss in an inductive power transfer system comprising a power transmitter (112) for transmitting power inductively to a power receiver (110) via transmitter coil (114) and receiver coil (104), the method comprising a step of obtaining, by power transmitter, time information for time alignment to enable the power transmitter to align the time of calculating the power loss with the power receiver; and a step of calculating power loss during power transfer according to the obtained time information and received power parameter communicated from the power receiver.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter (201) arranged to provide a power transfer to a power receiver (205) via a power transfer signal. The power receiver (205) comprises a first mode controller (709) for transmitting a standby mode exit request to the power transmitter (201) by changing a loading of a communication inductor (209) of the power transmitter (201). The power transmitter (201) comprises a mode controller (405) which controls the power transmitter (201) to operate in a standby mode wherein a presence of the power receiver (205) is detected but no power transfer signal is generated. It furthermore comprises a detector (403) for detecting an impedance change of the communication inductor (209). The mode controller (405) is arranged to initiate a transition from the standby mode to a power transfer mode in response to the detector (403) detecting the impedance change.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter (101) providing power to a power receiver (105) via an inductive power signal. The power transmitter (101) and receiver (105) can operate in different modes including a test mode and a power transfer mode. Operating parameters of the power receiver (105) are constrained in the test mode relative (and specifically the loading). A foreign object detector (209) generates a foreign object detection estimate from a comparison of a measured load to an expected load of the inductive power signal when the power receiver is operating in the test mode. A controller (211) enters the power transmitter (101) and receiver (103) into the power transfer mode when the foreign object detection estimate is indicative of no detection of a foreign object. In the power transfer mode, a parasitic power loss detector (207) generates a parasitic power loss detection for the power transfer if a parasitic power loss estimate is outside a range.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system includes a power receiver (105) and a power transmitter (101) generating a wireless inductive power transfer signal for powering the power receiver (105) during a power transfer phase. An apparatus, often the power transmitter (101) comprises a first communication unit (305) communicating with a second communication unit of an entity using an electromagnetic communication signal. The entity may typically be the power receiver (105). The apparatus comprises a reference processor (307) for measuring and storing a reference value of a characteristic of the communication signal and a measurement unit (309) which repeatedly during the power transfer phase determines a measured value of the characteristic. A comparator (311) compares the measured values to the reference value and an initiator (313) triggers an entity detection process if the comparison indicates that a measured value and the reference value do not meet a similarity criterion.

Abstract: A thermal barrier for a wireless power transfer system comprises a first surface area (807) for coupling to a power receiver (111) to be powered by a first electromagnetic signal and a second surface area (805) for coupling to a power transmitter (101) providing a second electromagnetic signal. The thermal barrier (801) further comprises a power repeater (803) with a resonance circuit including an inductor and a capacitor. The power repeater (803) is arranged to generate the first electromagnetic signal by concentrating energy of the second electromagnetic signal towards the first surface area (807). The thermal barrier may provide thermal protection of the power transmitter (101) without unacceptable impact on the power transfer operation.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system comprises a power transmitter (101) arranged to generate a wireless inductive power transfer signal for powering a power receiver (105). The system comprises a temperature controlled power loop setting an operating temperature for a heating part of a powered device. The system further comprises a receiver (207) for receiving a first temperature for a part of a powered device where the powered device is powered by the power receiver (105). A comparator (209) compares the measured temperature to a first reference temperature associated with the power transmitter (101). In response to the first temperature exceeding the reference temperature, a controller (213) proceeds to restrict the power of the power transfer signal and/or to generate a user alert.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system includes a power receiver (105) and a power transmitter (101) generating a wireless inductive power transfer signal for powering the power receiver (105) during a power transfer phase. An apparatus, often the power transmitter (101) comprises a first communication unit (305) communicating with a second communication unit of an entity using an electromagnetic communication signal. The entity may typically be the power receiver (105). The apparatus comprises a reference processor (307) for measuring and storing a reference value of a characteristic of the communication signal and a measurement unit (309) which repeatedly during the power transfer phase determines a measured value of the characteristic. A comparator (311) compares the measured values to the reference value and an initiator (313) triggers an entity detection process if the comparison indicates that a measured value and the reference value do not meet a similarity criterion.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system includes a power transmitter (101) arranged to provide a power transfer to a power receiver (105) via a wireless inductive power signal. A parasitic power loss detector (207) is arranged to detect a parasitic power loss for the power transfer, and a user indicator (209) is arranged to initialize a user alert in response to the detection of the parasitic power loss. The system comprises an input (211) for receiving user inputs; and a controller (213) which is arranged to initiate an adaptation of a parasitic power loss detection operation performed by the parasitic power loss detector (207) to detect parasitic power losses if a user input meeting a criterion is not received. Each of the individual features may be implemented in the power transmitter (101), the power receiver (105), or may e.g. be distributed between these. The approach may allow improved foreign object detection in a wireless power transfer system.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system comprises a power transmitter (101) arranged to generate a wireless inductive power transfer signal for powering a power receiver (105). The system comprises a temperature controlled power loop setting an operating temperature for a heating part of a powered device. The system further comprises a receiver (207) for receiving a first temperature for a part of a powered device where the powered device is powered by the power receiver (105). A comparator (209) compares the measured temperature to a first reference temperature associated with the power transmitter (101). In response to the first temperature exceeding the reference temperature, a controller (213) proceeds to restrict the power of the power transfer signal and/or to generate a user alert.

Abstract: A power transmitter (101) is arranged to transfer power to a power receiver (105) via a wireless inductive power transfer signal transmitted from a transmit coil (103) to a power receiver (105). A first communication unit (305) communicates a message to the power receiver (105) on a first communication link A second communication unit (307) receives data from the power receiver (105) on a separate second communication link having a longer range. The power receiver (105) comprises a third communication unit (405) which receives the first message. A response generator (407) generates a response message to the message and a fourth communication unit (409) transmits the response message to the power transmitter (103) over the second communication link.

Abstract: A power transmitter (501) transfers power to a power receiver (505) using a wireless inductive power signal between inductors of the devices. In the power transmitter (501) a power source (601) provides a power source signal which may have level variations. A power signal generator (603) generates a drive signal from the power source signal by means of a frequency converter (605) which increases the frequency of the drive signal relative to the power source signal. A limiter (607) for restricts the power of the drive signal fed to the inductor (503) to be below a threshold in repeating time intervals. A synchronizer (611) synchronizes the repeating time intervals to the power source signal. In the power receiver(505) a load coupler (1001) decouples the power load (1003) from the inductor (507) during the repeating time intervals and a synchronizer (1005) synchronizes the repeating time intervals of the receiver to the power signal.

Abstract: A power transmitter (101) is arranged to transfer power to a power receiver (105) using a wireless inductive power signal. The power transmitter (101) comprises a power signal generator (207) which drives an inductor (103) to provide the power signal to an inductor of the power receiver (105). A power loop control is employed by the power receiver (105) providing power control error messages to the power transmitter (101). The power transmitter (101) comprises a query message processor (209) which can detect a query message received from the power receiver (105) using load modulation of the power signal. A modification processor (211) is arranged to modify a response of the power loop controller to the power control error messages dependent on the query message. The power receiver (105) can detect the modifications to the operation of the power control and thus can interpret this as a response to the query message.

Abstract: A power transmitter (101) transfers power to a power receiver (105) using a wireless power signal. The power transmitter (101) comprises an inductor (103) driven by a power signal generator (201) to provide the power signal. A calibration controller (211) determines whether a power loss calibration has been performed for the power transmitter (101) and power receiver (105) pairing. The calibration adapts an expected relationship between a received power indication provided by the power receiver (105) and a transmitted power indication for the power transmitter (101). A power limiter (205) restricts the power provided to the inductor to not exceed a threshold unless a power loss calibration has been performed for the pairing. The expected relationship may be used to detect unaccounted for power losses, e.g. due to foreign objects being present. The calibrated expected relationship may provide improved accuracy allowing accurate detection at higher power levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cluster coupler in a time triggered network for connecting clusters operating on the same protocol. Further, it relates to a triggered network having a plurality of clusters, which are coupled via the cluster coupler. It also relates to a method for communicating between different clusters.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer system is arranged to transfer power from a power transmitter (101) to a power receiver (103) via a wireless power signal. The system supports communication from the power transmitter (101) to the power receiver (105) based on load modulation of the power signal. The power receiver (105) transmitting (507) a first message to the power transmitter (101) which comprises a standby power signal requirement for the power signal during a standby phase. The power transmitter (101) receives (507) the message, and when the system enters the standby phase, the power transmitter (101) provides the power signal in accordance with the standby power signal requirement during. A power receiver configurable standby phase is provided which may for example allow devices to maintain battery charge or to provide fast initialization of the power transfer phase.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer system comprises a power transmitter (101) and a power receiver (105). The power transmission system supports two-way communications. The power receiver (105) first initiates a mandatory configuration phase by transmitting a signal strength package and the power transmitter and receiver then operates (505, 507) the mandatory configuration phase wherein a first set of power transfer operating parameters are selected for the power transmitter (101) and the power receiver (105). The power receiver (105) subsequently transmits (509) a request to enter a negotiation phase and the power transmitter (101) acknowledges (511) the request by transmitting an acknowledgement. It then enters the negotiation phase. The power receiver (105) enters the negotiation phase in response to receiving the acknowledgment message. The power receiver (105) and power transmitter (101) then determines (513, 515) a second set of operating parameters by performing the negotiation phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to a time triggered network used in particular in an automotive network having a plurality of clusters. Each cluster (A-X) includes a plurality of nodes (11).

Abstract: The invention proposes a method of calculating power loss in an inductive power transfer system comprising a power transmitter (112) for transmitting power inductively to a power receiver (110) via transmitter coil (114) and receiver coil (104), the method comprising a step of obtaining, by power transmitter, time information for time alignment to enable the power transmitter to align the time of calculating the power loss with the power receiver; and a step of calculating power loss during power transfer according to the obtained time information and received power parameter communicated from the power receiver.

Abstract: A wireless inductive power transfer system comprises a power transmitter for transmitting power inductively to a power receiver via transmitter coil 11 to receiver coil 21. In the system, a communication method comprises a step 37 of transmitting, by the power receiver, first data and second data to the power transmitter, the first data indicating a modulation requirement, and the second data indicating an inquiry message; a step 32 for receiving, by the power transmitter, the first data and the second data from the power receiver, a step 34 for transmitting, by the power transmitter, a response message for responding to said inquiry message, by modulating a power signal according to said modulation requirement so as to carry the response message; and a step 35 for receiving the response message by the power receiver by demodulating the modulated power signal carrying the response message received via the receiver coil from the power transmitter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for transmitting power inductively from a transmitter (11) to a receiver (10), the receiver (10) comprising a signal generator for generating a signal, triggered by an event reflecting that the receiver intends to receive power from the transmitter, wherein said signal intends to activate said transmitter from standby mode to activated mode; and comprising a signal transmitting coil (103) for transmitting said signal to said transmitter; said transmitter (11) comprising a signal receiving coil (112); a detector (114) for detecting said signal received by the receiving coil; and a unit (115) for activating the transmitter from standby mode to activated mode upon the detection of said signal.