Abstract: A system is disclosed for charging or billing for access to wireless power. The device requiring power communicates with the power provider and the billing method is determined. A consumer may be required to provide billing information, or if the billing information is already associated with an existing account, the consumer account is automatically charged for the wireless power. The account may include prepaid charging minutes that are debited as wireless power is provided, or the account may be billed for the wireless power that is provided. The charging/billing for the wireless power may be used to receive value for the power that is provided, while remaining consumer friendly.

Abstract: A magnetic positioning system for use in inductive couplings. The magnetic positioning system having a magnet that provides sufficient magnetic force, but does not have enough electrical conductivity to overheat in the presence of the anticipated electromagnetic field. The magnet may be a bonded magnet or a shielded magnet. In another aspect a plurality of magnets are used to provide magnetic attraction forces and said magnetic repulsion forces that cooperate to align the inductive power supply and the remote device. In another aspect, a sensor allows differentiation between different positions of the remote device or inductive power supply. In another aspect, multiple magnets in the inductive power supply interact with multiple magnets in the remote device to position the remote device in different positions.

Abstract: A ballast circuit is disclosed for inductively providing power to a load. The ballast circuit includes an oscillator, a driver, a switching circuit, a resonant tank circuit and a current sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit provides a current feedback signal to the oscillator that is representative of the current in the resonant tank circuit. The current feedback signal drives the frequency of the ballast circuit causing the ballast circuit to seek resonance. The ballast circuit preferably includes a current limit circuit that is inductively coupled to the resonant tank circuit. The current limit circuit disables the ballast circuit when the current in the ballast circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold or falls outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: A miniaturized fluid dispensing system for dispensing customized fluids. The dispenser may include first and second reservoirs containing constituent fluids; a drive motor; at least two pump assemblies commonly driven by the drive motor and in communication with the first and second reservoirs; first and second valve assembly in communication with the first and second pump assemblies; and a control system for selectively controlling the valve assemblies to blend and discharge a composition from the constituent fluids. The system may include a dispensing header to house the valves and to define ‘discharge’ and ‘recirculation’ flow paths for each constituent fluid. The present invention also provides a method for dispensing a fluid regimen (e.g. a plurality of compositions) by periodically blending and discharging varying compositions over time.

Abstract: A power supply to provide electrical power to one or more loads. The power supply may include a resonant air core transformer to provide an adjustable and adaptable source of power to electronic devices. The power supply may include isolated primary-side circuitry and secondary-side circuitry. The primary-side circuitry may include control circuitry that, among other things, provides drive waveforms for the primary-side switching circuitry. In embodiments configured to produce AC output, the secondary-side circuitry may also include switching circuitry. The primary-side control circuitry may provide drive waveforms for the secondary-side switching circuitry. The secondary-side circuitry may include measurement circuitry that measures the current and/or voltage of the output and provides those measurements to the control circuitry through isolation circuitry. The control circuitry may adjust the drive waveforms for the primary-side and/or secondary-side switching circuitry as a function of the measured values.

Abstract: A health monitoring system can include an intake tracker, an output tracker, a personal monitor, and a recommender. The health monitoring system can track food, exercise, and personal characteristics in order to provide health assessments and recommendations. The intake tracker can include a camera for capturing images of products. A data acquisition system can be used to acquire data about products that are photographed using a variety of methods. The data can be entered into a database with a picture of the product for later look-up. The data acquisition system can include a user-assisted segmentation method of an image to identify the product.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for providing wireless power during a payment process. A device requiring power communicates with the power provider and provides payment information for a purchase. The device receives wireless power form the power provider. A consumer may be required to confirm the purchase, the payment information, and receipt of the wireless power.

Abstract: An inductive power supply system to wirelessly charge a remote device based on detected battery characteristics. The system includes an inductive power supply with a primary coil capable of inductively providing power to a secondary coil in a remote device. The inductive power supply and remote device include communication means for wirelessly communicating. The system further includes a remote device, having a battery with detectable battery characteristics. In operation, the remote device is capable of detecting the battery characteristics by applying a qualification charge to the battery. The inductive power supply system is capable of identifying the battery installed in the remote device by analyzing the detected battery characteristics. The inductive power supply system selects an appropriate charging algorithm based on the analyzed characteristics.

Abstract: A foam filter is provided that may form a radial flow or a stacked flow filter. In the radial flow configuration, the foam may be wrapped around an inner support core. The inner support core may define holes to allow the water to enter the support core and exit the filter. More than one foam layer may be used, and a single sheet of foam wrapped in a spiral may form a multi-layer configuration. A non-permeable flexible layer may be positioned between adjacent foam layers to facilitate flow through the filter. In the stacked flow configuration, multiple foam layers may be used and water can flow successively or simultaneously through the foam layers. Functional layers may be added to provide other filtration functions.

Abstract: A miniature hydro-power generation system includes a hydro-power generator, a processor and an energy storage device. A flow of liquid may be used to rotate the hydro-generator to generate electric power. The processor is configured to monitor a level of the electric power generated by the hydro-power generator and a level of charge stored in the energy storage device. The processor is further configured to selectively charge and discharge the energy storage device based on the level of charge of the energy storage device, and the level of electric power generated by the hydro-power generator. The electric power generated by the hydro-power generator is selectively used to charge the energy storage device, and the energy storage device is selectively discharged to supply a load.

Abstract: An inductive power supply that maintains resonance and adjusts duty cycle based on feedback from a secondary circuit. A controller, driver circuit and switching circuit cooperate to generate an AC signal at a selected operating frequency and duty cycle. The AC signal is applied to the tank circuit to create an inductive field for powering the secondary. The secondary communicates feedback about the received power back to the primary controller. The power transfer efficiency may be optimized by maintaining the operating frequency substantially at resonance, and the amount of power transferred may be controlled by adjusting the duty cycle.

Abstract: A selectively controllable electromagnetic shield having an electromagnetic shielding material and a mechanism for selectively generating an aperture in the shield. The mechanism for selectively generating an aperture may be a magnetic field source that generates a magnetic field of sufficient strength to substantially saturate all or a portion of the shielding material. For example, a permanent magnet or DC electromagnet may be used to selectively saturate the shield. In its un-saturated state, the magnetic shield has a high permeability and functions as a flux path for the magnetic field. Once saturated, the permeability of the shield is substantially reduced so that the magnetic field lines are no longer drawn into the shield to the same degree. As a result, once saturated, a substantially greater amount of the electromagnetic field may flow through or around the shield in the saturated region.

Abstract: A wireless power system that may align a portable electronic device with an inductive wireless power supply. The induction coils used for transferring power wirelessly may be used as DC electromagnets to align the portable electronic device with the inductive wireless power supply. A DC current may be supplied to the primary coil and to the secondary coil to generate DC electromagnetic fields and attractive force between the primary and secondary coils. This attractive force may be used for alignment.

Abstract: An inductive power supply system to identify remote devices using unique identification frequencies. The system can inductively provide power to a remote device at different frequencies, and can sense reflected impedance of the remote device. The system further includes a plurality of different remote devices, each having a unique resonance frequency. In operation, the AIPS is capable of identifying the type of remote device present in the inductive field by applying power to a remote device at a plurality of unique identification frequencies until the remote device establishes resonance in response to one of the identification frequencies. The AIPS can recognize when resonance has been established by evaluating sensor data, which is representative of the reflected impedance of the remote device. The AIPS may pull operating parameters for the remove device from memory to ensure efficient operation and to assist in recognizing fault conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides wireless power supply systems intended primarily for use in powering and charging laptops and other portable electronic devices. In one embodiment, the power supply system includes a laptop cradle that can be used in upright or reclined positions. The cradle may be generally J-shaped and may house the wireless power supply circuit with the channel defined in the cradle. The cradle may includes a plurality of primaries to provide the ability to supply power to more than one device and/or to permit flexibility in placement of devices on or in the cradle. The present invention may also provide handheld cradles sized to power handheld devices that can be separate, standalone power supply stations or they can receive power from the laptop cradle. In an alternative embodiment, the power supply station may be incorporated into an adjustable height desktop pedestal. In yet another embodiment, the power supply station may be incorporated into a flexible desktop mat.

Abstract: A system and markup language for information extraction from stand-alone devices in webspace is disclosed. Devices are provided with Internet accessibility, thus becoming web objects, able to send and receive data through the Internet. A web object is assigned a static and dynamic serial number by its manufacturer which contains data pertaining to the web object/device. Also, the web object has the capability to report on its status, making such information available over the Internet. Thus, the device's owner can monitor the device by accessing it through the Internet and a web page, and the manufacturer or other authorized user can also securely access the device/web object to monitor its status. The web object can thus report that maintenance is required, a service part should be ordered, and maintains this information within the dynamic portion of its serial number, which updates based on changes to its status.

Abstract: An inductive power supply system for providing power to one or more inductively powered devices. The system includes a mechanism for varying the physical distance or the respective orientation between the primary coil and secondary coil to control the amount of power supplied to the inductively powered device. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to an inductive power supply system having a primary coil and a receptacle disposed within the magnetic field generated by the primary coil. One or more inductively powered devices are placed randomly within the receptacle to receive power inductively from the primary coil. The power supply circuit includes circuitry for adjusting the power supplied to the primary coil to optimize operation based on the position and cumulative characteristics of the inductively powered device(s) disposed within the receptacle.

Abstract: An air freshener device is provided which includes a portion to display cut flowers or other decorative accents, as well as an optionally-powered portion that contains fragrance and one or more of a variety of fragrance dispersal devices. The air freshener device may include an inductive charging system to allow for the device to be electrically charged and placed remotely from its charging base station relying on on-board electrical power storage. Other power sources such as AC or DC power supplies, batteries, or capacitors may also be used to power the air freshener device.

Abstract: An inductive power supply that maintains resonance and adjusts duty cycle based on feedback from a secondary circuit. A controller, driver circuit and switching circuit cooperate to generate an AC signal at a selected operating frequency and duty cycle. The AC signal is applied to the tank circuit to create an inductive field for powering the secondary. The secondary communicates feedback about the received power back to the primary controller. The power transfer efficiency may be optimized by maintaining the operating frequency substantially at resonance, and the amount of power transferred may be controlled by adjusting the duty cycle.

Abstract: A wireless power supply includes a multi-layer shim assembly. Each shim aids in alignment of coils and routing of conductors in a multi-layer coil array. A shield or PCB can be used as part of the multi-layer shim assembly. Wires can be routed through channels to the edge of the shim assembly or wires can protrude through a portion of the multi-layer shim assembly. Traces can be used to route current through the multi-layer shim assembly. Plastic shims can be created by over-molding coils with plastic.