Abstract: In certain aspects, an enclosure for a wireless power transfer pad is disclosed. The enclosure includes a cover shell configured to be positioned over a portion of the wireless power transfer pad configured to face a wireless power receiver when wirelessly transferring power, wherein at least a portion of the cover shell is made of a heat resistant material.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for active harmonics cancellation. A wireless charging apparatus includes a wireless-power transfer circuit comprising a wireless-power transfer coil configured to generate or couple to a magnetic field to transfer or receive power and a plurality of tuning capacitors electrically coupled to the wireless-power transfer coil. The apparatus also includes a power converter circuit electrically coupled to the wireless-power transfer circuit. Additionally, the apparatus includes a signal generation circuit different from the power converter circuit and electrically coupled to one or more nodes between capacitors of the plurality of tuning capacitors. The signal generation circuit is configured to generate and inject a signal into the wireless-power transfer circuit at the nodes between the capacitors. The signal generation circuit includes a rejection filter tuned to an operating frequency of the wireless-power transfer coil.

Abstract: A multi-purpose detection circuit for object detection and vehicle position determination is described. For example, the circuit is configurable for detecting foreign metallic objects, living objects, and a vehicle or type of vehicle above an inductive wireless power transmitter. The circuit is also configurable for determining the vehicle's position relative to the inductive wireless power transmitter. An example apparatus includes a measurement circuit including a multiplexer, electrically connected to a plurality of inductive and capacitive sense circuits, for measuring one or more electrical characteristics in each of the inductive and capacitive sense circuits according to a predetermined time multiplexing scheme.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for extended foreign object detection (FOD) signal processing. In aspects, an oscillator reset is implemented in a FOD system to mitigate the effects of intermodulation products. In addition, dynamic frequency allocation is implemented to avoid high noise desensitizing the FOD system. Also, a slow sampling mode is implemented to increase a tolerance to transient foreign objects. Reference tracking and auto-recovery is implemented to bridge power outages. Additionally, the FOD system is configured to support position finding for determining an alignment between the vehicle pad and the base pad using a passive beacon transponder circuit and to perform beacon response cancellation as needed in concurrent FOD operation.

Abstract: A vehicle is paired to a selected wireless charging station of a plurality of wireless charging stations by joining the vehicle to a first wireless network provided by a central access point, assigning a channel to use for pairing the vehicle to the selected wireless charging station by a network manager, transmitting a channel identifier to the vehicle over the first wireless network, and transmitting the channel identifier to the plurality of wireless charging stations. The vehicle then configures a beacon device coupled to the vehicle to use the assigned channel and moves into proximity of the selected wireless charging station. The selected wireless charging station detects a beacon signal of the beacon device, confirms that the beacon signal is using the identified channel, and transmits information identifying a second wireless network to the vehicle. The vehicle can then join the second wireless network using the transmitted information.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for extended foreign object detection (FOD) signal processing. In aspects, an oscillator reset is implemented in a FOD system to mitigate the effects of intermodulation products. In addition, dynamic frequency allocation is implemented to avoid high noise desensitizing the FOD system. Also, a slow sampling mode is implemented to increase a tolerance to transient foreign objects. Reference tracking and auto-recovery is implemented to bridge power outages. Additionally, the FOD system is configured to support position finding for determining an alignment between the vehicle pad and the base pad using a passive beacon transponder circuit and to perform beacon response cancellation as needed in concurrent FOD operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for detecting foreign objects. In some aspects, an apparatus for detecting objects is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of sense circuits, each of the plurality of sense circuits including a primary sense coil having a first terminal and a second terminal, a secondary sense coil having a first terminal and a second terminal, and a capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the capacitor is electrically connected to the second terminals of each of the primary sense coil and the secondary sense coil. The apparatus further includes a driver circuit electrically connected to the first terminal of the primary sense coil of each of the plurality of sense circuits. The apparatus further includes a measurement circuit electrically connected to the first terminal of the secondary sense coil of each of the plurality of sense circuits.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless charging and wireless power alignment of wireless power antennas associated with a vehicle. A wireless power charging apparatus includes an antenna including first and second orthogonal magnetic elements for detecting a horizontal component of a magnetic field generated from a second charging base antenna. A processor determines a directional vector between the antennas.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for active harmonics cancellation. A wireless charging apparatus includes a wireless-power transfer circuit comprising a wireless-power transfer coil configured to generate or couple to a magnetic field to transfer or receive power and a plurality of tuning capacitors electrically coupled to the wireless-power transfer coil. The apparatus also includes a power converter circuit electrically coupled to the wireless-power transfer circuit. Additionally, the apparatus includes a signal generation circuit different from the power converter circuit and electrically coupled to one or more nodes between capacitors of the plurality of tuning capacitors. The signal generation circuit is configured to generate and inject a signal into the wireless-power transfer circuit at the nodes between the capacitors. The signal generation circuit includes a rejection filter tuned to an operating frequency of the wireless-power transfer coil.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a presence of an object includes an inductive sensing coil that is configurable to generate a magnetic field. The inductive sensing coil is configured to have an electrical characteristic that is detectable when generating the magnetic field. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to detect a change in the electrical characteristic and determine a presence of the object based on the detected change in the electrical characteristic.

Abstract: A vehicle is paired to a selected wireless charging station of a plurality of wireless charging stations by joining the vehicle to a first wireless network provided by a central access point, assigning a channel to use for pairing the vehicle to the selected wireless charging station by a network manager, transmitting a channel identifier to the vehicle over the first wireless network, and transmitting the channel identifier to the plurality of wireless charging stations. The vehicle then configures a beacon device coupled to the vehicle to use the assigned channel and moves into proximity of the selected wireless charging station. The selected wireless charging station detects a beacon signal of the beacon device, confirms that the beacon signal is using the identified channel, and transmits information identifying a second wireless network to the vehicle. The vehicle can then join the second wireless network using the transmitted information.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object in a predetermined area of an inductive wireless power transfer system. The apparatus comprises a first wire-wound structure having an electrical characteristic configured for electromagnetic sensing of the object. The first wire-wound structure is formed, carried, and held in place by a coil-former substantially from a non-conductive material. The coil-former also forms, carries, and holds in place a second wire-wound structure configured for transferring power inductively. The apparatus further comprises a detection circuit coupled to the first wire-wound structure and configured to measure the electrical characteristic of the first wire-wound structure and to detect the presence of the object in response to a change in the electrical characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a relative position of a wireless power transmitter from a wireless power receiver is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of sense coils, each configured to generate a respective signal under influence of an alternating magnetic field comprising a plurality of wave pulses, each wave pulse occurring in a respective time slot of a plurality of time slots. The apparatus further comprises a processor configured to determine the relative position of the wireless power transmitter from the wireless power receiver based on the respective signal from each of the plurality of sense coils.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a presence of an object includes an inductive sensing coil that is configurable to generate a first magnetic field. The inductive sensing coil is configured to have an electrical characteristic that is detectable when generating the first magnetic field. The electrical characteristic is configured to vary as a function of a second time-varying magnetic field simultaneously applied to the object. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to detect a change in the electrical characteristic and determine a presence of the object based on the detected change in the electrical characteristic. The electrical characteristic comprises one or more of an equivalent resistance, an equivalent inductance, an equivalent impedance, and an impulse response of the inductive sensing coil. The object comprises one or more of a ferromagnetic object, a metallic film and a metallic foil.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for a hybrid foreign-object detection and position system. In an example aspect, a foreign object detection (FOD) system of the base power-transfer system detects a passive beacon of an electric vehicle power-transfer system based on a beacon loop of the passive beacon overlapping an array of FOD sense loops effective to cause a change in impedance or admittance of one or more of the FOD sense loops. In aspects, the impedance reflects a modulation signal from the passive beacon. A position detection system integrated with the FOD system determines a passive beacon response in the input data based on the modulation frequency from the passive beacon. Then, a position of the beacon loop is determined relative to the array of FOD sense loops using a result of the passive beacon response canceled from input data.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless charging and wireless power alignment of wireless power antennas associated with a vehicle. A wireless power charging apparatus includes an antenna including first and second orthogonal magnetic elements for detecting a horizontal component of a magnetic field generated from a second charging base antenna. A processor determines a directional vector between the antennas.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for extended foreign object detection (FOD) signal processing. In aspects, an oscillator reset is implemented in a FOD system to mitigate the effects of intermodulation products. In addition, dynamic frequency allocation is implemented to avoid high noise desensitizing the FOD system. Also, a slow sampling mode is implemented to increase a tolerance to transient foreign objects. Reference tracking and auto-recovery is implemented to bridge power outages. Additionally, the FOD system is configured to support position finding for determining an alignment between the vehicle pad and the base pad using a passive beacon transponder circuit and to perform beacon response cancellation as needed in concurrent FOD operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for extended foreign object detection (FOD) signal processing. In aspects, an oscillator reset is implemented in a FOD system to mitigate the effects of intermodulation products. In addition, dynamic frequency allocation is implemented to avoid high noise desensitizing the FOD system. Also, a slow sampling mode is implemented to increase a tolerance to transient foreign objects. Reference tracking and auto-recovery is implemented to bridge power outages. Additionally, the FOD system is configured to support position finding for determining an alignment between the vehicle pad and the base pad using a passive beacon transponder circuit and to perform beacon response cancellation as needed in concurrent FOD operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for extended foreign object detection (FOD) signal processing. In aspects, an oscillator reset is implemented in a FOD system to mitigate the effects of intermodulation products. In addition, dynamic frequency allocation is implemented to avoid high noise desensitizing the FOD system. Also, a slow sampling mode is implemented to increase a tolerance to transient foreign objects. Reference tracking and auto-recovery is implemented to bridge power outages. Additionally, the FOD system is configured to support position finding for determining an alignment between the vehicle pad and the base pad using a passive beacon transponder circuit and to perform beacon response cancellation as needed in concurrent FOD operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for detecting foreign objects. In some aspects, an apparatus for detecting objects is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of sense circuits, each of the plurality of sense circuits including a primary sense coil having a first terminal and a second terminal, a secondary sense coil having a first terminal and a second terminal, and a capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the capacitor is electrically connected to the second terminals of each of the primary sense coil and the secondary sense coil. The apparatus further includes a driver circuit electrically connected to the first terminal of the primary sense coil of each of the plurality of sense circuits. The apparatus further includes a measurement circuit electrically connected to the first terminal of the secondary sense coil of each of the plurality of sense circuits.