Patents by Inventor John Winters
John Winters has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 12500448Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A method for operating a wireless charging device includes determining that a chargeable device is positioned proximate to a plurality of charging coils provided at a charging surface of the wireless charging device, identifying two or more charging configurations for the chargeable device, determining power loss while wirelessly transmitting power to the chargeable device for each charging configuration in the two or more charging configurations, and initiating charging of the chargeable device using a charging configuration associated with a lowest power loss to configure the wireless charging device. Each charge configuration includes at least one of the plurality of charging coils.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2021Date of Patent: December 16, 2025Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters, Jake Slatnick
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Patent number: 12334752Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. One method includes providing a first charging current to a first transmitting coil in a wireless charging device, where the first transmitting coil is coupled to a receiving coil in a first power receiving device, providing a second charging current to a second transmitting coil in the wireless charging device, where the second transmitting coil is coupled to a receiving coil in a second power receiving device, the first charging current and the second charging current being provided at different frequencies from one another, receiving a first modulated signal from the first power receiving device, where the first modulated signal includes a carrier signal provided at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the first charging current, and filtering the first modulated signal using a band-pass filter configured to block a second modulated signal transmitted by the second power receiving device.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2023Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Patent number: 12260986Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A wireless charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a first surface and a processor configured to provide a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determine that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restore the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the first charging coil. A method for operating the wireless charging device includes providing a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determining that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restoring the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the charging coil.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2024Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Publication number: 20240222004Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A wireless charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a first surface and a processor configured to provide a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determine that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restore the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the first charging coil. A method for operating the wireless charging device includes providing a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determining that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restoring the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the charging coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2024Publication date: July 4, 2024Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Publication number: 20240223017Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. One method includes providing a first charging current to a first transmitting coil in a wireless charging device, where the first transmitting coil is coupled to a receiving coil in a first power receiving device, providing a second charging current to a second transmitting coil in the wireless charging device, where the second transmitting coil is coupled to a receiving coil in a second power receiving device, the first charging current and the second charging current being provided at different frequencies from one another, receiving a first modulated signal from the first power receiving device, where the first modulated signal includes a carrier signal provided at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the first charging current, and filtering the first modulated signal using a band-pass filter configured to block a second modulated signal transmitted by the second power receiving device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2023Publication date: July 4, 2024Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Patent number: 11935692Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A wireless charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a first surface and a processor configured to provide a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determine that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restore the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the first charging coil. A method for operating the wireless charging device includes providing a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determining that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restoring the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the charging coil.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Patent number: 11894700Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for providing a wireless charging device are disclosed. A method for operating the wireless charging device includes transmitting a first pulse through each of a plurality of charging circuits, determining peak voltage at nodes in the plurality of charging circuits, each node coupling a transmitting coil to a capacitor in one charging circuit in the plurality of charging circuits, the peak voltage at each node being responsive to the first pulse and indicative of a coupling coefficient with a receiving coil in a chargeable device, determining that a minimum peak voltage responsive to the first pulse is associated with a first charging circuit in the plurality of charging circuits, and providing a first charging current to the first charging circuit.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2022Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Patent number: 11837882Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. One method includes providing a first charging current to a first transmitting coil in a wireless charging device, where the first transmitting coil is coupled to a receiving coil in a first power receiving device, providing a second charging current to a second transmitting coil in the wireless charging device, where the second transmitting coil is coupled to a receiving coil in a second power receiving device, the first charging current and the second charging current being provided at different frequencies from one another, receiving a first modulated signal from the first power receiving device, where the first modulated signal includes a carrier signal provided at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the first charging current, and filtering the first modulated signal using a band-pass filter configured to block a second modulated signal transmitted by the second power receiving device.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2021Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Aira, Inc.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Patent number: 11728683Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a charging surface, a charging circuit and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause the charging circuit to provide a charging current to a resonant circuit when a receiving device is placed on the charging surface, provide a measurement slot by causing the charging circuit to decrease or terminate the charging current for a period of time and determine whether the receiving device has been removed from the charging surface based on measurement of a characteristic of the resonant circuit during the measurement slot. The characteristic of the resonant circuit may be representative of electromagnetic coupling between a transmitting coil in the resonant circuit and a receiving coil in the receiving device.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters, James Scott
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Publication number: 20230231423Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for providing a wireless charging device are disclosed. A method for operating the wireless charging device includes transmitting a first pulse through each of a plurality of charging circuits, determining peak voltage at nodes in the plurality of charging circuits, each node coupling a transmitting coil to a capacitor in one charging circuit in the plurality of charging circuits, the peak voltage at each node being responsive to the first pulse and indicative of a coupling coefficient with a receiving coil in a chargeable device, determining that a minimum peak voltage responsive to the first pulse is associated with a first charging circuit in the plurality of charging circuits, and providing a first charging current to the first charging circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Publication number: 20230215623Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A wireless charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a first surface and a processor configured to provide a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determine that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restore the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the first charging coil. A method for operating the wireless charging device includes providing a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determining that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restoring the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the charging coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Publication number: 20230045983Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A method for operating a wireless charging device includes determining that a chargeable device is positioned proximate to a plurality of charging coils provided at a charging surface of the wireless charging device, identifying two or more charging configurations for the chargeable device, determining power loss while wirelessly transmitting power to the chargeable device for each charging configuration in the two or more charging configurations, and initiating charging of the chargeable device using a charging configuration associated with a lowest power loss to configure the wireless charging device. Each charge configuration includes at least one of the plurality of charging coils.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters, Jake Slatnick
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Publication number: 20230023485Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A wireless charging device has a first plurality of charging coils provided at a charging surface of the wireless charging device, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine that a chargeable device is positioned proximate to a plurality of charging coils provided in a charging surface, decouple a first charging coil in the plurality of charging coils from a first driver circuit, couple the first charging coil to a second driver circuit, where a second charging coil in the plurality of charging coils may be coupled to the second driver circuit, and configure the charging current supplied by the second driver circuit to cause the first charging coil and the second charging coil to transfer a desired power level to the chargeable device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2021Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Jake Slatnick, Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters, Magne Nerheim
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Patent number: 11469041Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A wireless charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a first surface and a processor configured to provide a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determine that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restore the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the first charging coil. A method for operating the wireless charging device includes providing a charging current to a first charging coil in a surface of the wireless charging device, determining that an impedance of a resonant circuit has varied from a threshold or setpoint impedance, and restoring the threshold or setpoint impedance by modifying frequency of the charging current. The resonant circuit may include the charging coil.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Patent number: 11456628Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for providing a wireless charging device are disclosed. A method for operating the wireless charging device includes transmitting a first pulse through each of a plurality of charging circuits, determining peak voltage at nodes in the plurality of charging circuits, each node coupling a transmitting coil to a capacitor in one charging circuit in the plurality of charging circuits, the peak voltage at each node being responsive to the first pulse and indicative of a coupling coefficient with a receiving coil in a chargeable device, determining that a minimum peak voltage responsive to the first pulse is associated with a first charging circuit in the plurality of charging circuits, and providing a first charging current to the first charging circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2020Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Publication number: 20220278565Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A charging device has a charging circuit that includes a charging coil located proximate to a surface of the charging device, a pulse generating circuit, and a controller. The pulse generating circuit may be configured to provide a pulsed signal to the charging circuit, where each pulse in the pulsed signal includes a plurality of cycles of a clock signal that has a frequency greater or less than a nominal resonant frequency of the charging circuit. The controller may be configured to detect a change in resonance of the charging circuit based on a difference in response of the charging circuit to first and second pulses transmitted in the pulsed signal. The controller may be further configured to determine that a chargeable device has been placed in proximity to the charging coil based on the difference in responses.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Publication number: 20220231540Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a charging surface, a charging circuit and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause the charging circuit to provide a charging current to a resonant circuit when a receiving device is placed on the charging surface, provide a measurement slot by causing the charging circuit to decrease or terminate the charging current for a period of time and determine whether the receiving device has been removed from the charging surface based on measurement of a characteristic of the resonant circuit during the measurement slot. The characteristic of the resonant circuit may be representative of electromagnetic coupling between a transmitting coil in the resonant circuit and a receiving coil in the receiving device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters, James Scott
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Patent number: 11342793Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a charging surface, a charging circuit and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause the charging circuit to provide a charging current to a resonant circuit when a receiving device is placed on the charging device, detect a change or rate of change in voltage or current level associated with the resonant circuit or a change or rate of change in power transferred to the receiving device and determine that the receiving device has been removed from the charging device when the change or rate of the change in voltage or current level or change or rate of change in power transferred to the receiving device exceeds a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2020Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters, James Scott
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Patent number: 11336129Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A charging device has a charging circuit that includes a charging coil located proximate to a surface of the charging device, a pulse generating circuit, and a controller. The pulse generating circuit may be configured to provide a pulsed signal to the charging circuit, where each pulse in the pulsed signal includes a plurality of cycles of a clock signal that has a frequency greater or less than a nominal resonant frequency of the charging circuit. The controller may be configured to detect a change in resonance of the charging circuit based on a difference in response of the charging circuit to first and second pulses transmitted in the pulsed signal. The controller may be further configured to determine that a chargeable device has been placed in proximity to the charging coil based on the difference in responses.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2021Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters
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Patent number: 11296550Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for wireless charging are disclosed. A charging device has a plurality of charging cells provided on a charging surface, a charging circuit and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause the charging circuit to provide a charging current to a resonant circuit when a receiving device is placed on the charging surface, provide a measurement slot by causing the charging circuit to decrease or terminate the charging current for a period of time and determine whether the receiving device has been removed from the charging surface based on measurement of a characteristic of the resonant circuit during the measurement slot. The characteristic of the resonant circuit may be representative of electromagnetic coupling between a transmitting coil in the resonant circuit and a receiving coil in the receiving device.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: AIRA, INC.Inventors: Eric Heindel Goodchild, John Winters, James Scott