Patents by Inventor Kevin Gerald HEPPELL

Kevin Gerald HEPPELL 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).

  • Patent number: 11245181
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises an external transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, an implantable receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, and communications antenna in the implantable receive resonator configured to send communication information to the transmit resonator. The communications antenna can include a plurality of gaps positioned between adjacent conductive elements, the gaps being configured to prevent or reduce induction of current in the plurality of conductive elements when the antenna is exposed to a magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Gerald Heppell
  • Patent number: 10476317
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless energy transfer are described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is coupled to a power supply to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver unit. A receiver unit has a receiver resonator with a coil coupled to a device load. The receiver unit can include a ferrite enclosure to prevent transmission of magnetic flux into electronics of the receiver unit, and can include ferrite fins to increase a coupling between the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: TCI LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Wong, George Chao-chih Hsu, John Duc Nguyen, Carine Hoarau, Steven Reichenbach, Kevin Gerald Heppell
  • Publication number: 20190123430
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises an external transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, an implantable receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, and communications antenna in the implantable receive resonator configured to send communication information to the transmit resonator. The communications antenna can include a plurality of gaps positioned between adjacent conductive elements, the gaps being configured to prevent or reduce induction of current in the plurality of conductive elements when the antenna is exposed to a magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: Kevin Gerald Heppell
  • Patent number: 10186760
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises an external transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, an implantable receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, and communications antenna in the implantable receive resonator configured to send communication information to the transmit resonator. The communications antenna can include a plurality of gaps positioned between adjacent conductive elements, the gaps being configured to prevent or reduce induction of current in the plurality of conductive elements when the antenna is exposed to a magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Gerald Heppell
  • Publication number: 20170250575
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless energy transfer are described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is coupled to a power supply to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver unit. A receiver unit has a receiver resonator with a coil coupled to a device load. The receiver unit can include a ferrite enclosure to prevent transmission of magnetic flux into electronics of the receiver unit, and can include ferrite fins to increase a coupling between the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth Wong, George Chao-chih Hsu, John Duc Nguyen, Carine Hoarau, Steven Reichenbach, Kevin Gerald Heppell
  • Patent number: 9680310
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless energy transfer are described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is coupled to a power supply to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver unit. A receiver unit has a receiver resonator with a coil coupled to a device load. The receiver unit can include a ferrite enclosure to prevent transmission of magnetic flux into electronics of the receiver unit, and can include ferrite fins to increase a coupling between the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Thoratec Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Wong, George Chao-chih Hsu, John Duc Nguyen, Carine Hoarau, Steven Reichenbach, Kevin Gerald Heppell
  • Publication number: 20160087331
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for wireless power transfer and communications are provided. In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer system comprises an external transmit resonator configured to transmit wireless power, an implantable receive resonator configured to receive the transmitted wireless power from the transmit resonator, and communications antenna in the implantable receive resonator configured to send communication information to the transmit resonator. The communications antenna can include a plurality of gaps positioned between adjacent conductive elements, the gaps being configured to prevent or reduce induction of current in the plurality of conductive elements when the antenna is exposed to a magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Kevin Gerald HEPPELL
  • Publication number: 20140265621
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless energy transfer are described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is coupled to a power supply to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver unit. A receiver unit has a receiver resonator with a coil coupled to a device load. The receiver unit can include a ferrite enclosure to prevent transmission of magnetic flux into electronics of the receiver unit, and can include ferrite fins to increase a coupling between the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kenneth WONG, George Chao-chih HSU, John Duc NGUYEN, Carine HOARAU, Steven REICHENBACH, Kevin Gerald HEPPELL