Patents by Inventor Lukas Sieber
Lukas Sieber 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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Publication number: 20240109437Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Nigel P. Cook, Lukas Sieber
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Patent number: 11945319Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber, Markus Bittner
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Patent number: 11938830Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Nigel P. Cook, Lukas Sieber
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Publication number: 20240077633Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber, Andreas Daetwyler
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Patent number: 11919407Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency. The resonant circuit includes a sense circuit including an electrically conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit coupled to the sense circuit. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit via the coupling circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured characteristic that depends on a frequency at which the resonant circuit is resonating and a corresponding characteristic that depends on the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The coupling circuit is configured to reduce a variation of the resonant frequency by the detection circuit in the absence of the object.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hanspeter Widmer, Markus Bittner, Lukas Sieber, Marcel Fischer
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Patent number: 11874423Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber, Andreas Daetwyler
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Patent number: 11815644Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber
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Patent number: 11789174Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber
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Systems, methods, and apparatus for detecting ferromagnetic foreign objects in a predetermined space
Patent number: 11719847Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber, Andreas Daetwyler -
Patent number: 11691522Abstract: Systems and methods are described for an extended-range positioning system based on foreign-object detection (FOD). In particular, a power-transfer apparatus is disclosed that includes a coil and a foreign-object-detection (FOD) system. The coil is configured to generate a magnetic field based on an electric current running through the coil for transferring power to a receiver device. the FOD system includes a plurality of FOD sense loops, FOD circuitry, and active-beacon receive circuitry. The FOD sense loops detect metal objects within the magnetic field based on changes to an electrical characteristic(s) of one or more of the FOD sense loops. The FOD circuitry processes a modulation pattern of the electrical characteristic(s) of the one or more FOD sense loops and provides first positioning information. The active-beacon receive circuitry processes induced voltage in at least two sense loops to provide second positioning information.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Lukas Sieber, Andreas Daetwyler, Marcel Fischer
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Publication number: 20230182589Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber, Markus Bittner
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Publication number: 20230094691Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber
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Publication number: 20230099095Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber
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Patent number: 11614213Abstract: Projection device (10) for a motor vehicle headlight, which projection device (10) comprises the following: projection optics (50), a shield element (100), a base body (200), wherein the shield element (100) can be pushed onto the base body (200) along a push-on direction (X) by means of guide elements (110) onto the base body (200), wherein the guide elements (110) engage in counter-guide elements (210), and wherein the guide elements (110) have an end stop (111) and the counter-guide elements (210) have a stop (211), which stops (211) are designed in combination with the end stops (111) to limit the movement of the shield element (100) in the direction of the push-on direction (X) towards an end position, wherein the projection device (10) comprises at least one clamping device, which comprises a first and a second clamping element (120a, 220a), wherein the first clamping element (120a) is designed to engage the second clamping element (220a), and wherein the at least one clamping device is designed toType: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: ZKW Group GmbHInventors: Lukas Sieber, Clemens Hauer
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Patent number: 11571976Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber, Markus Bittner
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Patent number: 11565596Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber, Markus Bittner
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Patent number: 11536869Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Andreas Daetwyler, Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber, Martin Ludwig Weber
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Publication number: 20220386221Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Markus Bittner, Lukas Sieber, Hans Peter Widmer
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Patent number: 11513250Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Andreas Daetwyler, Hans Peter Widmer, Lukas Sieber, Martin Ludwig Weber
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Patent number: RE49641Abstract: Systems and methods are described for improving foreign object detection for ferromagnetic wire-like objects. In particular, aspects include increasing FOD sensitivity using at least one inductive sense loop in response to detecting a change in resistance that is substantially equal to the change in reactance of a sense coil. By increasing the FOD sensitivity, objects such as ferromagnetic wire-like objects can be detected that are potentially hazardous objects. Detecting these potentially hazardous objects that were previously undetectable can reduce the chances of damage to surrounding materials or harm to humans.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: WiTricity CorporationInventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Andreas Daetwyler, Lukas Sieber