Abstract: A method of determining alignment of an inductive power coupler of an electric vehicle relative to an inductive power transmit element includes: receiving, at the electric vehicle, a first wireless signal and a second wireless signal; analyzing the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal to determine an alignment value, the alignment value being a magnitude of the first wireless signal relative to a magnitude of the second wireless signal or being a difference between a time of arrival of the first wireless signal and a time of arrival of the second wireless signal; and determining, based on the alignment value, an indication of a lateral offset of the inductive power coupler of the electric vehicle relative to the inductive power transmit element.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for guiding and aligning an electric vehicle with a charging station. In one aspect, a method of guiding an electric vehicle is provided, including determining a location of a charging spot associated to a charging base in relation to a charging coupler of the electric vehicle. The method further includes displaying an indicator of the location of the charging spot in a three dimensional perspective view, the indicator displayed for guiding a user of the electric vehicle to position a charging coupler of the electric vehicle over the charging base within a tolerance area. The method further includes transitioning to displaying the indicator of the location of the charging spot in a two dimensional top-down view based on determining that an angle between a reference point and a point on ground related to the location of the charging spot satisfies a threshold.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a wireless power antenna alignment systems and methods for electric vehicles. A system may include a sensor configured to detect the strength of an electromagnetic field in multiple dimensions and a processor configured to determine at least one of a direction and a position of a transmitted beacon signal based on an output of the sensor.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a method and apparatus for detecting foreign objects using heat sensitive material and inductive sensing is disclosed. In certain aspects, a foreign object detection system includes a heat sensing system comprising a heat sensitive material having a property configured to change as a function of temperature. The foreign object detection system further includes an inductive sensing system comprising one or more sense coils, wherein a change in an electrical characteristic of the one or more sense coils is indicative of presence of a foreign object. The foreign object detection system further includes a controller coupled to the heat sensing system and the inductive sensing system, wherein the controller is configured to determine presence of the foreign object based on at least one of a measure of the property of the heat sensitive material or a measure of the electrical characteristic of the one or more sense coils.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for living object protection having extended functionality in wireless power transfer applications are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for detecting objects in a detection area near a wireless power transfer system is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of radar transceivers integrated into a wireless power transmitter, each transceiver configured to transmit and receive radar signals. The apparatus comprises at least one processor configured to receive radar data from the plurality of radar transceivers. The processor is configured to compare responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers. The processor is configured to determine a presence of a vehicle at a first distance from the plurality of radar transceivers based at least in part on a correlation of the responses in the received radar data from each of the plurality of radar transceivers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for living object protection in wireless power transfer applications are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for detecting objects in a detection area of a wireless power transfer system is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of radar transceivers. The apparatus comprises at least one processor configured to receive radar data from the plurality of radar transceivers, detect an object in the detection area based on the received radar data, and adjust the detection area. The apparatus is configured to adjust the detection area based on at least one of a type of chargeable vehicle present, an amount of power being wirelessly transferred by the wireless power transfer system, an alignment of a vehicle with the wireless power transfer system, or a speed of the object approaching the detection area.

Abstract: Method and system for wireless power transmission are disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a charging base positioned on a desktop component and configured to be positioned on a desktop. The system also includes a transmitter located in the charging base and including a transmit coil wound about a plane, the transmitter being configured to wirelessly transfer power, via a wireless field, from the transmit coil to a first receiver. The system further includes a power relay configured to be positioned on the desktop and configured to relay power received from the transmitter to at least one peripheral device different from the first receiver when the peripheral device is positioned on the desktop.

Abstract: A wireless power bridge that allows magnetic transmission of energy across a solid barrier such as a wall. A circuit is described for controlling the operation.

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for determining alignment information of a vehicle is disclosed, the vehicle comprising an antenna circuit configured to modulate one or more electrical characteristics of the antenna circuit. The apparatus comprises multiple sensor circuits configured to generate multiple magnetic fields. At least one sensor circuit may be configured to sense the modulated electrical characteristic of the antenna circuit when the antenna circuit couples to the at least one sensor circuit via one of the magnetic fields. The apparatus may further comprise a controller circuit configured to determine alignment information of the vehicle based on the sensed modulated electrical characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a presence of an object can include a plurality of electrically conductive loops arranged in an array. The apparatus includes a sensor circuit configured to determine a characteristic associated with each of the plurality of loops. The apparatus includes a hardware processor configured to, for each loop of the plurality of loops, determine a parameter based on the characteristic associated with the loop and the characteristic associated with at least one adjacent loop. The hardware processor may be further configured to determine the presence of the object based on the parameter. The parameter may comprise a sum of a difference between the characteristic associated with the loop and a reference value for the characteristic, and a difference between the characteristic associated with each of the at least one adjacent loop and the reference value.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A wireless power transmission system is disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a transmitting antenna configured to transmit power, via a magnetic field, to a receiving antenna to power a load. The system also includes a tuning loop electrically isolated from the transmitting antenna and being movable relative to the transmitting antenna to adjust a coupling between the transmitting antenna and the tuning loop.

Abstract: Wireless energy transfer system. Antennas are maintained at resonance with High Q. Techniques of maintaining the high-Q resonance matching are disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for detecting foreign objects. An apparatus for detecting a presence of an object comprises at least one radar antenna attached to a wirelessly chargeable vehicle. The at least one radar antenna is configured to transmit a radar signal into a space between a wireless power receiver of the vehicle and a wireless charger as the vehicle moves in a primary direction of movement of the vehicle and receive the radar signal. The apparatus further comprises a radar processing circuit configured to determine a presence of the object in the space based on at least one characteristic of the received radar signal. The radar processing circuit is further configured to provide an indication to receive power from the wireless charger based at least in part on the determining the presence of the object.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to bidirectional wireless power transfer using magnetic resonance in a coupling mode region between a charging base (CB) and a battery electric vehicle (BEV). For different configurations, the wireless power transfer can occur from the CB to the BEV and from the BEV to the CB.

Abstract: Guidance and alignment systems are disclosed for wireless charging systems to assist in aligning the transmitter and receiver inductive power transfer (IPT) couplers. These systems guide positioning and alignment to provide sufficient coupling between the transmitter and receiver IPT couplers. Exemplary systems provide a magnetic field sensor, magnetic field generator, and magnetic vectoring to determine a position of an electric vehicle or a wireless charging base. In a magnetic vectoring system, an alignment system comprising at least three coils (or similar circuits) on a magnetically permeable substrate receives a positioning magnetic field including modulated information signals and processes the received signal to generate an output for determining a position of the positioning magnetic field source relative to the magnetic field sensor position.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A wireless charging device may comprise a charging region configured for placement of one or more chargeable devices. The charging device may further include at least one transmit antenna configured for transmitting wireless power within the charging region. Furthermore, the charging device is configured to exchange data between at least one chargeable device of the one or more chargeable devices.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer using magnetic resonance in a coupling mode region between a charging base (CB) and a remote system such as a battery electric vehicle (BEV). The wireless power transfer can occur from the CB to the remote system and from the remote system to the CB. Load adaptation and power control methods can be employed to adjust the amount of power transferred over the wireless power link, while maintaining transfer efficiency.