Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for performing foreign object detection (FOD) testing of a wireless power transmitter includes: placing a foreign object (FO) between the wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver; beginning to wirelessly transmitting power from the wireless power transmitter towards the wireless power receiver; a predetermined amount of time after beginning to wirelessly transmit power, measuring an FO temperature indicative of a temperature of the FO, a transmitter temperature indicative of a temperature of the wireless power transmitter, and a receiver temperature indicative of a temperature of the wireless power receiver; determining a weighted average temperature based on the measured transmitter temperature and the measured receiver temperature; and when a difference between the measured FO temperature and the weighted average temperature is higher than a threshold temperature, asserting an error flag indicative that the FOD test failed.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a wireless power transmitter includes: a master transmitter resonant tank configured to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver resonant tank; a master transmitter driver configured to drive the master transmitter resonant tank; a slave transmitter resonant tank; a slave transmitter driver configured to drive the slave transmitter resonant tank; and a controller configured to adjust an impedance seen by the master transmitter resonant tank by controlling the slave transmitter driver, where controlling the slave transmitter driver includes adjusting a phase angle between a slave transmitter current flowing through the slave transmitter resonant tank and a master transmitter current flowing through the master transmitter resonant tank or adjusting a slave supply voltage of the slave transmitter driver.

Abstract: In an embodiment a charging box includes a bottom surface parallel to a first axis, a driver, a switch matrix and a plurality of transmitting coils, each of the plurality of transmitting coils being wrapped around a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the driver is electrically connected to the switch matrix and the plurality of transmitting coils, wherein the switch matrix is configured to determine a power distribution of the plurality of transmitting coils by transmitting a ping to a mobile device and receiving a feedback from the mobile device, to select, based on a ping and feedback process, a pair of transmitting coils that transmits the most power and connect the determined pair of transmitting coils in series, and wherein the charging box is configured to wirelessly transmit power to the mobile device via the selected transmitting coils.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for heating a personal device using a wirelessly-powered heating device includes: wirelessly receiving power with a receiving coil of the wirelessly-powered heating device, the receiving coil located inside the personal device, where the receiving coil is coupled to a capacitor of the wirelessly-powered heating device to form a receiver resonant tank; and heating the personal device with heat produced by a resistance of the receiving coil, where the receiving coil functions as a receiver antenna and as a heat producing element.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure, a first ferrite core disposed inside the enclosure, a wireless power receiver that includes a first receiving coil wrapped around the first ferrite core between the first ferrite core and the enclosure, and an alignment mark configured to be aligned with a center of a transmitting coil of a wireless power transmitter, wherein the alignment mark is not aligned with a center of the first receiving coil.

Abstract: In an embodiment a charging box includes a bottom surface parallel to a first axis, a driver, a switch matrix and a plurality of transmitting coils, each of the plurality of transmitting coils being wrapped around a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the driver is electrically connected to the switch matrix and the plurality of transmitting coils, wherein the switch matrix is configured to determine a power distribution of the plurality of transmitting coils by transmitting a ping to a mobile device and receiving a feedback from the mobile device, to select, based on a ping and feedback process, a pair of transmitting coils that transmits the most power and connect the determined pair of transmitting coils in series, and wherein the charging box is configured to wirelessly transmit power to the mobile device via the selected transmitting coils.

Abstract: A method for wirelessly providing power to a LED includes: receiving an AC input voltage having a first frequency via a cable; generating a first rectified voltage at a first node from the AC input voltage, the first node coupled to a first filtering non-electrolytic capacitor; powering a driver with the first rectified voltage; wirelessly transmitting power by driving a first resonant tank with the driver with a driving voltage at a second frequency higher than the first frequency, the driving voltage having a sinusoidal envelope at the first frequency and approximating a square-wave at the second frequency; receiving the wirelessly transmitted power with a second resonant tank; generating a second rectified voltage at second node from a voltage across the second resonant tank, the second node coupled to a second filtering capacitor; generating a DC voltage from the second rectified voltage; and powering the LED with the DC voltage.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for performing foreign object detection (FOD) testing of a wireless power transmitter includes: placing a foreign object (FO) between the wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver; beginning to wirelessly transmitting power from the wireless power transmitter towards the wireless power receiver; a predetermined amount of time after beginning to wirelessly transmit power, measuring an FO temperature indicative of a temperature of the FO, a transmitter temperature indicative of a temperature of the wireless power transmitter, and a receiver temperature indicative of a temperature of the wireless power receiver; determining a weighted average temperature based on the measured transmitter temperature and the measured receiver temperature; and when a difference between the measured FO temperature and the weighted average temperature is higher than a threshold temperature, asserting an error flag indicative that the FOD test failed.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a wireless power transmitter includes: a master transmitter resonant tank configured to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver resonant tank; a master transmitter driver configured to drive the master transmitter resonant tank; a slave transmitter resonant tank; a slave transmitter driver configured to drive the slave transmitter resonant tank; and a controller configured to adjust an impedance seen by the master transmitter resonant tank by controlling the slave transmitter driver, where controlling the slave transmitter driver includes adjusting a phase angle between a slave transmitter current flowing through the slave transmitter resonant tank and a master transmitter current flowing through the master transmitter resonant tank or adjusting a slave supply voltage of the slave transmitter driver.

Abstract: A method includes: wirelessly receiving power with a receiver resonant tank from a transmitting coil; rectifying a receiver voltage by switching first and second legs of a synchronous rectifier based on a zero-crossing of a receiver current flowing through the receiver resonant tank to produce a rectified voltage; and while wirelessly receiving power with the receiver resonant tank, encoding data by causing transitions in a transmitter current flowing through the transmitting coil using the synchronous rectifier, where encoding the data includes: applying a first sudden delay period in a first direction to a first switching of the first and second legs to cause a transition in the transmitter current; and applying a first gradual delay in the first direction to subsequent switching of the first and second legs, where the first gradual delay is gradually incremented by an increment period that is smaller than the first sudden delay period.

Abstract: A system is described herein for controlling an inverter comprising an artificial neural network (ANN) and a space vector pulse-width modulation converter. The ANN comprises an input layer, plurality of hidden layers, an output layer, and a processor. The ANN receives a plurality of input signals and produces output signals that control a SVPWM converter. The ANN is trained to minimize a cost function and to implement optimal control based on ADP. Further, the ANN can be configured to handle rated current and PWM saturation constraints in providing volt/VAR control functions. Finally, the ANN uses averaged feedback signals instead of instantaneous feedback signals to improve volt/VAR control performance of parallel inverters. Performance evaluation shows that an ANN controller has a strong ability to maintain volt and VAR control at the grid edge and prevent fighting between inverters thereby allowing an inverter to work effectively in parallel with other ANN-controlled inverters.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an active stylus includes: an enclosure; a first ferrite core disposed inside the enclosure; a wireless power receiver that includes a first receiving coil wrapped around the first ferrite core between the first ferrite core and the enclosure; and an alignment mark configured to be aligned with a center of a transmitting coil of a wireless power transmitter, where the alignment mark is not align with a center of the first receiving coil.

Abstract: A method for wirelessly providing power to a LED includes: receiving an AC input voltage having a first frequency via a cable; generating a first rectified voltage at a first node from the AC input voltage, the first node coupled to a first filtering non-electrolytic capacitor; powering a driver with the first rectified voltage; wirelessly transmitting power by driving a first resonant tank with the driver with a driving voltage at a second frequency higher than the first frequency, the driving voltage having a sinusoidal envelope at the first frequency and approximating a square-wave at the second frequency; receiving the wirelessly transmitted power with a second resonant tank; generating a second rectified voltage at second node from a voltage across the second resonant tank, the second node coupled to a second filtering capacitor; generating a DC voltage from the second rectified voltage; and powering the LED with the DC voltage.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for heating a personal device using a wirelessly-powered heating device includes: wirelessly receiving power with a receiving coil of the wirelessly-powered heating device, the receiving coil located inside the personal device, where the receiving coil is coupled to a capacitor of the wirelessly-powered heating device to form a receiver resonant tank; and heating the personal device with heat produced by a resistance of the receiving coil, where the receiving coil functions as a receiver antenna and as a heat producing element.

Abstract: A system is described herein for controlling an inverter comprising an artificial neural network (ANN) and a space vector pulse-width modulation converter. The ANN comprises an input layer, plurality of hidden layers, an output layer, and a processor. The ANN receives a plurality of input signals and produces output signals that control a SVPWM converter. The ANN is trained to minimize a cost function and to implement optimal control based on ADP. Further, the ANN can be configured to handle rated current and PWM saturation constraints in providing volt/VAR control functions. Finally, the ANN uses averaged feedback signals instead of instantaneous feedback signals to improve volt/VAR control performance of parallel inverters. Performance evaluation shows that an ANN controller has a strong ability to maintain volt and VAR control at the grid edge and prevent fighting between inverters thereby allowing an inverter to work effectively in parallel with other ANN-controlled inverters.