Abstract: Heat transfer management apparatuses are disclosed. In one embodiment, a heat transfer management apparatus includes a composite lamina having an insulator substrate and a plurality of thermal conductor traces coupled to the insulator substrate, where the plurality of thermal conductor traces are arranged into a first enhanced thermal conduction region and a second enhanced thermal conduction region. The heat transfer management apparatus also includes a heat generating component mount coupled to the composite lamina and a temperature sensitive component mount coupled to the composite lamina and positioned distally from the heat generating component mount.

Abstract: A resonant wireless energy transfer system comprises first and second antennas made up of dual parallel wire helixes wherein the wires are terminated by short wires. Voltage controlled variable capacitors are connected into the antennas to permit progressive variation between folded dipole and normal dipole operating modes such that optimum energy transfer can be achieved between the antennas over a wide range of antenna separation distances. A vehicle battery charging system using the above-described antennas is provided including an installation which allows purchase of battery charging power by members of the general public. In-vehicle energy transfer for sensors, computers, cell phones and the like is also described.

Abstract: Arrangements directed to the wireless charging of a vehicle are described. A battery of a vehicle can be charged while the vehicle is traveling on a roadway. A driving environment of the vehicle can be sensed to detect a charging marker. The charging marker can provide information relating to a location of a charge transmitter located below a travel surface of the roadway. The charge transmitter can be located forward of the vehicle in the travel direction of the roadway. The location of the charge transmitter can be determined based on information obtained from the charging marker. A travel path for the vehicle can be determined based at least partially on the location of the charge transmitter so that the charge receiver is positioned in substantial charging alignment with the charge transmitter as the vehicle passes over the charge transmitters.

Abstract: Examples of the invention include methods and apparatus for wirelessly transmitting power to a vehicle using electromagnetic radiation. An example apparatus includes a transmitter coil associated with a first metamaterial lens, and a receiver coil associated with a second metamaterial lens, the receiver coil being located within the vehicle. The metamaterial lenses each have a negative magnetic permeability, and are separated by a lens spacing including an air gap. The first and second metamaterial lenses (and the lens spacing) act cooperatively to focus the electromagnetic radiation from the transmitter coil on the receiver coil.

Abstract: A revised coil loop structure is combined with metamaterials designed to contain and redirect the electromagnetic field to produce an improved inductive coupling system. The efficiency of the inductive power transfer system is increased relative to existing technologies by overcoming the negative effects of distance and misalignment. The transmitting and receiving coils are both constructed by connecting a series of printed circuit boards (PCBs). The individual PCBs are then stacked on top of one another and connected to produce the transmitting and receiving coils. The transmitting and receiving coils further feature a coil shape designed to allow the coils to be actively and variably tuned to one another. The efficiency of power transfer in the system is additionally increased through the use of metamaterials. The metamaterial is used as a backing for the coils and reduces the amount of magnetic flux found on the back of the coils.

Abstract: Arrangements related to sensing systems and methods are described. A sensing system can include one or more LIDAR sensors. The one or more LIDAR sensors can be configured to output signals. The sensing system can include one or more RADAR sensors. The one or more RADAR sensors can be configured to output signals. The sensing system can include a processor. The processor can be operatively connected to receive signals output by the LIDAR sensor(s) and the RADAR sensor(s). The processor can be configured to process signals received from both the LIDAR sensor(s) and the RADAR sensor(s) together. In some arrangements, the LIDAR sensor(s) and the RADAR sensor(s) can be located within the same housing. In one or more arrangements, the LIDAR sensor(s) and/or the RADAR sensor(s) can be configured as a phased array. In one or more arrangements, the sensing system can be used in connection with a vehicle.

Abstract: A radar apparatus that focuses a subset of transmit beams within a field of view (FOV) is provided. The radar apparatus has a phased array transmitter that is operable to generate a transmit beam within the FOV, and a phased array receiver that is operable to receive a receive beam reflected from within the FOV. The apparatus also has a radar controller with an electronic circuit and electronic memory, the electronic memory having a plurality of pre-calculated beam density curves. The radar controller is operable to execute each of the plurality of pre-calculated beam density curves and steer at least one transmit beam generated from a particular executed beam density curve towards a sub-area of the FOV.

Abstract: Heat transfer management apparatuses are disclosed. In one embodiment, a heat transfer management apparatus includes a composite lamina having an insulator substrate and a plurality of thermal conductor traces coupled to the insulator substrate. The plurality of thermal conductor traces are arranged into a first enhanced thermal conduction region and a second enhanced thermal conduction region. The heat transfer management apparatus also includes a heat generating component mount and a temperature sensitive component mount in electrical continuity with the heat generating component mount, where a shielding path projection extends from the heat generating component mount towards the temperature sensitive component mount, and at least one of the thermal conductor traces is transverse to the shielding path projection between the heat generating component mount and the temperature sensitive component mount to steer heat flux away from the temperature sensitive component mount.

Abstract: Heat transfer management apparatuses are disclosed. In one embodiment, a heat transfer management apparatus includes a composite lamina having an insulator substrate and a plurality of thermal conductor traces coupled to the insulator substrate, where the plurality of thermal conductor traces are arranged into a first enhanced thermal conduction region and a second enhanced thermal conduction region. The heat transfer management apparatus also includes a heat generating component mount coupled to the composite lamina and a temperature sensitive component mount coupled to the composite lamina and positioned distally from the heat generating component mount.

Abstract: A phased array radar apparatus and method for identifying targets in an environment includes a phased array radar transmitter, a first phased array radar receiver, a second phased array radar receiver, and a radar controller. The first and second phased array radar receivers are configured such that the first and second phased array radar receivers have effectively the same configuration. The radar controller uses the first and second receive beams to calculate an amplitude monopulse ratio and identify angle information of the targets within the environment. The present invention enables high precision estimation of target angle information while scanning over a wide field of view in a single scan. The radar apparatus further uses a complex amplitude monopulse ratio and a weighted target angle histogram to distinguish between closely separated targets that would otherwise be viewed as a single target by conventional monopulse radar apparatuses.

Abstract: A hybrid antenna apparatus for a motor vehicle includes steerable transmitter antennas and receiver antennas. The receiver antennas are arranged in sub-arrays for data adaptive and decision adaptive digital beamforming processing. A controllable phase shifter is coupled between each receiver antenna and a summation network in each receiver antenna sub-array. The plurality of sub-array summation networks are combined in mixers along with a receiver direction reference signal and output through A/D converters to the digital beamformer processor.

Abstract: A radar apparatus includes a phased array receiver, with a steerable receive beam. The receiver elements are grouped into subarrays, which each provide a subarray signal to a mixer. The mixer signals are then used by a DBF algorithm to determine narrow virtual beams within the receive beam. The receive beam is used to obtain radar data from sectors of the field of view, and the sectors may be approximately as wide as the receive beam. The order in which sectors are examined may be determined by the sector importance, related to the presence, nature, and/or behavior of previously tracked targets within each sector.

Abstract: An example radar apparatus has a transmission frequency modulated by a chirp waveform having three chirp segments, including increasing, decreasing, and a constant frequency segments. The chirp waveform may extend over the full revisit time of the radar beam. The frequency difference between the transmitted and echo signals are determined at least once per chirp segment. Example apparatus include a Doppler radar for vehicle use.

Abstract: A phased array radar apparatus and method for identifying targets in an environment includes a phased array radar transmitter, a first phased array radar receiver, a second phased array radar receiver, and a radar controller. The first and second phased array radar receivers are configured such that the first and second phased array radar receivers have effectively the same configuration. The radar controller uses the first and second receive beams to calculate an amplitude monopulse ratio and identify angle information of the targets within the environment. The present invention enables high precision estimation of target angle information while scanning over a wide field of view in a single scan. The radar apparatus further uses a complex amplitude monopulse ratio and a weighted target angle histogram to distinguish between closely separated targets that would otherwise be viewed as a single target by conventional monopulse radar apparatuses.

Abstract: A radar apparatus includes a receiver having a plurality of receiver channels, each including an antenna element, a phase shifter, and a switch. The antenna element provides a signal that passes through a phase shifter to a switch. The signal may then be passed to a summing element if the switch is closed. The summing element receives signals from the receive channels, and provides a sum signal to a mixer. In phased array mode, the switches are closed and antenna controller adjusts the phase angles of the phase shifters. In DBF mode, the phase shifters are maintained at a set value, and switches are operated sequentially to provide time-multiplexed signals from the receive channels to the summing element.

Abstract: A resonant wireless energy transfer system comprises first and second antennas made up of dual parallel wire helixes wherein the wires are terminated by short wires. Voltage controlled variable capacitors are connected into the antennas to permit progressive variation between folded dipole and normal dipole operating modes such that optimum energy transfer can be achieved between the antennas over a wide range of antenna separation distances. A vehicle battery charging system using the above-described antennas is provided including an installation which allows purchase of battery charging power by members of the general public. In-vehicle energy transfer for sensors, computers, cell phones and the like is also described.

Abstract: A resonant wireless energy transfer system comprises first and second antennas made up of dual parallel wire helixes wherein the wires are terminated by short wires. Voltage controlled variable capacitors are connected into the antennas to permit progressive variation between folded dipole and normal dipole operating modes such that optimum energy transfer can be achieved between the antennas over a wide range of antenna separation distances. A vehicle battery charging system using the above-described antennas is provided including an installation which allows purchase of battery charging power by members of the general public. In-vehicle energy transfer for sensors, computers, cell phones and the like is also described.

Abstract: Examples of the invention include methods and apparatus for wirelessly transmitting power to a vehicle using electromagnetic radiation. An example apparatus includes a transmitter coil associated with a first metamaterial lens, and a receiver coil associated with a second metamaterial lens, the receiver coil being located within the vehicle. The metamaterial lenses each have a negative magnetic permeability, and are separated by a lens spacing including an air gap. The first and second metamaterial lenses (and the lens spacing) act cooperatively to focus the electromagnetic radiation from the transmitter coil on the receiver coil.

Abstract: An antenna with improved radiation efficiency is provided. The antenna includes an antenna array proximately coupled to a feed line. The antenna array includes a plurality of resonating lines. Each resonating line includes a plurality of axially aligned resonators. The resonators have a resonating surface. The resonating surfaces of the resonators at the ends of the resonating lines are larger than resonating surfaces of the resonators in the middle of the resonating lines. Power is supplied to each resonating ling through a feed line. Electrical field is uniformly distributed along the antenna array so as to improve the radiation efficiency of the antenna.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention include calibration methods for phased array radar apparatus. The calibration methods include an electronic calibration of phase shifters, and compensation for mechanical misalignment. Approaches are particularly useful for automotive radar, and may be used for initial calibration after installation on a factory line, or at later times such as at a service station whenever recalibration becomes necessary.