Abstract: An apparatus is described herein. The apparatus includes a power transmit unit coil and an active shielding coil. The power transmit unit coil includes a set of main windings, positioned at a first location on a structure, to carry a first current in a first direction, wherein the first current is to cause an electromagnetic field to emanate from the power transmit unit coil. The active shielding coil is positioned at a second location on the structure and is to carry a second current in a direction substantially opposite the first direction wherein the second current is to cause a reduction of the size of the electromagnetic field.

Abstract: Techniques for modifying the electrical current distribution of transmit coil of a wireless power transmitting unit are described. An example power transmitting unit includes a transmit coil configured to generate a magnetic field to wirelessly power a device within an active wireless charging area. The power transmitting unit can also include a power source to transmit an alternating electrical current to an input terminal of the transmit coil and a plurality of reactive elements placed in series with the transmit coil. In some examples, the plurality of reactive elements attach to the transmit coil at least a quarter of a turn from the input terminal. The power transmitting unit can also include a controller to modify a reactance value of the reactive elements to adjust a current distribution of the transmit coil in response to detecting a characteristic of a power receiving unit.

Abstract: Technology for impedance matching with a re-configurable coil arrangement of multiple transmitter coils of an electronic device is described. One electronic device includes a wireless transmitter coupled to a power supply and an impedance matching circuit coupled to output terminals of the wireless transmitter. First switching circuitry of the impedance matching circuit, in response to a first control signal, is to switch either a first transmitter coil or a first conductive path in series between the output terminals. Second switching circuitry of the impedance matching circuit, in response to a second control signal, is to switch either a second transmitter coil or a second conductive path in series between the output terminals. The first transmitter and first conductive path have the same impedance and the second transmitter and the second conductive path have the same impedance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing energy consumed by drones during flight are disclosed. A drone includes a housing, a motor, receiver circuitry carried by the housing, and a route manager. The receiver circuitry is to receive airborne drone-generated wind data from an airborne drone located in an area within which a segment of a flight of the drone is to occur. The airborne drone-generated wind data is to be determined by an inertial measurement unit of the airborne drone. The route manager is to generate a route for the flight of the drone based on wind data, the wind data including the airborne drone-generated wind data. The route is to be followed by the drone during the flight. The route manager is to select at least one portion of the route to cause the drone to be at least partially propelled by wind to reduce energy consumed by the drone during the flight.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed involving reconfigurable coils. Such coils may be used in applications, including (but not limited to) wireless charging and near field communications (NFC). For instance, a reconfigurable coil may include a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion. Two or more configurations may be established. These configurations may correspond to particular current paths. For example, in a circular configuration, a path is provided having the same rotational sense in both first and second conductive portions. However, in a figure eight configuration, a path is provided having a first rotational sense in the first conductive portion and a second rotational sense in the second conductive portion. A switch coupled between these portions may set the coil's configuration. Configurations may be selected based on one or more operating conditions involving the coil.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed to track sport implements and/or objects of interest. An example apparatus includes a first coil to generate a first magnetic field having a first vertical component with a zero magnitude along a first line of interest and a second coil partially overlapped with the first coil, where the second coil is to generate a second magnetic field. The example apparatus also includes a sensor to measure a magnitude of the first magnetic field in the first line of interest and a processor to determine an object of interest has crossed the first line of interest based on the magnitude of the first magnetic field measured by the sensor.

Abstract: Techniques for tuning in a wireless power transmitter in a system, method, and apparatus are described herein. For example, an apparatus may include a transmitter coil configured to generate a magnetic field. The apparatus may also include a set of capacitors in series with the transmitter coil, wherein a capacitance value for each of capacitors in the set is associated with a reactance shift.

Abstract: A computing system (100) with external wireless charging coil (150,550,650,750,850), includes a computing apparatus which includes a battery (120,210,320); and the external charging coil (150,550,650,750,850) to be coupled with the computing apparatus, including a self-coiling cable to transition to an uncoiled state when weighted and to transition to a coiled state when unweighted; wherein the battery (120,210,320) is chargeable by inductive charging utilizing the external charging coil (150,550,650,750,850) as an inductive receiving coil.

Abstract: Apparatus, system and method to provide switchable coils in a computing device, comprising: a plurality of electrically conductive coils to transfer electromagnetic energy; a sensor coupled to a processor, to select a coil from among the plurality of electrically conductive coils; a switch to energize the selected coil; and a switch controller coupled to the switch and to the processor. In some embodiments, the plurality of coils may comprise an inductive charging interface. Some embodiments may further include a communication interface between the processor to the plurality of electrically conductive coils, the plurality of coils comprising an interface for near-field communications (NFC). The antenna coils may be arranged to provide improved NFC coverage when the computing device is in a respective predetermined physical configuration. Sensors may be used to detect the configuration and switch NFC communications to use a preferred antenna coil for the detected configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus, system and method to provide switchable coils in a computing device, comprising: a plurality of electrically conductive coils to transfer electromagnetic energy; a sensor coupled to a processor, to select a coil from among the plurality of electrically conductive coils; a switch to energize the selected coil; and a switch controller coupled to the switch and to the processor. In some embodiments, the plurality of coils may comprise an inductive charging interface. Some embodiments may further include a communication interface between the processor to the plurality of electrically conductive coils, the plurality of coils comprising an interface for near-field communications (NFC). The antenna coils may be arranged to provide improved NFC coverage when the computing device is in a respective predetermined physical configuration. Sensors may be used to detect the configuration and switch NFC communications to use a preferred antenna coil for the detected configuration.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to wirelessly power an unmanned aerial vehicle are disclosed. An example unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a first electrode assembly to capacitively couple to a first power cable. The example UAV includes a second electrode assembly to capacitively couple to a second power cable. The first and second electrode assemblies, when capacitively coupled to the respective first and second power cables, are to receive power from at least one of the first and second power cables. The example UAV includes a power storage circuit to store the received power.

Abstract: Techniques for focusing the energy radiated by a wireless power transmitting unit are described. An example power transmitting unit includes a transmitter coil configured to generate a magnetic field to wirelessly power a device within an active wireless charging area. The power transmitting unit also includes a power generating circuitry to deliver current to the transmitter coil to generate the magnetic field. The power transmitting unit also includes a shield disposed around the transmitter coil to reduce the strength of the magnetic field outside of the active wireless charging area.

Abstract: A sensor system can include a sensor coil and a sensor coupled to the sensor coil. The sensor coil can include coil portions that generate signals based on magnetic coupling induced in the coil portions by a receiving coil device (e.g., a NFC tag) and magnetic distortion induced in the coil portions by magnetic coupling of a power transmitting unit (PTU). The sensor can reduce the magnetic distortion induced in the first and the second coil portions by the PTU, detect the receiving coil device based the first and the second signals, and control the PTU based on the detected receiving coil device.

Abstract: Wireless wearable devices having self-steering antennas are disclosed. A disclosed example wearable device includes an antenna to be communicatively coupled to a wireless data transceiver of a base station. The disclosed example wearable device also includes a steering mount coupled to the antenna, where the steering mount is to adjust an orientation of the antenna towards a wireless coverage zone associated with the wireless data transceiver based on a movement of the wearable device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing energy consumed by drones during flight are disclosed. A drone includes a housing, a motor, and a route manager to generate a route for a flight of the drone based on wind data. The wind data includes turbine-generated wind data provided by turbines that detect airflows received at the turbines. The turbines are located in an area within which a segment of the flight of the drone is to occur. The route is to be followed by the drone during the flight to reduce energy consumed by the drone during the flight.

Abstract: A Near Field Communications (NFC) antenna coil, having a first loop; and a second loop connected to the first loop to form a spiral shape, wherein the first loop and the second loop have different sizes to be mutually couplable with a first antenna pairing coil and a second antenna pairing coil, respectively.

Abstract: Techniques for wirelessly charging small power receiving units are disclosed. An example power receiving unit includes a transportation mechanism to enable the power receiving unit to move and a wireless communication system that enables the power receiving unit to communicate with a plurality of other power receiving units. The power receiving unit is a master unit and the other power receiving units are nodes that take commands from the master unit. The power receiving unit also includes a controller to command the nodes to form a composite receive coil over a power transmitting unit and communicate with the power transmitting unit to start a charging session.

Abstract: Wireless wearable devices having self-steering antennas are disclosed. A disclosed example wearable device includes an antenna to be communicatively coupled to a wireless data transceiver of a base station. The disclosed example wearable device also includes a steering mount coupled to the antenna, where the steering mount is to adjust an orientation of the antenna towards a wireless coverage zone associated with the wireless data transceiver based on a movement of the wearable device.

Abstract: Apparatus, system and method to provide switchable coils in a computing device, comprising: a plurality of electrically conductive coils to transfer electromagnetic energy; a sensor coupled to a processor, to select a coil from among the plurality of electrically conductive coils; a switch to energize the selected coil; and a switch controller coupled to the switch and to the processor. In some embodiments, the plurality of coils may comprise an inductive charging interface. Some embodiments may further include a communication interface between the processor to the plurality of electrically conductive coils, the plurality of coils comprising an interface for near-field communications (NFC). The antenna coils may be arranged to provide improved NFC coverage when the computing device is in a respective predetermined physical configuration. Sensors may be used to detect the configuration and switch NFC communications to use a preferred antenna coil for the detected configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods may provide for a wireless charging device having a concave-shaped charging platform defining a charging area. The wireless charging device may include a three-dimensional transmitter coil, and at least one additional transmitter coil having a non-uniform spacing within the concave-shaped charging platform to reduce magnetic field variations associated with the three-dimensional transmitter coil.