Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mitigating temperature spikes and dissipating heat. The apparatus for mitigating temperature spikes and dissipating heat comprises one or more heatsinks, one or more sensors, one or more phase change materials and one or more processors coupled to the one or more sensors. The one or more processors may be configured to obtain one or more sensor measurements and may be configured to determine whether to store heat or dissipate heat based on the one or more sensor measurements. In response to a determination to dissipate heat, the one or more processors may be configured to dissipate heat from the one or more processors, the one or more phase change materials or both using the one or more heatsinks. Furthermore, in response to a determination to store heat, store heat from the one or more processors using the one or more phase change materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes aspects of wireless power transfer for stationary applications. In some aspects, a system includes a transmitter and receiver separated by a wireless gap with a membrane. The transmitter has an inverter circuit to invert direct current (DC) power from a DC power source to alternating current (AC) power. The transmitter also has a transmitting circuit that includes a first resonant coil configured to resonate at a frequency of the AC power. The first resonant coil is also configured to wirelessly transmit the AC power across the wireless gap. The receiver has a receiving circuit that includes a second resonant coil configured to resonate based on resonance of the first resonant coil and to receive the wirelessly transmitted AC power. Additionally, the first and second resonant coils are configured as primary and secondary windings, respectively, of a transformer to transform the wirelessly transmitted AC power.

Abstract: Techniques for providing wired and wireless charging to a device are provided. An example of an apparatus for receiving power from a wired power supply and a wireless power supply according to the disclosure includes a wireless power receiver configured to receive power from the wireless power supply, a direct current input circuit configured to receive power from the wired power supply, a control circuit operably coupled to the wireless power receiver and the direct current input circuit and configured to determine a power transfer capability for each of the wired power supply and the wireless power supply, and select the wireless power receiver from the wireless power supply or with the direct current input circuit from the wired power supply to receive power based on the power transfer capabilities.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a passive flux bridge for charging electric vehicles. These systems and methods include a mobile apparatus including mobility components and a material with high magnetic permeability and electrical resistivity. In aspects, the mobility components, e.g., wheels or continuous track, are configured to enable movement of the apparatus and positioning of the apparatus proximate to a vehicle power-transfer apparatus of an electric vehicle. The magnetically permeable and electrically resistive material, e.g., ferrite, is configured to passively channel magnetic flux between a base power-transfer system and the vehicle power-transfer system to wirelessly charge a battery of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments include devices and methods for maintaining control of a robotic vehicle when control signals from a main controller are lost. A detector circuit may monitor signals from the main controller to an electronic speed controller (ESC) to detect a loss of valid control signals. The detector circuit may cause an auxiliary controller to begin issuing motor control signals to the ESC in response to detecting a loss of valid control signals. The auxiliary controller may be configured to issue motor control signals to the ESC according to a pre-loaded set of motor control instructions. The pre-loaded set of motor control instructions may be received from the main controller and/or may be configured to cause the auxiliary controller to issue motor control signals to the ESC that control motors in a manner that causes the robotic vehicle to enter a safe mode of operation or execute a particular maneuver.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for wireless power transmission. The apparatus may include a resonator circuit configured to generate a magnetic field to couple to a power receiving unit. The resonator circuit may include a transmit coil and an electromechanical reactive device having one or more moveable components, and having a reactance that is determined by a physical arrangement of those components. A power circuit connected to the resonator circuit can provide power to drive the transmit coil to generate the magnetic field. The electromechanical reactive device of the resonator circuit can be actuated to change the physical arrangement of the one or more moveable components, and hence change the reactance.

Abstract: Techniques described herein address these and other issues by providing an architecture of antennas capable of generating a relatively even H-field without exceeding exposure limits, while solving communication issues at the same time. More specifically techniques described herein are directed toward the use of multiple antennas that enable an interrogator device of a biological measurement and stimulation system to power different groups of medical implants at different times by creating fields in different regions of the brain. By doing this, the interrogator device can independently power and/or communicate with groups of medical implants in these different regions and create more evenly-distributed fields while doing so.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are related to a wireless power resonator and method that includes a wireless power transmit element. The wireless power transmit element may include a substantially planar transmit antenna configured to generate a magnetic field and formed from a conductive trace including a plurality of distributed inductive elements along the conductive trace. The transmit element may further include a filter formed from selected ones of the plurality of distributed inductive elements of the planar transmit antenna and configured to generate at least one frequency response.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to apparatus and techniques for protecting electronic devices that may be prone to damage by wireless charging fields. For example, the apparatus may include a wireless charging circuit configured to selectively generate a wireless charging field and an impedance detection circuit coupled to the wireless charging circuit and configured to detect an impedance change corresponding to the wireless charging field. In this case, a proximity detection circuit may selectively detect proximity of one or more electronic devices that are prone to damage by the wireless charging circuit. In some aspects, detecting the proximity of the one or more electronic devices is activated based on detecting the impedance change, and wherein generating the wireless charging field comprises reducing a transmit power of the wireless charging field based on detecting the impedance change.

Abstract: Techniques for charger-device pairing for recharge warnings are described. In one or more implementations, a battery of a device is determined to require charging based on a state of charge of the battery. In response to this determination, a message is communicated via a local network from the device to a charger that was previously paired with the device. The message includes a request for the charger to generate a first alert indicating that the charger is available to charge the battery of the device. In addition, the device provides a second alert indicating that the battery of the device requires charging.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a passive flux bridge for charging electric vehicles. These systems and methods include a mobile apparatus including mobility components and a material with high magnetic permeability and electrical resistivity. In aspects, the mobility components, e.g., wheels or continuous track, are configured to enable movement of the apparatus and positioning of the apparatus proximate to a vehicle power-transfer apparatus of an electric vehicle. The magnetically permeable and electrically resistive material, e.g., ferrite, is configured to passively channel magnetic flux between a base power-transfer system and the vehicle power-transfer system to wirelessly charge a battery of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving wireless power is provided. The apparatus a communication circuit configured to transmit a first indication of a first wireless charging category associated with the apparatus. The communication circuit is further configured to receive an indication of a wireless charging class of a power transmit unit (PTU). The communication circuit is further configured to transmit a second indication of a second wireless charging category associated with the apparatus based on the wireless charging class of the PTU being compatible with a higher wireless charging category than the first wireless charging category. The apparatus further comprises a coupler configured to receive a level of wireless power corresponding to the second wireless charging category. The higher wireless charging category indicates an ability to receive a greater amount of wireless power than the first wireless charging category.

Abstract: An apparatus for wirelessly transferring charging power is provided. The apparatus comprises a coupler configured to generate a wireless field when driven with a time-varying current. The apparatus comprises a measurement circuit configured to determine a parasitic capacitance between the coupler and ground while the coupler generates the wireless field. The apparatus comprises a controller circuit configured to determine a presence of a foreign object in response to the determined parasitic capacitance satisfying a detection criteria. The detection criteria may comprises a time-varying pattern of the determined parasitic capacitance predetermined to correspond to presence of a presence of the foreign object. The detection criteria may also comprises a threshold change in the determined parasitic capacitance predetermined to correspond to presence of a presence of the foreign object.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to apparatus and techniques for wireless charging. One example apparatus generally includes a plurality of inductive elements and signal generation circuitry coupled to the plurality of inductive elements and configured to generate a plurality of signals, where at least two signals of the plurality of signals have different magnitudes. In certain aspects, the signal generation circuitry is configured to drive the plurality of inductive elements using the plurality of signals, where at least one first inductive element of the plurality of inductive elements is driven using at least one first signal of the plurality of signals having a first phase and at least one second inductive element of the plurality of inductive elements is driven using at least one second signal of the plurality of signals having a second phase different from the first phase.

Abstract: An aspect of this disclosure is an apparatus for receiving power wirelessly. The apparatus comprises a power receiver circuit that receives power from a magnetic field of a transmitter to provide to a load. At least one receiver component is coupled with the power receiver circuit and operates based on at least one operation parameter. A sensor measures at least one of a current and a voltage at the load. A controller estimates a first voltage induced by the magnetic field based on the at least one measured current and measured voltage and the at least one operation parameter. The controller also estimates a second voltage based on the at least one operation parameter, the second voltage corresponding to a voltage at which the power receiver circuit operates with an efficiency level that exceeds a threshold efficiency. The communication circuit communicates the estimated voltages to the transmitter.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that implements ultrasonic power transmission with impedance detection. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes an array of ultrasonic transducers and an acoustic-impedance detection system. The acoustic-impedance detection system is configured to transmit an ultrasonic detection pulse from an ultrasonic transducer of the array. Based on the ultrasonic detection pulse, the acoustic-impedance detection system can determine an acoustic impedance at the ultrasonic transducer. Based on the acoustic impedance, the acoustic-impedance detection system can transmit an ultrasonic charging signal.

Abstract: Embodiments include devices and methods for maintaining control of a robotic vehicle when control signals from a main controller are lost. A detector circuit may monitor signals from the main controller to an electronic speed controller (ESC) to detect a loss of valid control signals. The detector circuit may cause an auxiliary controller to begin issuing motor control signals to the ESC in response to detecting a loss of valid control signals. The auxiliary controller may be configured to issue motor control signals to the ESC according to a pre-loaded set of motor control instructions. The pre-loaded set of motor control instructions may be received from the main controller and/or may be configured to cause the auxiliary controller to issue motor control signals to the ESC that control motors in a manner that causes the robotic vehicle to enter a safe mode of operation or execute a particular maneuver.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are generally directed to apparatus and techniques for protecting electronic devices that may be prone to damage by wireless charging fields. For example, the apparatus may include a wireless charging circuit configured to selectively generate a wireless charging field and an impedance detection circuit coupled to the wireless charging circuit and configured to detect an impedance change corresponding to the wireless charging field. In this case, a proximity detection circuit may selectively detect proximity of one or more electronic devices that are prone to damage by the wireless charging circuit. In some aspects, detecting the proximity of the one or more electronic devices is activated based on detecting the impedance change, and wherein generating the wireless charging field comprises reducing a transmit power of the wireless charging field based on detecting the impedance change.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for controlling a power level of wireless power transfer. Certain aspects provide a wireless power receiver. The wireless power receiver includes an antenna and a rectifier. The rectifier includes a first diode and a second diode. The wireless power receiver further includes a resistor in parallel with the first diode. A first terminal of the resistor is coupled to a first terminal of the first diode. A second terminal of the resistor is coupled to a second terminal of the first diode.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for detecting, by a wireless power transmitter, an over voltage protection at a wireless power receiver. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a wireless power transmitter. The wireless power transmitter includes a resonator configured to generate a wireless field for wirelessly transferring power to a wireless power receiver. The wireless power transmitter further includes an impedance detector configured to measure an impedance of the resonator. The wireless power transmitter further includes a controller configured to detect operation of an over voltage protection mode of the wireless power receiver based on a frequency of change in impedance as measured by the impedance detector.