Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer including generating an electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency of a transmitter to create a coupling-mode region within a near field of the transmitter during a synchronization portion of a time-multiplexed recurring period. During a power transmission portion of the recurring period, the electromagnetic field will continue to be generated when there is a receiver within the coupling-mode region, or the electromagnetic field will be disabled when there are no receivers within the coupling-mode region. Different segments of the power transmission portion are allocated to different receivers. The transmitter issues serial commands to the receivers by on/off keying the electromagnetic field. The receivers issue serial replies by changing the amount of power consumed from the electromagnetic field between two different states.

Abstract: An apparatus for wirelessly receiving power via a wireless field generated by a transmitter includes a resonator configured to generate electrical current to power or charge a load based on a voltage induced in the resonator in response to the wireless field, a first variable capacitor electrically coupled to the resonator and configured to adjust a first capacitance of the first variable capacitor responsive to a first control signal, a second variable capacitor electrically coupled to the resonator and configured to adjust a second capacitance of the second variable capacitor responsive to a second control signal, and a control circuit configured to adjust and apply the first control signal and the second control signal to the first variable capacitor and the second variable capacitor, respectively, to adjust a resonant frequency of the resonator and a voltage output to the load based on an electrical characteristic indicative of a level of power output to the load.

Abstract: Techniques provided herein are directed toward providing an optical sensor that reduces noise from sources of light other than the LIDAR transmitter by changing the active area of the sensor of a LIDAR receiver. The optical sensor may include a two dimensional array of single photon avalanche devices (SPADs) with row-select and column-select transistors, where rows and columns are selected based on a predicted spot size and angle of reflected laser light detected at the LIDAR receiver. Among other things, this can eliminate or reduce the need for moving parts within the LIDAR receiver.

Abstract: Embodiments include devices and methods for navigating an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) based on a measured magnetic field vector and strength of a magnetic field emanated from a charging station. A processor of the UAV may navigate to the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength. The processor may determine whether the UAV is substantially aligned with the charging station, and the processor may maneuver the UAV to approach the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength in response to determining that the UAV is substantially aligned with the charging station. Maneuvering the UAV to approach the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength may involve descending to a center of the charging station. The UAV may follow a specified route to and/or away from the charging station using the magnetic field vector and strength.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for wirelessly charging a device having a wireless power receiver with a dead battery. One example method for safely wirelessly charging an implantable device, with an apparatus, generally includes determining that the implantable device has a dead battery; based on the determination, wirelessly transmitting power from the apparatus at an initial level for a first interval; checking for a first signal received from the implantable device during or at an end of the first interval or a period associated with the initial level; and if no first signal is received from the implantable device, increasing the transmitted power to a higher level for a second interval.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer including generating an electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency of a transmit antenna to create a coupling-mode region within a near-field of the transmit antenna. A receive antenna placed within the coupling-mode region resonates at or near the resonant frequency. The receive antenna extracts energy from a coupling between the two antennas. Signaling from the receive antenna to the transmit antenna is performed by generating a first power consumption state for the receive antenna to signal a first receive signal state and generating a second power consumption state for the receive antenna to signal a second receive signal state. Signaling from the transmit antenna to the receive antenna is performed by enabling the resonant frequency on the transmit antenna to signal a first transmit signal state and disabling the resonant frequency on the transmit antenna to signal a second transmit signal state.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for power dissipation control for a wireless power receiver. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a wireless power receiver. The wireless power receiver includes a resonator including an inductor and a capacitor. The resonator is configured to couple to a wireless field. The wireless field induces a voltage in the resonator. The capacitor is coupled to the inductor. The capacitor is configured to at least one of shunt tune or series tune the resonator. The wireless power receiver further includes a control circuit configured to at least one of selectively couple the capacitor to the inductor or adjust a capacitance of the capacitor based on at least one of a temperature near the wireless power receiver or an electrical characteristic of a thermally conductive path between the wireless power receiver and a surrounding thermal environment.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for hybrid rectification for wireless power. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a wireless power receiver. The wireless power receiver includes a resonator configured to couple to a wireless field. The wireless field induces a voltage in the resonator. The wireless power receiver further includes an active rectifier comprising one or more switches. The wireless power receiver further includes a passive rectifier comprising one or more diodes. The wireless power receiver further includes a switch selectively coupling the active rectifier and the passive rectifier to the resonator.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes aspects of in-body power harvesting using flowing fluids. In some aspects, an apparatus comprises a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field to deflect charged particles of a fluid flowing through the body in a space formed by a vessel. The charged particles include positively and negatively charged particles, which the magnetic field deflects such that the positively charged particles are deflected in a first direction within the space and such that the negatively charged particles are deflected in a second direction within the space generally opposing the first direction. The apparatus also includes electrodes configured to harvest energy based on a difference in potential between the positively charged particles and the negatively charged particles. The harvested energy is convertible by a converter coupled to the electrodes into electrical power that is usable by an electronic device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for joint performance monitoring and diagnosis. A joint monitoring system includes a plurality of event detection sensors configured to be mounted on a wearer of the joint monitoring system, and a plurality of position tracking sensors configured to be mounted on the wearer. The plurality of event detection sensors is configured to generate detection signals for detecting an event in a joint region. The joint region includes a region within a body of the wearer and within a threshold distance of a joint. The detection signals from the plurality of event detection sensors includes information for determining a location of the event. The plurality of position tracking sensors is configured to record position information of one or more body parts associated with the joint in response to the detected event.

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for wirelessly transmitting power to a wireless power receiver comprises a transmitter circuit configured to transmit wireless power via a magnetic field at a first frequency and a second frequency, the second frequency different than the first frequency and is an integer multiple of the first frequency. The apparatus further includes a processor circuit configured to detect a presence of multiple wireless power receivers each being capable of receiving power via the magnetic field over at least one of the first and second frequency and further configured to identify frequency charging capabilities of each of the detected wireless power receivers. The transmitter circuit further configured to concurrently transmit wireless power to first and second wireless power receivers at the first frequency and the second frequency, respectively, based on the respective charging capabilities of the first and second wireless power receivers.

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: Exemplary implementations are directed to wireless power in-band signaling by load generation. An apparatus for communicating with a wireless power transmitter is provided. The apparatus comprises a receiver configured to generate a voltage based on wirelessly received charging power from the transmitter. The apparatus comprises a load configurable to be coupled to and decoupled from the receiver. The apparatus comprises a switching circuit configured to encode a communication to the transmitter by adjusting an average power dissipated by the load detectable by the transmitter. The average power is based on a duty cycle with which the switching circuit couples and decouples the load from the receiver under control of a control signal.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for reconfiguring wireless power resonator. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a wireless power resonator. The wireless power resonator includes a first section. The wireless power resonator further includes a second section electrically coupled and physically coupled to the first section. The second section is configured to be movable with respect to the first section while remaining both electrically coupled and physically coupled to the first section to change an effective area of the wireless power resonator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for identifying optical beams incident upon a sensor of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. In certain aspects, a sensor coupled to the LIDAR system receives a first optical beam comprising a first frequency and a second optical beam comprising a second frequency. The LIDAR system may include a shutter coupled to the sensor and configured to operate at a third frequency, wherein operating the shutter while receiving the first optical beam comprising the first frequency results in a first signal with a fourth frequency and operating the shutter while receiving the second optical beam comprising the second frequency results in a second signal with a fifth frequency. Furthermore, the LIDAR system may include processing logic configured to detect the first signal with the fourth frequency and identify the first optical beam using a known association between the first optical beam and the fourth frequency.

Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for estimating a distance of an object from a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes transmitting a first light signal towards the object using a LIDAR system, and detecting a second light signal by a light sensor to generate a detected signal. The second light signal includes a reflection of the first light signal from the object. The method further includes generating a filtered signal by applying a time-dependent adjustable filter to the detected signal, and estimating the distance of the object from the LIDAR system based at least on the filtered signal.

Abstract: A system and method for charging a chargeable device is provided. The system can include a wireless charger including a wireless power transmitter d configured to generate a wireless charging field in at least one charging region. The wireless charger further includes a transceiver configured to communicate with the chargeable device. The wireless charger further includes a controller configured to facilitate avoidance of cross connection of the chargeable device with the wireless charger and at least one other wireless charger by initiating a disconnection of a communication link between the wireless charger and the chargeable device based at least in part on a comparison of a detected power level of the wireless charger to a predetermined level indicative of saturation.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatus and methods for balancing charge in a plurality of cells in a battery. In one example apparatus, the primary winding of the transformer may be coupled to a bus, and the secondary winding may be coupled to a cell of the plurality of cells in the battery. The apparatus also includes a switch coupled to the primary winding of the transformer and one or more control circuits coupled to the switch. The control circuit may be configured to control the first switch based on a voltage at a first terminal of the primary winding to control transfer of power between the cell and the bus via the transformer.

Abstract: One disclosed method includes the steps of determining a plurality of modulation frequencies based on a plurality of received ambient light signals; causing a plurality of laser emitters to each transmit a laser pulse, each laser pulse modulated according to a modulation frequency of the plurality of modulation frequencies, each laser pulse having a different modulation frequency than each of the other modulated laser pulses; receiving a plurality of reflected laser pulses at a position sensing device, at least two of the plurality reflected laser pulses corresponding to the transmitted laser pulses; and determining positions of the received reflected laser pulses on the position sensing device.

Abstract: Techniques provided herein are directed toward enabling a laser ranging device to include, in optical pulses it generates, one or more unique “signatures” that enable the laser ranging device to distinguish pulses it generates from pulses generated by other laser ranging devices. These “signatures” can include a ringing frequency generated by residence circuitry in a laser driver of the laser ranging device that includes an adjustable capacitor enabling adjustment of the ringing frequency. Circuitry in the laser ranging device receiver can process a signal made by a detected pulse to determine whether a signature of the detected pulse substantially matches a signature of a transmitted pulse.