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: An aspect of this disclosure is an apparatus for receiving power wirelessly. The apparatus may be characterized by an impedance comprising a resistive component and a reactance component. The apparatus comprises an antenna circuit configured to receive power from a wireless charging field generated by a power transmitter, and to communicate with the power transmitter via a reflected signal, the reflected signal having a fundamental frequency. The apparatus may further comprise a control circuit coupled to the antenna circuit to generate the reflected signal. The reflected signal may be generated by performing at least one of: varying the resistive component of the impedance to generate a signal in the reflected signal having a frequency less than the fundamental frequency; and varying the reactance component of the impedance to change a phase of the reflected signal.

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: A method and system for providing wireless power transfer through a metal object by forming a loop conductor from the metal object through a feature or component embedded within the metal object and by replacing portions of the metal object with insulating components. The method and system utilize a recessed channel to install and isolate conductors that are connected to transmitter or receiver circuits and enable wireless power transfer and other communications. The recessed channel creates a loop around at least a portion of the metal object such that the conductor installed therein may form a loop conductor, which may be connected to a source or sink. In some implementations, a logo embedded within the metal object may create a loop formed by the metal object with a current path around the logo, wherein the metal object itself may be configured to operate as the conductor.

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: An apparatus and method for transmission of wireless power to a plurality of chargeable devices. The apparatus and method include and provide for a wireless power transmitter including a power transmitting element configured to use a current at a first level to wirelessly transmit power sufficient to provide power to one or more chargeable devices positioned within a charging region. The apparatus and method further include and provide for a controller to detect a subsequent chargeable device positioned within the charging region and to adjust the current from the first level to a default level prior to communication with the subsequent chargeable device.

Abstract: A method for receiving a real-time video feed of a region of interest includes generating, at a processor of a first device, a request for a real-time video stream of the region of interest. The request indicates a location of the region of interest. The method also includes transmitting the request to one or more other devices via a network to query whether another device is situated to capture a portion of the region of interest. The method also includes receiving the real-time video stream of the region of interest from a second device of the one or more other devices. The second device includes a camera having a field of view that includes at least a portion of the region of interest.

Abstract: Wireless power transfer for integrated cycle drive systems is described. A cycle power system includes a rim that is connected to, and positioned concentrically with, a sealed housing that can rotate about an axis. The cycle power system also includes an integrated drive system disposed within the housing. The integrated drive system includes a battery and a motor for driving a cycle by causing rotational movement of the rim about the axis. Additionally, the cycle power system includes an inductive structure that is disposed within the housing, and that wirelessly charges the battery through induction between the inductive structure and remote a charging station.

Abstract: A wireless power transmitter system includes: a power delivery structure comprising power transmitting elements (power transmitting elements), each of which is configured to induce a field, and configured to adapt to an exterior shape of an entity that contains a receiver; a power circuit configured to provide power to the power transmitting elements selectively; and a controller configured to: determine an electrical characteristic, other than power transfer to the receiver, associated with actuating at least one of the power transmitting elements; determine at least one power transmitting element subset, based on the electrical characteristic, containing less than all, and at least one, of the power transmitting elements; select, based on power transferred to the receiver, one or more charging power transmitting elements to use to charge the receiver wirelessly; and cause the power circuit to provide power to the one or more charging power transmitting elements.

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 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: The present disclosure describes aspects of injected conductive tattoos for powering implants. In some aspects, a system comprises a conductive tattoo used to efficiently transfer power wirelessly received from a transmitter outside a body to an electronic device in the body. The conductive tattoo is formed from a conductive material injected into an outermost permanent layer of the body. The conductive tattoo is configured to wirelessly receive and relay the power from the transmitter to the electronic device. In particular, the conductive tattoo may transfer the power to the electronic device over a coupling between the conductive tattoo and the electronic device.

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: Exemplary embodiments are directed to controlling impedance. A wireless power transmitter for controlling impedance comprises a transmit circuit configured to wirelessly transmit power to a plurality of receivers, each having a load resistance, within a charging region of the transmit circuit. The transmitter also comprises a controller configured to request each receiver of the plurality of receivers to adjust its load resistance to a value that achieves a target total impedance as presented to the controller.

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: This application describes methods and apparatus for controlling touchscreen interferences. In one aspect, a wireless power device for receiving charging power via a wireless charging field of a wireless charging device is provided. The wireless power device comprises a sensor circuit configured to detect at least one signal from a touchscreen, the detected at least one signal indicating an interaction with the touchscreen. The wireless power device further comprises a processor circuit configured to determine whether the detected at least one signal is a result of a false contact with the touchscreen resulting from the wireless charging field. The wireless power device further comprises a transmitter circuit configured to transmit, based on determining that the detected at least one signal is a result of the false contact with the touchscreen, a first message to the wireless charging device to lower a strength of the wireless charging field.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems of various embodiments are disclosed for operating a UAV having insufficient power to operate normally. Various embodiments include determining whether an emergency-recovery state of a battery of the UAV has been reached while the UAV is flying. An emergency recovery mode may be activated in response to determining that the emergency-recovery state has been reached. The emergency recovery mode may switch the rotors from drawing energy from the battery to generate propulsion to harvesting energy from airflow that is used to recharge a battery of the UAV. A braking mode may be activated in response to determining that a braking altitude has been reached. The braking mode may switch the rotors from energy harvesting to drawing energy from the battery to generate propulsion in order to reduce a descent rate of the UAV.

Abstract: A method of providing power to an implant includes: transcutaneously receiving first power wirelessly from a source transmitter by a receiver of a power relay device, the receiver of the power relay device being disposed inside a biological body and closer to a skin of the biological body than the implant is to the skin of the biological body; converting the first power into second power that has a substantially different frequency than the first power, or is of different type of power than the first power, or both; and internally coupling the second power from a transmitter of the power relay device to the implant disposed within the biological body.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer adapter is provided. The wireless power transfer adapter comprises a receive coil configured to receive wireless power from a wireless power transmitter at a first frequency associated with a first wireless power protocol of a plurality of wireless power protocols. The wireless power transfer adapter comprises a rectifier circuit configured to convert the wireless power received by the receive coil from the first frequency to a second frequency associated with a second wireless power protocol of the plurality of wireless power protocols that is different from the first protocol. The wireless power transfer adapter comprises a transmit coil configured to transmit at least some of the wireless power to a wireless power receiver at the second frequency and according to the second wireless power protocol.

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.