Patents by Inventor Zhen Ning Low

Zhen Ning Low has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120267960
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for tuning a wireless power transmitter. In one aspect an apparatus configured to wirelessly provide power to a load is provided. The apparatus includes a transmit circuit including a transmit coil. The transmit circuit is configured to wirelessly provide power to the load. The transmit coil is configured to resonate at a resonant frequency. The transmit circuit has a reactance. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit configured to detect a change in the resonant frequency while providing power to the load. The apparatus further includes a tuning circuit configured to adjust the reactance based on the change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhen Ning Low, Charles Edward Wheatley, III, Sreenivas Kasturi
  • Publication number: 20120242284
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of an amplifier when driven by a variable load. In one aspect a transmitter device is provided. The transmitter device includes a driver circuit characterized by an efficiency. The driver circuit is electrically connected to a transmit circuit characterized by an impedance. The transmitter device further includes a filter circuit electrically connected to the driver circuit and configured to modify the impedance to maintain the efficiency of the driver circuit at a level that is within 20% of a maximum efficiency of the driver circuit. The impedance is characterized by a complex impedance value that is within a range defined by a real first impedance value and a second real impedance value. A ratio of the first real impedance value to the second real impedance value is at least two to one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles Edward Wheatley, III, Zhen Ning Low, Stanley Slavko Toncich, Ngo Van Nguyen, Cody B. Wheeland
  • Publication number: 20120223589
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for waking a wireless power transmitter from beacon mode. In one aspect a wireless power receiver apparatus is provided. The wireless power receiver apparatus includes a receive circuit comprising a receive coil. This receive circuit is coupled to a load. The receive circuit is configured to wirelessly receive power from a transmitter device at a first power level to power the load. The wireless power receiver apparatus further includes an adjustment circuit configured to be powered by using the wirelessly received power. The adjustment circuit is further configured to adjust a characteristic of the load using the wirelessly received power for a period of time to cause a detectable change in an operating characteristic of the transmitter device for the period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhen Ning Low, Kevin Douglas Lee
  • Publication number: 20120223590
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for managing a temperature of a wireless power receiver. In one aspect a wireless power transmitter is provided. The wireless power transmitter includes a transmit circuit including a transmit coil. The transmit circuit is configured to wirelessly transmit power to a wireless power receiver. The wireless power transmitter further includes a communication circuit configured to receive information based on a temperature measurement of the wireless power receiver. The wireless power transmitter further includes a transmit controller circuit configured to adjust an operating point of power transfer based on the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhen Ning Low, Kevin Douglas Lee, Charles Edward Wheatley, III
  • Patent number: 8232793
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for determining information regarding a load in a planar wireless power transfer system by extracting system operating parameters from one or more test points in the transmitter circuit. As shown in FIG. 1, a specific embodiment showing three test points in the transmitter circuit from which operating parameters can be extracted. The transmitter circuit is designed to produce a magnetic field, by driving the transmitter coil, which inductively couples to a receiver coil such that power is provided to a receiver. By extracting operating parameters from the transmitter circuit, the receiver does not need to incorporate sophisticated signal processing and can be manufactured with low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jenshan Lin, Zhen Ning Low
  • Publication number: 20120153742
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power communication. In one aspect a wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power from a wireless power transmitter is provided. The wireless power receiver includes a switchable element configured to couple a receive coil to a ground voltage. The wireless power receiver further includes a detector coupled to the receive coil and configured to detect an externally generated pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lee, Zhen Ning Low, Linda S. Irish
  • Publication number: 20120155344
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to communication with a wireless power transmitter. A device may include an antenna for wirelessly transmitting a power carrier. The device may further include transmit circuitry coupled to the antenna and configured to transmit a data carrier at a frequency corresponding to at least one harmonic of the power carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: George A. Wiley, Zhen Ning Low
  • Publication number: 20120104867
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power charging. A device may include at least one sensing element for measuring at least one parameter within a receiver configured to receive wirelessly transmitted power. The device may include a switching element configured to enable the receiver to convey energy to a load when the at least one parameter exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Adam A. Mudrick, Kevin D. Lee, Zhen Ning Low
  • Publication number: 20120050015
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a device include a parasitic coil for protection of the device. A device may include a first circuit configured to receive a first transmitted signal at an operational frequency. The device may also include a second circuit a second circuit configured to generate a field that opposes at least one of an undesirable portion of a wireless power field of the first transmitted signal and a portion of another wireless power field proximate the first circuit, the another wireless power field generated by a second transmitted signal at a non-operational frequency of the first circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhen Ning Low, Charles E. Wheatley, III, Sergio P. Estrada
  • Publication number: 20120025624
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to detection and validation of wirelessly chargeable devices positioned within a charging region of a wireless power transmitter. A device may include a wireless power transmitter configured detect a change in at least one parameter at the transmitter. The transmitter may further be configured to determine whether at least one valid chargeable device is positioned within a charging region of the transmitter upon detecting the change in the at least one parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lee, Zhen Ning Low, Francesco Carobolante
  • Publication number: 20120025623
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power reception at a wireless power receiver. A receiver may include a coil comprising a plurality of loops. The receiver may further include a switching element coupled to the coil for selectively shorting at least one loop of the plurality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhen Ning Low, Charles E. Wheatley, III
  • Publication number: 20110278945
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to resonant frequency tuning. A device may include a coil for transmitting wireless power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Charles E. Wheatley, III, Zhen Ning Low
  • Publication number: 20110281535
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to control of field distribution of a wireless power transmitter. A transmitter may include a transmit antenna configured to generate a field. The transmitter may further include least one parasitic antenna proximate the transmit antenna and configured to modify a distribution of the generated field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhen Ning Low, Charles E. Wheatley, III, Adam A. Mudrick, William H. Von Novak
  • Publication number: 20110260682
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to power distribution among a plurality of receivers. A method may include requesting at least one receiver of a plurality of receivers within a charging region of a transmitter to modify an associated load resistance to achieve a desired power distribution among the plurality of receivers. The method may further include requesting each receiver of the plurality of receivers to modify an associated load resistance to achieve a desired total impedance as seen by the transmitter while maintaining the desired power distribution among the plurality of receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhen Ning Low, Charles E. Wheatley, III, William H. Von Novak
  • Publication number: 20110244817
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to forward link signaling via transmitter detuning A method may include selectively detuning a circuit to adjust an amplitude of an associated transmit signal based on data to be transmitted. The method may also include selectively retuning the circuit to differently adjust the amplitude of the transmit signal based on the data to be transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Zhen Ning Low
  • Publication number: 20110221388
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to detecting and limiting power transfer to non-compliant devices. A method may include detecting one or more non-compliant devices positioned within a charging region of a wireless power transmitter. The method may further include limiting an amount of power delivered to at least one of the one or more non-compliant devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhen Ning Low, Adam A. Mudrick, Sergio P. Estrada
  • Publication number: 20110217926
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to reverse-link signaling via modification of an impedance on the receiver as detected by a transmitter. A method may include receiving a signal from a transmitter at a receiver unit. The method may further include adjusting an impedance detectable by the transmitter by modifying a load coupled with the receiver unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhen Ning Low, Sergio P. Estrada
  • Publication number: 20110080056
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention pertain to a method and apparatus for contactless power transfer. A specific embodiment relates to an impedance transformation network, a new class of load network for application to a contactless power system. Embodiments of the impedance transformation network enable a contactless power system to operate without encountering the common problems of: 1) over-voltage and/or under-voltage conditions; 2) over-power and/or under-power conditions; 3) power oscillations; and 4) high heat dissipation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Zhen Ning Low, Jenshan Lin, Raul Andres Chinga
  • Publication number: 20100110741
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention pertain to a method and apparatus for planar wireless power transfer where the receiver switches off and/or performs a duty cycle. In an embodiment, the switch can be used in a system that having a high voltage/current solid state switch, without having a high voltage control signal. An embodiment provides a switch that is capable of breaking, or greatly reducing, the connection of the receiver coil and the receiver circuitry in order to enable the receiver to decouple from the power transfer system. This embodiment can allow the transmitter to put out more power to other devices without providing power to the switched device. When the switch is used for a fully charged device, the switching can prevent or reduce damage to the fully charged device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jenshan Lin, Zhen Ning Low
  • Publication number: 20100066349
    Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for determining information regarding a load in a planar wireless power transfer system by extracting system operating parameters from one or more test points in the transmitter circuit. As shown in FIG. 1, a specific embodiment showing three test points in the transmitter circuit from which operating parameters can be extracted. The transmitter circuit is designed to produce a magnetic field, by driving the transmitter coil, which inductively couples to a receiver coil such that power is provided to a receiver. By extracting operating parameters from the transmitter circuit, the receiver does not need to incorporate sophisticated signal processing and can be manufactured with low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jenshan Lin, Zhen Ning Low