Qualcomm Incorporated

Witricity Corporation

Cody Wheeland

William Henry Von Novak, Iii

Linda Stacey Irish

Seong Heon Jeong

Gabriel Isaac Mayo

Francesco Carobolante

Stanley Slavko Toncich

Chang-Yu Huang

Jonathan Beaver

Zhen Ning Low

William H Von Novak

Donald Hutson

Charles Edward Wheatley

Ryan Tseng

Edward Kallal

Mark Stirling Caskey

Vincent Kemler

Ngo Van Nguyen

Saeed Nejatali

Michael Antar

Xi Gong

Martin Thienel

Greg Bachmanek

Layne Thomas

Joshua Archelaus Holzworth

Courtney Cooley

Xiaoyu Liu

Donald Bolden Hutson

William Henry Iii Von Novak

Mark Caskey

Gregory Bachmanek

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.

Managing limited safe mode operations of a robotic vehicle

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.

Passive flux bridge for charging electric vehicles

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.

Near field communication (NFC) coexistence

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.

Filter for improved driver circuit efficiency and method of operation

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.

Wireless power transfer control

Near field communication (NFC) coexistance

A wireless power transmitter includes a power transmit coil configured to generate a magnetic field for wirelessly coupling charging power to one or more receiver devices, the magnetic field having a magnetic field distribution over an area defining a charging region, a circuit configured to alter the magnetic field generated by the power transmit coil to alter the magnetic field distribution, and a controller operably coupled to the circuit, the controller configured to control the circuit to alter the magnetic field distribution responsive to a detected characteristic of the one or more receiver devices.

Wireless power transfer using a field altering circuit

Inventive aspects include systems, methods, and apparatuses for detecting placement of a wireless power receiver in a charging region of a wireless power transmitter. For example, the apparatus may include a transmit circuit comprising a transmit coil and be configured to wirelessly transmit power via a wireless filed applied to the charging region to a receive coil of the receiver. The apparatus may also include a detection circuit configured to detect a characteristic waveform resulting from the field that is applied to the charging region or changed between the transmit and receive coils, in response to the receiver being placed in the charging region.

Device detection through dynamic impedance change measurement

Disclosed is a current sensor that senses current flow in a conductor by coupling a first magnetic field generated by the conductor to a sense element. The current sensor includes a shield including a first material that sandwiches the sense element to define a stack and a second material that sandwiches the stack. The shield is configured to generate a second magnetic field, responsive to a third magnetic field external to the current sensor that opposes the third magnetic field. The shield is further configured to prevent production of a magnetic field that opposes the first magnetic field generated by the flow of current in the conductor.

Apparatus and method for a current sensor

An apparatus for testing an impedance range of a wireless power transmitter is provided. The apparatus comprises an adjustable impedance circuit configurable to be connected to a power source. The apparatus further comprises a transformer coupled the adjustable impedance circuit. The apparatus further comprises a sensing circuit configured to sense a parameter indicative of a parasitic impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit. The apparatus further comprises a driver circuit configured to drive the transformer with a signal based on the sensed parameter that causes the transformer to apply a first voltage to the adjustable impedance circuit. The first voltage has a substantially same amplitude as a voltage drop caused by the parasitic impedance. The second voltage is out of phase with the voltage drop. The sensed parameter is a current circulating in the adjustable impedance circuit or a voltage across at least a portion of the adjustable impedance circuit.

Method and apparatus for tuning a resistance and reactance of a wireless power transmitter testing unit

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.

Methods and apparatus for controlling touchscreen interference

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for tuning a wireless power transmitter. In one aspect a device configured to wirelessly provide power to a load is provided. The device includes a signal driver configured to provide power along a power path. The device further includes a first tuning circuit along the power path, configured to tune reactance at the signal driver, introducing undesired harmonic content. The device further includes a second tuning circuit along the power path, configured to tune reactance at the signal driver and to generate complementary harmonic content, at least partly canceling the harmonic generated at the first tuning circuit.

Wireless power transmitter tuning

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for tuning in wireless power transfer circuits. One aspect of the disclosure provides an apparatus for tuning. The apparatus includes a field effect transistor having a gate, source, and drain, where the field effect transistor is configured to electrically engage a tuning element to an AC power path. In some embodiments, one of the source or drain contacts is at an alternating current voltage.

High power RF field effect transistor switching using DC biases

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting an impedance of a wireless power transmitter load. In one aspect, a method of determining a reactive condition of a wireless power transmitter apparatus is provided. The method comprises determining a value correlated to a voltage of a drain of a switching element of a driver circuit of the wireless power transmitter. The method further comprises determining a reactance load change based on the determined voltage.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Cody Wheeland