Apple Inc.

Douglas J Adams

Michael A Cretella

Siddharth Seth

J Stephen Smith

Zaki Moussaoui

Alireza Safaee

Matthew J Chabalko

Ruiyang Lin

Steven Porter Hotelling

Joseph C Doll

Behrooz Shahsavari

Jacob E Mattingley

A method of modeling a wireless power transfer system can include constructing a loss-split circuit model of the wireless power transfer system. The loss-split circuit model can include a plurality of resistance values corresponding to power losses in selected components of the power system. The method can further include performing a plurality of finite element analyses to determine the plurality of resistor values. The one or more resistance values can correspond to power losses associated with one or more of: a transmitter coil, a receiver coil, friendly metal associated with a transmitter, friendly metal associated with a receiver, and a foreign object.

Loss-split modeling for wireless power transfer

A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device. To detect foreign objects, the wireless power transmitting device has an array of temperature sensors. The array of temperature sensors may include temperature sensor components such as temperature sensitive thin-film resistors or other temperature sensitive components. A temperature sensor may have thin-film resistors formed on opposing sides of a substrate. The thin-film resistors may be formed from meandered metal traces to reduce eddy current formation during operation of the wireless power transmitting device. Signal paths coupling control circuitry on the wireless power transmitting device to the array of temperature sensors may be configured to extend along columns of the temperature sensors without running along each row of the temperature sensors, thereby reducing eddy currents from loops of signal routing lines. Some temperature sensors may have multiple components coupled to a common temperature sensing pad.

Wireless charging system with temperature sensing

A wireless power transmitting device transmits wireless power signals to a wireless power receiving device. The wireless power receiving device has a rectifier and a wireless power receiving coil that receives wireless power signals. The wireless power transmitting device uses a layer of coils to transmit the wireless power signals. A dielectric layer in the wireless power transmitting device defines a charging surface that receives the wireless power receiving device. A layer of temperature sensors is interposed between the layer of coils and the dielectric layer. Control circuitry in the wireless power transmitting device uses temperature information from the temperature sensors to determine whether a foreign object such as a coin is present on the charging surface.

Wireless charging system with temperature sensor array

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Douglas J Adams