Nucurrent, Inc.

Jason Green

Andrew Kovacs

Mark D Melone

Md Nazmul Alam

Jason Luzinski

Michael Katz

Jim Crnkovic

A method for operating a wireless power transfer system is configured for utilizing software for the purposes of thermal mitigation, via re-encoding data in a bitstream for data communicated in-band of wireless power transfer. The data is encoded as binary messages. The method includes inserting one or more sets of non-data low pulses into the binary bit stream to generate a stuffed binary bit stream, each of the one or more sets of non-data low pulses inserted between a number of bits of the binary bit stream. Such inserting adds non-data low pulse time in the in-band data signal.

Bit stuffing for thermal mitigation in wireless power and data transfer system

A power transmitter for wireless power transfer includes a sensing system, a feedback mechanism and a control and communications unit includes a controller configured to receive object detection data from the sensing system, if a power receiver is detected, reset an alert timer, if the power receiver has been detected and a disconnect is detected, determine if an alert timer value is greater than an alert threshold, if a disconnect is detected and the alert timer value is greater than the alert threshold, instruct the feedback mechanism to output an alert. The power transmitter further includes an inverter circuit configured to receive a direct current (DC) power and convert the input power to a power signal and a coil configured to transmit the power signal to a power receiver, the coil formed of wound Litz wire and including at least one layer, the coil defining, at least, a top face.

False notification suppression in wireless power transfer system

A wireless power transmitter is configured to (i) send, to an external power supply, a request that the external power supply change a configurable voltage level of a supply voltage signal for the wireless power transmitter from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, (ii) after detecting that the external power supply has changed the configurable voltage level of the supply voltage signal from the first voltage level to the second voltage level, causing a configurable frequency of a drive signal for the wireless power transmitter to be changed from a first frequency to a second frequency, (iii) produce a wireless power signal for receipt by a wireless power receiver in accordance with an alternating current signal that (a) has the second frequency and the supply voltage signal having the second voltage level and (b) is produced by a power conditioning system of the wireless power transmitter.

Operating frequency based power level altering in extended range wireless power transmitters

A method for operating a wireless power transfer system includes determining a driving signal for transfer of the AC wireless signals, the driving signals based on an operating frequency for the AC wireless signals, a power requirement for the wireless power signals, data contained in the wireless data signals, and one or more thermal mitigation features. Each of the one or more thermal mitigation features are configured to reduce temperature of at least one surface or volume of the wireless transmission system or the wireless receiver system. The method further includes providing the driving signal to an amplifier of the wireless power transmission system and driving a transmitter antenna of the wireless power transmission system, by the amplifier, based on the driving signal.

Software based thermal mitigation for wireless power and data transfer systems

A power transmitter includes a control and communications unit, an inverter circuit, a coil, and a shielding. The control and communications unit is configured to provide power control signals to control a power level of a power signal configured for transmission to a power receiver, provide a power timing request to an external power supply, and determine if the timing of the external power supply is compliant if the power timing request is met within a timing interval. The coil is configured to transmit the power signal to a power receiver, the coil formed of wound Litz wire and including at least one layer, the coil defining, at least, a top face. The shielding comprises a ferrite core and defining a cavity, the cavity configured such that the ferrite core substantially surrounds all but the top face of the coil.

Timing verification in precision power level control systems for wireless power transmission

A power transmitter for wireless power transfer includes a control and communications unit configured to provide power control signals to control a power level of a power signal configured for transmission to a power receiver and including a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator for determining and selecting the operating frequency from the operating frequency range. The power transmitter further includes an inverter circuit configured to receive a direct current (DC) power and convert the input power to a power signal, coil configured to transmit the power signal to a power receiver, the coil formed of wound Litz wire and including at least one layer, the coil defining, at least, a top face, and a shielding comprising a ferrite core and defining a cavity, the cavity configured such that the ferrite core substantially surrounds all but the top face of the coil.

A power transmitter for wireless power transfer includes a control and communications unit, an inverter circuit, a coil, and a shielding. The control and communications unit is configured to provide power control signals to control a power level of a power signal configured for transmission to a power receiver, provide a power request to an external power supply, determine if a power signal at the coil is compliant with the power request, and, if the power signal at the coil is compliant with the power request, continue to operate for wireless power transmission. The coil is configured to transmit the power signal to a power receiver. The shielding comprises a ferrite core.

Power capability detection in precision power level control systems for wireless power transmission

A power transmitter for wireless power transfer includes a verification load, a control and communications unit, an inverter circuit, a coil, and a shielding. The control and communications unit is configured to provide power control signals to control a power level of a power signal configured for transmission to a power receiver, provide a power request to an external power supply, determine if a power signal at the verification load is compliant with the power request, and, if the power signal at the verification load is compliant with the power request, continue to operate for wireless power transmission. The coil is configured to transmit the power signal to a power receiver. The shielding comprises a ferrite core.

Power capability detection with verification load in power level control systems for wireless power transmission

A power transmitter for wireless power transfer includes a control and communications unit configured to provide power control signals to a power supply external to the power transmitter for controlling a power level of a power signal configured for transmission to a power receiver, the power supply configured to configure a direct current (DC) power based on the power control signals. The power transmitter further includes an inverter circuit configured to receive the DC power from the power supply external to the power transmitter and convert the input power to a power signal. The power transmitter further includes a coil formed of wound Litz wire and including at least one layer, the coil defining, at least, a top face and shielding comprising a ferrite core and defining a cavity, the cavity configured such that the ferrite core substantially surrounds all but the top face of the coil.

Precision power level control for extended range wireless power transfer

A power transmitter for wireless power transfer includes a control and communications unit, an inverter circuit, a coil, and a shielding. The control and communications unit is configured to provide power control signals to control a power level of a power signal configured for transmission to a power receiver, receive a receiver power request from a power receiver, provide a power request to an external power supply, based on the receiver power request, determine if a power signal at the coil is compliant with the receiver power request, and, if the power signal at the coil is compliant with the receiver power request, continue to operate for wireless power transmission. The coil is configured to transmit the power signal to a power receiver. The shielding comprises a ferrite core.

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Evanston, IL, United States of America

Jason Green