Qualcomm Incorporated

Witricity Corporation

Leandro Percebon

Michael Werner

Daniel Kuerschner

Simon Islinger

Wojciech Adam Chlebosz

Nicholas Athol Keeling

Martin Pavlovsky

Stefan Raabe

Swagat Chopra

Mickel Bipin Budhia

Marcel Fischer

Mohsen Farmahini Farahani

Edward L Van Boheemen

Rafal Scibor

Jonas Friedel

Qi Wang

Simon Grabar

Systems and methods are described that reduce magnetic flux density proximate to a wireless charging pad, such as a WEVC pad. These systems and methods control peak magnetic flux density in air around a WEVC pad to reduce potentially dangerous heat produced in foreign metal objects affected by a magnetic field generated by a coil of the WEVC pad. Controlling the peak magnetic flux density results in a safer WEVC pad. Aspects include ferrite tiles being separated by gaps having predefined sizes to increase a magnetic reluctance of a path of the magnetic flux through the ferrite tiles, which reduces a peak magnetic flux density experienced in areas proximate to the coil. In addition, the ferrite tiles can be arranged such that a combination of gaps are aligned with a region overlapping the coil.

Reducing magnetic flux density proximate to a wireless charging pad

Systems and methods are described for thermal feedback for power transfer optimization. Aspects include a wireless power-transfer system including a base power-transfer apparatus, a power supply unit, at least one temperature sensor, and a system controller. The base power-transfer apparatus includes a coil configured to generate a magnetic field based on an electric current. The power supply unit includes switching and power electronics configured to drive the electric current in the coil. The temperature sensor(s) are configured to measure a temperature of the base power-transfer apparatus or the power supply unit. The system controller is coupled to the base power-transfer apparatus, the power supply unit, and the temperature sensor(s) and is configured to control operation of at least one of the base power-transfer apparatus or the power supply unit based on the measured temperature to shift losses and dissipate heat in the base power-transfer apparatus or the power supply unit.

Thermal feedback for power transfer optimization

A magnetic coil suitable for wireless power transfer comprises a layer of magnetically-permeable material and plural conductors that follow respective convoluted paths relative to the layer of magnetically-permeable material to form respective inductors. In use, the conductors have substantially equalized inductances based on the convoluted paths and interaction with the magnetically-permeable material. One way of achieving this is to place the conductors such that the overall proximity of the conductors to the layer of magnetically-permeable material along their respective lengths is substantially equal. In this way, the conductors are positioned substantially symmetrically with respect to the layer of magnetically-permeable material, such that an average distance of each individual section of the conductors proximate to the permeable layer is equal.

Balanced coil for multi-filar windings

In certain aspects, methods and systems for moving a magnetic field hot spot of a wireless power transfer device are disclosed. An example power transfer device generally includes at least one coil configured to generate a charging field, and a controller configured to vary, over time, a current applied to the at least one coil such that magnetic field values of the charging field at a plurality of different positions relative to the at least one coil are configured to change with time.

Method and system for moving a magnetic field hot spot of a wireless power transfer device

In an aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for wirelessly transmitting power is provided. The apparatus includes a communication circuit configured to communicate with a first wireless power transmitter and a second wireless power transmitter. The apparatus further includes a controller circuit configured to identify a first phase of a first current provided to the first wireless power transmitter, the first current generating a first magnetic field. The controller circuit further determines a time to provide a second current to the second wireless power transmitter. The controller circuit further provides the second current at the determined time with a second phase having a phase difference between the first phase configured to reduce a magnitude of a combined magnetic field of the first and second magnetic fields in a region between the first and second wireless power transmitters.

Apparatus and methods for reducing magnetic field emissions between wireless power transmitters

One aspect of the disclosure provides an apparatus for conveying wireless power. The apparatus comprises a circuit board disposed along one or more planar coils and a plurality of feeds. The circuit board is divided into a first area separate from a second area. The first area has a plurality of first voltage components and the second area has a plurality of second voltage components. The first voltage components operates at a lower voltage than the second voltage components. The plurality of feeds are coupled to the one or more planar coils and the circuit board. The plurality of feeds pass through the circuit board within the second area along a side of the circuit board and couple to one or more of the second voltage components.

System and method for reducing interference in a wireless power transfer system

Techniques for providing radio-frequency signals to a region of interest for a living-objection protection (LOP) system are provided. An example base wireless power transfer system includes a power-coupling element and a power transfer circuitry configured to provide energy to the power-coupling element to produce a magnetic field, and a living-object protection subsystem including an antenna configured to transmit a first radio-frequency (RF) signal with a main beam directed away from the power transfer circuitry and to receive a second RF signal, the antenna including a radiating element and a reflector with the reflector being disposed between the radiating element and the power transfer circuitry and comprising a metal sheet disposed over an area, the metal sheet defining at least one opening within the area and between the radiating element and the power transfer circuitry.

Living-object protection system antenna structure

Techniques for detecting a presence of a foreign object within a region for wirelessly transferring power to charge an electric vehicle are discloses. An example apparatus according to the disclosure includes a foreign object detection (FOD) structure including a transmitting loop structure, a receiving loop structure galvanically isolated from the transmitting loop structure and positioned relative to the transmitting loop structure such that a magnetic field generated by the transmitting loop structure induces a first voltage in the receiving loop structure, wherein the first voltage is below a threshold value, and a control circuit configured to drive the transmitting loop structure and detect a change in a magnitude of the first voltage in the receiving loop structure in response to the presence of the foreign object within the magnetic field.

Dynamic mutual sensing foreign object detection loops

Techniques for detecting a presence of a metallic and/or a ferromagnetic object over a region for wirelessly transferring power to charge an electric vehicle are presented. An example apparatus includes one or more foreign object detection (FOD) loops arranged in an array over a charging area, at least a portion of the FOD loops being in a first configuration and at least a portion of the FOD loops being second configuration different than the first configuration based on a value indicative of an amount of magnetic coupling between the charging area and a respective one the FOD loops within a corresponding area of the array.

Hybrid foreign object detection (FOD) loop array board

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting a presence of an object. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a sense coil formed from a conductor having a predetermined shape configured to attenuate currents induced in the conductor by an external time-varying magnetic field. The sense coil has an electrical characteristic that varies as a function of the presence of the object. The apparatus comprises a detection circuit coupled to the sense coil and configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured value of the electrical characteristic and a reference value for the electrical characteristic. The reference value for the electrical characteristic is substantially the same as the measured value of the electrical characteristic in the absence of the object over at least a portion of the sense coil.

Sense coil geometries with improved sensitivity for metallic object detection in a predetermined space

One innovation includes a system for reducing magnetic flux of a wireless charging field in a wireless power charging system. The system comprises a wireless power transmitter configured to generate the wireless charging field, the field comprising the magnetic flux and a collector comprising a ferromagnetic material and configured to reduce the magnetic flux. The collector is positioned between a first distance and a second distance at a third distance from the transmitter. The collector is configured to reduce the magnetic flux at a first level at the first distance, at a second level at the second distance, and at a third level at the third distance, the third level greater than each of the first and second levels.

System and method for reducing leakage flux in wireless charging systems

A method and apparatus for reducing leakage magnetic flux in wireless vehicle charging systems are disclosed. A wireless power receiver may be configured to couple to a wireless field generated by a wireless power transmitter. A portion of the wireless field may comprise the leakage magnetic flux. A leakage collector comprising a ferromagnetic material may be positioned at a distance from the wireless power receiver within the wireless field and may be configured to absorb or redirect at least a portion of the leakage magnetic flux away from an outer edge of an electric vehicle.

System and method for reducing leakage flux in wireless electric vehicle charging systems

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for avoiding magnetic power loss while providing alternating current through a ferromagnetic material. In one aspect, the ferromagnetic material includes at least one orifice. At least one electrical conduit extends through the at least one orifice from a first region on a first side of the ferromagnetic material to a second region on a second side of the ferromagnetic material, the second side opposite to the first side. The at least one electrical conduit is configured to have at least one alternating current flowing along the at least one electrical conduit between the first region and the second region. The ferromagnetic material and the at least one electrical conduit are configured to reduce power loss caused by a circumferential magnetic flux generated within the ferromagnetic material by the at least one alternating current.

System and method to avoid magnetic power loss while providing alternating current through a ferromagnetic material

Apparatus, system, and method for adaptive charging compliance control are disclosed. A charging station wirelessly charges a vehicle in compliance with emissions regulations. A controller in the charging station obtains information regarding the characteristics of an incoming vehicle and accesses a maximum regulation-compliant power level database based on the vehicle information obtained and determines conditions of the vehicle parked at the charging station. The controller determines and delivers the maximum power level to wirelessly charge the vehicle while maintaining the level of field emissions no greater than the regulatory limit.

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Munich, Germany

Leandro Percebon