Nucurrent, Inc.

University of South Carolina

Md Nazmul Alam

Alberto Peralta

Vinit Singh

Jason Luzinski

Jacob D Babcock

Pavel Shostak

Michael Katz

Christine A Frysz

Mark D Melone

Oleg Los

Glenn Riese

Andrew Kovacs

Sina Haji Alizad

Ajit Rajagopalan

Jason Green

Robert Giometti

Andy Yoon

Michael Gotlieb

Anna Oleksiewicz

Matt Zamborsky

Vikas Kasireddy

Unnati Wadkar

Pratik Halyal

Jim Crnkovic

Rob Diebold

Alireza Dayerizadeh

Christine M Frysz

Mohamod Ali

Rashed H Bhuiyan

Rogor Dougal

A wireless power transmission system includes, at least, a first transmission antenna and a second transmission antenna, both in electrical connection with a common power conditioning system of the system. The first transmission antenna transmits output power and includes a first pole and a second pole, while the second transmission antenna also transmits the output power and includes a third pole and a fourth pole. The first and second transmission antennas are in electrical connection with the power conditioning system via at least one of the first pole and the second pole and at least one of the third pole and the fourth pole. Further, at least one of the first pole and the second pole is in electrical connection with at least one of the third pole and the fourth pole.

Wireless power transmission system utilizing multiple transmission antennas with common electronics

The present application relates to an apparatus which comprises a wireless power transfer system. This system comprises features which allow it to transfer more power wirelessly at extended distances than other systems operating in the same frequency range. The system possesses heat dissipation features; these features allow it to operate effectively in elevated-temperature environments, and to transfer power at higher levels and/or greater distances than a typical power-transfer system. The system also might include design features to withstand mechanical shocks, stresses, and impacts for use in a rugged environment. The system can also comprise adaptations to reduce electromagnetic interference, and can comprise specially shaped components with magnetic/ferrimagnetic properties that enhance performance. Other potential features include power conditioning by combining, within one circuit or one board, multiple elements that protect against excessive current, over-voltage, and/or reverse voltage.

Wireless power transfer system with extended wireless charging range

Various embodiments of a wireless connector system are described. The system has a transmitter module and a receiver module that are configured to wirelessly transmit electrical energy and/or data via near field magnetic coupling. The wireless connector system is designed to increase the amount of wirelessly transmitted electrical power over a greater separation distance. The system is configured with various sensing circuits that alert the system to the presence of the receiver module to begin transfer of electrical power as well as undesirable objects and increased temperature that could interfere with the operation of the system. The wireless connector system is a relatively small footprint that is designed to be surface mounted.

Wireless connector system

A sensing system includes a sensor, a wireless transmission system, a wireless receiver system, and a controller. The sensor is configured to determine sensor data, the sensor data associated with a sensing environment. The wireless transmission system is configured to wirelessly couple with the sensor, the wireless transmission system configured for wirelessly providing significant electrical energy to the sensor as wireless power signals and receive the sensor data as in-band data signals encoded in the wireless power signals. The wireless receiver system is operatively associated with the sensor and with which the wireless transmission system couples with the sensor and is configured to receive the significant electrical energy as the wireless power signals from the wireless transmission system. The controller is operatively associated with the wireless transmission system and is configured to decode the in-band signals from the wireless power signals as the sensor data.

Wirelessly powered sensor system

An antenna for wireless power transfer includes a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion. The first antenna portion includes a first antenna terminal, a second antenna terminal, at least one first inner turn, at least one first outer turn, and a first wire crossover electrically connecting the at least one first inner turn with the at least one second outer turn. The antenna further includes a second antenna portion including a third antenna terminal, a fourth antenna terminal, at least one second inner turn, at least one second outer turn, and a second wire crossover electrically connecting the at least one second inner turn with the at least one second outer turn. The second antenna terminal is in electrical connection with the third antenna terminal and the first antenna terminal and fourth antenna terminal are configured for electrical connection with a transmitter circuit.

Area-apportioned wireless power antenna for maximized charging volume

A wireless transmission system includes a transmitter antenna, a sensor, a demodulation circuit, and a transmitter controller. The sensor is configured to detect electrical information associated with AC wireless signals, the electrical information including, at least, a voltage of the AC wireless signals. The demodulation circuit is configured to receive the electrical information from the at least one sensor, detect a change in the electrical information, determine if the change in the electrical information meets or exceeds one of a rise threshold or a fall threshold, if the change exceeds one of the rise threshold or the fall threshold, generate an alert, and output a plurality of data alerts. The transmitter controller is configured to receive the plurality of data alerts from the demodulation circuit and decode the plurality of data alerts into the wireless data signals.

Automatic gain control for communications demodulation in wireless power transmitters

The present application relates to an apparatus which comprises a wireless power transmission system. This system comprises features which allow it to transfer more power wirelessly to multiple devices simultaneously, each at extended distances than other systems operating in the same frequency range. The system including heat dissipation features, allowing the system to operate effectively in elevated-temperature environments and to transfer power at higher levels and/or greater distances than a typical power-transfer system. The system also may include design features to withstand mechanical shocks, stresses, and impacts for use in a rugged environment. The system may include features to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or specially shaped components with magnetic/ferrimagnetic properties that enhance performance. Other potential features include power conditioning by combining, within one circuit or one board, multiple elements that protect against excessive current, over-voltage, and/or reverse voltage.

Wireless power transfer system for simultaneous transfer to multiple devices

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 modular wireless power transfer system includes a first wireless transmission system and one or more secondary wireless transmission systems. The first wireless transmission system is configured to receive input power from an input power source, generate AC wireless signals, and couple with one or more other antennas. Each of the one or more secondary wireless transmission systems includes a secondary transmission antenna, the secondary transmission antenna configured to couple with one or more of another secondary transmission antenna, the first transmission antenna, one or more receiver antennas, or combinations thereof. The one or more secondary wireless transmission systems are configured to receive the AC wireless signals from one or more of the first wireless transmission system, another secondary wireless transmission system, or combinations thereof and repeat the AC wireless signals to one or more of the secondary transmission antennas, the one or more receiver antennas, or combinations thereof.

Modular wireless power transmitters for powering multiple devices

A reconfigurable wireless power transfer system includes a first wireless transmission system, one or more secondary wireless transmission systems, and at least one wireless receiver system. The first wireless transmission system is configured to receive input power from an input power source, generate wireless power signals, and couple with one or more other antennas. Each secondary wireless transmission systems is configured to couple with one or more of another secondary transmission antenna, the first transmission antenna, and/or one or more receiver antennas. The secondary wireless transmission systems receive the AC wireless signals from the first wireless transmission system and repeat the AC wireless signals to one or more secondary transmission antennas, receiver antennas, or combinations thereof. The one or more receiver antennas are configured to receive the AC wireless signals to provide electrical power to a load operatively associated with a computer peripheral.

Reconfigurable wireless power transmitter for computer peripherals

A surface mountable housing for a power transmitter for wireless power transfer includes a connector system configured for use to mount, at least, a transmitter antenna to an underside of a structural surface, such that the transmitter antenna is configured to couple with a receiver antenna of a power receiver when the receiver antenna is proximate to a top side of the structural surface. The surface mountable housing further includes a heat sink, the heat sink configured to rest, at least in part, below the transmitter antenna, when the power transmitter is connected to the structural surface, and configured to direct heat generated by the power transmitter away from the structural surface, and an antenna housing, the antenna housing substantially surrounding a side wall of the transmitter antenna, the antenna housing connected to the heat sink and positioned between the heat sink and the structural surface.

Surface mountable wireless power transmitter for transmission at extended range

A wireless electrical energy transmission system is provided. The system comprises a wireless transmission base configured to wirelessly transmit electrical energy or data via near field magnetic coupling to a receiving antenna configured within an electronic device. The wireless electrical energy transmission system is configured with at least one transmitting antenna and a transmitting electrical circuit positioned within the transmission base. The transmission base is configured so that at least one electronic device can be wirelessly electrically charged or powered by positioning the at least one device external and adjacent to the transmission base.

Method of operating a wireless electrical energy transmission system

Various embodiments of a multi-mode antenna are described. The antenna is preferably constructed having a first inductor coil and a second inductor coil. A plurality of shielding materials are positioned throughout the antenna to minimize interference of the magnetic fields that emanate from the coils from surrounding materials. The antenna comprises a coil control circuit having at least one of an electric filter and an electrical switch configured to modify the electrical impedance of either or both the first and second coils.

Multi-mode wireless antenna configurations

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

An electrically conductive material configured having at least one opening of various unlimited geometries extending through its thickness is provided. The opening is designed to modify eddy currents that form within the surface of the material from interaction with magnetic fields that allow for wireless energy transfer therethrough. The opening may be configured as a cut-out, a slit or combination thereof that extends through the thickness of the electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material is configured with the cut-out and/or slit pattern positioned adjacent to an antenna configured to receive or transmit electrical energy wirelessly through near-field magnetic coupling (NFMC). A magnetic field shielding material, such as a ferrite, may also be positioned adjacent to the antenna. Such magnetic shielding materials may be used to strategically block eddy currents from electrical components and circuitry located within a device.

Growing community of inventors

Lombard, IL, United States of America

Md Nazmul Alam