US 11,901,971 B2
Wireless power transfer system with mode switching using selective quality factor alteration
Alberto Peralta, Chicago, IL (US); Jason Luzinski, Chicago, IL (US); and Dennis Kapolnek, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to NuCurrent, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by NuCurrent, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/966,562.
Application 17/966,562 is a continuation of application No. 17/161,263, filed on Jan. 28, 2021, granted, now 11,476,898.
Prior Publication US 2023/0120011 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02J 50/12 (2016.01); H02J 50/80 (2016.01); H04B 5/00 (2006.01); H02J 50/20 (2016.01)
CPC H04B 5/0037 (2013.01) [H02J 50/12 (2016.02); H02J 50/20 (2016.02); H02J 50/80 (2016.02); H04B 5/0031 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wireless power transmission system comprising:
a transmitter antenna configured to couple with at least one other antenna and transmit alternating current (AC) wireless signals to the at least one other antenna at an operating frequency of the wireless power transmission system, the AC wireless signals including wireless power signals and wireless data signals;
a transmitter integrated circuit comprising:
a transmission controller that is configured to (i) provide a driving signal for driving the transmitter antenna based on an operating frequency for the wireless power transmission system, (ii) perform one or more of encoding the wireless data signals, decoding the wireless data signals, receiving the wireless data signals, or transmitting the wireless data signals, and (iii) provide a damping signal based on an operating mode of the wireless power transmission system; and
a variable resistor in electrical connection with the transmitter antenna and configured to alter a quality factor (Q) of the transmitter antenna, wherein alterations in the Q by the variable resistor change the operating mode of the wireless power transmission system; and
an amplifier comprising:
at least one transistor that is configured to receive the driving signal at a gate of the at least one transistor and invert a direct power (DC) input power signal to generate the AC wireless signals at the operating frequency; and
a damping circuit that is configured to dampen the AC wireless signals during transmission of the wireless data signals, wherein the damping circuit includes at least a damping transistor that is configured to receive, from the transmission controller, the damping signal for switching the damping transistor to control damping during transmission of the wireless data signals.