US 12,456,886 B2
Methods and circuitry for mitigating saturation in wireless power systems
Adam L. Schwartz, Redwood City, CA (US); Alireza Safaee, San Jose, CA (US); Stephen C. Terry, San Jose, CA (US); and Zhiyuan Hu, Santa Clara, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 17, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/638,123.
Application 18/638,123 is a continuation of application No. 18/624,598, filed on Apr. 2, 2024.
Application 18/624,598 is a continuation of application No. 18/336,555, filed on Jun. 16, 2023, granted, now 11,984,737.
Application 18/336,555 is a continuation of application No. 17/198,116, filed on Mar. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,735,962, issued on Aug. 22, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/143,704, filed on Jan. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0266886 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02J 50/70 (2016.01); H01F 27/36 (2006.01); H01F 38/14 (2006.01); H02J 7/02 (2016.01); H02J 50/12 (2016.01); H02J 50/60 (2016.01); H02M 1/40 (2007.01)
CPC H02J 50/70 (2016.02) [H01F 27/36 (2013.01); H01F 38/14 (2013.01); H02J 7/02 (2013.01); H02J 50/12 (2016.02); H02J 50/60 (2016.02); H02M 1/40 (2013.01)] 49 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Control circuitry for a wireless power transmitter comprising:
communication circuitry configured to be coupled to a wireless power transmitting coil of the wireless power transmitter, the communication circuitry being further configured to receive communication from a wireless power receiver via modulation by the wireless power receiver of one or more parameters of wirelessly transferred power;
measurement circuitry configured to be coupled to the wireless power transmitting coil and configured to detect saturation of a magnetic core of a wireless power receiving coil of the wireless power receiver, wherein the measurement circuitry is configured to detect saturation of the magnetic core of the wireless power receiving coil by detecting elevated current peaks in alternating cycles of a current through the wireless power transmitting coil at a wireless power transfer frequency; and
inverter drive circuitry configured to operate an inverter of the wireless power transmitter responsive to the measurement circuitry to mitigate detected saturation of the magnetic core.