A case (100) is provided for housing and charging one or more wireless devices (180), such as wireless earbuds. The case (100) includes capacitive sensing circuitry (120) for detecting whether the wireless devices (180) are positioned inside the case (100) based on a capacitance of the wireless devices (180). The case (100) also includes a transceiver (150) for transmitting data to and receiving data from the wireless devices (180). When the wireless devices (180) are positioned inside the case (100), an electrical component (110) inside the case operatively connects the capacitive sensing circuitry (120) and the transceiver (150) of the case (100) to the wireless devices (180). The case (100) further includes one or more processors (140) for controlling the capacitive sensing circuitry (120), the transceiver (150), and the electrical component (110).

The invention relates to a system for wirelessly charging an electrically chargeable device, in particular a mobile inspection robot, in a potentially explosive environment. The invention also relates to a charging station for use in such a system according to the invention. The invention further relates to an electrically chargeable device, in particular an inspection robot, for use in such a system according to the invention. In addition, the invention relates to a method for wirelessly charging an electrically chargeable device, in particular a mobile inspection robot, by using such a system according to the invention.

An induction charging device for an electrically operated vehicle may include a sub-surface protection, a shield element, and an induction charging module. The shield element may include a recess. The sub-surface protection may include a receiving area. The recess and the receiving area may define an insertion area in which the induction charging module is arranged.

A power conveyor circuit for an energy harvesting system includes an input port configured to be electrically coupled to a sensor to receive an input signal from the sensor at an input power level and an output port configured to 5 be electrically coupled to a load. A switch mode power path circuit is coupled to the input port and the output port to receive the input signal from the sensor received at the input port and to provide an output signal to the output port at an output power level equal to the input power level times a transfer efficiency. A method of making the power conveyor circuit and an energy harvesting system including the power conveyor circuit are also disclosed.

Embodiments of a backscatter communication system and methods of using the system are disclosed. The system may comprise a backscatter node, comprising: an antenna circuit; and a wake-up circuit coupled to the antenna circuit. The wake-up circuit may be configured to, using pattern correlation, identify at least one predefined waveform within a radio frequency signal and in response to the identification, enable a receiver circuit.

A watch charging assembly 10 has a coil 22, a membrane 24 and a back plate 12. The coil 22 is configured to pass electric current received at a first or second contact pad 27, 28. The membrane 24 is affixed to the coil 22 forming a membrane and coil assembly 20. The back plate 12 has a pair of conductive inserts 30. Each conductive insert 30 is aligned with and contacts each contact pad 27, 28. The back plate 12 with the coil 22 and membrane 24 form the charging assembly 10. The charging assembly 10 is configured to form a bottom or underside or, alternatively, be attached to a bottom or underside of a rechargeable battery operated wristwatch 100 and when worn, the charging assembly 10 receives electric current from the wearer to charge a rechargeable battery of the wristwatch 100. The coil 22 can be a pancake coil.

A cleaner, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a cleaner main body comprising a suction motor, a dustbin and a battery; a suction nozzle having formed thereon an opening part for suctioning in external air; and an extension tube for connecting the cleaner main body and the suction nozzle. The suction nozzle comprises: a housing forming the exterior and the opening part of the suction nozzle; a rotational cleaning unit accommodated in the housing and cleaning a surface being cleaned by means of a rotational operation; a motor inserted in one side of the rotational cleaning unit so as to rotate same; a suction nozzle battery for supplying power for driving the motor; and a wireless power receiving unit connected to the suction nozzle battery so as to provide same with power supplied by an external wireless power transmission unit.

A method for controlling an electric load is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment the method includes collecting ambient energy using an energy harvesting circuit and using the collected ambient energy to charge a buffer capacitor. The method further includes alternatingly connecting and disconnecting an electrical load and the buffer capacitor, wherein a capacitor voltage provided by the buffer capacitor is applied to the electrical load in a discharging phase, in which the electrical load is connected to the buffer capacitor and the capacitor voltage decreases, and wherein the buffer capacitor is recharged in a charging phase, in which the electrical load is disconnected from the buffer capacitor in a charging phase in which the capacitor voltage again increases. The durations of the charging phase and the discharging phase are designed such that the capacitor voltage stays above a minimum supply voltage of the electrical load.

A smart street lamp charging system includes at least one street lamp module, at least one first charging device and a second charging device. The at least one street lamp module includes a light pole. The at least one first charging device is mounted to the light pole of the at least one street lamp module. The at least one first charging device includes a wireless transmitting module. The second charging device is mounted at a body of an electric vehicle. The second charging device includes a wireless receiving module. The wireless receiving module is able to receive energies from the wireless transmitting module to proceed with a wireless charging.

A sensor system for monitoring a device, the sensor system including a housing, a base configured to attach the sensor system to the device to be monitored, a sensor configured to obtain data related to at least one operating parameter of the device, and an integral energy harvesting device configured to provide at least a portion of the energy required to operate the sensor system.