An authentication between a wireless charger and a device configured to receive wireless energy from the wireless charger includes establishing a wireless data channel between the wireless charger and the device. An authentication challenge signal is driven onto a transmit charging coil of the wireless charger and a receive charging coil of the device is configured to receive the authentication challenge signal. The device sends an authentication response signal to the wireless charger based at least in part on the authentication challenge signal.

Methods and devices useful in performing magneto-inductive charging and communication in the absence of a cellular and/or internet network connection are provided. By way of example, an electronic device includes inductive charging and communication circuitry configured to receive a signal configured to induce a charging function based at least in part on an inductive coil coupled to the inductive charging and communication circuitry. Inducing the charging function includes charging an energy storage component of the electronic device. The inductive charging and communication circuitry is also configured receive an indication to switch from the charging function to a communication function. The communication function is based at least in part on the inductive coil. The inductive charging and communication circuitry is further configured establish a communication link between the electronic device using the inductive coil to transmit and receive communication signals.

Methods and devices useful in performing magneto-inductive charging and communication in the absence of a cellular and/or internet network connection are provided. By way of example, an electronic device includes inductive charging and communication circuitry configured to receive a signal configured to induce a charging function based at least in part on an inductive coil coupled to the inductive charging and communication circuitry. Inducing the charging function includes charging an energy storage component of the electronic device. The inductive charging and communication circuitry is also configured receive an indication to switch from the charging function to a communication function. The communication function is based at least in part on the inductive coil. The inductive charging and communication circuitry is further configured establish a communication link between the electronic device using the inductive coil to transmit and receive communication signals.

A wireless power system includes a wireless power transmitting device such as a wireless charging mat for charging devices such as a cellular telephone and an earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case receives earbuds and charges the earbuds from a battery. The wireless charging mat supports bidirectional in-band communications between the cellular telephone and the earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case provides the cellular telephone with information on the battery charge level associated with the battery in the earbuds battery case and a battery charge level associated with each earbud in the earbuds battery case. The cellular telephone receives battery charge level information through the wireless charging mat and displays corresponding indicators. The earbuds battery case has a visual output device such as a light-emitting diode that is illuminated to indicate that the earbuds battery case is being charged.

A wireless power system includes a wireless power transmitting device such as a wireless charging mat for charging devices such as a cellular telephone and an earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case receives earbuds and charges the earbuds from a battery. The wireless charging mat supports bidirectional in-band communications between the cellular telephone and the earbuds battery case. The earbuds battery case provides the cellular telephone with information on the battery charge level associated with the battery in the earbuds battery case and a battery charge level associated with each earbud in the earbuds battery case. The cellular telephone receives battery charge level information through the wireless charging mat and displays corresponding indicators. The earbuds battery case has a visual output device such as a light-emitting diode that is illuminated to indicate that the earbuds battery case is being charged.

There is provided a wireless power transfer system comprising a power transmitter for providing power to a power receiver via an inductive power signal which comprises a power transmitter which in turn comprises a transmitter resonant circuit comprising a power transmitting inductor having a transmission resonance at a first frequency and arranged for generating the power transfer signal, the power transmitting inductor being arranged to be magnetically couplable to a power receiver inductor in the power receiver, a power transmitter driver, operably coupled to the power transmitter resonant circuit and arranged to generate a drive signal for the power transmitting inductor, a transmitter communication resonant circuit, different from the transmitter resonant circuit and directly or capacitively coupled to the power transmitting inductor, being arranged to establish a transmitter communication resonance at a second frequency, different from the first frequency, for communications, wherein the power transmitting inductor participates in both transmission and transmitter communication resonances and wherein the transmitter and transmitter communication resonant circuits are arranged to be able to exhibit both first and second resonances simultaneously.

There is provided a wireless power transfer system comprising a power transmitter for providing power to a power receiver via an inductive power signal which comprises a power transmitter which in turn comprises a transmitter resonant circuit comprising a power transmitting inductor having a transmission resonance at a first frequency and arranged for generating the power transfer signal, the power transmitting inductor being arranged to be magnetically couplable to a power receiver inductor in the power receiver, a power transmitter driver, operably coupled to the power transmitter resonant circuit and arranged to generate a drive signal for the power transmitting inductor, a transmitter communication resonant circuit, different from the transmitter resonant circuit and directly or capacitively coupled to the power transmitting inductor, being arranged to establish a transmitter communication resonance at a second frequency, different from the first frequency, for communications, wherein the power transmitting inductor participates in both transmission and transmitter communication resonances and wherein the transmitter and transmitter communication resonant circuits are arranged to be able to exhibit both first and second resonances simultaneously.

A WIRT system uses synchronizable PPM waveforms to convey information and power from an ET to a remote, far-field EH. In so doing, the solution presented herein reduces receiver complexity, optimizes power transfer, and meets information transfer requirements. The synchronizable PPM waveform comprises a plurality of pulsed-modulation symbols, each of which comprises one or more pulses position-modulated responsive to the information to be conveyed to the EH. The ET configures at least one pulse in each symbol of said synchronizable PPM waveform according to one or more synchronization constraints to enable symbol synchronization at the EH. The EH converts the RF power of the received synchronizable PPM waveform to a DC voltage, and synchronizes the received PPM waveform to extract the information in the PPM waveform.

A WIRT system uses synchronizable PPM waveforms to convey information and power from an ET to a remote, far-field EH. In so doing, the solution presented herein reduces receiver complexity, optimizes power transfer, and meets information transfer requirements. The synchronizable PPM waveform comprises a plurality of pulsed-modulation symbols, each of which comprises one or more pulses position-modulated responsive to the information to be conveyed to the EH. The ET configures at least one pulse in each symbol of said synchronizable PPM waveform according to one or more synchronization constraints to enable symbol synchronization at the EH. The EH converts the RF power of the received synchronizable PPM waveform to a DC voltage, and synchronizes the received PPM waveform to extract the information in the PPM waveform.

A capacitive coupling device for capacitive coupling to a capacitive coupling means which is arrangeable on the capacitive coupling device. The capacitive coupling device can have a first coupling surface, which has at least three coupling surface segments which are arranged separated from one another, a voltage supply configured to provide a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage which is different therefrom, and a control circuit, which is arranged to connect each of the coupling surface segments selectively to the first supply voltage or to the second supply voltage in an electrically conductive manner or to disconnect it from the control circuit in such a way that the coupling surface segments connected to the first supply voltage form, with a first coupling surface area of the capacitive coupling means, a first capacitor, and the coupling surface segments connected to the second supply voltage form, with a second coupling surface area of the capacitive coupling means, a second capacitor.