The disclosure provides a controller for a device having near field RF communications capabilities. The controller is configured to: tune the impedance of at least one component of an impedance matching circuit to vary an impedance transformation provided by the impedance matching circuit; determine at least one indication of power output from the circuit, each at least one indication corresponding to an impedance transformation; and identify one of a plurality of modes of the circuit as an operating mode, based on the at least one indication, wherein the impedance matching circuit provides a different impedance transformation in each mode.

Disclosed is a method for transferring data during power transfer in a wireless power transfer system (100). The wireless power transfer system (100) comprises a power transmit device (120) arranged to transfer power over an inductive wireless power transfer interface (105) operating at a transmit frequency to a power receive device (110). The wireless power transfer system (100) is adapted to transfer information at half duplex using Frequency Shift Keying, FSK, in one direction and Amplitude Shift Keying, ASK, in the other direction. The method comprises transferring, at the transmit frequency by the power transmit device (120), power to the power receive device (110) and, during the transferring transmitting, at the transmit frequency by one of the power transmit device (120) or the power receive device (110) a first data packet to the other of the power transmit device (120) or the power receive device (110) using one of two modulation types being FSK or ASK. The method further comprises, during the transmitting, determining, by the device (110, 120) transmitting the first data packet, if a signaling condition is fulfilled, and if the signaling condition is fulfilled, changing a data communication configuration of the device (110, 120) transmitting (311) the first data packet. Further to this, a power transmit device, a power receive device and a test system is disclosed.

A resonant inductive power transfer circuit has a power converter to supply to a load, and the converter is concurrently controlled to create a controlled reactance that substantially compensates for variability in the coupling with the another resonant inductive power transfer circuit and/or changes in the load supplied by the power converter.

The present invention features the application of a simple, inductively-coupled measurement system into the cap of standard laboratory sample tubes, thus enabling continuous, wireless ionic sensing of a bevy of samples. The system may be powered by a compact Class E amplifier using inductive coupling via a designed resonance frequency of 1 MHz. Other frequencies can be used, such as the popular near-field communication (NFC) frequency of 13.66 MHz. Signals are transmitted back via load modulation at frequencies a fraction of the power carrier frequency, thus allowing for extraction of the signal frequency. Results clearly show that modulation frequency tracks closely with open circuit potential, and the system features good sensitivity and linearity. This system holds promise for a host of applications.

A small home appliance includes a coil for power reception and communication, a communication unit which performs wireless communication with a wireless power transmission device by using the coil, and a controller which receives wireless power from the wireless power transmission device by the coil, receives a zero crossing interrupt signal from the wireless power transmission device, and determines a communication period of the communication unit according to the zero crossing interrupt signal.

A power transmission apparatus 101 includes a communication unit 206 configured to wirelessly communicate with a power reception apparatus using an antenna, a power transmission unit 203 configured to wirelessly transfer power to the power reception apparatus using the antenna, a detection unit 204 configured to measure at least either a voltage or a current output from the antenna in a period where the transfer of the power is stopped and the communication by the communication unit 206 is not performed, and determine that there is an object different from the power reception apparatus based on the result of the measurement, and a control unit 201 configured to, if there is determined to be the object different from the power reception apparatus, restrict the transfer of the power.

The invention relates to a dual detector with a detection head (10), comprising:—a platform (11) and—an induction sensor fastened to the platform (11) and comprising a transmitter coil (12) and a receiver coil (13), the transmitter coil (12) and the receiver coil (13) each forming a loop, the loop of the transmitter coil (12) overlapping the loop of the receiver coil (13) at least partially so as to form a coupling zone (14), the coupling zone (14) being elongated in a first longitudinal direction defining a first axis (X.sub.1), the handle (20) extending in a plan (P.sub.1) normal to the platform (11) and the first axis (X.sub.1) of the coupling zone (14) being transverse to this plane (X.sub.1).

A base station comprising: a wireless power receiver module to wirelessly receive energy from a portable device; a wireless transceiver module adapted to establish a wireless data communication with the portable device so as to wirelessly receive/transmit data; a wired interface for wired connection to an accessory device; a power distribution module coupled to the wireless power receiver module and adapted to supply the energy received from the portable device both to the accessory device, via the wired interface, and to the wireless transceiver module; a communication module coupled to the wireless transceiver module and to the wired interface, adapted to adapt data wirelessly received from the portable device, via the wireless transceiver module, into data suitable to be transmitted in a wired way to the accessory device, via the wired interface, and vice versa, to adapt data received in a wired way from the accessory device, via the wired interface, into data suitable to be transmitted wirelessly to the portable device, via the wireless transceiver module; wherein the base station is passive, devoid of any internal power source.

A vehicle control apparatus is to be provided in a vehicle including a wireless charger that charges a mobile device placed on the wireless charger. The vehicle control apparatus includes an interruption detector, a cause determination unit, and a notification controller. The interruption detector detects interruption of charging of the mobile device by the wireless charger, based on an operating state of the wireless charger. The cause determination unit determines whether a cause of the interruption of the charging is a first or second cause. The first cause is that the mobile device is moved by inertia during traveling. The second cause is that the mobile device is moved by a passenger. When the cause is determined as being the first cause, the notification controller notifies information about the interruption of the charging in a more prominent manner than when the cause is determined as being the second cause.

A bed has a mattress. A first wireless charging array is positioned on a top side of the mattress nearer a head of the mattress. A pillow is configured to be positioned atop the first wireless charging array. The pillow includes a second wireless charging array located on an underside of a pillow. The second wireless charging array is configured to receive energy from the first wireless charging array. A companion device is configured to use the energy. An energy storage device is within the pillow. The energy storage device is configured to store charge received by the first wireless charging array. The energy storage device is configured to supply power to the companion device.