Energous Corporation
Systems and Methods for Detecting Wireless Power Receivers and Other Objects at a Near-Field Charging Pad

Abstract:

An example method is performed at a near-field charging pad that includes a wireless communication component, and a plurality of power-transfer zones that each respectively include at least one power-transferring element and a signature-signal receiving circuit. The method includes: sending, by a respective power-transferring element included in a first power-transfer zone of the plurality of power-transfer zones, test power transmission signals with first values for a set of transmission characteristics. The method also includes: in conjunction with sending each of the power transmission signals: detecting, using the signature-signal receiving circuit, respective amounts of reflected power at the first power-transfer zone. The method further includes: based on the respective amounts of reflected power, determining whether (i) an authorized wireless power receiver and/or (ii) an object other than a wireless power receiver is present on a surface of the charging pad that is adjacent the first power-transfer zone.