Wireless power transfer via an intermediate device

A device that provides a power transfer to an electromagnetic load from a power transmitter;

• the device comprising:
• a first surface area and a second surface area;
• a resonance circuit
• wherein the resonance circuit comprises an inductor and a capacitor,
• wherein the inductor couples to a power transfer coil of the power transmitter through the first surface area
• wherein the inductor couples to the electromagnetic load through the second surface area;
• a communicator,
• wherein the communicator transmits a request message to the power transmitter,
• wherein the request message comprises a request for the power transmitter to generate a measurement electromagnetic signal in the power transfer coil;
• a load indication processor that determines a load indication,
• wherein the load indication is indicative of an electromagnetic loading of the measurement electromagnetic signal by the electromagnetic load;
• a detector that detects a presence of the electromagnetic load in response to the load indication;
• and
• a controller that adapts an operation of the power transfer from the power transmitter in response to the detection of the presence of the electromagnetic load.

A wireless power transfer system comprising:

• an intermediate device, and
• a power transmitter that provides wireless power to an electromagnetic load via the intermediate device;
• wherein the power transmitter comprises:
• a resonance circuit comprising a capacitive impedance and an inductive impedance,
• wherein the inductive impedance comprises a transmitter coil that generates a power transfer electromagnetic signal for wirelessly transferring the power to the electromagnetic load;
• a driver that generates a drive signal for the resonance circuit;
• a message communicator that communicates with the intermediate device;
• a message processor that detects a request message received from the intermediate device,
• wherein the request message comprises a request for the power transmitter to generate a measurement electromagnetic signal;
• and
• an electromagnetic signal generator that generates the measurement electromagnetic signal in response to the detection of the request message;
• and
• wherein the intermediate device comprises:
• a first surface area and a second surface area;
• a resonance circuit
• wherein the resonance circuit comprises an inductor and a capacitor,
• wherein the inductor couples to a power transfer coil of the power transmitter through the first surface area
• wherein the inductor couples to the electromagnetic load through the second surface area;
• a communicator,
• wherein the communicator transmits the request message to the power transmitter,
• wherein the request message comprises the request for the power transmitter to generate the measurement electromagnetic signal in the power transfer coil;
• a load indication processor that determines a load indication,
• wherein the load indication is indicative of an electromagnetic loading of the measurement electromagnetic signal by the electromagnetic load;
• a detector that detects a presence of the electromagnetic load in response to the load indication;
• and
• a controller that adapts an operation of the wireless power transfer system in response to the detection of the presence of the electromagnetic load.