Wireless power transfer pad with multiple windings and magnetic pathway between windings

A wireless power transfer (“WPT”) pad apparatus comprising:

• a ferrite structure;
• and
• four windings adjacent to the ferrite structure, wherein a horizontal surface of the ferrite structure is adjacent to each of the four windings, each of the four windings wound in a horizontal pattern that is planar to the horizontal surface,
• wherein the four windings are arranged in a two-by-two square pattern in a north-south-north-south polarity arrangement,
• wherein for adjacent windings of the four windings, the ferrite structure comprises a magnetic pathway, and wherein a ferrite pathway between adjacent windings of the four windings comprises a thickness and a width to provide a low impedance, unsaturated magnetic pathway for an electromagnetic field generated by the adjacent windings, and
• wherein the ferrite structure comprises an opening in a center section, wherein the center section is located at a center of the two-by-two square pattern and the center section is external to each of the four windings.

A wireless power transfer (“WPT”) system comprising:

• a first stage comprising one or more of a resonant converter and an alternating current (“AC”) to direct current (“DC”) converter, the first stage configured to wirelessly transmit power to a second stage on a vehicle;
• a WPT pad apparatus that receives power from the first stage and transmits power wirelessly to a secondary pad of the second stage, the WPT pad apparatus comprising:
• a ferrite structure;
• and
• four windings adjacent to the ferrite structure, wherein a horizontal surface of the ferrite structure is adjacent to each of the four windings, each of the four windings wound in a horizontal pattern that is planar to the horizontal surface,
• wherein the four windings are arranged in a two-by-two square pattern in a north-south-north-south polarity arrangement.