Apparatus and method for lost power detection

A method for wirelessly transferring power, the method comprising:

• transmitting power from a transmitter at a power level sufficient to power or charge a chargeable device positioned within a charging region;
• receiving from the chargeable device a measurement of a first amount of energy received by the chargeable device over a first period of time, wherein the first amount of energy is determined based upon an integral of an amount of power received by the chargeable device over the first period of time;
• determining a second amount of energy provided by the transmitter over a second period of time, based upon an integral of an amount of power provided by the antenna over a second period of time;
• comparing the first amount of energy received from the chargeable device over the first period to the second amount of energy provided by the transmitter over the second period;
• and
• determining whether an object other than the chargeable device is absorbing power provided via the transmitter based at least in part on comparing the first amount and the second amount of energy.

An apparatus for wirelessly transferring power, the apparatus comprising:

• means for transmitting power at a power level sufficient to power or charge a chargeable device positioned within a charging region;
• means for receiving from the chargeable device a measurement of a first amount of energy received by the chargeable device over a first period of time, wherein the first amount of energy is determined based upon an integral of an amount of power received by the chargeable device over the first period of time;
• means for determining a second amount of energy provided by the transmitting means over a second period of time, based upon an integral of an amount of power provided by the antenna over a second period of time;
• means for comparing the first amount of energy received from the chargeable device over the first period to the second amount of energy provided by the transmitting means over the second period;
• and
• means for determining whether an object other than the chargeable device is absorbing power provided via the transmitting means based at least in part on comparing the first amount and the second amount of energy.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method of:

• transmitting power from a transmitter at a power level sufficient to power or charge a chargeable device positioned within a charging region;
• receiving from the chargeable device a measurement of a first amount of energy received by the chargeable device over a first period of time, wherein the first amount of energy is determined based upon an integral of an amount of power received by the chargeable device over the first period of time;
• determining a second amount of energy provided by the transmitter over a second period of time, based upon an integral of an amount of power provided by the antenna over a second period of time;
• comparing the first amount of energy received from the chargeable device over the first period to the second amount of energy provided by the transmitter over the second period;
• and
• determining whether an object other than the chargeable device is absorbing power provided via the transmitter based at least in part on comparing the first amount and the second amount of energy.