Transmitters for wireless power transmission

1. A wireless power transmitter, comprising:

a transmit circuit configured as a resonant tank comprising a first capacitor coupled with a first inductor, the transmit circuit configured to wirelessly transmit power in response to a time-varying signal; and

a driver circuit operably coupled to the transmit circuit, the driver circuit configured to generate the time-varying signal, the driver circuit comprising:

a second inductor coupled in series with the transmit circuit; and

a second capacitor coupled in series with the second inductor and the transmit circuit;

wherein the second inductor and the first capacitor define a filter configured to provide load matching and/or filtering of a signal generated by the driver or the transmit circuit.

2. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate driver circuit operably connected to the driver circuit and configured to drive the driver circuit.

3. The wireless power transmitter of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate driver circuit is configured as one of a resonant-type intermediate driver circuit or a push-pull intermediate driver circuit.

4. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1 , wherein the driver circuit is configured as a class-E driver circuit.

5. The wireless power transmitter of claim 4 , wherein the class-E driver circuit is configured as a single-ended class-E driver circuit.

6. The wireless power transmitter of claim 4 , wherein the class-E driver circuit is configured as a push-pull class-E driver circuit.

7. A method for transmitting wireless power, comprising:

transmitting power wirelessly, by a transmit circuit, in response to a time-varying signal, the transmit circuit configured as a resonant tank comprising a first capacitor coupled with a first inductor;

generating, by a driver circuit, the time-varying signal, the driver circuit comprising a second inductor coupled in series with the transmit circuit, and a second capacitor coupled in series with the second inductor and the transmit circuit; and

matching and/or filtering the time-varying signal by a filter comprising the second inductor and the first capacitor.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising an intermediate driver circuit operably connected to the driver circuit and configured to drive the driver circuit.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the intermediate driver circuit is configured as one of a resonant-type intermediate driver circuit or a push-pull intermediate driver circuit with the transmit circuit.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the driver circuit is configured as a class-E driver circuit.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the class-E driver circuit is configured as a single-ended class-E driver circuit.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the class-E driver circuit is configured as a push-pull class-E driver circuit.

13. A driver circuit for use in wireless power transmitter, comprising:

means for transmitting power wirelessly in response to a time-varying signal, the means for transmitting comprising means for storing energy in a first electric field coupled with means for storing energy in a first magnetic field; and

means for generating the time-varying signal, the means for generating comprising means for storing energy in a second electric field coupled in series with the means for transmitting power, and means for storing energy in a second magnetic field coupled in series with the means for transmitting power and the means for storing energy in a second electric field;

wherein the means for storing energy in a second magnetic field and the means for storing energy in a first electric field define a means for filtering which provides load matching and/or filtering of the time-varying signal.

14. The wireless power transmitter of claim 13 , further comprising an intermediate driver circuit operably connected to the means for generating and configured to drive the means for generating.

15. The wireless power transmitter of claim 14 , wherein the intermediate driver circuit is configured as one of a resonant-type intermediate driver circuit or a push-pull intermediate driver circuit.

16. The wireless power transmitter of claim 13 , wherein the means for generating is configured as a class-E driver circuit.

17. The wireless power transmitter of claim 16 , wherein the class-E driver circuit is configured as a single-ended class-E driver circuit.

18. The wireless power transmitter of claim 13 , wherein the class-E driver circuit is configured as a push-pull class-E driver circuit.

19. A wireless power transmitter, comprising:

a transmit circuit configured as a resonant tank comprising a first capacitor coupled with a first inductor, the transmit circuit configured to wirelessly transmit power in response to a time-varying signal to power or charge a receiver device; and

a driver circuit operably coupled to the transmit circuit, the driver circuit configured to generate the time-varying signal, the driver circuit comprising:

a first driver stage circuit comprising:

a first switch configured to control the time-varying signal in response to a first control signal;

a second capacitor coupled in parallel with the first switch;

a third capacitor coupled to the first switch and to the second capacitor; and

a second inductor coupled to the first switch and to the second capacitor; and

a second driver stage circuit comprising:

a second switch configured to control the time-varying signal in response to a second control signal;

a fourth capacitor coupled in parallel with the second switch;

a fifth capacitor coupled to the second switch and to the fourth capacitor; and

a third inductor coupled to the second switch and to the fourth capacitor.

20. The wireless power transmitter of claim 19 , wherein the transmit circuit is coupled in parallel with the driver circuit.

21. The wireless power transmitter of claim 19 , wherein the first driver stage circuit is configured as a class-E amplifier circuit, and wherein the second driver stage circuit is configured as a class-E amplifier circuit.