Illinois Patent of the Month – January 2026

Strategic Recognition of Patent 12,531,443

Patent Identification and the Illinois Patent of the Month Distinction

The focal point of this comprehensive research report is U.S. Patent No. 12,531,443, officially titled “Power capability detection with verification load in power level control systems for wireless power transmission.” This intellectual property, a seminal advancement in the field of electromagnetic energy transfer, was formally applied for on March 18, 2024, and subsequently granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on January 20, 2026. The patent is assigned to NuCurrent, Inc., a Chicago-based technology firm widely recognized for its pioneering work in high-efficiency antenna structures and near-field communication systems.

In a competitive landscape teeming with innovation, this specific patent has been distinguished as the Illinois Patent of the Month. This accolade is not merely a ceremonial title but the result of a rigorous, data-driven selection process orchestrated by Swanson Reed, a specialist R&D tax advisory firm. Unlike traditional awards that may rely on subjective panel reviews, this distinction was determined through the utilization of advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. The AI algorithms, integral to Swanson Reed’s proprietary inventionINDEX, screened over 1,000 potential patents filed within the jurisdiction during the concurrent period. The selection mechanism is designed to filter out purely theoretical or incremental filings, focusing instead on identifying intellectual property that demonstrates exceptional novelty, technical robustness, and, most critically, high commercial viability.

Selection Rationale: The Criterion of Real-World Impact

The AI-driven selection of Patent 12,531,443 was predicated primarily on its potential for immediate and profound real-world impact. The wireless power industry, while growing, has long been plagued by reliability issues, thermal inefficiencies, and safety concerns that have stifled broader adoption in critical sectors like healthcare and industrial automation. The “Power capability detection with verification load” technology addresses a specific, fatal flaw in existing standards: the discrepancy between the digital negotiation of power levels and the actual, physical capability of the hardware to sustain those levels under load.

By identifying this patent, the AI selection model highlighted a technology that transitions wireless power from a “convenience feature” for consumer electronics to a “mission-critical utility” for medical implants and industrial sensors. The patent’s selection underscores a shift in value valuation—moving away from abstract patentability towards tangible industrial utility that can drive economic growth, job creation in the high-tech manufacturing sector of Illinois, and significant advancements in device safety.

Technical Analysis and Competitive Benchmarking

The Engineering Challenge in Legacy Wireless Power Systems

To appreciate the superiority of the innovation described in Patent 12,531,443, it is necessary to first deconstruct the limitations of the incumbent technologies. The global wireless power market is currently dominated by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC)’s Qi standard (inductive charging) and, to a lesser extent, the AirFuel Alliance (resonant charging).

In a standard Qi-compliant system, power transfer is initiated through a “digital handshake.” The Receiver (Rx) sends a communication packet to the Transmitter (Tx) requesting a specific wattage (e.g., 15 Watts). The Transmitter checks its firmware protocol; if it supports 15W, it agrees and begins transmission. This negotiation is fundamentally informational and static. It assumes that the hardware components (coils, capacitors, MOSFETs) are operating at ideal conditions. However, real-world conditions are rarely ideal. Factors such as ambient heat, slight coil misalignment (Z-height variance), presence of foreign metal objects, or component aging can drastically alter the system’s actual capacity.

When a legacy system attempts to drive high power based solely on a digital handshake, it often encounters “voltage droop” or thermal runaway. The system then enters a reactive error loop: it detects a fault, cuts power, waits for cool-down, and retries. This results in the intermittent charging behavior often experienced by users, where a device charges slowly or stops charging altogether to protect itself. This reactive approach—fail first, then throttle—is unacceptable for critical applications like powering a heart pump or a hazardous environment sensor.

The Innovation: Proactive Verification via Loading

Patent 12,531,443 introduces a paradigm shift from reactive error management to proactive capability verification. The core innovation is the integration of a “verification load”—a secondary hardware stage or switchable load within the control loop—that allows the system to physically test the power link before committing to the full transmission current.

Instead of relying on a digital promise (“I can deliver 15W”), the NuCurrent system applies a momentary, calibrated load to the circuit. This “stress test” generates immediate feedback regarding the system’s impedance, thermal rise, and voltage stability. If the verification load reveals that the link is weak (e.g., due to a 5mm misalignment or a high-temperature environment), the system automatically derates the power profile before the main transmission begins. This ensures that the power delivered is always within the “verified” safe operating area of the hardware, eliminating the crash-and-recover cycles of competitors.

Comparative Benchmarking: NuCurrent vs. Competitors

The following analysis benchmarks the “Verification Load” technology against primary competitors in the inductive (Qi) and resonant (AirFuel) spaces.

Table 1: Technical Superiority Matrix

Superiority Synthesis:

The technology in Patent 12,531,443 is superior because it closes the feedback loop between the digital intent and the analog reality. While competitors like Energous or Ossia focus on “power at a distance” (which suffers from extreme efficiency loss), NuCurrent’s approach maximizes the reliability of near-field high-power transfer. The ability to “verify” the load allows for tighter safety margins, meaning the system can run closer to its theoretical maximum performance without risking safety, whereas competitors must leave massive performance buffers to account for uncertainty.

Real-World Impact and Future Potential

Impact on Medical Technology (MedTech)

The “Verification Load” technology is poised to revolutionize the sector of Active Implantable Medical Devices (AIMDs). Currently, devices like pacemakers or neurostimulators require surgical replacement when batteries deplete, or they use transcutaneous charging systems that are slow and prone to heating—a critical risk when the coil is subcutaneous, as tissue damage can occur at temperatures as low as 41°C.

By utilizing the verification load, a charger can probe the implant’s receive coil to determine exactly how much power can be absorbed without generating excess heat. This precise thermal control allows for:

• Faster Charging: Safely increasing current when the verification test confirms good coupling.
• Smaller Implants: Eliminating the need for large thermal shielding or oversized batteries.
• Infection Control: Enabling fully hermetically sealed devices with no external ports, which are prime vectors for bacteria.

Impact on Industrial and Hazardous Environments

In industries such as oil and gas extraction, chemical processing, or mining, “spark-free” safety is paramount. Traditional charging contacts (pogo pins, USB) are failure points due to corrosion, mud, and the risk of electrical arcing.

NuCurrent’s patent enables “ruggedized wireless power.” The verification load acts as a safety gatekeeper. In a Class I Division 1 hazardous location, the transmitter can send a low-energy verification pulse. If it detects a short circuit, a foreign metal object (like a wrench), or poor coupling that could lead to arcing, it denies the main power transfer. This capability transforms wireless power from a consumer convenience into a safety-certified industrial utility, allowing handheld gas detectors and robotic inspectors to be charged sealed and safe within explosive atmospheres.

Future Potential: The “Portless” Ecosystem and Data-Over-Power

Looking forward, the technology facilitates the transition to a completely “portless” consumer electronics ecosystem. Smartphone manufacturers desire to remove the USB-C port to improve waterproofing and free up internal volume for battery capacity. However, they cannot do so until wireless charging is as fast and reliable as a cable.

Patent 12,531,443 bridges this gap. By ensuring that wireless power delivery is consistent and verified, it allows manufacturers to push charging speeds (e.g., 50W+) without the fear of overheating the device. Furthermore, NuCurrent’s related innovations in high-speed data transfer (up to 424 kbps via NFC hybrid modes) rely on a stable power carrier wave. The verification load stabilizes this wave, implying a future where a single wireless interface handles both rapid energy replenishment and gigabit-level data synchronization/firmware updates.

Economic Implications for Illinois

The awarding of this patent highlights Illinois as a growing hub for “Deep Tech” hardware innovation. NuCurrent’s continued accumulation of IP (over 200 patents) attracts venture capital and requires a highly skilled workforce of RF engineers and simulation experts. The commercial success of technologies rooted in Patent 12,531,443 contributes to the state’s export economy, as these solutions are licensed to global OEMs in automotive and consumer electronics sectors.

R&D Tax Credit Analysis: The Four-Part Test

Swanson Reed, as a specialist in R&D tax incentives, emphasizes that the development of a patent like 12,531,443 is the culmination of extensive Qualified Research Activities (QRAs). For any U.S. company (including the patent holder or their licensees) attempting to replicate, integrate, or improve upon this technology, the costs incurred—wages, supplies, and contractor fees—may be eligible for the federal R&D Tax Credit under IRC Section 41.

To qualify, the specific project must satisfy the statutory Four-Part Test. The following section details how a project utilizing the “Verification Load” technology would meet these criteria.

Test 1: Permitted Purpose

The Requirement: The research must intend to create a new or improved “business component” (product, process, computer software, technique, formula, or invention) held for sale, lease, or license. The improvement must relate to function, performance, reliability, or quality.

Application to the Patent Technology:

A project aims to integrate Patent 12,531,443 into a new line of medical hearables.

• Qualifying Purpose: The goal is to improve the reliability of the charging cycle (ensuring the hearable charges every time it is placed in the case) and the performance (reducing charge time from 2 hours to 45 minutes).
• Business Component: The specific “business component” is the hearable’s internal power management circuit board and the associated firmware control algorithm.
• Non-Qualifying Contrast: If the project only involved changing the color of the charging case or updating the graphical user interface (GUI) without functional technical changes, it would fail this test.

Test 2: Technological in Nature

The Requirement: The process of experimentation must fundamentally rely on principles of the physical or biological sciences, engineering, or computer science.

Application to the Patent Technology:

Developing a system with a “Verification Load” is not a matter of soft skills or aesthetic design; it is deeply rooted in Electrical Engineering and Physics.

• Hard Sciences: The project involves calculating electromagnetic coupling coefficients, modeling thermal dissipation in non-linear ferrite materials, and designing resonant tank circuits.
• Engineering Principles: Engineers must utilize Ohm’s Law, Maxwell’s Equations, and control theory to interpret the feedback from the verification load. The development relies on precise instrumentation (oscilloscopes, network analyzers) to measure inductance and capacitance changes.

Test 3: Elimination of Uncertainty

The Requirement: At the outset of the activity, there must be uncertainty regarding the capability to develop the component, the methodology to be used, or the appropriate design of the component.

Application to the Patent Technology: Even with the patent granted, the application of the technology to a specific new product introduces significant technical uncertainty. The “First-in-Class” driver mentioned in the research snippets is key here.

• Technical Uncertainties:
  • Design Uncertainty: “How do we size the verification load resistor to provide a readable signal without dissipating excessive heat in a sealed enclosure?”
  • Methodology Uncertainty: “Can we perform the verification check within 50 milliseconds so the user does not perceive a delay in charging initiation?”
  • Capability Uncertainty: “Is it possible to distinguish between the verification load signature and a nearby coin (foreign object) with 99.9% accuracy?”
• Note: Routine data collection or standard debugging does not qualify. The uncertainty must be significant enough that the solution is not readily apparent to a competent professional without experimentation.

Test 4: Process of Experimentation

The Requirement: Substantially all (at least 80%) of the research activities must constitute elements of a process of experimentation. This involves identifying the uncertainty, identifying one or more alternatives, and evaluating those alternatives through modeling, simulation, or trial and error.

Application to the Patent Technology:

The project team must demonstrate a systematic approach to resolving the uncertainties identified in Test 3.

• Hypothesis Formulation: “We hypothesize that a dynamic verification load switching at 100kHz will provide sufficient resolution to detect thermal saturation.”
• Modeling and Simulation: Using SPICE simulation software to model the circuit behavior under various load conditions before building hardware.
• Iterative Testing:
  • Iteration 1: Build a prototype with a static verification load. Result: Fails to detect misalignment.
  • Iteration 2: Modify the design to use a variable load. Result: Overheats the MOSFETs.
  • Iteration 3: Redesign the PCB layout to isolate the verification circuit. Result: Success.
• Documentation: The project logs must show this progression—the failures, the re-designs, and the analysis of results. A “trial and error” process is valid, provided it is conducted for the purpose of eliminating the technical uncertainty.

Swanson Reed’s Role in Claim Substantiation

Claiming the R&D Tax Credit for complex, patent-centric engineering projects requires meticulous substantiation. The IRS (and state revenue bodies) often scrutinize claims for “hindsight bias”—the practice of reconstructing project details months or years after the work was done. Swanson Reed employs a specialized methodology to mitigate this risk and ensure claim defensibility.

The “TaxTrex” AI Platform: Real-Time Documentation

Swanson Reed utilizes TaxTrex, a proprietary AI-driven software platform, to solve the documentation challenge.

• Problem: Engineers often view time-tracking and detailed report writing as administrative burdens, leading to poor records.
• Solution: TaxTrex integrates with the engineers’ workflow. It uses AI to prompt technical staff with targeted surveys during the project lifecycle.
• Mechanism: The system asks specific questions related to the 4-Part Test (e.g., “What technical uncertainty did you face this week?” or “What alternatives did you test?”).
• Benefit: This creates a contemporaneous audit trail. The responses are time-stamped, proving to the IRS that the “Process of Experimentation” (Test 4) occurred concurrently with the expenses. This shifts the evidence from “testimonial” (weak) to “documentary” (strong).

The Mandatory “Six-Eye Review”

To further insulate clients from audit risk, Swanson Reed subjects every claim to a Six-Eye Review process. This is a mandatory internal quality control protocol involving three distinct layers of expertise:

1. Eye Pair 1: Qualified Engineer/Scientist: A domain expert (e.g., an Electrical Engineer) reviews the technical narrative to ensure it accurately reflects the “Technological in Nature” requirement. They verify that the described activities (e.g., “verification load testing”) are true R&D and not routine maintenance.
2. Eye Pair 2: Tax Attorney / Enrolled Agent: A legal expert reviews the claim for compliance with the latest court rulings and statutory changes (e.g., Section 174 amortization rules). They ensure the “Business Component” is defined correctly to avoid aggregation issues.
3. Eye Pair 3: CPA / Financial Specialist: A financial expert verifies the “Nexus” between the costs and the activities. They ensure that only eligible wages (Box 1 W-2), supplies, and contractor costs are included, and that the calculation method (Regular vs. ASC) is optimized.

Audit Defense and the “inventionINDEX”

Should a claim be audited, Swanson Reed leverages its inventionINDEX and the patent data itself as defensive assets.

• Novelty as Defense: The fact that the technology was awarded “Illinois Patent of the Month” and selected from 1,000 candidates serves as powerful independent validation of the project’s technical novelty. It counters any IRS argument that the work was “routine” or “standard practice.”
• ISO 31000 Certification: Swanson Reed’s adherence to ISO 31000 Risk Management standards ensures that the claim preparation process itself is systemic and reproducible, a factor that builds credibility with tax authorities.

Final Thoughts

The granting of U.S. Patent No. 12,531,443 marks a significant milestone in the evolution of wireless power. By moving beyond the limitations of digital protocol negotiation and introducing a physical “Verification Load”, NuCurrent, Inc. has engineered a solution that offers the reliability and safety requisite for next-generation applications in medicine, industry, and consumer electronics. The recognition of this invention as the Illinois Patent of the Month by Swanson Reed’s AI-driven inventionINDEX confirms its status as a high-impact, commercially vital technology.

For the broader US economy, and specifically for companies investing in similar “Deep Tech” hardware, this patent serves as a beacon for the R&D Tax Credit. The development of such technology inherently involves significant technical uncertainty and iterative experimentation—the hallmarks of IRC Section 41 eligibility. Through the use of advanced compliance tools like TaxTrex and rigorous protocols like the Six-Eye Review, Swanson Reed ensures that the innovators driving these advancements can secure the financial incentives necessary to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in wireless energy transmission.