Method and apparatus for wireless power transfer utilizing a magnetic shield

A device being a power receiver or power transmitter of a wireless power transfer system transfer powers via a power transfer signal: The device comprises power transfer coil (103, 107) for receiving or generating the power transfer signal and a communication antenna (207, 307) for communicating with the power receiver (105) or the power transmitter (101) via a communication signal. The communication antenna (207, 307) overlaps the power transfer coil (103, 107). A magnetic shielding element (503, 505) is positioned between the power transfer coil (103, 107) and the communication antenna (207, 307). A controller (201, 301) controls the device to perform power transfer during power transfer intervals and communication during communication time intervals, the power transfer intervals and communication time intervals being disjoint. The magnetic shielding element (503, 505) comprises a magnetic shield material arranged to operate in a saturated mode during power transfer intervals and in a non-saturated mode during communication time intervals.