Wireless power feeding method and wireless power feeding device

• US 10,069,339 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tani, Hiroyuki, Tanda, Kohichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHILLON, JAGDEEP S
• Application Number:
  US15/592,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20170353052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 307149, 307 66, 307 64, 307 80, 455 671, 455 76, 455 86
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge

Abstract

A wireless power feeding method includes causing each of a plurality of power transmitters to acquire power amounts for power received by one or more of a power receptors which are targets for power transmission, determining a first power amount which is the smallest out of acquired power amounts, and adjusting a power transmission direction to be a direction in which the power received by the power receptor which has received the first power amount is maximum. Each of the plurality of power transmitters are caused to transmit power in the adjusted power transmission direction and leaked power amounts for leaked power, which is received by the power receptors that are the targets for power transmission of other power transmitters, are acquired as leaked power amounts to the power transmitters for which the targets for power transmission are the power receptors which receive the leaked power.

Claims

1. A wireless power feeding method for transferring power between a plurality of power transmitters and a plurality of power receptors, the method comprising:

causing each of the plurality of power transmitters to acquire power amounts for power received by one or more of the power receptors which are targets for power transmission;

determining a first power amount which is the smallest out of the acquired power amounts;

adjusting a power transmission direction to be a direction in which the power received by the power receptor which has received the first power amount is maximum;

causing each of the plurality of power transmitters to transmit power in adjusted power transmission direction;

acquiring leaked power amounts for leaked power, which is received by the power receptors that are the targets for power transmission of other power transmitters, as leaked power amounts to the power transmitters for which the targets for power transmission are the power receptors that receive the leaked power;

causing the plurality of power transmitters to transmit power in the adjusted power transmission directions after the adjustment of the power transmission directions and acquisition of the leaked power amounts have been performed for all of the plurality of power transmitters; and

in two power transmitters of the power transmitter transmitting leaked power and the power transmitter for which the target for power transmission is the power receptor which receives the leaked power, sequentially from the power transmitter with the largest leaked power amount, acquiring the power amounts for the power, which is received by the power receptors that are the target for power transmission of the two power transmitters, determining a second power amount which is the smallest from among acquired power amounts, and adjusting a phase of power transmission radio waves for either one of the two power transmitters to a phase in which the power received by the power receptor which has received the second power amount is maximum.

2. The wireless power feeding method of claim 1,

wherein the power transmitters transmit radio waves in a direction through a center of a power transmission range, acquire the power amounts received by the power receptors, and determine the power receptors which are the targets for power transmission from the acquired power amounts.

3. A wireless power feeding device comprising:

a plurality of power transmitters for transmitting power to a plurality of power receptors and acquiring power amounts received by one or more of the power receptors which are targets for power transmission over respective power transmission ranges; and

a management portion connected to the plurality of power transmitters,

wherein the management portion determines a first power amount which is the smallest out of the power amounts for the power received by one or more of the power receptors which are the targets for power transmission, power amounts being acquired by each of the plurality of power transmitters,

adjusts a power transmission direction of the power transmitters to be a direction in which the power received by the power receptor which has received the first power amount is maximum,

causes each of the plurality of power transmitters to transmit power in adjusted power transmission direction,

acquires leaked power amounts for leaked power, which is received by the power receptors that are the targets for power transmission of other power transmitters, as leaked power amounts to the power transmitters for which the targets for power transmission are the power receptors that receive the leaked power,

causes the plurality of power transmitters to transmit power in the adjusted power transmission directions after the adjustment of the power transmission directions and acquisition of the leaked power amounts have been performed for all of the plurality of power transmitters, and

in two power transmitters of the power transmitter transmitting leaked power and the power transmitter for which the target for power transmission is the power receptor which receives the leaked power, sequentially from the power transmitter with the largest leaked power amount, acquires the power amounts for the power, which is received by the power receptors that are the target for power transmission of the two power transmitters, determines a second power amount which is the smallest from among acquired power amounts, and adjusts a phase of power transmission radio waves for either one of the two power transmitters to a phase in which the power received by the power receptor which has received the second power amount is maximum.