Wireless power feeder

• US 10,135,297 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (Funai Electric Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Wakabayashi, Naoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Memula, Suresh
• Application Number:
  US15/235,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20160352137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A wireless power feeder includes a plurality of coils and a controller that determines a first coil from the plurality of coils based on power transmitted from each of the plurality of coils to an external apparatus. The first coil receives power from a power source.

Claims

1. A wireless power feeder, comprising:

a plurality of coils; and

a controller configured to determine a first coil from the plurality of coils based on power transmitted from each of the plurality of coils to an external apparatus,

wherein the first coil receives power from a power source,

wherein the controller is configured to determine the first coil based on at least one of an actual transmitted power from each of the plurality of coils and a reactive power from each of the plurality of coils,

wherein the actual transmitted power is transmitted from one of the plurality of coils to the external apparatus, and

wherein the reactive power is not transmitted from any of the plurality of coils to the external apparatus.

2. The wireless power feeder according to claim 1, wherein the actual transmitted power from the first coil is greater than the actual transmitted power from each of the other coils.

3. The wireless power feeder according to claim 2, further comprising:

a gain amplifier, wherein

the controller is configured to cause the gain amplifier to change the actual transmitted power from each of the plurality of coils, and

the controller is configured to detect a coil from the plurality of coils that transmits the greatest actual transmitted power.

4. The wireless power feeder according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of pressure sensors, disposed at intervals along a disposition surface, that detects a position where the external apparatus is disposed on the disposition surface, wherein

the power source transmits power to the coil near a position where the plurality of pressure sensors detects disposition of the external apparatus is measured.

5. The wireless power feeder according to claim 1, further comprising:

a directional coupler that measures the reactive power.

6. The wireless power feeder according to claim 1, wherein

at least one more external apparatus is disposed on a disposition surface, wherein the wireless power feeder further comprises:

a display that displays a charging state and a size of the actual transmitted power corresponding to each external apparatus during charging.

7. The wireless power feeder according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of lamps provided on the coil, wherein

one or more of the lamps near the coil light up during charging.

8. The wireless power feeder according to claim 1, wherein the controller continuously or at predetermined times measures the actual transmitted power during power feeding and stops charging the external apparatus when a drop in the actual transmitted power is detected.

9. The wireless power feeder according to claim 1, wherein

the external apparatus is a power receiving device comprising a power reception coil, and

the plurality of coils feed power to the power reception coil.

10. A wireless power feeder, comprising:

a plurality of coils; and

a controller configured to determine a first coil from the plurality of coils based on power transmitted from each of the plurality of coils to an external apparatus,

wherein the first coil receives power from a power source,

wherein the controller is configured to determine the first coil based on a change of a slope of at least one of an actual transmitted power from each of the plurality of coils and a reactive power from each of the plurality of coils,

wherein the actual transmitted power is transmitted from one of the plurality of coils to the external apparatus, and

wherein the reactive power is not transmitted from any of the plurality of coils to the external apparatus.

11. The wireless power feeder according to claim 10, wherein

the slope of the actual transmitted power from the first coil changes at an inflection point.

12. The wireless power feeder according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to determines power corresponding to the inflection point as the power from the power source.

13. The wireless power feeder according to claim 11, further comprising:

a gain amplifier, wherein

the controller is configured to cause the gain amplifier to change the actual transmitted power from each of the plurality of coils, and

the controller is configured to obtain the inflection point where the slope of the actual transmitted power changes.

14. A wireless power feeder, comprising:

a plurality of coils; and

a controller configured to determine a first coil from the plurality of coils based on power transmitted from each of the plurality of coils to an external apparatus,

wherein the first coil receives power from a power source,

wherein at least a second coil from the plurality of coils receives power from the power source,

wherein the second coil is adjacent to the first coil, and

wherein the controller is configured to determine strength of a magnetic field generated by the first coil and the second coil based on reception power needed by the external apparatus.

15. The wireless power feeder according to claim 14, wherein when reception power needed by the external apparatus is greater than power that is transmittable from the first coil and the second coil, the controller adjusts power transmitted from the first coil and the second coil to the external apparatus.

16. The wireless power feeder according to claim 15, wherein

the first coil and the adjacent second coil make up a set,

the controller is configured to determine, based on the power transmitted from each of the plurality of coils to an external apparatus, at least one more set of adjacent coils, from the plurality of coils, that receive power from the power source,

one or more of the sets define a cluster, and

the controller is configured to adjust the power for the cluster.