Power transmitting apparatus, control method for power transmitting apparatus, and recording medium storing program

• US 10,581,280 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2018
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shichino, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Amaya, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US15/901,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20180183276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• 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 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• 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: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management

Abstract

A power transmitting apparatus includes a power transmitting unit configured to perform wireless power transmission in any of a plurality of states including (i) a first state in which output power is wirelessly transmitted to a power receiving apparatus and (ii) a second state in which wireless power transmission using output power that is smaller than output power in the first state is performed. The apparatus also includes a detector configured to detect an object, and a communicator configured to communicate a control signal for wireless power transmission. Further, a controller is configured to control the power transmitter so as to perform power transmission in the first state to the power receiving apparatus detected by the detector and configured to control the power transmitter so as to perform power transmission in the second state in accordance with communication by the communicator when power transmission in the first state is performed.

Claims

1. A power transmitting apparatus comprising:

a power transmitter configured to perform first wireless power transmission and second wireless power transmission, with power of the second wireless power transmission being smaller than power of the first wireless power transmission;

a detector configured to detect an object based on a performing result of the second wireless power transmission by the power transmitter;

a communicator configured to communicate with a power receiving apparatus detected by the detector; and

a controller configured to control the power transmitter so as to perform the first wireless power transmission to the power receiving apparatus detected by the detector and configured to control the power transmitter so as to perform the second wireless power transmission based on the communicator receiving a signal from another power receiving apparatus when the first wireless power transmission to the power receiving apparatus is performed.

2. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the second wireless power transmission is a wireless power transmission for detecting an object that exists in a power transmission range of the power transmitter.

3. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation period in which the first wireless power transmission is performed and an operation period in which the second wireless power transmission is performed are different from each other.

4. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector detects the power receiving apparatus or an object that is different from the power receiving apparatus by detecting a change in quantity of electricity caused by proximity of the power transmitting apparatus and the object to each other.

5. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the quantity of electricity is at least one of an electric current value, a power value, a voltage value, an impedance value, and a reflective wave voltage value.

6. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein precision of detecting the change in the quantity of electricity by the detector on a basis of the second wireless power transmission by the power transmitter is higher than precision of detecting the change in the quantity of electricity by the detector on a basis of the first wireless power transmission by the power transmitter.

7. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detector detects the another power receiving apparatus on a basis of the change in the quantity of electricity caused due to the power receiving apparatus coming in proximity to the power transmitting apparatus while the second wireless power transmission to the power receiving apparatus is performed by the power transmitter.

8. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, based on the another power receiving apparatus being detected by the detector after a start of the first wireless power transmission by the power transmitter to the power receiving apparatus, the controller controls the power transmitter so as to perform the first wireless power transmission to the power receiving apparatus and to the another power receiving apparatus.

9. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power transmitter performs the first wireless power transmission to the power receiving apparatus based on a request received from the power receiving apparatus.

10. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detector detects the power receiving apparatus or an object that is different from the power receiving apparatus.

11. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, in a case where the object is detected by the detector, the controller controls the power transmitter so as to limit wireless power transmission.

14. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the signal from the another power receiving apparatus is an advertising packet defined by BT 4.0 standard.

12. A power transmitting method implemented by a power transmitting apparatus that includes a power transmitter and a communicator, the power transmitter being configured to perform first wireless power transmission and second wireless transmission, with power of the second wireless power transmission being smaller than power of the first wireless power transmission, and with the communicator being configured to communicate with a power receiving apparatus, the method comprising:

controlling the power transmitter so as to perform the first wireless power transmission to the power receiving apparatus detected based on a performing result of the second wireless power transmission by the power transmitter; and

controlling the power transmitter so as to perform the second wireless power transmission based on the communicator receiving a signal from another power receiving apparatus when the first wireless power transmission is performed to the power receiving apparatus.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a method of power transmission that is implemented by a power transmitting apparatus that includes a power transmitter and a communicator, the power transmitter being configured to perform first wireless power transmission and second wireless power transmission, with power of the second wireless power transmission being smaller than the power of the first wireless power transmission, and with the communicator being configured to communicate with a power receiving apparatus, the method comprising:

controlling the power transmitter so as to perform the first wireless power transmission to the power receiving apparatus detected based on a performing result of the second wireless power transmission by the power transmitter; and

controlling the power transmitter so as to perform the second wireless power transmission based on the communicator receiving a signal from another power receiving apparatus when the first wireless power transmission is performed to the power receiving apparatus.