POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS, BATTERY PACK, METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20120146577A1
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanabe, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,343,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A power supply apparatus includes a power supply unit that wirelessly supplies power to an electronic device including a first unit that wirelessly receives power from the power supply apparatus, and a control unit that executes control, if an external apparatus, including a battery, and the electronic device are connected, to select the first unit to charge the battery by the first unit.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus comprising:

a power supply unit that wirelessly supplies power to an electronic device including a first unit that wirelessly receives power from the power supply apparatus; and

a control unit that executes control, if an external apparatus, including a battery, and the electronic device are connected, to select the first unit to charge the battery by using the first unit.

2. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a second unit that wirelessly receives power from the power supply apparatus.

3. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, if power received by the first unit from the power supply apparatus is higher than power received by the second unit from the power supply apparatus, the control unit controls the electronic device to charge the battery by using the first unit.

4. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, if power received by the first unit from the power supply apparatus is not higher than power received by the second unit from the power supply apparatus, the control unit controls the external apparatus to charge the battery by using the second unit.

5. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, if a power receiving efficiency of the first unit is higher than a power receiving efficiency of the second unit, the control unit controls the electronic device to charge the battery by using the first unit.

6. The power supply apparatus according to claims 2, wherein, if a power receiving efficiency of the first unit is not higher than a power receiving efficiency of the second unit, the control unit controls the external apparatus to charge the battery by using the second unit.

7. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, if the electronic device and the external apparatus are not connected, the battery is charged by using the second unit without using the first unit.

8. A method for controlling a power supply apparatus, the power supply apparatus including a power supply unit that wirelessly supplies power to an electronic device, wherein the electronic device includes a first unit that wirelessly receives power from the power supply apparatus, the method comprising:

executing control, if an external apparatus, including a battery, and the electronic device are connected, to select the first unit to charge the battery by using the first unit.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the external apparatus includes a second unit that wirelessly receives power from the power supply apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising controlling, if power received by the first unit from the power supply apparatus is higher than power received by the second unit from the power supply apparatus, the electronic device to charge the battery by using the first unit.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising controlling, if power received by the first unit from the power supply apparatus is not higher than power received by the second unit from the power supply apparatus, the external apparatus to charge the battery by using the second unit.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising controlling, if a power receiving efficiency of the first unit is higher than a power receiving efficiency of the second unit, the electronic device to charge the battery by using the first unit.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising controlling, if a power receiving efficiency of the first unit is not higher than a power receiving efficiency of the second unit, the external apparatus to charge the battery by using the second unit.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein, if the electronic device and the external apparatus are not connected, the battery is charged by using the second unit without using the first unit.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program executed by a computer, wherein the program for using the computer to perform a method for controlling a power supply apparatus, the power supply apparatus including a power supply unit that wirelessly supplies power to an electronic device including a first unit that wirelessly receives power from the power supply apparatus, the method comprising:

executing control, if an external apparatus, including a battery, and the electronic device are connected, to select the first unit to charge the battery by using the first unit.

16. A battery pack comprising:

a power receiving unit that wirelessly receives power from a power supply apparatus; and

a control unit that supplies information relating to the power receiving unit to the power supply apparatus to cause the power supply apparatus to select a unit that wireless receives power from the power supply apparatus if the battery pack and an electronic device are connected.