POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS, METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20120212070A1
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanabe, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,178,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition

Abstract

A power supply apparatus includes a power supply unit that wirelessly outputs power to an electronic apparatus, a control unit that determines that a predetermined object is detected if a reflection corresponding to power outputted is greater than or equal to a first value and determines that the predetermined object is detected if a change of a reflection corresponding to power outputted by the power supply unit is greater than or equal to a second value.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus, comprising:

a power supply unit that wirelessly outputs power to an electronic apparatus; and

a control unit that determine that a predetermined object is detected if a reflection corresponding to power outputted by the power supply unit is greater than or equal to a first value,

wherein the control unit determines that the predetermined object is detected if a change of a reflection corresponding to power outputted by the power supply unit is greater than or equal to a second value, the predetermined object does not include a chargeable object and the first value and second value are set based on a status of the electronic apparatus.

2. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls so that power outputted by the power supply unit is less than a predetermined value if the predetermined object is detected.

3. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls so that power outputted by the power supply unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined value if the predetermined object is not detected.

4. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first value and second value are set based on at least one of an operating status of the electronic apparatus and a movement distance of the electronic apparatus.

5. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit that changes the first value and second value if the status of the electronic apparatus is changed.

6. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not to change the first value and second value if the status of the electronic apparatus is not changed.

7. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) indicates the reflection corresponding to power outputted by the power supply unit.

8. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a change of a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) indicates the change of the reflection corresponding to power outputted by the power supply unit.

9. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a process for resonating between the power supply apparatus and the electronic apparatus by using a predetermined frequency.

10. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets the first value and second value based on the status of the electronic apparatus if a predetermined time has elapsed.

11. The power supply apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined time is set based on the status of the electronic apparatus.

12. The power supply apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined time is set based on power outputted by the power supply unit.

13. A method for controlling a power supply apparatus, the power supply apparatus including a power supply unit that wirelessly outputs power to an electronic apparatus, the method comprising:

determining that a predetermined object is detected if a reflection corresponding to power outputted by the power supply unit is greater than or equal to a first value; and

determining that the predetermined object is detected if a change of a reflection corresponding to power outputted by the power supply unit is greater than or equal to a second value, wherein the predetermined object does not include a chargeable object, and the first value and second value are set based on a status of the electronic apparatus.

14. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program executed by a computer to perform a method for controlling a power supply apparatus, the power supply apparatus including a power supply unit that wirelessly outputs power to an electronic apparatus, the method comprising:

determining that a predetermined object is detected if a reflection corresponding to power outputted by the power supply unit is greater than or equal to a first value; and

determining that the predetermined object is detected if a change of a reflection corresponding to power outputted by the power supply unit is greater than or equal to a second value, wherein the predetermined object does not include a chargeable object, and the first value and second value are set based on a status of the electronic apparatus.