POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE, POWER TRANSMISSION METHOD, AND POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

• US 20120212071A1
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: MIYABAYASHI, Naoki, Ishikawa, Yasuharu
• Granted Patent: US 9,461,712 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 50/402 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: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A power transmission device includes a communication unit that transmits a power capability information transmission request via a communication channel and receives power capability information in response to the power capability information transmission request. The power transmission device also includes a processing unit that sets a parameter based on the power capability information. Further, the power transmission device includes a power transmission unit that wirelessly transmits power using the parameter. The communication unit transmits the power capability information transmission request before the power transmission unit wirelessly transmits the power.

Claims

1. A power transmission device, comprising:

a communication unit that transmits a power capability information transmission request via a communication channel and receives power capability information in response to the power capability information transmission request;

a processing unit configured to set a parameter based on the power capability information; and

a power transmission unit that wirelessly transmits power using the parameter, wherein the communication unit transmits the power capability information transmission request before the power transmission unit wirelessly transmits the power.

2. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the power capability information indicates a transmission type and a parameter type.

3. The power transmission device according to claim 2, wherein the transmission type is defined by at least one of an electromagnetic induction, electric waves, a magnetic-field resonance, and an electric-field resonance, and the power transmission unit wirelessly transmits the power using the at least one of the electromagnetic induction, the electric waves, the magnetic-field resonance, and the electric-field resonance

4. The power transmission device according to claim 2, wherein the parameter type is defined by at least one of a frequency, a voltage, and an azimuth angle, and the power transmission unit wirelessly transmits the power using the at least one of the frequency, the voltage, and the azimuth angle.

5. The power transmission device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a storage unit that stores transmission power capability information, wherein the processing unit sets the parameter by comparing the parameter type indicated by the received power capability information and a parameter type indicated by the transmission power capability information to add the parameter type indicated by the received power capability information to a parameter type list.

6. The power transmission device according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit is configured to calculate a plurality of power transmission efficiencies for each of a plurality of parameters of the parameter type and to set a standard efficiency range based on a maximum power transmission efficiency of the plurality of power transmission efficiencies.

7. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel is encrypted.

8. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit receives first power reception amount information for the parameter after transmitting the power, and the processing unit is configured to calculate a first power transmission efficiency based on the first power reception amount information and causes the power transmission unit not to transmit the power if the first power transmission efficiency is less than a predetermined value.

9. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit receives first power reception amount information for the parameter after transmitting the power, and the processing unit is configured to calculate a second power transmission efficiency based on the first power reception amount information and to generate parameter information excluding the parameter if the second power transmission efficiency is less than a predetermined value.

10. The power transmission device according to claim 9, wherein, if the communication unit receives additional first power reception amount information for the parameter, the processing unit calculates an additional second power transmission efficiency based on the additional first power reception amount information, and, if the additional second power transmission efficiency is less than the predetermined value a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period corresponding to the first power reception amount information and the additional first power reception amount information, the processing unit excludes the parameter from the parameter information.

11. The power transmission device according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit periodically or aperiodically includes the parameter in the parameter information after the processing unit has excluded the parameter from the parameter information.

12. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the parameter does not exceed a power reception capability indicated by the power capability information, the communication unit transmits parameter information, the communication unit receives second power reception amount information after the power transmission unit wirelessly transmits the power, and the processing unit is configured to calculate a plurality of third power transmission efficiencies of a plurality of parameters based on the second power reception amount information, to set a standard range based on the plurality of third power transmission efficiencies, and to exclude one of the plurality of parameters from the parameter information if the third power transmission efficiency of the one of the plurality of parameters is outside the standard range.

13. The power transmission device according to claim 12, wherein the processing unit is configured to calculate a power transmission unit price corresponding to the standard range, the communication unit transmits information indicating the power transmission unit price, and the power transmission unit wirelessly transmits the power using the parameter if the communication unit receives a power transmission start request in response to the information indicating the power transmission unit price.

14. The power transmission device according to claim 12, wherein, if the third power transmission efficiency of the one of the plurality of parameters is outside the standard range, the power transmission unit stops wirelessly transmitting the power.

15. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits or receives connection information for forming the communication channel via a non-contact communication using a carrier of a predetermined frequency.

16. The power transmission device according to claim 15, wherein the communication unit transmits the power capability information transmission request via the non-contact communication, the communication unit receives the power capability information via the non-contact communication, and the parameter does not exceed a power reception capability indicated by the power capability information.

17. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate parameter information indicating the parameter, based on parameter candidates of the power, corresponding to an environment where the power is transmitted, set on the basis of the power capability information.

18. A power transmission method, comprising:

transmitting a power capability information transmission request via a communication channel;

receiving power capability information in response to the power capability information transmission request;

setting a parameter based on the power capability information; and

wirelessly transmitting power using the parameter, wherein the transmitting the power capability information transmission request is performed before the wirelessly transmitting the power.

19. A program for causing a computer to execute:

transmitting a power capability information transmission request via a communication channel;

receiving power capability information in response to the power capability information transmission request;

setting a parameter based on the power capability information; and

wirelessly transmitting power using the parameter, wherein the transmitting the power capability information transmission request is performed before the wirelessly transmitting the power.

20. A power reception device, comprising:

a storage unit that stores power capability information;

a communication unit that receives a power capability information transmission request via a communication channel, transmits the power capability information in response to the power capability information transmission request, and receives parameter information based on the power capability information; and

a power reception unit that wirelessly receives power using a parameter indicated by the parameter information, wherein the communication unit receives the power capability information transmission request before the power reception unit wirelessly receives the power.