CHARGING APPARATUS

• US 20120235637A1
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanabe, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,614,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 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

Abstract

A charging apparatus includes: a charging unit configured to perform a contactless charging operation for a placed external device; a detector configured to detect a position of a placed object; a determining unit configured to determine that the placed object is an external device compatible with the charging unit; and a control unit configured to control the charging unit such that, during the contactless charging operation for an external device compatible with the charging unit, the charging operation for the external device being charged is restricted when an object that is determined by the determining unit not to be an external device compatible with the charging unit, has been placed within a predetermined distance from the charging unit.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A power supply apparatus comprising:

a power supply unit that is used for performing a first process, wherein the first process includes a process for supplying power to an external device; and

a control unit that performs a second process based on whether an object is in a predetermined area if the first process is performed, wherein the second process includes a process for reducing a power supplied to the external device.

3. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the object does not include a chargeable device.

4. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the object does not include a unit that charges by using power received from the charging apparatus.

5. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs the second process if the object is in the predetermined area and the first process is performed.

6. The charging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit does not perform the second process if the object is not in the predetermined area and the first process is performed.

7. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit stops the first process if it is detected that a temperature is equal to or more than a predetermined value and the first process is performed.

8. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an output unit that outputs information relating to the object if the object is in the predetermined area.

9. A power supply apparatus comprising:

a first unit that is used for performing a first process, wherein the first process includes a process for supplying power to an external device;

a second unit that is used for performing the first process; and

a control unit that performs a second process based on whether an object is in a predetermined area if the first process is performed by using the first unit, wherein the second process includes a process for reducing a power supplied to the external device.

10. The power supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the object does not include a chargeable device.

11. The power supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the object does not include a unit that charges by using power received from the charging apparatus.

12. The power supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit performs the second process if the object is in the predetermined area and the first process is performed by using the first unit.

13. The power supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit does not perform the second process if the object is not in the predetermined area and the first process is performed by using the first unit.

14. The power supply apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit stops the first process if it is detected that a temperature is equal to or more than a predetermined value and the first process is performed.

15. The power supply apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an output unit that outputs information relating to the object if the object is in the predetermined area.

16. A control method comprising:

performing a first process, wherein the first process includes a process for supplying power to an external device; and

performing a second process based on whether an object is in a predetermined area if the first process is performed, wherein the second process includes a process for reducing a power supplied to the external device.