POWER CONTROL APPARATUS, POWER CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20120261998A1
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: SATO, Kazuhiro
• Application Number:
  US13/417,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20120261998A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/80
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

There is provided a power control apparatus including a calculating unit that calculates transmission efficiency of power from each of a plurality of devices when the power is received from one device of the plurality of devices and a control unit that controls power transmission from a device in which the transmission efficiency is high.

Claims

1. A power control apparatus comprising:

a calculating unit that calculates transmission efficiency of power from each of a plurality of devices when the power is received from one device of the plurality of devices; and

a control unit that controls power transmission from a device in which the transmission efficiency is high.

2. The power control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an acquiring unit that acquires information regarding a value of the power transmitted from each of the plurality of devices and a remaining amount of a battery; and

a measuring unit that receives the power from each of the plurality of devices and measures a value of the received power,

wherein the calculating unit divides the value of the received power measured by the measuring unit by the value of the transmitted power included in the information to calculate the transmission efficiency, and

wherein the control unit controls the power transmission from a device in which a value obtained by multiplying the remaining amount of the battery and the transmission efficiency is large.

3. The power control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a time after the power transmission is controlled by the control unit is clocked, the power transmission is stopped when a set time passes, and the transmission efficiency is calculated by the calculating unit again among the plurality of devices.

4. The power control apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the clocking time is set long when the transmission efficiency is stable, and

the clocking time is set short when the transmission efficiency is unstable.

5. The power control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a plurality of coils are provided, and

a coil that is located at a position close to the device performing the power transmission is used and the power transmission is performed.

6. The power control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the power transmission is performed through a device performing power transmission and power reception.

7. The power control apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein, in the device performing the power transmission and the power reception, the power transmission and the power reception are performed by time sharing.

8. The power control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a resonance frequency is set to a frequency used by a counterpart-side device performing the power transmission and the power transmission is performed.

9. The power control apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein a communication is performed through a server connected to a network.

10. A power control method comprising:

calculating transmission efficiency of power from each of a plurality of devices when the power is received from one device of the plurality of devices; and

controlling power transmission from a device in which the transmission efficiency is high.

11. A program for causing a computer to execute a power control process,

wherein the power control process includes

calculating transmission efficiency of power from each of a plurality of devices when the power is received from one device of the plurality of devices;

and

controlling power transmission from a device in which the transmission efficiency is high.