WIRELESS POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS, FILTER UNIT AND POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS FOR ROBOT USING THE FILTER UNIT

• US 20140091635A1
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso PS Corporation (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso PS Corporation (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: SUGINO, Masayoshi, HAMASAKI, Keisuke, KONDOH, Hiroshi, TAKEDA, Shigeru, HASEO, Yasuyuki, YUASA, Katsumi
• Granted Patent: US 9,997,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• 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 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

A wireless power supply apparatus includes a power reception coil, an actual load and an auxiliary load. The power reception coil functions as a repeater for receiving electric power in a non-contact manner by magnetic resonance with a power transmission coil to which electric power is supplied from a power supply unit and relaying transfer of the electric power from the power transmission coil. The actual load is connected to the power reception coil and is powered by the electric power received by the power reception coil. The auxiliary load is inserted parallel to the power reception coil and the actual load and forms a closed circuit with the power reception coil when supply of the electric power to the actual load is interrupted to be in an open state.

Claims

1. A wireless power supply apparatus, comprising:

a power reception coil that functions as a repeater for receiving electric power in a non-contact manner by magnetic resonance with a power transmission coil to which electric power is supplied from a power supply unit and relaying transfer of the electric power from the power transmission coil;

an actual load that is connected to the power reception coil and is powered by the electric power received by the power reception coil; and

an auxiliary load that is inserted parallel to the power reception coil and the actual load and forms a closed circuit with the power reception coil when supply of the electric power to the actual load is interrupted to be in an open state.

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

an actual load acquiring unit that acquires load of the actual load; and

a load changing unit that changes load of the auxiliary load in accordance with the load of the actual load acquired by the actual load acquiring unit.

3. The wireless power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power transmission module that includes the power supply unit and the power transmission coil, and wirelessly supplies electric power from the power supply unit via the power transmission coil;

an end module that wirelessly receives the electric power supplied from the power transmission module; and

an intermediate module that wirelessly relays transfer of the electric power between the power transmission module and the end module,

the intermediate module including the power reception coil, the actual load and the auxiliary load.

4. The wireless power supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the power transmission module, the intermediate module and the end module are provided in a robot.

5. The wireless power supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

the robot is an articulated robot.

6. A filter unit, comprising:

a first coil segment that is provided on a power supply side; and

a second coil segment that is provided at a position on a power consumption side apart by a predetermined distance in a non-contact manner from the first coil segment and is opposed to the first coil segment, such that magnetic resonance occurs between the first and second coil segments,

the first and second coil segments allowing passage of electric power having a specific frequency due to the magnetic resonance occurring between the first and second coil segments.

7. A power supply apparatus for a robot, comprising:

a power transmission coil unit that is connected to a power source which supplies electric power having a specific frequency;

a power reception coil unit that is connected to a load powered by electric power having a specific frequency and is opposed to the power transmission coil unit to receive electric power from the power transmission coil in a non-contact manner by using magnetic resonance occurring between the power transmission coil unit and the power reception coil unit; and

a filter unit that is provided in a power transfer path between the power source and the power transmission coil and between the power reception coil and the load,

the filter unit allowing passage of electric power having a specific frequency and including;

a first coil segment that is provided on a power supply side;

a second coil segment that is provided at a position on a power consumption side apart by a predetermined distance in a non-contact manner from the first coil segment and is opposed to the first coil segment, such that magnetic resonance occurs between the first and second coil segments,

the first and second coil segments allowing passage of electric power having a specific frequency due to the magnetic resonance occurring between the first and second coil segments, such that a control signal for driving the load is separated.

8. The power supply apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

the power source includes a first power source that supplies electric power having a first frequency, and a second power source that supplies electric power having a second frequency different from the first frequency;

the load includes a first load that is powered by the electric power having the first frequency, and a second load that is powered by the electric power having the second frequency; and

the filter unit includes

a first filter unit that is provided in a power transfer path between the first power source and the power transmission coil unit and allows passage of electric power having the first frequency,

a second filter unit that is provided in a power transfer path between the second power source and the power transmission coil unit and allows passage of electric power having the second frequency,

a third filter unit that is provided in a power transfer path between the power reception coil unit and the first load and allows passage of electric power having the first frequency, and

a fourth filter unit that is provided in a power transfer path between the power reception coil unit and the second load and allows passage of electric power having the second frequency.