POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE, POWER RECEIVING DEVICE, AND NON-CONTACT CHARGING METHOD

• US 20140184147A1
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Uchida, Akiyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,369,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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 7/00302 Overcharge protection

Abstract

In a non-contact charging method, variable information with which a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit of an equipment device having maximum charging power as the power transmitting frequency, and a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power as a resonance frequency or a Q value for charging depending on each charging power, and transmits to each equipment device variable information corresponding to each equipment device.

Claims

1. A power transmitting device, comprising:

a power transmitting unit which transmits electric power at a power transmitting frequency using magnetic field resonance or electric field resonance to each of a plurality of equipment devices including a non-contact power receiving unit;

a control unit which obtains variable information which sets a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit of an equipment device having maximum charging power as the power transmitting frequency, and sets a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power as a resonance frequency or a Q value for charging depending on each charging power;

a power supply unit which provides the power transmitting unit with electric power to be transmitted to the equipment device; and

a communication unit which transmits to each equipment device variable information corresponding to each equipment device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit

acquires from each equipment device identification information for identification of the equipment device and information about the charging power associated with the equipment device;

and

refers to combination information including a combination of one or more equipment devices, and variable information about each of the equipment devices associated with the combination of one or more equipment devices, and obtains the variable information associated with each equipment device using the acquired identification information.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit

acquires from each equipment device identification information for identification of the equipment device and information about the charging power associated with the equipment device;

obtains second charging power using efficiency information among the charging power, the power transmitting device, and the equipment device;

selects an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum second charging power;

obtains the variable information which sets a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of the selected equipment device as a resonance frequency or a Q value with which charging may be performed depending on each charging power.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein

the efficiency information uses state information about a positional relationship between the power transmitting device and the equipment device.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein

the control unit obtains electric power to be transmitted using the charging power corresponding to each equipment device and the efficiency information.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the variable information

is information which varies a capacitance of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of each equipment device when the magnetic field resonance is used;

and

is information which varies a inductance of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of each equipment device when the electric field resonance is used.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the variable information varies a capacitance, an inductance, or an impedance of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of each equipment device.

8. A power receiving device, comprising:

a power receiving unit which receives electric power using magnetic field resonance or electric field resonance from a power transmitting device including a non-contact power transmitting unit; and

a control unit which

generates charging information which includes identification information for identification of an equipment device and information about charging power associated with the equipment device and is transmitted from the equipment device to the power transmitting device;

receives from the power transmitting device variable information which varies a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of the equipment device;

varies a resonance frequency or a Q value of the resonance circuit of the power receiving unit to the power transmitting frequency in a case of an equipment device having the maximum charging power; and

varies a resonance frequency or a Q value of the resonance circuit of the power receiving unit to a frequency at which charging power corresponding to an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power may be supplied from transmitting power transmitted from the power transmitting device in a case of an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power.

9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising

a communication unit which communicates with the power transmitting device and the equipment device, wherein

the control unit

obtains variable information which sets a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit of an equipment device having maximum charging power as the power transmitting frequency, and sets a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power as a resonance frequency or a Q value for charging depending on each charging power;

and

instructs the communication unit to transmit to each equipment device the variable information corresponding to each equipment device.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein

the control unit

acquires from each equipment device identification information for identification of the equipment device and information about the charging power associated with the equipment device;

and

refers to combination information including a combination of one or more equipment devices, and variable information about each of the equipment devices associated with the combination of one or more equipment devices, and obtains the variable information associated with each equipment device using the acquired identification information.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein

the control unit

acquires from each equipment device identification information for identification of the equipment device and information about the charging power associated with the equipment device;

obtains second charging power using efficiency information among the charging power, the power transmitting device, and the equipment device;

selects an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum second charging power;

obtains the variable information which sets a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of the selected equipment device as a resonance frequency or a Q value with which charging may be performed depending on each charging power.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein

the efficiency information uses state information about a positional relationship between the power transmitting device and the equipment device.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein

the control unit instructs the communication unit to transmit to the power transmitting device the electric power which is to be transmitted and obtained using the charging power corresponding to each equipment device and the efficiency information, or the charging power and the efficiency information.

14. The device according to claim 8, wherein:

the resonance circuit is an LC resonance circuit, and

varies capacitance of the resonance circuit in the case of the magnetic field resonance; and

varies inductance of the resonance circuit in the case of the electric field resonance.

15. The device according to claim 8, wherein:

the resonance circuit is an LC resonance circuit;

the LC resonance circuit refers to information which varies capacitance, inductance, or impedance.

16. An external device, comprising:

a communication unit which communicates with a power transmitting device and a equipment device; and

a control unit

obtains variable information which sets a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit of an equipment device having maximum charging power as a power transmitting frequency, and sets a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power as a resonance frequency or a Q value for charging depending on each charging power;

instructs the communication unit to transmit to each equipment device the variable information corresponding to each equipment device; and

instructs the communication unit to transmit to the power transmitting device the charging power corresponding to each equipment device and efficiency information, or the electric power which is to be transmitted and obtained using the charging power and the efficiency information.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein

the control unit

acquires from each equipment device identification information for identification of the equipment device and information about the charging power associated with the equipment device;

and

refers to combination information including a combination of one or more equipment devices, and variable information about each of the equipment devices associated with the combination of one or more equipment devices, and obtains the variable information associated with each equipment device using the acquired identification information.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein

the control unit

acquires from each equipment device identification information for identification of the equipment device and information about the charging power associated with the equipment device;

obtains second charging power using efficiency information among the charging power, the power transmitting device, and the equipment device;

selects an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum second charging power;

obtains the variable information which sets a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of the selected equipment device as a resonance frequency or a Q value with which charging may be performed depending on each charging power.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein

the efficiency information uses state information about a positional relationship between the power transmitting device and the equipment device.

20. A non-contact charging method for charging an equipment device including one or more power receiving devices from a power transmitting device using magnetic field resonance or electric field resonance, wherein:

the equipment device

transmits from the equipment device to the power transmitting device identification information for identification of the equipment device and information about charging power associated with the equipment device;

the power transmitting device

receives the charging information from the equipment device,

obtains variable information which sets a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit of an equipment device having maximum charging power as the power transmitting frequency, and sets a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power as a resonance frequency or a Q value for charging depending on each charging power,

obtains transmitting power using charging power corresponding to the equipment device and efficiency information,

the equipment device

receives from the power transmitting device the variable information for varying resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of the equipment device,

varies a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit of the power receiving unit to the power transmitting frequency in a case of an equipment device having the maximum charging power, and

varies a resonance frequency or a Q value of the resonance circuit of the power receiving unit to a resonance frequency or a Q value with which charging power corresponding to an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power to be charged depending on each charging power in a case of an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power.

21. A non-contact charging method for charging from a power transmitting device an equipment device having one or more power receiving devices using magnetic field resonance or electric field resonance, wherein

a first equipment device

acquires from the first equipment device and a second equipment device identification information for identification of the equipment device, and information about charging power associated with the equipment device,

the first equipment device

sets the power transmitting frequency the resonance frequency of a resonance circuit of an equipment device having the maximum charging power between the first equipment device and the second equipment device, and obtains variable information which varies a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of the equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power to a resonance frequency or a Q value with which charging may be performed depending on the charging power,

instructs a communication unit to transmit the variable information corresponding to the second equipment device,

instructs a communication unit to transmit to the power transmitting device the charging power corresponding to each equipment device and the efficiency information, or electric power which is to be transmitted and obtained using the charging power and the efficiency information,

the first equipment device and the second equipment device

receives the variable information for varying a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of the first equipment device and the second equipment device,

varies a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit of the power receiving unit to the power transmitting frequency in a case of an equipment device having the maximum charging power, and

varies a resonance frequency or a Q value of the resonance circuit of the power receiving unit to a resonance frequency or a Q value with which charging power corresponding to an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power may be charged depending on each charging power in a case of an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power.

22. A non-contact charging method for charging an equipment device including one or more power receiving devices from a power transmitting device using magnetic field resonance or electric field resonance, wherein:

the equipment device

transmits from the equipment device to an external device identification information for identification of the equipment device and information about charging power associated with the equipment device;

the external device

obtains variable information which sets a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit of an equipment device having maximum charging power in the equipment devices as the power transmitting frequency, and sets a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power as a resonance frequency or a Q value for charging depending on each charging power,

instructs the communication unit to transmit the variable information corresponding to the equipment device, and

instructs the communication unit to transmit to the power transmitting device the charging power corresponding to each equipment device and the efficiency information, or electric power which is to be transmitted and obtained using the charging power and the efficiency information,

the equipment device

receives the variable information which varies a resonance frequency or a Q value of a resonance circuit of a power receiving unit of the equipment device,

varies a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit of the power receiving unit to the power transmitting frequency in a case of an equipment device having the maximum charging power, and

varies a resonance frequency or a Q value of the resonance circuit of the power receiving unit to a resonance frequency or a Q value with which charging power corresponding to an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power may be charged depending on each charging power in a case of an equipment device other than the equipment device having the maximum charging power.