APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING NON-CONTACT ENERGY AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20150054342A1
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University
• Original Assignee: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University
• Inventors: Kim, Tae-Whan, You, Joo-Hyung
• Granted Patent: US 9,819,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for receiving non-contact energy that includes; a receiving unit that is spaced from a transmitting unit and receives thermal or light energy from the transmitting unit; an energy converting unit that converts the thermal or light energy received from the receiving unit into electric energy and supplies electric energy to a target device; and an auxiliary power that receives electric energy from the receiving unit or the energy converting unit and supplies electric energy to the target device when the energy transmitted from the receiving unit or the energy converting unit to the target device is cut off, and a method of controlling the device. According to the present invention, it is possible to stably supply energy that is not harmful to the human body and, has a wide transmission region.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving non-contact energy comprising;

a receiving unit that is spaced from a transmitting unit and receives thermal or light energy from the transmitting unit;

an energy converting unit that converts the thermal or light energy received by the receiving unit into electric energy and supplies electric energy to a target device; and

an auxiliary power that receives electric energy from the receiving unit or the energy converting unit and supplies electric energy to the target device when the energy transmitted from the receiving unit or the energy converting unit to the target device is cut off.

2. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 1, comprising a control unit that includes:

a wireless energy transfer mode control unit that performs control such that electric energy is transmitted from the energy converting unit to the target device;

an auxiliary power operation mode control unit that performs control such that electric energy is transmitted from the auxiliary power to the target device;

an auxiliary power remainder sensing unit that senses the charging amount of the auxiliary power; and

an auxiliary power remainder warning unit that sends a warning signal to a user when the charging amount of the auxiliary power is less than a reference value,

wherein the auxiliary power remainder sensing unit or the auxiliary power remainder warning unit is connected with the auxiliary power and controls energy transfer between the auxiliary power and the energy converting unit or the target device.

3. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit transmits energy in the type of at least any one of a laser, natural light, or artificial light.

4. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit includes at least any one of a solar cell, a solar collector, or a solar concentrator.

5. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 1, wherein the energy converting unit or the auxiliary power is disposed in the target device or formed integrally with the target device.

6. An apparatus for receiving non-contact energy comprising:

a diverging unit that spreads or diverges thermal or light energy received from a transmitted unit; and

an energy converting unit that converts thermal or light energy spread or diverged by the diverging unit into electric energy and supplies electric energy to a target device.

7. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 6, comprising an auxiliary power that receives electric energy from the diverging unit or the energy converting unit and supplied electric energy to the target device when energy transfer from the diverging unit or the energy converting unit to the target device is cut off.

8. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 7, comprising a control unit that includes:

a wireless energy transfer mode control unit that performs control such that electric energy is transmitted from the energy converting unit to the target device;

an auxiliary power operation mode control unit that performs control such that electric energy is transmitted from the auxiliary power to the target device;

an auxiliary power remainder sensing unit that senses the charging amount of the auxiliary power; and

an auxiliary power remainder warning unit that sends a warning signal to a user when the charging amount of the auxiliary power is less than a reference value,

wherein the auxiliary power remainder sensing unit or the auxiliary power remainder warning unit is connected with the auxiliary power and controls energy transfer between the auxiliary power and the energy converting unit or the target device.

9. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 6, wherein the transmitting unit transmits energy in the type of at least any one of a laser, natural light, or artificial light.

10. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 7, wherein the energy converting unit or the auxiliary power is disposed in the target device or formed integrally with the target device.

11. A method of controlling an apparatus for receiving non-contact energy including;

a receiving unit that is spaced from a transmitting unit and receives thermal or light energy from the transmitting unit;

an energy converting unit that converts the thermal or light energy received from the receiving unit into electric energy and supplies electric energy to a target device; and

an auxiliary power that receives electric energy from the receiving unit or the energy converting unit and supplies electric energy to the target device when the energy transmitted from the energy converting unit to the target device is cut off, the method comprising;

a wireless energy transceiving step that transmits energy from the transmitting unit to the receiving unit;

a step that senses whether there is an obstacle between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit;

a step that supplies energy from the energy converting unit to the target device when there is no obstacle between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit;

an auxiliary power charging step that transmits energy from the energy converting unit to the auxiliary power when there is no obstacle between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit; and

a step that supplies energy from the auxiliary power to the target device when there is an obstacle between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.