NON-CONTACT POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS

• US 20150340874A1
• Filed: 12/26/2013
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: WERNER, STEFFEN, IWAMIYA, HIROKI, HIGASHIYAMA, KOJI
• Granted Patent: US 9,906,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings

Abstract

A non-contact power supply apparatus includes a first coil, a second coil opposed to the first coil, and a sensor. The sensor includes an insulator, transmitting main antenna parts, transmitting sub antenna parts, a transmitting circuit, receiving main antenna parts, receiving sub antenna parts, and a receiving circuit.

Claims

1. A non-contact power supply apparatus comprising:

a first coil;

a second coil opposed to the first coil; and

a sensor including;

a plate-like insulator disposed between the first coil and the second coil;

a transmitting main antenna part formed, in a straight shape, on a first face of the insulator;

a transmitting sub antenna part formed on the first face of the insulator, intersecting the transmitting main antenna part, and electrically connected to the transmitting main antenna part;

a transmitting circuit electrically connected to the transmitting main antenna part, and transmitting a signal;

a receiving main antenna part formed, in a straight shape, on a second face, which is opposite the first face, of the insulator;

a receiving sub antenna part formed on the second face of the insulator, intersecting the receiving main antenna part, and electrically connected to the receiving main antenna part; and

a receiving circuit electrically connected to the receiving main antenna part,

wherein the receiving circuit receives the signal through the receiving main antenna part and the receiving sub antenna part, and senses an object, except the insulator, between the first coil and the second coil, based on a change in a characteristic of the signal received.

2. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitting main antenna part is orthogonal to the receiving main antenna part.

3. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

each of the transmitting sub antenna part and the receiving sub antenna part is in a straight shape,

the transmitting sub antenna part is orthogonal to the transmitting main antenna part, and

the receiving sub antenna part is orthogonal to the receiving main antenna part.

4. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the transmitting main antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting main antenna parts, the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, the receiving main antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving main antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

each of the transmitting sub antenna parts does not overlap the transmitting main antenna parts adjacent to the transmitting sub antenna part, and

each of the receiving sub antenna parts does not overlap the receiving main antenna parts adjacent to the receiving sub antenna part.

5. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 4, wherein

when the insulator is perspectively viewed from the first coil, each of the transmitting sub antenna parts does not overlap any of the receiving main antenna parts, and each of the receiving sub antenna parts does not overlap any of the transmitting main antenna parts.

6. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the change in the characteristic of the signal is a change in reception intensity detected at a frequency higher than a resonance frequency of the transmitting sub antenna part and the receiving sub antenna part.

7. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the change in the characteristic of the signal is a change in reception intensity detected at a frequency higher than a resonance frequency of the transmitting main antenna part and the receiving main antenna part.

8. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the transmitting main antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting main antenna parts, the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, the receiving main antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving main antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

the transmitting circuit sequentially transmits a signal to the plurality of transmitting main antenna parts, and sequentially outputs the signal through the transmitting main antenna parts and the transmitting sub antenna parts connected to the transmitting main antenna parts, and

the receiving circuit sequentially receives the signal from the plurality of receiving main antenna parts through the receiving main antenna parts and the receiving sub antenna parts connected to the receiving main antenna parts.

9. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the transmitting sub antenna part and the receiving sub antenna part is in an arc shape.

10. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 9, wherein

the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

adjacent ones of the transmitting sub antenna parts are formed so that arc directions thereof are 180°

different from each other, and

adjacent ones of the receiving sub antenna parts are formed so that arc directions thereof are 180°

different from each other.

11. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

adjacent ones of the transmitting sub antenna parts are line symmetrical with each other, and

adjacent ones of the receiving sub antenna parts are line symmetrical with each other.

12. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

adjacent ones of the transmitting sub antenna parts are non-parallel to each other, and

adjacent ones of the receiving sub antenna parts are non-parallel to each other.

13. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

each of the transmitting sub antenna parts and the receiving sub antenna parts is in a straight shape,

each of the transmitting sub antenna parts extends in a direction at 45°

with respect to the transmitting main antenna part, and

each of the receiving sub antenna parts extends in a direction at 45°

with respect to the receiving main antenna part.

14. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts, and

when the insulator is perspectively viewed from the first coil, part of each of the receiving sub antenna parts enters a region surrounded by adjacent ones of the transmitting sub antenna parts, and part of each of the transmitting sub antenna parts enters a region surrounded by adjacent ones of the receiving sub antenna parts.

15. A non-contact power supply apparatus comprising:

a first coil;

a second coil opposed to the first coil; and

a sensor including;

a plate-like insulator disposed between the first coil and the second coil;

a transmitting main antenna part formed, in a straight shape, on a first face of the insulator;

a transmitting sub antenna part formed on the first face of the insulator, intersecting the transmitting main antenna part, and electrically connected to the transmitting main antenna part;

a transmitting circuit electrically connected to the transmitting main antenna part, and transmitting a signal;

a receiving main antenna part formed, in a straight shape, on a second face, which is opposite the first face, of the insulator;

a receiving sub antenna part formed on the second face of the insulator, intersecting the receiving main antenna part, and electrically connected to the receiving main antenna part; and

a receiving circuit electrically connected to the receiving main antenna part,

wherein the transmitting circuit receives a reflected signal of the signal transmitted, and senses an object, except the insulator, between the first coil and the second coil, based on a change in a characteristic of the reflected signal received.

16. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transmitting main antenna part is orthogonal to the receiving main antenna part.

17. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein

each of the transmitting sub antenna part and the receiving sub antenna part is in a straight shape,

the transmitting sub antenna part is orthogonal to the transmitting main antenna part, and

the receiving sub antenna part is orthogonal to the receiving main antenna part.

18. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein

the transmitting main antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting main antenna parts, the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, the receiving main antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving main antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

each of the transmitting sub antenna parts does not overlap the transmitting main antenna parts adjacent to the transmitting sub antenna part, and

each of the receiving sub antenna parts does not overlap the receiving main antenna parts adjacent to the receiving sub antenna part.

19. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 18, wherein

when the insulator is perspectively viewed from the first coil, each of the transmitting sub antenna parts does not overlap any of the receiving main antenna parts, and each of the receiving sub antenna parts does not overlap any of the transmitting main antenna parts.

20. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein the change in the characteristic of the signal is a change in reception intensity detected at a frequency higher than a resonance frequency of the transmitting sub antenna part and the receiving sub antenna part.

21. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein the change in the characteristic of the signal is a change in reception intensity detected at a frequency higher than a resonance frequency of the transmitting main antenna part and the receiving main antenna part.

22. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein

the transmitting main antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting main antenna parts, the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, the receiving main antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving main antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

the transmitting circuit sequentially transmits a signal to the plurality of transmitting main antenna parts, and sequentially outputs the signal through the transmitting main antenna parts and the transmitting sub antenna parts connected to the transmitting main antenna parts, and

the transmitting circuit receives a reflected signal of the signal transmitted.

23. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the transmitting sub antenna part and the receiving sub antenna part is in an arc shape.

24. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 23, wherein

the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

adjacent ones of the transmitting sub antenna parts are formed so that arc directions thereof are 180°

different from each other, and

adjacent ones of the receiving sub antenna parts are formed so that arc directions thereof are 180°

different from each other.

25. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein

the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

adjacent ones of the transmitting sub antenna parts are line symmetrical with each other, and

adjacent ones of the receiving sub antenna parts are line symmetrical with each other.

26. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein

the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

adjacent ones of the transmitting sub antenna parts are non-parallel to each other, and

adjacent ones of the receiving sub antenna parts are non-parallel to each other.

27. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein

the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts,

each of the transmitting sub antenna parts and the receiving sub antenna parts is in a straight shape,

each of the transmitting sub antenna parts extends in a direction at 45°

with respect to the transmitting main antenna part, and

each of the receiving sub antenna parts extends in a direction at 45°

with respect to the receiving main antenna part.

28. The non-contact power supply apparatus of claim 15, wherein

the transmitting sub antenna part is one of a plurality of transmitting sub antenna parts, and the receiving sub antenna part is one of a plurality of receiving sub antenna parts, and

when the insulator is perspectively viewed from the first coil, part of each of the receiving sub antenna parts enters a region surrounded by adjacent ones of the transmitting sub antenna parts, and part of each of the transmitting sub antenna parts enters a region surrounded by adjacent ones of the receiving sub antenna parts.