POWER TRANSMITTING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, CONTROL APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20170093212A1
• Filed: 09/13/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: NAGAMINE, Kazuhide
• Application Number:
  US15/264,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20170093212A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings

Abstract

A power transmitting apparatus performs wireless power transfer to a power receiving apparatus. The apparatus includes a power transmitting unit adapted to wirelessly transmit power; a first detection unit adapted to detect a foreign substance as an object different from a power receiving apparatus in a power transmission range of a power transmitting unit; a second detection unit adapted to detect a power receiving apparatus in the power transmission range; and a control unit adapted to output a predetermined notification concerning an error when the first detection unit detects the foreign substance and the second detection unit detects a power receiving apparatus and to limit output of the predetermined notification when the first detection unit detects the foreign substance and the second detection unit does not detect a power receiving apparatus.

Claims

1. A power transmitting apparatus which performs wireless power transfer to a power receiving apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a power transmitting unit adapted to wirelessly transmit power;

a first detection unit adapted to detect a foreign substance as an object different from a power receiving apparatus in a power transmission range of a power transmitting unit;

a second detection unit adapted to detect a power receiving apparatus in the power transmission range; and

a control unit adapted to output a predetermined notification concerning an error when the first detection unit detects the foreign substance and the second detection unit detects a power receiving apparatus and to limit output of the predetermined notification when the first detection unit detects the foreign substance and the second detection unit does not detect a power receiving apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when both a foreign substance and a power receiving apparatus are detected in the power transmission range, the control unit outputs a notification indicating that the foreign substance should be removed.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when both a foreign substance and a power receiving apparatus are detected in the power transmission range, the control unit outputs a notification indicating that the foreign substance should be removed for a duration until start of power transmission for charging the power receiving apparatus.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the power transmitting unit comprises a plurality of the power transmitting units, and

when both a foreign substance and a power receiving apparatus are detected in the power transmission range of the same power transmitting unit, the control unit outputs a notification indicating that the foreign substance should be removed.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit adapted to store information indicating that a foreign substance is detected, when the first detection unit detects the foreign substance,

wherein the control unit outputs a notification indicating that a foreign substance should be removed, when the storage unit stores the information.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power transmitting unit transmits power when a power receiving apparatus is detected and no foreign substance is detected in the power transmission range.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when both a foreign substance and a power receiving apparatus are detected in the power transmission range, the power transmitting unit does not transmit power until the foreign substance is removed from the power transmission range.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when both a foreign substance and a power receiving apparatus are detected in the power transmission range, the power transmitting unit starts power transmission in response to a power transmission start request from a user after removal of the foreign substance from the power transmission range.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an authentication unit adapted to perform authentication processing with the power receiving apparatus in accordance with detection of a power receiving apparatus in the power transmission range,

wherein when the authentication processing is not successful, the control unit outputs a notification that the authentication processing is not successful.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the authentication unit authenticates whether a power receiving apparatus in the power transmission range complies with a power transmission scheme of the power transmitting unit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third detection unit adapted to detect a voltage of a radio wave generated when an experimental radio wave generated from the power transmitting unit is reflected,

wherein the second detection unit detects a power receiving apparatus based on the voltage.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third detection unit adapted to detect a voltage of a radio wave generated when an experimental radio wave generated from the power transmitting unit is reflected,

wherein the first detection unit detects a foreign substance based on the voltage.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs a notification indicating that a foreign substance should be removed to a power receiving apparatus by wireless communication.

14. A control apparatus for a power transmitting apparatus including a power transmitting unit adapted to wirelessly transmit power, a first detection unit adapted to detect a foreign substance as an object different from a power receiving apparatus in a power transmission range of the power transmitting unit, and a second detection unit adapted to detect a power receiving apparatus in the power transmission range, the apparatus comprising

a control unit adapted to perform a predetermined notification, when the first detection unit detects the foreign substance and the second detection unit detects a power receiving apparatus, and

not to perform the predetermined notification when the first detection unit detects the foreign substance and the second detection unit does not detect a power receiving apparatus.

15. A method of controlling a power transmitting apparatus which wirelessly transmits power, the method comprising:

detecting presence/absence of a foreign substance as an object different from a power receiving apparatus in a power transmission range of the power transmitting apparatus;

detecting presence/absence of a power receiving apparatus in the power transmission range;

outputting a predetermined notification when the foreign substance is detected and a power receiving apparatus is detected; and

limiting output of the predetermined notification when the foreign substance is detected in the detecting the presence/absence of the foreign substance and a power receiving apparatus is not detected.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to function as each unit of a power transmitting apparatus which performs wireless power transfer to a power receiving apparatus, the power transmitting apparatus comprising:

a power transmitting unit adapted to wirelessly transmit power;

a first detection unit adapted to detect a foreign substance as an object different from a power receiving apparatus in a power transmission range of the power transmitting unit;

a second detection unit adapted to detect a power receiving apparatus in the power transmission range; and

a control unit adapted to output a predetermined notification concerning an error when the first detection unit detects the foreign substance and the second detection unit detects a power receiving apparatus and to limit output of the predetermined notification when the first detection unit detects the foreign substance and the second detection unit does not detect a power receiving apparatus.