POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD FOR POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, AND PROGRAM

• US 20170155284A1
• Filed: 06/18/2015
• Published: 06/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Naoto
• Granted Patent: US 10,601,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 50/60 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

A power transmission apparatus transmitting power to a power reception apparatus and communicating with the power reception apparatus by applying a communication method which allows communication in a wider communication range than a power transmittable range includes a reception unit which receives a notification signal for notifying the existence of a power reception apparatus by applying the communication method, an instruction unit which instructs a power reception apparatus having transmitted the notification signal to change a load impedance consuming received power, a determination unit which determines that the source power reception apparatus has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction, and a wireless power transfer unit which wirelessly transfers power to the power reception apparatus if the determination unit determines that the source power reception apparatus has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction.

Claims

1. A power transmission apparatus comprising:

a wireless power transfer unit configured to transmit power wirelessly to a power reception apparatus;

a reception unit configured to receive a notification signal for notifying the existence of a power reception apparatus by applying a communication method which allows communication in a wider communication range than a power transmittable range in which the wireless power transfer unit is capable of transmitting power;

an instruction unit configured to instruct a power reception apparatus being a source of the notification signal to change a load impedance consuming received power; and

a determination unit configured to determine from a power transmission result that the power reception apparatus being the source of the notification signal has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instruction unit,

wherein if the determination unit determines that the power reception apparatus being the source of the notification signal has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instruction unit, the wireless power transfer unit performs a power transmission for supplying power requested by the power reception apparatus and if the determination unit does not determine that the power reception apparatus being the source of the notification signal has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instruction unit, the wireless power transfer unit limits power transmission for supplying power requested by the power reception apparatus.

2. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit designates a period for changing the load impedance.

3. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the instruction unit designates a length of the period for changing the load impedance.

4. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction unit designates a change of the value of the impedance.

5. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power reception apparatus has an antenna for receiving power transmitted thereto;

and

the instruction unit designates a change of the value of the impedance of the antenna of the power reception apparatus.

6. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect an object present in the power transmittable range,

wherein the reception unit receives a notification signal from the power reception apparatus after the detection unit detects an object.

7. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power transmission unit configured to perform a response request power transmission,

wherein the instruction unit instructs to change the load impedance to a power reception apparatus transmitting the notification signal in response to the response request power transmission performed by the power transmission unit.

8. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the reception unit receives the notification signal from a plurality of power reception apparatuses, the instruction unit instructs to change the load impedance differently to each of the plurality of power reception apparatuses.

9. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a period of time from reception of the notification signal to the instruction given by the instruction unit is set.

10. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a communication for performing the wireless power transfer exchanges capability information or communicates an amount of power to be wirelessly transferred.

11. A control method for a power transmission apparatus, the power transmission apparatus transmitting power and communicating with a power reception apparatus by applying a communication method which allows communication in a wider communication range than a power transmittable range, the method comprising:

receiving a notification signal for notifying the existence of a power reception apparatus by applying the communication method;

instructing a power reception apparatus being a source of the notification signal to change a load impedance consuming received power; and

determining from a power transmission result that the power reception apparatus being the source of the notification signal has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instruction unit,

wherein if it is determined that the power reception apparatus being the source of the notification signal has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instructing, a power transmission for supplying power requested by the power reception apparatus is performed and if it is not determined that the power reception apparatus being the source of the notification signal has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instructing, power transmission for supplying power requested by the power reception apparatus is limited.

12. A program causing a computer to execute a control method for a power transmission apparatus, the power transmission apparatus transmitting power and communicating with a power reception apparatus by applying a communication method which allows communication in a wider communication range than a power transmittable range, the method comprising:

receiving a notification signal for notifying the existence of a power reception apparatus by applying the communication method;

instructing a power reception apparatus being a source of the notification signal to change a load impedance consuming received power; and

determining from a power transmission result that the power reception apparatus being the source of the notification signal has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instruction unit,

wherein if it is determined that the power reception apparatus being the source of the notification signal has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instructing, a power transmission for supplying power requested by the power reception apparatus is performed and if it is not determined that the power reception apparatus being the source of the notification signal has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instructing, power transmission for supplying power requested by the power reception apparatus is limited according to claim 11.

13. A power transmission apparatus comprising:

a wireless power transfer unit configured to transmit power wirelessly to a power reception apparatus;

a reception unit configured to receive a notification signal for notifying the existence of a power reception apparatus by applying a communication method which allows communication in a wider communication range than a power transmittable range in which the wireless power transfer unit is capable of transmitting power;

an instruction unit configured to instruct to change the load impedance differently to the first power reception apparatus and the second power reception apparatus if the reception unit receives the notification signal from the first power reception apparatus and the notification signal from the second power reception apparatus; and

a determination unit configured to determine from a power transmission result that both of the first power reception apparatus and the second power reception apparatus have changed the load impedances in accordance with the instructions given by the instruction unit,

wherein if the determination unit determines that at least one of the first power reception apparatus and the second power reception apparatus has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instruction unit, the wireless power transfer unit performs a power transmission for supplying power requested by the apparatus determined by the determination unit as having changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instruction unit; and

if the determination unit does not determine that at least one of the first power reception apparatus and the second power reception apparatus has changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instruction unit, the wireless power transfer unit limits the power transmission for supplying power requested by the apparatus determined by the determination unit as having changed the load impedance in accordance with the instruction given by the instruction unit.