POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE, POWER RECEIVING DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM, AND POWER SUPPLY METHOD

• US 20170353058A1
• Filed: 08/22/2017
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nakano, Daiju, Ohba, Nobuyuki, Takano, Kohji
• Granted Patent: US 10,008,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0878 Sensors; antennas; probes; detectors wave guide measuring sections G01R1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• 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: H04B 10/07955 Monitoring or measuring power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/807 Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Provided are a power transmitting device, a power receiving device, a power supply system, and a power supply method able to supply electric power by emitting electromagnetic waves. A power transmitting device comprises: a calculating unit for calculating the maximum value for the emitted output of electromagnetic waves meeting exposure standards on the basis of a response delay time measured by the communication link between the power transmitting device and a power receiving device; a power transmitting unit for transmitting power via a power supply link with the power receiving device at an output not exceeding the maximum value; an anomaly detecting unit for detecting an anomaly in the power supply link on the basis of communication with the power receiving device via the communication link; and an output control unit for controlling the output on the basis of the detection of an anomaly in the power supply link.

Claims

1. A power supply method executed between a power transmitting device able to transmit power by emitting electromagnetic waves, and a power receiving device able to receive power supplied by the power transmitting device, the power supply method comprising the steps of:

evaluating the response delay time for communication via the communication link between the power transmitting device and the power receiving device;

calculating the maximum value for the emitted output of electromagnetic waves meeting exposure standards on the basis of the response delay time;

and causing the power transmitting unit to transmit power via a power supply link with the power receiving device at an output not exceeding the maximum value;

the power supply method further comprising the steps of;

detecting an anomaly in the power supply link on the basis of communication with the power receiving device via the communication link; and

causing the power supply device to limit the output of the power supply link on the basis of the detection of an anomaly in the power supply link.

2. The power supply method according to claim 1, wherein detecting an anomaly in the power supply link is by an anomaly detecting unit, wherein causing the power transmitting unit to transmit power via a power supply link is by an output control unit, wherein each of the power transmitting device and the power receiving device is capable of transmitting data through the wireless communication link, wherein the output control unit limits the output in response to an occurrence of an anomaly in at least either the wireless communication link or the power supply link, wherein the emission of electromagnetic waves has directionality, the calculating step includes calculating the maximum value for the emission output of electromagnetic waves on the basis of conditions preventing a predetermined exposure level from being exceeded when electromagnetic waves are emitted at a maximum value over a reaction period at least including the response delay time, and the output limiting step includes causing the power transmitting device to stop the emission output of electromagnetic waves in the power supply link in response to the detection of the anomaly in the power supply link.