ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20200136435A1
• Filed: 09/06/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: MITOMO, Toshiya, TANIGUCHI, Kentaro
• Granted Patent: US 11,444,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• 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: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an wireless power transmission apparatus includes a plurality of antennas, a power transmission circuit, a measuring circuit and a control circuit. The power transmission circuit is configured to transmit a beam of a first wireless signal from the plurality of antennas. The measuring circuit is configured to receive a second wireless signal with the plurality of antennas. The control circuit is configured to: detect an object in a direction of the beam based on the second wireless signal received at a plurality of timings; and change a shape of the beam by controlling at least either an amplitude or a phase of the first wireless signal provided to each antenna of the plurality of antennas.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of antennas;

a power transmission circuit configured to transmit a beam of a first wireless signal from the plurality of antennas;

a measuring circuit configured to receive a second wireless signal with the plurality of antennas; and

a control circuit configured to;

detect an object in a direction of the beam based on the second wireless signal received at a plurality of timings; and

change a shape of the beam by controlling at least either an amplitude or a phase of the first wireless signal provided to each antenna in the plurality of antennas.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control circuit is configured to detect the object in the direction of the beam based on at least a time domain waveform or a frequency domain waveform of the second wireless signal received at the plurality of timings.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control circuit is configured to reduce a gain of the beam in a direction the object is detected.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control circuit is configured to increase a gain of the beam in a direction the object is not detected.

5. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control circuit is configured to:

receive the second wireless signal from a plurality of angles;

determine that the object is moving in a certain direction based on the fact that the object is detected in angles which are adjacent with respect to a rotational direction at a plurality of timings; and

reduce a gain of the beam in a direction the object is moving.

6. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control circuit is configured to select the beam which is transmitted from a predetermined set of beams.

7. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control circuit is configured to reduce at least a transmission power or a duty ratio of the first wireless signal when the object is detected in the direction of the beam.

8. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control circuit is configured to execute a power transmission process and a measurement process alternately, wherein

the power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the beam during the power transmission process, and

the measuring circuit is configured to receive the second wireless signal to detect the object in the direction of the beam and the control circuit is configured to change the shape of the beam by controlling at least the amplitude or the phase of the first wireless signal provided to the plurality of antennas during the measurement process.

9. The electronic apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the control circuit is configured to change a directivity of the transmitted beam at each of the power transmission processes using a first set of beams including a plurality of beams, each of the plurality of beams having different directivities.

10. The electronic apparatus of claim 9, wherein

the control circuit is configured to detect the object in directions of at least either one of the beams included in the first set and change the directivity of the transmitted beam at each of the power transmission processes, using a second set which is part of the first set, the second set not including the beams with directivity in the direction of the detected object.

11. The electronic apparatus of claim 10, wherein

the control circuit is configured to confirm that the object is no longer detected in the directions of at least either one of the beams included in the first set and change the directivity of the transmitted beam at each of the power transmission processes, using the first set.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control circuit is configured to detect the object and determine the direction of the object after at least either increasing the directivity of the plurality of antennas during reception or extending a reception period of the second wireless signal.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor circuit configured to detect the object, wherein

the control circuit is configured to detect the object in the direction of the beam based on additionally a signal of the sensor circuit, and change the shape of the beam by controlling at least the amplitude or the phase of the first wireless signal provided to the plurality of antennas.

14. A system comprising:

an electronic apparatus configured to;

transmit a beam of a first wireless signal from a plurality of antennas;

receive a second wireless signal from the plurality of antennas;

detect an object in a direction of the beam based on at least a time domain waveform or a frequency domain waveform of the second wireless signal received at the plurality of timings; and

change a shape of the beam by controlling at least either an amplitude or a phase of the first wireless signal provided to each antenna of the plurality of antennas; and

a power receiving apparatus configured to transmit the second wireless signal and receive power supplied by the beam of the first wireless signal.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a wireless communication apparatus configured to transmit the second wireless signal.

16. A method comprising:

a power transmission apparatus transmitting a beam of a first wireless signal from a plurality of antennas;

a power receiving apparatus receiving power supplied by the beam of the first wireless signal;

the power receiving apparatus transmitting a second wireless signal;

the power transmission apparatus receiving the second wireless signal with the plurality of antennas;

the power transmission apparatus detecting an object in a direction of the beam based on at least a time domain waveform or a frequency domain waveform of the second wireless signal received at the plurality of timings;

the power transmission apparatus changing a shape of the beam by controlling at least either an amplitude or a phase of the first wireless signal provided to each antenna of the plurality of antennas.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

a wireless communication apparatus transmitting the second wireless signal.