Charging apparatus

• US 8,183,828 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanabe, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US12/399,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20090224723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• 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
• 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 charging apparatus includes: a charging unit configured to perform a contactless charging operation for a placed external device; a detector configured to detect a position of a placed object; a determining unit configured to determine that the placed object is an external device compatible with the charging unit; and a control unit configured to control the charging unit such that, during the contactless charging operation for an external device compatible with the charging unit, the charging operation for the external device being charged is restricted when an object that is determined by the determining unit not to be an external device compatible with the charging unit, has been placed within a predetermined distance from the charging unit.

Claims

1. A charging apparatus comprising:

a charging unit configured to perform a contactless charging process, wherein the contactless charging process includes a process for supplying power to an external device; and

a control unit configured to perform a predetermined process for reducing a voltage supplied to the external device based on whether a distance between an object and the charging apparatus is less than a predetermined value if the contactless charging process is performed, wherein the object does not include a chargeable device.

2. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the charging unit to supply power to the external device intermittently based on whether the distance is less than the predetermined value if the contactless charging process is performed.

3. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object does not include a unit that charges by using power received from the charging apparatus.

4. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the charging unit to stop the contactless charging process based on whether the distance is less than the predetermined value if the contactless charging process is performed.

5. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that outputs information relating to the object if the distance is less than the predetermined value.

6. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops the contactless charging process by using at least one of a current of the charging unit and a voltage of the charging unit if the contactless charging process is performed.

7. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs the predetermined process if the contactless charging process is performed and the distance is less than the predetermined value.

8. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detector that detects a position of the object.

9. A charging apparatus comprising:

a first charging unit configured to perform a contactless charging process, wherein the contactless charging process includes a process for supplying power to an external device;

a second charging unit configured to perform the contactless charging process; and

a control unit configured to reduce a voltage supplied to the external device based on whether a first distance between an object and the first charging unit is less than a predetermined value if the contactless charging process is performed by using the first charging unit, wherein the object does not include a chargeable device.

10. The charging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit stops supplying power to the external device via the first charging unit based on whether the first distance is less than the predetermined value if the contactless charging process is performed by using the first charging unit.

11. The charging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit controls the first charging unit to supply power to the external device intermittently based on whether the first distance is less than the predetermined value if the contactless charging process is performed by using the first charging unit.

12. The charging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the object does not include a unit that charges by using power received from the charging apparatus.

13. The charging apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an output unit that outputs information relating to the object if the first distance is less than the predetermined value.

14. The charging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit performs the contactless charging process by using the second charging unit if the first distance is less than the predetermined value and a second distance between the object and the second charging unit is not less than the predetermined value.

15. The charging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit stops the contactless charging process by using at least one of a current of the first charging unit and a voltage of the first charging unit if the contactless charging process is performed by using the first charging unit.

16. The charging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit performs the predetermined process if the contactless charging process is performed by the first charging unit and the first distance is less than the predetermined value.

17. The charging apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a detector that detects a position of the object.