Power exchange device, power exchange method, program, and power exchange system

• US 8,332,547 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sugaya, Shigeru
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Dean
• Application Number:
  US12/416,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 710/18
• US Class Current: 710/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• 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 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source

Abstract

A power exchange device includes: a connection portion that is connected to another device; a wireless communication portion that performs wireless communication with a power exchange device in the vicinity; a power exchange portion that exchanges power with the power exchange device in the vicinity; a power management portion that causes the power exchanged by the power exchange portion to be input and output between the connection portion and the other device; and a power control portion that, after the wireless communication portion has performed the wireless communication with the power exchange device in the vicinity, controls whether to cause the power exchange portion to exchange power with the power exchange device in the vicinity depending on a power source state of the other device.

Claims

1. A power exchange system, comprising:

a first power exchange device; and

a second power exchange device,

wherein the first power exchange device comprises;

a connection portion that is connected to a processing device;

a wireless communication portion that performs wireless communication with the second power exchange device in a vicinity;

a power exchange portion that exchanges power with the second power exchange device in the vicinity during one or more power exchange time slots;

a power management portion that causes the power exchanged by the power exchange portion to be input and output between the connection portion and the processing device;

a power control portion that, after the wireless communication portion has performed the wireless communication with the second power exchange device in the vicinity, controls whether to cause the power exchange portion to exchange power with the second power exchange device in the vicinity depending on a power source state of the processing device; and

a protocol control portion that generates power transmission request information, wherein the power transmission request information comprises;

a power transmission source address that specifies the power exchange device that transmits power and the power exchange device that receives power;

a power reception format that specifies the format used to receive transmitted power;

a desired power reception amount that indicates an amount of power that the receiving power exchange device desires to receive; and

one or more power reception time slots during which the receiving power exchange device desires to receive power.

2. The power exchange system according to claim 1, wherein

the power control portion controls whether to cause the power exchange portion to exchange power after an authentication process with the second power exchange device in the vicinity has been performed via the wireless communication portion.

3. The power exchange system according to claim 1, wherein

when the wireless communication portion has received from the second power exchange device in the vicinity a power transmission request that requests power transmission, the power control portion controls whether to cause the power exchange portion to transmit power to the second power exchange device in the vicinity depending on a power source state of the processing device.

4. The power exchange system according to claim 3, wherein

the power transmission request includes, as a condition relating to power transmission, at least one of an amount of power, a format of power transmission, and information indicating a time slot during which transmission is required, and

when the power control portion causes the power exchange portion to transmit power to the second power exchange device in the vicinity, the power control portion causes the power exchange portion to transmit power based on the condition relating to the power transmission.

5. The power exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the first power exchange device comprises:

a communication control portion that causes the wireless communication portion to transmit a power transmission request that requests the second power exchange device in the vicinity to transmit power when the power control portion determines that the second power exchange device in the vicinity will transmit power.

9. The power exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the protocol control portion generates power transmission response information comprising one or more power transmission time slots.

10. The power exchange system according to claim 9, wherein power is exchanged during the one or more power transmission time slots.

11. The power exchange system according to claim 1, wherein the power exchange system comprises a plurality of power exchange devices and power is exchanged in a time sharing manner.

12. The power exchange system according to claim 1, wherein

when the wireless communication portion has received a power transmission termination request from one of a power using device or a power supply device, the power control portion terminates power transmission from the power transmission portion.

6. A power exchange method comprising the steps of:

a first power exchange device performing wireless communication with a second power exchange device in a vicinity;

determining whether to exchange power based on a power source state of a processing device that is connected by a connection portion to the first power exchange device;

the first power exchange device exchanging power with the second power exchange device in the vicinity during one or more power exchange time slots when it is determined that power is to be exchanged;

causing the power that is exchanged with the second power exchange device in the vicinity to be input into and output from the processing device; and

generating power transmission request information, wherein the power transmission request information comprises;

a power transmission source address that specifies the power exchange device that transmits power and the power exchange device that receives power;

a power reception format that specifies the format used to receive transmitted power;

a desired power reception amount that indicates an amount of power that the receiving power exchange device desires to receive; and

one or more power reception time slots during which the receiving power exchange device desires to receive power.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium which stores a program which, when executed by a computer, is configured to perform steps comprising:

connecting a connection portion to a processing device;

performing wireless communication with a power exchange device in a vicinity;

exchanging power with the power exchange device in the vicinity;

inputting and outputting the power exchanged by a power exchange portion between the connection portion and the processing device;

controlling, after a wireless communication portion has performed the wireless communication with the power exchange device in the vicinity, whether to cause the power exchange portion to exchange power with the power exchange device in the vicinity during one or more power exchange time slots depending on a power source state of the processing device; and

generating power transmission request information with a protocol control portion, wherein the transmission request information comprises;

a power transmission source address that specifies the power exchange device that transmits power and the power exchange device that receives power;

a power reception format that specifies the format used to receive transmitted power;

a desired power reception amount that indicates an amount of power that the receiving power exchange device desires to receive; and

one or more power reception time slots during which the receiving power exchange device desires to receive power.

8. A power exchange system, comprising:

a power receiving device that includes

a first connection portion that is connected to a power using device,

a first wireless communication portion that performs wireless communication,

a power receiving portion that receives transmitted power,

a first power management portion that causes the power received by the power receiving portion to be output from the first connection portion to the power using device, and

a protocol control portion that generates power transmission request information comprising;

a power transmission source address that specifies the power receiving device and a power transmission device;

a power reception format that specifies the format used to receive transmitted power;

a desired power reception amount that indicates an amount of power that the power receiving device desires to receive; and

one or more power reception time slots during which the power receiving device desires to receive power; and

the power transmission device that includes

a second connection portion that is connected to a power supply device,

a second wireless communication portion that performs wireless communication with the first wireless communication portion of the power receiving device,

a power transmission portion that transmits to the power receiving device power supplied from the power supply device during the one or more power reception time slots, and

a power control portion that, after the second wireless communication portion has performed the wireless communication with the first wireless communication portion of the power receiving device, controls whether to cause the power transmission portion to transmit power to the power receiving device during the one or more power reception time slots, depending on a power source state of one of the power using device and the power supply device.