Transmission system, power supplying apparatus, power receiving apparatus, and transmission method

• US 8,421,272 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kubono, Fumio, Ishibashi, Yoshihito, Nagai, Shoji, Yoshida, Yuko, Ide, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US12/480,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20090302690A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 320/108
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/402 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 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

There is provided a transmission system, including a power supplying apparatus that includes an AC signal generation unit that generates an AC signal, a first resonance unit that has an induction component and/or a capacitance component and resonates the AC signal generated by the AC signal generation unit, and a power supplying electrode that externally radiates the resonated AC signal as a potential difference in an electrostatic field, and a power receiving apparatus that includes a power receiving electrode that generates an electric signal by sensing the potential difference in the electrostatic field, a second resonance unit that has an induction component and/or a capacitance component and resonates the electric signal generated by the power receiving electrode, and a rectification unit that rectifies the resonated electric signal.

Claims

1. A transmission system, comprising:

a power supplying apparatus, including;

an AC signal generation unit that generates an AC signal;

a first resonance unit that has an induction component and/or a capacitance component and resonates the AC signal generated by the AC signal generation unit; and

a power supplying electrode that externally radiates the resonated AC signal as a potential difference in an electrostatic field, and

a power receiving apparatus, including;

a power receiving electrode that generates an electric signal by sensing the potential difference in the electrostatic field;

a second resonance unit that has an induction component and/or a capacitance component and resonates the electric signal generated by the power receiving electrode;

a rectification unit that rectifies the resonated electric signal;

a power measurement unit that measures a power value of power generated after the electric signal rectified by the rectification unit; and

a control unit that controls the induction component and/or the capacitance component of the second resonance unit based on the power value measured by the power measurement unit.

2. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the power receiving apparatus, further comprises:

a first communication unit that transmits the power value measured by the power measurement unit with a radio signal via the power receiving electrode, and

the power supplying apparatus, further including;

a second communication unit that receives the power value transmitted from the power receiving apparatus via the power supplying electrode; and

a control unit that controls an angular frequency of an AC signal generated by the AC signal generation unit based on the power value received by the second communication unit.

3. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit of the power receiving apparatus controls the capacitance component of the second resonance unit by changing a voltage applied to a varactor element held by the second resonance unit.

4. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit of the power receiving apparatus controls the induction component of the second resonance unit by moving a control member gripped so as to at least partially go through an inner position of a coil.

5. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the power supplying apparatus, further comprises:

a power measurement unit that measures a power value of power supplied from the power supplying apparatus; and

a control unit that controls the induction component and/or the capacitance component of the first resonance unit based on the power value measured by the power measurement unit.

6. The transmission system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit of the power supplying apparatus controls the capacitance component of the first resonance unit by changing a voltage applied to a varactor element held by the first resonance unit.

7. The transmission system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit of the power supplying apparatus controls the induction component of the first resonance unit by moving a control member gripped so as to at least partially go through an inner position of a coil.

8. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the power supplying apparatus, further comprises:

a power measurement unit that measures a power value of power supplied from the power supplying apparatus; and

a control unit that controls an angular frequency of an AC signal generated by the AC signal generation unit based on the power value measured by the power measurement unit.

9. The transmission system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit of the power supplying apparatus lowers output of the AC signal generated by the AC signal generation unit when the power value measured by the power measurement unit is smaller than a predetermined threshold.

10. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the power supplying electrode and the power receiving electrode have different sizes.

11. A transmission system, comprising:

a power supplying apparatus, including;

an AC signal generation unit that generates an AC signal;

a first resonance unit that has an induction component and/or a capacitance component and resonates the AC signal generated by the AC signal generation unit; and

a power supplying electrode that externally radiates the resonated AC signal as a potential difference in an electrostatic field, and

a power receiving apparatus, including;

a power receiving electrode that generates an electric signal by sensing the potential difference in the electrostatic field;

a second resonance unit that has an induction component and/or a capacitance component and resonates the electric signal generated by the power receiving electrode;

a rectification unit that rectifies the resonated electric signal;

wherein the power receiving electrode includes a plurality of electrodes, and the power receiving apparatus, further comprises;

a first selection unit and a second selection unit each capable of selecting designated electrodes from the plurality of electrodes; and

a selection determination unit that classifies the plurality of electrodes into a first set and a second set based on signal intensity of an electric signal output from each of the plurality of electrodes, instructs the first selection unit to make a selection of electrodes belonging to the first set, and instructs the second selection unit to make a selection of electrodes belonging to the second set.

12. A transmission system, comprising:

a power supplying apparatus, including;

an AC signal generation unit that generates an AC signal;

a first resonance unit that has an induction component and/or a capacitance component and resonates the AC signal generated by the AC signal generation unit; and

a power supplying electrode that externally radiates the resonated AC signal as a potential difference in an electrostatic field, and

a power receiving apparatus, including;

a power receiving electrode that generates an electric signal by sensing the potential difference in the electrostatic field;

a second resonance unit that has an induction component and/or a capacitance component and resonates the electric signal generated by the power receiving electrode;

a rectification unit that rectifies the resonated electric signal;

a first communication unit that performs radio communication with the power supplying apparatus via the power receiving electrode;

a secondary power supply unit connected to the first communication unit;

a power measurement unit that measures a power value of power generated after the electric signal rectified by the rectification unit; and

a power supply selection unit that causes the rectification unit to supply power to the first communication unit when the power value measured by the power measurement unit is larger than a predetermined threshold and that causes the secondary power supply unit to supply power to the first communication unit when the power value measured by the power measurement unit is smaller than the predetermined threshold.