Charging apparatus

• US 8,614,561 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• 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:
  US13/452,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 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 power supply apparatus comprising:

a power supply unit that is used for performing a first process, wherein the first process includes a process for supplying power wirelessly to an external device that is in a predetermined area;

a detection unit that detects whether an object is in the predetermined area while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process, wherein the object is different from the external device; and

a control unit that performs a second process, after the detection unit detects that the object is in the predetermined area while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process, wherein the second process includes a process for reducing power supplied to the external device.

2. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object does not include a chargeable device.

3. The power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the object does not include a unit that is charged by using power received from the power supply apparatus.

4. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not perform the second process if the detection unit does not detect that the object is in the predetermined area while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

5. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature, wherein the control unit performs a process for reducing power supplied to the external device if a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature while the power supply is performing the first process.

6. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that outputs information relating to the object after the detection unit detects that the object is in the predetermined area.

7. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein power supplied to the external device is used for causing the external device to perform a process for charging a battery.

8. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature, wherein the control unit performs a third process for stopping supplying power to the external device if a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

9. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a current detection unit that detects a current flowing to the power supply unit, wherein the control unit performs a process for reducing a power supplied to the external device if a current detected by the current detection unit is less than a predetermined current while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

10. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a current detection unit that detects a current flowing to the power supply unit, wherein the control unit performs a third process for stopping supplying power to the external device if a current detected by the current detection unit is less than a predetermined current while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

11. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage of the power supply unit, wherein the control unit performs a process for reducing a power supplied to the external device if a voltage detected by the voltage detection unit is less than a predetermined voltage while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

12. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage of the power supply unit, wherein the control unit performs a third process for stopping supplying power to the external device if a voltage detected by the voltage detection unit is less than a predetermined voltage while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

13. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit supplies power based on electromagnetic induction.

14. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit supplies power via an antenna.

15. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit supplies power by using a resonant circuit.

16. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second process includes a third process for stopping supplying power to the external device.

17. A control method for controlling a power supply apparatus, the control method comprising:

performing a first process, wherein the first process includes a process for supplying power wirelessly to an external device that is in a predetermined area;

detecting whether an object is in the predetermined area while the first process is performed, wherein the object is different from the external device; and

performing a second process, after the object that is in the predetermined area is detected while the first process is performed, wherein the second process includes a process for reducing power supplied to the external device.

18. The control method according to claim 17, wherein the object does not include a chargeable device.

19. The control method according to claim 17, further comprising

detecting a temperature, and

performing a process for reducing a power supplied to the external device if a detected temperature is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature while the first process is performed.

20. The control method according to claim 17, further comprising

detecting a temperature, and

performing a third process for stopping supplying power to the external device if a detected temperature is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature while the first process is performed.

21. A power supply apparatus comprising:

a power supply unit that is used for performing a first process, wherein the first process includes a process for supplying power wirelessly to an external device that is in a predetermined area;

a detection unit that detects whether an object is in the predetermined area while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process, wherein the object is different from the external device; and

a control unit that performs a second process, after the detection unit detects that the object is in the predetermined area while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process, wherein the second process includes a process for restricting power supplied to the external device.

22. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the object does not include a chargeable device.

23. The power supply apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the object does not include a unit that is charged by using power received from the power supply apparatus.

24. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature, wherein the control unit performs a process for restricting power supplied to the external device if a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

25. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature, wherein the control unit performs a third process for stopping supplying power to the external device if a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

26. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising an output unit that outputs information relating to the object after the detection unit detects that the object is in the predetermined area.

27. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a current detection unit that detects a current flowing to the power supply unit, wherein the control unit performs a process for restricting power supplied to the external device if a current detected by the current detection unit is less than a predetermined current while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

28. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a current detection unit that detects a current flowing to the power supply unit, wherein the control unit performs a third process for stopping supplying power to the external device if a current detected by the current detection unit is less than a predetermined current while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

29. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage of the power supply unit, wherein the control unit performs a process for restricting power supplied to the external device if a voltage detected by the voltage detection unit is less than a predetermined voltage while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

30. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage of the power supply unit, wherein the control unit performs a third process for stopping supplying power to the external device if a voltage detected by the voltage detection unit is less than a predetermined voltage while the power supply apparatus is performing the first process.

31. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the power supply unit supplies power based on electromagnetic induction.

32. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the power supply unit supplies power via an antenna.

33. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the power supply unit supplies power by using a resonant circuit.

34. The power supply apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second process includes a third process for stopping supplying power to the external device.

35. A control method for controlling a power supply apparatus, the control method comprising:

performing a first process, wherein the first process includes a process for supplying power wirelessly to an external device that is in a predetermined area;

detecting whether an object is in the predetermined area while the first process is performed, wherein the object is different from the external device; and

performing a second process, after the object that is in the predetermined area is detected while the first process is performed, wherein the second process includes a process for restricting power supplied to the external device.

36. The control method according to claim 35, wherein the object does not include a chargeable device.

37. The control method according to claim 35, further comprising

detecting a temperature;

and

performing a process for restricting power supplied to the external device if a detected temperature is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature while the first process is performed.

38. The control method according to claim 35, further comprising

detecting a temperature;

and

performing a third process for stopping supplying power to the external device if a detected temperature is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature while the first process is performed.