Information processing apparatus, program, and information processing system

• US 8,760,114 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2012
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FeliCa Networks, Inc (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: FeliCa Networks, Inc (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sekita, Suguru, Kawata, Shogo, Sekiya, Shuichi, Oowada, Kazuhito
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Application Number:
  US13/658,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20130043837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/108, 320/109, 320/132, 320/149
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes an antenna having a variable Q value, the antenna being used for performing communication with an external apparatus in a noncontact manner by using a carrier of a predetermined frequency and charging a battery in a noncontact manner by using the carrier, an obtaining unit configured to obtain information about charging of the battery, a determining unit configured to determine whether charging of the battery is to be performed or not on the basis of the information obtained by the obtaining unit, and a setting unit configured to selectively set the Q value of the antenna to a first value or a second value in accordance with a determination result generated by the determining unit, the second value being larger than the first value.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a communication unit configured to perform communication with an external apparatus in a noncontact manner by using a carrier of a predetermined frequency and charging an external battery in a noncontact manner; and

a control unit configured to control a characteristic of the communication unit, and determine to perform at least one of the communication and the charging.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit includes

a resonance circuit having a coil that has a predetermined inductance and a capacitor that has a predetermined electrostatic capacity, and

a Q value changing circuit configured to selectively enable a load for changing a Q value or change a resistance value of the load.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit includes

a resonance circuit having a first coil that has a predetermined inductance and a capacitor that has a predetermined electrostatic capacity, and

a circuit that is placed near the resonance circuit, that is selectively enabled to change a Q value, that is electrically insulated from the resonance circuit, and that has a second coil.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlling unit is configured to:

obtain a response signal that is transmitted from the external apparatus, that is a response to charging authentication information transmitted to the external apparatus, and that serves as information about charging of the battery, and

obtain charging continuation information that is intermittently transmitted from the external apparatus during charging of the battery and that serves as information about charging of the battery,

wherein the controlling unit determines whether charging of the battery is to be performed or not on the basis of the response signal or the charging continuation information, and

wherein the setting unit sets a Q value of the communication unit to a first value when the determining unit determines that charging of the battery is to be performed and sets the Q value of the communication unit to a second value when the controlling unit determines that charging of the battery is not to be performed.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a power transmitting unit configured to transmit power for charging the battery to the external apparatus; and

a power transmission stop unit configured to stop transmission of the power by the power transmitting unit when the charging continuation information obtaining unit stops obtaining the charging continuation information that is intermittently obtained.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a battery,

a communication unit configured to perform communication with the charging apparatus in a noncontact manner by using a carrier of a predetermined frequency and charging the battery in a noncontact manner; and

a control unit configured to control a characteristic of the communication unit, and determine to perform at least one of the communication and the charging.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit includes

a resonance circuit having a coil that has a predetermined inductance and a capacitor that has a predetermined electrostatic capacity, and

a Q value changing circuit configured to selectively enable a load for changing a Q value or change a resistance value of the load.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit includes

a resonance circuit having a first coil that has a predetermined inductance and a capacitor that has a predetermined electrostatic capacity, and

a circuit that is placed near the resonance circuit, that is selectively enabled to change a Q value, that is electrically insulated from the resonance circuit, and that has a second coil.