Power transmitting apparatus, power receiving apparatus, and wireless power transmission system

• US 8,772,978 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Keiichi, Goma, Shinji, Kato, Kazuya, Kabumoto, Miyako
• Primary Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US13/165,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20110316353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A power transmitting apparatus includes a power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode and a power transmitting apparatus side active electrode, and a power receiving apparatus includes a power receiving apparatus side active electrode and a power receiving apparatus side active electrode. The power transmitting apparatus side active electrode and the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode are not parallel with each other in terms of a positional relationship, and the power receiving apparatus side active electrode and the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode are not parallel with each other in terms of a positional relationship. By mounting the power receiving apparatus on the power transmitting apparatus, the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode and active electrode respectively face the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode and active electrode.

Claims

1. A power receiving apparatus forming a pair with a power transmitting apparatus in which a high-frequency voltage generator circuit that applies a high-frequency high voltage is connected between a power transmitting apparatus side active electrode and a power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode, the power receiving apparatus comprising:

a power receiving apparatus side active electrode that faces the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode with the power receiving apparatus mounted to the power transmitting apparatus;

a power receiving apparatus side passive electrode that faces the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode with the power receiving apparatus mounted to the power transmitting apparatus;

a voltage step-down circuit that decreases a voltage generated between the power receiving apparatus side active electrode and the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode; and

a load circuit that receives an output voltage of the voltage step-down circuit as a power supply voltage,

wherein the power receiving apparatus side active electrode and the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode are not parallel with each other in terms of a positional relationship.

2. The power receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power receiving apparatus further includes a casing which is a solid figure having six surfaces.

3. The power receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power receiving apparatus side active electrode and the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode are substantially perpendicular to each other.

4. The power receiving apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode is provided along a first surface which has a relatively larger area among six surfaces of the casing of the power receiving apparatus, and

wherein a second surface, which is one of four surfaces neighboring the first surface among the six surfaces of the casing of the power receiving apparatus, is provided with the power receiving apparatus side active electrode.

5. The power receiving apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein one of the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode and active electrode is provided along a first surface among six surfaces of the casing of the power receiving apparatus, and

wherein each of a plurality of surfaces among second to fifth surfaces neighboring the first surface among the six surfaces is provided with the other of the power receiving apparatus side active electrode and passive electrode.

6. The power receiving apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a detecting unit that detects an electrode facing the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode among electrodes provided along plural surfaces of the six surfaces of the casing of the power receiving apparatus; and

a switching unit that connects the electrode facing the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode to the voltage step-down circuit.

7. The power receiving apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the power receiving apparatus is formed of a power receiving apparatus main body and a jacket that surrounds the power receiving apparatus main body,

wherein the jacket includes at least:

the power receiving apparatus side active electrode;

the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode;

the voltage step-down circuit; and

a jacket side electrode that supplies an output voltage of the voltage step-down circuit, and

wherein the power receiving apparatus main body includes;

a power receiving apparatus main body side electrode that is in contact with and electrically connected to the jacket side electrode; and

electrical connection between the load circuit and the power receiving apparatus main body side electrode.

8. A power transmitting apparatus forming a pair with a power receiving apparatus in which a voltage step-down circuit is connected between a power receiving apparatus side active electrode and a power receiving apparatus side passive electrode, the power transmitting apparatus comprising:

a power transmitting apparatus side active electrode that faces the power receiving apparatus side active electrode with the power receiving apparatus mounted to the power transmitting apparatus;

a power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode that faces the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode with the power receiving apparatus mounted to the power transmitting apparatus; and

a high-frequency voltage generator circuit connected between the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode and the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode,

wherein the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode and the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode are not parallel with each other in terms of a positional relationship.

9. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a first flat portion provided with the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode; and

a second flat portion that is provided with the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode and that is perpendicular to the first flat portion.

10. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a third flat portion perpendicular to the first flat portion and the second flat portion,

wherein the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode faces the power receiving apparatus side active electrode in a state in which one surface of the power receiving apparatus is in contact with the third flat portion.

11. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the third flat portion is provided with the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode.

12. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the third flat portion is provided with a third flat portion side power transmitting apparatus side active electrode separated from the power transmitting apparatus side electrode provided in the first flat portion, the power transmitting apparatus further comprising:

a detecting unit that detects which of the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode in the first flat portion and the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode in the third flat portion is an electrode facing the active electrode of the power receiving apparatus; and

a switching unit that connects the detected electrode facing the active electrode of the power receiving apparatus to the high-frequency voltage generator circuit.

13. A wireless power transmission system comprising:

a power transmitting apparatus in which a high-frequency voltage generator circuit that applies a high-frequency high voltage is connected between a power transmitting apparatus side active electrode and a power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode; and

a power receiving apparatus in which a voltage step-down circuit is connected between a power receiving apparatus side active electrode and a power receiving apparatus side passive electrode, and which includes a load circuit that receives an output voltage of the voltage step-down circuit as a power supply voltage,

wherein the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode is not parallel with the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode, and the power receiving apparatus side active electrode is not parallel with the power receiving apparatus side passive electrode.

14. The wireless power transmission system according to claim 13,

wherein the power transmitting apparatus includes:

a first flat portion provided with the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode;

a second flat portion that is provided with the power transmitting apparatus side passive electrode and that is perpendicular to the first flat portion; and

a third flat portion perpendicular to the first flat portion and the second flat portion,

wherein the power transmitting apparatus side active electrode faces the power receiving apparatus side active electrode in a state in which one surface of the power receiving apparatus is in contact with the third flat portion, and

wherein a point at which a line that is perpendicular to the first flat portion or the second flat portion and that passes through a center of gravity of the power receiving apparatus intersects with the first flat portion or the second flat portion is farther from the third flat portion than a center of the first flat portion or the second flat portion.