Non-contact power transmission apparatus

• US 8,941,268 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Mobile Communications Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Katsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US13/349,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20120223588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

A non-contact power transmission apparatus that includes a power supply circuit that generates electrical power; a switch connected to an output of the power supply circuit; a first power transmission antenna connected to a first output of the switch; a second power transmission antenna connected to a second output of the switch; a communication interface that communicates with a device; and a control unit that controls the switch based on a state of the device obtained via the communication interface.

Claims

1. A non-contact power transmission apparatus, comprising:

a power supply circuit that generates electrical power;

a switch connected to an output of the power supply circuit;

a first power transmission antenna connected to a first output of the switch;

a second power transmission antenna connected to a second output of the switch;

a communication interface that communicates with a device; and

a control unit that controls the switch based on a state of the device obtained via the communication interface.

2. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first matching circuit connected between the first output of the switch and the first power transmission antenna; and

a second matching circuit connected between the second output of the switch and the second power transmission antenna.

3. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the second power transmission antenna is larger than the first power transmission antenna.

4. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a first printed board on which the first power transmission antenna is formed; and

a second printed board on which the second power transmission antenna is formed.

5. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the first printed board is disposed to overlap the second printed board.

6. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 5, wherein

a first area defined by a periphery of the second power transmission antenna formed on the second printed board is greater than, and encompasses, a second area defined by a periphery of the first power transmission antenna formed on the first printed board.

7. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a hinge unit that rotatably joins the first printed board and the second printed board.

8. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the first and second printed boards are arranged such that a first plane defined by the first printed board and a second plane defined by the second printed board are parallel.

9. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the first and second printed boards do not overlap one another when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first and second planes.

10. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a lid portion that detachably covers the first printed board.

11. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control unit detects whether the device is located in proximity to the non-contact power transmission apparatus based on a signal received from the device via the communication interface.

12. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 11, wherein

when the device is detected in proximity to the non-contact power transmission apparatus, the control unit controls the switch so that power is transmitted from the second power transmission antenna for a first predetermined period of time.

13. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 12, wherein

the control unit determines a first transmission efficiency metric corresponding to the power transmitted from the second power transmission antenna to the device based on first data received from the device.

14. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 13, wherein

when the first predetermined period of time lapses, the control unit controls the switch so that power is transmitted from the first power transmission antenna for a second predetermined period of time.

15. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 14, wherein

the control unit determines a second transmission efficiency metric corresponding to the power transmitted from the first power transmission antenna to the device based on second data received from the device.

16. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 15, wherein

when the second predetermined period of time lapses, the control unit compares the first and second power transmission efficiency metrics, and controls the switch based on a result of the comparison.

17. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control unit detects whether a plurality of devices are located in proximity to the non-contact power transmission apparatus based on a signal received from the plurality of devices via the communication interface.

18. The non-contact power transmission apparatus of claim 17, wherein

the control unit controls the switch based a result of the detection.

19. A method performed by a non-contact power transmission apparatus, the method comprising:

generating, by a power supply circuit, electrical power to be provided to one of a first power transmission antenna and a second power transmission antenna, which are each connected to an output of the power supply circuit via a switch;

communicating, via a communication interface, with a device; and

controlling, by a control unit, the switch based on a state of the device obtained from the device via the communicating.

20. A computer-readable medium including computer program instructions, which when executed by a non-contact power transmission apparatus, cause the non-contact power transmission apparatus to perform a method comprising:

controlling a switch, which is connected between a power supply circuit that generates power and first and second power transmission antennas, based on a state of a device received via a communication interface of the non-contact power transmission apparatus.