Charging apparatus and method for controlling charging apparatus

• US 9,041,346 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakama, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US13/256,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20120043932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A charging apparatus including a charging unit adapted to charge, in a non-contact manner, an apparatus to be charged placed in a charging region, a detector adapted to detect a charged state of the apparatus to be charged placed in the charging region, and a controller adapted to change a mode of the apparatus to be charged to a mode that inhibits vibration, according to the charged state detected by the detector.

Claims

1. A charging apparatus comprising:

a power transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus; and

a controller that determines whether or not the charging apparatus is inclined, and determines whether or not to stop charging the battery based on a determination of whether or not the charging apparatus is inclined.

2. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines whether or not the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration, and changes a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that inhibits vibration, before charging of the battery is started in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration.

3. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller changes a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that permits vibration, after charging of the battery ends in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that inhibits vibration.

4. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by an authentication process, and determines whether or not to start to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by the authentication process.

8. The charging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external apparatus is an apparatus capable of acting as a mobile phone.

5. A method comprising:

causing a power transmitting unit to wirelessly transmit power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus;

determining whether or not a charging apparatus including the power transmitting unit is inclined; and

determining whether or not to stop charging the battery based on a determination of whether or not the charging apparatus is inclined.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether or not the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration; and

changing a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that inhibits vibration, before charging of the battery is started in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration.

9. The method according to claim 5, further comprising

changing a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that permits vibration, after charging of the battery ends in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that inhibits vibration.

10. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by an authentication process; and

determining whether or not to start to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by the authentication process.

11. The method according to claim 5, wherein the external apparatus is an apparatus capable of acting as a mobile phone.

7. A non-transitory storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

causing a power transmitting unit to wirelessly transmit power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus;

determining whether or not a charging apparatus including the power transmitting unit is inclined; and

determining whether or not to stop charging the battery based on a determination of whether or not the charging apparatus is inclined.

12. A charging apparatus comprising:

a power transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus; and

a controller that determines whether or not the charging apparatus is inclined, and determines whether or not to control the charging of the battery based on a determination of whether or not the charging apparatus is inclined.

13. The charging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller determines whether or not the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration, and changes a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that inhibits vibration, before charging of the battery is started in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration.

14. The charging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller changes a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that permits vibration, after charging of the battery ends in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that inhibits vibration.

15. The charging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller determines whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by an authentication process, and determines whether or not to start to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by the authentication process.

16. The charging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the external apparatus is an apparatus capable of acting as a mobile phone.

17. A method comprising:

causing a power transmitting unit to wirelessly transmit power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus;

determining whether or not a charging apparatus including the power transmitting unit is inclined; and

determining whether or not to control the charging of the battery based on a determination of whether or not the charging apparatus is inclined.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

determining whether or not the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration; and

changing a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that inhibits vibration, before charging of the battery is started in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising

changing a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that permits vibration, after charging of the battery ends in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that inhibits vibration.

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

determining whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by an authentication process; and

determining whether or not to start to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by the authentication process.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the external apparatus is an apparatus capable of acting as a mobile phone.

22. A non-transitory storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

causing a power transmitting unit to wirelessly transmit power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus;

determining whether or not a charging apparatus including the power transmitting unit is inclined; and

determining whether or not to control the charging of the battery based on a determination of whether or not the charging apparatus is inclined.

23. A power transmitting apparatus comprising:

a power transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus; and

a controller that determines whether or not the power transmitting apparatus is inclined, and determines whether or not to stop transmitting power used to charge the battery to the external apparatus based on a determination of whether or not the power transmitting apparatus is inclined.

24. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the controller determines whether or not the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration, and changes a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that inhibits vibration, before charging of the battery is started in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration.

25. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the controller changes a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that permits vibration, after charging of the battery ends in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that inhibits vibration.

26. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the controller determines whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by an authentication process, and determines whether or not to start to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by the authentication process.

27. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the external apparatus is an apparatus capable of acting as a mobile phone.

28. A method comprising:

causing a power transmitting unit to wirelessly transmit power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus;

determining whether or not a power transmitting apparatus including the power transmitting unit is inclined; and

determining whether or not to stop transmitting power used to charge the battery to the external apparatus based on a determination of whether or not the power transmitting apparatus is inclined.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising:

determining whether or not the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration; and

changing a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that inhibits vibration, before charging of the battery is started in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration.

30. The method according to claim 28, further comprising

changing a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that permits vibration, after charging of the battery ends in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that inhibits vibration.

31. The method according to claim 28, further comprising:

determining whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by an authentication process; and

determining whether or not to start to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by the authentication process.

32. The method according to claim 28, wherein the external apparatus is an apparatus capable of acting as a mobile phone.

33. A non-transitory storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

causing a power transmitting unit to wirelessly transmit power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus;

determining whether or not a power transmitting apparatus including the power transmitting unit is inclined; and

determining whether or not to stop transmitting power used to charge the battery to the external apparatus based on a determination of whether or not the power transmitting apparatus is inclined.

34. A power transmitting apparatus comprising:

a power transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus; and

a controller that determines whether or not the power transmitting apparatus is inclined, and determines whether or not to control the transmission of power used to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the power transmitting apparatus is inclined.

35. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the controller determines whether or not the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration, and changes a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that inhibits vibration, before charging of the battery is started in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration.

36. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the controller changes a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that permits vibration, after charging of the battery ends in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that inhibits vibration.

37. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the controller determines whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by an authentication process, and determines whether or not to start to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by the authentication process.

38. The power transmitting apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the external apparatus is an apparatus capable of acting as a mobile phone.

39. A method comprising:

causing a power transmitting unit to wirelessly transmit power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus;

determining whether or not a power transmitting apparatus including the power transmitting unit is inclined; and

determining whether or not to control the transmission of power used to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the power transmitting apparatus is inclined.

40. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:

determining whether or not the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration; and

changing a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that inhibits vibration, before charging of the battery is started in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that permits vibration.

41. The method according to claim 39, further comprising

changing a mode of the external apparatus to a mode that permits vibration, after charging of the battery ends in a case where the external apparatus is in a mode that inhibits vibration.

42. The method according to claim 39, further comprising:

determining whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by an authentication process; and

determining whether or not to start to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the external apparatus is authenticated by the authentication process.

43. The method according to claim 39, wherein the external apparatus is an apparatus capable of acting as a mobile phone.

44. A non-transitory storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

causing a power transmitting unit to wirelessly transmit power used to charge a battery to an external apparatus;

determining whether or not a power transmitting apparatus including the power transmitting unit is inclined; and

determining whether or not to control the transmission of power used to charge the battery based on a determination of whether or not the power transmitting apparatus is inclined.