Power supply apparatus, method, and storage medium to output wireless power and charge based on value relating to output power and efficiency

• US 9,379,570 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2012
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanabe, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Toan
• Application Number:
  US13/368,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20120205988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection

Abstract

A power supply apparatus includes a power supply unit that outputs power to an electronic apparatus, and a control unit that determines whether a predetermined object is detected. The control unit controls the power supply unit to output power that is less than a predetermined value if the predetermined object is detected, and the predetermined object does not include a chargeable object.

Claims

1. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output unit that wirelessly outputs power to an electronic apparatus; and

a control unit that performs at least one of a first process and a second process, wherein the first process includes a process for determining whether a change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the output unit and a reflected wave of power output by the output unit, is equal to or more than a first predetermined value, wherein the second process includes a process for determining whether an efficiency is equal to or more than a second predetermined value, wherein the efficiency is obtained according to power output by the power output unit and power received by the electronic apparatus, and

wherein the control unit causes the output unit to output charging power for causing the electronic apparatus to charge a battery in response to a change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the output unit and a reflected wave of power output by the output unit, not being equal to or more than the first predetermined value and the efficiency being equal to or more than the second predetermined value.

2. The power output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a process for informing an existence of a foreign object in response to a change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the output unit and a reflected wave of power output by the output unit, being equal to or more than the first predetermined value.

3. The power output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a process for informing an existence of a foreign object in response to the efficiency being not equal to or more than the second predetermined value.

4. The power output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a process for restricting power output from the output unit in response to change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the output unit and a reflected wave of power output by the output unit, being equal to or more than the first predetermined value.

5. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a process for restricting power output from the output unit in response to the efficiency not being equal to or more than the second predetermined value.

6. The power output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit that communicates with the electronic apparatus wirelessly, wherein the control unit performs at least one of the first process and the second process until the charging power is output from the output unit since information for identifying the electronic apparatus is received by the communication unit.

7. The power output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs at least one of the first process and the second process until the charging power is output from the output unit after the control unit determines that the electronic apparatus can receive power output from the output unit.

8. The power output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the output unit to output power that is less than the charging power to obtain the efficiency.

9. The power output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the output unit and a reflected wave of power output by the output unit, is a value indicating a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR).

10. The power output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the output unit and a reflected wave of power output by the output unit, is a value indicating a standing wave ratio (SWR).

11. A method for controlling a power output apparatus, the method comprising:

performing at least one of a first process and a second process, wherein the first process includes a process for determining whether a change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the power output apparatus and a reflected wave of power output by the power output apparatus, is equal to or more than a first predetermined value, wherein the second process includes a process for determining whether an efficiency is equal to or more than a second predetermined value, wherein the efficiency is obtained according to power output by the power output apparatus and power received by the electronic apparatus; and

outputting charging power for causing the electronic apparatus to charge a battery in response to a change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the power output apparatus and a reflected wave of power output by the power output apparatus, not being equal to or more than the first predetermined value and the efficiency being equal to or more than the second predetermined value.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising performing a process for informing an existence of a foreign object in response to a change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the power output apparatus and a reflected wave of power output by the power output apparatus, being equal to or more than the first predetermined value.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising performing a process for informing an existence of a foreign object in response to the efficiency not being equal to or more than the second predetermined value.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising performing a process for restricting power output from the power output apparatus unit in response to a change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the power output apparatus and a reflected wave of power output by the power output apparatus, being equal to or more than the first predetermined value.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising performing a process for restricting power output from the power output apparatus in response to the efficiency not being equal to or more than the second predetermined value.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising communicating with the electronic apparatus wirelessly, and

performing at least one of the first process and the second process until the charging power is output from the power output apparatus since information for identifying the electronic apparatus is received from the electronic apparatus.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising performing at least one of the first process and the second process until the charging power is output from the power output apparatus after it is determined that the electronic apparatus can receive power output from the power output apparatus.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising outputting power that is less than the charging power to obtain the efficiency.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the power output apparatus and a reflected wave of power output by the power output apparatus, is a value indicating a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR).

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the power output apparatus and a reflected wave of power output by the power output apparatus, is a value indicating a standing wave ratio (SWR).

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to perform a method for controlling a power output apparatus, the method comprising:

performing at least one of a first process and a second process, wherein the first process includes a process for determining whether a change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the power output apparatus and a reflected wave of power output by the power output apparatus, is equal to or more than a first predetermined value, wherein the second process includes a process for determining whether an efficiency is equal to or more than a second predetermined value, wherein the efficiency is obtained according to power output by the power output apparatus and power received by the electronic apparatus; and

outputting charging power for causing the electronic apparatus to charge a battery in response to change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the power output apparatus and a reflected wave of power output by the power output apparatus, not being equal to or more than the first predetermined value and the efficiency being equal to or more than the second predetermined value.

22. A power output apparatus comprising:

an output unit that wirelessly outputs power to an electronic apparatus; and

a control unit that receives information of power received by the electronic apparatus from the electronic apparatus via an antenna,

wherein the control unit performs at least one of a first process and a second process, wherein the first process includes a process for determining whether a change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the output unit and a reflected wave of power output by the output unit, is equal to or more than a first predetermined value, wherein the second process includes a process for determining whether an efficiency is equal to or more than a second predetermined value, wherein the efficiency is obtained according to power output by the power output unit and the power received by the electronic apparatus, and

wherein the control unit causes the output unit to output charging power for causing the electronic apparatus to charge a battery if a change of a value, relating to a traveling wave of power output by the output unit and a reflected wave of power output by the output unit, is not equal to or more than the first predetermined value and the efficiency is equal to or more than the second predetermined value.

23. The power supply apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the antenna is shared for outputting power and receiving information of power received by the electronic apparatus.