Power feeding unit, power receiving unit, and feed system

• US 9,473,206 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Washiro, Takanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ BORROTO, ALFONSO
• Application Number:
  US14/465,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104, 307/149
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A power feeding unit includes: a power feeding electrode configured to be coupled through an electric field with a power receiving electrode of a power receiving unit; a power feeding section configured to feed the power receiving unit with power through the power feeding electrode; and a power feeding side communication section configured to communicate with the power receiving unit through the power feeding electrode.

Claims

1. A power feeding unit comprising:

a power feeding section configured to output a power signal, the power signal is in a frequency band that does not overlap a frequency of a communication signal;

a reader-writer configured to output the communication signal at a predetermined time interval while the power feeding section outputs the power signal, the communication signal is in a frequency band that does not overlap a frequency of the power signal; and

an electrode configured to wirelessly transmit a first signal and wirelessly receive a second signal, the first signal is the power signal superimposed with the communication signal.

2. The power feeding unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a high pass filter that is electrically connected between the reader-writer and the electrode, the high pass filter is configured to transfer the second signal from the electrode to the reader-writer.

3. The power feeding unit according to claim 2, wherein the high pass filter is configured to transfer the communication signal from the reader-writer to the electrode.

4. The power feeding unit according to claim 2, wherein the reader-writer is configured to detect a presence of identification data in the second signal or an absence of the identification data in the second signal.

5. The power feeding unit according to claim 4, further comprising:

a feeding control section configured to control the power feeding section to inhibit an output of the power signal when the reader-writer detects the absence of the identification data in the second signal.

6. The power feeding unit according to claim 5, wherein the feeding control section is configured to control the reader-writer to output the communication signal to the high pass filter.

7. The power feeding unit according to claim 5, wherein the feeding control section is configured to control the power feeding section to permit the output of the power signal when the reader-writer detects the presence of the identification data in the second signal.

8. The power feeding unit according to claim 5, further comprising:

a low pass filter that is electrically connected between the power feeding section and the electrode, the feeding control section is configured to control the power feeding section to output the power signal to the low pass filter.

9. The power feeding unit according to claim 8, wherein the low pass filter is configured to transfer the power signal from the power feeding section to the electrode.

10. A power receiving unit comprising:

an electrode configured to wirelessly receive a first signal and wirelessly transmits a second signal, the first signal is a power signal superimposed with a communication signal;

a power receiving section configured to convert the power signal into a DC signal, the power signal is in a frequency band that does not overlap a frequency of the communication signal; and

a power receiving side communication section configured to convert the communication signal into the second signal by modulating setting information onto the communication signal, the communication signal is in a frequency band that does not overlap a frequency of the power signal.

11. The power receiving unit according to claim 10, further comprising:

a low pass filter configured to permit the power signal to reach the power receiving section while inhibiting the communication signal from reaching the power receiving section.

12. The power receiving unit according to claim 10, further comprising:

a high pass filter configured to permit the communication signal to reach the power receiving side communication section while inhibiting the power signal from reaching the power receiving side communication section.

13. A feed system comprising:

a power feeding unit in physical contact with a power receiving unit, the power receiving unit is detachable from the power feeding unit,

wherein a feeding control section of the power feeding unit is configured to generate a request for identification data, a reader-writer of the power feeding unit is configured to place the request into a communication signal,

wherein a power receiving side communication section of the power receiving unit is configured to place the identification data onto the communication signal after receiving the request, and

wherein a power feeding electrode of the power feeding unit is configured to wirelesslv transmit a first signal to the power receiving unit and wirelesslv receive a second signal from the power receiving unit, the first signal is the power signal superimposed with the communication signal.

14. The feed system according to claim 13, wherein the power feeding unit is configured to use the identification data to identify the power receiving unit.

15. The feed system according to claim 13, wherein a power feeding section of the power feeding unit is configured to output a power signal.

16. The feed system according to claim 15, wherein the power signal is in a frequency band that does not overlap a frequency of the communication signal, the communication signal is in a frequency band that does not overlap a frequency of the power signal.

17. The feed system according to claim 15, wherein a power receiving section of the power receiving unit is configured to convert the power signal into a DC signal.

18. The feed system according to claim 13, wherein a power receiving electrode of the power receiving unit is configured to wirelessly receive the first signal from the power feeding unit and wirelessly transmit the second signal to the power feeding unit.

19. The feed system according to claim 18, wherein the identification data combined with the communication signal is the second signal.

20. The feed system according to claim 18, wherein the reader-writer is configured to detect a presence of the identification data in the second signal or an absence of the identification data in the second signal.

21. The feed system according to claim 20, wherein the feeding control section is configured to control the power feeding section to permit the output of the power signal when the reader-writer detects the presence of the identification data in the setting information.

22. The feed system according to claim 20, wherein the feeding control section is configured to control the power feeding section to inhibit an output of the power signal when the reader-writer detects the absence of the identification data in the setting information.

23. The feed system according to claim 13, wherein an insulating material is between the power feeding electrode and the power receiving electrode when power feeding unit is in contact with the power receiving unit.

24. The feed system according to claim 23, wherein the insulating material touches the power feeding electrode and power receiving electrode when power feeding unit is in contact with the power receiving unit.

25. The feed system according to claim 23, wherein an area of the power receiving electrode is smaller than an area of the power feeding electrode.

26. The feed system according to claim 23, wherein the insulating material includes a power feeding unit insulating material and a power receiving unit insulating material.