Electronic device, feed unit, and feed system for reliably informing user of electronic device state during wireless electric power transmission

• US 9,577,475 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Akiyoshi, Koichi, Uramoto, Yoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Levin, Naum B
• Application Number:
  US14/352,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20140239893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic device includes: a power receiving section configured to receive electric power transmitted using a magnetic field or an electric field; and a state informing section configured to inform a device state of the electronic device, by using the electric power received by the power receiving section. When an abnormal state is detected as the device state, the state informing section also informs the abnormal state by using the received electric power. A feed unit includes: a power transmission section configured to perform electric power transmission using a magnetic field or an electric field, to a device to be fed; and a control section configured to continue the electric power transmission by the power transmission section, even when an abnormal state in the device to be fed is detected.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a power receiving section configured to receive electric power transmitted using a magnetic field or an electric field; and

a state informing section configured to inform a state of the electronic device, by using the electric power received by the power receiving section,

wherein in an event an abnormal state is detected as the state of the electronic device, the state informing section also informs the abnormal state by using the received electric power,

wherein a communication period is set in which predetermined communication with a feed unit is performed, and

wherein the communication period is set to a low frequency in a period following completion of charging, as compared with a period in which a secondary battery of the electronic device is being charged.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary battery; and

a charging section configured to perform charging to the secondary battery based on the received electric power,

wherein the charging section stops the charging to the secondary battery, in an event the abnormal state is detected.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the state informing section includes a state detection section configured to detect an abnormal state in the secondary battery, as the abnormal state.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the state detection section detects the abnormal state in the secondary battery, by temperature of the secondary battery.

5. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the charging section resumes the charging to the secondary battery, upon returning of the state of the electronic device from the abnormal state to a normal state.

6. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the state informing section distinguishes each of a state of charging by the charging section, a state following completion of charging by the charging section, and the abnormal state, as the state of the electronic device.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the state informing section includes a lighting section and a lighting control section, the lighting section being configured to inform the state of the electronic device according to a lighting state, and the lighting control section being configured to control the lighting state of the lighting section.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the lighting control section controls

the lighting section to be turned on, in the state of charging,

the lighting section to be turned off, in the state following completion of charging, and

the lighting section to blink, in the abnormal state.

9. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein a feeding period and the communication period are time-divisionally set, the feeding period being a period in which electric power transmission from the feed unit is performed using a magnetic field or an electric field, and the communication period being a period in which predetermined communication with the feed unit is performed.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the communication period is set to continue, even after the charging to the secondary battery by the charging section is completed.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the communication period is set to a high frequency in a period of the abnormal state, as compared with a period in which the state of the electronic device is a normal state.

12. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein in an event the abnormal state is detected, the abnormal state being detected is informed to the feed unit side, by utilizing the communication.

13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the communication period is a period in which predetermined mutual communication operation using a power transmission section and the power receiving section is performed.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the communication operation comprises authentication between electronic device and the feed unit, and feeding efficiency control.

15. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the state informing section includes a sound output via a speaker for informing the state of the electronic device.

16. A feed system comprising:

one or a plurality of electronic devices; and

a feed unit configured to perform electric power transmission using a magnetic field or an electric field, to the electronic device,

wherein the electronic device includes;

a power receiving section configured to receive electric power transmitted from the feed unit, and

a state informing section configured to inform a state of the electronic device, by using the electric power received by the power receiving section,

wherein in an event an abnormal state is detected as the state of the electronic device, the state informing section also informs the abnormal state by using the received electric power,

wherein a communication period is set in which predetermined communication with the feed unit is performed, and

wherein the communication period is set to a low frequency in a period following completion of charging, as compared with a period in which a secondary battery of the electronic device is being charged.