Power feeding apparatus and power feeding system

• US 9,627,931 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Client Solutions CO., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Shirasaka, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Amaya, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US14/330,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20150137623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 307149
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

According to the present embodiment, the power feeding apparatus configured to feed power by electric field coupling to a power receiving apparatus having a first and a second electrodes for receiving power arranged along a mounting surface and a protrusion arranged on the mounting surface side includes a power feeder divided into a plurality of small regions having a small electrode respectively, the power receiving apparatus being mounted on the small regions, and a control module configured to supply power to the small electrodes corresponding to the first and second electrodes, wherein the small region in contact with the protrusion sinks when the power receiving apparatus is mounted, and the small region returns to an original position when the power receiving apparatus is removed.

Claims

1. A power feeding apparatus configured to feed power by electrical field coupling to a power receiving apparatus having a first electrode and a second electrode for receiving power arranged along a mounting surface and a protrusion arranged on a side of the mounting surface, comprising:

a power feeder divided into a plurality of small regions having a small electrode respectively, the power receiving apparatus being mounted on the small regions; and

a control module configured to supply power to the small electrodes corresponding to the first and second electrodes, wherein

the small region in contact with the protrusion sinks when the power receiving apparatus is mounted, and the small region returns to an original position when the power receiving apparatus is removed.

2. The power feeding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sink detection module configured to detect presence or absence of sinking of each of the small regions; and

a storage module configured to store at least one arrangement pattern of the protrusion and the first and second electrodes of the power receiving apparatus.

3. The power feeding apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the control module selects one arrangement pattern based on presence or absence of sinking of each of the small regions, and corresponds each of the small electrodes to the first electrode or the second electrode based on the selected arrangement pattern.

4. The power feeding apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the control module pursues a first group of small electrodes overlapped with the first electrode and a second group of small electrodes overlapped with the second electrode in a plan view, and supplies power from one terminal of a power source to the first group of small electrodes and supplies power from other terminal of a power source to the second group of small electrodes.

5. The power feeding apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the control module, when the power receiving apparatus is mounted, pursues a third group of electrodes that are not overlapped with the first and second electrodes in a plain view, and supplies no power from a power source to the third group of small electrodes.

6. The power feeding apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the power feeding apparatus further comprises a current detection module configured to detect a feeding current while feeding power, wherein

the control module, when selecting one arrangement pattern from a plurality of arrangement patterns, pursues the first and second groups of small electrodes corresponding to the respective arrangement patterns and selects an arrangement pattern in which a largest current magnitude is obtained, the current magnitude being detected from supply currents to supply power to the pursued first and second groups of small electrodes.

7. The power feeding apparatus of claim 4, wherein

the control module starts supplying power to the first and second groups of electrodes when sinking of the small regions occurs, and stops supplying power to the first and second groups of electrodes when sinking of the small regions does not occur.

8. The power feeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the small regions that contact with the protrusion sink when the power receiving apparatus is mounted, while the small regions that do not contact with the protrusion and are opposed to the first and second electrodes contact with the mounting surface of the power receiving apparatus.

9. The power feeding apparatus of claim 8, wherein

a distance between the first and second electrodes and the small electrode of the small region in contact with the mounting surface of the power receiving apparatus is 0.8 mm or less.

10. The power feeding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a stopper configured to restrict an amount sunk of the small region in contact with the protrusion; and

an adjustment member configured to adjust a restriction position of the stopper.

11. A power feeding system having a power receiving apparatus and a power feeding apparatus configured to feed power by electrical field coupling to the power receiving apparatus, wherein

the power receiving apparatus has a first electrode and a second electrode for receiving power arranged along a mounting surface and a protrusion arranged on a side of the mounting surface, wherein

the power feeding apparatus comprises a power feeder divided into a plurality of small regions having a small electrode respectively, the power receiving apparatus being mounted on the small regions, and a control module configured to supply power to the small electrodes corresponding to the first and second electrodes, wherein

the small region in contact with the protrusion sinks when the power receiving apparatus is mounted, and the small region returns to an original position when the power receiving apparatus is removed.

12. The power feeding system of claim 11, further comprising:

a sink detection module configured to detect presence or absence of sinking of each of the small regions; and

a storage module configured to store at least one arrangement pattern of the protrusion and the first and second electrodes of the power receiving apparatus.

13. The power feeding system of claim 12, wherein

the control module selects one arrangement pattern based on presence or absence of sinking of each of the small regions, and corresponds each of the small electrodes to the first electrode or the second electrode based on the selected arrangement pattern.

14. The power feeding system of claim 13, wherein

the control module pursues a first group of small electrodes overlapped with the first electrode and a second group of small electrodes overlapped with the second electrode in a plan view, and supplies power from one terminal of a power source to the first group of small electrodes and supplies power from other terminal of a power source to the second group of small electrodes.

15. The power feeding system of claim 14, wherein

the control module, when the power receiving apparatus is mounted, pursues a third group of electrodes that are not overlapped with the first and second electrodes in a plain view, and supplies no power from a power source to the third group of small electrodes.

16. The power feeding system of claim 14, wherein

the power feeding apparatus further comprises a current detection module configured to detect a feeding current while feeding power, wherein

the control module, when selecting one arrangement pattern from a plurality of arrangement patterns, pursues the first and second groups of small electrodes corresponding to the respective arrangement patterns and selects an arrangement pattern in which a largest current magnitude is obtained, the current magnitude being detected from supply currents to supply power to the pursued first and second groups of small electrodes.

17. The power feeding system of claim 14, wherein

the control module starts supplying power to the first and second groups of electrodes when sinking of the small regions occurs, and stops supplying power to the first and second groups of electrodes when sinking of the small regions does not occur.

18. The power feeding system of claim 11, wherein

the small regions that contact with the protrusion sink when the power receiving apparatus is mounted, while the small regions that do not contact with the protrusion and are opposed to the first and second electrodes contact with the mounting surface of the power receiving apparatus.

19. The power feeding system of claim 18, wherein

a distance between the first and second electrodes and the small electrode of the small regions in contact with the mounting surface of the power receiving apparatus is 0.8 mm or less.

20. The power feeding system of claim 11, wherein the power feeding apparatus further comprises

a stopper configured to restrict an amount sunk of the small region in contact with the protrusion;

and

an adjustment member configured to adjust a restriction position of the stopper.