Contactless power supplying system, electric appliance, repeater, and adaptor

• US 9,722,432 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Abe, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gannon, Levi
• Application Number:
  US14/344,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20140339911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

A contactless power supplying system includes a contactless power supplying device provided with a high-frequency inverter and a primary coil and an electric appliance provided with a secondary coil and a power receiving circuit that supplies induced electromotive force generated by the secondary coil to a load. The system further includes a structure having a variable shape and adapted to be independently secured, and at least one of a connecting wire for connecting the primary coil to the high-frequency inverter, a connecting wire for connecting the secondary coil to the power receiving circuit, and a connecting wire for connecting the power receiving circuit to the load. The at least one of the connecting wires is arranged along the structure. The secondary coil is spatially positioned with respect to the primary coil depending on the shape of the structure.

Claims

1. A contactless power supplying system comprising:

a contactless power supplying device including a high-frequency inverter configured to supply a high-frequency current and a primary coil arranged to supplied with the high-frequency current;

an electric appliance including a secondary coil configured to generate induced electromotive force based on alternating magnetic flux generated by the primary coil and a power receiving circuit configured to supply the induced electromotive force generated by the secondary coil to a load;

a structure having a variable shape and adapted to be secured in a state in which the shape of the structure is varied;

at least one of a connecting wire, which is configured to connect the primary coil to the high-frequency inverter, a connecting wire, which is configured to connect the secondary coil to the power receiving circuit, and a connecting wire, which is configured to connect the power receiving circuit to the load, the at least one of the connecting wires arranged along the structure; and

a repeater arranged between the primary coil and the secondary coil, wherein

a position where the secondary coil is magnetically connected to the primary coil is spatially determined at a position depending on the shape of the structure being varied, and

the repeater includes;

a second structure arranged on a support table, the second structure having a variable shape and adapted to be secured in a state in which the shape of the second structure is varied; and

an intermediate coil supported via the second structure and configured to magnetically resonate with the alternating magnetic flux generated by the primary coil so that magnetic resonance of the intermediate coil causes the secondary coil to generate induced electromotive force to drive the electric appliance.

2. The contactless power supplying system according to claim 1, wherein

the structure is an articulated flexible arm.

3. The contactless power supplying system according to claim 1, wherein

the structure is a bellows flexible arm.

4. An electric appliance comprising:

a secondary coil configured to generate induced electromotive force based on alternating magnetic flux generated by a primary coil of a contactless power supplying device;

an accommodating case configured to accommodate the secondary coil;

a power receiving circuit configured to supply the induced electromotive force generated by the secondary coil to a load;

a structure arranged between a device body of the electric appliance and the accommodating case, the structure having a variable shape and adapted to be fixed in a state in which the shape of the structure is varied; and

a magnetic body arranged in the rear of the secondary coil in the accommodating case,

wherein a position where the secondary coil is magnetically connected to the primary coil is spatially determined at a position depending on the shape of the structure being varied.

5. The electric appliance according to claim 4, wherein

the power receiving circuit is arranged in the device body, and

the electric appliance further comprises a connecting wire, which is configured to connect the secondary coil arranged in the accommodating case to the power receiving circuit, the connecting wire arranged along the structure.

6. The electric appliance according to claim 4, wherein

the power receiving circuit and the secondary coil are accommodated in the accommodating case, and

the electric appliance further comprises a connecting wire, which is configured to connect the load to the power receiving circuit, the connecting wire arranged along the structure.

7. The electric appliance according to claim 4, wherein

the structure is an articulated flexible arm.

8. The electric appliance according to claim 4, wherein

the structure is a bellows flexible arm.

9. The electric appliance according to claim 4, wherein

the structure includes a bottom end having a connector, and

the connector is attachable to a connector arranged in the device body.

10. The electric appliance according to claim 9, wherein

the connector is a USB-applicable connector.

11. The electric appliance according to claim 4, further comprising a cover covering the accommodating case.

12. The electric appliance according to claim 11, wherein

the cover has an accessory.

13. A repeater arranged between a contactless power supplying device including a primary coil and an electric appliance including a secondary coil, the repeater comprising:

an intermediate coil configured to magnetically resonate with alternating magnetic flux generated by the primary coil so that magnetic resonance of the intermediate coil causes the secondary coil to generate induced electromotive force;

an accommodating case configured to accommodate the intermediate coil; and

a structure arranged on a support table and supporting the accommodating case, the structure having a variable shape and adapted to be secured in a state in which the shape of the structure is varied,

wherein a position where the intermediate coil is magnetically connected to the primary coil and the secondary coil is spatially determined at a position depending on the shape of the structure being varied.

14. The repeater according to claim 13, further comprising a resonant capacitor connected to the intermediate coil.

15. The repeater according to claim 13, wherein

the accommodating case is one of a plurality of accommodating cases supported by the support table via the structure, and

the intermediate coil is accommodated in each of the accommodating cases so that the intermediate coils in the accommodating cases form a resonant circuit.

16. The repeater according to claim 13, further comprising:

a second structure having a variable shape and adapted to be secured in a state in which the shape of the second structure is varied;

a second intermediate coil coupled to the accommodating case via the second structure, the second intermediate coil forming a resonant circuit together with the intermediate coil; and

a second accommodating case configured to accommodate the second intermediate coil.

17. An adaptor supplying power to an electric appliance, the adaptor comprising:

a secondary coil configured to generate induced electromotive force based on alternating magnetic flux generated by a primary coil of a contactless power supplying device;

an accommodating case configured to accommodate the secondary coil;

a connector attachable to the electric appliance;

a structure arranged between the accommodating case and the connector, the structure having a variable shape and adapted to be secured in a state in which the shape of the structure is varied;

a connecting wire arranged along the structure and configured to connect the secondary coil to the connector; and

a magnetic body arranged in the rear of the secondary coil in the accommodating case,

wherein a position where the secondary coil is magnetically connected to the primary coil is spatially determined at a position depending on the shape of the structure being varied.

18. The adaptor according to claim 17, wherein

the structure is a bellows flexible arm, and

the connecting wire is arranged in the flexible arm.

19. The adaptor according to claim 17, wherein

the connector is a USB-applicable connector.

20. The adaptor according to claim 17, further comprising a cover covering the accommodating case.

21. The adaptor according to claim 20, wherein

the cover has an accessory.