Contactless charging device and method for controlling power supply
First Claim
1. A contactless charging device having a power transmission part that supplies power wirelessly to an external power reception part, comprising:
- a plurality of projections that are disposed on the upper surface of said power transmission part;
a beam emission part emitting light that progresses over the upper surface of said power transmission part;
a body detection part, on the basis of light emitted by said beam emission part, detecting the presence or absence of a body that is supported by at least one of said projections; and
a control part controlling the supply of power by said power transmission part on the basis of the result of detection by said body detection part.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of projections is arranged in a matrix on the upper surface of the housing of a contactless charging unit (110). When supplying power wirelessly to an onboard power reception device, a beam emission unit in a beam reception and emission unit (120) emits a laser beam progressing along the upper surface of a power transmission unit (170) to scan the upper part of the entire upper surface of the power transmission unit (170). When receiving a reflected beam, the beam reception unit in the beam reception and emission unit (120) sends the results of beam reception to a determination unit. The determination unit determines the presence or absence of a foreign substance supported on at least one projection existing on the upper surface of the contactless charging unit (110) on the basis of the results of beam reception. Subsequently, when a foreign substance is present on the upper surface of the contactless charging unit (110), the control unit generates a supply control command indicating that no power is to be supplied to the onboard power reception device and sends the command to a supply unit. This will enable wireless power supply using the contactless system without any problem in terms of safety.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A contactless charging device having a power transmission part that supplies power wirelessly to an external power reception part, comprising:
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a plurality of projections that are disposed on the upper surface of said power transmission part; a beam emission part emitting light that progresses over the upper surface of said power transmission part; a body detection part, on the basis of light emitted by said beam emission part, detecting the presence or absence of a body that is supported by at least one of said projections; and a control part controlling the supply of power by said power transmission part on the basis of the result of detection by said body detection part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling a power supply used in a contactless charging device having both of a power transmission part that supplies power wirelessly to an external power reception part, and a plurality of projections that are disposed on the upper surface of said power transmission part, comprising the steps of:
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a light emission process of a beam emission part emitting light that progresses over the upper surface of said power transmission part; a body detection process of, on the basis of light emitted by said beam emission part detecting the presence or absence of a body that is supported by at least one of said projections; and a control process of controlling the supply of power by said power transmission part on the basis of the result of detection by said body detection process. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification