Apparatus for receiving non-contact energy and controlling method therefor

• US 9,819,229 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University
• Original Assignee: Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University
• Inventors: Kim, Tae-Whan, You, Joo-Hyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yeshaw, Esayas
• Application Number:
  US14/369,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20150054342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 307 66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for receiving non-contact energy that includes; a receiving unit that is spaced from a transmitting unit and receives thermal or light energy from the transmitting unit; an energy converting unit that converts the thermal or light energy received from the receiving unit into electric energy and supplies electric energy to a target device; and an auxiliary power that receives electric energy from the receiving unit or the energy converting unit and supplies electric energy to the target device when the energy transmitted from the receiving unit or the energy converting unit to the target device is cut off, and a method of controlling the device. According to the present invention, it is possible to stably supply energy that is not harmful to the human body and, has a wide transmission region.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving non-contact energy comprising:

a transmitting unit that converts electric energy into thermal energy or light energy and then sends it out;

a receiving unit that is spaced from the transmitting unit and receives thermal or light energy from the transmitting unit;

an energy converting unit that converts the thermal or light energy received by the receiving unit into electric energy and supplies electric energy to a target device;

a sensing unit that senses whether there is an obstacle between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit;

a control unit that controls energy supply to the target device according to a sensing value of the sensing unit; and

an auxiliary power that receives electric energy from the receiving unit or the energy converting unit,

wherein the auxiliary power supplies electric energy to the target device when the sensing unit senses that there is an obstacle between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit and the supply of non-contact wireless energy between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit is interfered by the obstacle.

2. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes:

a wireless energy transfer mode control unit that performs control such that electric energy is transmitted from the energy converting unit to the target device;

an auxiliary power operation mode control unit that performs control such that electric energy is transmitted from the auxiliary power to the target device;

an auxiliary power remainder sensing unit that senses charging amount of the auxiliary power; and

an auxiliary power remainder warning unit that sends a warning signal to a user when the charging amount of the auxiliary power is less than a reference value,

wherein the auxiliary power remainder sensing unit or the auxiliary power remainder warning unit is connected with the auxiliary power and controls energy supply between the auxiliary power and the energy converting unit or the target device.

3. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit transmits energy in the type of at least any one of a laser, natural light, or artificial light.

4. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit includes at least any one of a solar cell, a solar collector, or a solar concentrator.

5. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 1, wherein the energy converting unit or the auxiliary power is disposed in the target device or formed integrally with the target device.

6. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 1, wherein, when the sensing unit senses that there is no obstacle between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, the receiving unit or the energy converting unit supplies electric energy to the target device and the auxiliary power simultaneously.

7. An apparatus for receiving non-contact energy comprising:

a transmitting unit that converts electric energy into thermal energy or light energy and then sends it out;

a diverging unit that spreads or diverges thermal or light energy received from a transmitting unit;

an energy converting unit that converts thermal or light energy spread or diverged by the diverging unit into electric energy and supplies electric energy to a target device;

a sensing unit that senses whether there is an obstacle between the transmitting unit and the diverging unit;

a control unit that controls energy transfer between the energy converting unit and the target device according to a sensing value of the sensing unit; and

an auxiliary power that receives electric energy from the diverging unit or the energy converting unit,

wherein the auxiliary power supplies electric energy to the target device when the sensing unit senses that there is an obstacle between the transmitting unit and the diverging unit and the supply of non-contact wireless energy between the transmitting unit and the diverging unit is interfered by the obstacle.

8. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 7, wherein the control unit includes:

a wireless energy transfer mode control unit that performs control such that electric energy is transmitted from the energy converting unit to the target device;

an auxiliary power operation mode control unit that performs control such that electric energy is transmitted from the auxiliary power to the target device;

an auxiliary power remainder sensing unit that senses charging amount of the auxiliary power; and

an auxiliary power remainder warning unit that sends a warning signal to a user when the charging amount of the auxiliary power is less than a reference value,

wherein the auxiliary power remainder sensing unit or the auxiliary power remainder warning unit is connected with the auxiliary power and controls energy transfer between the auxiliary power and the energy converting unit or the target device.

9. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 7, wherein the transmitting unit transmits energy in the type of at least any one of a laser, natural light, or artificial light.

10. The apparatus for receiving non-contact energy of claim 7, wherein the energy converting unit or the auxiliary power is disposed in the target device or formed integrally with the target device.

11. A method of controlling an apparatus for receiving non-contact energy including:

converting electric energy into thermal energy or light energy and then sending it out by a transmitting unit;

receiving thermal or light energy from a transmitting unit;

converting the thermal or light energy received by a receiving unit into electric energy;

sensing whether there is an obstacle between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit;

controlling supply of electric energy from the receiving unit to a target device according to the sensing of the obstacle; and

supplying electric energy from the receiving unit to the target device and an auxiliary power,

wherein the auxiliary power supplies electric energy to the target device when there is an obstacle between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit and the supply of non-contact wireless energy between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit is interfered by the obstacle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting the thermal or light energy from the transmitting unit to the receiving unit;

supplying electric energy to the target device and the auxiliary power simultaneously when there is no obstacle between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.