Portable terminal charging apparatus and automobile having portable terminal charging apparatus mounted therein

• US 9,935,488 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamanishi, Yuto, Hatakeyama, Ken, Ota, Tomohiro, Yamamoto, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitmore, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US15/106,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20170005505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 320107-108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A charging coil of a portable terminal charging apparatus is provided with a first detection coil, and a second detection coil disposed inward of the first detection coil and having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first detection coil. The first and second detection coils are connected to a controller. If the ratio (V2/V1) of a second voltage (V2) detected by the second detection coil to a first voltage (V1) detected by the first detection coil is less than a first set value held in a memory between starting of conduction of the charging coil and connection of a charging load of the portable terminal, the controller performs a safety operation.

Claims

1. A portable terminal charging apparatus comprising:

a support plate whose front surface side is used as a portable terminal placement portion;

a charging coil that charges a portable terminal placed on the portable terminal placement portion;

a controller that is connected to the charging coil; and

a memory that is connected to the controller,

wherein the charging coil is provided with a first detection coil, and a second detection coil disposed inward of the first detection coil and having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first detection coil, and the first and second detection coils are connected to the controller, and

wherein, if a ratio (V2/V1) of a second voltage (V2) detected by the second detection coil to a first voltage (V1) detected by the first detection coil is less than a first set value held in the memory between starting of conduction of the charging coil and connection of a charging load of the portable terminal, the controller performs a safety operation.

2. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 1,

wherein, if the ratio (V2/V1) of the second voltage (V2) to the first voltage (V1) is less than the first set value between starting of conduction of the charging coil and completion of an authentication and configuration phase, the controller performs the safety operation.

3. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 1,

wherein, if the ratio (V2/V1) of the second voltage (V2) to the first voltage (V1) is less than a second set value which is held in the memory and is smaller than the first set value, after the authentication and configuration phase is completed, the controller performs the safety operation.

4. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an alarm that is connected to the controller,

wherein the controller causes the alarm to issue a warning as the safety operation before conduction of the charging coil is performed.

5. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the charging coil has a ring shape formed by winding a wiring material in a spiral shape, and

wherein the first and second detection coils are disposed on a surface of the charging coil opposing the support plate.

6. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 1,

wherein an outer diameter of the first detection coil is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the charging coil, and an outer diameter of the second detection coil is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the charging coil.

7. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 1,

wherein a third detection coil disposed between the first and second detection coils is further provided in the charging coil.

8. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the controller blocks conduction of the charging coil as the safety operation.

9. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage detector that is connected to the controller and is also connected to the first and second detection coils so as to measure peak voltages of the first and second detection coils.

10. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a driver that can move the charging coil on a rear surface side of the support plate,

wherein the charging coil is disposed to be movable in a state of opposing the support plate on the rear surface side of the support plate,

wherein a plurality of foreign substance detection coils are provided on the support plate in addition to the first and second detection coils,

wherein the controller is also connected to the driver and the plurality of foreign substance detection coils in addition to the charging coil and the first and second detection coils, and the memory stores a reference resonance frequency or a reference resonance voltage of each foreign substance detection coil for each location where the charging coil is present, and

wherein the controller also performs the safety operation before conduction of the charging coil is performed in a case where a resonance frequency detected by one of the plurality of foreign substance detection coils corresponding to a location where the charging coil is present is higher than the reference resonance frequency stored in the memory, or a resonance voltage detected by one of the plurality of foreign substance detection coils corresponding to a location where the charging coil is present is lower than the reference resonance voltage stored in the memory.

11. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein, if the ratio (V2/V1) of the second voltage (V2) detected by the second detection coil to the first voltage (V1) detected by the first detection coil is less than the first set value stored in the memory between starting of conduction of the charging coil and completion of the authentication and configuration phase, the controller performs the safety operation.

12. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein, if the ratio (V2/V1) of the second voltage (V2) to the first voltage (V1) is less than a second set value which is held in the memory and is smaller than the first set value after the authentication and configuration phase is completed, the controller performs the safety operation.

13. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the foreign substance detection coils are provided on the front and rear surfaces of the support plate.

14. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an alarm that is connected to the controller,

wherein the controller causes the alarm to issue a warning as the safety operation.

15. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the charging coil has a ring shape formed by winding a wiring material in a spiral shape, and

wherein the first and second detection coils are disposed on a surface of the charging coil opposing the support plate.

16. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein an outer diameter of the first detection coil is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the charging coil, and an outer diameter of the second detection coil is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the charging coil.

17. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein a third detection coil disposed between the first and second detection coils is further provided in the charging coil.

18. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the controller blocks conduction of the charging coil as the safety operation.

19. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a voltage detector that is connected to the controller and is also connected to the first and second detection coils so as to measure peak voltages of the first and second detection coils.

20. The portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the controller records a location where the charging coil is present, in the memory, after charging using the charging coil is performed.

21. An automobile comprising:

a vehicle interior; and

the portable terminal charging apparatus of claim 1, disposed in the vehicle interior so that the portable terminal placement portion faces upward.