Electronic apparatus, power supply device, system and apparatus

• US 9,996,337 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Kano, Goro
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeon, Jae
• Application Number:
  US15/634,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20170344358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A power supply device is caused to execute a new program. An electronic apparatus that receives power from a power supply device in a non-contact manner includes: an intra-apparatus circuit that operates with power received via a power transmission path from the power supply device to the electronic apparatus; a program acquiring unit that acquires a program to be executed by the power supply device from outside, and stores the program; and an apparatus-side communicating unit that transmits the program to the power supply device via the power transmission path.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus that is configured to perform non-contact charging, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a battery;

a non-contact type power receiving unit that receives power via a power transmission path of non-contact charging from a power supply device to the electronic apparatus;

a power charge control unit that causes the power that the power receiving unit has received from the power supply device to be supplied to and stored in the battery;

a program acquiring unit that acquires, from over a network or via an external memory, an updating program to be executed by a second electronic apparatus, separate from the electronic apparatus, and that stores the acquired updating program in the memory of the electronic apparatus, where in the acquired updating program is an updating program that updates a current program to be executed by the second electronic apparatus to a new program to be executed by the second electronic apparatus; and

an apparatus-side communicating unit that controls the power receiving unit to modulate a current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging such that the updating program is transmitted, via the modulation, from the electronic apparatus to the power supply device via the power transmission path of non-contact charging, wherein the power supply device includes a supply-side communicating unit that transmits the updating program from the power supply device to the second electronic apparatus, under a condition that the second electronic apparatus is located at a position where the second electronic apparatus can receive power from the power supply device.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the apparatus-side communicating unit controls the power receiving unit to transmit the updating program to the power supply device via the power transmission path.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus-side communicating unit:

transmits an inquiry, via the power transmission path, to the power supply device; and

upon receipt of a response indicating that the current program is to be updated, transmits the updating program to the power supply device via the power transmission path.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus-side communicating unit:

acquires identification information from the power supply device via the power transmission path; and

transmits, to the power supply device via the power transmission path, a program to be executed by an apparatus corresponding to the identification information as the updating program.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus-side communicating unit:

registers a request for a program update received from the power supply device via the power transmission path;

acquires the updating program from the network or an external memory and stores the updating program, after the request for the program update is registered; and

transmits the updating program via the power transmission path to the power supply device that issued the request for the program update, after the updating program is stored.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus-side communicating unit controls the power receiving unit to transmit the updating program after stopping the supply of the received power to the battery.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply device supplies power to the electronic apparatus by at least one of the following types of power supply:

electric field, magnetic resonance, and electromagnetic induction.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus can be charged merely by being placed on the power supply device without requiring special attachment and detachment operations with respect to electrical terminal contacts.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquired updating program is an updating program for updating a scheme to authenticate an ID between the power supply device and the electronic apparatus.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquired updating program is an updating program for supporting a new type of electronic apparatus.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus downloads and acquires the updating program from a server.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, by a non-contact power receiving interface of an electronic apparatus, power via a power transmission path of non-contact charging from a power supply device to the electronic apparatus;

causing, by the electronic apparatus, power that the power receiving interface has received from the power supply device to be supplied to and stored in a battery of the electronic apparatus;

acquiring, by the electronic apparatus, from over a network or via an external memory, an updating program to be executed by a second electronic apparatus, separate from the electronic apparatus, wherein the acquired updating program is an updating program that updates a current program to be executed by the second electronic apparatus to a new program to be executed by the second electronic apparatus;

storing, by the electronic apparatus in a memory of the electronic apparatus, the acquired updating program;

controlling, by the electronic apparatus, the power receiving interface to modulate a current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging such that the stored updating program is transmitted, via the modulation, from the electronic apparatus to the power supply device via the power transmission path of non-contact charging; and

transmitting, by a supply-side communicating unit of the power supply device, the updating program to the second electronic apparatus, under a condition that the second electronic apparatus is located at a position where the second electronic apparatus can receive power from the power supply device.

13. A power supply device that is configured to perform non-contact power supply, the power supply device comprising:

a memory;

a power supply unit that supplies power to a first electronic apparatus via a power transmission path of non-contact charging from the power supply device to the first electronic apparatus;

a supply-side communicating unit that controls the power supply unit to demodulate a current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging such that an updating program to be executed by a second electronic apparatus, separate from the first electronic apparatus, is acquired from the first electronic apparatus by the demodulated current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging, wherein the acquired updating program is an updating program that updates a current program to be executed by the second electronic apparatus to a new program to be executed by the second electronic apparatus; and

a supply-side communicating unit that transmits the updating program from the power supply device to the second electronic apparatus, under a condition that the second electronic apparatus is located at a position where the second electronic apparatus can receive power from the power supply device.

14. The power supply device according to claim 13, further comprising a display that displays a transfer status of the transmission of the updating program from the electronic apparatus to the power supply device via the power transmission path of non-contact charging.

15. The power supply device according to claim 13, wherein

the power supply device is able to supply power to a plurality of electronic apparatuses concurrently,

when one of the first and second electronic apparatuses is located at a position where the one of the first and second electronic apparatuses is able to receive power from the power supply device, the supply-side communicating unit controls the power supply unit to communicate with the one of the first and second electronic apparatuses via the power transmission path to acquire a maximum power consumption value of the one of the first and second electronic apparatuses, and

the power supply device further comprises a power control unit that limits a total supplied power amount to be less than a predetermined value based on a respective maximum power consumption value of each of the plurality of electronic apparatuses when the power supply device supplies power to the plurality of electronic apparatuses concurrently.

16. The power supply device according to claim 13, further comprising a display that displays a total supplied power amount.

17. The power supply device according to claim 13, wherein the power supply device supplies power to the first electronic apparatus by at least one of the following types of power supply:

electric field, magnetic resonance, and electromagnetic induction.

18. The power supply device according to claim 13, wherein the power supply device is tabular, and supplies power to the first electronic apparatus in a state that the first electronic apparatus is placed on a surface of the power supply device.

19. The power supply device according to claim 13, wherein the first electronic apparatus can be charged merely by being placed on the power supply device without requiring special attachment and detachment operations with respect to electrical terminal contacts.

20. A method comprising:

supplying power, by a non-contact power supply interface of a power supply device, to a first electronic apparatus via a power transmission path of non-contact charging from the power supply device to the first electronic apparatus;

controlling, by the power supply device, the non-contact power supply interface to demodulate a current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging such that an updating program to be executed by a second electronic apparatus, separate from the first electronic apparatus, is acquired from the first electronic apparatus by the demodulated current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging, wherein the acquired updating program is an updating program that updates a current program to be executed by the second electronic apparatus to a new program to be executed by the second electronic apparatus; and

transmitting, by a supply-side communicating unit of the power supply device, the updating program to the second electronic apparatus, under a condition that the second electronic apparatus is located at a position where the second electronic apparatus can receive power from the power supply device.

21. An electronic apparatus that is configured to perform non-contact charging, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a battery; and

a non-contact type power receiving unit that;

(1) exchanges power with a power supply device in a non-contact manner via a power transmission path between the power receiving unit and the power supply device, and

(2) performs at least one of;

(A) modulates a current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging such that an updating program is transmitted, via the modulation, from the electronic apparatus to the power supply device via the power transmission path of non-contact charging, wherein the transmitted updating program is an updating program that updates a current program to be executed by a second electronic apparatus that is separate from the electronic apparatus to a new program to be executed by the second electronic apparatus, and the power supply device includes a supply-side communicating unit that further transmits the updating program from the power supply device to the second electronic apparatus, under a condition that the second electronic apparatus is located at a position where the second electronic apparatus can receive power from the power supply device; and

(B) demodulates a current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging such that an updating program to be executed by the electronic apparatus is acquired by the demodulated current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging and a processor of the electronic apparatus executes the acquired updating program received by the power receiving unit to control the electronic apparatus, wherein the acquired updating program is an updating program that updates a current program to be executed by the electronic apparatus to a new program to be executed by the electronic apparatus, and the power supply device includes a supply-side communicating unit that transmits the acquired updating program to be executed by the electronic apparatus from the power supply device to the electronic device, under a condition that the electronic apparatus is located at a position where the electronic apparatus can receive power from the power supply device.

22. An electronic apparatus that is configured to perform non-contact charging, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a battery;

a non-contact type power receiving unit that receives power via a power transmission path of non-contact charging from a power supply device to the electronic apparatus;

a power charge control unit that causes the power that the power receiving unit has received from the power supply device to be supplied to and stored in the battery;

an apparatus-side communicating unit that controls the power receiving unit to demodulate a current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging such that an updating program to be executed by the electronic apparatus is acquired from the power supply device by the demodulated current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging; and

a processor that executes the updating program received by the power receiving unit to control the electronic apparatus, wherein

the received updating program is an updating program that updates a current program to be executed by the electronic apparatus to a new program to be executed by the electronic apparatus, and

the electronic apparatus acquires the updating program to be executed by the electronic apparatus, under a condition that the electronic apparatus is located at a position where the electronic apparatus can receive power from the power supply device.

23. A power supply device that is configured to perform non-contact power supply, the power supply device comprising:

a memory;

a power supply unit that supplies power to an electronic apparatus via a power transmission path of non-contact charging from the power supply device to the electronic apparatus; and

a supply-side communicating unit that controls the power supply unit to modulate a current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging such that an updating program is transmitted by the modulated current of power flowing through the power transmission path of non-contact charging such that the electronic apparatus executes the transmitted updating program, wherein the transmitted updating program is an updating program that updates a current program to be executed by the electronic apparatus to a new program to be executed by the electronic apparatus, and

the electronic apparatus acquires the updating program from the power supply device to be executed by the electronic apparatus, under a condition that the electronic apparatus is located at a position where the electronic apparatus can receive power from the power supply device.