Power feeding system, electrical apparatus, power feeding apparatus, and computer readable storage medium

• US 20080067997A1
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyata, Masahiko, Honda, Seiji
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/318
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/08 responsive to excess current responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00

Abstract

A power feeding system includes a power feeding apparatus and a power line communication unit. The power feeding apparatus feeds power from a power line to an external apparatus. The power line communication unit communicates via the power line, which is a communication medium. The power feeding apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a restriction unit and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires restriction information used to restrict the feeding of the power to the external apparatus. The restriction unit restricts the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power feeding apparatus is to feed the power. The determination unit determines as to whether or not the restriction unit has to restrict the feeding of the power, based on the restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit.

Claims

1. A power feeding system comprising:

a power feeding apparatus that feeds power from a power line to an external apparatus; and

a power line communication unit that communicates via the power line, which is a communication medium, wherein;

the power feeding apparatus comprises;

an acquisition unit that acquires restriction information used to restrict the feeding of the power to the external apparatus;

a restriction unit that restricts the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power feeding apparatus is to feed the power; and

a determination unit that determines as to whether or not the restriction unit has to restrict the feeding of the power, based on the restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit of the power feeding apparatus acquires the restriction information from another power feeding apparatus or another external apparatus to which the other power feeding apparatus feeds power, via the power line communication unit.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the power feeding apparatus further comprises a measurement unit that measures a value of a current fed to the external apparatus, and

the acquisition unit of the power feeding apparatus acquires the restriction information based on a measurement result by the measurement unit.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the power feeding apparatus notifies another power feeding apparatus, via the power line communication unit, that the restriction unit restricts the feeding of the power.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the power feeding apparatus further comprises an external apparatus communication unit that communicates with the external apparatus to which the power feeding apparatus feeds the power, and

the acquisition unit acquires status information of the external apparatus by means of the external apparatus communication unit.

6. An electrical apparatus comprising:

an operation unit that operates by receiving power from a power line through a power feeding apparatus;

a control unit that controls a power consumption state of the operation unit; and

an external apparatus communication unit that communicates with the power feeding apparatus, wherein;

when receiving, through the external apparatus communication unit, a power restriction instruction which is sent from the power feeding apparatus in response to a determination on restriction of the feeding of the power made with using acquired restriction information, the control unit changes the power consumption state.

7. A power feeding apparatus comprising:

a power feeding unit that feeds power from a power line to an external apparatus;

a power line communication unit that communicates via the power line, which is a communication medium;

an acquisition unit that acquires information used to determine as to whether or not the power feeding unit has to restrict the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power feeding unit feeds the power; and

a restriction unit that restricts the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power feeding unit feeds the power when it is determined that the feeding of the power is restricted, based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the acquisition unit acquires, through power line communication, the information from another power feeding apparatus or another external apparatus to which the other power feeding apparatus feeds power.

9. A computer readable storage medium storing a program causing a computer to perform a process for power feeding, the process comprising:

feeding power from a power line to an external apparatus;

communicating with another power feeding apparatus via the power line, which is a communication medium;

acquiring information used to determine as to whether or not the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power is fed has to be restricted; and

restricting the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power is fed when it is determined that the feeding of the power is restricted, based on the acquired information.

10. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the process further comprises:

notifying another power feeding apparatus that the feeding of the power is restricted.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 9, wherein the process further comprises:

communicating with the external apparatus to which the power is fed, so as to acquire status information of the external apparatus.

12. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for enabling a computer to perform a process for power feeding, the process comprising:

feeding power from a power line to an external apparatus;

communicating with another power feeding apparatus via the power line, which is a communication medium;

acquiring information used to determine as to whether or not the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power is fed has to be restricted; and

restricting the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power is fed when it is determined that the feeding of the power is restricted, based on the acquired information.

13. The data signal according to according to claim 12, wherein the process further comprises:

notifying another power feeding apparatus that the feeding of the power is restricted.

14. The data signal according to according to claim 12, wherein the process further comprises:

communicating with the external apparatus to which the power is fed, so as to acquire status information of the external apparatus.