Power Exchange Device, Power Exchange Method, Program, and Power Exchange System

• US 20090251008A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sugaya, Shigeru
• Granted Patent: US 8,332,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/005 with inductive power transfer for charging H02J7/025
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A power exchange device includes: a connection portion that is connected to another device; a wireless communication portion that performs wireless communication with a power exchange device in the vicinity; a power exchange portion that exchanges power with the power exchange device in the vicinity; a power management portion that causes the power exchanged by the power exchange portion to be input and output between the connection portion and the other device; and a power control portion that, after the wireless communication portion has performed the wireless communication with the power exchange device in the vicinity, controls whether to cause the power exchange portion to exchange power with the power exchange device in the vicinity depending on a power source state of the other device.

Claims

1. A power exchange device comprising:

a connection portion that is connected to another device;

a wireless communication portion that performs wireless communication with a power exchange device in the vicinity;

a power exchange portion that exchanges power with the power exchange device in the vicinity;

a power management portion that causes the power exchanged by the power exchange portion to be input and output between the connection portion and the other device; and

a power control portion that, after the wireless communication portion has performed the wireless communication with the power exchange device in the vicinity, controls whether to cause the power exchange portion to exchange power with the power exchange device in the vicinity depending on a power source state of the other device.

2. The power exchange device according to claim 1, wherein

the power control portion controls whether to cause the power exchange portion to exchange power after an authentication process with the power exchange device in the vicinity has been performed via the wireless communication portion.

3. The power exchange device according to claim 1, wherein

when the wireless communication portion has received from the power exchange device in the vicinity a power transmission request that requests power transmission, the power control portion controls whether to cause the power exchange portion to transmit power to the power exchange device in the vicinity depending on a power source state of the other device.

4. The power exchange device according to claim 3, wherein

the power transmission request includes, as a condition relating to power transmission, at least one of an amount of power, a format of power transmission, and information indicating a time slot during which transmission is required, and

when the power control portion causes the power exchange portion to transmit power to the power exchange device in the vicinity, the power control portion causes the power exchange portion to transmit power based on the condition relating to the power transmission.

5. The power exchange device according to claim 3, wherein

when the wireless communication portion has received a power transmission termination request from the power exchange device in the vicinity, the power control portion terminates the power transmission from the power exchange portion.

6. The power exchange device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication control portion that causes the wireless communication portion to transmit a power transmission request that requests the power exchange device in the vicinity to transmit power when the power control portion determines that the power exchange device in the vicinity will transmit power.

7. A power exchange method comprising the steps of:

performing wireless communication with a power exchange device in the vicinity;

determining whether to exchange power based on a power source state of another device that is connected;

exchanging power with the power exchange device in the vicinity when it is determined that power is to be exchanged; and

causing the power that is exchanged with the power exchange device in the vicinity to be input into and output from the other device.

8. A program that comprises instructions that command a computer to function as:

a connection portion that is connected to another device;

a wireless communication portion that performs wireless communication with a power exchange device in the vicinity;

a power exchange portion that exchanges power with the power exchange device in the vicinity;

a power management portion that causes the power exchanged by the power exchange portion to be input and output between the connection portion and the other device; and

a power control portion that, after the wireless communication portion has performed the wireless communication with the power exchange device in the vicinity, controls whether to cause the power exchange portion to exchange power with the power exchange device in the vicinity depending on a power source state of the other device.

9. A power exchange system comprising:

a power receiving device that includes

a first connection portion that is connected to a power using device,

a first wireless communication portion that performs wireless communication,

a power receiving portion that receives transmitted power, and

a first power management portion that causes the power received by the power receiving portion to be output from the first connection portion to the power using device; and

a power transmission device that includes

a second connection portion that is connected to a power supply device,

a second wireless communication portion that performs wireless communication with the first wireless communication portion of the power receiving device,

a power transmission portion that transmits to the power receiving device power supplied from the power supply device, and

a power control portion that, after the second wireless communication portion has performed the wireless communication with the first wireless communication portion of the power receiving device, controls whether to cause the power transmission portion to transmit power to the power receiving device, depending on a power source state of one of the power using device and the power supply device.