Power transmission device, electronic instrument, and waveform monitoring circuit

• US 7,847,438 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Onishi, Kota, Jin, Mikimoto, Kamijo, Takahiro, Yoda, Kentaro, Sogabe, Haruhiko, Iisaka, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amrany; Adi
• Application Number:
  US12/167,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage

Abstract

A power transmission device of a non-contact power transmission system includes a waveform monitoring circuit that generates and outputs a waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal based on a coil end signal of a primary coil, and a power transmission control device that controls a power transmission driver that drives the primary coil, the power transmission control device receiving the waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal and detecting a change in waveform of the induced voltage signal to detect a power-reception-side load state. The waveform monitoring circuit includes a first rectifier circuit having a limiter function, the first rectifier circuit including a current-limiting resistor provided between a coil end node where the coil end signal of the primary coil is generated and a monitoring node where the waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal is generated, performing a limiter operation that clamps the induced voltage signal at a high-potential-side power supply voltage, and subjecting the induced voltage signal to half-wave rectification.

Claims

1. A power transmission device included in a non-contact power transmission system that transmits power to a power reception device by electromagnetically coupling a primary coil and a secondary coil to transmit power to a load of the power reception device, the power transmission device comprising:

a waveform monitoring circuit that includes a first rectifier circuit and generates and outputs a waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal based on a coil end signal of the primary coil; and

a power transmission control device that controls a power transmission driver that drives the primary coil, the power transmission control device receiving the waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal and detecting a waveform of the induced voltage signal to detect a power-reception-side load state,

the first rectifier circuit including;

a first resistor that is a current-limiting resistor provided between a coil end node where the coil end signal of the primary coil is generated and a first monitoring node where a first induced voltage signal that is the waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal is generated;

a first diode provided between the first monitoring node and a high-potential-side power supply node, a forward direction of the first diode being a direction from the first monitoring node to the high-potential-side power supply node; and

a second diode provided between the first monitoring node and a low-potential-side power supply node, a forward direction of the second diode being a direction from the low-potential-side power supply node to the first monitoring node.

2. The power transmission device as defined in claim 1,

the power transmission control device including a waveform detection circuit that detects a change in waveform of the induced voltage signal of the primary coil;

the waveform detection circuit including;

a first waveform detection circuit that detects a waveform of the first induced voltage signal of the primary coil; and

a second waveform detection circuit that detects a waveform of a second induced voltage signal of the primary coil; and

the waveform monitoring circuit including;

the first rectifier circuit that outputs the waveform-monitoring first induced voltage signal to the first waveform detection circuit through the first monitoring node; and

a second rectifier circuit that outputs the waveform-monitoring second induced voltage signal to the second waveform detection circuit through a second monitoring node.

3. The power transmission device as defined in claim 2,

the second rectifier circuit including:

a second resistor provided between the coil end node and the second monitoring node;

a third resistor provided between the second monitoring node and a low-potential-side power supply node; and

a third diode provided between the second monitoring node and the low-potential-side power supply node, a forward direction of the third diode being a direction from the low-potential-side power supply node to the second monitoring node.

4. The power transmission device as defined in claim 2,

the power transmission control device including:

a drive clock signal generation circuit that generates and outputs a drive clock signal that specifies a drive frequency of the primary coil;

a driver control circuit that generates a driver control signal based on the drive clock signal, and outputs the driver control signal to the power transmission driver that drives the primary coil; and

a control circuit that detects the power-reception-side load state based on a detection result of the waveform detection circuit;

the first waveform detection circuit of the waveform detection circuit including a first pulse width detection circuit, when a timing at which the first induced voltage signal that has changed from a low-potential-side power supply voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage is referred to as a first timing, the first pulse width detection circuit measuring a first pulse width period to detect first pulse width information, the first pulse width period being a period between a first edge timing of the drive clock signal and the first timing; and

the control circuit detecting the power-reception-side load state based on the first pulse width information.

5. The power transmission device as defined in claim 4,

the first waveform detection circuit including a first waveform adjusting circuit that adjusts a waveform of the first induced voltage signal and outputs a first waveform-adjusted signal;

and

the first pulse width detection circuit measuring the first pulse width period based on the first waveform-adjusted signal and the drive clock signal.

6. The power transmission device as defined in claim 5,

the first pulse width detection circuit including a first counter that increments or decrements a count value in the first pulse width period and measures the first pulse width period based on resulting count value of the first counter.

7. The power transmission device as defined in claim 4,

the control circuit performing primary foreign object detection based on the first pulse width information, the primary foreign object detection being foreign object detection before normal power transmission starts.

8. The power transmission device as defined in claim 7,

the second waveform detection circuit including a second pulse width detection circuit that measures a second pulse width period and detects second pulse width information, the second pulse width period being a period between a second edge timing of the drive clock signal and a second timing, the second timing being a timing when the second induced voltage signal of the primary coil that has changed from a high-potential-side power supply voltage falls below a second threshold voltage;

and

the control circuit performing secondary foreign object detection based on the second pulse width information, the secondary foreign object detection being foreign object detection after normal power transmission has started.

9. The power transmission device as defined in claim 8,

the second waveform detection circuit including a second waveform adjusting circuit that adjusts a waveform of the second induced voltage signal and outputs a second waveform-adjusted signal;

and

the second pulse width detection circuit measuring the second pulse width period based on the second waveform-adjusted signal and the drive clock signal.

10. The power transmission device as defined in claim 9,

the second pulse width detection circuit including a second counter that increments or decrements a count value in the second pulse width period and measures the second pulse width period based on resulting count value of the second counter.

11. The power transmission control device as defined in claim 9,

the first waveform detection circuit including a first waveform adjusting circuit that adjusts a waveform of the first induced voltage signal and outputs a first waveform-adjusted signal to the first pulse width detection circuit;

and

the second waveform adjusting circuit adjusting a waveform of the second induced voltage signal differing from the first induced voltage signal, and outputting the second waveform-adjusted signal to the second pulse width detection circuit.

12. The power transmission device as defined in claim 1,

the power transmission control device including a waveform detection circuit that detects a change in waveform of the induced voltage signal of the primary coil;

the waveform detection circuit including;

a first waveform detection circuit that detects a waveform of the first induced voltage signal of the primary coil; and

a second waveform detection circuit that detects a waveform of a second induced voltage signal of the primary coil;

the waveform monitoring circuit including;

the first rectifier circuit that outputs the waveform-monitoring first induced voltage signal to the first waveform detection circuit through the first monitoring node; and

a second rectifier circuit that outputs the waveform-monitoring second induced voltage signal to the second waveform detection circuit through a second monitoring node;

the second rectifier circuit including;

a third diode provided between the second monitoring node and the high-potential-side power supply node, a forward direction of the third diode being a direction from the second monitoring node to the high-potential-side power supply node;

a fourth diode provided between the second monitoring node and the low-potential-side power supply node, a forward direction of the fourth diode being a direction from the low-potential-side power supply node to the second monitoring node;

a second resistor provided between the third diode and the second monitoring node;

a third resistor provided between the second monitoring node and the low-potential-side power supply node; and

a second capacitor provided between a high-potential-side resistor end node and the coil end node, the high-potential-side resistor end node being provided between the third diode and the second resistor.

13. The power transmission device as defined in claim 12,

the power transmission control device including:

a drive clock signal generation circuit that generates and outputs a drive clock signal that specifies a drive frequency of the primary coil;

a driver control circuit that generates a driver control signal based on the drive clock signal, and outputs the driver control signal to the power transmission driver that drives the primary coil; and

a control circuit that detects the power-reception-side load state based on a detection result of the waveform detection circuit; and

the first waveform detection circuit of the waveform detection circuit including a first pulse width detection circuit, when a timing at which the first induced voltage signal that has changed from a low-potential-side power supply voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage is referred to as a first timing, the first pulse width detection circuit measuring a first pulse width period to detect first pulse width information, the first pulse width period being a period between a first edge timing of the drive clock signal and the first timing.

14. The power transmission device as defined in claim 13,

the second waveform detection circuit including a second pulse width detection circuit that measures a second pulse width period and detects second pulse width information, the second pulse width period being a period between a second edge timing of the drive clock signal and a second timing, the second timing being a timing when the second induced voltage signal of the primary coil that has changed from a high-potential-side power supply voltage falls below a second threshold voltage.

15. An electronic instrument comprising the power transmission device as defined in claim 1.

16. A power transmission device included in a non-contact power transmission system that transmits power to a power reception device by electromagnetically coupling a primary coil and a secondary coil to transmit power to a load of the power reception device, the power transmission device comprising:

a waveform monitoring circuit that includes a first rectifier circuit and generates and outputs a waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal based on a coil end signal of the primary coil; and

a power transmission control device that controls a power transmission driver that drives the primary coil, the power transmission control device receiving the waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal and detecting a waveform of the induced voltage signal to detect a power-reception-side load state,

the first rectifier circuit including;

a first resistor that is a current-limiting resistor provided between a coil end node where the coil end signal of the primary coil is generated and a first monitoring node where a first induced voltage signal that is the waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal is generated; and

a Zener diode provided between the first monitoring node and a low-potential-side power supply node, a forward direction of the Zener diode being a direction from the low-potential-side power supply node to the first monitoring node.

17. A power transmission device included in a non-contact power transmission system that transmits power to a power reception device by electromagnetically coupling a primary coil and a secondary coil to transmit power to a load of the power reception device, the power transmission device comprising:

a waveform monitoring circuit that includes a first rectifier circuit and generates and outputs a waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal based on a coil end signal of the primary coil; and

a power transmission control device that controls a power transmission driver that drives the primary coil, the power transmission control device receiving the waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal and detecting a waveform of the induced voltage signal to detect a power-reception-side load state,

the first rectifier circuit including;

a first capacitor provided between a first node and a coil end node where the coil end signal of the primary coil is generated;

a first resistor that is a current-limiting resistor provided between the first node and a first monitoring node where a first induced voltage signal that is the waveform-monitoring induced voltage signal is generated;

a first diode provided between the first monitoring node and a high-potential-side power supply node, a forward direction of the first diode being a direction from the first monitoring node to the high-potential-side power supply node; and

a second diode provided between the first node and a low-potential-side power supply node, a forward direction of the second diode being a direction from the low-potential-side power supply node to the first node.