Wireless power and communication system

• US 8,180,286 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamasuge, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, William
• Application Number:
  US12/425,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20090264069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/522, 307/104, 320/108
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• 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 50/80 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: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

The present invention provides a wireless communication apparatus including: a communication processing unit that transmits and receives a radio signal; a wireless power transmitting unit that supplies power wirelessly to an apparatus located within a power supplyable range; a location data obtaining unit that obtains location data of a power receiver apparatus; and a control unit that controls a power supply to the power receiver apparatus based on the location data of the power receiver apparatus obtained by the location data obtaining unit.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a communication processing unit that transmits and receives a radio signal;

a wireless power transmitting unit that supplies power wirelessly to an apparatus located within a power supplyable range;

a location data obtaining unit that obtains location data of a power receiver apparatus; and

a control unit that controls a power supply from the apparatus located within a power supplyable range to the power receiver apparatus based on the location data of the power receiver apparatus obtained by the location data obtaining unit.

2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines based on the location data that the power receiver apparatus is within a power supplyable range from another wireless communication apparatus, the control unit transmits a power supply request signal requesting a power supply for the power receiver apparatus from the another wireless communication apparatus.

3. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the control unit determines based on the location data that the power receiver apparatus is within a power supplyable range from another wireless communication apparatus, the control unit further transmits the location data to the another wireless communication apparatus.

4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the control unit determines that the another wireless communication apparatus is within a power supplyable range from the wireless communication apparatus, the control unit further lets the wireless power transmitting unit supply power to the another wireless communication apparatus.

5. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the control unit determines that the power receiver apparatus is within a power supplyable range from the wireless communication apparatus, the control unit further lets the wireless power transmitting unit supply power to the power receiver apparatus.

6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether to perform power supply, using contract data, circuit data, or amount-of-remaining-power data which are transmitted from the power receiver apparatus.

7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit receives a power supply request signal requesting a power supply for the power receiver apparatus from another wireless communication apparatus, the control unit lets the wireless power transmitting unit supply power to the power receiver apparatus.

8. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a wireless power receiving unit that receives a power supply from another wireless communication apparatus,

wherein when the control unit receives a power supply request signal from the another wireless communication apparatus, the control unit lets the wireless power receiving unit receive a power supply from the another wireless communication apparatus and lets the wireless power transmitting unit supply power to the power receiver apparatus.

9. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the location data obtaining unit obtains location data contained in a radio signal received from the another wireless communication apparatus through the communication processing unit.

10. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the location data obtaining unit estimates location data of the power receiver apparatus, using a radio signal received from the power receiver apparatus through the communication processing unit.

11. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a communication processing unit that transmits and receives a radio signal;

a wireless power transmitting unit that supplies power wirelessly to an apparatus located within a power supplyable range;

a location data obtaining unit that obtains location data of a power receiver apparatus; and

a control unit that controls a power supply to the power receiver apparatus based on the location data of the power receiver apparatus obtained by the location data obtaining unit;

wherein when the control unit determines based on the location data that the power receiver apparatus is within a power supplyable range from another wireless communication apparatus, the control unit transmits a power supply request signal requesting a power supply for the power receiver apparatus from the another wireless communication apparatus.

12. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the control unit determines based on the location data that the power receiver apparatus is within a power supplyable range from another wireless communication apparatus, the control unit further transmits the location data to the another wireless communication apparatus.

13. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the control unit determines that the another wireless communication apparatus is within a power supplyable range from the wireless communication apparatus, the control unit further lets the wireless power transmitting unit supply power to the another wireless communication apparatus.

14. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the control unit determines that the power receiver apparatus is within a power supplyable range from the wireless communication apparatus, the control unit further lets the wireless power transmitting unit supply power to the power receiver apparatus.

15. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit determines whether to perform power supply, using contract data, circuit data, or amount-of-remaining-power data which are transmitted from the power receiver apparatus.

16. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the control unit receives a power supply request signal requesting a power supply for the power receiver apparatus from another wireless communication apparatus, the control unit lets the wireless power transmitting unit supply power to the power receiver apparatus.

17. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a wireless power receiving unit that receives a power supply from another wireless communication apparatus,

wherein when the control unit receives a power supply request signal from the another wireless communication apparatus, the control unit lets the wireless power receiving unit receive a power supply from the another wireless communication apparatus and lets the wireless power transmitting unit supply power to the power receiver apparatus.

18. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the location data obtaining unit obtains location data contained in a radio signal received from the another wireless communication apparatus through the communication processing unit.

19. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the location data obtaining unit estimates location data of the power receiver apparatus, using a radio signal received from the power receiver apparatus through the communication processing unit.

20. A method for supplying power comprising the steps of:

obtaining location data of a power receiver apparatus by a first wireless communication apparatus that is not located within a power supplyable range of the power receiver apparatus, using a radio signal;

controlling a power supply to the power receiver apparatus based on the obtained location data of the power receiver apparatus; and

supplying power wirelessly from a second wireless communication apparatus to the power receiver apparatus when the power receiver apparatus is located within a power supplyable range from the second wireless communication apparatus.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for causing a computer that controls a wireless communication apparatus to function as:

a communication processing unit that transmits and receives a radio signal;

a power transmission control unit that controls a power supply from a wireless power transmitting unit to an apparatus located within a power supplyable range;

a location data obtaining unit that obtains location data of a power receiver apparatus; and

a control unit that provides instructions for supplying power from the apparatus located within a power supplyable range to the power receiver apparatus, to the power transmission control unit based on the location data of the power receiver apparatus obtained by the location data obtaining unit.

22. A wireless communication system comprising:

a first wireless communication apparatus including;

a first communication processing unit that transmits and receives a radio signal;

a first wireless power transmitting unit that supplies power wirelessly to an apparatus located within a power supplyable range from the first wireless communication apparatus;

a first location data obtaining unit that obtains location data of a power receiver apparatus; and

a first control unit that controls a power supply to the power receiver apparatus based on the location data of the power receiver apparatus obtained by the first location data obtaining unit,

a second wireless communication apparatus including;

a second communication processing unit that transmits and receives a radio signal; and

a second wireless power transmitting unit that supplies power to the power receiver apparatus, after receiving a power supply request signal requesting a power supply for the power receiver apparatus, from the first wireless communication apparatus, and

the power receiver apparatus including;

a wireless power receiving unit that wirelessly receives a power supply from the first wireless power transmitting unit of the first wireless communication apparatus or the second wireless power transmitting unit of the second wireless communication apparatus.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for causing a computer that controls a wireless communication apparatus to function as:

a communication processing unit that transmits and receives a radio signal;

a power transmission control unit that controls a power supply from a wireless power transmitting unit to an apparatus located within a power supplyable range;

a location data obtaining unit that obtains location data of a power receiver apparatus; and

a control unit that provides instructions for supplying power to the power receiver apparatus, to the power transmission control unit based on the location data of the power receiver apparatus obtained by the location data obtaining unit;

wherein when the control processing unit determines based on the location data that the power receiver apparatus is within a power supplyable range from another wireless communication apparatus, the control unit transmits a power supply request signal requesting a power supply for the power receiver apparatus from the another wireless communication apparatus.