Power regeneration device, method of regenerating power, power storage system, method of storing power, and high frequency device

• US 8,885,369 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nihon Dengyo Kosaku Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nihon Dengyo Kosaku Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Furukawa, Minoru, Shirato, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): GBLENDE, JEFFREY A
• Application Number:
  US13/505,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 363/81, 363/84, 363/88, 363/89, 363/124, 363/125, 363/126, 363/127, 363/39, 363 44- 45
• US Class Current: 363/44
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/705 using microwave tuning
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/72 Radiators or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/74 Mode transformers or mode stirrers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/80 Apparatus for specific applications stoves or ranges F24C7/02

Abstract

A power regeneration device includes an extraction unit and a high frequency-to-DC converter. The extraction unit is provided on a transmission path. The transmission path is provided for transmitting a high-frequency wave from a high-frequency wave source to a high-frequency load. The extraction unit extracts a reflected high-frequency wave generated by reflecting the high-frequency wave from the high-frequency load. The high frequency-to-DC converter converts the reflected high-frequency wave extracted by the extraction unit into DC power.

Claims

1. A power regeneration device, comprising:

an extraction unit provided on a transmission path, the transmission path being provided for transmitting a high-frequency wave from a high-frequency wave source to a high-frequency load, the extraction unit extracting a reflected high-frequency wave generated by reflecting the high-frequency wave from the high-frequency load via a reflected high-frequency wave transmission path;

a high frequency-to-DC converter for converting the reflected high-frequency wave extracted by the extraction unit into DC power; and

a branching unit that branches and outputs the reflected high-frequency wave extracted by the extraction unit to the reflected high-frequency wave transmission path,

wherein the high frequency-to-DC converter includes an antenna unit provided on the reflected high-frequency wave transmission path for receiving the reflected high-frequency wave and outputting AC power corresponding to the received reflected high-frequency wave; and

a rectifying unit for rectifying the AC power outputted from the antenna unit.

2. The power regeneration device according to claim 1, wherein the high frequency-to-DC-converter includes:

a plurality of antenna units, and

wherein the plurality of antenna units is distributed and arranged such that the reflected high-frequency wave transmitted through the reflected high-frequency wave transmission path is received by each of the antenna units.

3. The power regeneration device according to claim 1, wherein the reflected high-frequency wave transmission path includes a radial waveguide.

4. The power regeneration device according to claim 1, wherein the extraction unit includes a circulator having a first port to which the high-frequency wave generated by the high-frequency wave source is inputted, a second port from which the inputted high-frequency wave is outputted to the high-frequency load and to which the reflected high-frequency wave is inputted, and a third port from which the inputted reflected high-frequency wave is outputted.

5. The power regeneration device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a voltage control unit for controlling a voltage of the DC power outputted from the high frequency-to-DC converter to a predetermined voltage and outputs the power.

6. A power storage system, comprising:

the power regeneration device according to claim 1; and

a power storage unit for storing the DC power outputted from the power regeneration device.

7. A high frequency device, comprising:

a high-frequency wave source;

a high-frequency load;

a transmission path for transmitting a high-frequency wave from the high-frequency wave source to the high-frequency load; and

the power regeneration device according to claim 1, provided on the transmission path.

8. The high frequency device according to claim 7, wherein the high-frequency load is a heating chamber for high-frequency heating.

9. The high frequency device according to claim 7, wherein the high-frequency load is an antenna for receiving and transmitting a high-frequency signal wave.

10. A method of regenerating power, comprising:

an extracting step of extracting a reflected high-frequency wave on a transmission path, the transmission path being provided for transmitting a high-frequency wave from a high-frequency wave source to a high-frequency load, the reflected high-frequency wave being generated by reflecting the high-frequency wave from the high-frequency load via a reflected high-frequency wave transmission path;

a branching step of branching the extracted reflected high-frequency wave to the reflected high-frequency wave transmission path;

a high frequency-to-DC converting step of converting the extracted reflected high-frequency wave into DC power, wherein the high frequency-to-DC converting step includes;

a receiving step of receiving the reflected high-frequency wave by an antenna unit provided on the reflected high-frequency wave transmission path and outputting AC power corresponding to the received reflected high-frequency wave; and

a rectifying step of rectifying the outputted AC power.

11. The method of regenerating power according to claim 10, wherein, in the receiving step, the extracted reflected high-frequency wave is received by a plurality of antennas distributed and arranged on the reflected high-frequency wave transmission path while the extracted reflected high-frequency wave is transmitted through the reflected high-frequency wave transmission path.

12. The method of regenerating power according to claim 10, wherein, in the receiving step, the reflected high-frequency wave transmission path including a radial waveguide is used.

13. The method of regenerating power according to claim 10, further comprising:

a voltage controlling step of controlling a voltage of the DC power outputted in the high frequency-to-DC converting step to a predetermined voltage and outputting the power.

14. A method of storing power, comprising;

storing the DC power regenerated by the method of regenerating power according to claim 10.