Power supply apparatus, power supply system, control method, and storage medium

• US 8,963,487 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Fukaya, Yudai
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Assistant Examiner(s): HENZE-GONGOLA, DAVID V
• Application Number:
  US13/163,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20120001592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 340/854.6, 340/854.8, 340/870.31, 455/41.1, 455/573, 455/343.1
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule

Abstract

A power supply apparatus for supplying electric power wirelessly to a power receiving apparatus which charges a battery informs charging information indicating a charging state of the power receiving apparatus, if a position of the power receiving apparatus is changed to more than the predetermined value.

Claims

1. A power transmission apparatus comprising:

a power transmission unit that transmits power wirelessly;

a detection unit that detects whether a position of at least one of a first power receiving apparatus and a second power receiving apparatus is changed by more than a predetermined value while the first power receiving apparatus and the second power receiving apparatus are in an area that the power transmission unit can transmit power; and

a control unit that causes an informing unit to inform first information relating to a state of the first power receiving apparatus if a position of the first power receiving apparatus is changed by more than the predetermined value and a position of the second power receiving apparatus is not changed by more than the predetermined value while the first power receiving apparatus and the second power receiving apparatus are in the area.

2. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes, based on a variation in the position of the first power receiving apparatus and a variation in position of the second power receiving apparatus, the informing unit to inform one of the first information and second information relating to a state of the second power receiving apparatus if the position of the first power receiving apparatus and the position of the second power receiving apparatus are changed by more than the predetermined value.

3. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit causes the informing unit to inform the first information if the variation in the position of the first power receiving apparatus is more than the variation in the position of the second power receiving apparatus.

4. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an obtaining unit that obtains the first information from the first power receiving apparatus that is in the area.

7. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information includes information relating to a battery that is charged by the first power receiving apparatus.

8. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not cause the informing unit to inform the first information if the first power receiving apparatus is not in the area.

9. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not cause the informing unit to inform the first information before the position of the first power receiving apparatus is changed by more than the predetermined value while the first power receiving apparatus is in the area.

10. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the informing unit to inform second information relating to a state of the second power receiving apparatus if the position of the second power receiving apparatus is changed by more than the predetermined value and the position of the first power receiving apparatus is not changed by more than the predetermined value while the first power receiving apparatus and the second power receiving apparatus are in the area.

11. The power transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information includes information relating to a battery that is connected to the first power receiving apparatus.

5. A method comprising:

transmitting power wirelessly via a power transmission unit;

detecting whether a position of at least one of a first power receiving apparatus and a second power receiving apparatus is changed by more than

a predetermined value while the first power receiving apparatus and the second power receiving apparatus are in an area that the power transmission unit can transmit power; and

causing an informing unit to inform first charging information relating to a state of the first power receiving apparatus if a position of the first power receiving apparatus is changed by more than the predetermined value and a position of the second power receiving apparatus is not changed by more than the predetermined value while the first power receiving apparatus and the second power receiving apparatus are in the area.

6. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program, wherein the program causes a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

transmitting power wirelessly;

detecting whether a position of at least one of a first power receiving apparatus and a second power receiving apparatus is changed by more than a predetermined value while the first power receiving apparatus and the second power receiving apparatus are in an area that the power transmission unit can transmit power; and

causing an informing unit to inform first information relating to a state of the first power receiving apparatus if a position of the first power receiving apparatus is changed by more than the predetermined value and a position of the second power receiving apparatus is not changed by more than the predetermined value while the first power receiving apparatus and the second power receiving apparatus are in the area.