Wireless power supply apparatus, filter unit and power supply apparatus for robot using the filter unit

• US 9,997,291 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso PS Corporation (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Denso PS Corporation (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Sugino, Masayoshi, Yuasa, Katsumi, Hamasaki, Keisuke, Kondoh, Hiroshi, Takeda, Shigeru, Haseo, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Toan
• Application Number:
  US14/039,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20140091635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 307104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

A wireless power supply apparatus includes a power reception coil, an actual load and an auxiliary load. The power reception coil functions as a repeater for receiving electric power in a non-contact manner by magnetic resonance with a power transmission coil to which electric power is supplied from a power supply unit and relaying transfer of the electric power from the power transmission coil. The actual load is connected to the power reception coil and is powered by the electric power received by the power reception coil. The auxiliary load is inserted parallel to the power reception coil and the actual load and forms a closed circuit with the power reception coil when supply of the electric power to the actual load is interrupted to be in an open state.

Claims

1. A wireless power supply apparatus comprising:

a power transmission coil to which electric power is supplied from a power supply unit;

a power reception coil that functions as a repeater configured to (i) receive electric power in a non-contact manner by magnetic resonance with the power transmission coil and (ii) relay transfer of the electric power from the power transmission coil;

an actual load connected to the power reception coil and powered by the electric power received by the power reception coil; and

an auxiliary load inserted parallel to the power reception coil and the actual load and configured to form a closed circuit with the power reception coil when supply of the electric power to the actual load is interrupted to be in an open state, so as to ensure the repeater function of the power reception coil irrespective of activation conditions of the actual load.

2. The wireless power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an actual load acquiring unit configured to acquire load of the actual load; and

a load changing unit configured to change load of the auxiliary load in accordance with the load of the actual load acquired by the actual load acquiring unit.

3. The wireless power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power transmission module that includes the power supply unit and the power transmission coil, and is configured to wirelessly supply electric power from the power supply unit via the power transmission coil;

an end module configured to wirelessly receive the electric power supplied from the power transmission module; and

an intermediate module configured to wirelessly relay transfer of the electric power between the power transmission module and the end module, the intermediate module including the power reception coil, the actual load and the auxiliary load.

4. The wireless power supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the power transmission module, the intermediate module and the end module are provided in a robot.

5. The wireless power supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the robot is an articulated robot.