Electronic device

Abstract

An electronic device having at least a loop-shaped electric conductor generating electric power by electromagnetic induction is provided. The electronic device includes a voltage-detecting unit, a voltage-comparing unit and a separating unit. The voltage-detecting unit is configured to detect a voltage generated in the electric conductor by the electromagnetic induction. The voltage-comparing unit is configured to make a comparison between the voltage detected by the voltage-detecting unit and a predetermined reference voltage and determining whether the voltage detected by the voltage-detecting unit exceeds the predetermined reference voltage. The separating unit is configured to break an electric connection between the electronic conductor and an electronic circuit connecting to the electric conductor when the voltage-comparing unit determines that the voltage detected by the voltage-detecting unit exceeds the predetermined reference voltage.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2007-039183, filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Feb. 20, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an electronic device including at least a loop-shaped electric conductor generating electric power by electromagnetic induction.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]For example, a system for transmitting charge power for charging a rechargeable battery incorporated in a portable terminal using electromagnetic induction with a noncontact power-transmission coil has been known.[0006]In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-187582 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 4) discloses a technology for stabilizing a secondary output voltage as follows. In a system for carrying out electric-power transmission by elec...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]It is desirable to provide an electronic device including a coil for noncontact power transmission without any of expensive and large-size high-resistance voltage parts, while being capable of protecting inner electronic circuits from damaging. It is desirable to provide an electronic device, inner electronic circuits of which can be protected, for example, even in the case where a high voltage output is generated from a coil due to an induction heating cooker or the like by being subjected to a strong magnetic field or a strong electromagnetic wave from the induction heating cooker or the like.

[0020]According to the embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connection between the electric conductor and the electronic circuit is broken when the loop-shaped electric conductor outputs a voltage not smaller than a reference voltage. Accordingly, if the electronic device is subjected to a strong magnetic field or a strong electromagnetic wave caused by an induction heating cooker or the like and a high voltage may be output from the loop-shaped electric conductor (e.g., noncontact power transmission coil), it is possible to protect inner electronic circuits from damaging without any of expensive large-size high-resistance voltage parts.

Problems solved by technology

In such a case, a voltage as high as several hundreds volts is generated from the secondary transmission coil, thereby destroying the inner electronic circuit of the portable terminal.