Wireless charger and wireless charging system

Abstract

To provide a wireless charger which can be used in common with various charging objects.SOLUTION: A wireless charger comprises: a power transmission unit 2 which wirelessly transmits inductive energy as charging power to a charging object 10 by non-contact power supply of the charging object 10 with a power reception unit 11; a signal analysis unit 4 which recognizes a communication signal to be transmitted from the power reception unit 11 to analyze the communication signal; a power changing unit 5 which can change a value of the inductive energy to be transmitted from the power transmission unit 2 to the charging object 10; and a power transmission control unit 3 which changes the value of the inductive energy to be transmitted from the power transmission unit 2 according to the charging object 10 to be specified on the basis of an analysis result of the signal analysis unit 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a wireless charger and a wireless charging system. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known wireless chargers that use a non-contact charging method based on electromagnetic induction. This non-contact charging method uses electromagnetic induction between a coil provided as a power receiving unit in the power receiving device and a coil provided as a power transmitting unit in the wireless charger on the power supply side.

[0003] The object to be charged may be a secondary battery alone or a device to be charged that is equipped with a secondary battery (for example, a cordless device such as a vacuum cleaner or an electric toothbrush, or a mobile terminal). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-284065 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In general, various objects to be charged using such non-contact charging methods have different withstand voltage values. Therefore, different wireless chargers are used depending on the withstand voltage values ​​of the objects to be charged. In other words, it has not been possible to charge various objects to be charged using the non-contact charging method using a common wireless charger.

[0006] Therefore, since many devices that use non-contact charging methods are now in widespread use, users must use wireless chargers that are compatible with those devices. Therefore, there is a need for the development of a wireless charger that can charge all devices regardless of their withstand voltage.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless charger and a wireless charging system that can be commonly used for a variety of objects to be charged, without requiring a dedicated wireless charger for each object to be charged. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a wireless charger according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a power transmission unit that is electromagnetically connectable to a power receiving unit of an object to be charged and wirelessly transmits induced energy as a charging voltage to the object to be charged using electromagnetic induction, a signal analysis unit that recognizes a change in the charging voltage waveform of the object to be charged when the induced energy is received as a signal and analyzes the signal, a power change unit that can change the value of the induced energy transmitted from the power transmission unit to the object to be charged, a power transmission control unit that determines the identity of the object to be charged based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit and changes the value of the induced energy transmitted from the power transmission unit according to the determination result, and a specific device identification unit that can identify a specific device as the object to be charged from identity information related to the object to be charged whose connection with the power transmission unit has been detected. The power transmission control unit controls the power change unit to change the induced energy transmitted from the power transmission unit according to the identification result of the specific device identification unit. The specific device identification unit includes a detection unit that detects a detectable part provided on the object to be charged, and the detection unit detects the detectable part of the object to be charged to identify the specific device as the object to be charged. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a wireless charger according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing a charging procedure of the wireless charger according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a charging procedure of a wireless charger according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a wireless charger according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5]FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a wireless charging system using a wireless charger according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a charging procedure of a wireless charger according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a wireless charger according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Note that in the various drawings, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a wireless charger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless charger 1 according to the present embodiment includes a power transmission unit 2, a power transmission control unit 3, a signal analysis unit 4, and a power change unit 5. The wireless charger 1 is configured to transmit charging power transmitted from the power transmission unit 2 and transmit signals including information on the charging object 10, such as the withstand voltage value, the number of battery cells, or the type of device, transmitted from the power receiving unit 11, by using a non-contact charging method based on electromagnetic induction between the power transmission unit 2, which is the power supply side and is composed of a primary coil, and the power receiving unit 11, which is the power receiving side and is composed of a secondary coil of the charging object 10. In this embodiment, a voltage is used as an example of a method for transmitting charging power, but a current, microwave, or the like may also be used. In addition, an example of non-contact power supply is described using electromagnetic induction, but a magnetic resonance type, a microwave type, a laser type, an ultrasonic type, or the like may also be used.

[0013] The power transmitting unit 2 and the power receiving unit 11 of the object to be charged 10 can be electromagnetically connected to each other. When the power transmitting unit 2 is electromagnetically connected to the power receiving unit 11 of the object to be charged 10, the power transmitting unit 2 wirelessly transmits inductive energy as charging power to the object to be charged 10 by utilizing electromagnetic induction.

[0014] The object to be charged 10 includes a power receiving unit 11, a power receiving control unit 12, a voltage / current adjustment unit 13, and an identity information generation unit 14. The object to be charged 10 receives charging power as inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit 2 by the power receiving unit 11, converts it to a charging voltage by the voltage / current adjustment unit 13, and charges a built-in secondary battery (not shown). In addition, based on the fact that the power receiving unit 11 receives charging power as inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit 2, the object to be charged 10 generates an identity voltage waveform including identity information in the charging voltage waveform by the identity information generation unit 14, and transmits this from the power receiving unit 11. The power receiving control unit 12 controls the reception of charging power and the transmission of the identity voltage waveform in the object to be charged 10.

[0015] The voltage / current adjustment unit 13 converts the charging power (induction energy) received by the power receiving unit 11 into a charging voltage and stores it in a power storage unit (not shown). The background information generation unit 14 generates a background voltage waveform including background information such as at least the withstand voltage value of the object to be charged 10, the number of battery cells, or the type of device in the charging voltage waveform. The power receiving unit 11 transmits the background voltage waveform to the power transmitting unit 2 of the wireless charger 1 under the control of the power reception control unit 12. That is, the object to be charged 10 transmits the background voltage waveform to the power transmitting unit 2 when triggered by receiving charging power as induction energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit 2.

[0016] The signal analysis unit 4 recognizes the characteristic voltage waveform received by the power transmission unit 2 from the power receiving unit 11 as a communication signal, and analyzes the communication signal. At this time, the communication signal includes characteristic information such as the withstand voltage value of the object to be charged 10, the number of cells, and the type of device.

[0017] The power changing unit 5 is capable of changing the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit 2 to the object 10 to be charged.

[0018] The power transmission control unit 3 determines the identity of the object to be charged 10 whose connection has been detected based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit 4, and controls the power changing unit 5 to change the value of the inductive energy output from the power transmission unit 2 according to the determination result. That is, the power transmission control unit 3 determines whether the withstand voltage value of the connected object to be charged 10 is higher or lower than a preset reference, based on the identity of the object to be charged 10 analyzed by the signal analysis unit 4, and controls the power changing unit 5 to change the value of the inductive energy output from the power transmission unit 2 all at once or stepwise, based on the determination result.

[0019] Here, the object to be charged 10 may be a secondary battery alone or a device to be charged that is equipped with a secondary battery (for example, a cordless device such as an electric vacuum cleaner or an electric toothbrush, or a mobile terminal, etc.).

[0020] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a charging procedure of the wireless charger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Next, a procedure for charging the object to be charged 10 in the wireless charger 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0022] 2, the power transmitting unit 2 transmits, for example, a preset charging power for a low voltage to the object to be charged 10 (step S1). Note that the object to be charged 10 may constantly discharge a voltage from a secondary battery built in the object to be charged 10, and the charging voltage waveform constituting this discharging voltage may include the above-mentioned identity information of the object to be charged 10. Based on the fact that the charging power transmitted from the power transmitting unit 2 is received by the power receiving unit 11 as inductive energy, the object to be charged 10 transmits to the power transmitting unit 2 an identity voltage waveform including identity information in the charging voltage waveform.

[0023] The power transmission unit 2 receives the characteristic voltage waveform transmitted from the object to be charged 10 (step S2) and waits until it detects a connection with the object to be charged 10 (step S3: NO). When it detects the characteristic voltage waveform received from the object to be charged 10 and is electromagnetically connected to the power receiving unit 11 (step S3: YES), it outputs the characteristic voltage waveform from the object to be charged 10 to the signal analysis unit 4 as a communication signal (step S4).

[0024] The signal analysis unit 4 waits until it receives a communication signal output from the power transmission unit 2 (step S5: NO), and upon receiving the communication signal (step S5: YES), it recognizes the identity voltage waveform from the object to be charged 10 received by the power transmission unit 2 as a communication signal and analyzes the communication signal (step S6). At this time, the communication signal includes the identity information of the object to be charged 10 described above.

[0025] The power transmission control unit 3 determines the identity of the object to be charged 10 whose connection has been detected based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit 4, and if the determination result indicates that the withstand voltage value of the object to be charged 10 is compatible with low voltage and not for high power (step S7: NO), controls the power change unit 5 to change the value of the inductive energy output from the power transmission unit 2 to a preset value for low voltage (first set value). As a result, the power transmission unit 2 wirelessly transmits the inductive energy as a charging voltage to the object to be charged 10 by utilizing electromagnetic induction, and starts low voltage charging of the object to be charged 10 (step S8).

[0026] Furthermore, the power transmission control unit 3 determines the identity of the object to be charged 10 whose connection has been detected based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit 4, and if the determination result indicates that the withstand voltage value of the object to be charged 10 is compatible with high voltages (for high power) (step S7: YES), it controls the power change unit 5 to change the value of the inductive energy output from the power transmission unit 2 to a preset value for high voltages (second set value). As a result, the power transmission unit 2 wirelessly transmits the inductive energy as a charging voltage to the object to be charged 10 by utilizing electromagnetic induction, and starts high-voltage charging of the object to be charged 10 (step S9).

[0027] As described above, the wireless charger 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a power transmission unit 2 that can be electromagnetically connected to the power receiving unit 11 of the object to be charged 10 and that uses electromagnetic induction to wirelessly transmit inductive energy as charging power to the object to be charged 10, a signal analysis unit 4 that recognizes the identity voltage waveform containing identity information in the charging voltage waveform transmitted from the object to be charged 10 as a communication signal and analyzes the communication signal, a power change unit 5 that can change the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit 2 to the object to be charged 10, and a power transmission control unit 3 that determines the identity of the object to be charged 10 whose connection has been detected based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit 4, and changes the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit 2 in accordance with the determination result.

[0028] As a result, the wireless charger 1 of this embodiment can be commonly used for the object to be charged 10 regardless of the withstand voltage value of the object to be charged 10, by controlling the power changing unit 5 to change the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit 2 in accordance with the characteristics of the object to be charged 10 whose connection has been detected based on the analysis result of the signal analyzing unit 4. In other words, a dedicated wireless charger 1 is not required for each object to be charged 10, and the wireless charger can be commonly used for various objects to be charged 10.

[0029] The charging procedure of the wireless charger 1 according to this embodiment is not limited to the above. That is, when the power transmission control unit 3 detects a connection with the object to be charged 10, the power transmission control unit 3 may control the power changing unit 5 to reduce the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit 2 to the object to be charged 10 below an initially set value. That is, in the initial stage when the connection with the object to be charged 10 is detected, the wireless charger 1 may first start charging the object to be charged 10 using a set value for low voltage.

[0030] Then, when the power transmission control unit 3 determines that the characteristics based on the communication signal from the object to be charged 10 whose connection has been detected indicate that the withstand voltage of the object to be charged 10 is compatible with high voltage, the power transmission control unit 3 may control the power changing unit 5 to increase the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit 2 to the object to be charged 10 above the initially set value. In other words, after starting charging of the object to be charged 10 using the first set value for low voltage, if the wireless charger 1 determines from the characteristics of the object to be charged 10 that the withstand voltage is compatible with high voltage, the wireless charger 1 may switch to the second set value for high voltage and charge the object to be charged 10.

[0031] In addition, when the characteristics based on the communication signal from the object to be charged 10 whose connection has been detected include information on the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged 10, the power transmission control unit 3 may control the power change unit 5 to change the value of the induced energy transmitted from the power transmission unit 2 according to the number of battery cells.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a charging procedure of a wireless charger according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] That is, as shown in Fig. 3 in which the same reference numerals are used for parts corresponding to those in Fig. 2, in step S6, the characteristic voltage waveform from the object to be charged 10 detected by the power transmitting unit 2 is recognized as a communication signal. At this time, this signal contains information on the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged 10. Then, after analyzing this recognized communication signal, the process proceeds to step S10.

[0034] Based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit 4, the power transmission control unit 3 determines the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged 10 from the characteristics of the object to be charged 10 whose connection was detected, and if the number of battery cells is one (step S10: YES), controls the power change unit 5 to change the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit 2 to a value set for one battery cell corresponding to one battery cell. As a result, the power transmission unit 2 wirelessly transmits the inductive energy as charging power to the object to be charged 10 by utilizing electromagnetic induction, and starts charging the object to be charged 10 for one battery cell (step S11).

[0035] Furthermore, the power transmission control unit 3 determines the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged 10 from the characteristics of the object to be charged 10 whose connection was detected based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit 4, and if the number of battery cells is not one (step S10: NO), it similarly determines the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged 10, and if the number of battery cells is two (step S12: YES), controls the power change unit 5 to change the value of the inductive energy output from the power transmission unit 2 to a value set for two battery cells corresponding to two battery cells. As a result, the power transmission unit 2 wirelessly transmits the inductive energy as a charging voltage to the object to be charged 10 by utilizing electromagnetic induction, and starts charging the object to be charged 10 for two battery cells (step S13).

[0036] Furthermore, based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit 4, the power transmission control unit 3 determines the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged 10 from the characteristics of the object to be charged 10 whose connection was detected, and if the number of battery cells is not two (step S12: NO), it similarly determines the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged 10, and if the number of battery cells is three (step S14: YES), controls the power change unit 5 to change the value of inductive energy output from the power transmission unit 2 to a value set for three battery cells corresponding to three battery cells. As a result, the power transmission unit 2 wirelessly transmits inductive energy as charging power to the object to be charged 10 by utilizing electromagnetic induction, and starts charging the object to be charged 10 for three battery cells (step S15).

[0037] Based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit 4, the power transmission control unit 3 determines the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged 10 from the characteristics of the object to be charged 10 whose connection was detected, and if the number of battery cells is not three (step S14: NO), the power transmission control unit 3 determines the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged 10 and repeats the above routines of steps S10, S12 and S14 until the number of battery cells is the corresponding X (step S16: YES), and controls the power change unit 5 to change the value of the inductive energy output from the power transmission unit 2 to a value set for the number of battery cells X corresponding to the number of battery cells X. As a result, the power transmission unit 2 wirelessly transmits the inductive energy as charging power to the object to be charged 10 by utilizing electromagnetic induction, and starts charging the object to be charged 10 for the number of battery cells X (step S17).

[0038] In this manner, the wireless charger 1 of this modification controls the power change unit 5 to change the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit 2 all at once or stepwise depending on the number of battery cells of the object to be charged 10. That is, if the object to be charged 10 has five battery cells, the inductive energy may be changed all at once by the amount of five battery cells, or the inductive energy may be changed stepwise by the amount of one battery cell at a time. This allows the wireless charger 1 to be commonly used regardless of the withstand voltage value of the object to be charged 10. That is, a dedicated wireless charger 1 is not required for each object to be charged 10, and the wireless charger 1 can be commonly used for various objects to be charged 10.

[0039] Here, the discharge voltage of a secondary battery is determined by the material properties. For example, if the secondary battery is a lithium-ion battery, one battery cell is approximately 3.6V, and the number of cells is set according to the intended use. To give one example, a shaver uses one battery cell (3.6V), a small stick cleaner uses five battery cells (18V), and a mobile floor cleaner uses ten battery cells (36V). Therefore, the wireless charger 1 is capable of supplying an appropriate amount of power to the secondary battery according to the discharge voltage (number of battery cells).

[0040] FIG. 4 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating a wireless charger according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] As shown in Figure 4, in which parts corresponding to those in Figure 1 are given the same reference numerals, the wireless charger 1 may be equipped with a specific device identification unit 6 that can identify the device as the object to be charged 10 from information regarding the device's identity based on an identity voltage waveform from the object to be charged 10 whose connection has been detected.

[0042] Based on the analysis results of the signal analysis unit 4, the specific device identification unit 6 identifies a specific device (for example, a secondary battery alone, a shaver equipped with a secondary battery, a vacuum cleaner, or various devices such as a mobile terminal) as the object to be charged 10 from information regarding the object to be charged 10 based on the characteristic voltage waveform from the object to be charged 10 whose connection was detected.

[0043] The power transmission control unit 3 controls the power changing unit 5 so as to change the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit 2 according to the identified device, based on the identification result of the specific device identifying unit 6.

[0044] In such a modified wireless charger 1, the power changing unit 5 is controlled to change the inductive energy output from the power transmitting unit 2 in accordance with the device identified by the specific device identifying unit 6, so that the wireless charger 1 can be commonly used regardless of the withstand voltage value of the object to be charged 10. In other words, a dedicated wireless charger 1 is not required for each object to be charged 10, and the wireless charger 1 can be commonly used for various objects to be charged 10.

[0045] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a wireless charging system using a wireless charger according to a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] In the above-described embodiment, the charging power to be transmitted from the wireless charger 1 is set based on the basic voltage waveform from the object to be charged 10, and a preset low-voltage charging power is transmitted from the wireless charger 1 as a trigger for transmitting the basic voltage waveform from the object to be charged 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0047] For example, first and second switch units 103, 1b may be provided that are arranged in pairs for and connected to the wireless charger 1 and the object to be charged 10, and the object to be charged 10 may be identified and the charging power to be transmitted from the wireless charger 1 may be set based on the identification result of the specific device identification unit 6 that uses the connection of these units as a trigger. In other words, the object to be charged may be identified and the value of the charging power (inductive energy) to be transmitted may be controlled only by connecting the first and second switch units 103, 1b, without transmitting and receiving information by transmitting and receiving the charging power. Here, a wireless charging system will be described in which the object to be charged 10 is, for example, a cleaning unit 100 such as a vacuum cleaner as shown in FIG. 5.

[0048] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, the cleaning unit 100 is, for example, a stick type or a handheld type, and includes a vacuum cleaner main body 101 that can be operated by hand. The cleaning unit 100 has a secondary battery 102 built in the vacuum cleaner main body 101, and drives an electric blower (not shown) with power stored in the secondary battery 102, and sucks in air containing dust from the floor surface or the like with the suction negative pressure generated by driving the electric blower, separates the dust from the sucked in air, collects and accumulates the dust after separation, and exhausts the air from which the dust has been separated out of the vacuum cleaner main body 101.

[0049] Here, the cleaning unit 100 has a detectable portion 103 that protrudes outward from an outer casing 101a that forms the bottom of the vacuum cleaner body 101 when installed on the wireless charger 1. A concave detection portion 1b corresponding to the detectable portion 103 is provided on an installation surface 1a of the wireless charger 1 on which the cleaning unit 100 is installed. When the cleaning unit 100 is installed on the installation surface 1a of the wireless charger 1, the detectable portion 103 and the detection portion 1b are connected, so that the detection portion 1b functions as a specific device identification portion 6 that detects the detectable portion 103.

[0050] That is, the specific device identification unit 6 includes a detection unit 1b that detects a detectable part 103 provided on the cleaning unit 100, which is an object to be charged, and identifies a specific device, i.e., the cleaning unit 100, as an object to be charged when the detection unit 1b detects the detectable part 103 of the cleaning unit 100. Furthermore, the specific device identification unit 6 identifies the cleaning unit 100 as an object to be charged when the detection unit 1b detects the detectable part 103 of the cleaning unit 100, and determines that the specific device is a specific device when the result of the identification matches the background information related to the detected cleaning unit 100.

[0051] Here, the case where the detected part 103 has a protruding shape and the detection part 1b has a concave shape will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. In short, other aspects can be widely applied as long as the detection part 1b detects the detected part 103 and identifies a specific device as the object to be charged. Also, the detected part 103 on the side of the object to be charged may have a detection function.

[0052] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a charging procedure of a wireless charger according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] That is, as shown in Fig. 6 in which the same reference numerals are used for parts corresponding to those in Fig. 2, in step S6, the characteristic voltage waveform from the object to be charged 10 detected by the power transmitting unit 2 is recognized as a communication signal. At this time, this signal contains information on the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged 10. Then, after analyzing this recognized communication signal, the process proceeds to step S20.

[0054] When the detection unit 1b detects the detected unit 103 by connecting the detected unit 103, it functions as the specific device identification unit 6, determines whether the object to be charged 10 whose connection is detected is the cleaning unit 100, and when it identifies the object to be charged 10 as the cleaning unit 100 (step S20: YES), outputs the identification result to the power transmission control unit 3. As a result, the power transmission control unit 3 controls the power change unit 5 to change the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit 2 to a value set corresponding to the cleaning unit 100 based on the identification result of the specific device identification unit 6. Then, the power transmission unit 2 wirelessly transmits the inductive energy as a charging voltage to the cleaning unit 100 by utilizing electromagnetic induction, and starts charging the cleaning unit 100 (step S21).

[0055] Furthermore, when the detected unit 103 is not connected to the detection unit 1b (the detection unit 1b does not detect the detected unit 103), the specific device identification unit 6 determines whether the object to be charged 10 is the cleaning unit 100 or not, and when it identifies that the object to be charged 10 is not the cleaning unit 100 (step S20: NO), it outputs the identification result to the power transmission control unit 3. As a result, the power transmission control unit 3 controls the power change unit 5 to change the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit 2 to a value set corresponding to an object other than the cleaning unit 100, based on the identification result of the specific device identification unit 6. As a result, the power transmission unit 2 wirelessly transmits the inductive energy as a charging voltage to the object to be charged 10 other than the cleaning unit 100 by utilizing electromagnetic induction, and starts charging the object to be charged 10 other than the cleaning unit 100 (step S22).

[0056] As described above, the wireless charger 1 of this modified example can be commonly used for various objects 10 to be charged regardless of the withstand voltage value of the object 10 to be charged, by controlling the power changing unit 5 so that the power transmission control unit 3 changes the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit 2 to a value corresponding to the identified device (e.g., the cleaning unit 100) based on the identification result of the specific device identifying unit 6. In other words, a dedicated wireless charger 1 is not required for each object 10 to be charged, and the wireless charger 1 can be commonly used for various objects 10 to be charged.

[0057] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1...wireless charger, 1a...installation surface, 1b...detection unit, 2...power transmission unit, 3...power transmission control unit, 4...signal analysis unit, 5...power change unit, 6...specific device identification unit, 10...object to be charged, 11...power receiving unit, 12...power receiving control unit, 13...voltage / current adjustment unit, 14...background information generation unit, 100...cleaning unit, 101...vacuum cleaner main body, 101a...external casing, 102...secondary battery, 103...detected unit.

Claims

1. a power transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits inductive energy as charging power to an object to be charged by contactless power supply to a power receiving unit of the object to be charged; a signal analysis unit that recognizes a communication signal transmitted from the object to be charged and analyzes the communication signal; a power changing unit capable of changing a value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit to the object to be charged; a power transmission control unit that changes a value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit in accordance with the object to be charged that is identified based on an analysis result of the signal analysis unit; a specific device identification unit capable of identifying a specific device as the object to be charged from background information relating to the object to be charged whose connection with the power transmission unit has been detected; the power transmission control unit controls the power changing unit to change the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit in accordance with an identification result of the specific device identifying unit; The specific device identification unit is provided with a detection unit that detects a detectable part provided on the object to be charged, and the detection unit identifies the specific device as the object to be charged by detecting the detectable part of the object to be charged.

2. The power transmission control unit When a connection with the object to be charged is detected, the power changing unit is controlled so that a value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit to the object to be charged becomes a first set value; 2. The wireless charger of claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the object to be charged is capable of handling a charging power higher than the first set value, the power change unit is controlled to change the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit to the object to be charged to a second set value higher than the first set value all at once or in stages.

3. The power transmission control unit 2. The wireless charger according to claim 1, wherein the power change unit is controlled to change the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit all at once or in stages depending on the number of battery cells built into the object to be charged, which is indicated by the background information included in the communication signal.

4. The specific device identification unit The wireless charger according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit identifies the specific device as the object to be charged by detecting the detectable portion of the object to be charged, and determines the specific device when the identification result matches the background information regarding the detected object to be charged.

5. According to the identification result of the specific device identification unit, if the object to be charged is a cleaning unit, The power transmission control unit The wireless charger according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising: controlling the power changing unit to change the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit in accordance with the identity information relating to the cleaning unit.

6. A charging device includes a wireless charger and an object to be charged that can be charged by non-contact power supply from the wireless charger, The wireless charger includes: a power transmission unit that wirelessly transmits inductive energy as charging power to the object to be charged by the non-contact power supply; a signal analysis unit that recognizes a communication signal transmitted from the object to be charged and analyzes the communication signal; a power changing unit capable of changing a value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit to the object to be charged; a power transmission control unit that changes a value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit in accordance with the object to be charged that is identified based on an analysis result of the signal analysis unit; a specific device identification unit capable of identifying a specific device as the object to be charged from background information relating to the object to be charged whose connection with the power transmission unit has been detected; the power transmission control unit controls the power changing unit to change the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit in accordance with an identification result of the specific device identifying unit; The specific device identification unit includes a detection unit that detects a detectable part provided on the object to be charged, and the detection unit identifies the specific device as the object to be charged by detecting the detectable part of the object to be charged.

7. The object to be charged is a power receiving unit that receives the inductive energy by the non-contact power supply with the power transmitting unit of the wireless charger; a background information generating unit configured to generate the background information including at least a withstand voltage value, a number of battery cells, or a type of the specific device related to the object to be charged; The wireless charging system according to claim 6 , further comprising: a power reception control unit that controls the reception of the charging power and the transmission of the identity information.

Images