Wireless power receiving device and fixtures equipped therewith

Abstract

To improve the flexibility of the installation direction of wireless power receiving devices. [Solution] The wireless power receiving device 20 comprises a plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes, each having first power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b and second power receiving electrodes 23a, 23b that extend in a straight line and are arranged parallel to each other with a predetermined first interval G1 between them. The first power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b of the plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes are arranged to intersect each other, and the second power receiving electrodes 23a, 23b of the plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes are arranged to intersect each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless power receiving device and a furniture including the same.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a wireless power supply system including a power supply device provided in a building and a power receiving device that receives power from the power supply device.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the wireless power supply system as described in Patent Document 1, in order for the power receiving device to receive power from the power supply device, it is necessary to arrange a pair of power receiving electrodes provided in the power receiving device along a pair of power supply electrodes on the power supply device side. That is, since the installation direction of the power receiving device with respect to the floor surface or the like provided with the pair of power supply electrodes is limited, for example, when the power receiving device is attached to furniture, the possible installation directions of the furniture are limited, and as a result, the degree of freedom in the layout of the furniture may decrease.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to improve the degree of freedom in the installation direction of a wireless power receiving device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a wireless power receiving device to which power is supplied wirelessly from a power supply device through a pair of power receiving electrodes arranged opposite to a pair of power supply electrodes, comprising a plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes, each having a first power receiving electrode and a second power receiving electrode that extend in a straight line and are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined first interval, wherein the first power receiving electrodes of the plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes are arranged to intersect each other, and the second power receiving electrodes of the plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes are arranged to intersect each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the degree of freedom in the installation direction of the wireless power receiving device can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is an illustrative diagram of a fixture equipped with a wireless power receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlarged section along line AA in Figure 1, and is a schematic diagram showing a vertical cross-section of a building equipped with a wireless power supply system using a wireless power receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a circuit diagram of a wireless power supply system. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along line BB in Figure 2, and is a diagram intended to explain the arrangement of the receiving electrodes. [Figure 5] This figure illustrates the installation direction of a piece of furniture equipped with a wireless power receiving device having the power receiving electrodes shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This is a diagram illustrating a first modified example of the arrangement of the receiving electrodes. [Figure 7] This diagram illustrates the installation direction of a piece of furniture equipped with a wireless power receiving device having the power receiving electrodes shown in Figure 6. [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates a second modified arrangement of the receiving electrodes. [Figure 9] This diagram illustrates the installation of a piece of furniture equipped with a wireless power receiving device having the power receiving electrodes shown in Figure 8. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a wireless power receiving device and a fixture equipped therewith according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0010] The wireless power receiving device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device that receives power from a power supply device through a power receiving electrode positioned opposite to a power supply electrode, and is used in a so-called wireless power supply system.

[0011] Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a wireless power receiving device 20 (hereinafter referred to as "power receiving device 20") and a piece of furniture 30 equipped with the power receiving device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 1 is an image diagram showing the state in which the piece of furniture 30 is installed in a building 1 equipped with a wireless power supply system 100. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along line AA in Figure 1, showing the entire wireless power supply system 100 including the piece of furniture 30 and a vertical cross section of the building 1 equipped with the wireless power supply system 100. Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of the wireless power supply system 100, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section along line BB in Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining the installation direction of the piece of furniture 30.

[0012] The building 1 to which the wireless power supply system 100 is applied is, for example, a reinforced concrete building and comprises a floor base material 2 and a floor finishing material 40 installed on the upper surface of the floor base material 2. The building 1 may also be made of wood, steel frame, reinforced concrete, or steel-reinforced concrete.

[0013] The floor base material 2 is, for example, a concrete slab or a wooden board, and the floor finishing material 40 is, for example, a sheet member such as a tile carpet, a flooring material, or a vinyl chloride floor tile. The floor finishing material 40 is adhered to the upper surface of the floor base material 2 by an adhesive such as an acrylic resin to form the floor surface of the space in the building 1. Note that a member such as an insulating member 42 described later may be provided between the floor base material 2 and the floor finishing material 40, or a floor panel for a free access floor may be provided.

[0014] The wireless power supply system 100 includes a power supply device 10 provided in the building 1 and having power supply electrodes 12 and 13, a power receiving device 20 that wirelessly receives power from the power supply device 10 through power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 arranged to face the power supply electrodes 12 and 13, and a floor finishing material 40 provided between the power supply electrodes 12 and 13 and the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23.

[0015] The floor finishing material 40 is a tile carpet having a pile portion (not shown) that constitutes the pile protruding from the surface and a backing portion (not shown) to which the pile portion is fixed. The floor finishing material 40 is formed in a substantially square shape and is laid on the upper surface of the floor base material 2.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the power supply device 10 includes an AC voltage generation unit 11 that generates an AC voltage, and a first power supply electrode 12 and a second power supply electrode 13 that are electrically connected to the AC voltage generation unit 11. In FIG. 2, the conductors connecting the AC voltage generation unit 11, the first power supply electrode 12, and the second power supply electrode 13 are schematically shown. In FIG. 1, the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 are covered by the floor finishing material 40 and are not actually visible, but are shown by broken lines for clarity of the arrangement of the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13.

[0017] The AC voltage generation unit 11 is connected to a commercial power supply 7 that outputs an AC voltage of 50 Hz to 60 Hz, and generates an AC voltage with a frequency of several hundred kHz to several tens of MHz, preferably 6 - 7 MHz or 12 - 14 MHz. The commercial power supply 7 is, for example, a single-phase two-wire power supply that outputs an AC voltage of 100 V. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the commercial power supply 7 is omitted.

[0018] Also, the AC voltage generation unit 11 has a first terminal 11a and a second terminal 11b that output AC voltages with opposite phases, and a first power supply electrode 12 and a second power supply electrode 13 are electrically connected to these terminals 11a, 11b respectively. That is, AC voltages with opposite phases are applied to the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13.

[0019] The first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 are thin plate-like members formed in a strip shape extending parallel to each other along the floor underlay material 2, and are formed of, for example, iron, stainless steel, copper, or aluminum. When a floor panel for a free access floor is installed on the floor underlay material 2, the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 are provided along the upper surface of the floor panel.

[0020] Also, as shown in FIG. 5 to be described later, the first power supply electrode 12 has a first width W1 of a predetermined size, the second power supply electrode 13 has a second width W2 of a predetermined size, and the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 are arranged with a third width W3 of a predetermined size therebetween. The first width W1 and the second width W2 are approximately the same size, and the size of the third width W3 between the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 is larger than the first width W1 and the second width W2, and is preferably set to be about 1.3 times to 2 times the size.

[0021] Furthermore, insulating members 42 are provided between the first power supply electrode 12 and the subfloor material 2, and between the second power supply electrode 13 and the subfloor material 2, thereby electrically insulating the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 from the subfloor material 2. By providing the insulating members 42 in this way, current is prevented from flowing from the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 to the subfloor material 2, and as a result, the power transmission efficiency from the power supply device 10 to the power receiving device 20 can be improved.

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the power receiving device 20 is built into the furniture 30 and includes a case 21 that houses the rectifier 24 and the like (described later) and is fixed to the furniture 30, and a first power receiving electrode 22 and a second power receiving electrode 23 provided on the underside of the furniture 30. In the following description, we will explain the case where the furniture 30 is a table having a base plate 31, a top plate 32, and legs 33 connecting the base plate 31 and the top plate 32, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Note that the furniture 30 is not limited to a table with the shape shown in Figure 2, but may be a desk, a filing cabinet, a partition, a counter table, etc.

[0023] Case 21 is provided with an outlet into which a plug 9 of an electrical device (not shown) is inserted. When the plug 9 is inserted into the outlet of the power receiving device 20, power is supplied from the power supply device 10 to the electrical device through the power receiving device 20.

[0024] The first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23 are plate-shaped members arranged parallel to each other along the lower surface of the bottom plate 31 (face plate) that is in contact with the surface of the floor finishing material 40 which forms the floor surface, and like the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13, they are made of, for example, iron, stainless steel, copper, or aluminum.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, the fixture 30 is installed on the floor finishing material 40 such that the first receiving electrode 22 is positioned above the first supply electrode 12 with the floor finishing material 40 in between, and the second receiving electrode 23 is positioned above the second supply electrode 13 with the floor finishing material 40 in between. However, as will be described later, the fixture 30 may also be installed on the floor finishing material 40 such that the second receiving electrode 23 is positioned above the first supply electrode 12 with the floor finishing material 40 in between, and the first receiving electrode 22 is positioned above the second supply electrode 13 with the floor finishing material 40 in between.

[0026] In this manner, the furniture 30 is positioned on the floor finishing material 40 such that the first power supply electrode 12 and the first power receiving electrode 22 face each other across the floor finishing material 40, and the second power supply electrode 13 and the second power receiving electrode 23 face each other across the floor finishing material 40. As a result, a capacitor is formed by the first power supply electrode 12, the floor finishing material 40, and the first power receiving electrode 22, and a capacitor is formed by the second power supply electrode 13, the floor finishing material 40, and the second power receiving electrode 23. Consequently, as will be described later, the AC voltage applied to the first power supply electrode 12 excites a voltage in the first power receiving electrode 22, and the AC voltage applied to the second power supply electrode 13 excites a voltage in the second power receiving electrode 23.

[0027] Furthermore, in order to clearly indicate the position where the fixture 30 should be placed, that is, the position where the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 are located, it is preferable that the surface color and material of the floor finishing material 40 be different in the part covering the area where the power supply electrodes 12 and 13 are provided and the part covering the area where the power supply electrodes 12 and 13 are not provided. In addition, it is preferable to indicate the location and orientation of the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23 on the bottom plate 31 of the fixture 30.

[0028] By clearly indicating the areas where the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 are provided, and by clearly showing the orientation of the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23, the furniture 30 can be easily installed on the floor finishing material 40 such that the first power receiving electrode 22 is positioned above the first power supply electrode 12, and the second power receiving electrode 23 is positioned above the second power supply electrode 13, with the floor finishing material 40 in between.

[0029] As described above, the voltages excited at the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23 are the same AC voltages as the voltages applied to the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13. Since their frequency is the frequency of the AC voltage generated by the AC voltage generation unit 11, i.e., several hundred kHz to several tens of MHz, if the electrical equipment (not shown) connected to the power receiving device 20 is equipment that corresponds to the commercial power supply 7, the voltages excited at the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23 cannot be used as is.

[0030] Therefore, as shown in Figure 3, the power receiving device 20 further includes a rectifier 24 that converts the voltages excited by the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23 into a DC voltage, and a DC / AC converter 25 that converts the DC voltage output from the rectifier 24 into an AC voltage equivalent to the commercial power supply 7 (for example, an AC voltage of 50Hz to 60Hz).

[0031] The rectifier 24 is provided to connect the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23, and the DC / AC converter 25 is provided between the power extraction terminal 26 (outlet) and the rectifier 24.

[0032] Furthermore, the power receiving device 20 is equipped with an alarm 27 that notifies when voltage is excited at the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23, and a storage battery 28 that stores the voltage excited at the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23.

[0033] The alarm 27 is, for example, a lamp that lights up due to the DC voltage output from the rectifier 24. This allows the user of the wireless power supply system 100 to easily determine whether the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23 are facing the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13, and whether power is being supplied normally, by checking that the alarm 27 is lit.

[0034] Furthermore, by providing the storage battery 28, when the excitation of voltage at the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23 stops, it becomes possible to supply power from the storage battery 28, thereby preventing momentary power interruptions due to the displacement of the power receiving device 20 and improving the stability of power supply.

[0035] These rectifiers 24, DC / AC converters 25, and batteries 28 are housed inside the case 21 or the furniture 30, for example, in the space within the legs 33 of the furniture 30.

[0036] Next, the excitation of voltage at the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23 will be explained with reference to the circuit diagram shown in Figure 3.

[0037] When a positive voltage is applied to the first power supply electrode 12 by the AC voltage generation unit 11, a positive charge is injected into the first power supply electrode 12. At this time, a negative charge is collected on the first power receiving electrode 22 due to electrostatic induction. On the other hand, a voltage with the opposite phase to that of the first power supply electrode 12, i.e., a negative voltage, is applied to the second power supply electrode 13, so a negative charge is injected into the second power supply electrode 13, and a positive charge is collected on the second power receiving electrode 23 due to electrostatic induction.

[0038] In this way, negative charges accumulate on the first receiving electrode 22 and positive charges accumulate on the second receiving electrode 23, so that, seemingly, a current flows from the first receiving electrode 22 to the second receiving electrode 23, that is, a positive voltage is excited on the first receiving electrode 22 and a negative voltage is excited on the second receiving electrode 23.

[0039] Although Figure 3 describes the case where the first power supply electrode 12 and the first power receiving electrode 22 face each other and the second power supply electrode 13 and the second power receiving electrode 23 face each other, a voltage is also excited at the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23 when the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power receiving electrode 23 face each other and the second power supply electrode 13 and the first power receiving electrode 22 face each other.

[0040] In other words, in the wireless power supply system 100, power can be supplied if the first power receiving electrode 22 faces one of the power supply electrodes, the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13, and the second power receiving electrode 23 faces the other power supply electrode, the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13.

[0041] This type of wireless power transfer is performed by placing a pair of electrodes opposite each other and using the electric field between them, and is therefore also called the "electric field coupling method."

[0042] Thus, in the wireless power supply system 100, in order for the power receiving device 20 to receive power from the power supply device 10, it is necessary to position the pair of power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 provided on the power receiving device 20 along the pair of power supply electrodes 12 and 13 on the power supply device 10 side.

[0043] Therefore, as described above, if the power receiving device 20 is attached to the furniture 30, the orientation in which the furniture 30 can be installed is limited, and as a result, the degree of freedom in the layout of the furniture 30 is reduced.

[0044] Therefore, the power receiving device 20 in this embodiment improves the freedom of layout for the furniture 30 by providing a plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes, each having first power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b and second power receiving electrodes 23a, 23b that extend in a straight line and are arranged parallel to each other with a predetermined first interval G1 between them.

[0045] Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 of the power receiving device 20 have two pairs of power receiving electrodes: a pair of power receiving electrodes 22a, 23a having a first power receiving electrode 22a and a second power receiving electrode 23a arranged parallel to each other with a first spacing G1, and a pair of power receiving electrodes 22b, 23b having a first power receiving electrode 22b and a second power receiving electrode 23b arranged parallel to each other with a first spacing G1.

[0046] Furthermore, the first receiving electrode 22a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a and the first receiving electrode 22b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b are arranged to intersect each other at a 90-degree angle (orthogonal arrangement), and the second receiving electrode 23a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a and the second receiving electrode 23b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b are arranged to intersect each other at a 90-degree angle (orthogonal arrangement).

[0047] As shown on the left side of Figure 5, if the receiving electrodes 22 and 23 of the power receiving device 20 have two pairs of receiving electrodes that are positioned to intersect each other at a 90-degree angle, even if the furniture 30 is positioned on the floor finishing material 40 such that the first receiving electrode 22a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a and 23a faces the first power supply electrode 12 and the second receiving electrode 23a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a and 23a faces the second power supply electrode 13, the right side of Figure 5 shows As shown, even when the furniture 30 is arranged on the floor finishing material 40 such that it is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the state shown on the left side of Figure 5, and the first receiving electrode 22b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b faces the first power supply electrode 12, and the second receiving electrode 23b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b faces the second power supply electrode 13, the power receiving device 20 can still receive power from the power supply device 10 in any case.

[0048] Figure 5 is a top view of the furniture 30 placed on the floor finishing material 40, viewed from above. To make the overlap between the power supply electrodes 12, 13 and the power receiving electrodes 22, 23 easier to understand, the power supply electrodes 12, 13 are shown with solid lines, and parts of the furniture 30 other than the bottom plate 31 are omitted. In the example shown in Figure 5, only one pair of power supply electrodes 12, 13 are shown, but multiple pairs of power supply electrodes 12, 13 are placed between the floor base material 2 and the floor finishing material 40, for example, arranged in a grid pattern.

[0049] Furthermore, even if the furniture 30 is arranged on the floor finishing material 40 such that it is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the state shown on the right side of Figure 5 so that the second receiving electrode 23a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a faces the first power supply electrode 12 and the first receiving electrode 22a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a faces the second power supply electrode 13 (not shown), the power receiving device 20 can still receive power from the power supply device 10 even if it is rotated another 90 degrees counterclockwise from that state so that the second receiving electrode 23b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b faces the first power supply electrode 12 and the first receiving electrode 22b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b faces the second power supply electrode 13 (not shown), the power receiving device 20 can still receive power from the power supply device 10.

[0050] In other words, by shaping the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 provided on the underside of the base plate 31 of the furniture 30 as shown in Figure 4, it becomes possible to change the orientation in which the furniture 30 is installed on the floor finishing material 40 by 90 degrees.

[0051] Furthermore, if the first receiving electrode 22a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a is slightly offset from the supply electrodes 12, 13, the first receiving electrode 22b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b, which are formed to intersect with the first receiving electrode 22a, will function as a receiving electrode with the portion facing the supply electrodes 12, 13. Similarly, if the second receiving electrode 23a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a is slightly offset from the supply electrodes 12, 13, the second receiving electrode 23b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b, which are formed to intersect with the second receiving electrode 23a, will function as a receiving electrode with the portion facing the supply electrodes 12, 13.

[0052] Therefore, by configuring the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 of the power receiving device 20 to have a pair of power receiving electrodes arranged to intersect each other, even if the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 are slightly misaligned with respect to the power supply electrodes 12 and 13, it is possible to secure the area of ​​the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 facing the power supply electrodes 12 and 13, and to secure the power to be received by the power receiving device 20 installed on the furniture 30.

[0053] In order to increase the received power, it is conceivable to lengthen the receiving electrodes 22 and 23 to enlarge the area of ​​the receiving electrodes 22 and 23 facing the supply electrodes 12 and 13. However, for example, in Figure 4, if the length L1 of the first receiving electrode 22b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b and 23b, which extends from the first receiving electrode 22a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a and 23a to the second receiving electrode 23a of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22a and 23a, is carelessly lengthened, when the first receiving electrode 22a is facing the first supply electrode 12, the first receiving electrode 22b will face the second supply electrode 13, causing a short circuit between the first supply electrode 12 and the second supply electrode 13 via the first receiving electrode 22(22a,22b). As a result, the receiving device 20 will be unable to receive power from the supply device 10.

[0054] Therefore, the length L1 of the first receiving electrode 22b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b, extending from the first receiving electrode 22a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a to the second receiving electrode 23a of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a, is set to be shorter than the first interval G1.

[0055] Furthermore, if the first width W1 of the first power supply electrode 12 or the second width W2 of the second power supply electrode 13 is greater than the width of the receiving electrodes 22 and 23, there is a risk that a short circuit between the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 cannot be prevented even if the length L1 of the first receiving electrode 22b is set shorter than the first interval G1. Therefore, the length L1 of the first receiving electrode 22b is set so as shown in Figure 5, that a predetermined second interval G2 is secured between it and the second power supply electrode 13.

[0056] The length L1 of the second receiving electrode 23b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b extending from the second receiving electrode 23a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a to the first receiving electrode 22a of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a, the length L1 of the first receiving electrode 22a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a extending from the first receiving electrode 22b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b to the second receiving electrode 23b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b, and the length L1 of the second receiving electrode 23a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a extending from the second receiving electrode 23b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b to the first receiving electrode 22b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b are set in the same manner.

[0057] According to the above embodiments, the following effects and advantages are achieved.

[0058] The power receiving device 20 with the above configuration is provided with a plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes, each having parallel-arranged first power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b and second power receiving electrodes 23a, 23b. The first power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b of the plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes are arranged to intersect each other, and the second power receiving electrodes 23a, 23b of the plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes are arranged to intersect each other.

[0059] In this way, by providing multiple pairs of power receiving electrodes with different extension directions, the direction in which the power receiving device 20 is installed relative to the floor surface or the like on which the pair of power supply electrodes 12 and 13 are provided can be selected relatively freely according to the extension directions of the multiple pairs of power receiving electrodes. This improves the degree of freedom in the installation direction of the power receiving device 20, and also improves the degree of freedom in the layout of the furniture 30 to which the power receiving device 20 is attached.

[0060] Furthermore, if the fixture 30 is table-shaped as shown in Figures 1 and 2, even if only one pair of power receiving electrodes is provided on the bottom plate 31, it is thought that the degree of freedom in its arrangement can be improved to some extent by providing a rotating mechanism between the bottom plate 31 and the legs 33 or between the top plate 32 and the legs 33. However, since the power supply electrodes 12 and 13 are usually arranged in an orthogonal grid, a configuration in which multiple pairs of power receiving electrodes are provided, as in the above embodiment, improves the degree of freedom in its arrangement even for fixture 30 where it is difficult to provide a rotating mechanism, and also makes it easier to move and set up the fixture 30 when aligning the orientation of the power receiving electrodes with the power supply electrodes 12 and 13.

[0061] Furthermore, by making the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 provided on the underside of the bottom plate 31 of the fixture 30 as long as possible, the area of ​​the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 facing the power supply electrodes 12 and 13 can be increased, thereby increasing the amount of power that can be received by the power receiving device 20 provided on the fixture 30.

[0062] Furthermore, the following modifications are also within the scope of the present invention, and it is possible to combine the configurations shown in the modifications with the configurations described in the embodiments described above, or to combine the configurations described in the following different modifications.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 of the power receiving device 20 have two pairs of power receiving electrodes. The number of pairs of power receiving electrodes that the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 have is not limited to two; for example, there may be three, or four or more, as shown in the first modified example in Figures 6 and 7.

[0064] In the first modified example shown in Figures 6 and 7, the receiving electrodes 22 and 23 of the power receiving device 20 have two pairs of receiving electrodes: a pair of receiving electrodes 22a and 23a having a first receiving electrode 22a and a second receiving electrode 23a arranged parallel to each other with a first spacing G1, and a pair of receiving electrodes 22b and 23b having a first receiving electrode 22b and a second receiving electrode 23b arranged parallel to each other with a first spacing G1. In addition, there is another pair of receiving electrodes 22c and 23c having a first receiving electrode 22c and a second receiving electrode 23c arranged parallel to each other with a first spacing G1. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the same section as in Figure 4, and Figure 7 is a top view of the same section as in Figure 5.

[0065] Furthermore, the first receiving electrode 22c of this other pair of receiving electrodes 22c, 23c is positioned at a 45-degree angle to the first receiving electrode 22a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a and the first receiving electrode 22b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b in the above-described embodiment, and the second receiving electrode 23c of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22c, 23c is positioned at a 45-degree angle to the second receiving electrode 23a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a and the second receiving electrode 23b of the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b in the above-described embodiment.

[0066] If the receiving electrodes 22 and 23 of the power receiving device 20 have another pair of receiving electrodes 22c and 23c that are positioned at a 45-degree angle to two pairs of receiving electrodes that are positioned orthogonally, then, as shown on the left side of Figure 7, the first receiving electrode 22a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a and 23a faces the first power supply electrode 12, and the second receiving electrode 23a of one pair of receiving electrodes 22a and 23a faces the second power supply electrode 13, the furniture 30 is positioned on the floor finishing material 40 in such a state. Even in cases where the furniture 30 is positioned on the floor finishing material 40 such that, as shown on the right side of Figure 7, it is rotated 45 degrees counterclockwise from the state shown on the left side of Figure 7, so that the first receiving electrode 22c of another pair of receiving electrodes 22c, 23c faces the first power supply electrode 12, and the second receiving electrode 23c of another pair of receiving electrodes 22c, 23c faces the second power supply electrode 13, the power receiving device 20 can still receive power from the power supply device 10.

[0067] As shown in the first modified example in Figures 6 and 7, the power receiving device 20 is provided with a plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes, each having parallel-arranged first power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b, 22c and second power receiving electrodes 23a, 23b, 23c. The first power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b, 22c of the plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes are arranged to intersect each other, and the second power receiving electrodes 23a, 23b, 23c of the plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes are also arranged to intersect each other. Therefore, similar to the above embodiment, the direction in which the power receiving device 20 is installed relative to the floor surface or the like on which the pairs of power supply electrodes 12, 13 are provided can be selected relatively freely according to the extending direction of the plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the angles at which the first receiving electrodes 22a and 22b intersect each other and the angles at which the second receiving electrodes 23a and 23b intersect each other are set to 90 degrees. However, these angles are not limited to 90 degrees and may be any angle greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 90 degrees, for example, 80 degrees or 45 degrees. Similarly, in the above first modified example, the angles at which the first receiving electrodes 22a, 22b, and 22c intersect each other and the angles at which the second receiving electrodes 23a, 23b, and 23c intersect each other are set to 45 degrees. However, these angles are not limited to 45 degrees and may be set to any angle. Regardless of how the angle is set, the lengths of the first receiving electrodes 22a, 22b, 22c and the second receiving electrodes 23a, 23b, 23c are set such that a predetermined second spacing G2 is secured between any pair of receiving electrodes and a pair of supplying electrodes 12, 13 when either pair of receiving electrodes is positioned facing the supplying electrodes 12, 13.

[0069] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b and the second power receiving electrodes 23a, 23b are formed in a straight line without being divided in the extending direction. Alternatively, the first power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b and the second power receiving electrodes 23a, 23b may be divided at a predetermined third interval G3 and formed in a divided manner in the extending direction, as shown in the second modified example in Figures 8 and 9. In this case, the divided first power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b and the second power receiving electrodes 23a, 23b are electrically connected inside the bottom plate 31 of the furniture 30 through a conductor (not shown). Note that Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cross-section corresponding to Figure 4, and Figure 9 is a top view corresponding to Figure 5.

[0070] Furthermore, the size of the predetermined third interval G3 separating each of the receiving electrodes 22a, 22b, 23a, and 23b is set such that a predetermined second interval G2 is secured between them and the supply electrodes 12, 13 when one pair of receiving electrodes 22a, 23a are positioned facing the pair of supply electrodes 12, 13, or when the other pair of receiving electrodes 22b, 23b are positioned facing the pair of supply electrodes 12, 13, as shown in Figure 9.

[0071] By making the length of the power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b, 23a, and 23b provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate 31 of the fixture 30 as long as possible, the area of ​​the power receiving electrodes 22a, 22b, 23a, and 23b facing the power supply electrodes 12 and 13 can be increased, thereby increasing the amount of power that can be received by the power receiving device 20 provided on the fixture 30.

[0072] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate 31 of the fixture 30 are formed in a cross shape, as shown in Figure 4. Alternatively, the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 may be formed in a T-shape or an L-shape. However, in order to increase the area of ​​the power receiving electrodes 22 and 23 and thereby increase the power received, a cross shape is preferable.

[0073] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the fixture 30 has a top plate 32 fixed to a bottom plate 31 on which multiple pairs of power receiving electrodes are provided, via legs 33. Alternatively, for example, a rotating mechanism may be provided between the bottom plate 31 and the legs 33, or between the top plate 32 and the legs 33, so that the orientation of the top plate 32 can be changed relative to the orientation of the power receiving electrodes provided on the bottom plate 31. By providing the fixture 30 itself with a structure that allows the orientation of the fixture 30 to be changed in this way, it is possible to further improve the degree of freedom in the placement of the fixture 30.

[0074] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an AC voltage with opposite phase is applied to the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 to excite voltages in the first power receiving electrode 22 and the second power receiving electrode 23. However, an AC voltage may be applied to one of the power supply electrodes, the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13, and the other power supply electrode, the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13, may be treated as a neutral wire with a potential of 0 (zero). In this case as well, power can be supplied from the power supply device 10 to the power receiving device 20.

[0075] Furthermore, if the other of the first power supply electrode 12 and the second power supply electrode 13 is used as the neutral wire, it is sufficient that an electrical insulator is provided between one of the power supply electrodes and the building substrate, but it is not necessary to provide an electrical insulator between the other power supply electrode and the building substrate. In this case, the alarm 27 is configured to notify that a voltage has been excited at the first power receiving electrode 22, and the storage battery 28 is configured to store the voltage excited at the first power receiving electrode 22.

[0076] Furthermore, in addition to the method of making the other of the first and second power supply electrodes 12 and 13 a neutral wire, it is also possible to omit the insulating coating of the other power supply electrode and actively bring it to the same potential as the building structure or floor grounding to make it a neutral wire.

[0077] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the power receiving device 20 is formed separately from the electrical equipment and is equipped with an outlet into which the plug 9 of the electrical equipment is inserted. Alternatively, the power receiving device 20 may be integrally provided with electrical equipment such as a display device installed on the top plate 32 of the furniture 30, in which case power will be supplied directly from the power supply device 10 to the electrical equipment.

[0078] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments only represent a part of the application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the above embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 100... Wireless power supply system 20. Wireless power receiving device (power receiving device) 1. Building 2. Subfloor materials 10. Power supply device 11. AC voltage generation unit 12. First power supply electrode (power supply electrode) 13. Second power supply electrode (power supply electrode) 22. First receiving electrode (receiving electrode) 22a...First receiving electrode (receiving electrode) 22b...First receiving electrode (receiving electrode) 22c...First receiving electrode (receiving electrode) 23. Second receiving electrode (receiving electrode) 23a...Second receiving electrode (receiving electrode) 23b...Second receiving electrode (receiving electrode) 23c...Second receiving electrode (receiving electrode) 30... Fixtures 31...Bottom plate (face plate) 40... Floor finishing materials

Claims

1. A wireless power receiving device in which power is supplied wirelessly from a power supply device through a pair of power receiving electrodes arranged opposite to a pair of power supply electrodes, The device comprises a plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes, each having a first power receiving electrode and a second power receiving electrode that extend in a straight line and are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined first interval. The first power receiving electrodes of the multiple pairs of power receiving electrodes are arranged to intersect each other. The second power receiving electrodes of the plurality of pairs of power receiving electrodes are arranged to intersect each other. Wireless power receiving device.

2. The aforementioned pair of power receiving electrodes consists of two units. The first receiving electrode of one pair of power receiving electrodes and the first receiving electrode of the other pair of power receiving electrodes are arranged orthogonally. The second receiving electrode of one pair of receiving electrodes and the second receiving electrode of the other pair of receiving electrodes are arranged orthogonally. The length of the first receiving electrode of the other pair of receiving electrodes, extending from the first receiving electrode of one pair of receiving electrodes to the second receiving electrode of the other pair of receiving electrodes, is set to be shorter than the predetermined first interval. The length of the second receiving electrode of the other pair of receiving electrodes, extending from the second receiving electrode of one pair of receiving electrodes to the first receiving electrode of the other pair of receiving electrodes, is set to be shorter than the predetermined first interval. The wireless power receiving device according to claim 1.

3. The first or second power receiving electrode of the pair of power receiving electrodes is divided into multiple parts in the extending direction. The wireless power receiving device according to claim 1.

4. A fixture installed on the floor of a building, comprising a wireless power receiving device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The pair of power receiving electrodes are positioned on the lower surface of the panel that is in contact with the floor surface. furniture.

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