Power supply system and vehicle seat

Abstract

To improve the versatility of power source supply for devices installed in structures.SOLUTION: A power supply system 1 includes devices 51 to 55 that are activated with power, and supply units 60, 70 that supply power to the devices. The supply unit has no cable for receiving power supply from the outside. An output connector 18 of the supply unit can be detachably attached to an input connector 17 of the device. When the output connector and the input connector are connected, power is supplied from the supply unit to the device. Therefore, when the output connector 18 and the input connector 17 are separated, the supply unit can be removed from the device so that power supply from another supply unit or power supply using a cable can be performed. Accordingly, the versatility of the power source supply is improved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply system and a vehicle seat. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, when installing an electrically operated device in a structure, it is necessary to run a cable such as a harness from the power source to the device. However, depending on the structure, it may be difficult to run the wiring inside or it may be inappropriate to run the wiring on the outside. To address this issue, conventionally, power has been supplied wirelessly to vehicle seat devices (for example, membrane switches for detecting whether a person is seated) by electromagnetic induction, eliminating the need for cable wiring (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-20447 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, since the device is integrally connected to the power receiving device and has an inseparable structure, there has been a problem in that the versatility of the power supply is reduced.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to improve the versatility of power supply to devices provided in a structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, claim 1 or claim 3 The invention described in is a power supply system, an electrically powered device; a power supply unit for supplying power to the device; The supply unit does not have a cable for receiving power from an external source, The output connector of the supply unit and the input connector of the device are detachable, and power is supplied from the supply unit to the device by coupling them.

[0007] Claim 4 The invention described in Any one of claims 1 to 3 In the power supply system described in The supply unit comprises: The output connector is characterized by comprising a type determination unit that determines suitability based on the type of the device connected to the output connector.

[0008] Claim 5 The invention described in Any one of claims 1 to 4 In the power supply system described in The supply unit comprises: The power supply device is characterized by comprising a power information acquisition unit that acquires power information of the device.

[0009] Claim 6 The invention described in Claims 1 to 5 In the power supply system according to any one of the above, The supply unit comprises: The temperature information acquisition unit acquires temperature information of the device.

[0010] Claim 7 The invention described in Claims 1 to 6 In the power supply system according to any one of the above, The supply unit comprises: The device is characterized by including an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in the device.

[0011] Claim 8 The invention described in Claims 1 to 7 In the power supply system according to any one of the above, The supply unit comprises: The unit is characterized by being equipped with a communication device for wireless communication with the outside.

[0012] Claim 9 The invention described in Claim 8 In the power supply system described in The supply unit comprises: The communication device is characterized by comprising a communication processing unit that inputs control information received from an external source to the device.

[0013] Claim 2 The invention described in Claim 1 In the power supply system described in The supply unit comprises: The wireless power supply unit receives wireless power and supplies power to the device.

[0014] Claim 1 The invention described in In addition to the above configuration, The supply unit is characterized by being a battery unit.

[0015] Claim 3 The invention described in In addition to the above configuration, The supply unit includes a wireless power supply unit that receives wireless power and supplies power to the device, and a battery unit, The wireless power supply unit and the battery unit can be selectively connected to the device.

[0016] Claim 1 and Claim 3 The invention described in In addition to the above configuration, The battery unit includes: The device is characterized by comprising a compatibility determination unit that determines compatibility with the device.

[0017] Claim 10 The invention described in Claims 1 to 9 In the power supply system according to any one of the above, The battery unit includes: a communication device that performs wireless communication with an external device; The communication device is characterized by comprising a supply control unit that supplies power to the device based on a power supply command received from an external device.

[0018] Claim 11 The invention described in Claims 1 to 10 In the power supply system according to any one of the above, The battery unit includes: a communication device that performs wireless communication with an external device; a remaining battery charge monitoring unit that monitors the remaining battery charge, The remaining battery charge monitoring unit notifies the outside via the communication device of the remaining battery charge or a state where the remaining battery charge is below a specified value.

[0019] Claim 12 The invention described in is a vehicle seat, Claims 1 to 11 The present invention is characterized in that it comprises the power supply system according to any one of the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] Claim 1 or claim 3 According to the invention described in the above, the power supply system is capable of supplying power to a device without a power supply cable such as a harness, because the output connector to which the power supply unit supplies power and the input connector of the device are detachable. Furthermore, the power supply unit can be detached from the input connector to switch to power supply via a cable, enabling highly versatile power supply.

[0021] Claim 4 According to the invention described above, the type determination unit can quickly recognize that the supply unit is connected to an inappropriate device, and can quickly take corrective measures.

[0022] Claim 5 According to the invention described above, the power supply status can be recognized by the power information acquisition unit, and corrective measures can be quickly taken against improper power supply.

[0023] Claim 6 According to the invention described in the above, the temperature information acquisition unit can recognize temperature changes in the device, and corrective measures can be quickly implemented.

[0024] Claim 7 According to the invention described in the above, the abnormality detection unit makes it possible to take countermeasures quickly against a device failure or abnormal operation.

[0025] Claim 8 According to the invention described above, the supply unit is provided with a communication device, so that information obtained from the device can be transmitted to the outside.

[0026] Claim 9 According to the invention described in the item (1), the communication processing section enables the device to be controlled from an external device via the supply unit.

[0027] Claim 2 According to the invention described in the item (1), since the supply unit is a wireless power supply unit, it is easy to reduce the size and weight of the unit, and it is also possible to reduce the workload of maintenance and the like.

[0028] Claim 1 According to the invention described in the above, since the supply unit is a battery unit, it is possible to stably supply power to the device. Furthermore, it is possible to stably supply power to the device wherever it is installed.

[0029] Claim 3 According to the invention described above, the wireless power supply unit and the battery unit can be selectively connected to a device, so that good power supply can be achieved for a plurality of devices in different situations.

[0030] Claim 1 or Claim 3 According to the invention described above, the compatibility determination section of the battery unit can effectively prevent inappropriate power supply to the device.

[0031] Claim 10According to the invention described above, the supply control section of the battery unit can control the operation based on the power supply and supply power suitable for each device.

[0032] Claim 11 According to the invention described in the above, the remaining battery capacity can be recognized externally by the remaining battery capacity monitoring section of the battery unit.

[0033] Claim 12 According to the invention described above, the vehicle seat is equipped with the above-mentioned power supply system, which makes it possible to provide a highly versatile power supply to the installed devices, thereby improving the freedom of device layout. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view illustrating an outline of a vehicle seat to which a power supply system is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seat frame that constitutes the framework of the vehicle seat. [Figure 3] Figure 3(A) is an oblique view showing an example of the external shape of a supply unit, Figure 3(B) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the supply unit is connected to an air blower, and Figure 3(C) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the supply unit is connected to a motor of a slide mechanism. [Figure 4] Figure 4(A) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which a supply unit is connected to a pressure sensor, Figure 4(B) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which a supply unit is connected to a seat heater, and Figure 4(C) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which a supply unit is connected to an operation switch. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wireless power supply unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a battery unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, although the embodiments described below are subject to various technically preferable limitations for carrying out the present invention, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0036] The following embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to a vehicle seat as an example of a structure to which a power supply system for supplying power to various devices is applied. The vehicle seat referred to below includes vehicle seats for ships, airplanes, snowmobiles, jet skis, etc., but primarily refers to a vehicle seat, and examples of vehicles include straddle-type and non-straddle-type motorcycles and automobiles (passenger cars), as well as bicycles, mopeds, construction vehicles, military vehicles, industrial vehicles, railroad vehicles, and agricultural vehicles such as tillers and tractors. An occupant sits in the vehicle seat. In this embodiment, a vehicle seat 10 for an automobile will be described as an example.

[0037] As shown in the figure, the power supply system 1 includes various devices (51 to 55) provided on a vehicle seat 10, a wireless power supply unit 60 and a battery unit 70 as supply units that supply power to these devices (51 to 55) without using cables for receiving power from an external source, and a power transmission device 80 that transmits power to the wireless power supply unit 60.

[0038] [Vehicle seats] Fig. 1 is a side view of a vehicle seat 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle seat 10 includes at least a seat cushion 11 that supports a person's thighs and buttocks as a seat body, a seat back 12 whose lower end is supported by the seat cushion 11 and serves as a backrest, a reclining mechanism 13 that tilts the seat back 12 relative to the seat cushion 11, a headrest 14 that supports the person's head, and armrests 15 that support the person's forearms. This seat body is supported by a support base 16 that is fixed to the body of the automobile. If necessary, an auxiliary support such as an ottoman may be provided to support the legs of the person. The support base 16 has a slide mechanism that slides the seat body at least in the front-rear direction (and left-right direction), and a height adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of the seat body.

[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seat frame 20 that constitutes the framework of the vehicle seat 10. As shown in FIG. The vehicle seat 10 is constructed by covering the seat frame 20 and a pad supported by the seat frame 20 with a seat cover 40 that serves as a surface. The seat cover 40 is made up of multiple cover members sewn together. Since the seat cover 40 needs to be attached in a state where it is in close contact with the surfaces of the pads in the seat cushion 11 and the seat back 12, grooves that can accommodate the stitching of the seat cover 40 are formed on the surfaces of the pads. The stitching of the seat cover 40 is stored in the grooves while being pulled from the back side (from below in the case of the seat cushion 11, and from behind in the case of the seat back 12). In order to maintain the state in which the stitching of the seat cover 40 is pulled from the back side, clips or the like that engage with the seat frame 20 are used as appropriate.

[0040] The seat frame 20 and the pad are provided with devices consisting of electrical components and control equipment required to provide various functions to the vehicle seat 10. The seat cover 40 also covers these devices.

[0041] As shown in Figure 2, the seat frame 20 includes a seat cushion frame 21 that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 11, a seat back frame 22 that forms the skeleton of the seat back 12, a headrest frame (not shown) that forms the skeleton of the headrest 14, and an armrest frame (not shown) that forms the skeleton of the armrest 15.

[0042] A pad is provided on the seat cushion frame 21, and the seat cushion frame 21 and the pad are covered with a seat cover 40.

[0043] The seat cushion frame 21 includes a pair of left and right cushion side frames 21a and 21b, a back pipe frame 21c, a pan frame 21d, and a pressure-receiving member 21e.

[0044] The pair of left and right cushion side frames 21a, 21b are formed long in the front-rear direction, and are connected at their rear ends to the seat back frame 22 via the reclining mechanism 13.

[0045] The back pipe frame 21c is a pipe material and is bridged between rear ends of the pair of left and right cushion side frames 21a, 21b that are curved upward, connecting the rear ends of the pair of left and right cushion side frames 21a, 21b.

[0046] The pan frame 21d is a pressure-receiving member made of a metal or resin plate that receives the weight of the occupant, connects the front ends of each cushion side frame 21a, 21b, and is located below the occupant's thighs when seated in the normal driving position.

[0047] The pressure-receiving member 21e is formed of, for example, an S-spring, and has its rear end hooked to the back pipe frame 21c and its front end hooked to the rear end of the pan frame 21d. This pressure-receiving member 21e is located below the buttocks of the occupant when seated in a normal driving position.

[0048] A pad is provided on the front side of the seat back frame 22 , and the seat back frame 22 and the pad are covered by a seat cover 40 that forms the surface of the seat back 12 .

[0049] The seat back frame 22 includes a pair of left and right back side frames 22a, 22b, an upper frame 22c, a lower frame 22d, a pressure receiving member 22e, and a pair of holders 22f.

[0050] The pair of left and right back side frames 22a, 22b are formed to be elongated in the vertical direction, and are connected at their lower ends to the seat cushion frame 21 via the reclining mechanism 13.

[0051] The upper frame 22c is made of a pipe material and is bent into a U-shape, and its left and right ends (lower ends) are welded to the upper ends of the pair of left and right back side frames 22a, 22b, thereby connecting the upper ends of the back side frames 22a, 22b. Although the upper frame 22c in this embodiment is made of a pipe material, it may be formed by processing a metal plate.

[0052] The lower frame 22d is formed by sheet metal processing a metal plate, and its left and right ends are welded and joined to the rear sides of the lower ends of the pair of left and right back side frames 22a, 22b, connecting the lower ends of each back side frame 22a, 22b.

[0053] The pressure-receiving member 22e is formed of, for example, an S-spring, and its left and right ends are attached to the inner side of the pair of left and right back side frames 22a, 22b in the left-right direction. This pressure-receiving member 22e is located behind the back of the occupant when seated in a normal driving position.

[0054] The pair of holders 22f are cylindrical bodies that hold headrest guides into which pillars of the headrest 14 are inserted, and are arranged spaced apart on the left and right in the center of the upper frame 22c. The armrest frame is attached with fastening members such as bolts through attachment holes (not shown) formed in the backside frame 22a. The armrest frame may be attached so that all ends thereof can rotate up and down.

[0055] 1, the vehicle seat 10 is equipped with the above-mentioned devices, including a blower 51 built into the headrest 14, a seat heater 52 provided on the seat surface side of the seat cushion 11, a pressure sensor 53 provided on the seat cushion 11, a motor 55 of a slide mechanism provided on the support base 16, and an operation switch 54 provided on the armrest 15. In the following description, these devices may be collectively referred to as "devices 51 to 55." Each of these devices will be described below.

[0056] [Device: Air Blower] As shown in FIG. 1, the blower 51 is provided in the headrest 14. The headrest 14 has a pad supported by a headrest frame and covered with a cover. A storage chamber (not shown) for storing an air blower 51 is formed inside the pad of the headrest 14, and an air outlet hole is formed in the front side of the storage chamber, penetrating all the way to the front of the pad, while an air inlet hole is formed in the rear side of the storage chamber, penetrating all the way to the rear surface of the pad, for drawing air into the interior. The portions of the cover facing the air outlet and inlet hole are formed in a mesh shape that allows air to pass through more easily than other portions.

[0057] The blower 51 mainly comprises a fan, a motor for driving the fan, and a casing for housing these, and the casing has an air intake port and an air outlet port. In the storage compartment, the air blower 51 is arranged with the outlet of the casing connected to the air holes. When the motor of the air blower 51 is driven, air in the storage compartment is drawn into the air blower 51, and external air is taken in through the inlet holes in the pad. Air is also sent out from the outlet of the air blower 51 and can be blown to the back of the occupant's head through the air holes in the front of the pad.

[0058] 3(B), the blower 51 as a device has an input connector 17 on the outside of the casing for receiving power supply to the motor. The other devices (52 to 55) also have this input connector 17. The input connector 17 is a so-called female connector having a slot. Both the wireless power supply unit 60 and the battery unit 70, which will be described later, have output connectors 18, which are male connectors that can be inserted into the input connector 17. Therefore, the blower 51 can receive power from either the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70.

[0059] The input connector 17 and the output connector 18 may have a fitting structure that allows the output connector 18 to be attached to and detached from the input connector 17, and for example, a connector conforming to an existing standard may be used. Furthermore, the input connector 17 and the output connector 18 are provided with a plurality of connection terminals that are electrically connected when they are coupled together. These connection terminals may be configured to include terminals for transmitting and receiving electrical signals such as control signals from the blower 51 in addition to terminals for supplying power.

[0060] The input connector 17 of the blower 51 may be disposed near the cover of the headrest 14, with at least the opening of the slot into which the output connector 18 is inserted exposed from the cover. In this case, the opening of the slot is exposed from the cover, but it is preferable that the entire output connector 18 is embedded inside the headrest 14. By leaving the slot opening of the input connector 17 exposed from the cover, the output connector 18 of the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 can be easily connected or disconnected from the outside of the headrest 14. In this power supply system 1, the input connector 17 supports the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 with the output connector 18 inserted into the input connector. Therefore, the input connector 17 may be structured to be supported by a separate support structure or the like within the vehicle seat 10.

[0061] [Device: Pressure sensor] The pressure sensor 53 provided in the seat cushion 11 is a sensor for detecting that a person is seated in the vehicle seat 10, and the detection result is used, for example, in a detection device (so-called seat belt reminder (SBR)) for determining whether or not a person seated in the vehicle seat 10 has fastened a seat belt provided with the vehicle seat 10. That is, the pressure sensor 53 cooperates with a sensor that detects fastening and unfastening of the seat belt, and when the pressure sensor 53 detects that a person is seated in the vehicle seat 10, the sensor determines whether or not the seat belt is fastened and unfastened, making it possible to detect whether the seat belt is not fastened or forgotten to be fastened.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 4(A), the pressure sensor 53 has a cylindrical, generally cylindrical shape that is circular in plan view. The pressure sensor 53 has a main body case 531 that houses detection elements such as a pressure-sensitive element and a push switch inside, and a cover member 532 that is provided to cover the upper part of the main body case 531. The cover member 532 is supported so as to be movable up and down relative to the main body case 531, and an elastic member such as a spring is interposed between the cover member 532 and the main body case 531. This allows cover member 532 to be pushed downward, and when cover member 532 is pushed in, a detection element inside main body case 531 can detect the pushing.

[0063] The pressure sensor 53 is supported at the center of the bottom of the seat cushion frame 21 by a support member (not shown) provided on the seat cushion frame 21. The support member is, for example, a plate-like member with both ends fixed to the left and right cushion side frames 21a, 21b, and the pressure sensor 53 is placed and fixed on its upper surface. The pressure sensor 53 is disposed in a protruding state with the cover member 532 facing upward so that the height of the upper surface of the cover member 532 is higher than the upper surface of the support member. As a result, when a person sits on the vehicle seat 10, the cover member 532 is pressed downward via the pad of the seat cushion 11, and the pressure sensor 53 can detect the person sitting on the vehicle seat 10.

[0064] An input connector 17 with a slot facing outward is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body case 531 of the pressure sensor 53 so as to protrude outward. A rectangular cutout is formed in the cover member 532 to avoid the input connector 17 protruding from the main body case 531 so as not to interfere with the pushing operation.

[0065] The input connector 17 is the same as the input connector 17 of the aforementioned air blower 51. Therefore, the input connector 17 of the pressure sensor 53 can be connected by inserting the output connector 18 of the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 into it. As a result, the pressure sensor 53 receives power supply through the input connector 17 and the output connector 18, and can input a detection signal when seated to the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 through the input connector 17 and the output connector 18.

[0066] The input connector 17 of the pressure sensor 53 may be disposed so as to be exposed to the outside from below the seat cushion frame 21, or may be entirely buried with only the slot opening exposed. This allows the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 to be attached from below the vehicle seat 10. Note that the input connector 17 is preferably provided on the seat cushion 11 below the seat cushion frame 21 in a direction that makes it easy to attach the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70.

[0067] [Device: Seat heater] As shown in FIG. 1, the seat heater 52 is provided between the upper surface of the pad of the seat cushion 11 and the seat cover 40, and is a planar heating element that warms the seat cushion 11. As shown in FIG. 4(B), the seat heater 52 is mainly composed of a planar substrate 521 made of a polyester fabric material or the like, and a metal heater wire 522 (also called an electric heating wire) adhesively fixed to the substrate 521. The heater wire 522 is adhesively fixed onto the substrate 521, and snakes along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 521, with one end and the other end connected to the input connector 17 provided at one end of the substrate 521. The arrangement of the heater wire 522 may be changed as appropriate without being limited to the above configuration. The heater wire 522 is fixed to the base material 521 with an adhesive, but the heater wire 522 may be fixed so as to be folded inside the base material 521. Furthermore, the seat heater 52 may be any device that includes the heater wire 522, and is not limited to the above configuration.

[0068] The input connector 17 is the same as the input connector 17 of the aforementioned air blower 51. Therefore, the input connector 17 of the seat heater 52 can be connected by inserting the output connector 18 of the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 into it. As a result, the seat heater 52 receives power supply through the input connector 17 and the output connector 18 and generates heat. The seat heater 52 may have a configuration in which a flexible substrate or the like having a circuit for monitoring the current flowing through the heater wire 522 is provided between the heater wire 522 and the input connector 17 .

[0069] The input connector 17 of the seat heater 52 may be disposed near the seat cover 40 of the seat cushion 11, with the opening of the slot into which the output connector 18 is inserted exposed from the seat cover 40. In this case, although the opening of the slot is exposed from the seat cover 40, it is preferable that the entire input connector 17 be embedded inside the headrest 14. This allows the output connector 18 of the wireless power supply unit 60 and the battery unit 70 to be easily connected to or disconnected from the outside of the seat cushion 11. In this case, it is preferable that the input connector 17 is supported by a rigid support member so that the input connector 17 can stably support the wireless power supply unit 60 or battery unit 70 to which the output connector 18 is connected. The seat heater 52 may also be provided in the seat back 12.

[0070] [Device: Operation Switch] The operation switch 54 is provided on the upper surface of the armrest 15, as shown in FIG. The operation switch 54 is, for example, an input device having a touch panel display. The display of the operation switch 54 displays switch icons for opening and closing the car windows, setting various air conditioners, inputting operations for the seat sliding mechanism, etc., and functions as a switch when touched. The operation switch 54 also has a circuit board on which a drive circuit for displaying the display, a control circuit for displaying the switch based on graphic data, and a control circuit for recognizing inputs in response to touch operations are provided. The operation switch 54 is not limited to a touch panel display, but may be configured as a switch panel having a plurality of analog switches.

[0071] The circuit board of the operation switch 54 is connected to the input connector 17 . The input connector 17 is the same as the input connector 17 of the aforementioned air blower 51. Therefore, the output connector 18 of the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 can be inserted into and coupled to the input connector 17 of the operation switch 54. As a result, the operation switch 54 receives power supply through the input connector 17 and the output connector 18, and operation signals input from various switches of the operation switch 54 can be input to the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 through the input connector 17 and the output connector 18.

[0072] The input connector 17 of the operation switch 54 is provided so as to protrude from one end in the longitudinal direction along the plane of the plate-shaped operation switch 54. Therefore, the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 can be attached to the operation switch 54 on the upper surface of the armrest 15. The input connector 17 may be provided on the side of the operation switch 54. The operation switch 54 may also be provided on the side of the armrest 15.

[0073] [Device: Slide mechanism motor] The slide mechanism includes a support base 16 that supports the seat cushion frame 21, a motor 55 that serves as a drive source, and a transmission mechanism that converts the torque of the motor 55 into a moving force along the front-rear direction of the seat cushion frame 21. The motor 55 is attached along the left-right direction on the upper surface of the support plate suspended on the left and right sides of the support base 16, and a drive circuit board is fixed to one end of the motor 55. An input connector 17 is provided on the drive circuit board along the output shaft direction of the motor 55 .

[0074] The input connector 17 is the same as the input connector 17 of the previously described blower 51. Therefore, the output connector 18 of the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 can be inserted into and coupled to the input connector 17 of the motor 55 of the slide mechanism. As a result, the motor 55 of the slide mechanism receives power supply through the input connector 17 and the output connector 18 to be driven, and also receives control commands for the motor 55 through the input connector 17 and the output connector 18 to control the amount of rotation, etc.

[0075] The input connector 17 of the motor 55 is arranged so as to be exposed from below the support base 16, and the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 can be attached from the underside of the vehicle seat 10. Note that the input connector 17 is preferably provided on the motor 55 below the support base 16 in a direction that makes it easy to attach the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70.

[0076] 3(C), if the extending direction of the input connector 17 is restricted by layout restrictions on the motor 55 and the input connector 17 is attached in an orientation that is not suitable for attaching the wireless power feeding unit 60 or the battery unit 70, the output connector 18 may be provided via a detouring member 181 or the like that changes the extending direction of the output connector 18 in the wireless power feeding unit 60 or the battery unit 70. Conversely, the input connector 17 may be attached to the motor 55 via a detouring member similar to the detouring member 181. The same applies to the other devices, namely, the air blower 51, the seat heater 52, the pressure sensor 53 and the operation switch 54.

[0077] [Power transmission equipment] The wireless power feeding unit 60 receives wireless power from the power transmitting device 80 and supplies power to each device. Here, the power transmitting device 80 will be described with reference to FIG. Examples of a method (wireless power feeding method) for wirelessly (that is, contactlessly) supplying power from the power transmitting device 80 to the wireless power feeding unit 60 include an electromagnetic induction method, a magnetic field resonance method, an electric field coupling method, and a radio wave receiving method. The electromagnetic induction method is a method in which an induced magnetic flux is generated between the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil by passing a current through the power transmitting coil while the two coils are close to each other, and an induced electromotive force is generated in the power receiving coil using this induced magnetic flux as a medium. The magnetic resonance method is a method of supplying power by embedding a coil and a capacitor on the power transmitting side and the power receiving side and causing magnetic resonance between the respective resonators. The electric field coupling method is a method in which electrodes are installed on both the power transmitting and receiving sides, and power is supplied using the electric field that is generated when the electrodes are close to each other. The radio wave reception method is a method of supplying power by converting electric current into electromagnetic waves on the power transmitting side and sending them to the power receiving side. In this radio wave reception method, the power receiving side receives electromagnetic waves from an antenna, converts them into direct current through a rectifier circuit, and uses them as power.

[0078] In this embodiment, an electromagnetic induction method is adopted as the wireless power feeding method. The power transmission device 80 has a power transmission coil 81 placed on the floor surface on which the vehicle seat 10 is placed, and a power transmission circuit 83 that passes an alternating current of a predetermined frequency from a power source 82 such as an on-board battery to the power transmission coil 81. The power transmission circuit 83 converts the DC current of the power supply 82 into AC current of a predetermined frequency and supplies the AC current to the power transmission coil 81 .

[0079] One or more wireless power supply units 60 attached to each device 51 to 55 of the vehicle seat 10 have a power receiving coil 61 consisting of a coil, and in the power transmitting device 80, an electromotive force is generated in the power receiving coil 61 via an induced magnetic flux generated in the power transmitting coil 81 by power supplied from a power source 82.

[0080] It should be noted that there should be no obstacles between the power transmitting coil 81 and the power receiving coil 61 that may impede wireless power supply, for example, made of metal, or that no obstacles should be placed in a position where magnetic flux passes through.

[0081] Furthermore, in order to ensure good power transmission efficiency, the power transmitting coil 81 and the power receiving coil 61 are preferably arranged so that the coils face each other (overlap when viewed from the direction of the center lines of the coils) and face each other (the center lines of the coils are approximately parallel). Therefore, it is preferable that the arrangement and orientation of the input connectors 17 of each device 51 to 55, and the arrangement and orientation of the output connector 18 of the wireless power feeding unit 60 and the internal power receiving coil 61 are adjusted so that the coils are arranged and oriented properly. In particular, the wireless power feeding unit 60 may be configured to include an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the tilt angle of the power receiving coil 61 with respect to the output connector 18.

[0082] Furthermore, it is preferable that the distance between the power transmitting coil 81 and the power receiving coil 61 is short in order to ensure good power transmission efficiency. Therefore, the power transmitting coil 81 of the power transmitting device 80 is not limited to a single coil as shown in Fig. 1, but may be provided in multiple locations. Furthermore, the wireless power feeding method is not limited to the electromagnetic induction method, and other methods (for example, magnetic resonance method) that can transmit power over longer distances may be adopted.

[0083] Furthermore, the power transmitting coil 81 may be housed in a housing, but the housing is preferably made of a material such as resin that does not at least impede wireless power feeding.

[0084] [Supply unit: Wireless power supply unit] FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing an example of the external shape of the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the wireless power supply unit 60. As shown in FIG. The wireless power supply unit 60 mainly comprises a power receiving coil 61 for receiving wireless power from the power transmitting device 80, a power supply circuit 62 for adjusting the power obtained by the power receiving coil 61 and supplying it from the output connector 18 to the devices 51 to 55, a communication device 63 for wirelessly communicating with an external higher-level control device (for example, an overall control device of an automobile (ECU: Electronic Control Unit, etc.)), and a control unit 64 for performing various processing or control. The wireless power supply unit 60 also has a housing 65 that houses the power receiving coil 61, the power supply circuit 62, the communication device 63, and the control unit 64, and an output connector 18 that is fixedly mounted on the outside of the housing 65.

[0085] Although FIG. 3A shows a rectangular, flat housing 65 as an example, the shape is not limited to this. Also, Figure 3(A) shows an example in which the output connector 18 is provided protruding vertically from the center of the flat surface of the housing 65, but this is not limited to this and the output connector 18 may be provided protruding in a different direction from another side surface. Furthermore, the size of the housing 65 is not limited to that shown in the figure. For example, if the power receiving coil 61, the power supply circuit 62, the communication device 63, and the control unit 64 are packaged using semiconductor elements and can be made sufficiently small, the size of the housing 65 made up of the package may be approximately the same as or smaller than the output connector 18.

[0086] The output connector 18 is a male connector that can be inserted into the input connector 17. The output connector 18 has an external shape that corresponds to the shape of the slot of the input connector 17, and by inserting it into the input connector 17, the two can maintain a mutually connected state. The output connector 18 can also be easily pulled out of the input connector 17 by hand without using tools or the like. Furthermore, it is preferable that the connection strength when the output connector 18 and the input connector 17 are connected is at least strong enough to prevent disconnection even when pulled with a force equivalent to the weight of either the wireless power feeding unit 60 or the battery unit 70.

[0087] The power receiving coil 61 is a coil that generates an appropriate induced electromotive force by the magnetic flux generated from the power transmitting coil 81 of the power transmitting device 80 . The power supply circuit 62 has a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit, a switching circuit, etc., and converts AC current generated by wireless power supply from the power receiving coil 61 into DC current, converts it into an appropriate voltage, and supplies it to the device from the output connector 18. The power supply circuit 62 also supplies power to the control unit 64.

[0088] The communication device 63 is a wireless communication device having a communication antenna. The communication device 63 may be compliant with wireless communication standards such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The communication frequency of the communication device 63 should be selected to be a band different from the frequency band used for wireless power supply.

[0089] The control unit 64 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM), and can perform various operational controls and processes in the power supply system 1, which will be described later. 5, the control unit 64 functions as a communication processing unit 641, a type determination unit 642, a power information acquisition unit 643, a temperature information acquisition unit 644, and an abnormality detection unit 645. These various functions will be described below.

[0090] The communication processing unit 641 performs processing to input information such as control commands for the devices 51 to 55 received by the communication unit 63 from the above-mentioned upper control device to the devices 51 to 55 via the output connector 18 and the input connector 17. Furthermore, the communication processing unit 641 performs processing to wirelessly transmit control information acquired from the devices 51 to 55 via the communication unit 63 to a higher-level control device.

[0091] For example, if the device is the seat heater 52 or the motor 55 of the slide mechanism, the wireless power supply unit 60 receives control commands such as the heater's set temperature level and the amount of movement of the slide mechanism from a higher-level control device via the communication device 63. In this case, the communication processing unit 641 inputs the control commands to the seat heater 52 and the motor 55 of the slide mechanism via the output connector 18 and the input connector 17. Alternatively, the communication processing unit 641 may control the power supply circuit 62 to control the amount of heat generated by the seat heater 52 and the amount of operation of the motor 55 in response to a control command.

[0092] Also, if the device is a pressure sensor 53 or an operation switch 54, when the detection signal of the pressure sensor 53 or the input information from the operation switch 54 is input through the input connector 17 and the output connector 18, the communication processing unit 641 transmits these to a higher-level control device through the communication device 63.

[0093] The type determination unit 642 determines whether the device connected to the wireless power supply unit 60 is one of the devices 51 to 55 that is appropriate for receiving power. For example, if a device or electronic device other than the aforementioned air blower 51, seat heater 52, pressure sensor 53, operation switch 54, and slide mechanism motor 55 has a connector with the same structure as the input connector 17, and the output connector 18 of the wireless power supply unit 60 is incorrectly connected to that connector, the type determination unit 642 will detect this incorrect connection.

[0094] For example, the type determining unit 642 can detect the voltage and current supplied when the output connector 18 is connected, and determine that an incorrect connection has occurred if the values ​​are within a predetermined range. In addition, each device 51 to 55 may be configured to respond to a response request from the type determination unit 642 indicating that it is an appropriate device to be connected, and the type determination unit 642 may be configured to determine whether the connected device is an appropriate device to be supplied with power based on the response from each device 51 to 55. When a misconnection is detected, the type determination unit 642 performs processing such as controlling the power supply circuit 62 to stop the supply of power, and notifying the upper control device via the communication device 63 of the occurrence of the misconnection.

[0095] The power information acquisition unit 643 determines whether the power transmission efficiency is appropriate based on the state of power supply to the devices 51 to 55 to which the wireless power supply unit 60 is connected. For example, when power is transmitted from one power transmitting device 80 to multiple devices 51 to 55 via multiple wireless power feeding units 60, or depending on the quality of the wireless power transmission and reception state, a decrease in power transmission efficiency may occur. For example, the power information acquisition unit 643 detects the supply voltage and current in the connected state of the output connector 18, and if the values ​​show a predetermined decrease, it can determine that the power transmission efficiency has decreased. When a decrease in power transmission efficiency is detected, the power information acquisition unit 643 executes a process of notifying a higher-level control device of the occurrence of the decrease in power transmission efficiency via the communication device 63. Also, the power supply circuit 62 may be controlled to stop the supply of power.

[0096] The temperature information acquisition unit 644 acquires the temperatures of the devices 51 to 55 to which the wireless power supply unit 60 is connected. For example, if the device is a blower 51, a seat heater 52, a motor 55 for a slide mechanism, or the like, and these devices are equipped with a temperature detection element, the temperature information acquisition unit 644 acquires the temperature information of the device detected by the temperature detection element through the input connector 17 and the output connector 18. If the temperature of the device based on the detected temperature information indicates a high temperature exceeding a specified value, the temperature information acquisition unit 644 controls the power supply circuit 62 to stop the supply of power. The temperature information acquisition unit 644 may also execute a process of notifying a higher-level control device via the communication device 63 that the device is in a high-temperature state.

[0097] The abnormality detection unit 645 detects the occurrence of an abnormality in the devices 51 to 55 to which the wireless power supply unit 60 is connected. For example, the abnormality detection unit 645 can detect the supply voltage and current in the connected state of the output connector 18 and detect an abnormality in the devices 51 to 55 from the numerical values. When an abnormality in devices 51 to 55 is detected, abnormality detection unit 645 performs processing such as controlling power supply circuit 62 to stop the supply of power, and notifying a higher-level control device of the abnormality in devices 51 to 55 via communication device 63.

[0098] [Supply unit: Battery unit] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the battery unit 70. The battery unit 70 mainly comprises a battery 71, a power supply circuit 72 that adjusts the power from the battery 71 and supplies it to devices 51 to 55 from the output connector 18, a communication device 73 that performs wireless communication with an external higher-level control device, and a control unit 74 that performs various processing or control. As shown in FIG. 3(A), the battery unit 70 has a housing 75 that houses the battery 71, the power supply circuit 72, the communication device 73, and the control unit 74, and an output connector 18 that is fixedly mounted on the outside of the housing 75.

[0099] It should be noted that the shape of the housing 75 of the battery unit 70 is not limited to the one shown in the figure. In the case of the housing 75 of the battery unit 70, depending on the capacity of the battery 71, it may be difficult to make it as compact as the wireless power supply unit 60, but the shape is arbitrary. Therefore, it is preferable to appropriately adjust the shape of the housing 75 and the arrangement of the output connector 18 so that when attached to the input connector 17 of each device 51 to 55, the entire battery unit 70 does not protrude significantly above the surface of the vehicle seat 10. The output connector 18 is the same as that of the wireless power supply unit 60 .

[0100] Although a primary battery can be used as the battery 71, it is preferable to use a reusable secondary battery or capacitor, etc. Examples of secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion secondary batteries, lithium-ion polymer secondary batteries, and sodium-ion batteries.

[0101] The power supply circuit 72 includes a DC-DC converter and, if the battery 71 is a secondary battery, also includes a charge control circuit for connecting the output connector 18 to another power source or a predetermined charging device to charge the battery 71. The power supply circuit 72 also supplies power to the control unit 74 . The communication device 73 is the same as the communication device 63 of the wireless power supply unit 60 .

[0102] The control unit 74 includes a CPU, RAM, and ROM, and can execute various operational controls and processes in the power supply system 1, which will be described later. As shown in Figure 6, the control unit 74 functions as a communication processing unit 741, a type determination unit 742, a power information acquisition unit 743, a temperature information acquisition unit 744, an abnormality detection unit 745, a compatibility determination unit 746, a supply control unit 747, and a remaining amount monitoring unit 748. The communication processing unit 741, type determination unit 742, temperature information acquisition unit 744, and abnormality detection unit 745 perform the same processing as the communication processing unit 641, type determination unit 642, temperature information acquisition unit 644, and abnormality detection unit 645 of the wireless power supply unit 60, so their explanation will be omitted. The following describes the various functions of the power information acquisition unit 743, the compatibility determination unit 746, the supply control unit 747, and the remaining amount monitoring unit 748.

[0103] The power information acquisition unit 743 determines whether the power supply state to the devices 51 to 55 to which the battery unit 70 is connected is good or bad. For example, fluctuations in the supplied power may occur due to the remaining charge of the battery 71 or other causes, and the power information acquisition unit 743 can detect the supply voltage and current when the output connector 18 is connected, and detect a decrease in the supplied power if the values ​​decrease by a specified amount. When a decrease in the supplied power is detected, the power information acquisition unit 743 executes a process of notifying a higher-level control device of the occurrence of a decrease in power transmission efficiency via the communication device 73. In addition, the power supply circuit 72 may be controlled to stop the supply of power.

[0104] The compatibility determination unit 746 determines the compatibility of the battery unit 70 with the connected device based on, for example, the power supply, capacity, and other factors. The compatibility determination unit 746 detects the output voltage and output current of the battery 71, and determines the compatibility of the battery 71 depending on whether the values ​​are within a predetermined range, thereby determining the compatibility with the device. If incompatibility with the device is detected, the compatibility determination unit 746 performs processing such as controlling the power supply circuit 72 to stop the power supply, and notifying the higher-level control device of the incompatibility via the communication device 73.

[0105] The remaining charge monitor 748 monitors the remaining charge of the battery 71 . The remaining charge monitoring unit 748 detects the output voltage and output current of the battery 71 and can detect the remaining charge of the battery 71 from the numerical values ​​and rate of change of the detected remaining charge of the battery 71. Furthermore, when the detected remaining charge of the battery 71 falls below a predetermined value, the remaining charge monitoring unit 748 performs processing such as notifying a higher-level control device via the communication device 73 that the remaining charge of the battery 71 is low.

[0106] The supply control unit 747 controls the power supply circuit 72 so as to supply appropriate power to the devices 51 to 55 individually based on a power supply command received by the communication device 73 from a higher-level control device. For example, if the power supply requirements of the air blower 51, seat heater 52, pressure sensor 53, operation switch 54, and slide mechanism motor 55 do not match, the higher-level control device sends a command to the battery unit 70 to supply the power determined for each device 51 to 55 to which the battery unit 70 is connected. In this case, the supply control unit 747 detects through the input connector 17 and the output connector 18 whether the device to which the battery unit 70 is connected is the air blower 51, the seat heater 52, the pressure sensor 53, the operation switch 54, or the slide mechanism motor 55, and transmits the acquired device type to a higher-level control device in advance before receiving a power supply command.

[0107] The supply control unit 747 can also control the on / off switching of the operation of each of the devices 51 to 55 in accordance with a command from a higher-level control device via the communication device 73.

[0108] In addition, when the remaining charge monitoring unit 748 described above detects that the remaining charge of the battery 71 has fallen below a certain value, the supply control unit 747 may control the power supply circuit 72 to switch to a power saving mode that reduces the amount of power supplied.

[0109] [Technical Effects of the Invention Embodiments] As described above, according to the power supply system 1 mounted on the vehicle seat 10, the output connector 18 to which the wireless power supply unit 60 and the battery unit 70, which are supply units, supply power, and the input connector 17 of the devices 51 to 55 are detachable, so it is possible to supply power to the devices 51 to 55 without a power supply cable such as a harness. Furthermore, since the output connector 18 and the input connector 17 are detachable, depending on the situation, the output connector 18 and the input connector 17 can be separated, the wireless power feeding unit 60 or the battery unit 70 can be removed from the devices 51 to 55, and a cable for supplying power can be connected to the input connector 17. This allows for a highly versatile power supply to each of the devices 51 to 55. Furthermore, since the output connector 18 and the input connector 17 are detachable, if the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 malfunctions, it can be quickly replaced with another wireless power supply unit 60 or battery unit 70, allowing for quick recovery from the malfunction.

[0110] The wireless power supply unit 60 and the battery unit 70 also include type determination units 642, 742 that determine whether the devices 51 to 55 connected to the output connector 18 are appropriate based on their types. This allows the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 to identify the devices 51 to 55 to which power can be supplied properly and supply power to them, enabling the devices 51 to 55 to operate properly and effectively preventing malfunctions, failures, etc. of the devices 51 to 55 due to improper power supply.

[0111] Furthermore, when the type determination unit 642, 742 outputs the connection of the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 to an inappropriate device to the outside via the communication device 63, 73, an external device such as a higher-level control device can recognize the inappropriate connection and notify a person or take appropriate measures such as stopping the power supply, thereby making it possible to effectively prevent malfunctions, failures, etc. of the devices 51 to 55, the wireless power supply unit 60, or the battery unit 70.

[0112] The wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 also includes a power information acquisition unit 643, 743 that acquires power information of the devices 51-55. This allows the wireless power feeding unit 60 to detect fluctuations in power transmission efficiency due to the influence of the wireless power feeding situation, etc., and the battery unit 70 to detect a decrease in the remaining charge of the battery 71. This makes it possible to effectively prevent malfunctions and breakdowns of the devices 51 to 55 due to inappropriate power supply, such as a shortage of power supply.

[0113] Furthermore, when the power information acquisition unit 643, 743 outputs improper power supply to the outside through the communication device 63, 73, an external device such as a higher-level control device can recognize the improper power supply and alert a person, or take countermeasures such as stopping the power supply, thereby making it possible to effectively suppress malfunctions and failures of the devices 51 to 55.

[0114] The wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 also includes a temperature information acquisition unit 644, 744 that acquires temperature information of the devices 51-55. This allows the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 to acquire temperature changes during operation of the devices 51 to 55, making it possible to effectively detect malfunctions, failures, etc. of the devices 51 to 55, such as temperature rises.

[0115] Furthermore, when the temperature information acquisition units 644, 744 output the temperature changes of the devices 51 to 55 to the outside via the communication devices 63, 73, an external device such as a higher-level control device can recognize the temperature rise of the devices 51 to 55 and alert a person, or take countermeasures such as cutting off the power supply, thereby making it possible to effectively prevent further temperature rises or malfunctions of the devices 51 to 55.

[0116] The wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 is also provided with an abnormality detection unit 645, 745 that detects abnormalities in the devices 51-55. This allows the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 to quickly recognize the occurrence of an abnormality in the devices 51 to 55, and makes it possible to effectively detect failures, abnormal operations, etc. of the devices 51 to 55.

[0117] Furthermore, when the abnormality detection units 645, 745 output abnormalities in devices 51 to 55 to the outside via communication devices 63, 73, an external device such as a higher-level control device can recognize the abnormality in devices 51 to 55 and alert a person, or take countermeasures such as cutting off the power supply, thereby making it possible to effectively suppress breakdowns and abnormal operation of devices 51 to 55.

[0118] The wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 also includes a communication device 63 or 73 for wireless communication with the outside of the unit. This allows the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 to transmit information acquired from the devices 51 to 55 to an external device such as a higher-level control device. Furthermore, it becomes easy to give the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 new functions in addition to supplying power to the devices 51 to 55, and it becomes possible to easily expand the functions.

[0119] The wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70 also includes a communication processing unit 641, 741 that inputs control information received by the communication device 63, 73 from the outside to the devices 51-55. Therefore, the communication processing units 641 and 741 can transmit control information from an external device such as a higher-level control device to the devices 51 to 55, and the external device can control the operation of the devices 51 to 55 via the wireless power supply unit 60 or the battery unit 70. This makes it possible to eliminate the need for not only a power supply cable but also a signal line for control.

[0120] Furthermore, the power supply system 1 has a wireless power supply unit 60 as a supply unit that supplies power to the devices 51 to 55 by wireless power supply, which is advantageous in that the supply unit can be made smaller and lighter. When the supply unit is attached to the devices 51 to 55, it does not get in the way outside the vehicle seat 10, which is a structure, and the impact on the appearance can be minimized. Furthermore, since the wireless power supply unit 60 does not need to be replaced due to power consumption, it is possible to reduce the time and effort required for replacing the supply unit and reduce the workload for maintenance and other tasks.

[0121] Furthermore, since the power supply system 1 has the battery unit 70 as a supply unit, it is possible to stably supply power without being affected by external reception conditions, etc. Furthermore, since it is not configured to receive power from an external source, it is not affected by malfunctions on the power transmission side, and an even more stable power supply is possible. Furthermore, the battery unit 70 is not configured to receive power from an external source, and therefore can provide a stable power supply to any of the devices 51 to 55 installed in the structure.

[0122] Furthermore, the power supply system 1 has a wireless power supply unit 60 and a battery unit 70 as supply units, which can be selectively connected to the devices 51 to 55, so that the battery unit 70 can be used for the devices 51 to 55 for which wireless power supply malfunctions occur when the wireless power supply unit 60 is used. Furthermore, when the power required by each of the devices 51 to 55 differs, the wireless power supply unit 60 and the battery unit 70 can be used selectively. In this way, it is possible to supply power in a flexible manner in response to the arrangement and other circumstances of the devices 51 to 55. This makes it possible to realize good power supply when there are multiple devices 51 to 55.

[0123] The battery unit 70 also includes a compatibility determination unit 746 that determines the compatibility of the battery 71 with the devices 51-55. This makes it possible to prevent inappropriate power supply to the devices 51 to 55 due to some reason, such as when an inappropriate battery unit 70 is connected to the devices 51 to 55 when there are multiple types of battery units 70.

[0124] Furthermore, when the compatibility determination unit 746 outputs to the outside via the communication device 73 that the battery unit 70 is not suitable for the devices 51 to 55, it becomes possible to, for example, notify a person of the connection of the inappropriate battery unit 70 or take countermeasures such as stopping the power supply, thereby making it possible to effectively suppress inappropriate power supply to the devices 51 to 55.

[0125] The battery unit 70 also includes a supply control unit 747 that supplies power to the devices 51 to 55 based on a power supply command received by the communication device 73 from the outside. This allows an external device such as a higher-level control device to control the amount and timing of operation of the devices 51 to 55 through the battery unit 70. Furthermore, it is possible to supply appropriate power to each of the devices 51 to 55 individually.

[0126] The battery unit 70 also includes a remaining battery charge monitor 748 that monitors the remaining battery charge. This allows an external device such as a higher-level control device to recognize the remaining battery charge of the battery unit 70, and when the remaining charge of the battery 71 becomes low, it can prompt the user to replace the battery unit 70, thereby avoiding accidental shutdowns of the devices 51 to 55 and stabilizing operation.

[0127] Furthermore, since the vehicle seat 10 is equipped with the above-mentioned power supply system 1, it is possible to provide a highly versatile power supply to each of the devices 51 to 55 mounted thereon, thereby easing restrictions on the installation locations of the devices 51 to 55 due to difficulties in power supply, and enabling greater freedom in the layout of the devices 51 to 55. Furthermore, this allows the devices 51 to 55 to be freely laid out relative to the vehicle seat 10, making it possible to increase the functionality of the vehicle seat 10 and dramatically improve the comfort of the seat user.

[0128] [others] In the above embodiment of the invention, an example is given of the power supply system 1 being applied to a vehicle seat 10, but the structure on which various devices are mounted is not limited to the vehicle seat 10, or even to seats. The structure on which the device of the power supply system 1 is mounted is not limited to a vehicle, but may be a non-moving building, or a smaller or larger machine or appliance.

[0129] Furthermore, the devices are not limited to the air blower 51, the seat heater 52, the pressure sensor 53, the operation switch 54, and the motor 55, but may be any electronic device, part, terminal, etc. that requires a power supply.

[0130] Furthermore, either the input connector 17 or the output connector 18 of the power supply system 1 may be male or female. Furthermore, as long as they are detachable while allowing power supply, they do not need to be of different types such as male or female, and for example, the input connector 17 and the output connector 18 may be configured using detachable connectors with the same structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0131] 1 Power supply system 10 Vehicle seats 11 Seat cushion 12 Seat back 13 Reclining mechanism 14 Headrest 15 Armrest 16 Support Base 17 Input Connector 18 output connectors 181 Detour member 20 seat frame 40 seat covers 51 Air blower (device) 52 Seat heater (device) 53 Pressure Sensor (Device) 54 Operation switch (device) 55 Motor (device) 60 Wireless Power Supply Unit 61 Receiving coil 62 Power supply circuit 63,73 Communication equipment 64,74 Control unit 641,741 Communication processing unit 642,742 Type determination section 643,743 Power information acquisition unit 644,744 Temperature information acquisition section 645,745 Anomaly detection unit 65,75 housing 70 Battery Unit 71 Battery 72 Power supply circuit 73 Communication Equipment 74 Control Unit 746 Compliance Determination Department 747 Supply Control Unit 748 Remaining amount monitoring unit 75 cabinet 80 Power transmission equipment 81 Transmission coil

Claims

1. an electrically powered device; a power supply unit for supplying power to the device; The supply unit does not have a cable for receiving power from an external source, an output connector of the supply unit and an input connector of the device are detachable, and power is supplied from the supply unit to the device by coupling them; The supply unit comprises: A battery unit, The battery unit includes: A power supply system comprising a compatibility determination unit that determines compatibility with the device.

2. The supply unit comprises: The power supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that the power supply system is a wireless power supply unit that receives wireless power and supplies power to the device.

3. an electrically powered device; a power supply unit for supplying power to the device; The supply unit does not have a cable for receiving power from an external source, an output connector of the supply unit and an input connector of the device are detachable, and power is supplied from the supply unit to the device by coupling them; The supply unit includes a wireless power supply unit that receives wireless power and supplies power to the device, and a battery unit, The wireless power supply unit and the battery unit are selectively connectable to the device; The battery unit includes: A power supply system comprising a compatibility determination unit that determines compatibility with the device.

4. The supply unit comprises:

4. The power supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a type determination unit that determines suitability based on the type of the device coupled to the output connector.

5. The supply unit comprises: The power supply system according to claim 1 , further comprising a power information acquisition unit that acquires power information of the device.

6. The supply unit comprises: The power supply system according to claim 1 , further comprising a temperature information acquisition unit that acquires temperature information of the device.

7. The supply unit comprises: The power supply system according to claim 1 , further comprising an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in the device.

8. The supply unit comprises:

8. The power supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a communication device for wirelessly communicating with an external device.

9. The supply unit comprises: The power supply system according to claim 8 , further comprising a communication processing unit that inputs control information received from the communication device to the device.

10. The battery unit includes: a communication device that performs wireless communication with an external device; 10. The power supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a supply control unit that supplies power to the device based on a power supply command received from an external device by the communication device.

11. The battery unit includes: a communication device that performs wireless communication with an external device; a remaining battery charge monitoring unit that monitors the remaining battery charge, 11. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the remaining battery charge monitoring unit notifies an external device through the communication device of the remaining battery charge or a state in which the remaining battery charge is equal to or less than a specified value.

12. A vehicle seat comprising a power supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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