Wireless Chargers and Wireless Charging Systems

Abstract

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

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD Embodiments of the present invention relate to a wireless charger and a wireless charging system. [Background technology]

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

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

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-284065 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Generally, various devices to be charged using such contactless charging methods have different withstand voltages. Therefore, different wireless chargers are used depending on the withstand voltages of the devices to be charged. In other words, it has not been possible to charge various devices using contactless charging methods using a common wireless charger.

[0006] Therefore, with the widespread use of many devices that use contactless charging methods, users must use wireless chargers that are compatible with those devices. Therefore, there is a need for the development of a wireless charger that can charge devices in a common manner regardless of the withstand voltage of the device.

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

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a wireless charger according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a power transmission unit that is electromagnetically connectable to a power receiving unit of an object to be charged and that transmits inductive energy as a charging voltage wirelessly to the object to be charged using electromagnetic induction; a signal analysis unit that recognizes, as a signal, a change in the charging voltage waveform of the object to be charged when the inductive energy is received and analyzes the signal; a power change unit that can change the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit to the object to be charged; a power transmission control unit that determines the identity of the object to be charged based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit and changes the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit in accordance with the determination result; and identity information regarding the object to be charged when connection with the power transmission unit is detected. is wirelessly transmitted, and based on the identity information, and a specific device identification unit capable of identifying a specific device as the object to be charged. The power transmission control unit controls the power change unit to change the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit in accordance with the identification result of the specific device identification unit. The specific device identification unit includes a detection unit that detects a detectable part provided on the object to be charged, and the detection unit identifies the specific device as the object to be charged by detecting the detectable part of the object to be charged. and determining the specific device when the identification result matches the background information regarding the detected object to be charged. do. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

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

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

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

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1 , the wireless charger 1 according to this embodiment includes a power transmitter 2, a power transmission control unit 3, a signal analyzer 4, and a power converter 5. The wireless charger 1 utilizes a contactless charging method based on electromagnetic induction between the power transmitter 2 (power supply side) and the power receiver 11 (power receiver side) of the device 10 to be charged (power receiving side), which is composed of a primary coil. The power transmitter 2 transmits charging power and the power receiver 11 transmits signals including information about the device 10, such as its withstand voltage, the number of battery cells, or the type of device. While this embodiment uses voltage as an example of a method for transmitting charging power, other methods such as current or microwaves may also be used. Furthermore, while electromagnetic induction is used as an example of a contactless power supply, other methods such as magnetic resonance, microwave, laser, or ultrasonic may also be used.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0039] The discharge voltage of a secondary battery is determined by its material properties. For example, if the secondary battery is a lithium-ion battery, each battery cell has a voltage of approximately 3.6V, and the number of cells is set according to the intended use. For example, a shaver might have one battery cell (3.6V), a small stick vacuum might have five battery cells (18V), and a mobile floor cleaner might have ten battery cells (36V). Therefore, the wireless charger 1 can supply appropriate power to the secondary battery according to the discharge voltage (number of battery cells).

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

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

[0042] Based on the analysis results of the signal analysis unit 4, the specific device identification unit 6 identifies a specific device (for example, a secondary battery alone, a shaver equipped with a secondary battery, an electric vacuum cleaner, or various devices such as a mobile terminal) as the charging object 10 from information about the device's identity based on the identity voltage waveform from the charging object 10 whose connection has been detected.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0054] When detection unit 1b detects detection target unit 103 by connecting detection target unit 103, it functions as specific device identification unit 6, determines whether or not the object to be charged 10 whose connection has been detected is cleaning unit 100, and if it identifies that the object to be charged 10 is cleaning unit 100 (step S20: YES), outputs the identification result to power transmission control unit 3. Based on the identification result of specific device identification unit 6, power transmission control unit 3 controls power change unit 5 to change the value of inductive energy transmitted from power transmission unit 2 to a value set corresponding to cleaning unit 100. Then, power transmission unit 2 wirelessly transmits inductive energy as a charging voltage to cleaning unit 100 using electromagnetic induction, and starts charging of cleaning unit 100 (step S21).

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

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

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

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

Claims

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

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

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

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

5. A wireless charger and a charging object that can be charged by contactless power supply to the wireless charger are included, The wireless charger includes: a power transmission unit that wirelessly transmits inductive energy as charging power to the object to be charged by the wireless power supply; a signal analysis unit that recognizes a communication signal wirelessly transmitted from the object to be charged and analyzes the communication signal; a power changing unit that changes the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit to the object to be charged; a power transmission control unit that changes the value of the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmission unit in accordance with the object to be charged that is identified based on the analysis result of the signal analysis unit; a specific device identification unit that wirelessly transmits identity information about the object to be charged when connection to the power transmission unit is detected, and that is capable of identifying a specific device as the object to be charged based on the identity information; the power transmission control unit controls the power changing unit to change the inductive energy transmitted from the power transmitting unit in accordance with the identification result of the specific device identifying unit; The specific device identification unit includes a detection unit that detects a detectable part provided on the object to be charged, and the detection unit identifies the specific device as the object to be charged by detecting the detectable part of the object to be charged, and the wireless charging system confirms the specific device when the identification result matches the identity information regarding the detected object to be charged.

6. The object to be charged is a power receiving unit that receives the inductive energy through the contactless power supply with the power transmitting unit of the wireless charger; a background information generating unit that generates the background information including at least a withstand voltage value, the number of battery cells, or the type of the specific device related to the object to be charged; The wireless charging system according to claim 5 , further comprising: a power reception control unit that controls reception of the charging power and transmission of the identity information.

Images