Wireless Power Supply Control System for Fading Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the field of factory automation, wireless power supply between radios is hindered by fading due to moving objects and varying environments, making stable wireless power transmission challenging, especially when using directional antennas like phased-array antennas.

Innovation Solution

A wireless power supply control system that controls the directivity of a directional antenna based on predetermined driving patterns of driving devices, storing and applying driving-time directivity information to minimize fading effects and ensure efficient power transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless power supply is performed with power supply radio waves, then convenience and design freedom increase, but transmission is influenced by fading due to objects in the space between radios

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidtransmission stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna directivity adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the directivity of the directional antenna based on the position and movement of objects in the transmission space, allowing the wireless power supply system to adapt to varying environmental conditions and maintain stable transmission despite fading caused by moving objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of antenna directivity to optimize power transmission. By adjusting the directivity parameters of the directional antenna according to the spatial distribution of objects, the system compensates for fading effects and maintains reliable wireless power supply in dynamic factory automation environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If a directional antenna is used for stable wireless power supply, then power transmission efficiency improves, but fading influence increases when objects move in the transmission space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission efficiencyVSAvoidtransmission stability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the directivity of the directional antenna based on real-time detection of object positions. When objects enter or move within the transmission space, the antenna directivity is changed to avoid blocking the power transmission path, thereby maintaining both high power transmission efficiency and stability despite the presence of moving objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by detecting the positions of objects in the transmission space and using this information to adjust the antenna directivity. This closed-loop control ensures that the directional antenna maintains optimal orientation for power transmission while avoiding fading caused by moving objects, thus resolving the contradiction between efficiency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Length of stationary object

If high-power radio wave transmission is performed to compensate for power decrease over distance, then transmission distance is extended, but influence on peripheral electronic devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission distanceVSAvoidinfluence on peripheral devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the radio wave energy in a specific direction using a directional antenna rather than radiating uniformly in all directions. This allows high-power transmission over extended distances while limiting the harmful effects to a focused beam path, reducing interference with peripheral electronic devices located outside the main transmission direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the directional antenna's beam orientation to maintain focused energy transmission over distance. By continuously optimizing the beam direction based on the receiver's position and avoiding obstructions, the system achieves extended transmission distance with controlled high power while minimizing harmful effects on peripheral devices through precise spatial targeting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach effectively suppresses the influence of fading, enabling stable and efficient wireless power supply between radios by adapting the antenna directivity to the specific driving patterns and environments, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of power transmission.

Implementation Method 1

a first radio (1) that has a directional antenna and is formed to be capable of performing predetermined wireless power supply via the directional antenna... power supply radio waves transmitted from the first radio

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

it is preferable to use a communication antenna having directivity such as a phased-array antenna for stable wireless power supply... driving-time directivity information relating to a directivity, the driving-time directivity information being applicable to the directional antenna

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntenna directivity:

Implementation Method 3

a second radio (2a) formed to be capable of receiving power supply radio waves for the predetermined wireless power supply and being driven by power of the power supply radio waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic energy reception: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3236561B1Wireless power supply control system, wireless power supply control device, wireless power supply control method, and directivity information generation method
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 OMRON CORP
  • EP3236561B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3236561B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3236561B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a wireless power supply control system including a control apparatus controlling driving of one or more driving devices in accordance with a plurality of predetermined driving patterns, a first radio having a directional antenna, and a second radio driven by power supply radio waves transmitted from the first radio. Target driving directivity information corresponding to a target driving pattern acquired by an acquisition unit is selected from among pieces of driving directivity information relating to a directivity applied to the directional antenna, in a state in which driving of the driving devices is controlled by the control apparatus in accordance with the driving patterns, the selected target driving directivity information is applied to the directional antenna of the first radio, and wireless power supply from the first radio to the second radio is executed. Accordingly, the influence of fading between radios is suppressed as much as possible and wireless power supply to a radio is performed suitably.