The present invention relates to a wireless charging device and a charging system, which charge a secondary battery embedded in an electronic apparatus by an electromagnetic induction action, and an electronic apparatus charged by the charging device and the charging system.
An example of a charging device using electromagnetic induction is disclosed in Patent Literature 1.
A charging device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes power-supplying coils which generate an AC magnetic field, a power supply unit which applies an AC voltage to the power-supplying coils, and an accommodation body which has two accommodation portions capable of accommodating electronic apparatuses, and the power-supplying coils are installed in the accommodation body.
In addition, in the charging device, the power-receiving coils provided on an electronic apparatus are installed at a center of a plane portion of a secondary battery formed in a plate shape, and these are configured to be inserted into the power-supplying coils in the accommodation portion.
In the charge device, if the electronic apparatuses are accommodated in two of the accommodation portions, inductive cents are generated in the power-supplying coils of the electronic apparatuses by an AC magnetic field generated by the power-supplying coils, and thereby the embedded secondary battery is charged.
[Patent Literature 1]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2013-158148
Incidentally, in the charging device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, power-receiving coils provided on an electronic apparatus are installed at a center of the plane portion of a secondary battery formed in a plate shape, and power-supplying coils are installed in an accommodation body to be inserted between two of the power-receiving coils.
That is, in the charging device, since it is necessary to dispose two electronic apparatuses apart from each other in an accommodation body in view of the disposition of the power-receiving coils and the power-supplying coils, there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the overall size of the device.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a charging device and a charging system which can perform wireless charging in a state in which a plurality of electronic apparatuses are stacked and disposed in a storage space of a charging box serving as the accommodation body, and overall sizes of the devices can be reduced, and an electronic apparatus charged by the charging device and the charging system.
A charging device of the present invention includes a storage space which stores plate-like electronic apparatuses having power-receiving coils mounted on the end portion, and power-supplying coils which are provided on a surface facing the end portion and generate inductive currents in the power-receiving coils of the electronic apparatuses stored in the storage space.
In addition, a charging system of the present invention transmits or receives data from a host computer to or from the electronic apparatus via power-receiving coils provided on the electronic apparatus and the power-supplying coils provided on the charging box.
Moreover, an electronic apparatus of the present invention is in a sheet or plate shape as a whole, and is accommodated in the storage space, and thereby power-receiving coils facing power-supplying coils provided in the storage space are mounted on the end portion.
According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the sizes of a charging device and a charging system which charge a plurality of electronic apparatuses.
In
Electronic apparatuses E are display terminals formed in a plate shape and have power-receiving coils 4 mounted on a peripheral end portion 3 including an end surface.
Power-supplying coils 5 are provided at a bottom of the storage space 1 in the charging box. The power-supplying coils 5 are provided on an inner surface IA of the storage space 1 facing the end portion 3 of the electronic apparatuses E when the electronic apparatuses E are stored in the storage space 1.
When the electronic apparatuses E are stored in the storage space 1, the power-receiving coils 4 provided at the end portion 3 of the electronic apparatus E are disposed to face the power-supplying coils 5 provided on the charging box 2. Accordingly, due to a magnetic field generated by the power-supplying coils 5 which are primary coils, it is possible to generate inductive currents in the power-receiving coils 4 which are secondary coils, and to charge a secondary battery (not shown) embedded in the electronic apparatus E.
In the charging device 100 configured as described above, the power-receiving coils 4 are mounted on the end portion 3 of the plate-like electronic apparatus E, and the power-supplying coils 5 which generate inductive currents are provided on the inner surface 1A of the storage space 1 facing the power-receiving coils 4 of the electronic apparatus E stored in the storage space 1. With this configuration, the plurality of electronic apparatuses E are accommodated in a stacked manner in the storage space 1 of the charging box, and wireless charging by the power-receiving coils 4 and the power-supplying coils 5 can be performed in this state. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the overall size of the charging device.
A charging device 101 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
In these figures,
The electronic apparatus E is a display terminal formed in a plate shape, and is, for example, a flexible display device used as electronic paper, or the like.
The storage space 1 of the charging box 2 is disposed vertically. The storage space 1 is in a bottomed shape in which an opening 6 is formed at an upper portion of the charging box 2 and a bottom 7 is formed at a lower portion. The charging device 101 has the opening 6 at the upper portion through which the plurality of electronic apparatuses E are put in and taken out from the storage space 1 of the charging box 2.
Here, the plurality of electronic apparatuses E stored in the storage space 1 of the charging box 2 are four or five as illustrated in
As shown in
In addition, correspondingly, in a state in which the plurality of electronic apparatuses E are stored side by side in the storage space 1, respective power-receiving coils 14 each provided in the lower side end portion 3 (3A) of the electronic apparatus E are disposed to face the power-supplying coils 15 provided on a charging box 2.
Here, the arrangement direction 15a of the power-supplying coils 15 provided on the charging box 2 and an arrangement direction 14a of the power-receiving coils 14 provided on the electronic apparatus E are set to be in a positional relationship in parallel along with an arrangement direction of the plurality of the electronic apparatuses E when the plurality of the electronic apparatuses E are stored side by side in the storage space 1. Accordingly, the power-supplying coils 15 provided on the charging box 2 and the power-receiving coils 14 provided on the electronic apparatus E are disposed to face each other with a fixed interval at a corresponding place. An interval between the power-receiving coil 14 and the power-supplying coil 15 is preferably narrow in terms of power supply efficiency. On the other hand, the interval is preferably wide in consideration of operability of insertion and removal of the electronic apparatus E or thermal deformation of the electronic apparatus E and the charging device. Therefore, the interval is set to be an optimum value according to performance and use conditions required for the electronic apparatuses E.
The power-supply coils 15 are connected to a power supply via a high frequency generator which converts AC power generated by an AC power supply into AC power of a higher frequency (hereinafter referred to as high frequency) and applies the AC power, but this is omitted in the figure.
The power-supplying coils 15, which are primary coils, are disposed to face the power-receiving coils 14 provided on the electronic apparatus E. The power-supplying coils 15 may be configured as a plurality of coils corresponding to the power-receiving coils 14, or may be configured as a single continuous coil. In addition, the plurality of coils configuring the power-supplying coils 15 may be connected to the high frequency generator in series or each may be connected thereto in parallel.
In the charging device 101 of the first embodiment configured as described above, the power-receiving coils 14 are disposed at the lower side end portion 3 (3A) of the plate-like electronic apparatuses E, and the power-supply coils 15 which generate inductive currents are disposed at the bottom 7 in the storage space 1 facing the power-receiving coils 14 of the electronic apparatuses E. With this configuration, the arrangement direction 14a of the plurality of these power-receiving coils 14 and the arrangement direction 15a of the plurality of these power-supplying coils 15 can be disposed in parallel.
In the charging device 101, the power-supplying coils 15 provided on the charging box 2 and the power-receiving coils 14 provided on the electronic apparatus E are disposed to face each other with a fixed interval. Therefore, due to a magnetic field generated by a primary coil of the power-supplying coils 15, it is possible to generate inductive currents in a secondary coil of the power-receiving coils 14. That is, wireless charging using the power-receiving coils 14 and the power-supplying coils 15 can be performed, and the charging device can be made more compact than conventional devices.
In addition, in the charging device 101, the power-receiving coils 14 provided on the electronic apparatus E are disposed to face the power-supplying coils 15 provided on the charging box 2 with a fixed interval simply by inserting the plurality of electronic apparatuses E into the storage space 1 from the opening 6 of the charging box 2. Therefore, the plurality of electronic apparatuses E can be promptly and easily charged. In addition, when the electronic apparatus E is a flexible display device such as electronic paper, the electronic apparatus can be reliably charged without causing a contact failure such as separation from a contact electrode due to its own deformation as in the case of contact-type power supply.
Moreover, in the charging device 101, both the power-receiving coils 14 of the electronic apparatuses E inserted into the storage space 1 and the power-supplying coils 15 provided on the charging box 2 are positioned at the bottom 7 of the charging box 2. The charging box 2 shields electromagnetic waves generated by the power-receiving and the power-supplying coils 14 and 15, thereby suppressing adverse effects on a worker using the charging device 101.
The charging box 2 itself may be firmed of a shielding body which shields electromagnetic waves generated by the power-supplying coils 15, and the inside of the charging box 2 facing the storage space 1 may be covered with a shielding body which shields electromagnetic waves. In this manner, the way in which the shielding body is set in the charging box 2 is not particularly limited.
(Modification 1)
In the charging device 101, the opening 6 of the storage space 1 is open, but, as shown in
(Modification 2)
In the charging device 101, the plurality of electronic apparatuses E are stored in the storage space 1. When a predetermined number of electronic apparatuses E are not stored, as shown in
(Modification 3)
In the charging device 101, to prevent generation of a gap between the electronic apparatuses E, as shown in
A charging device 101′ according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
The charging device 101′ according to the second embodiment differs from the charging device 101 according to the first embodiment in installation positions of power-receiving coils 14′ provided on an electronic apparatus E and power-supplying coils 15′ provided on a charging box 2.
Specifically, as shown in
Correspondingly, when a plurality of electronic apparatuses E are stored side by side in the storage space 1, each of the power-receiving coils 14′ provided at side end portions 3 (3B) of the electronic apparatuses E is disposed to face one of the power-supplying coils 15′ provided on the charging box 2. The arrangement direction 15a′ of the power-supplying coils 15′ provided on the charging box 2 and the arrangement direction 14a′ of the power-receiving coils 14′ provided on the electronic apparatus E are set to be in a positional relationship in which they are arranged in parallel in a direction in which the electronic apparatuses E are arranged. With this configuration, the power-supplying coils 15′ provided on the charging box 2 and the power-receiving coils 14′ provided on the electronic apparatus E are disposed to face each other with a fixed interval at corresponding positions.
In the charging device 101′ of the second embodiment configured as described above, the power-receiving coils 14′ are disposed at the side end portion 3 (3B) of the plate-like electronic apparatuses E, and the power-supplying coils 15′ which generate inductive currents are disposed at a side wall portion 8 in the storage space 1 facing the power-receiving coils 14′ of the electronic apparatuses E. With this configuration, it is possible to dispose the arrangement direction 14a′ of the plurality of these power-receiving coils 14′ and the arrangement direction 15a′ of the plurality of these power-supplying coils 15′ in parallel.
In the charging device 101′, the power-supplying coils 15′ provided on the charging box 2 and the power-receiving coils 14′ provided on the electronic apparatus E are disposed to face each other with a fixed interval. Accordingly, due to a magnetic field generated by a primary coil of the power-supplying coils 15′, it is possible to generate inductive currents in a secondary coil of the power-receiving coils 14′. That is, wireless charging using the power-receiving coils 14′ and the power-supplying coils 15′ can be performed, and the charging device can be made more compact than conventional devices.
In addition, in the charging device 101′, the power-receiving coils 14′ provided on the electronic apparatus E and the power-supplying coils 15′ provided on the charging box are disposed to face each other with a fixed interval simply by inserting the plurality of electronic apparatuses E into the storage space 1 from the opening 6 of the charging box 2. Therefore, the plurality of electronic apparatuses E can be promptly and easily charged.
In addition, in the charging devices 101 and 101′ of the first and second embodiments, the power-supplying coils 5 and 15′ are provided at the bottom 7 of the storage space 1 or at one end portion of the side wall portion 8. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the power-supplying coils 5 and 15′ may be provided in parallel to each other at two places of the one end portion and the other end portion positioned at an opposite side to the one end portion. Due to these two places of the power-supplying coils 5 and 15′, it is possible to store the electronic apparatuses E in the storage space 1 without concern for a direction.
Furthermore, the power-receiving coils 4 provided on the electronic apparatus E may be provided at two lower corner portions rather than one corner portion of the end portion 3 (3A, 3B) positioned under the electronic apparatuses E. This also makes it possible to store the electronic apparatuses E in the storage space 1 without concern for a direction.
A charging device 102 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As shown in
Specifically, a charging box indicated by a reference numeral 20 includes an upper opening 21 serving as an entrance for putting the electronic apparatuses E in, a lower opening 22 provided below the upper opening 21 and serving as an exit for taking the electronic apparatuses E out, and a guide mechanism 24 for guiding the electronic apparatuses E to a storage space 23 inside the charging box 20 from the upper opening 21.
In the storage space 23 of the charging box 20, a plurality of electronic apparatuses E are vertically arranged, that is, the electronic apparatuses E are vertically stacked in a horizontal state.
The upper opening 21 is formed on an upper surface 20A of the charging box 20, and the electronic apparatuses E are inserted into the charging box 20 in an inclined direction indicated by an arrow A.
The lower opening 22 is formed at a side portion 20B of the charging box 20 and is provided at a position facing one side surface of the electronic apparatus E in a horizontal state in the storage space 23, and the electronic apparatus E is taken out in an arrow C direction through the lower opening 22.
The guide mechanism 24 includes a guide board 25 which vertically arranges the electronic apparatuses E put in through the upper opening 21 in the storage space 23, as shown in
The guide board 25 is provided to be rotatable about a horizontal axis 26, and (the right end) is biased upward by a spring mechanism which is not shown. The guide board 25 is disposed in an inclined state along the arrow A as shown in
The guide board 25 rotates about the horizontal axis 26 in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow B against a biasing force of the spring member (not shown) due to a weight of the electronic apparatus E, when the electronic apparatus E put in through the upper opening 21 is received by the upper surface thereof. By this rotation, the electronic apparatus E placed on the guide board 25 is guided to slide down into the storage space 23. After guiding the electronic apparatus E into the storage space 25, the guide board 25 returns to an initial position shown in
The storage space 23 is formed on a bottom surface 20C of the charging box 20 and the electronic apparatuses E guided via the guide board 25 of the guide mechanism 24 are vertically stacked in a horizontal state.
The electronic apparatuses E are stacked and stored on the bottom surface 20C of the charging box 20, and charging (to be described below) is performed. Then, the electronic apparatuses E are taken out to the outside in a horizontal direction indicated by an arrow C via the lower opening 22 formed at the side portion 20B of the charging box 20. One of the stacked electronic apparatuses E at the lowermost stage is taken out from the lower opening 22 in turn.
Power-receiving coils 30 are provided in the electronic apparatuses E and a power-supplying coil 31 is provided in the storage space 23 of the charging box 20.
The power-receiving coils 30 of the electronic apparatuses E are provided at the lower side end portion 3 (3A) of the electronic apparatuses E, and are disposed in an arrangement direction 30a of the electronic apparatuses E stacked in the storage space 23.
The power-supplying coils 31 are provided on a vertical support surface 32 of a support block 32 installed at the bottom 20C of the charging box 20 as shown in
As a result, when the plurality of electronic apparatuses E are stacked and stored in the storage space 23, each of the power-receiving coils 30 provided in the lower side end portion 3 (3A) of the electronic apparatus E is disposed to face one of the power-supplying coils 31 provided on the charging box 20.
The arrangement direction 31a of the power-supplying coils 31 provided on the charging box 20 and the arrangement direction 30a of the power-receiving coils 30 provided on the electronic apparatus E are set to be in parallel in a direction in which the electronic apparatuses E are stacked when the electronic apparatuses E are vertically stacked in the storage space 23. As a result, the power-supplying coils 31 provided on the charging box 20 and the power-receiving coils 30 provided on the electronic apparatus E are disposed to face each other with a fixed interval at corresponding places.
The charging device 102, as shown in
In the charging device 102 of the third embodiment configured as described above, the power-receiving coils 30 are disposed at the lower side end portion 3 (3A) of the plate-like electronic apparatuses E, and the power-supplying coils 31 which generate inductive currents are disposed on a vertical support surface 32A in the storage space 23 facing the power-receiving coils 30 of the electronic apparatuses E. With this configuration, the arrangement direction 30a of the plurality of power-receiving coils 30 and the arrangement direction 31a of the plurality of power-supplying coils 31 can be disposed in parallel.
At this time, in the charging device 102, the power-supplying coils 31 provided on the charging box 20 and the power-receiving coils 30 provided on the electronic apparatus E are disposed to face each other with a fixed interval. With this configuration, due to a magnetic field generated by the power-supplying coils 31 serving as a primary coil, it is possible to generate inductive currents in the power-receiving coils 30 on a secondary side. That is, wireless charging using the power-receiving coils 30 and the power-supplying coils 31 can be performed and the charging device can be made more compact than conventional devices.
Moreover, in the charging device 102, the power-receiving coils 30 provided on the electronic apparatus E and the power-supplying coils 31 provided on the charging box 20 are disposed to face each other with a fixed interval simply by inserting the plurality of electronic apparatuses E into the storage space 23 from the opening 21 of the charging box 20. Therefore, the plurality of electronic apparatuses E can be promptly and easily charged.
In addition, in the charging device 102, both the power-receiving coils 30 of the electronic apparatuses E inserted into the storage space 23 and the power-supplying coils 31 provided on the charging box 20 are positioned in the charging box 20. Therefore, the charging box 20 shields electromagnetic waves generated by these coils 30 and 31, thereby suppressing adverse effects on a worker using the charging device 101.
In the charging device 102, a charging system 200 which transmits or receives data to or from a host computer 50 with respect to the electronic apparatuses E via the power-receiving coils 30 provided on the electronic apparatus E and the power-supplying coils 31 provided on the charging box 20 may be constructed.
At this time, since a plurality of electronic apparatuses E are stored in the storage space 23 of the charging device 102, it is possible to efficiently transmit or receive data to or from these electronic apparatuses E in a collective manner.
Embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, but a specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments, and design changes and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-191434, filed Sep. 19, 2014, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention can be applied to a charging device and a charging system, which charge a secondary battery embedded in an electronic apparatus, and the secondary battery can be wirelessly charged using inductive currents generated by electromagnetic induction.
1 Storage space
2 Charging box
3 End portion
3A Lower side end portion
3B Side end portion
4 Power-receiving coil
5 Power-supplying coil
6 Opening
7 Bottom
8 Side wall portion
10 Lid
11 Dummy sheet
12 Shielding guide
14 Power-receiving coil
15 Power-supplying coil
20 Charging box
21 Upper opening
22 Lower opening
23 Storage space
24 Guide mechanism
25 Guide board
26 Horizontal axis
30 Power-receiving coil
31 Power-supplying coil
32A Vertical support surface
41 High frequency generator
100 Charging device
101 Charging device
102 Charging device
200 Charging system
E Electronic apparatus
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2014-191434 | Sep 2014 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2015/075844 | 9/11/2015 | WO | 00 |