JP7743062B2 - Wireless power supply device - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a wireless power supply device.

Conventionally, a wireless power supply device has been known that has a power transmission coil attached to the outer frame of a sash and a power receiving coil attached to a glass window that slides left and right along a rail on the outer frame (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2017-163840 A

However, the device in Patent Document 1 uses a power transmitting coil and a power receiving coil that are wound in a plane parallel to the surface of the glass window. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of power transmission efficiency.

An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a wireless power supply device that can further improve power transmission efficiency.

A wireless power feeder according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a power transmitting coil provided in an outer frame surrounding an opening, and a power receiving coil provided in an inner frame that is movable in a first direction in which the opening is closed and a second direction in which the opening is open. The wireless power feeder transmits power wirelessly from the power transmitting coil to the power receiving coil. The power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil each have an elongated cylindrical body that penetrates in the axial direction and a conductor wound around the outer periphery of the cylindrical body, and are arranged to extend along the first direction and the second direction. When the inner frame is moved in the first direction, one of the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil is inserted into the other.

This disclosure makes it possible to further improve power transmission efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating a sash according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a non-inserted state of a wireless power feeder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a partially inserted state of a wireless power feeder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fully inserted state of a wireless power feeder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a wireless power supply device is not inserted into a sash according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a wireless power supply device is partially inserted into a sash according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a wireless power supply device is fully inserted into a sash according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a wireless power supply device is not inserted into a sash according to a first modification of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a front view schematically illustrating a housed state of a mechanical movement mechanism according to a second modification of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a front view schematically illustrating a protruding state of a mechanical movement mechanism according to a second modification of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a housed state of an electric movement mechanism according to a third modification of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a protruding state of an electric movement mechanism according to a third modification of the present disclosure.

Embodiments and variations of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that common components in each drawing will be assigned the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted where appropriate.

First, the sash 100 of this embodiment will be described using Figure 1. Figure 1 is a front view schematically showing the sash 100 of this embodiment.

As shown in Figure 1, the sash 100 comprises an outer frame 1 arranged around the opening (not shown), and an inner shoji screen 2 and an outer shoji screen 3 (both examples of opening and closing members) arranged inside the outer frame 1.

The inner and outer shoji screens 2 and 3 slide horizontally along rails (not shown) attached to the outer frame 1. Arrows A and B in the figure indicate the direction of sliding movement.

Arrow A indicates the direction in which the inner shoji screen 2 closes (the direction in which the opening is closed) and the direction in which the outer shoji screen 3 opens (the direction in which the opening is opened). On the other hand, arrow B indicates the direction in which the inner shoji screen 2 opens (the direction in which the opening is opened) and the direction in which the outer shoji screen 3 closes (the direction in which the opening is opened).

The inner shoji screen 2 and outer shoji screen 3 each have an inner frame 4 made of a non-transparent material. The inner frame 4 is provided with a handle 5 that is gripped when opening or closing the inner shoji screen 2 or outer shoji screen 3, and transparent electrode glass 6, which is transparent glass provided with a transparent conductive film (not shown; an example of a heating element). Note that while the example given here uses transparent glass as the substrate, materials other than transparent glass (such as transparent resin) may also be used for the substrate.

An electrode 8 (e.g., a negative electrode) is provided at one end of the transparent electrode glass 6, and an electrode 9 (e.g., a positive electrode) is provided at the other end of the transparent electrode glass 6. Electrode 8 is connected to a conductor 10 provided on the inner frame 4, and electrode 9 is connected to a conductor 11 provided on the inner frame 4. The other ends of the conductors 10 and 11 are connected to a large coil 13 (see Figures 2 to 7) of the wireless power feeder 200, which will be described later. The wireless power feeder 200 is located in the area enclosed by the dotted line in the figure.

Although not shown in Figure 1, electrodes 8, 9, conductors 10, 11, and wireless power supply device 200 are also similarly provided on the inner frame 4 of the outer screen 3. Also, for the sake of convenience, electrodes 8, 9, and conductors 10, 11 are explicitly shown in Figure 1, but in reality, they are provided inside the inner frame 4 so that they are not visible from the outside.

Furthermore, while the example shown here uses conductors 10 and 11, electrodes (rod-shaped or plate-shaped conductive members) may be used instead of conductors 10 and 11. Although not shown, a power receiving circuit that receives power from large coil 13 may be provided midway along conductor 11.

Furthermore, although the example given here shows electrodes 8 and 9 being provided at the left and right ends of the transparent electrode glass 6, electrodes 8 and 9 may also be provided at the top and bottom ends of the transparent electrode glass 6.

In addition, the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2 is provided with a key 7 that is used to lock and unlock the inner shoji screen 2 and outer shoji screen 3. Although not shown in the figure, the inner frame 4 of the outer shoji screen 3 is provided with a key receiver that engages with the key 7. Examples of the key 7 include, but are not limited to, a crescent lock.

Next, the wireless power feeder 200 of this embodiment, which is provided in the sash 100 described above, will be described using Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the wireless power feeder 200 in an uninserted state. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the wireless power feeder 200 in a partially inserted state. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the wireless power feeder 200 in a fully inserted state.

The wireless power supply device 200 is a device that transmits power wirelessly using electromagnetic induction.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the wireless power supply device 200 has a small coil 12 and a large coil 13. In this embodiment, we will explain an example in which the small coil 12 is used as a power transmitting coil and the large coil 13 is used as a power receiving coil.

The small coil 12 has a long cylindrical body 14 that runs through it in the axial direction and a conducting wire 15 wound around the outer circumference of the cylindrical body 14.

The large coil 13 has a long cylindrical body 16 that runs through it in the axial direction, and a conducting wire 15 wound around the outer circumference of the cylindrical body 16.

The inner diameter of the cylindrical body 16 is larger than the outer diameter of the portion of the small coil 12 around which the conductor 15 is wound (hereinafter referred to as the conductor wound portion). This makes it possible to insert the small coil 12 into the large coil 13 (cylindrical body 16).

Figure 2 shows the state in which the conductor winding portion of the small coil 12 is not inserted into the large coil 13 (non-inserted state, which can also be said to be a state in which the small coil 12 is close to the large coil 13). Figure 3 shows the state in which approximately half of the conductor winding portion of the small coil 12 is inserted into the large coil 13 (partially inserted state). Figure 4 shows the state in which the conductor winding portion of the small coil 12 is entirely inserted into the large coil 13 (fully inserted state).

The conductor 15 wound around the small coil 12 is connected to a power source (not shown) via a power transmission circuit (not shown).

The power transmission circuit transmits AC power to the large coil 13 via the small coil 12 when the small coil 12 is close to the large coil 13 (for example, when it is in the non-inserted state shown in Figure 2) or when it is inserted into the large coil 13 (for example, when it is in the partially inserted state shown in Figure 3 or the fully inserted state shown in Figure 4). The amount of transmitted power is smallest in the non-inserted state shown in Figure 2, next largest in the partially inserted state shown in Figure 3, and largest in the fully inserted state shown in Figure 4.

The power sent to the large coil 13 is supplied to the transparent electrode glass 6 via the conductor 11 (and a power receiving circuit, not shown) and the electrode 9. This causes the transparent conductive film to generate heat, preventing fogging and moisture from adhering to the transparent electrode glass 6.

Next, the installation of the small coil 12 and large coil 13 in the sash 100 and the positional relationship between the small coil 12 and large coil 13 will be described using Figures 5 to 7. Figures 5, 6, and 7 are perspective views showing the uninserted, half-inserted, and fully-inserted states of the wireless power feeder 200 in the sash 100, respectively. Note that the following description will use as an example a case where the small coil 12 and large coil 13 are provided in the area enclosed by the dotted line in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 5, the small coil 12 is provided on the outer frame 1, and the large coil 13 is provided on the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2.

Specifically, the portion of the small coil 12 other than the portion around which the conductor wire 15 is wound (the portion of the cylindrical body 14 on which the conductor wire 15 is not wound) is housed and fixed within the outer frame 1. Furthermore, the portion around which the conductor wire is wound of the small coil 12 protrudes outside the outer frame 1. The entire large coil 13 is housed and fixed within the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2.

Furthermore, the small coil 12 and large coil 13 are arranged to face each other and extend along the opening and closing direction of the inner shoji screen 2 (the directions indicated by arrows A and B, respectively).

The inner shoji screen 2 shown in Figure 5 is slightly open. At this time, the large coil 13 and small coil 12 are spaced apart.

When the inner screen 2 shown in Figure 5 is moved slightly in the closing direction (in the direction of arrow A), as shown in Figure 6, the inner screen 2 is closed more than in the state shown in Figure 5, but is still slightly open. At this time, the wireless power supply device 200 is in a state where approximately half of the conductor winding portion of the small coil 12 is inserted into the large coil 13 (half-inserted state).

Furthermore, when the inner screen 2 shown in Figure 6 moves in the closing direction (direction of arrow A), the inner screen 2 is fully closed as shown in Figure 7. At this time, the wireless power supply device 200 is in a state where the entire conductor winding portion of the small coil 12 is inserted into the large coil 13 (fully inserted state).

As described above, the wireless power supply device 200 of this embodiment has a power transmission coil (e.g., small coil 12) provided on an outer frame 1 arranged around the opening, and a power receiving coil (e.g., large coil 13) provided on an inner frame 4 (e.g., the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2) that can move in a first direction (e.g., the direction of arrow A) in which the opening is closed, and a second direction (e.g., the direction of arrow B) in which the opening is opened, and a wire that transmits power wirelessly from the power transmission coil to the power receiving coil. This is a wireless power supply device, in which the power transmission coil and power receiving coil each have a long cylindrical body 14, 16 that penetrates in the axial direction and a conductor 15 wound around the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 14, 16, and are arranged to extend along a first direction and a second direction, and are configured so that when the inner frame 4 (e.g., the inner frame 4 of an inner shoji screen 2) moves in the first direction, one of the power transmission coil and power receiving coil (e.g., the small coil 12) is inserted inside the other (e.g., the large coil 13).

This feature allows the power transmission coil and power receiving coil to be in close proximity without any separation in their axial direction (the opening and closing direction of the inner frame 4), further improving power transmission efficiency.

In addition, because the power transmission coil and power receiving coil are arranged to extend in the opening and closing direction of the inner frame 4, power can be transmitted even when the inner screen 2 (or outer screen 3) is slightly open, improving convenience.

Note that this disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Modifications are described below.

[Modification 1]
In the embodiment, an example has been described in which the small coil 12 is used as a power transmitting coil and the large coil 13 is used as a power receiving coil, but the small coil 12 may also be used as a power receiving coil and the large coil 13 as a power transmitting coil.

This specific example will be explained using Figure 8. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the wireless power supply device 200 in an uninserted state in the sash according to this modified example.

As shown in Figure 8, the large coil 13 is provided on the outer frame 1, and the small coil 12 is provided on the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2.

Specifically, the portion of the small coil 12 other than the portion around which the conductor wire is wound (the cylindrical body 14 around which the conductor wire 15 is not wound) is housed and fixed within the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2. Furthermore, the portion around which the conductor wire is wound of the small coil 12 protrudes outside the inner frame 4. The entire large coil 13 is housed and fixed within the outer frame 1.

Furthermore, the small coil 12 and large coil 13 are arranged to face each other and extend along the opening and closing direction of the inner shoji screen 2 (the directions indicated by arrows A and B, respectively).

The inner screen 2 shown in Figure 8 is slightly open. At this time, the large coil 13 and small coil 12 are spaced apart. Although not shown, when the inner screen 2 moves in the closing direction (the direction of arrow A), the small coil 12 and large coil 13 enter the partially inserted state (see Figure 3) or fully inserted state (see Figure 4) described above.

The configuration of this modified example can achieve the same effects as the embodiment.

[Modification 2]
The wireless power supply device 200 having the configuration of Modification 1 may be provided with a mechanical movement mechanism that mechanically moves the small coil 12 serving as the power receiving coil. Specifically, the mechanical movement mechanism causes the small coil 12 to protrude from or be retracted into the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2 in response to the locking and unlocking operations of the key 7, respectively.

This specific example will be explained using Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 is a front view schematically showing the retracted state of the mechanical movement mechanism 30 of this modified example (a state in which the small coil 12 is retracted within the inner frame 4 due to the operation of the mechanical movement mechanism 30). Figure 10 is a front view schematically showing the protruding state of the mechanical movement mechanism 30 of this modified example (a state in which the small coil 12 protrudes outside the inner frame 4 due to the operation of the mechanical movement mechanism 30).

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the mechanical movement mechanism 30 has a wire 17, a coil spring 18, a mounting member 19, and a guide rail 20. These components are provided in the inner frame 4. Note that for the sake of convenience, these components are explicitly shown in Figures 9 and 10, but in reality, they are provided inside the inner frame 4 so that they are not visible from the outside.

The wire 17 is attached to the inner frame 4 via multiple pulleys (circular parts in the figure; reference numbers omitted) attached to the inner frame 4. One end of the wire 17 is connected to the key 7, and the other end of the wire 17 is connected to the coil spring 18.

One end of the coil spring 18 is fixed to the inner frame 4, and the other end of the coil spring 18 is connected to the wire 17.

The small coil 12 (specifically, the portion of the cylindrical body 14 on which the conductor wire 15 is not wound) is fixed to the mounting member 19.

The mounting member 19 is fixed to the wire 17 and slides horizontally along guide rails 20 provided on the inner frame 4.

When an unlocking operation is performed on a locked key 7 (see Figure 10), the key 7 enters an unlocked state, as shown in Figure 9. At this time, the wire 17 is pulled toward the key 7, and the coil spring 18 enters an extended state. As a result, the mounting member 19 moves in the direction of arrow B, and the small coil 12 enters a state of being housed inside the inner frame 4.

When the key 7, which is in the unlocked state shown in Figure 9, is locked, as shown in Figure 10, the key 7 enters a locked state. At this time, the wire 17 is unwound from the key 7, and the coil spring 18 enters a contracted state. This causes the mounting member 19 to move in the direction of arrow A, and the small coil 12 protrudes outside the inner frame 4. Although not shown in the figure, the protruding wire-wound portion of the small coil 12 is inserted into the large coil 13.

The conductors 10 and 11 connected to the small coil 12 have a certain amount of slack in length so as not to impede the movement of the small coil 12 described above.

Although not shown in Figures 9 and 10, the mechanical movement mechanism 30 is also similarly provided on the inner frame 4 of the outer shoji screen 3 shown in Figure 1.

According to this modified example, the small coil 12 can be inserted into or removed from the large coil 13 depending on the operation of the key 7, thereby improving convenience.

[Modification 3]
In the second modification, the mechanical moving mechanism 30 that mechanically moves the small coil 12 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the wireless power feeder 200 having the configuration of the first modification may be provided with an electric moving mechanism that electrically moves the small coil 12.

This specific example will be explained using Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 is a diagram schematically showing the retracted state of the electric movement mechanism 31 of this modified example (a state in which the small coil 12 is retracted within the inner frame 4 due to the operation of the electric movement mechanism 31). Figure 12 is a diagram schematically showing the protruding state of the electric movement mechanism 31 of this modified example (a state in which the small coil 12 protrudes outside the inner frame 4 due to the operation of the electric movement mechanism 31).

As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the electric movement mechanism 31 includes the mounting member 19 described in Variation 2, as well as a microswitch 21, a motor controller 22, a battery 23, and an actuator 24. Although not shown, these components are provided, for example, on the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2.

The motor controller 22 is electrically connected to each of the microswitch 21, the battery 23, and the actuator 24.

The motor controller 22 supplies power from the battery 23 to the actuator 24. The motor controller 22 also controls the actuator 24 to move the mounting member 19 to a predetermined position depending on whether the microswitch 21 is on or off.

The actuator 24 includes an electric motor (not shown), which drives the mounting member 19 to slide horizontally. Specifically, the mounting member 19 is moved in the direction of arrow A or the direction of arrow B. As described in Variation 2, the small coil 12 is fixed to the mounting member 19.

The microswitch 21 is a switch whose contacts are turned on when pressed by a protrusion (not shown) on the key 7 (see Figure 1, etc.).

The microswitch 21 shown in Figure 11 has its contacts in the OFF state. When the key 7 is locked at this time, the protrusion on the key 7 presses down on the top of the microswitch 21. This turns the contacts on in the microswitch 21, as shown in Figure 12.

When the microswitch 21 is turned on in this way, the motor controller 22 supplies power from the battery 23 to the actuator 24 and controls the actuator 24 to move the mounting member 19 (specifically, the mounting member 19 housed within the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2) from the position shown in Figure 11 to the position shown in Figure 12. As a result, the small coil 12 housed within the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2 protrudes outside the inner frame 4. The protruding wire wound portion of the small coil 12 is inserted into the large coil 13.

The microswitch 21 shown in Figure 12 has its contacts in the ON state. When the key 7 is unlocked at this time, the top of the microswitch 21, which had been pressed down by the protrusion on the key 7, is released. This causes the contacts of the microswitch 21 to turn OFF, as shown in Figure 11.

When the microswitch 21 is turned off in this way, the motor controller 22 supplies power from the battery 23 to the actuator 24 and controls the actuator 24 to move the mounting member 19, which is in the position shown in Figure 12 (specifically, the mounting member 19 protruding outside the inner frame 4 of the inner shoji screen 2 and inserted into the large coil 13), to the position shown in Figure 11. As a result, the small coil 12 that was inserted into the large coil 13 is removed from the large coil 13 and placed inside the inner frame 4.

Note that while this modification has been described using a microswitch as an example, this is not limiting. Instead of a microswitch, a magnetic switch or an optical switch, for example, may also be used.

In this way, as described in Variation 2, in this variant, the small coil 12 can be inserted into or removed from the large coil 13 depending on the operation of the key 7, thereby further improving convenience.

[Modification 4]
In the embodiment, the sliding direction of the inner and outer shoji screens 2 and 3 is horizontal (left and right), but this is not limiting. For example, either the small coil 12 or the large coil 13 may be provided on an opening/closing member (e.g., a sliding window or a sliding door) that slides vertically (up and down).

Furthermore, the object on which either the small coil 12 or the large coil 13 is provided is not limited to an opening/closing member that slides. For example, either the small coil 12 or the large coil 13 may be provided on an opening/closing member that rotates (pivots) around one side as an axis (e.g., a hinged window or a hinged door).

The wireless power supply device disclosed herein is useful in technology for wirelessly supplying power to opening and closing components (e.g., windows, doors, shutters, etc.) that open and close openings by moving in a specified direction and the opposite direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer frame 2 Inner shoji screen 3 Outer shoji screen 4 Inner frame 5 Handle 6 Transparent electrode glass 7 Key 8, 9 Electrode 10, 11 Conductor 12 Small coil 13 Large coil 15 Conductor 16 Cylindrical body 17 Wire 18 Spring 19 Mounting member 20 Guide rail 21 Microswitch 22 Motor controller 23 Battery 24 Actuator 30 Mechanical movement mechanism 31 Electric movement mechanism 100 Sash 200 Wireless power supply device

Claims (5)

a power transmission coil provided on an outer frame provided around the opening;
a power receiving coil provided on an inner frame that is movable in a first direction in which the opening portion is in a closed state and in a second direction in which the opening portion is in an open state;
A wireless power feeder that wirelessly transmits power from the power transmitting coil to the power receiving coil,
The power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil each have
The coil has a long cylindrical body that penetrates in the axial direction and a conducting wire wound around the outer periphery of the cylindrical body,
The film is provided to extend along the first direction and the second direction,
When the inner frame moves in the first direction, one of the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil is inserted into the other.
Wireless power supply device. The power transmitting coil is configured to be inserted inside the power receiving coil,
the power transmission coil is provided so as to protrude outside the outer frame,
The power receiving coil is provided inside the inner frame.
The wireless power supply device according to claim 1 . The receiving coil is configured to be inserted inside the transmitting coil,
the power transmission coil is provided inside the outer frame,
The power receiving coil is provided so as to protrude outside the inner frame.
The wireless power supply device according to claim 1 . The inner frame is provided with a key for locking and unlocking the inner frame,
The locking mechanism further includes a moving mechanism that moves the power receiving coil in response to each of the locking operation and the unlocking operation,
The moving mechanism includes:
When the locking operation is performed,
The power receiving coil accommodated inside the inner frame is protruded to the outside of the inner frame and inserted into the power transmitting coil provided inside the outer frame;
When the unlocking operation is performed,
The power receiving coil inserted inside the power transmitting coil is removed from the power transmitting coil and housed inside the inner frame.
The wireless power supply device according to claim 1 . a heating element that generates heat using the electric power is provided in the inner frame,
The receiving coil is
electrically connected to the heating element;
The wireless power supply device according to claim 1 .