IP Library Granted Patent US 9,508,246
Granted Patent B2
US 9,508,246 · App. 14/417,316 · Granted Nov 29, 2016

In-vehicle charging device, automobile and charging system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,508,246
App. No.
14/417,316
Granted
Nov 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

During charging of a mobile device by a charging coil, a charge controller acquires information of the seating position of the owner of the mobile device, through a short-range wireless communicating section, and therefore issues an alarm when a person who causes the mobile device to be charged performs an operation of leaving from the seating position. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the mobile device from being left in a vehicle.

Claims (29)

1. An in-vehicle charging device comprising:

a charging coil that charges a rechargeable battery of a mobile device;

a charge controller that is connected to the charging coil; and

a first short-range wireless communicating section that is connected to the charge controller,

wherein during charging of the rechargeable battery of the mobile device by the charging coil, the charge controller acquires information of a seating position of an owner of the mobile device through the first short-range wireless communicating section, and outputs an alarm when: (i) it is determined that a vehicle door associated with the seating position information of the owner of the mobile device is opened, (ii) the owner of the mobile device is not in the seat, and (iii) the mobile device is still engaged with the charging coil.

2. An automobile comprising:

an automobile body;

a vehicle controller on the automobile body;

a seating detector that is connected to the vehicle controller;

an alarm outputting section that is connected to the vehicle controller;

a charging coil that charges a rechargeable battery of a mobile device;

a charge controller that is connected to the charging coil; and

a first short-range wireless communicating section that is connected to the charge controller,

wherein during charging of the rechargeable battery of the mobile device by the charging coil, the charge controller acquires information of a seating position of an owner of the mobile device through the first short-range wireless communicating section, and outputs an alarm via the alarm outputting section when: (i) it is determined that a vehicle door associated with the seating position information of the owner of the mobile device is opened, (ii) the seating detector indicates that the owner of the mobile device is not in the seat, and (iii) the mobile device is still engaged with the charging coil.

3. The automobile according to claim 2 , wherein the automobile body has a plurality of doors for the cabin, and a seating position setting section disposed in each of the doors.

4. The automobile according to claim 3 , wherein the seating position setting section is disposed in a knob portion of each of the doors.

5. The automobile according to claim 4 , wherein the seating position setting section comprises a tag.

6. A charging system comprising:

a mobile device having a rechargeable battery;

an automobile having an automobile body;

a vehicle controller on the automobile body;

a seating detector that is connected to the vehicle controller;

an alarm outputting section that is connected to the vehicle controller;

a charging coil that charges the rechargeable battery of the mobile device;

a charge controller that is connected to the charging coil; and

a first short-range wireless communicating section that is connected to the charge controller,

wherein during charging of the rechargeable battery of the mobile device by the charging coil, the charge controller acquires information of a seating position of an owner of the mobile device through the first short-range wireless communicating section, and outputs an alarm via the alarm outputting section when: (i) it is determined that a vehicle door associated with the seating position information of the owner of the mobile device is opened, and (ii) the seating detector indicates that the owner of the mobile device is not in the seat, while the mobile device is still engaged with the charging coil;

wherein the mobile device has a second short-range wireless communicating section that acquires the seating position information; and

wherein the mobile device transmits the seating position information to the vehicle controller through the second short-range wireless communicating section, the first short-range wireless communicating section, and the charge controller of the in-vehicle charging device.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066703/0252 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2015
From: OKANO, SOHTARO; IWANAGA, IZUMI
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035132/0527 →