Wireless power-feeding apparatus
A wireless power-feeding apparatus that enables efficient wireless feeding to a power-receiving coil embedded at the center of a spherical power-receiving device. The apparatus includes: a holding member for holding the power-receiving device; a power-transmitting coil; a driver circuit for supplying the power-transmitting coil with high-frequency current to generate a magnetic flux for wireless power-feeding to the power-receiving coil; and a wireless data receiver for receiving data transmitted regularly from a wireless data transmitter, the power-transmitting coil being positioned relative to the holding member in such a manner that the axes of the power-receiving coil and the power-transmitting coil are parallel to each other when the power-receiving device is held by the holding member in such a manner that a mark provided on the surface of the power-receiving device faces a predetermined direction.
1. A wireless power-feeding apparatus for supplying electric power to a spherical power-receiving device incorporating a secondary cell, a power-receiving coil, a charging circuit and a wireless data transmitter and having a surface provided with a predetermined mark at a predetermined location relative to the power-receiving coil, the apparatus comprising:
a holding member adapted to hold the power-receiving device;
a power-transmitting coil;
a driver circuit adapted to supply the power-transmitting coil with high-frequency current to generate a magnetic flux for wireless power-feeding to the power-receiving coil; and
a wireless data receiver adapted to receive data transmitted regularly from the wireless data transmitter,
the power-transmitting coil being positioned relative to the holding member in such a manner that axes of the power-receiving coil and the power-transmitting coil are parallel to each other when the power-receiving device is held by the holding member in such a manner that the mark on the surface of the power-receiving device faces a predetermined direction.
2. The wireless power-feeding apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power-transmitting coil is a solenoid coil having a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the power-receiving device and having an axial length.
3. The wireless power-feeding apparatus according to claim 2 ,
the power-receiving coil of the power-receiving device supplied with electric power by the apparatus being a solenoid coil having an axial length, and
the power-transmitting coil being positioned relative to the holding member in such a manner that the power-receiving coil and the power-transmitting coil overlap at least partially as viewed in a radial direction when the power-receiving device is held by the holding member in such a manner that the axes of the power-receiving coil and the power-transmitting coil are parallel to each other.
4. The wireless power-feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a notifier adapted to provide a predetermined notification depending on the data received by the wireless data receiver,
the data received by the wireless data receiver including information relating to a state of feed for the power-receiving coil, the notifier being configured to change its notification depending on a change in the state of feed.
5. The wireless power-feeding apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a power supply voltage adjustment controller adapted to adjust a power supply voltage in the driver circuit, the power supply voltage adjustment controller configured to selectively perform a first control mode, in which the notifier performs a predetermined notification, and a second control mode, in which the secondary cell of the power-receiving device is to be fully charged, wherein
during an operation in the second control mode, a value of the power supply voltage is changed within a predetermined range depending on a state of charge of the secondary cell, and
during an operation in the first control mode, the power supply voltage is kept at a constant voltage lower than a maximum voltage of the predetermined range.
6. A wireless power-feeding system comprising:
the wireless power-feeding apparatus according to claim 1 ; and
the power-receiving device, the power-receiving device being adapted to be used as a regulation baseball, a rubber baseball, a leather softball or a rubber softball, and
the mark being a stitch on a cover of the regulation baseball or the leather softball or a stitch decoration on a surface of the rubber baseball or the rubber softball.
7. A wireless power-feeding apparatus for supplying electric power to a spherical power-receiving device incorporating a secondary cell, a power-receiving coil, a charging circuit and a wireless data transmitter, comprising:
a power-transmitting coil;
a driver circuit adapted to supply the power-transmitting coil with high-frequency current to generate a magnetic flux for wireless power-feeding to the power-receiving coil;
a wireless data receiver adapted to receive data transmitted from the wireless data transmitter;
a notifier adapted to provide a predetermined notification depending on the data received by the wireless data receiver, the data including information relating to a state of feed for the power-receiving coil, the notifier being configured to change its notification depending on a change in the state of feed; and
a power supply voltage adjustment controller adapted to adjust a power supply voltage in the driver circuit, the power supply voltage adjustment controller configured to selectively perform a first control mode, in which the notifier performs a predetermined notification, and a second control mode, in which the secondary cell of the power-receiving device is to be fully charged, wherein
during an operation in the second control mode, a value of the power supply voltage is changed within a predetermined range depending on a state of charge of the secondary cell, and
during an operation in the first control mode, the power supply voltage is kept at a constant voltage lower than a maximum voltage of the predetermined range.
8. A wireless power-feeding apparatus for supplying electric power to a spherical power-receiving device incorporating a secondary cell, a power-receiving coil, a charging circuit and a wireless data transmitter, comprising:
a power-transmitting coil;
a driver circuit adapted to supply the power-transmitting coil with high-frequency current to generate a magnetic flux for wireless power-feeding to the power-receiving coil;
a wireless data receiver adapted to receive data transmitted from the wireless data transmitter;
a notifier adapted to provide a predetermined notification depending on the data received by the wireless data receiver, the data including information relating to a state of feed for the power-receiving coil, the notifier being configured to change its notification depending on a change in the state of feed; and
a holding member adapted to hold the power-receiving device,
the power-receiving device supplied with electric power by the apparatus having a surface provided with a predetermined mark at a predetermined position relative to the power-receiving coil, and
the power-transmitting coil being positioned relative to the holding member in such a manner that axes of the power-receiving coil and the power-transmitting coil are parallel to each other when the power-receiving device is held by the holding member in such a manner that the mark on the surface of the power-receiving device faces a predetermined direction.
9. A wireless power-feeding apparatus for supplying electric power to a spherical power-receiving device incorporating a secondary cell, a power-receiving coil, a charging circuit and a wireless data transmitter, comprising:
a power-transmitting coil;
a driver circuit adapted to supply the power-transmitting coil with high-frequency current to generate a magnetic flux for wireless power-feeding to the power-receiving coil;
a wireless data receiver adapted to receive data transmitted from the wireless data transmitter; and
a notifier adapted to provide a predetermined notification depending on the data received by the wireless data receiver, the data including information relating to a state of feed for the power-receiving coil, the notifier being configured to change its notification depending on a change in the state of feed,
the power-transmitting coil being a solenoid coil having a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the power-receiving device and having an axial length.
10. The wireless power-feeding apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a holding member adapted to hold the power-receiving device,
the power-receiving coil of the power-receiving device supplied with electric power by the apparatus being a solenoid coil having an axial length, and
the power-transmitting coil being positioned relative to the holding member in such a manner that the power-receiving coil and the power-transmitting coil overlap at least partially as viewed in a radial direction when the power-receiving device is held by the holding member in such a manner that axes of the power-receiving coil and the power-transmitting coil are parallel to each other.