JP2024085644A - Lighting device, wireless power supply system, and wireless power supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

To perform wireless power feeding while suppressing radio interference.SOLUTION: A lighting device 100 includes an AC power receiving unit 110 that receives AC power, a lighting unit 130 that emits illumination light on the basis of the AC power received by the AC power receiving unit 110, an AC/DC conversion unit 120 that converts the AC power received by the AC power receiving unit 110 into DC power, and a wireless power supply unit 140 that has an antenna 141 and supplies wireless power by using the DC power converted by the AC/DC conversion unit 120 to cause radio waves of one frequency selected from a plurality of switchable frequencies to be radiated from the antenna 141.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a lighting device, a wireless power supply system, and a wireless power supply device.

Patent document 1 discloses a system in which a wireless power transmitter is built into a lighting device.

JP 2022-525877 A

When using wireless power supply, it is necessary to suppress interference with the radio waves used for wireless power supply.

The present invention aims to provide a lighting device, a wireless power supply system, and a wireless power supply device that can supply power wirelessly while suppressing radio wave interference.

The lighting device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a power receiving unit that receives AC power, a lighting unit that emits illumination light based on the AC power received by the power receiving unit, a conversion unit that converts the AC power received by the power receiving unit into DC power, and a wireless power supply unit that has an antenna and supplies wireless power by radiating radio waves of one frequency selected from a plurality of switchable frequencies from the antenna using the DC power converted by the conversion unit.

A wireless power supply system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a lighting device according to the above aspect and a controller. The lighting device includes a receiver that receives a control signal for switching the frequency of the radio waves. The wireless power supply unit switches the frequency of the radio waves based on the control signal received by the receiver. The controller includes an operation unit that can be operated from the outside and has an identification mark that identifies the multiple frequencies, and a transmission unit that transmits the control signal based on the operation of the operation unit.

A wireless power supply device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a power receiving unit that is connected to a structure to which a lighting fixture can be attached and receives AC power via the structure, a conversion unit that converts the AC power received by the power receiving unit into DC power, and a wireless power supply unit that has an antenna and supplies wireless power by radiating radio waves of one frequency selected from a plurality of switchable frequencies from the antenna using the DC power converted by the conversion unit.

The lighting device and the like according to the present invention can transmit power wirelessly while suppressing radio wave interference.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a space to which a wireless power supply system according to a first embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless power supply system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless power supply system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a controller of a wireless power supply system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of the controller of the wireless power feeding system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a lighting device in a wireless power feeding system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the lighting device in the wireless power feeding system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wireless power supply system according to the fourth embodiment.

The following describes in detail the lighting device, wireless power supply system, and wireless power supply device according to the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that each of the embodiments described below shows a specific example of the present invention. Therefore, the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component arrangement and connection form, steps, and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, among the components in the following embodiments, components that are not described in the independent claims are described as optional components.

In addition, each figure is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily an exact illustration. Therefore, for example, the scales of each figure do not necessarily match. In addition, in each figure, substantially the same configuration is given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted or simplified.

In addition, in this specification, terms indicating relationships between elements, terms indicating the shapes of elements, and numerical ranges are not expressions that express only strict meanings, but are expressions that include a substantially equivalent range, for example, a difference of about a few percent.

In addition, in this specification, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" do not refer to the number or order of components, unless otherwise specified, but are used for the purpose of avoiding confusion and distinguishing between components of the same type.

(Embodiment 1)
[Wireless power supply system]
First, a wireless power supply system including a lighting device according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a space to which the wireless power supply system 1 according to the present embodiment is applied. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the wireless power supply system 1 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wireless power supply system 1 includes a lighting device 100 and an electrical device 200.

The lighting device 100 is a device that has not only a lighting function for illuminating a space, but also a wireless power supply function for wirelessly supplying power to other devices (specifically, electrical devices 200). The lighting device 100 emits radio waves for wireless power supply.

As shown in FIG. 1, lighting device 100 is generally attached to a ceiling or other location where there are few obstacles blocking the illumination light. This has the advantage that the radio waves for wireless power supply emitted from lighting device 100 can easily reach a wide area or long distances.

The lighting device 100 is, for example, a ceiling light attached to a ceiling surface, but is not limited to this. The lighting device 100 may also be, for example, a light bulb-type lamp, a halogen lamp, a high intensity discharge lamp (HID lamp), a lamp with a GX53 type base (conductive pin), a straight tube lamp, a spotlight, a base light (light bar), or a downlight.

The electric device 200 is a device that receives power supplied wirelessly. The electric device 200 operates using the power received wirelessly. The electric device 200 is, for example, a smartphone, but is not limited to this. The electric device 200 may be a sensor device that detects bioinformation, environmental information, or device information, an information device such as a wireless earphone or a game controller, a mobile terminal such as a tablet PC, or a home appliance. The electric device 200 may also be, for example, an external PC device that receives power supplied wirelessly. The electric device 200 may also be incorporated into a moving object such as a transport robot, a mobile robot, or a car.

[Lighting equipment]
Next, a specific configuration of the lighting device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lighting device 100 includes an AC power receiving unit 110, an AC/DC conversion unit 120, a lighting unit 130, a wireless power supply unit 140, a control unit 150, a housing 160, and an operation switch 170.

The AC power receiving unit 110 is an example of a power receiving unit that receives AC power, and receives AC power (e.g., AC 100V or 240V) from an external power source 3 such as a commercial power source. The magnitude of the AC power is not particularly limited. The AC power receiving unit 110 is connected to the structure 2 and receives AC power from the external power source 3 via the structure 2. The AC power receiving unit 110 supplies the received AC power to the AC/DC conversion unit 120. For example, the AC power receiving unit 110 is a base, a conductive pin, or an adapter, and has a structure that can be connected to a socket for the base or conductive pin, a hook-in ceiling body, a wiring duct, or a terminal block.

The structure 2 is a structure to which a lighting fixture can be attached. The lighting fixture here is at least one of a wide variety of lighting fixtures such as a ceiling light, a spotlight, a base light, or a downlight. For example, the structure 2 is a socket (receiving metal) to which a base is connected, a hook-on ceiling body, a wiring duct, or a terminal block. For example, a ceiling light can be attached to the hook-on ceiling body. For example, a spotlight can be attached to the wiring duct. For example, a base light or a downlight can be attached to the terminal block.

The AC/DC conversion unit 120 is an example of a conversion unit, and converts the AC power received by the AC power receiving unit 110 into DC power. The DC power is supplied to each of the lighting unit 130 and the wireless power supply unit 140. The DC power is also supplied to the control unit 150 as the operating power of the control unit 150. The AC/DC conversion unit 120 includes a rectifier circuit such as a diode bridge circuit, a step-up circuit, and a step-down circuit. Each circuit is composed of an integrated circuit (IC) element, a resistor, a diode, a transformer, an inductor, a capacitor, a transistor, etc.

The lighting unit 130 emits illumination light based on the AC power received by the AC power receiving unit 110. Specifically, the lighting unit 130 emits illumination light using DC power supplied from the AC/DC conversion unit 120.

The illumination unit 130 includes, for example, a plurality of light-emitting elements. The plurality of light-emitting elements are, for example, LED (Light Emitting Diode) elements. The LED elements include, for example, an LED chip that emits blue light, and a yellow phosphor that is excited by the blue light emitted by the LED chip and emits yellow light. White light, which is a mixture of the blue light emitted by the LED chip and the yellow light emitted by the yellow phosphor, is emitted as illumination light. Note that the light-emitting elements may be laser light-emitting elements or organic EL (Electroluminescence) elements. Furthermore, the illumination light is not limited to white light, and may be colored light.

The lighting unit 130 may have a function of adjusting the intensity of the lighting light (dimming function) and a function of adjusting the color (color temperature) of the lighting light (color adjustment function). Dimming and color adjustment are performed, for example, by controlling the DC power supplied from the AC/DC conversion unit 120.

The wireless power supply unit 140 has an antenna 141. The wireless power supply unit 140 supplies wireless power by radiating radio waves from the antenna 141 using the DC power converted by the AC/DC conversion unit 120. The radio waves radiated from the antenna 141 have one frequency selected from a plurality of frequencies. The wireless power supply unit 140 is capable of switching the frequency of the radio waves radiated from the antenna 141 for wireless power supply. The multiple available frequencies will be described in detail later.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, the wireless power supply unit 140 includes a wireless power supply circuit. The wireless power supply circuit generates power to be supplied to the antenna 141. Specifically, the wireless power supply circuit converts the DC power generated by the AC/DC conversion unit 120 into wireless power, and radiates the converted wireless power from the antenna 141 as radio waves.

The antenna 141 is an example of a power supply antenna that radiates radio waves for wireless power supply using power supplied from a wireless power supply circuit (not shown). The antenna 141 is, for example, a pattern antenna having wiring provided on a substrate. Alternatively, the antenna 141 may be a rod-shaped antenna. There are no particular limitations on the type of antenna 141 as long as it can radiate radio waves for wireless power supply.

The wireless power supply unit 140 may have multiple antennas 141. For example, if one antenna 141 is a directional antenna having directions in which radio waves for wireless power supply are easily radiated and directions in which they are not easily radiated, the wireless power supply unit 140 may be provided with multiple antennas 141, thereby making it possible to adjust the arrangement and orientation of the multiple antennas 141 and to adjust the radiation direction of the radio waves for wireless power supply.

The range in which power can be supplied from one antenna 141 (the range in which radio waves can reach with sufficient strength) is, for example, within 3 m from the antenna 141. In a typical building, the ceiling height does not exceed 3 m, so when the lighting device 100 is fixed to the ceiling, the radio waves for power supply can reach not only the area directly below the lighting device 100 but also a certain range. By adjusting the radiation direction of the radio waves from the antenna 141, wireless power supply can be performed over a wide area or with high radio wave strength. The power supply range from one antenna 141 may exceed 3 m. This allows wireless power supply with high radio wave strength even when applied to a building with a high ceiling.

The control unit 150 controls the AC/DC conversion unit 120 to thereby control the lighting unit 130. Specifically, the control unit 150 controls the lighting unit 130 to be turned on (emit illumination light) and off (stop illumination light). The control unit 150 may also control dimming and color adjustment.

The control unit 150 is realized, for example, by an LSI (Large Scale Integration), which is an integrated circuit (IC). The integrated circuit is not limited to an LSI, and may be a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. For example, the control unit 150 may be a microcontroller. The microcontroller includes, for example, a non-volatile memory in which a program is stored, a volatile memory that is a temporary storage area for executing the program, an input/output port, and a processor that executes the program. The control unit 150 may also be a programmable FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a reconfigurable processor in which the connections and settings of the circuit cells in the LSI can be reconfigured. The functions executed by the control unit 150 may be realized by software or hardware.

The control unit 150 is housed inside the housing 160, but is not limited thereto. At least a part of the control unit 150 may be disposed outside the housing 160. For example, the control unit 150 may be attached to the outer surface of the housing 160. Alternatively, the control unit 150 may be disposed away from the housing 160 and connected to the AC/DC conversion unit 120 so as to be able to communicate with it via wire or wirelessly. For example, the control unit 150 may be included in an operation terminal disposed on a wall surface within the space. Alternatively, the control unit 150 may be included in a mobile terminal such as a remote controller or a smartphone. For example, the control unit 150 may receive infrared rays or radio waves based on Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and control the lighting unit 130 based on control information contained in the received infrared rays or radio waves.

The housing 160 is at least a part of the outer housing of the lighting device 100. The housing 160 houses the AC/DC conversion unit 120, the wireless power supply unit 140, the lighting unit 130, and the control unit 150.

The housing 160 is, for example, a metal housing. Metal has excellent thermal conductivity, so heat can be dissipated through the housing 160. By suppressing the temperature rise of the lighting device 100, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of failures of each processing circuit, etc. due to heat.

For example, the housing 160 is formed by die casting or sheet metal processing. The surface of the housing 160 may be coated with a resin material. For example, an insulating film may be formed on the outer and inner surfaces of the housing 160. This makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of short circuits and electric leakage through the housing 160. The housing 160 may be a resin housing.

The operation switch 170 is an example of a physical switch that can be operated from the outside. The operation switch 170 is, for example, a button-type, push-type, pull-type, slide-type, or dial-type switch. The operation switch 170 can be operated by a contractor who installs the lighting device 100, or a user who uses the space in which the lighting device 100 is installed.

Operation switch 170 is provided to select the frequency of the radio waves emitted from antenna 141. By operating operation switch 170, one frequency out of multiple frequencies is selected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation switch 170 is exposed to the outside of the housing 160. This allows a person to easily operate it.

Alternatively, the operation switch 170 may be covered with a removable cover. The cover may be a sliding cover, or may be a cover that can be opened and closed using a hinge or the like. Alternatively, the cover may be fixed to the housing 160 with screws or the like, and tools may be required to open and close it. By covering the operation switch 170, it is possible to protect the operation switch 170 and make it difficult for unintended operation to occur. In addition, by completely hiding the operation switch 170, it is possible to improve the design of the lighting device 100. The cover may be made of resin or metal.

The operation switch 170 may be provided with an identification mark for identifying multiple frequencies. The identification mark may indicate a specific frequency value, or may be an identification number such as "Ch1", "Ch2", etc. Note that "an identification mark is provided on "A"" does not only mean that the identification mark is provided directly on "A" (here, the operation switch 170), but also means that the identification mark is provided in the vicinity of "A". Specifically, the identification mark may be provided on the outer surface of the housing 160 in the vicinity of the operation switch 170. The identification mark may be provided by printing with ink, or by using projections and recesses.

[Electrical Equipment]
Next, a specific configuration of electrical device 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrical device 200 includes a receiving antenna 210, a charging circuit 220, and a rechargeable battery 230.

The receiving antenna 210 receives radio waves for wireless power supply radiated from the antenna 141. The receiving antenna 210 is, for example, a pattern antenna having wiring provided on a substrate. Alternatively, each receiving antenna 210 may be a rod-shaped antenna. There are no particular limitations on the type of receiving antenna 210 as long as it can receive radio waves for wireless power supply.

The charging circuit 220 charges the rechargeable battery 230 using radio waves received by the receiving antenna 210. Specifically, the charging circuit 220 includes one or more boards (not shown) and a plurality of circuit elements (not shown) mounted on the boards. The board is, for example, a printed wiring board, and includes wiring that electrically connects the plurality of circuit elements. The plurality of circuit elements include at least one of an integrated circuit (IC) element, a resistor, a diode, a transistor, a transformer, an inductor, a capacitor, and the like. The plurality of circuit elements are electrically connected to form the charging circuit 220.

The rechargeable battery 230 is a secondary battery that can be charged and discharged. The rechargeable battery 230 is charged by the charging circuit 220. The rechargeable battery 230 may be detachable from the electrical device 200.

The electrical device 200 operates using power stored in the rechargeable battery 230. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the electrical device 200 includes components for performing its functions. For example, if the electrical device 200 is a smartphone, the electrical device 200 includes a display, a touch sensor, a speaker, a microphone, a camera, a processor, a memory, a communication interface, and the like. The electrical device 200 executes a predetermined function by operating these various components using the power stored in the rechargeable battery 230.

[frequency]
Next, radio wave frequencies that can be used for wireless power supply will be described.

As described above, multiple switchable frequencies are available as radio wave frequencies that can be used for wireless power supply. The multiple frequencies are included in one of multiple frequency bands standardized for wireless power supply. In Japan, the multiple frequency bands are stipulated in Article 24, Article 49-9, Appendix 1, Appendix 3, etc. of the Radio Equipment Regulations as technical standards for spatial transmission type wireless power transmission.

The standardized frequency bands are the 920 MHz band, the 2.4 GHz band, and the 5.4 GHz band. The 920 MHz band is in the range of 917.8 MHz to 919.4 MHz. The 2.4 GHz band is in the range of 2410 MHz to 2486 MHz. The 5.7 GHz band is in the range of 5738 MHz to 5766 MHz.

Each frequency band includes multiple frequencies (frequency channels) that can be used for wireless power supply. For example, the 920 MHz band includes 918.0 MHz and 919.2 MHz. The 2.4 GHz band includes 2412 MHz, 2437 MHz, 2462 MHz, and 2484 MHz. The 5.7 GHz band includes 5740 MHz, 5742 MHz, 5744 MHz, 5746 MHz, 5748 MHz, 5750 MHz, 5752 MHz, 5758 MHz, and 5764 MHz.

The 920 MHz band is a frequency band that can be used even if people are within a certain range of the radio wave radiation source. The 2.4 GHz band and 5.7 GHz band are frequency bands that are prohibited from use when people are within a certain range of the radio wave radiation source. The 2.4 GHz band and 5.7 GHz band are useful for rapid charging because they allow high-power wireless power supply.

The frequency of the radio waves used for wireless power supply is not limited to the above example. For example, radio waves with frequencies in the microwave band (300 MHz to 300 GHz) can be used for wireless power supply.

In this embodiment, the wireless power supply unit 140 switches the frequency in response to the operation of the operation switch 170. For example, if the frequency of the radio waves used by other devices such as electrical appliances and communication devices is approximately the same as the frequency of the radio waves emitted by the antenna 141, interference between the radio waves may occur. In such a case, the user can switch the frequency of the radio waves for wireless power supply by operating the operation switch 170.

The multiple switchable frequencies are frequencies included in the same frequency band. The same frequency band is an example of a first frequency band standardized for wireless power supply, and is, for example, the 920 MHz band, the 2.4 GHz band, or the 5.4 GHz band. For example, when 918.0 MHz interferes with other radio waves, the wireless power supply unit 140 changes the frequency to 919.2 MHz based on the operation of the operation switch 170.

Alternatively, the multiple switchable frequencies may include a first frequency included in a first frequency band and a second frequency included in a second frequency band. The second frequency band is a frequency band standardized for wireless power supply and is different from the first frequency band. For example, when the first frequency band is the 920 MHz band, the second frequency band is the 2.4 GHz band or the 5.7 GHz band. For example, when 919.2 MHz interferes with other radio waves, the wireless power supply unit 140 may change the frequency to 2412 MHz in the 2.4 GHz band. In this way, the wireless power supply unit 140 may switch frequencies across different frequency bands.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a lighting device 100 and a wireless power supply system 1 that can supply power wirelessly while suppressing radio wave interference. In the present embodiment, the frequency can be manually switched using the operation switch 170 based on the judgment of a user or the like.

In addition, since the operation switch 170 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 160 of the lighting device 100, it is not easily operated when the lighting device 100 is attached to the ceiling. This makes it difficult for unintended operation to occur, and it is possible to suppress radio wave interference caused by erroneous frequency switching.

The frequency may be selected for purposes other than suppressing radio wave interference. Specifically, the frequency may be selected depending on the presence or absence of people and/or the required charging speed. For example, when rapid charging is desired in an environment where no people are present, the wireless power supply unit 140 may select a frequency in the 2.4 GHz band or the 5.7 GHz band. Furthermore, when people are present, the wireless power supply unit 140 may select a frequency in the 920 MHz band.

Alternatively, the frequency of the radio waves emitted from the antenna 141 may be selected according to the electrical device 200 that receives the radio waves. For example, if the electrical device 200 can only receive a limited number of radio wave frequencies, the wireless power supply unit 140 can wirelessly supply power to the electrical device 200 by selecting one of the limited frequencies. Alternatively, if it is desired to supply power wirelessly to another device without supplying power wirelessly to the electrical device 200, the wireless power supply unit 140 may be able to select a frequency at which the power receiving antenna 210 of the electrical device 200 cannot receive power.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment will be described.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the wireless power supply system includes a controller that switches frequencies. The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment, and the description of the commonalities will be omitted or simplified.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a wireless power supply system 300 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the wireless power supply system 300 includes a lighting device 400 and a controller 500. Note that the wireless power supply system 300 does not include an electric device 200, but is not limited to this. The wireless power supply system 300 may include an electric device 200, as in the first embodiment.

The lighting device 400 differs from the lighting device 100 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a receiver 470 instead of the operation switch 170. The lighting device 400 may also include the operation switch 170.

The receiving unit 470 receives a control signal for switching the frequency of the radio wave. Specifically, the receiving unit 470 receives a control signal transmitted from the controller 500. The control signal is, for example, an infrared signal, and the receiving unit 470 is, for example, an infrared receiver. The control signal may be a radio signal, and the receiving unit 470 may be a communication IF (interface) capable of wireless communication (reception or transmission and reception) based on a wireless communication standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or ZigBee (registered trademark).

In this embodiment, the wireless power supply unit 140 switches the frequency of the radio waves based on the control signal received by the receiving unit 470. For example, the control signal includes frequency information for identifying one of a plurality of switchable frequencies. The wireless power supply unit 140 selects the frequency identified by the frequency information included in the control signal, and radiates radio waves of the selected frequency from the antenna 141.

When there are only two switchable frequencies, the control signal may include a command to switch the frequency. In this case, the wireless power supply unit 140 switches to a frequency different from the currently set frequency based on the command included in the control signal, and causes the antenna 141 to radiate radio waves of the switched frequency.

The controller 500 is a remote control device that controls the lighting device 400. The controller 500 is a portable terminal device, but may also be a terminal device fixed to a wall or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 500 includes an operation unit 510 that can be operated from the outside, and a transmission unit 520. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the controller 500 includes a housing 530, a light button 540, a light-off button 550, a dimming button 560, and a frequency switching button 570. Note that FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the controller 500 of the wireless power supply system 300 according to this embodiment.

The operation unit 510 includes one or more physical switches that can be operated from the outside, and a signal processing circuit (not shown) that performs processing according to operations on the one or more physical switches. The one or more physical switches are a turn-on button 540, a turn-off button 550, a dimming button 560, and a frequency switching button 570 shown in FIG. 4. Note that the physical switches are not limited to buttons, and may be push, pull, slide, or dial switches, or a touch panel display.

The on button 540, the off button 550, the dimming button 560, and the frequency switching button 570 are provided on the outer surface of the housing 530. The housing 530 is the outer housing of the controller 500, and holds each of the components of the controller 500. The housing 530 is made of resin, but may also be made of metal.

The light button 540 is a button-type switch that turns on the illumination unit 130. When the light button 540 is pressed, the signal processing circuit of the operation unit 510 generates a control signal that includes a light command to turn on the illumination unit 130.

The light-off button 550 is a button-type switch that turns off the illumination unit 130. When the light-off button 550 is pressed, the signal processing circuit of the operation unit 510 generates a control signal that includes a light-off command to turn off the illumination unit 130.

The dimmer button 560 is a button-type switch for adjusting the brightness of the lighting unit 130. In response to the operation of the dimmer button 560, the signal processing circuit of the operation unit 510 generates a control signal including a command to change the amount of illumination light emitted from the lighting unit 130.

The frequency switching button 570 is a button-type switch for switching the frequency of the radio waves radiated from the antenna 141 of the wireless power supply unit 140. As shown in FIG. 4, the frequency switching button 570 is provided with an identification mark for identifying multiple frequencies. As shown in FIG. 4, the identification mark is an identification number such as "Ch1" or "Ch2", but may also indicate a specific frequency value. In the example shown in FIG. 4, by operating the frequency switching button 570, the frequency of the radio waves radiated from the antenna 141 can be switched between two frequencies. In response to the operation of the frequency switching button 570, the signal processing circuit of the operation unit 510 generates a control signal including frequency information indicating the frequency after switching.

The transmission unit 520 transmits a control signal based on the operation by the operation unit 510. A control signal is generated and transmitted from the transmission unit 520 each time any of the on button 540, the off button 550, the dimming button 560, and the frequency switching button 570 is operated.

The transmitting unit 520 is, for example, an infrared transmitter, but is not limited to this. The transmitting unit 520 may be a communication IF capable of wireless communication (transmission or transmission and reception) based on a wireless communication standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or ZigBee (registered trademark).

As described above, according to the wireless power supply system 300 of this embodiment, the frequency of wireless power supply can be switched using the controller 500. The controller 500 may be a portable terminal, or it can be fixed to a location that is easier for the user to operate than the lighting device 400 installed on the ceiling. In either case, it is possible to improve convenience for the user.

The arrangement and number of the various buttons on the controller 500 are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4 and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the controller 501 shown in FIG. 5 has frequency switching buttons 571, 572, and 573 instead of the frequency switching button 570. Here, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the controller of the wireless power supply system 300 according to this embodiment.

The frequency switching buttons 571, 572, and 573 are covered by an openable lid 531 provided on the housing 530. Note that FIG. 5 shows the lid 531 in an open state. When the lid 531 is closed, the frequency switching buttons 571, 572, and 573 can be hidden from view from the outside. Since frequency switching is not usually performed frequently, covering the buttons with the lid 531 does not impair the convenience of the user, etc. Covering the frequency switching buttons 571, 572, and 573 with the lid 531 can prevent unintended operation. Note that the lid 531 and the housing 530 may be made of resin or metal.

In the controller 501 shown in FIG. 5, the frequency switching buttons 571, 572, and 573 can be stored in the area covered by the lid 531, and buttons with other functions can be placed in the open space. For example, a color adjustment button 580 is provided. The color adjustment button 580 is a button-type switch for adjusting the color of the lighting unit 130. In response to the operation of the color adjustment button 580, the signal processing circuit of the operation unit 510 generates a control signal including a command to change the color (color temperature) of the illumination light emitted from the lighting unit 130.

Compared to frequency switching, lighting-related controls such as turning the light on and off, dimming, and adjusting the color are performed more frequently. By placing the buttons related to frequently performed controls on the outer surface of the housing 530, it is possible to improve operability for the user.

The controllers 500 and 501 may not be able to control the lighting unit 130 of the lighting device 400. In other words, the controllers 500 and 501 may be dedicated controllers for switching wireless power supply. Alternatively, the controllers 500 and 501 may be general-purpose devices such as a user's smartphone or a personal computer. The frequency may be switched via a dedicated application installed on the general-purpose device.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment will be described.

The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the lighting device includes a determination unit that determines whether or not there is radio wave interference. The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment, and the description of the commonalities will be omitted or simplified.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a lighting device 600 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, the lighting device 600 differs from the lighting device 100 according to embodiment 1 in that it includes a determination unit 680 and a notification unit 690.

The determination unit 680 detects external radio waves emitted from other devices. The determination unit 680 determines whether or not there is interference between the detected external radio waves and the radio waves emitted from the antenna 141. Specifically, the determination unit 680 determines whether or not the frequency of the external radio waves matches the frequency of the radio waves emitted from the antenna 141, and if they match, determines that interference exists.

For example, the determination unit 680 includes an antenna (not shown) that detects external radio waves, and a signal processing circuit (not shown) that determines whether interference occurs based on the detected external radio waves. The determination unit 680 may use the antenna 141 provided in the wireless power supply unit 140 to detect external radio waves. That is, among the functions performed by the determination unit 680, the detection of external radio waves may be performed by the antenna 141 of the wireless power supply unit 140.

The notification unit 690 notifies the presence of interference when the determination unit 680 determines that interference exists. For example, the notification unit 690 is a light-emitting unit such as an LED element, a laser element, or an organic EL element that emits light of a predetermined color such as red or blue. The notification unit 690 emits light when it determines that interference exists, thereby notifying people in the vicinity that there is interference. When a user or the like who has been notified of interference operates the operation switch 170, the wireless power supply unit 140 can switch the frequency.

The notification unit 690 does not have to be a light-emitting unit. For example, the notification unit 690 may be a speaker that emits a warning sound or voice. Alternatively, the notification unit 690 may be a communication IF that transmits notification information indicating radio wave interference to an external device. For example, the notification unit 690 may use a push notification or the like to transmit the notification information to a mobile terminal such as a smartphone of a user or a personal computer, or to the controller 500 according to the second embodiment. The mobile terminal or the like that receives the notification information may output a message image or voice based on the received notification information. The notification unit 690 may include two or more of a light-emitting unit, a speaker, and a communication IF.

As described above, the lighting device 600 according to this embodiment can inform the user, etc., of the presence of interference when interference occurs. This makes it possible to make the user aware of the interference and prompts him/her to operate the operation switch 170. By operating the operation switch 170, the wireless power supply unit 140 can switch the frequency and avoid interference.

When the determination unit 680 determines that there is interference, the wireless power supply unit 140 may switch the frequency of the radio waves emitted from the antenna 141. That is, the wireless power supply unit 140 may automatically switch the frequency without operation via the operation switch 170. This allows the frequency to be switched quickly to avoid interference when interference occurs. In this case, the lighting device 600 does not need to include the notification unit 690 and the operation switch 170.

The following describes the process related to interference determination among the operations of the lighting device 600 according to this embodiment, with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the process related to interference determination among the operations of the lighting device 600 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, first, the determination unit 680 waits until it detects an external radio wave (No in S10). If the determination unit 680 detects an external radio wave (Yes in S10), the determination unit 680 determines whether or not there is interference (S12). If there is no interference (No in S12), the process returns to step S10 and waits until an external radio wave is detected.

If interference occurs (Yes in S12), the notification unit 690 issues a notification (S14). If the operation switch 170 is subsequently operated, the wireless power supply unit 140 switches the frequency based on the operation.

Alternatively, if interference is present (Yes in S12), the wireless power supply unit 140 may automatically switch the frequency (S14). In this case, the notification unit 690 may or may not notify the user.

As described above, the lighting device 600 according to the present embodiment makes it possible to automatically or manually switch frequencies when interference occurs, thereby making it possible to avoid interference. This allows the lighting device 600 to wirelessly supply power while suppressing radio wave interference.

The determination unit 680 and the notification unit 690 may be provided in the lighting device 400 according to the second embodiment. Alternatively, at least one of the determination unit 680 and the notification unit 690 may be provided in the controller 500 according to the second embodiment.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

Embodiment 4 relates to a wireless power supply device that does not include a lighting unit. The following description will focus on the differences from embodiment 1, and the description of commonalities will be omitted or simplified.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of a wireless power supply system 700 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 8, the wireless power supply system 700 differs from the wireless power supply system 1 shown in Fig. 2 in that it includes a wireless power supply device 800 instead of the lighting device 100.

The wireless power supply device 800 differs from the lighting device 100 in that it does not include the lighting unit 130 and the control unit 150. The wireless power supply device 800 includes an AC power receiving unit 110, an AC/DC conversion unit 120, a wireless power supply unit 140, a housing 160, and an operation switch 170.

The wireless power supply device 800, like the lighting device 100, can be attached to the structure 2 and operates by receiving AC power supplied from an external power source 3. That is, like the lighting device 100, the wireless power supply device 800 can be attached to a ceiling or other location with few obstacles blocking the illumination light. This has the advantage that the radio waves for wireless power supply emitted from the wireless power supply device 800 can easily reach a wide area or long distances.

In the wireless power supply device 800, similar to the lighting device 100, when the operation switch 170 is operated, the wireless power supply unit 140 switches the frequency of the radio waves. This makes it possible to supply power wirelessly while suppressing radio wave interference.

The configurations described in the first to third embodiments can be applied to the wireless power supply system 700 and the wireless power supply device 800. For example, the wireless power supply system 700 may include the controller 500 or 501 shown in Figs. 3 to 5. In this case, the wireless power supply device 800 includes a receiving unit 470, similar to the lighting device 400 shown in Fig. 3. In this embodiment, the wireless power supply device 800 does not include the lighting unit 130, and therefore the controller 500 or 501 does not include components related to lighting control (the on button 540, the off button 550, the dimming button 560, and the color adjustment button 580).

The wireless power supply device 800 may also include the determination unit 680 shown in FIG. 6. When the determination unit 680 determines that there is interference, the wireless power supply unit 140 of the wireless power supply device 800 may switch the frequency of the radio waves radiated from the antenna 141. Alternatively, the wireless power supply device 800 may include a notification unit 690 in addition to the determination unit 680.

(summary)
As described above, the lighting device according to the first aspect of the present invention is, for example, the lighting device 100, 400 or 600 described above, and includes: an AC power receiving unit 110 that receives AC power; a lighting unit 130 that emits illumination light based on the AC power received by the AC power receiving unit 110; an AC/DC conversion unit 120 that converts the AC power received by the AC power receiving unit 110 into DC power; and a wireless power supply unit 140 that has an antenna 141 and supplies wireless power by radiating, from the antenna 141, radio waves of one frequency selected from a plurality of switchable frequencies, using the DC power converted by the AC/DC conversion unit 120.

This allows switching between multiple frequencies, so if interference with other radio waves occurs, the frequency of the radio waves used for wireless power supply can be changed. Therefore, with the lighting device according to this embodiment, wireless power supply can be performed while suppressing radio wave interference.

The lighting device according to the second aspect of the present invention is the lighting device according to the first aspect, in which the multiple frequencies are included in a first frequency band, which is one of multiple frequency bands standardized for wireless power supply.

This allows you to switch frequencies within the same frequency band.

In addition, a lighting device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the lighting device according to the first or second aspect, in which the multiple frequencies include a first frequency and a second frequency. The first frequency is included in a first frequency band, which is one of multiple frequency bands standardized for wireless power supply. The second frequency is included in a second frequency band, which is one of the multiple frequency bands and is different from the first frequency band.

This allows you to switch to frequencies within different frequency bands.

The lighting device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the lighting device according to the second or third aspect, in which the first frequency band is the 920 MHz band, the 2.4 GHz band, or the 5.7 GHz band.

As a result, when using a frequency band of 920 MHz, wireless power supply can be performed even in an environment where people are present. When using a frequency band of 2.4 GHz or 5.7 GHz, high-power radio waves can be emitted in an environment where no people are present, making it possible to use the frequency band for rapid charging. Therefore, the lighting device according to this embodiment can supply wireless power appropriately according to the purpose and situation.

The lighting device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is a lighting device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a determination unit 680 that determines whether or not there is interference between external radio waves emitted from another device and radio waves emitted from the antenna 141.

This makes it possible to control the system based on the results of determining whether interference exists or not.

In addition, the lighting device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the lighting device according to the fifth aspect, in which the wireless power supply unit 140 switches the frequency of the radio waves when the determination unit 680 determines that there is interference.

This allows frequencies to be automatically switched when interference occurs. This eliminates the need for user operation, improving user convenience.

The lighting device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention further includes a notification unit 690 that notifies the user of the existence of interference when the determination unit 680 determines that interference exists in the lighting device according to the fifth or sixth aspect.

This allows the user to be notified that there is interference and encourages them to switch frequencies.

The lighting device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is a lighting device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, and further includes an operation switch 170 that is a physical switch that can be operated from the outside. The wireless power supply unit 140 switches the frequency of the radio waves in response to the operation of the operation switch 170.

This allows the user to manually switch frequencies using the operation switch 170 based on their own judgment. The operation switch 170 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 160 of the lighting device 100, and is therefore difficult to operate when the lighting device 100 is attached to a ceiling. This makes it difficult for unintended operations to occur, and can prevent radio wave interference caused by erroneous frequency switching.

The lighting device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is the lighting device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, and further includes a receiver 470 that receives a control signal for switching the frequency of the radio waves. The wireless power supply unit 140 switches the frequency of the radio waves based on the control signal received by the receiver 470.

This allows frequency switching to be controlled remotely, improving convenience for users.

The wireless power supply system according to the tenth aspect of the present invention is, for example, the wireless power supply system 1, 300, or 700 described above, and includes the lighting device according to the ninth aspect and a controller 500 or 501. The controller 500 or 501 includes an operation unit 510 that can be operated from the outside and has an identification mark that identifies multiple frequencies, and a transmission unit 520 that transmits a control signal based on the operation by the operation unit 510.

This allows the frequency of wireless power supply to be switched using the controller 500 or 501. The controller 500 or 501 may be a portable terminal, or may be fixed to a location that is easier for the user to operate than the lighting device 400 installed on the ceiling. In either case, convenience for the user can be improved.

The wireless power supply device according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention is, for example, the wireless power supply device 800 described above, and includes an AC power receiving unit 110 that is connected to a structure 2 to which a lighting device can be attached and receives AC power via the structure 2, an AC/DC conversion unit 120 that converts the AC power received by the AC power receiving unit 110 into DC power, and a wireless power supply unit 140 that has an antenna 141 and supplies wireless power by radiating radio waves of one frequency selected from a plurality of switchable frequencies from the antenna 141 using the DC power converted by the AC/DC conversion unit 120.

This allows switching between multiple frequencies, so if interference with other radio waves occurs, the frequency of the radio waves used for wireless power supply can be changed. Therefore, the wireless power supply device according to this embodiment can supply power wirelessly while suppressing radio wave interference.

(others)
The lighting device, the wireless power supply system, and the wireless power supply device according to the present invention have been described above based on the above-mentioned embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.

For example, the lighting unit 130 may emit auxiliary lighting light rather than the main lighting light for spatial illumination. For example, the lighting unit 130 may be a light-emitting unit for a so-called night light.

The lighting devices 100, 400, and 600 and the wireless power supply device 800 may also be used outdoors. For example, the lighting devices 100, 400, and 600 may be street lights, road lights, tunnel lights, or the like, fixed to a structure such as a pillar.

In addition, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art may conceive, and forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope of the spirit of the present invention.

1, 300, 700 Wireless power supply system 100, 400, 600 Lighting device 110 AC power receiving unit 120 AC/DC conversion unit 130 Lighting unit 140 Wireless power supply unit 141 Antenna 150 Control unit 170 Operation switch 470 Receiving unit 500, 501 Controller 510 Operation unit 520 Transmitting unit 570, 571, 572, 573 Frequency switching button 680 Determination unit 690 Notification unit 800 Wireless power supply device

Claims (11)

A power receiving unit that receives AC power;
an illumination unit that emits illumination light based on the AC power received by the power receiving unit;
a conversion unit that converts the AC power received by the power receiving unit into DC power;
a wireless power supply unit having an antenna and supplying wireless power by radiating a radio wave having one frequency selected from a plurality of switchable frequencies from the antenna using the DC power converted by the conversion unit;
Lighting equipment. The plurality of frequencies are included in a first frequency band which is one of a plurality of frequency bands standardized for wireless power supply.
10. The lighting device of claim 1. the plurality of frequencies includes a first frequency and a second frequency;
The first frequency is included in a first frequency band that is one of a plurality of frequency bands standardized for wireless power supply,
the second frequency is one of the plurality of frequency bands and is included in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band;
10. The lighting device of claim 1. The first frequency band is a 920 MHz band, a 2.4 GHz band, or a 5.7 GHz band.
4. The lighting device according to claim 2 or 3. Further comprising a determination unit for determining whether or not there is interference between external radio waves radiated from another device and radio waves radiated from the antenna.
The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The wireless power supply unit switches a frequency of the radio wave when the determination unit determines that interference occurs.
6. The lighting device according to claim 5. a notification unit that notifies the user of the presence of interference when the determination unit determines that interference exists;
6. The lighting device according to claim 5. Equipped with a physical switch that can be operated from the outside,
The wireless power supply unit switches the frequency of the radio waves in response to an operation of the physical switch.
The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. a receiving unit for receiving a control signal for switching the frequency of the radio wave,
The wireless power supply unit switches the frequency of the radio wave based on the control signal received by the receiving unit.
The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A lighting device according to claim 9 ;
A controller,
The controller:
An operation unit operable from the outside and having identification marks for identifying the plurality of frequencies;
a transmission unit that transmits the control signal based on an operation by the operation unit,
Wireless power supply system. a power receiving unit that is connected to a structure to which a lighting device can be attached and receives AC power via the structure;
a conversion unit that converts the AC power received by the power receiving unit into DC power;
a wireless power supply unit having an antenna and supplying wireless power by radiating a radio wave having one frequency selected from a plurality of switchable frequencies from the antenna using the DC power converted by the conversion unit;
Wireless power supply device.

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