KR102340016B1 - Apparatus and Method for Energy Management with Wireless Power Transfer System - Google Patents

Abstract

In a wireless power transmission system, the present invention obtains information on a plurality of devices that are disposed in an energy transmission area to transmit energy and operate by charging the wirelessly transmitted energy, and obtain information on the obtained plurality of devices. The energy transmission area is divided into a plurality of sectors based on the basis The number of energy-deficient devices is determined, and energy is transmitted for each sector by adjusting the amount of energy to be transmitted to each of a plurality of sectors based on the ratio of the determined number of energy-deficient devices for each sector, thereby reducing energy consumption of energy-deficient devices. It is possible to provide an energy management apparatus and method for a wireless power transmission system that not only allows energy to be charged by minimizing or absent, but also efficiently manages energy of a plurality of devices with low complexity.

Description

Apparatus and Method for Energy Management with Wireless Power Transfer System

The present invention relates to an energy management apparatus and method, and to an energy management apparatus and method in a wireless power transmission system.

With 5G communication technology, large-scale IoT devices will exist in the cell covered by the base station, and the number is expected to be one million per square kilometer. One of the main keywords of such a large-scale IoT system is to periodically charge the batteries of numerous IoT devices to maintain the network. In the case of IoT devices, there are cases in which energy is directly supplied from the outside, but in many cases, energy charged in a battery is not supplied without a separate external power supply.

However, it is practically impossible to maintain the network by periodically charging the batteries of such numerous devices by manpower. Accordingly, in order to realize a semi-permanent network life time, the system efficiently manages the energy of the devices in the system and saves energy when necessary. A new energy supply paradigm is required to receive energy by request and to perform one's work with high reliability.

Accordingly, a wireless power transmission technology has been proposed in which devices charge their own batteries with the RF signal sent by the base station to the devices.

1 shows a conventional method in which a base station transmits energy to a device.

Referring to FIG. 1 , each of a plurality of devices (UE) transmits an energy request signal to a base station (ET) when their battery energy is less than or equal to a predetermined level ( S11 ). Upon receiving the energy request signal, the base station ET requests channel information from the device UE that has transmitted the energy request signal (S12). Accordingly, the device UE transmits channel information to the base station ET (S13). Upon receiving the channel information, the base station ET determines an optimal energy transmission method such as beamforming based on the received channel information and transmits energy to the device UE (S14).

However, in the conventional energy transmission method shown in FIG. 1 , since the device (UE) lacking energy has to send a request signal to the base station (ET) using energy, the energy is further insufficient, and a fatal problem may occur to the device (UE). can In particular, in order for the base station (ET) to accurately decode the information sent by the device (UE), it is necessary to receive a signal of a certain level or higher, so that the devices (UEs) far from the base station (ET) have the same information as the energy request. Even when transmitting to the base station (ET), it must be transmitted using more energy than devices (UEs) that are close to the base station (ET). Therefore, the existing energy requesting method of FIG. 1 is very burdensome for devices (UEs) that are far from the base station (ET) and need to transmit an energy request signal.

In addition, in the existing system, in order for the base station (ET) to efficiently transmit energy to the device (UE) that has transmitted the energy request signal, energy beamforming capable of transmitting a large amount of energy to the corresponding device (UE) is effective. To this end, the existing wireless power transmission system is configured to exchange channel information between the base station (ET) and the devices (UE), as shown in FIG. 1 . However, in the existing method in which the device (UE) feeds back channel-related information to the base station (ET), as described above, the device (UE) lacking energy has to use energy to exchange channel information. acts as a great burden.

On the other hand, in the wireless power transmission technology, the energy signal is transmitted not only to the device lacking energy but also to the device with sufficient energy in a broadcasting method. This means that other devices will continue to be energized.

2 shows energy transmitted to a device according to a distance from a base station.

As shown in FIG. 2 , when energy is transmitted from the base station ET to the device UE2 lacking energy by beamforming, another device UE1 may be disposed closer to the base station ET on the energy transmission path. . Although wireless energy transmission transmits energy in the form of an RF signal and the RF signal undergoes significant attenuation of energy with distance, as shown in FIG. 2, beamforming is transmitted for the device (UE2) lacking energy, A device UE1 that is close to the base station ET charges relatively sufficient energy, and a device UE2 that is farther away from the base station ET charges only relatively little energy. Therefore, most of the devices that request energy are devices (UE2) that are far away from the base station (ET). In addition, the device UE1 that is close to the base station ET also receives energy transmitted to charge the device UE2 that is far away from the base station ET, so energy greater than the battery capacity may be supplied, which causes the excess energy to be supplied to the battery. There is a problem in that it cannot be charged due to its capacity and is simply wasted. As a result, it causes an energy imbalance between devices.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1972397 (Registered on April 19, 2019)

It is an object of the present invention to provide an energy management apparatus and method for a wireless power transmission system capable of charging energy by eliminating or minimizing energy consumption of an energy-deficient device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an energy management apparatus and method for a wireless power transmission system capable of efficiently managing the energy of a plurality of devices with low complexity.

In order to achieve the above object, an energy management device for a wireless power transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed in an energy transmission area to transmit energy and charges the wirelessly transmitted energy for a plurality of devices that operate. Sufficient energy indicating that information is obtained, the energy transmission area is divided into a plurality of sectors based on the obtained information on the plurality of devices, and the amount of energy charged in each of the plurality of sectors is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference energy amount By counting the number of devices transmitting signals, determining the number of energy-deficient devices in each sector, and adjusting the amount of energy to be transmitted to each of a plurality of sectors based on the ratio of the determined number of energy-deficient devices in each sector Thus, energy is transmitted for each sector.

The energy management device may include: a device information acquisition unit configured to store device information including channel information for each of the plurality of devices; a sector setting unit configured to divide and set the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors based on the device information; an energy-sufficient signal checking unit for determining the number of energy-sufficient devices for each sector by determining and subtracting the number of energy-sufficient devices that have transmitted an energy-sufficient signal from the total number of devices included in each of the plurality of sectors set; a sector-by-sector transmission energy determining unit that determines an energy amount to be transmitted for each sector from a total amount of energy to be transmitted according to a ratio of the number of energy-deficient devices in each of the plurality of sectors; and an energy transmitter transmitting energy to each of the plurality of sectors according to the determined amount of energy.

The sector setting unit may divide and set the energy transmission area into a predetermined number of sectors having the same size, or may divide and set the energy transmission area so that a uniform number of devices is included in each of the predetermined number of sectors.

The energy transmitter may transmit energy using a beamforming technique in response to the shape of each of the plurality of sectors.

An energy management method for a wireless power transmission system according to another embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above other object is disposed in an energy transmission area to be transmitted energy to a plurality of devices that operate by charging the wirelessly transmitted energy. obtaining information about; dividing and setting the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors based on the obtained information on the plurality of devices; determining the number of devices lacking energy in each sector by counting the number of devices transmitting a sufficient energy signal indicating that the amount of energy charged in each of the plurality of sectors is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference amount of energy; and adjusting the amount of energy to be transmitted to each of the plurality of sectors based on the determined ratio of the number of energy-deficient devices for each sector to transmit energy for each sector.

An energy management device for a wireless power transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above another object is arranged in an energy transmission area to be transmitted energy, a plurality of devices that operate by charging the energy transmitted wirelessly obtain information on , and divide the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors based on the obtained information on the plurality of devices, and select one device from each of the plurality of configured sectors as a header device, When the header device selected in the sector receives and transmits the energy request signal indicating the energy shortage from the remaining devices in the corresponding sector, the energy request signal transmitted through the header device is collected by sector, and energy collected by sector The energy is transmitted for each sector by adjusting the amount of energy to be transmitted to each of the plurality of sectors based on the energy shortage included in the request signal.

In an energy management method for a wireless power transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above another object, a plurality of devices are arranged in an energy transmission area to transmit energy and operate by charging the energy transmitted wirelessly obtaining information about; dividing and setting the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors based on the obtained information on the plurality of devices; selecting one device as a header device in each of a plurality of set sectors; when the header device selected in each sector receives and transmits an energy request signal indicating an energy shortage amount from the remaining devices in the corresponding sector, classifying and collecting the energy request signal transmitted through the header device for each sector; and transmitting energy for each sector by adjusting the amount of energy to be transmitted to each of the plurality of sectors based on the energy shortage included in the energy request signal that is divided and collected for each sector.

An energy management apparatus for a wireless power transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above another object is disposed in a corresponding sector among a plurality of sectors in which an energy transmission area in which energy is transmitted by a base station is divided. When selected as the header device by the base station, an energy request signal indicating an energy shortage is received from the remaining devices in the corresponding sector, and energy required for the corresponding sector based on the energy shortage included in the received energy request signal. The amount of energy required for each sector is calculated and transmitted to the base station.

In an energy management method for a wireless power transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above another object, each of a plurality of devices corresponds to a plurality of sectors in which an energy transmission area to which energy is transmitted by the base station is divided determining whether a header device is selected as a header device by the base station; receiving an energy request signal indicating an energy deficit from the remaining devices among the remaining devices in the corresponding sector when the header device is selected; and calculating an energy required for each sector, which is an energy amount required for a corresponding sector, based on the energy shortage included in the received energy request signal, and transmitting the required energy amount to the base station.

Accordingly, the energy management apparatus and method for a wireless power transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention analyzes information on a plurality of devices, divides an area to transmit energy into a plurality of sectors, and divides the divided plurality of sectors into a plurality of sectors. By managing the energy of a plurality of devices separately, it is possible to not only charge energy by eliminating or minimize energy consumption of energy-deficient devices, but also to efficiently manage the energy of a plurality of devices with low complexity.

1 shows a conventional method in which a base station transmits energy to a device.
2 shows energy transmitted to a device according to a distance from a base station.
3 is a diagram for explaining the concept of transmitting energy to a plurality of devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a schematic structure of the base station of FIG. 3 .
5 shows an energy management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a diagram for explaining the concept of transmitting energy to a plurality of devices according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a schematic structure of the base station of FIG. 6 .
FIG. 8 shows a schematic structure of the device of FIG. 6 .
9 shows an energy management method according to another embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a diagram for explaining the concept of transmitting energy to a plurality of devices according to another embodiment of the present invention.
11 shows a schematic structure of the device of FIG. 10 .
12 is a diagram illustrating an energy management method according to another embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 10 .

In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by describing preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms, and is not limited to the described embodiments. In addition, in order to clearly explain the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and the same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same members.

Throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a certain component, it does not exclude other components, unless otherwise stated, meaning that other components may be further included. In addition, terms such as "...unit", "...group", "module", and "block" described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which is hardware, software, or hardware. and a combination of software.

3 is a diagram for explaining the concept of transmitting energy to a plurality of devices according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a schematic structure of the base station of FIG. 3 .

Referring to FIG. 3 , in the wireless power transmission system according to the present embodiment, the base station ET includes an energy management device or functions as an energy management device to divide an area to transmit energy into a plurality of sectors S1 to S3 . It separates and transmits energy of different sizes for each divided sector.

In this embodiment, the base station (ET), as shown in FIG. 4 , a device information acquisition unit 110 , a sector setting unit 120 , an energy sufficient signal verification unit 130 , and a transmission energy determination unit 140 for each sector and an energy transmitter 150 .

The device information acquisition unit 110 acquires and stores information on a plurality of devices (UEs) within an area to transmit energy. Here, the information on the device (UE) may include location information of each device, and includes information obtainable through channel information exchange in FIG. 1 . In general, in the IoT environment, most devices except for some portable devices that users carry and use are placed in fixed places. Accordingly, the base station ET may obtain and store information about a plurality of devices UE in an energy transmission area to which energy is to be transmitted in advance.

The sector setting unit 120 may set the energy transmission area by dividing it into a plurality of sectors S1 to S3 based on the acquired device information. The sector setting unit 120 may divide the energy transmission area into, for example, a predetermined number of sectors S1 to S3 having the same size. In this case, the sector setting unit 120 determines the number of devices (UE) included in each of the plurality of divided sectors.

However, the sector setting unit 120 may divide and set the sectors so that a uniform number of devices UE is included in each of the predetermined number of sectors S1 to S3 . That is, each of the plurality of sectors S1 to S3 may be configured to include the same number of devices UE.

3 illustrates a case in which three sectors S1 to S3 are set such that five devices UE are equally included in each sector as an example.

The energy sufficient signal confirmation unit 130 determines the number of energy sufficient devices that have transmitted the energy sufficient signal among a plurality of devices (UE) included in each of the plurality of sectors S1 to S3 set by the sector setting unit 120 . do. Here, the energy sufficient signal is a signal transmitted by the device UE to the base station ET, which is a base station, when the amount of energy charged in the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference energy amount. Therefore, the energy sufficient signal check unit 130 determines the number of energy sufficient signals transmitted by the device UE with sufficient energy in each of the plurality of sectors S1 to S3, By subtracting the number of devices with sufficient energy from the number, the number of devices lacking energy (UE) for each sector is determined.

As an example, in FIG. 3 , energy-sufficient devices (UEs) are indicated by red stars in each of the first to third sectors S1 to S3 . In FIG. 3 , since three, two, and one device UE in each of the first to third sectors S1 to S3 transmits a sufficient energy signal to the base station ET, the energy sufficient signal check unit 130 is Calculate the number of energy-deficient devices (UEs) in each sector (S1 to S3) as (total number of devices per sector) - (the number of devices that have transmitted sufficient energy signals) in the first to third sectors (S1 to S3) In each, the number of energy-deficient devices (UE) is determined as 2 (5 - 3 = 2), 3 (5 - 2 = 3), and 4 (5 - 1 = 4).

The sector-by-sector transmission energy determining unit 140 determines the energy to be transmitted for each sector based on the ratio of the number of energy-deficient devices (UEs) for each sector determined by the energy-sufficient signal checking unit 130 .

Since it can be considered that more energy is required as there are more energy-deficient devices (UEs) for each sector (S1 to S3), in the example of FIG. According to the ratio of the number of UEs (2:3:4), the amount of energy to be transmitted to each sector is determined among the total amount of energy to be transmitted.

The energy transmitter 150 transmits and supplies energy for each sector determined by the sector-by-sector transmission energy determination unit 140 to each sector. In this case, the energy transmitter 150 may supply an amount of energy corresponding to each sector by performing beamforming according to the shape of the sectors S1 to S3 set by the sector setting unit 120 .

In FIG. 3 , the difference in the amount of energy supplied by the base station ET to each sector S1 to S3 is expressed by the size of an arrow. Referring to FIG. 3 , the base station ET includes two energy-deficient devices UE. More energy is transferred from the first sector (S1) to the second sector (S2) including three energy-deficient devices (UE) and a third sector (S3) including four energy-deficient devices (UE). it can be seen that

5 shows an energy management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 and 4, the energy management method of FIG. 5 will be described. First, the base station ET divides the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors S1 ~ S3) and set (S21). In addition, when the amount of energy charged in their respective batteries in the plurality of sectors S1 to S3 is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference energy amount, the plurality of devices UE transmits an energy sufficient signal to the base station ET (S22).

Accordingly, the base station ET counts the number of energy-sufficient devices that have transmitted an energy-sufficient signal for each sector, and subtracts the number of energy-sufficient devices from the total number of devices in each sector S1 to S3 to reduce energy-sufficient devices for each sector. Determines the number of , and determines the amount of energy to be transmitted for each sector from the total energy to be transmitted based on the determined ratio of the number of energy-deficient devices for each sector (S23). When the amount of energy to be transmitted for each sector is determined, the determined amount of energy is transmitted to each sector S1 to S3 by applying a technique such as beamforming (S24).

In the wireless power transmission system according to the present embodiment, the energy-sufficient device transmits the energy-sufficient signal to the base station ET instead of the energy-poor device transmitting the energy request signal to the base station ET, Allows low-energy devices to charge energy without consuming energy to transmit an energy transfer request signal. This is because, as the base station ET divides the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors S1 to S3 and sets it, the number of energy-deficient devices for each sector can be easily determined according to the number of energy-sufficient devices.

Additionally, in the present embodiment, the base station ET divides the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors S1 to S3 and transmits energy in units of sectors, thereby eliminating the need to exchange channel information with an energy-deficient device. Basically, the exchange of channel information between the base station (ET) and the energy-deficient device is a process performed to transmit energy to the corresponding device with high efficiency. However, as described above, in the present embodiment, since the base station ET transmits energy in units of sectors, it does not need to exchange channel information with individual devices. That is, the energy-deficient device may charge energy without consuming energy for exchanging channel information as well as an energy transmission request signal.

Therefore, in the wireless power transmission system according to the present embodiment, even if the device is located far from the base station (ET) and transmits a small amount of energy, energy can be stably charged without additional energy consumption.

In addition, the base station (ET) does not individually manage the energy of each of a plurality of devices (UE) disposed in the energy transmission area, and as it is managed in units of sectors, frequent channel information exchange is not required. Not only can it be increased, but energy management can be easily performed with low complexity.

6 is a diagram for explaining the concept of transmitting energy to a plurality of devices according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In general, the energy amount of each energy-deficient device in each sector S1 to S3 is not uniform. Even in low-energy devices, certain low-energy devices may be very low on energy, while other low-energy devices may have relatively little energy.

However, as described above, in the energy management apparatus and method shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 , there is an advantage that the energy-deficient device does not need to consume separate energy to receive energy, whereas the base station ET has a plurality of sectors ( Since the energy to be supplied to each sector is determined based on the number of energy-sufficient devices in each of S1 to S3), there is a limit in that it is impossible to determine the amount of energy actually required by the energy-deficient devices in each of the multiple sectors (S1 to S3). have.

That is, when the amount of energy to be transmitted to each sector S1 to S3 is determined simply by the number of energy-deficient devices, a device with a very low energy level may not be supplied with sufficient energy required.

Accordingly, in FIG. 6, the base station ET divides the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors S1 to S3, and then selects one of the plurality of devices UE in each of the divided sectors S1 to S3 as a header device (HE). is selected, and information on the selected header device HE is transmitted to all devices UE in each sector S1 to S3. Accordingly, devices lacking energy among a plurality of devices UE in each sector S1 to S3 transmit an energy request signal including information on the amount of energy shortage to the selected header device HE. The header device HE for each sector collects the transmitted energy request signal and transmits it to the base station ET, and the base station ET classifies the energy request signal transmitted from the header device HE for each sector by sector and collects it. By doing so, energy can be transmitted to each sector by calculating the amount of energy required in the sector, determining the amount of energy to be transmitted to each sector based on the calculated amount of energy.

In some cases, the header device HE for each sector may collect the transmitted energy request signal, calculate the required energy amount for each sector required in the corresponding sector, and transmit it to the base station ET. In this case, the base station ET may determine the amount of energy to be transmitted to each sector based on the required energy amount for each sector transmitted from the header device HE for each sector, and may transmit energy to each sector according to the determined energy amount.

That is, the amount of energy required in each sector may be configured to be calculated by the base station ET, or may be configured to be calculated by the header device HE. This means that the header device (HE) repeatedly transmits each of a plurality of energy request signals transmitted from a plurality of devices (UE) in a corresponding sector to the base station (ET), the sector required within the sector by collecting the energy request signal This is because it may consume more energy than the energy required to calculate the amount of energy required for each star.

In FIG. 6 , it can be seen that the base station ET functions as an energy management device, but it can also be seen that the selected header device HE functions as an energy management device.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic structure of the base station of FIG. 6 .

Referring to FIG. 7 , the base station ET includes a device information acquisition unit 210 , a sector setting unit 220 , a header selection unit 225 , an energy request signal verification unit 230 , and a transmission energy determination unit 240 for each sector. ) and an energy transmitter 250 .

Here, the device information obtaining unit 210 and the sector setting unit 220 operate in the same manner as the device information obtaining unit 110 and the sector setting unit 120 of FIG. 4 .

The header selection unit 225 collects the energy request signal of the device UE in each of the plurality of sectors S1 to S3 set in the sector setting unit 220 and selects a header device HE to transmit the required energy amount for each sector. do. Here, the header selector 225 may select the header device HE according to various pre-specified conditions in consideration of the sector size or shape and the arrangement positions of a plurality of devices in each sector.

For example, the header selection unit 225 selects a device disposed closest to the base station ET from among the plurality of devices UE in each of the plurality of sectors S1 to S3 as the header device HE, and selects the selected header device. (HE) may transmit a header selection signal. The header device HE needs to collect energy request signals from a plurality of devices UE in the corresponding sector and transmit them to the base station ET. Therefore, compared to other devices (UE) in the sectors (S1 ~ S3), it is necessary to consume a relatively large amount of energy. Accordingly, the header selector 225 may select the device UE closest to the base station ET that supplies the energy that can receive the most energy in each sector S1 to S3 as the header device HE. have.

However, if the device UE closest to the base station ET is simply selected as the header device HE, the device located far from the header device HE selected according to the shape and size of the sectors S1 to S3 In order for the (UE) to transmit an energy request signal to the header device (HE), considerable energy must be consumed. Although the header device HE is located at a relatively close distance compared to the base station ET, it consumes less energy compared to the case of directly transmitting an energy request signal to the base station ET, but the energy-deficient device consumes considerable energy. There is a problem in that the energy request signal must be transmitted by consuming it.

Accordingly, as another example, the header selector 225 calculates the amount of energy required for the header device HE to transmit the energy request signal to the base station or the required energy amount for each sector, and transfers the required energy amount for each sector to the base station ET. The amount of energy required for transmission is calculated in a predetermined manner, and the header device HE selects a device with the maximum distance determined to be able to sufficiently receive the calculated amount of energy from the base station ET as the header device HE may be In this way, when the device with the maximum distance is selected as the header device HE, the header device HE is disposed close to the device UE located at a long distance from the base station ET in each sector corresponding to the device. Energy consumed to transmit an energy request signal can be greatly reduced.

The energy request signal checking unit 230 separates and receives the energy request signal transmitted from the header device HE selected in each of the plurality of sectors S1 to S3 for each sector, and requests from each of the energy request signals received for each sector. The amount of energy required is summed to determine the amount of energy required for each sector, that is, the amount of energy required for each sector.

In FIG. 7 , it is assumed that the header device HE simply transmits the energy request signal transmitted from a plurality of devices UE to the base station ET, and the base station ET includes the energy request signal check unit 230 . However, as described above, when the header device HE directly calculates and transmits the required energy amount for each sector, the energy request signal check unit 230 may be omitted.

The sector-by-sector transmission energy determining unit 240 determines the amount of energy to be transmitted to each sector from among the total energy to be transmitted according to the ratio of the required energy for each sector calculated by the energy request signal verification unit 230 or the header device HE. to decide

And, like the energy transmitter 150 of FIG. 4 , the energy transmitter 250 transmits and supplies energy for each sector determined by the sector-by-sector transmission energy determiner 240 to each sector.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic structure of the device of FIG. 6 .

Referring to FIG. 8 , in FIG. 6 , each of a plurality of devices (UE) includes a header determining unit 310 , a sector information obtaining unit 320 , an energy request signal collecting unit 330 , a residual energy determining unit 340 , and energy. A request unit 350 may be included.

The header determining unit 310 receives the header selection signal from the base station ET, and determines the header device HE selected in the corresponding sector.

As described above, in the wireless power transmission system of FIG. 6 , at least one device among a plurality of devices (UE) may be selected as the header device (HE) by the base station (ET), and the selected header device (HE) is itself It should be able to perform a function as a header device (HE) by judging whether this is selected. And the unselected device UE needs to transmit an energy request signal to the header device HE selected by the base station ET.

Accordingly, each of the plurality of devices (UE) includes the header determining unit 310 to obtain information on the header device (HE) selected in the corresponding sector.

As a result of the header determining unit 310 determining the header device (HE), the sector information obtaining unit 320 determines that it is a header device (HE), the base station (ET) for the corresponding sector in which it is included. Receive and obtain information. This is so that the header device HE can identify and receive only the energy request signal transmitted from the device UE of the corresponding sector among the energy request signals transmitted from the plurality of devices UE.

However, as described above, each of the plurality of devices UE in each sector S1 to S3 receives the header selection signal from the base station ET, and selects the header device HE to transmit the energy request signal in the corresponding sector. Since it can be identified, the sector information obtaining unit 320 may be omitted.

When the energy request signal collecting unit 330 is also identified as a header device (HE) like the sector information obtaining unit 320 , it is activated and collects energy request signals transmitted from each of a plurality of devices (UE) in the corresponding sector. do. The energy request signal collecting unit 330 may transmit the collected energy request signal to the base station ET as it is through the energy requesting unit 350 , but as described above, based on the collected energy request signal, energy required for each sector The amount may be calculated and transmitted to the energy requesting unit 350 .

Residual energy determining unit 340 analyzes the remaining amount of energy charged in each of a plurality of devices (UE) in their batteries, and if it is less than a predetermined reference energy amount, calculates the insufficient amount of energy to generate an energy request signal, The generated energy request signal is transmitted to the energy request signal collecting unit 330 or the energy requesting unit 350 . The residual energy determining unit 340 transmits an energy request signal to the energy request signal collecting unit 330 when it is determined as the header device (HE) as a result of the determination of the header determining unit 310, and not the header device (HE). If it is determined to be, the energy request signal may be transmitted to the energy request unit 350 . However, if the energy request signal collecting unit 330 does not calculate the required energy amount for each sector even when it is determined as the header device HE, the energy request signal may be transmitted to the energy requesting unit 350 .

The energy requesting unit 350 transmits the energy request signal obtained by the energy request signal collecting unit 330 and the remaining energy determining unit 340 to the base station ET. However, when the energy request signal collection unit 330 calculates the energy required for each sector, the energy request unit 350 transmits the calculated amount of energy required for each sector to the base station ET.

9 shows an energy management method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8 , the energy management method of FIG. 9 is described. First, the base station ET, like the energy management method of FIG. 5 , receives energy based on information about a plurality of devices (UE) obtained in advance. The transmission area is divided into a plurality of sectors (S1 to S3) and set (S31). Then, one of the plurality of devices UE in each of the set plurality of sectors S1 to S3 is selected as the header device HE (S32).

When the header device HE is selected, the base station ET transmits a header selection signal to all devices UE of each sector S1 to S3, and each device UE transmits a header device of the sector including itself. (HE) can be determined (S33).

And in each of the plurality of sectors (S1 to S3), a plurality of devices (UE) analyze their energy shortage, and the energy-deficient device is a header device (HE) that is determined to contain information about the insufficient amount of energy. An energy request signal is transmitted (S34).

When an energy request signal is received from at least one energy-deficient device in the corresponding sector, the header device HE transmits the received energy request signal to the base station ET (S35). Accordingly, the base station ET separates and collects energy request signals transmitted from a plurality of header devices HE by sector, and based on the energy request signals that are divided and collected for each sector, the amount of energy required for each sector required by each sector is calculated, and the energy to be transmitted is determined for each sector by dividing the total energy to be transmitted according to the calculated ratio of the energy required for each sector (S36).

However, in some cases, the header device HE may calculate the required energy amount for each sector indicating the amount of energy required for the entire sector based on at least one received energy request signal and transmit it to the base station ET instead of the energy request signal. , in this case, the base station may determine the energy to be transmitted for each sector by dividing it according to the ratio of the energy required for each sector that is calculated and transmitted by a plurality of header devices (HE).

When the amount of energy to be transmitted for each sector is determined, the determined amount of energy is transmitted to each sector S1 to S3 by applying a technique such as beamforming (S37).

In the wireless power transmission system of FIG. 6 , since the energy-deficient device UE transmits the energy request signal to the base station ET through the header device HE selected for each sector instead of the base station ET, the energy request signal is transmitted Energy consumed to transmit an energy request signal can be significantly reduced compared to the existing method of directly transmitting to the base station (ET). However, compared to FIG. 3 in which the energy-deficient device (UE) does not transmit an energy request signal and does not consume energy, the energy-deficient device (UE) must consume energy, but the energy-deficient device (UE) has a serious energy shortage in each sector ) and the amount of energy actually required for each sector can be determined, which has an advantage over FIG. 3 .

In addition, as in FIG. 3 , the energy transmission area is divided into a plurality of sectors ( S1 to S3 ) and energy is transmitted in units of sectors, so that the efficiency of radio resources can be increased and energy management can be easily performed with low complexity. can do.

10 is a diagram for explaining the concept of transmitting energy to a plurality of devices according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 6 and 8 , as the energy-deficient device UE transmits an energy request signal to the pre-selected header device HE in each sector S1 to S3, energy must be consumed. Although it is possible to reduce energy consumption by transmitting an energy request signal to the header device (HE) as compared to transmitting the energy request signal directly to the base station (ET), the reduced energy consumption also affects the operation of the energy-deficient device (UE). can have a serious impact. Accordingly, in FIG. 10 , a method for transmitting an energy request signal to the header device HE by consuming only an extremely small amount of energy in the energy-deficient device UE in each sector S1 to S3 is proposed.

In FIG. 10 , the base station ET divides the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors S1 to S3 , as in FIG. 6 , and then selects one of the plurality of devices UE in each of the divided sectors S1 to S3 . The header device HE is selected, and information on the selected header device HE is transmitted to all devices UE in each sector S1 to S3. That is, the base station ET operates in the same manner as the base station ET of FIG. 6 .

However, unlike in FIG. 6 , the selected header device HE broadcasts an information-free signal that does not contain information to a plurality of devices UE in the corresponding sector, and each of the plurality of devices UE in the sector is currently charging. Backscattering the broadcast signal according to the amount of energy. As an example, a device with sufficient energy does not backscatter a broadcast signal, whereas a device with insufficient energy backscatters a broadcast signal so that the broadcast signal is reflected back to the header device (HE) and received. . Since backscattering is a technique of reflecting and returning a transmitted signal, a device that performs backscattering practically consumes little energy. In addition, backscattering may be performed by adding information on a predetermined amount of required energy to a broadcast and transmitted signal. That is, the energy-deficient device (UE) does not directly transmit the energy request signal to the header device (HE), but adds the required energy amount information to the signal broadcast from the header device (HE) and backscatters it, thereby reducing its own energy almost Information on the required amount of energy can be transmitted to the header device (HE) without consumption.

Accordingly, according to FIG. 10 , the energy-deficient device UE can transmit the amount of energy substantially required in each sector while consuming only the minimum energy.

Here, since the backscattering technique is a known technique, it will not be described in detail here.

Also in FIG. 10 , it can be seen that the base station ET functions as an energy management device, but it can also be seen that the selected header device HE functions as an energy management device.

11 shows a schematic structure of the device of FIG. 10 .

Referring to FIG. 11 , the device of FIG. 10 includes a header determining unit 410 , a sector information obtaining unit 420 , a broadcasting unit 425 , a back scattering signal collecting unit 430 , a residual energy determining unit 440 , It may include a backscattering unit 445 and an energy requesting unit 350 .

Here, the header determining unit 410 and the sector information obtaining unit 420 function the same as the header determining unit 310 and the sector information obtaining unit 320 of FIG.

If the broadcast unit 425 determines that it is a header device (HE) as a result of the determination of the header determining unit 410, the broadcasting unit 425 broadcasts a predetermined signal to a plurality of devices (UE) in the corresponding sector. Here, the broadcast signal may be a non-information signal that does not include additional information.

In addition, the backscattering signal collecting unit 430 collects a backscattering signal obtained by backscattering a signal broadcast by at least one device among a plurality of devices (UE) in the corresponding sector, and energy request information included in the backscattering signal to determine Here, the backscattering signal collecting unit 430 may calculate the required energy amount for each sector based on energy request information obtained from the collected backscattering signal.

That is, the backscattering signal collecting unit 430 operates similarly to the energy requesting signal collecting unit 330 of FIG. 8 , but it is different in that it receives a backscattering signal rather than an energy request signal transmitted by an energy-deficient device.

The remaining energy determining unit 440 generates energy request information by analyzing the remaining amount of energy charged in each of a plurality of devices (UE) in their own batteries. When it is determined that the residual energy determination unit 440 is a header device (HE), it transmits the energy request information to the backscattering signal collection unit 430, and when it is determined that it is not the header device (HE), the energy request information is backs It is transferred to the catering unit 445 .

That is, when the residual energy determining unit 440 of FIG. 11 is not a header device, there is a difference in that the energy request information is transmitted to the backscattering unit 445 instead of the energy requesting unit 450 .

The backscattering unit 445 is activated when it is determined that it is not the header device (HE) as a result of the determination of the header determining unit 410, and receives the energy request information obtained from the residual energy determining unit 440, and the header device When a signal is broadcast and received from (HE), energy request information is included in the broadcast signal and backscattered to the header device (HE).

The energy request unit 450 transmits an energy request signal to the base station ET based on the energy request information obtained from the backscattering signal collection unit 430 . Even in this case, when the backscattering signal collecting unit 430 calculates the required energy amount for each sector, the energy requesting unit 450 may transmit the calculated required energy amount for each sector to the base station ET.

12 is a diagram illustrating an energy management method according to another embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 10 .

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 , the energy management method of FIG. 12 is described. Similar to the energy management method of FIG. 9 , first, a plurality of sectors S1 to S3 is set ( S41 ), and the set plurality of sectors S1 is first described. ~ S3) One of the plurality of devices UE is selected as the header device HE (S42), and a header selection signal is transmitted to all devices UE of each sector S1 ~ S3 (S43).

The header device HE selected in each of the plurality of sectors S1 to S3 broadcasts a predetermined signal to the plurality of devices UE in the corresponding sector (S44). Accordingly, the energy-deficient device among the remaining devices (UE) in each sector transmits the backscattering signal reflected by the broadcast signal to the header device (HE) by backscattering the broadcast signal with energy demand information obtained in advance. (S45).

When a backscattering signal is received from at least one energy-deficient device in a corresponding sector, the header device HE generates an energy request signal from the received backscattering signal or calculates the required energy amount for each sector required in each sector. It is transmitted to the base station ET (S46).

The base station ET divides and collects energy request signals transmitted from a plurality of header devices HE by sector, calculates the required energy amount for each sector based on the energy request signals that are divided and collected for each sector, and calculates the calculated sector The energy to be transmitted is determined according to the required energy amount for each sector (S47). In some cases, the base station ET may determine the energy to be transmitted for each sector by dividing it according to a ratio of the required energy amount for each sector transmitted from the header device HE.

When the amount of energy to be transmitted for each sector is determined, the determined amount of energy is transmitted to each sector S1 to S3 ( S48 ).

As a result, in the wireless power transmission system of FIG. 10 , as in the wireless power transmission system of FIG. 6 , the header device HE transmits energy information of a plurality of devices UE in the sector to the base station ET. While it is possible to accurately calculate the amount of energy required, it is possible to minimize the amount of energy consumed by the energy-deficient device (UE) to transmit energy request information to the header device (HE) by applying the backscattering technique.

The method according to the present invention may be implemented as a computer program stored in a medium for execution by a computer. Here, the computer-readable medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer, and may include all computer storage media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data, and read dedicated memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), CD (Compact Disk)-ROM, DVD (Digital Video Disk)-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, which is only exemplary, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom.

Accordingly, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

ET: base station UE: device
HE: header device 110, 210: device information acquisition unit
120, 220: sector setting unit 130: energy sufficient signal confirmation unit
140, 240: sector-by-sector transmission energy determination unit 150, 250: energy transmission unit
225: header selection unit 230: energy request signal confirmation unit
310, 410: header determining unit 320, 420: sector information obtaining unit
330: energy request signal collection unit 340, 440: residual energy determination unit
350, 450: energy request unit 425: broadcasting unit
445: backscattering unit

Claims (20)

In the wireless power transmission system,
It is disposed in the energy transmission area to transmit energy and charges the energy transmitted wirelessly to obtain information on a plurality of devices operating, and based on the obtained information on the plurality of devices, the energy transmission area is divided into a plurality of devices. It is set by dividing it into sectors.
Counting the number of devices transmitting an energy-sufficient signal indicating that the amount of energy charged in each of a plurality of sectors is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference amount of energy, and determining the number of devices lacking energy in each sector;
An energy management device that transmits energy for each sector by adjusting the amount of energy to be transmitted to each of a plurality of sectors based on the determined ratio of the number of energy-deficient devices for each sector. According to claim 1, wherein the energy management device is
a device information acquisition unit configured to store device information including channel information for each of the plurality of devices;
a sector setting unit configured to divide and set the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors based on the device information;
an energy-sufficient signal checking unit for determining the number of energy-sufficient devices for each sector by determining and subtracting the number of energy-sufficient devices that have transmitted an energy-sufficient signal from the total number of devices included in each of the plurality of sectors set;
a sector-by-sector transmission energy determining unit that determines an energy amount to be transmitted for each sector from a total amount of energy to be transmitted according to a ratio of the number of energy-deficient devices in each of the plurality of sectors; and
An energy management device comprising an energy transmitter transmitting energy to each of a plurality of sectors according to the determined amount of energy. The method of claim 2, wherein the sector setting unit
An energy management device for dividing and setting the energy transmission area into a predetermined number of sectors having the same size. The method of claim 2, wherein the sector setting unit
An energy management device for dividing and setting sectors so that a uniform number of devices is included in each of a predetermined number of sectors. According to claim 2, wherein the energy transmitter
An energy management device for transmitting energy using a beamforming technique in response to the shape of each of a plurality of sectors. In the energy management method of a wireless power transmission system,
A method comprising: obtaining information on a plurality of devices disposed in an energy transmission area to transmit energy and charging wirelessly transmitted energy to operate;
dividing and setting the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors based on the obtained information on the plurality of devices;
determining the number of devices lacking energy in each sector by counting the number of devices transmitting a sufficient energy signal indicating that the amount of energy charged in each of the plurality of sectors is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference amount of energy; and
An energy management method comprising the step of transmitting energy for each sector by adjusting the amount of energy to be transmitted to each of a plurality of sectors based on the determined ratio of the number of energy-deficient devices for each sector. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the number of energy-deficient devices comprises:
determining the number of energy-sufficient devices that have transmitted a sufficient-energy signal; and
An energy management method comprising: determining the number of energy-poor devices for each sector by subtracting the number of devices with sufficient energy from the total number of devices included in each of a plurality of sectors. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting energy for each sector comprises:
determining an energy amount to be transmitted for each sector from a total amount of energy to be transmitted according to a ratio of the number of energy-deficient devices in each of the plurality of sectors; and
An energy management method comprising transmitting energy to each of a plurality of sectors according to the determined amount of energy. In the wireless power transmission system,
It is disposed in the energy transmission area to transmit energy and charges the energy transmitted wirelessly to obtain information on a plurality of devices operating, and based on the obtained information on the plurality of devices, the energy transmission area is divided into a plurality of devices. By dividing into sectors and setting, one device is selected as a header device from each of a plurality of set sectors,
When the header device selected in each sector receives and transmits an energy request signal indicating an energy shortage from the remaining devices in the corresponding sector, the energy request signal transmitted through the header device is classified and collected for each sector;
An energy management device that transmits energy for each sector by adjusting the amount of energy to be transmitted to each of a plurality of sectors based on the energy shortage included in the energy request signal that is divided and collected for each sector. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the energy management device is
An energy management device for selecting a device disposed closest to the energy management device among a plurality of devices in each of the plurality of sectors as the header device. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the energy management device is
The header device calculates the amount of energy required to transmit the energy request signal transmitted from the remaining devices to the base station, and selects the device with the maximum distance among devices that can receive the energy amount calculated in each of a plurality of sectors from the energy management device An energy management device that is selected as the header device. In the energy management method of a wireless power transmission system,
A method comprising: obtaining information on a plurality of devices disposed in an energy transmission area to transmit energy and charging wirelessly transmitted energy to operate;
dividing and setting the energy transmission area into a plurality of sectors based on the obtained information on the plurality of devices;
selecting one device as a header device in each of a plurality of set sectors;
when the header device selected in each sector receives and transmits an energy request signal indicating an energy shortage amount from the remaining devices in the corresponding sector, classifying and collecting the energy request signal transmitted through the header device for each sector; and
An energy management method comprising the step of transmitting energy for each sector by adjusting the amount of energy to be transmitted to each of a plurality of sectors based on an energy shortage included in the energy request signal that is divided and collected for each sector. In a wireless power transmission system comprising a plurality of devices operating by charging the energy transmitted wirelessly and a base station for transmitting energy to the plurality of devices,
When an energy transmission area in which energy is transmitted by the base station is disposed in a corresponding sector among a plurality of divided sectors and selected as a header device by the base station, an energy request indicating an energy shortage from the remaining devices in the corresponding sector receive a signal,
An energy management apparatus for calculating an energy demand for each sector, which is an energy amount required for a corresponding sector, based on an energy shortage included in the received energy request signal, and transmitting the calculated energy amount to the base station. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the energy management device is
a header determining unit for receiving a header selection signal from the base station and determining a header device selected in a corresponding sector;
an energy request signal collecting unit that is activated when it is determined as a header device, collects an energy request signal transmitted from other devices in a corresponding sector, and calculates an energy required for each sector based on the collected energy request signal; and
and an energy requesting unit transmitting the calculated required energy amount for each sector to the base station so that the base station transmits the required energy. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the energy management device is
The energy management apparatus further comprising: a sector information acquisition unit for receiving and acquiring information on a corresponding sector from the base station so as to identify and receive only an energy request signal transmitted from a device included in the corresponding sector among the plurality of devices. In the energy management method of a wireless power transmission system comprising a plurality of devices operating by charging the energy transmitted wirelessly and a base station for transmitting energy to the plurality of devices,
determining whether each of the plurality of devices is disposed in a corresponding sector among a plurality of sectors in which an energy transmission area to which energy is transmitted by the base station is divided and is selected as a header device by the base station;
receiving an energy request signal indicating an energy deficit from the remaining devices among the remaining devices in the corresponding sector when the header device is selected; and
An energy management method comprising the step of calculating an energy required for each sector, which is an amount of energy required for a corresponding sector, based on an energy shortage included in the received energy request signal, and transmitting the required energy amount to the base station. In a wireless power transmission system comprising a plurality of devices operating by charging the energy transmitted wirelessly and a base station for transmitting energy to the plurality of devices,
When an energy transmission area in which energy is transmitted by the base station is disposed in a corresponding sector among a plurality of divided sectors and selected as a header device by the base station, a predetermined signal is broadcast to the remaining devices in the corresponding sector,
When a signal broadcast by at least one device among the remaining devices in the corresponding sector is backscattered and returned, the base station calculates the required energy amount for each sector, which is the amount of energy required for the corresponding sector, based on the backscattered signal. to the energy management device. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the energy management device is
When a non-information signal that does not contain information is broadcast, and a backscattered signal is received from at least one device within the corresponding sector, the at least one device analyzes the energy demand information included in the backscattered signal to analyze the sector An energy management device that calculates the amount of energy required for each star. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the energy management device is
a header determining unit for receiving a header selection signal from the base station and determining a header device selected in a corresponding sector;
a broadcasting unit that is activated when it is determined as a header device and broadcasts a predetermined signal to other devices in a corresponding sector;
a backscattering signal collecting unit that collects a backscattered signal from at least one device among a plurality of devices in a corresponding sector, analyzes energy request information included in the backscattering signal, and calculates the required energy amount for each sector; and
and an energy requesting unit transmitting the calculated required energy amount for each sector to the base station so that the base station transmits the required energy. In the energy management method of a wireless power transmission system comprising a plurality of devices operating by charging the energy transmitted wirelessly and a base station for transmitting energy to the plurality of devices,
determining whether each of the plurality of devices is disposed in a corresponding sector among a plurality of sectors in which an energy transmission area to which energy is transmitted by the base station is divided and is selected as a header device by the base station;
if the header device is selected, broadcasting a predetermined signal to the remaining devices in the corresponding sector; and
When a signal broadcast by at least one device among the remaining devices in the corresponding sector is backscattered and returned, the base station calculates the required energy amount for each sector, which is the amount of energy required for the corresponding sector, based on the backscattered signal. energy management method to deliver.

Images