WO2020066971A1 - Charge confirmation device, power receiving device, and wireless power feeding system - Google Patents

Abstract

A charge confirmation device that performs control of a power feeding side, and a system of a plurality of power receiving devices that perform charging in accordance with wireless power feeding, wherein confirming that charging of the power receiving devices is complete can be efficiently carried out. The charge confirmation device performs a process of transmitting a charge operation setting signal to the plurality of power receiving devices in accordance with the start of wireless power feeding, and a process of waiting without performing transmission to the power receiving devices, and confirming whether the charge completion signal has been received from all the power receiving devices. The power receiving device shifts to a sleep state after receiving the charge operation setting signal, wakes up after a prescribed time has elapsed, performs the process of confirming charging of the power storage unit is complete, and transmits the charge completion signal to the charge confirmation device once charging is complete.

Description

Charging confirmation device, power receiving device, wireless power supply system

The present invention relates to a charging confirmation device that is a device on the power supply side, a power receiving device that receives wireless power supply to charge a power storage unit, and a wireless power supply system including the charging confirmation device and a plurality of power receiving devices.

Wireless charging is known as a method for charging a rechargeable battery.
Patent Literature 1 below discloses a technology related to a power transmitting device and a power receiving device in a system that performs wireless power feeding. In particular, it describes that the power receiving device transmits a completion notification in response to the completion of charging.

JP 2012-200056 A

Consider that power is supplied to a large number of power receiving devices by a wireless power supply device. The wireless power supply device ends the wireless power supply in response to detecting the completion of charging in each power receiving device. However, since the charging completion timing on each power receiving device side is undefined, it is necessary for the power feeding device to receive a notification of the charging completion from each power receiving device.
Therefore, an inquiry is made from the power supply device, and the power receiving device notifies the completion of the charging in response to the inquiry. However, since the timing of completion of charging in the power receiving device is uncertain, it is difficult to make an inquiry from the power feeding device, and the power feeding operation may be continued uselessly.
Also, in this case, the receiving device that is being charged or has completed charging must wastefully consume power to perform a reception process in order to receive an inquiry from the power supply device. In some cases, the power was used up and the original operation became impossible.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to appropriately execute charging of a plurality of power receiving devices and to prevent unnecessary power consumption.

A charging confirmation device according to the present invention includes a communication unit that performs wireless communication with a plurality of power receiving devices that charge a power storage unit in response to wireless power supply, and a control unit. The control unit transmits a charging operation setting signal to the plurality of power receiving devices from the communication unit during wireless power supply, and waits for reception without performing inquiry transmission to the power receiving device. And confirming whether or not a charging completion signal has been received from the device.
That is, in this case, after transmitting the charging operation setting signal to each power receiving device, the charging confirmation device waits for a charging completion signal from each power receiving device without performing any transmission.

In the above-described charging confirmation device, the charging operation setting signal may include time information for specifying a sleep time in the power receiving device.
On the power receiving device side, the sleep time to be performed during charging is designated from the charging confirmation device side.

In the above-described charging confirmation device, it is conceivable that the charging operation setting signal includes count information specifying the number of repetitions of sleep and charging completion confirmation in the power receiving device.
On the power receiving device side, the number of times to repeat the sleep during charging and the charging completion confirmation after wake-up (transmission of the charging completion signal as necessary) is designated from the charging confirmation device side.

The power receiving device according to the present invention includes a power supply unit that charges a power storage unit mounted as an operation power supply in response to wireless power supply, a communication unit that performs wireless communication with an external charging confirmation device, and a control unit. Unit. The control unit shifts to a sleep state after receiving a charging operation setting signal received by the communication unit, wakes up after a predetermined time has elapsed, performs a process of confirming charging completion of the power storage unit, and completes charging. If so, processing for transmitting a charge completion signal from the communication unit to the charge confirmation device is performed.
That is, the power receiving device voluntarily checks the completion of charging when waking up from the sleep state, and transmits a charging completion signal when it is determined that charging is completed.

In the above-described power receiving device, the charging operation setting signal includes time information specifying a sleep time, and the control unit shifts to a sleep state, and then wakes up after a predetermined time specified by the time information has elapsed. It is conceivable to perform a process of confirming the completion of charging of the power storage unit.
The power receiving device sleeps during charging for the time indicated by the time information included in the charging operation setting signal, and concentrates the received power on charging.

The charging operation setting signal includes count information specifying the number of repetitions of sleep and charging completion confirmation in the power receiving device, and the control unit shifts to a sleep state and wakes up to complete charging of the power storage unit. It is conceivable that the confirmation process is repeatedly performed the number of times indicated by the number-of-times information.
The power receiving apparatus repeats sleep during charging and confirmation of completion of charging after waking up (transmission of a charging completion signal as necessary) the number of times indicated by the number of times information included in the charging operation setting signal. .

After receiving the charging operation setting signal received by the communication unit, the control unit may wait for a set delay time, transmit a response signal, and shift to a sleep state.
Each power receiving device has its own delay time set, and after a lapse of the delay time from the reception timing of the charging operation setting signal, transmits a response and shifts to sleep.

A wireless power supply system according to the present invention is a system including the above-described charging confirmation device and a plurality of the above-described power receiving devices.
In particular, in this wireless power supply system, the power receiving device is provided in the detonating device, and the power storage unit is used as a power source for the detonating operation.

According to the present invention, the charging confirmation device does not perform the charging completion inquiry communication during the charging. For this reason, the power receiving device side does not need to perform the process of receiving the inquiry about the completion of charging, so that unnecessary power consumption does not occur. Therefore, charging can be performed efficiently, and power consumption due to reception processing after charging is completed is also eliminated.
The charging confirmation device only needs to wait for a charging completion signal from each power receiving device. Receiving the charging completion signal can properly confirm the charging completion of each power receiving device.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a wireless power supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a parent device and a child device according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of communication between a master unit and a slave unit in a comparative example. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of communication and operation between a master unit and a slave unit according to the embodiment; It is a flowchart of the pre-processing of the parent device and the child device of the embodiment. It is a flowchart of the charging process of the parent device and the child device of the embodiment.

<Example of configuration>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. First, the configuration of the wireless power supply system will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a master unit MD and slave units SD (SD1 to SD9) constituting the wireless power supply system. The master unit MD is arranged apart from a number of slave units SD.
The master unit MD has a configuration as a power supply device, and the slave unit SD is a power receiving device that receives wireless power supply and charges a built-in power storage unit (for example, a secondary battery or a capacitor).

This wireless power supply system performs wireless power supply from a master unit MD to each slave unit SD. Each slave unit SD charges the built-in power storage unit using the supplied power.
In addition, wireless communication is performed between the master unit MD and each slave unit SD for setting a charging operation and confirming charging completion.
In FIG. 1, the number of slave units SD is nine, that is, the slave units SD1 to SD9. However, the present system assumes that there are two or more slave units SD. Is assumed to be 100 to 200 or more.

ユ ニ ー ク A unique child device address (hereinafter simply referred to as “address”) is set for each of the child devices SD1 to SD9. In the figure, (001) to (009) are shown for the slave units SD1 to SD9, respectively, which are used as addresses. For example, the address of the slave unit SD1 is (001), and the address of the slave unit SD2 is (002).

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the master unit MD and the slave unit SD.
The master unit MD of the configuration example in FIG. 2 is a device having a function of executing power supply of the wireless power supply system and a function as a charging confirmation device described in claims, that is, a function of confirming charging of the slave unit SD.

The master unit MD includes a charging confirmation device 1 and a power supply device 2.
The power supply device 2 performs wireless power supply to the slave unit SD. As the wireless power supply, there are known an electromagnetic induction method using electromagnetic induction, an electromagnetic field resonance method using an electromagnetic resonance phenomenon, and a radio wave method in which electric power is converted into electromagnetic waves and transmitted and received via an antenna. In the embodiment, the power supply method itself is not limited. That is, the power supply device 2 may be any device unit that performs wireless power supply in any system.

The charging confirmation device 1 in the parent machine MD includes a parent machine control unit 10 and a communication unit 11.
The communication unit 11 performs wireless communication with a plurality of slave units SD each serving as a power receiving device for wireless power feeding from the power feeding device 2.
The base unit control unit 10 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The master unit control unit 10 performs communication processing with the slave unit SD via the communication unit 11 and controls the power supply device 2. That is, the base unit control unit 10 controls the start of power supply by the power supply device 2, and after starting the power supply, confirms the completion of charging on the side of the child device SD by wireless communication with the child device SD. When the charging completion is confirmed in all the slave units SD, control is performed to terminate the power supply to the power supply device 2.
In this example, the communication unit 11 performs a reception process of receiving uplink communication from the communication unit 21 of the slave unit SD described later. Transmission (downlink communication) of various signals from the master unit MD to the slave unit SD is performed by modulating a power supply signal from the power supply device 2.
Note that the master unit MD may perform signal transmission (downlink communication) to the slave unit SD using a carrier different from the power supply signal.

The slave unit SD is a power receiving device that receives the wireless power supply and charges the power storage units (31, 32).
The slave unit SD includes a slave unit control unit 20, a communication unit 21, a power supply unit 22, and a function unit 24.
The power supply unit 22 includes a power receiving unit 30, a first power storage unit 31, a second power storage unit 32, and a switch 33 that receive wireless power supply from the power supply device 2 and convert the power into electric energy.
The power supply unit 22 uses the first power storage unit 31 and the second power storage unit 32 as power supplies and outputs operating voltages V1, V2,... Required for each unit.
For example, the first power storage unit 31 is mainly used as an operation power supply of the slave unit control unit 20 and the communication unit 21, and the second power supply unit 32 is mainly used as an operation power supply of the function unit 24.

The first power storage unit 31 and the second power storage unit 32 are configured by a secondary battery or a capacitor, and are charged by receiving the current obtained by the power receiving unit 30.
When the switch 33 is off, the charging current obtained by the power receiving unit 30 is supplied to the first power storage unit 31, and the first power storage unit 31 is charged.
When switch 33 is turned on, the charging current obtained by power reception unit 30 is supplied to first power storage unit 31 and second power storage unit 32, and first power storage unit 31 and second power storage unit 32 are charged. .
Note that the configuration example is merely an example, and for example, the switch 33 may be a switch that allows the first power storage unit 31 and the second power storage unit 32 to be selectively charged.
Further, only one power storage unit may be provided.
Further, for example, a plurality of secondary batteries and capacitors may be connected in parallel or in series at a common terminal to form one power storage unit.

The communication unit 21 performs wireless communication with the communication unit 11 on the master device MD side. That is, the communication unit 21 modulates and transmits a signal to be notified to the master unit MD.
The communication unit 21 (or the power receiving unit 30) is provided with a demodulation circuit that demodulates the modulated power supply signal, and the demodulated signal, that is, the signal transmitted from the master unit MD is transmitted to the slave unit control unit 20. Supplied.
The slave unit control unit 20 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, for example. The slave unit control unit 20 performs communication processing with the master unit MD via the communication unit 21 and controls the entire operation of the slave unit SD. That is, the slave unit control unit 20 controls the operation of the power supply unit 22 and the function unit 24, and checks the charging status of the power supply unit 22 during wireless power supply.

The function unit 24 indicates a part that executes an operation function as the slave unit SD.
There are various possibilities for what kind of device the slave unit SD is actually. For example, a light emitting device, a sound emitting device, a display device, various motor driving devices, a control device, a switch device, a detecting device, a signal amplifying device, an arithmetic device, a trigger generating device, a starting device, and other electric control and operation are possible. Any device is envisioned. The function unit 24 is a part that executes functions necessary for these various devices.
In the present embodiment, for example, a case is described in which this wireless power supply system is applied to a detonation system. That is, it is assumed that the slave unit SD is mounted on a dynamite primer or the like, and the functional unit 24 is a detonating unit of the primer. And it is detonated by the control by communication from the base unit.
The power storage unit 22 supplies power necessary for the operation of the detonating unit as the function unit 24. In particular, the second power storage unit 32 is a power source for operating the detonating unit.
In such a detonation system, by controlling the detonation and various other settings, and by charging the battery wirelessly, it has improved the safety of workers, streamlined work, and simplified the installation of detonators. Is done.

<Comparative example>
The present embodiment enables the master unit MD to appropriately execute charging confirmation in each slave unit SD while reducing power consumption due to a reception operation during charging of each slave unit SD. Here, a charging confirmation operation as a comparative example will be described prior to the operation of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows, in chronological order, an example of communication normally assumed between the master unit MD and a number of slave units SD when performing wireless power supply.

At the start of power supply, master device MD starts wireless power supply by power supply device 2 and transmits power supply start notification signal CHGS to all slave devices SD.
Each slave unit SD that has received the power supply start notification signal CHGS starts charging with the power supply unit 22 and transmits a confirmation signal RS to the master unit MD.
By receiving the confirmation signals RS from all the slaves SD, the master MD can recognize that charging has started in all the slaves SD.

Thereafter, charging progresses in each slave unit SD, but the timing of completion of charging is completely uncertain due to a difference in distance between each slave unit SD and the master unit MD, a state of the power storage unit, an error in charging efficiency, and the like. . In FIG. 3, the charging completion timings of the slave units SD1, SD2, and SD9 are defined as time points te1, te2, and te9, respectively.

Since the master unit MD does not know the charging status of each slave unit SD, the charging completion confirmation signal CHGE is sent to each slave unit SD, for example, when a predetermined time TW has elapsed after transmitting the power supply start notification signal CHGS. Send. The charging completion confirmation signal CHGE is a signal having a meaning as an inquiry as to whether or not charging is completed.
The slave unit SD that has been charged transmits a charge completion signal FINC to the master unit MD in response to the charge completion confirmation signal CHGE.
In the drawing, when the charging completion confirmation signal CHGE is transmitted, the slave units SD1 and SD2 have already completed charging, and each of them transmits the charging completion signal FINC as a response. The child device SD9 has not yet completed charging, and has not transmitted the charging completion signal FINC (a signal indicating charging incompletion may be transmitted).

Upon confirming the charge completion signal FINC from all the slaves SD, the master unit MD determines that the charging is completed and stops the power supply operation of the power supply device 2.
On the other hand, if there is a slave unit SD that has not yet sent the charge completion signal FINC as shown in the figure, it waits for a certain period of time (constant time TW), and then transmits the charge completion confirmation signal CHGE again to make an inquiry. I do.
The figure shows a state where the charging completion signal FINC has been transmitted from all the slaves SD in response to the charging completion confirmation signal transmitted again.

By such communication, the master unit MD can confirm the completion of charging of all the slave units SD, but in this case, it is difficult to set the transmission timing of the charging completion confirmation signal CHGE.
This is because the set time TW is not always an appropriate time since the time until the completion of charging of each slave unit SD greatly changes depending on the installation location, the installation environment, the distance from the master unit MD, and the like.
It is conceivable that the fixed time TW is a time during which charging of all the slaves SD can be sufficiently completed. However, if the fixed time TW is too long, a useless power supply time occurs. For example, in the case of FIG. 3, if charging is completed in all the slave units SD at the time point te9, useless power supply is performed from the time point te9 to the transmission timing of the next charge completion confirmation signal CHGE. In addition, as a result, the time required for confirming the completion of charging is lengthened, and the actual operation start after confirmation of completion of charging in each slave unit SD may be delayed.
On the other hand, if the fixed time TW is set too short, it is assumed that the number of slaves SD that have not been completely charged increases, and thereafter, it is necessary to make an inquiry many times. Then, it is necessary for the slave unit SD which has been charged to perform communication corresponding to the charge completion confirmation signal CHGE many times, and the power of the fully charged power storage unit is consumed by the communication. .

<Communication Example of Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, in view of the circumstances that occur in the above-described comparative example, the slave unit SD is prevented from consuming unnecessary power for reception, and the master unit MD can appropriately confirm the completion of charging of the slave unit SD. It was made.
A communication operation at the time of wireless power supply performed in the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. These show time-series examples of communication performed between the master unit MD and a number of slave units SD, similarly to FIG. Each communication is performed between the parent device control unit 10 and the child device control unit 20 via the communication units 11 and 21.

At the start of power supply, on the master device MD side, the power supply device 2 starts wireless power supply and transmits a charging operation setting signal CAR to all the child devices SD.
The charging operation setting signal CAR includes time information T (T seconds) indicating a sleep time and count information n (n times: for example, three times) that specifies the number of repetitions of sleep and charging completion confirmation. The number-of-times information n can be set to 1 or more. If the number of seconds of the time information T can be selected within an appropriate time range according to the capacity and charging time of the first power storage unit 31 and the second power storage unit 32 of the slave unit SD, the type and number of power storage units, and the like. Good.

In each slave unit SD, charging is started by the power supply unit 22 when the power supply device 2 starts wireless power supply. Each slave device SD that has received the charging operation setting signal CAR acquires the setting specified by the charging operation setting signal CAR with the start of charging by the power supply unit 22. Then, a response signal ACK is transmitted to master device MD.
Each slave unit SD adds its own address ((001) (002), etc.) to the response signal ACK, and the master unit MD that has received it recognizes which slave unit SD is the response signal ACK from. it can. In the figure, the response signal ACK is shown with addresses such as “ACK001” and “ACK002”.

Note that all the slave units SD return a response signal ACK to one charging operation setting signal CAR, but it is necessary to avoid interference. Therefore, each slave unit SD transmits the response signal ACK with a standby time corresponding to its own address value from the reception timing, for example. By doing so, the transmission timing from each slave unit SD is shifted, and no interference occurs.
The figure shows that slave units SD1, SD2,..., SD9 transmit a response signal ACK after waiting for a standby time corresponding to the address value.
For example, the slave unit SD1 is (1 × Td) time corresponding to the address (001), the slave unit SD2 is (2 × Td) time corresponding to the address (002), and so on. “Td” is a constant for setting the standby time.
By receiving the response signals ACK from all the slaves SD, the master MD can recognize that charging has started in all the slaves SD.

The slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD immediately shifts to the sleep state after transmitting the response signal ACK. The sleep time is T seconds, and the T seconds is a time value specified as the sleep time information T in the charging operation setting signal CAR.
Therefore, the slave unit control unit 20 of the slave unit SD1 enters a sleep state for T seconds immediately after the transmission of the response signal ACK001. The slave unit control unit 20 of the slave unit SD2 enters a sleep state for T seconds immediately after the transmission of the response signal ACK002. The slave unit control unit 20 of the slave unit SD9 enters a sleep state for T seconds immediately after the transmission of the response signal ACK009. In the drawing, the sleep state is indicated by a broken line.
Since the transmission timing of the response signals ACK001... ACK009 is shifted, the transition timing to the sleep is also shifted in each slave unit SD.

Note that the charging after the charging operation setting signal CAR is performed for both the first power storage unit 31 and the second power storage unit 32 when the switch 33 is turned on.
As described later, first, the switch 33 is turned off for preprocessing, and only the first power storage unit 31 is charged. Then, the charging of the first power storage unit 31 enables the operation of the slave unit control unit 20 and the communication unit 21, and pre-processing of charging is performed. The charging in FIG. 4 is started at a later point in time, and in FIG. 4, the second power storage unit 32 is also charged for the detonation operation.
Then, while the slave unit control unit 20 is sleeping, the communication operation of the slave unit control unit 20 and the communication unit 21 is not particularly performed, so that the charging is continued with only the minimum consumption of the sleep power. .

The slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD wakes up after the elapse of T seconds and checks whether the charging of the first power storage unit 31 and the second power storage unit 32 is completed. The slave unit control unit 20 transmits a charge completion signal FINC if the charging is completed. The confirmation of the completion of charging may be performed only on the second power storage unit 32.
FIG. 4 shows a state in which the charging of the slave unit SD1 is completed at the time point te10, and the charging completion signal FINC001 is transmitted when T seconds have elapsed after the start of the first sleep.
After transmitting the charging completion signal FINC001, the child device control unit 20 of the child device SD shifts to sleep again. By shifting to sleep even after charging is completed, power consumption can be avoided as much as possible.
The charging of the slave units SD2 and SD9 is not completed, and at the time of the first wake-up, the slave unit does not transmit the charging completion signal FINC and sleeps again. In this example, it is assumed that the charging of the slave unit SD2 is completed at the time point te20, and the charging of the slave unit SD9 is completed at the time point te90.

の 後 After the second sleep, each slave unit SD wakes up again after the elapse of T seconds to confirm charging completion. In this example, at the time of the second wake-up, since the slaves SD1 and SD2 have been charged, the slave SD1 transmits the charge completion signal FINC001, and the slave SD2 transmits the charge completion signal FINC002. The slave unit SD9 has not completed charging and does not transmit the charge completion signal FINC. Then, the slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD shifts to sleep again.

Here, it is not always necessary for the slave unit SD1 to send the charging completion signal FINC001 again. However, in order to surely confirm the charge confirmation of all the slave units SD on the master unit MD side, it may be transmitted every time. Conceivable. In particular, a cordless handset that has been charged early can be considered to be in an environment that is advantageous for wireless charging, and even if power consumption increases due to transmission, it can be considered that there is enough room. Absent.
However, especially when the capacity of the power storage unit is small, the slave unit SD that has once transmitted the charge completion signal FINC may not be transmitted during the subsequent wake-up.

In the example of FIG. 4, it is assumed that charging has been completed in each slave unit SD by the time after the third sleep. In this case, each slave unit SD wakes up after T seconds have elapsed from the start of sleep to confirm charging completion, and transmits a charging completion signal FIN.
At this time, the master unit MD confirms the completion of charging by receiving the charge completion signal FINC from all the slave units SD, and ends the power supply operation.
Here, assuming that the number information n = 3 for designating the number of repetitions, if the charging completion cannot be confirmed in all the slave units SD even at this point, a cycle of three sleeps and a charge confirmation after waking up has already been performed. Therefore, the operation is terminated as an error, or the transmission is started again from the transmission of the charging operation setting signal CAR.

By the communication as described above, it is possible to confirm the charging completion for all the slaves SD.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show processing examples of the master unit MD and each slave unit SD for realizing the operation as shown in FIG. The processes (S101 to S159) on the master unit shown in the figure are processes executed by the master unit control unit 10 according to the operation program. The processing (S201 to S259) on the child device side shown in the drawing is a process executed by the child device control unit 20 in each child device SD according to the operation program.

FIG. 5 shows the pre-processing for charging shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 shows the charging processing (charging processing including the second power storage unit 32). First, the preliminary processing of FIG. 5 will be described.

In step S101 of FIG. 5, master device control unit 10 first controls power supply device 2 to start the wireless power supply operation.
On the slave unit SD side, the switch 33 is turned off as an initial state in which there is no power supply, for example. For this reason, the charging current obtained by the power reception in the power receiving unit 30 flows to the first power storage unit 31, and the first power storage unit 31 is charged.
Master device control unit 10 waits for a predetermined time to elapse in step S102. This waits for a period during which the necessary charging of the first power storage unit 31 on the slave unit SD side is performed. The slave unit control unit 9 and the communication unit 21 can operate when the first power storage unit 31 is charged.

At the point in time when charging has been performed for a certain period of time, master device control section 10 determines that the slave device SD has been able to perform pre-processing, and proceeds to step S103 to perform slave device setting. Specifically, master unit control unit 10 transmits setting information including information on the address and the explosion delay time to slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD. A serial number is set in advance for each slave unit SD. Therefore, base unit control section 10 transmits information of the address and the detonation delay time corresponding to each serial number.
The address to be transmitted here is an address such as (001) or (002) described above, and is an address for setting a response signal ACK and a delay time of sleep start.
The detonation delay time is a delay time from when the parent device control unit 10 transmits the detonation trigger to when the child device control unit 20 actually performs the detonation process. When blasting a large number of dynamites installed in various places, the order and time difference of detonation are important to obtain the desired crushing state. Therefore, an explosion delay time is set for each slave unit SD.

Upon receiving the setting information in step S201, the slave unit control unit 20 acquires the address and the explosion delay time information and the like in accordance with its own serial number in step S202, and sets it as its own setting.

Subsequently, in step S104, master unit control unit 10 instructs slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD to check the continuity of the detonating unit (primer).
Upon receiving the continuity check instruction in step S203, the slave control unit 20 of each slave SD performs a continuity check in step S204. For example, the slave unit control unit 20 performs a continuity check of necessary parts such as the function unit 24. Then, the slave unit control unit 20 transmits the check result to the master unit control unit 10 in step S205.

Master device control portion 10 receives and checks the check result from child device control portion 20 in step S105. Here, the check results from all the slaves SD are confirmed.
In other words, until the check is completed in step S106 for all the slave units, the check result is received in step S105 and the reception from all the slave units SD is monitored unless the time is up in step S107.
If a result of “conduction is not possible” is obtained as a check result from one slave unit SD, or if a check result is not received from one slave unit SD, error processing is performed in step S108. . That is, as an emergency stop, the subsequent processing is stopped. In the case of detonation systems in particular, proper operation of all primers is important for achieving work objectives and ensuring safety. Therefore, if an abnormality is detected even in one slave unit SD, it is preferable to stop the processing progress.

If the continuity check of all the slaves SD is OK, the process proceeds to the charging process in FIG. Here, the charging process is a charging process by wireless power supply to the second power storage unit 32 which is a main power source of at least the original function (the function unit 24). Subsequent to the above pre-processing, this charging processing is started.

で At step S150 in FIG. 6, master device control unit 10 controls power supply device 2 to start the wireless power supply operation. However, if the wireless power supply started in step S101 is continued as it is, this control is unnecessary.

In step S151, master unit control unit 10 transmits charging operation setting signal CAR to slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD. As described above, the charging operation setting signal CAR includes the time information T and the number-of-times information n.
Upon receiving the charging operation setting signal CAR in step S250, the slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD stores the time information T and the count information n in step S251, turns on the switch 33, and further sets the variable C = 1. And The variable C is a variable for confirming the number of repetitions.
By turning on switch 33, charging of second power storage unit 32 in addition to first power storage unit 31 is started.

The slave control unit 20 of the slave SD waits for a response timing in step S252. This waits for a delay time corresponding to the address given to itself.
After a delay time corresponding to the address has elapsed, the slave unit control unit 20 transmits a response signal ACK in step S253, and immediately shifts to a sleep state in step S254.

Master device control section 10 performs reception processing of response signal ACK in step S152. The reception processing in step S152 is performed until it is determined in step S153 that the response waiting time for all the slaves SD has elapsed. Since the response signal ACK is transmitted from each child device SD with a time difference, the response waiting time is set according to the delay time for the response of the child device SD (for example, SD009) that transmits last. Time.
When the response signals ACK have been received from all the slaves SD, the process proceeds from step S153 to S154, and an internal timer for counting time is started to recognize the limit of waiting for reception thereafter.
Although not shown, if the response waiting time has elapsed in step S153 and the response signals ACK from all the slave units SD have not been received (the slave unit SD in which no response signal ACK can be confirmed). If there is), it is desirable to stop the charging process for detonation as an error process.

After sleeping in step S254, the slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD automatically wakes up when T seconds have elapsed (S255). Then, the child device control unit 20 confirms the charging completion in step S256. If charging has been completed, the slave unit control unit 20 proceeds to step S257 and performs processing for transmitting a charge completion signal FINC. If the charging has not been completed, the process of step S257 is skipped.
Then, child device control unit 20 increments variable C in step S258, and if variable C has not reached number-of-times information n in step S259, returns to step S254 and shifts to sleep.

If variable C has reached number-of-times information n in step S259, slave unit control unit 20 ends a series of processes.
Although not shown, after that, when the charging operation setting signal CAR is received again, the processing from step S250 is performed.

Master device control unit 10 performs a reception process of charging completion signal FINC in step S155.
This receiving process is continuously performed until it is determined in step S156 that the charging duration time has elapsed. The charging duration is a time set based on the value of (time information T) × (number-of-times information n). That is, it is the time until the slave unit SD determines that C ≧ n in step S259. Master device control unit 10 confirms in step S156 whether or not the time counting started in step S154 has reached the charging duration time.
Therefore, for example, in the case of the number-of-times information n = 3, the master unit control unit 10 outputs the charge completion signal FINC in step S155 until the slave unit SD performs the sleep / wakeup three times to confirm the charge completion. Will be monitored.

After the charging duration time has elapsed, the master unit control unit 10 proceeds to step S157, and checks whether or not charging of all the slave units SD has been completed. That is, it is to confirm whether or not the charging completion signal FINC has been obtained from all the slaves SD. If the charging of all the slaves SD has been completed, the master unit control unit 10 controls the power supply device 2 to end the wireless power supply operation in step S159. Then, the charging process of FIG. 6 ends.
If at least one of the charging has not been completed, the number of retransmissions of the charging operation setting signal CAR is confirmed in step S158. The number of retransmissions is the number of times selected in advance (for example, set by the operator), and can be set to one or more values.
If the number of retransmissions still remains, master controller control unit 10 returns to step S151 and performs the same processing. If the set number of retransmissions has been completed, master device control unit 10 terminates the power supply operation by power supply device 2 in step S159, and ends the process.
This makes it possible to repeat the processing of FIG. 6 up to the number of retransmissions until charging of all the slaves SD is completed.
If there is a slave unit SD whose charging is not completed even if the process of FIG. 6 is repeated by the number of retransmissions, it is desirable to stop the charging process for detonation as an error process.

<Summary and Modifications>
In the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The charging confirmation device 1 according to the embodiment includes a communication unit 11 that performs wireless communication with a plurality of slave units SD (power receiving devices) each of which charges a power storage unit corresponding to wireless power supply, and a base unit control unit. A section 10 is provided. Then, base unit control unit 10 transmits charging operation setting signal CAR from communication unit 11 to a plurality of slave units SD at the time of wireless power supply (S151), and receives the inquiry operation without sending inquiry to slave unit SD. And performs processing (S155, S156, S157) for confirming whether or not charging completion signals have been received from all the power receiving apparatuses.
The slave unit SD (power receiving device) according to the embodiment includes a power supply unit 22 that charges a power storage unit (a first power storage unit 31 and a second power storage unit 32) mounted as an operation power supply in response to wireless power supply. And a communication unit 21 for performing wireless communication with an external charging confirmation device, and a slave unit control unit 20. The slave unit control unit 20 shifts to the sleep state after receiving the charging operation setting signal CAR received by the communication unit 21 (S250 to S254), wakes up after a predetermined time has elapsed, and confirms the completion of charging of the power storage unit. When the charging is completed, the process (S255 to S257) for transmitting the charging completion signal FINC to the charging confirmation device 1 of the master unit MD from the communication unit 21 is performed.
That is, after sending the charging operation setting signal CAR to each slave unit SD, the master unit control unit 10 waits for the transmission completion signal FINC from each slave unit SD without performing any transmission.
On the other hand, the slave unit control unit 20 voluntarily checks charging completion when waking up from the sleep state, and transmits a charging completion signal when it is determined that charging is completed.
The master unit MD only needs to wait for the charging completion signal FINC from the slave unit SD, and does not need to perform a process such as predicting the progress of charging of the slave unit SD and making an inquiry, thereby facilitating the process.
In the slave unit SD, since the master unit MD does not transmit an inquiry, it is not necessary to perform a reception process during charging, and power consumption can be reduced. Furthermore, considering the case where the receiving process is performed a plurality of times as in the comparative example of FIG. 3, the effect of reducing the power consumption on the slave unit SD side by not performing the receiving process is extremely high. Further, since the slave unit SD performs charging while sleeping, power consumption of the power storage unit during charging hardly occurs.
Thus, charging can proceed efficiently and quickly on the slave unit SD side, and it is also desirable for securing the power for the operation of the functional unit 24 and the communication after the charging.
In particular, in the case of the detonation system as described in the embodiment, capacitors may be used as the first power storage unit 31 and the second power storage unit 32, but these capacitors are not so large in capacity, and are used for communication and detonation. It is assumed that it can be a necessary minimum power supply. Then you want to avoid power consumption at all. Therefore, not consuming power without performing reception processing is extremely advantageous for normal detonation operation.

Note that the first power storage unit 31 and the second power storage unit 32 are provided, but this is an example. The power supply unit 22 may have a configuration including at least one power storage unit. Of course, various types of secondary batteries and capacitors can be considered as the power storage unit.
In the embodiment, the first power storage unit 31 and the second power storage unit 32 are separated, so that even if some communication is performed after the charging is completed, the first power storage unit 31 is provided as long as the first power storage unit 31 can obtain power. It is possible to use the power supply 31 and prevent the second power storage unit 32 from being consumed as much as possible. Therefore, at the time of detonation, it is possible to avoid a situation in which detonation cannot be performed due to a voltage drop of the second power storage unit 32.

In the embodiment, the charging operation setting signal CAR includes the time information T specifying the sleep time in the slave unit SD.
Then, after shifting to the sleep state, slave unit control unit 20 wakes up after a lapse of a predetermined time specified by time information T, and performs a process of confirming charging completion of the power storage unit.
The system operation can be flexibly set by designating the sleep time to be performed during charging on the slave unit SD side from the master unit MD side. For example, the sleep time can be appropriately set according to the situation (the arrangement of each slave unit SD, the charging capacity, and the like).
In the slave unit SD, the sleep of the slave unit control unit 20 increases the charging efficiency, so that charging can be completed as soon as possible.
By instructing the sleep time, the master unit MD can know the approximate time at which the transmission of the charging completion signal is transmitted. For example, the charging duration determined in step S156 is known. Thereby, the reception processing of the charge completion signal FINC of all the slaves SD is performed in an appropriate period, and it is possible to determine the presence or absence thereof.
In addition, the time information T is a fixed value, may be a value set in advance in the slave unit control units 20 of all the slave units SD, and may be a known value in the master unit control unit 10. If at least the time information of the sleep time is included in the charging operation setting signal CAR, the sleep time can be variably set on the system.

In the embodiment, the charging operation setting signal CAR includes count information n specifying the number of repetitions of sleep and charging completion confirmation in the slave unit SD.
The slave unit control unit 20 repeatedly executes the transition to the sleep state and the process of confirming the completion of charging of the power storage unit performed by waking up the number of times indicated by the count information n.
The system operation can be flexibly set by designating the number of times the parent machine MD repeats sleep during charging of the child machine SD and wake-up and checks the completion of charging (transmission of a charge completion signal as necessary). . For example, the number-of-times information n can be appropriately set according to the situation (arrangement, charging capacity, and the like of each slave unit SD).
On the slave unit SD side, such processing is executed not only for a fixed number of operation cycles, but also on the master unit MD side, it is possible to flexibly cope with work contents and convenience.
In addition, the number of operation cycles during charging on the slave unit SD side is defined by the number information n, and it is possible to prevent the sleep and the completion of charging from being performed indefinitely, thereby preventing a problem in system operation.
The number of repetitions may be a fixed number, and may be a value known in advance by the slave unit control units 20 and the master unit control units 10 of all the slave units SD. If at least the information on the number of repetitions is included in the charging operation setting signal CAR, the number of repetitions can be variably set on the system.
In the embodiment, the charging operation setting signal CAR includes both the time information of the sleep time in the slave unit SD and the frequency information indicating the number of repetitions of the sleep and the charging completion confirmation. Need not always be included in the charging operation setting signal CAR.

In the embodiment, after receiving the charging operation setting signal CAR received by the communication unit 21, the slave unit control unit 20 waits for a set delay time, transmits a response signal ACK, and shifts to a sleep state. It was taken.
That is, each slave unit SD has its own unique address set, and after a delay time corresponding to the address has elapsed from the reception timing of the charging operation setting signal CAR, transmission of the response signal ACK and transition to sleep.
As a result, in each slave unit SD, the timing of transmitting the response signal ACK and the timing of shifting to the sleep mode are shifted.
By shifting the timing of transmitting the response signal ACK, the master unit MD can appropriately receive the response signal ACK from each slave unit SD without interference. If each slave unit SD transmits the response signal ACK at its own timing, there is a possibility that the response signal ACK is transmitted from a plurality of slave units SD at the same time, and interference occurs, and the power supply device cannot recognize the notification. There is. Such a situation can be avoided by shifting the transmission timing of the response signal ACK using the delay time according to the address.
Also, the shift in the shift timing to the sleep shifts the wake-up timing of each slave unit SD, and as a result, the transmission timing of the charge completion signal FINC does not become the same. Therefore, the master unit MD can appropriately receive the charge completion signal FINC of each slave unit SD without interference. As a result, the master unit MD can correctly detect the status of each slave unit SD.
Particularly, when each slave unit MD voluntarily transmits the charge completion signal FINC to the master unit MD when charging is completed, the transmission timing of the charge completion signal FINC of each slave unit SD overlaps, causing interference, and the master unit MD recognizes. Some things cannot be done. In the present embodiment, such a situation can be avoided by shifting the wake-up timing of each slave unit SD.

In the embodiment, the slave unit SD which has already transmitted the charge completion signal FINC in the n cycles also transmits the charge completion signal FINC again for confirmation when waking up next time. The transmission after the second time may be stopped. This can avoid wasteful power consumption and reduce the amount of communication in the system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Charge confirmation apparatus, 2 ... Wireless 4 power supply apparatus, 10 ... Master unit control part, 11 ... Communication part, 12 ... Power supply part, 20 ... Slave unit control part, 21 ... Communication part, 22 ... Power supply part, 30 ... Power receiving unit, 31: first power storage unit, 32: second power storage unit, 33: switch, MD: master unit, SD (SD1 to SD9): slave unit

Claims (9)

1. A communication unit that performs wireless communication with a plurality of power receiving devices, each of which charges a power storage unit corresponding to wireless power supply,
   And a control unit,
   The control unit includes:
   A process of transmitting a charging operation setting signal to the plurality of power receiving devices from the communication unit during wireless power supply,
   And a process of waiting for reception without sending an inquiry to the power receiving device and confirming whether or not charging completion signals from all the power receiving devices have been received.
2. The charging confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the charging operation setting signal includes time information specifying a sleep time in the power receiving device.
3. The charging confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the charging operation setting signal includes count information specifying the number of repetitions of sleep and charging completion confirmation in the power receiving device.
4. A power supply unit for charging the power storage unit mounted as an operation power supply in accordance with wireless power supply,
   A communication unit that performs wireless communication with an external charging confirmation device;
   And a control unit,
   The control unit includes:
   After receiving the charging operation setting signal received by the communication unit, transition to a sleep state, wake up after a lapse of a predetermined time, perform a process of confirming the completion of charging of the power storage unit, and if charging has been completed, A power receiving device that performs a process of transmitting a charging completion signal from the communication unit to the charging confirmation device.
5. The charging operation setting signal includes time information specifying a sleep time,
   5. The power receiving device according to claim 4, wherein after transitioning to a sleep state, the control unit wakes up after a lapse of a predetermined time specified by the time information and performs a process of confirming charging completion of the power storage unit.
6. The charging operation setting signal includes count information specifying the number of repetitions of sleep and charging completion confirmation in the power receiving device,
   The power receiving device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit repeatedly performs a transition to a sleep state and a process of confirming charging completion of the power storage unit performed by waking up the number of times indicated by the number-of-times information. apparatus.
7. The control unit includes:
   The reception device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein after receiving the charging operation setting signal received by the communication unit, the device waits for a set delay time, transmits a response signal, and shifts to a sleep state. Power receiving device.
8. A charge confirmation device and a wireless power supply system including a plurality of power reception devices,
   The charging confirmation device,
   A first communication unit that performs wireless communication with a plurality of power receiving devices;
   A first control unit;
   The first control unit includes:
   Processing of transmitting a charging operation setting signal from the first communication unit to a plurality of power receiving devices during wireless power supply;
   A process of waiting for reception in a state where the inquiry transmission to the power receiving device is not performed, and confirming whether or not charging completion signals from all the power receiving devices have been received,
   The power receiving device,
   A power supply unit for charging the power storage unit mounted as an operation power supply in accordance with wireless power supply,
   A second communication unit that performs wireless communication with the charging confirmation device;
   A second control unit,
   The second control unit includes:
   After the charging operation setting signal received by the second communication unit is received, the sleep mode is entered, and after a predetermined time elapses, the power storage unit is charged and the charging is completed. In this case, the wireless power supply system performs a process of transmitting a charge completion signal from the second communication unit to the charge confirmation device.
9. The wireless power supply system according to claim 8, wherein the power receiving device is provided in a detonating device, and the power storage unit is used as a power source for a detonating operation.

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