JP6975345B2 - Charge confirmation device, power receiving device, wireless power supply system - Google Patents

Description

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

Wireless power supply is known as a method for charging a rechargeable battery.
The following Patent Document 1 discloses a technique relating to a power transmission device and a power receiving device in a system that performs wireless power supply. In particular, it is described that the power receiving device sends a completion notification when charging is completed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-200056

Consider supplying power to a large number of power receiving devices using a wireless power feeding device. On the wireless power supply device side, the wireless power supply is terminated according to the detection of 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 charging completion notification from each power receiving device.
Therefore, the power supply device made an inquiry, and the power receiving device notified the completion of charging. However, since the charging completion timing of 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 unnecessarily continued.
Further, in this case, the power receiving device that is being charged or has been charged must wastefully consume power to receive an inquiry from the power feeding device and perform reception processing, which causes the charging efficiency to drop or charging. 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 complete charging of a plurality of power receiving devices and to prevent unnecessarily causing power consumption.

The charge confirmation device according to the present invention includes a communication unit and a control unit, each of which performs wireless communication with a plurality of power receiving devices that charge the power storage unit in response to wireless power supply. Then, the control unit waits for reception in a state where the charging operation setting signal is transmitted from the communication unit to a plurality of power receiving devices at the time of wireless power supply and the inquiry transmission to the power receiving device is not performed, and all the power is received. The process of confirming whether or not the charge completion signal from the device has been received is performed.
That is, in this case, after sending the charging operation setting signal to each power receiving device, the charging confirmation device waits for the charging completion signal from each power receiving device without transmitting anything.

In the above-mentioned charge confirmation device, it is conceivable that the charge operation setting signal includes time information for designating the sleep time in the power receiving device.
On the power receiving device side, the sleep time to be performed during charging is specified from the charging confirmation device side.

In the above-mentioned charge confirmation device, it is conceivable that the charge operation setting signal includes the number of times information for designating the number of times of repetition of sleep and charge 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 (sending the charging completion signal as necessary) by waking up is specified from the charging confirmation device side.

The power receiving device according to the present invention controls a power storage unit mounted as an operating power source, a power supply unit that charges in response to wireless power supply, and a communication unit that performs wireless communication between an external charge confirmation device. It has a part. Then, the control unit shifts to the sleep state after receiving the charging operation setting signal received by the communication unit, wakes up after a predetermined time elapses, performs a process of confirming the charging completion of the power storage unit, and completes charging. If this is the case, a process of causing the charge confirmation device to transmit a charge completion signal from the communication unit is performed.
That is, the power receiving device side voluntarily confirms the charging completion when wakes up from the sleep state, and transmits a charging completion signal when it is determined that the charging is completed.

In the above-mentioned power receiving device, the charging operation setting signal includes time information for designating a sleep time, and the control unit wakes up after a predetermined time specified in the time information elapses after shifting to the sleep state. It is conceivable to perform the process of confirming the completion of charging of the power storage unit.
The power receiving device side sleeps during charging for the time indicated by the time information included in the charging operation setting signal so that the received power is concentrated on charging.

The charging operation setting signal includes a number of times information for designating the number of times of repeating sleep and charging completion confirmation in the power receiving device, and the control unit shifts to the sleep state and wakes up to complete charging of the power storage unit. It is conceivable that the confirmation process is repeatedly executed the number of times indicated in the number-of-times information.
The power receiving device side repeats the sleep during charging and the charging completion confirmation (sending the charging completion signal as necessary) as many times as indicated by the number of times information included in the charging operation setting signal. ..

It is conceivable that the control unit waits for the set delay time after receiving the charging operation setting signal received by the communication unit, then transmits the response signal and shifts to the sleep state.
Each power receiving device has its own delay time set, and after the delay time has elapsed from the reception timing of the charging operation setting signal, the response transmission and the transition to sleep are performed.

The wireless power feeding system according to the present invention is a system including the above-mentioned charge confirmation device and the above-mentioned power receiving devices.
In particular, in this wireless power feeding system, the power receiving device is provided in the detonator, and the power storage unit is used as a power source for the detonator operation.

According to the present invention, the charge confirmation device does not perform charge completion inquiry communication during charging. Therefore, it is not necessary for the power receiving device to receive the inquiry for the completion of charging, and wasteful power consumption does not occur. Therefore, it can be charged efficiently, and it is also eliminated that power is consumed by the reception process after the charging is completed.
The charging confirmation device side only needs to wait for the charging completion signal from each power receiving device, and can appropriately confirm the charging completion of each power receiving device by receiving the charging completion signal.

It is explanatory drawing of the wireless power feeding system of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the master unit and the slave unit of the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the communication of the master unit and the slave unit of the comparative example. It is explanatory drawing of communication and operation of the master unit and the slave unit of embodiment. It is a flowchart of the pre-processing of the master unit and the slave unit of the embodiment. It is a flowchart of the charging process of the master unit and the slave unit of the embodiment.

<Configuration example>
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 a slave unit SD (SD1 to SD9) constituting a wireless power feeding system. The master unit MD is arranged apart from a large 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 wirelessly supplies power from the master unit MD to each slave unit SD. Each handset SD uses the power supplied to charge the built-in power storage unit.
In addition, wireless communication is performed between the master unit MD and each slave unit SD to set the charging operation and confirm the completion of charging.
In FIG. 1, the number of slave units SD is nine from slave units SD1 to SD9, but this system assumes that there are two or more slave unit SDs, and in reality, the slave unit SDs. It is assumed that there are 100 to 200 units or more.

A unique slave unit address (hereinafter, simply referred to as “address”) is set for each of the slave units SD1 to SD9. In the figure, (001) to (009) are shown for each of the slave units SD1 to SD9, and these are used as addresses. For example, the address of the slave unit SD1 is (001), the address of the slave unit SD2 is (002), and so on.

FIG. 2 shows the configurations of the master unit MD and the slave unit SD.
The master unit MD of the configuration example of FIG. 2 is a device having a function of executing power supply of the wireless power supply system and a function of the charge confirmation device according to the claim, that is, a function of confirming the charge of the slave unit SD.

The master unit MD includes a charge confirmation device 1 and a power supply device 2.
The power supply device 2 performs wireless power supply to the slave unit SD. For wireless power supply, an electromagnetic induction method using electromagnetic induction, an electromagnetic field resonance method using the resonance phenomenon of an electromagnetic field, and a radio wave method for converting electric power into electromagnetic waves and transmitting and receiving via an antenna are known. In the embodiment, the power feeding method itself is not limited. That is, the power feeding device 2 may be any device unit that performs wireless power feeding regardless of the method.

The charge confirmation device 1 in the master unit MD includes a master unit control unit 10 and a communication unit 11.
The communication unit 11 wirelessly communicates with a plurality of slave units SD, each of which serves as a power receiving device for wireless power supply from the power supply device 2.
The master unit control unit 10 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer having a built-in CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), 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 feeding device 2. That is, the master 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 slave unit SD side by wireless communication with the slave unit SD. When it is confirmed that charging is completed in all the slave unit SDs, the power supply device 2 is controlled to end the power supply.
In this example, the communication unit 11 performs reception processing for receiving uplink communication from the communication unit 21 of the slave unit SD, which will be described later. Transmission of various signals (downlink communication) from the master unit MD to the slave unit SD is executed by modulating the power supply signal from the power supply device 2.
On the master unit MD side, signal transmission (downlink communication) to the slave unit SD may be performed using a carrier separate from the power supply signal.

The slave unit SD is a power receiving device that receives wireless power supply and charges the power storage unit (31, 32).
The slave unit SD includes a slave unit control unit 20, a communication unit 21, a power supply unit 22, and a functional unit 24.
The power supply unit 22 has 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 it into electric energy.
The power supply unit 22 uses the first storage unit 31 and the second storage unit 32 as a power source, and outputs the operating voltages V1, V2 ... Required for each unit.
The first power storage unit 31 is mainly used as an operating power source for the slave unit control unit 20 and the communication unit 21, and the second power supply unit 32 is mainly used as an operating power source for the functional unit 24.

The first storage unit 31 and the second storage unit 32 are composed of a secondary battery and a capacitor, and are charged with 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 storage unit 31 to charge the first storage unit 31.
When the switch 33 is turned on, the charging current obtained by the power receiving unit 30 is supplied to the first storage unit 31 and the second storage unit 32, and the first storage unit 31 and the second storage unit 32 are charged. ..
The configuration example is an example, and for example, the switch 33 may be a switch that enables the first storage unit 31 and the second 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 storage unit.

The communication unit 21 performs wireless communication with the communication unit 11 on the master unit MD side. That is, the communication unit 21 modulates and transmits the signal notified to the master unit MD.
Further, the communication unit 21 (or the power receiving unit 30) is provided with a demodulation circuit for demodulating the modulated power supply signal, and the demodulated signal, that is, the signal transmitted from the master unit MD is sent to the slave unit control unit 20. Will be supplied.
The slave unit control unit 20 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer having a built-in CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like. The slave unit control unit 20 performs communication processing with the master unit MD via the communication unit 21 and controls the operation of the slave unit SD as a whole. That is, the slave unit control unit 20 controls the operation of the power supply unit 22 and the function unit 24, and confirms the charging status of the power supply unit 22 at the time of wireless power supply.

The functional unit 24 indicates a portion that executes an operation function as a slave unit SD.
There are various possibilities for what kind of device the slave SD is actually. For example, light emitting device, sounding device, display device, various motor drive devices, control device, switch device, detection device, signal amplification device, arithmetic device, trigger generator, starter device, and other electrical control / operation are possible. Any device is envisioned. The functional unit 24 is a portion that executes functions required for these various devices.
In this embodiment, for example, a case where this wireless power feeding system is applied to a detonation system will be given as an example. That is, it is assumed that the slave unit SD is mounted on a dynamite detonator or the like, and the functional unit 24 is a detonator of the detonator. Then, it is detonated by the control by the communication from the master unit.
The power storage unit 22 is supposed to supply power necessary for the operation of the detonation unit as the functional unit 24. In particular, the second power storage unit 32 serves as a power source for the operation of the detonation unit.
In such a detonation system, by controlling detonation, various settings, and charging wirelessly, it is possible to improve the safety of workers, rationalize work, and facilitate the arrangement of detonators. Will be done.

<Comparison example>
In this embodiment, the master unit MD can appropriately perform the charge confirmation in each slave unit SD while reducing the power consumption due to the reception operation during charging of each slave unit SD. Here, a charge confirmation operation as a comparative example will be described prior to the operation of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows an example of communication normally assumed between a master unit MD and a large number of slave unit SDs in chronological order when wireless power supply is executed.

At the start of power supply, the master unit MD starts wireless power supply by the power supply device 2, and also transmits a power supply start notification signal CHGS to all slave units SD.
In each slave unit SD that has received the power supply start notification signal CHGS, charging is started by the power supply unit 22, and a confirmation signal RS is transmitted to the master unit MD.
By receiving the confirmation signal RS from all the slave unit SDs, the master unit MD can recognize that charging has started in all the slave unit SDs.

After that, charging progresses in each slave unit SD, but the timing of charging completion is completely undefined due to the difference in the separation distance between each slave unit SD and the master unit MD, the condition of the power storage unit, the error in charging efficiency, and the like. .. In FIG. 3, the charging completion timings of the slave units SD1, SD2, and SD9 are set to time points te1, te2, and te9, respectively.

Since the master unit MD does not know the charging status of each slave unit SD, for example, when a certain period of time has passed since the power supply start notification signal CHGS was transmitted, the charging completion confirmation signal CHGE is sent to each slave unit SD. 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 handset SD, which has been charged, transmits a charge completion signal FINC to the master unit MD in response to the charge completion confirmation signal CHGE.
The figure shows that when the charge completion confirmation signal CHGE is transmitted, the slave units SD1 and SD2 have already completed charging, and each of them transmits the charge completion signal FINC as a response. The slave unit SD9 has not yet completed charging and has not transmitted the charging completion signal FINC (a signal indicating that charging has not been completed may be transmitted).

When the master unit MD confirms the charge completion signal FINC from all the slave units SD, the master unit MD stops the power supply operation of the power supply device 2 as charging is completed.
On the other hand, if there is a handset SD that has not yet sent the charge completion signal FINC as shown in the figure, wait for a certain amount of time (TW for a certain period of time), and then send the charge completion confirmation signal CHGE again to make an inquiry. I do.
The figure shows a state in which the charge completion signal FINC is sent from all the slave units SD in response to the charge completion confirmation signal transmitted again.

Through such communication, the master unit MD can confirm that the charging of all the slave units SD has been completed, but in this case, it is difficult to set the transmission timing of the charging completion confirmation signal CHGE.
This is because the time required to complete charging of each slave unit SD varies greatly depending on the installation location, installation environment, distance from the master unit MD, and the like, so that the set fixed time TW is not always an appropriate time.
It is conceivable that the fixed time TW is a time during which all the slave unit SDs can be sufficiently charged. However, if the TW is too long for a certain period of time, useless power supply time will occur. For example, in the case of FIG. 3, assuming that 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. Further, this causes a long time until the completion of charging can be confirmed, and the original operation start after the confirmation of the completion of charging in each slave unit SD may be delayed.
On the other hand, if the TW is shortened too much for a certain period of time, the number of handset SDs that have not yet been charged increases, and it is assumed that it will be necessary to make inquiries over and over again thereafter. Then, for the handset SD that has been fully charged, it is necessary to perform communication corresponding to the charge completion confirmation signal CHGE many times, and the power of the power storage unit that has been fully charged will be consumed by the communication. ..

<Communication example of the embodiment>
In the present embodiment, in view of the circumstances caused by the above 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 is the one that was made.
FIG. 4 describes a communication operation at the time of wireless power feeding performed in the embodiment. Similar to FIG. 3, these show an example of communication performed between the master unit MD and a large number of slave unit SDs in chronological order. Each communication is performed between the master unit control unit 10 and the slave unit control unit 20 via the communication units 11 and 21.

At the start of power supply, on the master unit MD side, the power supply device 2 starts wireless power supply and transmits a charging operation setting signal CAR to all the slave units SD.
The charging operation setting signal CAR includes time information T (T seconds) indicating the sleep time and number information n (n times: for example, 3 times) for designating the number of times of repeating 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 storage unit 31 and the second storage unit 32 of the slave unit SD, the type and number of the storage units, and the like. good.

In each handset SD, when the power feeding device 2 starts wireless power feeding, charging is started in the power supply unit 22. Each handset 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 in the power supply unit 22. Then, the response signal ACK is transmitted to the master unit MD.
Each slave unit SD adds its own address ((001) (002), etc.) to the response signal ACK, and the master unit MD that receives it recognizes which slave unit SD the response signal ACK is from. can. In the figure, the response signal ACK is shown with addresses such as "ACK001" and "ACK002".

It should be noted that all the slave unit SDs return the response signal ACK for the one-time charge operation setting signal CAR, but it is necessary to avoid interference. Therefore, each slave unit SD transmits the response signal ACK with a waiting time corresponding to its own address value, for example, from the reception timing. By doing so, the transmission timing from each handset SD is shifted, and interference does not occur.
The figure shows how the slave units SD1, SD2, ... SD9 wait for a waiting time corresponding to the address value before transmitting the response signal ACK.
For example, the slave unit SD1 corresponds to the address (001) for (1 × Td) time, the slave unit SD2 corresponds to the address (002) for (2 × Td) time, and so on. Note that "Td" is a constant that sets the waiting time.
By receiving the response signal ACK from all the slave unit SDs, the master unit MD can recognize that charging has started in all the slave unit SDs.

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

It should be noted that charging after the charging operation setting signal CAR is performed for both the first storage unit 31 and the second storage unit 32 when the switch 33 is turned on.
As will be described later, at first, the switch 33 is turned off for preprocessing, and only the first storage unit 31 is charged. Then, by charging the first power storage unit 31, the slave unit control unit 20 and the communication unit 21 can be operated, and pre-processing for charging is performed. The charging of FIG. 4 is started at a time after that, and in FIG. 4, the second 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 charging is continued with only the minimum sleep power consumption. ..

The slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD wakes up after T seconds have elapsed, and confirms whether or not the charging of the first storage unit 31 and the second storage unit 32 is completed. If the charging is completed, the slave unit control unit 20 transmits a charging completion signal FINC. 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 charging of the slave unit SD1 is completed at time point te10, and a charging completion signal FINC001 is transmitted when T seconds have elapsed from the start of the first sleep.
After transmitting the charge completion signal FINC001, the slave unit control unit 20 of the slave unit SD shifts to sleep again. By going to sleep even after charging is completed, power consumption can be avoided as much as possible.
Charging is not completed for the slave units SD2 and SD9, and at the time of the first wakeup, the charging completion signal FINC is not transmitted and the slave unit 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.

After the second sleep, each handset SD wakes up again after T seconds have elapsed to confirm the completion of charging. In this example, since the slave units SD1 and SD2 have been charged at the time of the second wake-up, the slave unit SD1 transmits the charge completion signal FINC001, and the slave unit SD2 transmits the charge completion signal FINC002. The slave unit SD9 has not completed charging and does not transmit the charging 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 charge completion signal FINC001 again, but it may be transmitted every time in order to surely confirm the charge confirmation of all the slave unit SDs on the master unit MD side. Conceivable. In particular, a handset that has been charged quickly 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 a margin, so there is no problem even if it is transmitted every time. No.
However, especially when the capacity of the power storage unit is small, the handset SD that has once transmitted the charge completion signal FINC may not be transmitted at the time of subsequent wakeup.

In the example of FIG. 4, it is assumed that charging is completed in each handset SD by the time point after the third sleep. In this case, each slave unit SD wakes up after T seconds have elapsed from the start of sleep, confirms charging completion, and transmits a charging completion signal FIN.
At this time, since the charging completion signal FINC can be received from all the slave units SD on the master unit MD side, the charging completion is confirmed and the power supply operation is terminated.
Assuming that the number of times information n = 3 for specifying the number of repetitions is set here, if charging completion cannot be confirmed on all handset SDs even at this point, a cycle of three sleeps and wake-up confirmation of charging has already occurred. Since the above is completed, the operation is terminated as an error, or the charging operation setting signal CAR is transmitted and the operation is restarted.

Through the above communication, it is possible to confirm the completion of charging for all the handset SDs.
5 and 6 show processing examples of the master unit MD and each slave unit SD to realize the operation as shown in FIG. 4. The illustrated processing on the master unit side (S101 to S159) is a processing executed by the master unit control unit 10 according to an operation program. The processes (S201 to S259) on the slave unit side shown in the figure are processes executed by the slave unit control unit 20 in each slave unit SD according to the operation program.

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

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

When charging is performed for a certain period of time, the master unit control unit 10 determines that the slave unit SD side can perform pre-processing, and proceeds to step S103 to set the slave unit. Specifically, the master unit control unit 10 transmits setting information including information on the address and the detonation delay time to the slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD. A serial number is preset in each handset SD. Therefore, the master unit control unit 10 transmits information on the address and the detonation delay time corresponding to each serial number.
The address to be transmitted here is an address such as (001) (002) described above, and is an address for setting the response signal ACK and the delay time for starting sleep.
The detonation delay time is the delay time from when the master unit control unit 10 transmits the detonation trigger until the slave unit control unit 20 actually performs the detonation process. When exploding a large number of dynamite installed in various places, the order and time difference of detonation are important to obtain the desired crushed state. Therefore, the detonation delay time is set for each handset SD.

When the slave unit control unit 20 receives the setting information in step S201, the slave unit control unit 20 acquires the address, the detonation 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, the master unit control unit 10 instructs the slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD to check the continuity of the detonator unit (detonator).
When the slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD receives the continuity check instruction in step S203, the slave unit control unit 20 performs the continuity check in step S204. For example, the handset control unit 20 checks the continuity of necessary parts such as the functional unit 24. Then, the slave unit control unit 20 transmits the check result to the master unit control unit 10 in step S205.

The master unit control unit 10 receives and confirms the check result from the slave unit control unit 20 in step S105. Here, the check results from all the handset SDs are confirmed.
That is, until it can be confirmed that the check is OK for all the slave units in step S106, 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 the check result of "continuity is not possible" is obtained even from one handset SD, or if the check result cannot be received even from one handset SD, error processing is performed in step S108. .. In other words, as an emergency stop, the progress of subsequent processing is stopped. Especially in the case of a detonation system, it is important to properly operate all detonators in order to achieve the work purpose and ensure safety. Therefore, if an abnormality is detected even in one handset SD, it is preferable to stop the processing progress.

If the continuity check of all the slave units SD is OK, the process proceeds to the charging process of FIG. The charging process referred to here is at least a charging process by wireless power supply to the second storage unit 32, which is the main power source of the original function (functional unit 24). Following the above pretreatment, this charging process is started.

In step S150 of FIG. 6, the master unit control unit 10 controls the power feeding device 2 to start the wireless power feeding operation. However, this control is unnecessary when the wireless power supply started in the previous step S101 is continued as it is.

In step S151, the master unit control unit 10 transmits a charging operation setting signal CAR to the 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.
When the handset control unit 20 of each handset SD receives the charging operation setting signal CAR in step S250, it stores the time information T and the number of times information n in step S251, turns on the switch 33, and further changes the variable C = 1. And. The variable C is a variable for confirming the number of repetitions.
By turning on the switch 33, charging of the second power storage unit 32 in addition to the first power storage unit 31 is started.

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

The master unit control unit 10 performs reception processing of the response signal ACK in step S152. The reception process in step S152 is performed in step S153 until it is determined that the response waiting time for all slave units SD has elapsed. Since the response signal ACK is transmitted from each slave unit SD with a time difference, the response waiting time is set according to the delay time for the response of the slave unit SD (for example, SD009) to be transmitted last. It will be time.
After receiving the response signal ACK from all the slave units SD, the process proceeds from steps S153 to S154, and an internal timer that counts the time is started in order to recognize the limit of waiting for reception thereafter.
Although not shown, the response signal ACK cannot be confirmed even if only one response signal ACK can be received after the response waiting time has elapsed in step S153. If there is), it is desirable to stop the charging process for detonation as an error process.

The slave unit control unit 20 of each slave unit SD automatically wakes up when T seconds have elapsed after sleeping in step S254 (S255). Then, the handset control unit 20 confirms the completion of charging in step S256. If charging is completed, the slave unit control unit 20 proceeds to step S257 and performs a process of transmitting a charging completion signal FINC. If charging is not completed, the process of step S257 is skipped.
Then, the slave unit control unit 20 increments the variable C in step S258, and if the variable C does not reach the number information n in step S259, the slave unit control unit 20 returns to step S254 and shifts to sleep.

If the variable C reaches the number of times information n in step S259, the 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.

The master unit control unit 10 performs a charging completion signal FINC reception process in step S155.
This reception process is continuously performed until it is determined in step S156 that the charging continuation 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 side determines that C ≧ n in step S259. The master unit control unit 10 confirms in step S156 whether or not the time count started in step S154 has reached this charging duration.
Therefore, for example, when 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 side sleeps / wakes up three times to confirm the charge completion. Will be monitored.

After the charging continuation time has elapsed, the master unit control unit 10 proceeds to step S157 and confirms whether or not charging of all slave units SD is completed. That is, it is a confirmation as to whether or not the charge completion signal FINC has been obtained from all the slave unit SDs. If the charging of all the slave units SD is completed, the master unit control unit 10 controls the power supply device 2 in step S159 to end the wireless power supply operation. Then, the charging process of FIG. 6 is completed.
If even one charging is not completed, the number of retransmissions of the charging operation setting signal CAR is confirmed in step S158. The number of retransmissions is a number of times selected in advance (for example, set by the operator), and can be set to a value of one or more times.
If the number of retransmissions still remains, the master unit control unit 10 returns to step S151 and performs the same processing. If the set number of retransmissions is completed, the master unit control unit 10 ends the power feeding operation by the power feeding device 2 in step S159 to end the process.
As a result, the process of FIG. 6 can be repeated up to the number of retransmissions until the charging of all the slave units SD is completed.
If there is a slave SD that does not complete charging even if the process of FIG. 6 is repeated as many times as the number of retransmissions, it is desirable to stop the charging process for detonation as an error process.

<Summary and modification>
In the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The charge confirmation device 1 of the embodiment has a communication unit 11 that performs wireless communication with a plurality of slave units SD (power receiving devices), each of which charges the power storage unit in response to wireless power supply, and a master unit control. The unit 10 is provided. Then, the master unit control unit 10 receives the charging operation setting signal CAR from the communication unit 11 to a plurality of slave unit SDs (S151) at the time of wireless power supply and without transmitting an inquiry to the slave unit SD. Is waited for, and a process (S155, S156, S157) for confirming whether or not charging completion signals from all the power receiving devices have been received is performed.
Further, the handset SD (power receiving device) of the embodiment is a power supply unit 22 that charges the power storage unit (first power storage unit 31, second power storage unit 32) mounted as an operating power source in response to wireless power supply. A communication unit 21 for wireless communication with an external charge confirmation device and a slave unit control unit 20 are provided. Then, 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), and wakes up after a predetermined time elapses to confirm the charging completion of the power storage unit. When the charging is completed, the charging completion signal FINC is transmitted from the communication unit 21 to the charging confirmation device 1 of the master unit MD (S255 to S257).
That is, after the charging operation setting signal CAR is transmitted 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 handset control unit 20 voluntarily confirms the completion of charging when wakes up from the sleep state, and transmits a charging completion signal when it is determined that the charging is completed.
The master unit MD may simply wait for the charging completion signal FINC from the slave unit SD, and does not require processing such as predicting the progress of charging of the slave unit SD and making an inquiry, which facilitates the processing.
In the slave unit SD, since the master unit MD does not transmit an inquiry, it is not necessary to perform reception processing during charging, and power consumption can be reduced. Furthermore, considering the case where the reception processing 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 reception processing is extremely high. Further, since the slave unit SD side charges while sleeping, almost no power consumption of the power storage unit during charging occurs.
As a result, charging can be efficiently and quickly performed on the SD side of the slave unit, and it is also desirable for the operation of the functional unit 24 after charging and for securing power for communication.
In particular, in the case of the detonation system as described in the embodiment, a capacitor may be used as the first storage unit 31 and the second storage unit 32, but these capacitors do not have such a large capacity and are used for communication and detonation. It can be the minimum required power supply. Then, we want to avoid power consumption as much as possible. Therefore, not consuming power without performing reception processing is extremely advantageous for normal detonation operation.

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

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

In the embodiment, the charging operation setting signal CAR includes the number of times information n that specifies the number of times of repeating sleep and charging completion confirmation in the slave unit SD.
Then, the slave unit control unit 20 repeatedly executes the process of shifting to the sleep state and confirming the completion of charging of the power storage unit by wake-up, as many times as the number of times information n indicates.
By specifying the number of times to repeat the sleep during charging of the slave unit SD from the master unit MD and the charging completion confirmation (sending the charging completion signal as needed) by waking up, the system operation can be flexibly set. .. For example, the number of times information n can be appropriately set according to the situation (arrangement of each handset SD, charging capacity, etc.).
On the slave unit SD side, not only such processing is executed for a fixed number of operation cycles, but also the master unit MD side can flexibly respond according to the content and convenience of the work.
Further, the number of times information n defines the number of operation cycles during charging on the SD side of the slave unit, and it is possible to prevent an unlimited number of sleep and charge completion confirmations from causing a malfunction in the system operation.
The number of repetitions may also be a fixed number, and may be a value known in advance by the slave unit control unit 20 and the master unit control unit 10 of all the slave unit SDs. At least, if the charging operation setting signal CAR includes the number of repetitions information, the number of repetitions can be variably set on the system.
In the embodiment, it is assumed that the charging operation setting signal CAR includes both the time information of the sleep time in the slave unit SD and the number of times information indicating the number of repetitions of sleep and charge completion confirmation. It is not always necessary that both are included in the charging operation setting signal CAR.

In the embodiment, the slave unit control unit 20 waits for the set delay time after receiving the charging operation setting signal CAR received by the communication unit 21, then transmits the response signal ACK and shifts to the sleep state. I made it.
That is, each slave unit SD is set with its own unique address, and after a delay time corresponding to the address has elapsed from the reception timing of the charging operation setting signal CAR, the response signal ACK is transmitted and the sleep mode is entered.
As a result, the timing at which each slave unit SD transmits the response signal ACK and the timing at which it shifts to sleep are deviated from each other.
By shifting the timing of transmitting the response signal ACK, the master unit MD side 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 may be transmitted from multiple slave unit SDs at the same time, 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 by using the delay time according to the address.
Further, when the transition timing to sleep is shifted, the wake-up timing of each slave unit SD is also shifted, and as a result, the transmission timing of the charging completion signal FINC is not the same. Therefore, the master unit MD side 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.
In particular, when each slave unit MD voluntarily transmits a charge completion signal FINC to the master unit MD when charging is completed, the transmission timings of the charge completion signal FINC of each slave unit SD overlap and interfere with each other, and the master unit MD recognizes it. 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, even the handset SD that has already transmitted the charge completion signal FINC out of n cycles will transmit the charge completion signal FINC again for confirmation when it wakes up next time. , Such second and subsequent transmissions may be stopped. As a result, wasteful power consumption can be avoided and the amount of communication in the system can be reduced.

1 ... Charge confirmation device, 2 ... Wire 4less power supply device, 10 ... Master unit control unit, 11 ... Communication unit, 12 ... Power supply unit, 20 ... Slave unit control unit, 21 ... Communication unit, 22 ... Power supply unit, 30 ... Power receiving unit, 31 ... 1st power storage unit, 32 ... 2nd power storage unit, 33 ... switch, MD ... master unit, SD (SD1 to SD9) ... slave unit

Claims (9)

A communication unit that wirelessly communicates with multiple power receiving devices, each of which charges the power storage unit in response to wireless power supply.
With a control unit,
The control unit
A process of transmitting a charging operation setting signal from the communication unit to a plurality of power receiving devices at the time of wireless power supply, and
A charging confirmation device that waits for reception without transmitting an inquiry to the power receiving device, and performs a process of confirming whether or not a charging completion signal has been received from all the power receiving devices. The charging confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the charging operation setting signal includes time information for designating a sleep time in the power receiving device. The charging confirmation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the charging operation setting signal includes a number of times information for designating the number of times of repeating sleep and charging completion confirmation in the power receiving device. A power supply unit that charges the power storage unit installed as an operating power supply in response to wireless power supply,
A communication unit that performs wireless communication with an external charge confirmation device,
With a control unit,
The control unit
After receiving the charging operation setting signal received by the communication unit, it shifts to the sleep state, wakes up after a predetermined time elapses, processes the charging completion confirmation of the power storage unit, and if charging is completed. , A power receiving device that performs a process of transmitting a charging completion signal from the communication unit to the charging confirmation device. The charging operation setting signal includes time information that specifies a sleep time, and includes time information.
The power receiving device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit wakes up after a predetermined time specified in the time information elapses after shifting to the sleep state and performs a process of confirming charging completion of the power storage unit. The charging operation setting signal includes a number of times information for designating the number of times of repeating sleep and charging completion confirmation in the power receiving device.
The power receiving unit according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the control unit repeatedly executes the process of shifting to the sleep state and confirming the completion of charging of the power storage unit by wake-up for the number of times indicated in the number of times information. Device. The control unit
The fourth to sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein after receiving the charging operation setting signal received by the communication unit, the response signal is transmitted after waiting for the set delay time, and the sleep state is entered. Power receiving device. It is a wireless power supply system that has a charge confirmation device and multiple power receiving devices.
The charge confirmation device is
A first communication unit that performs wireless communication with multiple power receiving devices,
With a first control unit
The first control unit is
A process of transmitting a charging operation setting signal from the first communication unit to a plurality of power receiving devices at the time of wireless power supply, and a process of transmitting the charging operation setting signal to a plurality of power receiving devices.
A process of waiting for reception without transmitting an inquiry to the power receiving device and confirming whether or not charging completion signals from all the power receiving devices have been received, and a process of confirming whether or not the charging completion signal has been received.
And the power receiving device
A power supply unit that charges the power storage unit installed as an operating power supply in response to wireless power supply,
A second communication unit that performs wireless communication with the charge confirmation device,
With a second control unit
The second control unit is
After receiving the charging operation setting signal received by the second communication unit, the system shifts to the sleep state, wakes up after a lapse of a predetermined time, performs a process of confirming the charging completion of the power storage unit, and charging is completed. In this case, a wireless power supply system that performs a process of causing the charge confirmation device to transmit a charge completion signal from the second communication unit. The wireless power feeding system according to claim 8, wherein the power receiving device is provided in the detonator, and the power storage unit is used as a power source for the detonating operation.

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