Realization of new power supply method to wearable devices using wireless power transmission between garments

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04175
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 60060:Information network-related
• Research Institution: Toyohashi University of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Ohmura Ren 豊橋技術科学大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (10395163)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 宮路 祐一 愛知工業大学, 工学部, 准教授 (50712923)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ウェアラブル・コンピューテイング / 無線電力伝送 / 電源管理 / コイル設計

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, wireless power transmission on clothing was investigated with the aim of improving the practicality of wearable computers and achieving further flexibility. For the shapes of coils used for transmission, such as squares, circles and regular hexagons, their sizes, and the effect of bending and misalignment that occur in the coils, experiment data were comprehensively obtained, and the trends in changes in transmission efficiency and the appropriate conditions were clarified. In addition, the effects of the human body on transmission and, conversely, the effects on the human body were clarified. Furthermore, through experiments using actual equipment, the transmission efficiency that can be expected in real life situation, such as standing and walking, was clarified.

Free Research Field

ユビキタス・コンピューティング

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究結果はウェアラブルデバイスや衣類上での無線電力伝送に対して，伝送用コイルの設計指針を与える．形状や大きさなどによって期待できる伝送効率や，コイルに生じる曲げやズレによって生じる効率低下の傾向などが明らかになった．また，人体への安全基準のもと送受信可能な電力を明らかにした．これらのことは，衣類上での無線電力伝送の実用化に大きく寄与するとともに，衣類上でのデバイス間の相互電力供給技術など，あらたな技術開発を萌芽させるものである．