"Wireless power supply" Nippon, which is moving to practical use, has begun a 1.5 trillion yen market competition for the world | New Switch by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun

Japan starts to practical use of "wireless power supply" technology, which supplies electricity without using a wired cable.The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications plans to assign a dedicated radio wave in three bands within 2021.Japan, the United States, and China will overcome the development of wireless power supply technology that allows electricity to be transmitted with cables.Ten years later, a battle for the world market, which is said to exceed 1.5 trillion yen, began.(Kuniwa Yamada)

The wireless power supply method, which adheres to the digital device to the dedicated stand, is practically used in some parts, such as a smartphone, but the technology development that can send electricity even if it is a little far away is progressing.If you can supply electricity to the wireless wireless wireless, you will not need to charge wired.You can use smartphones and personal computers without worrying about running out of batteries, and electric vehicles (EVs) can run forever.Wireless power supply with such possibilities is called the "last frontier" in the power electronics field.

According to the Yano Economic Research Institute, the wireless power supply world market (business sales basis) is expanding at more than 10 % every year, and in 31 years (predicted), in 31, 31 years later, it was about 3.6 times.It is expected to be about 1,550 billion yen.More than 80 % are for small digital equipment such as smartphones, smartwatches, and wireless earphones.Demand is expected to increase in fields such as industrial machinery, electric bicycle, and nursing care sensors, such as unmanned transport vehicles (AGV) in factories.

The method of sending electricity to a slightly distant place is to use microwaves, one of the electromagnetic waves, or go through a magnetic field.Until now, power supply using microwaves could not be performed other than experiments in Japan.The regulation of the radio wave law caused a high practical hurdle.

However, here is the environment for realization in terms of institutional aspects.The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications plans to amend the ministerial ordinance of the Radio Law within FY2011 and allocate three frequency bands: 920 Megahertz (1 million mega), 2.4 Gigahertz (Giga 1 billion), and 5.7 Gigatz.Verify the impact on the human body and the radio wave interference with other communication devices, and expand the range of use to the outdoors and people where people are.

Corporate development is also accelerating.Minebea Mitsumi works with Kyoto University to use wireless power supply for tunnels maintenance and inspection.Attach a sensor in the tunnel, apply a microwave to the sensor from the driving vehicle, and get the information from the sensor while power supply.The experiment was successfully inspected for the looseness of bolts based on the obtained information.In the future, information such as water leakage and cracks can be automatically collected simply by running the tunnel, which will lead to labor -saving and efficiency of infrastructure inspection.

Panasonic will launch a wireless power supply test for IoT (Internet of Things) from FY2011.One wat electricity can be supplied simultaneously to multiple sensors within the range of 5-10 meters.The feature is that the in -handed parts integrated with the sensor are small and small.It is assumed to be used in nursing care and use in factories and offices.By designing the antenna and devising the internal circuit, the receiving side can use the weak radio waves efficiently.

Separately, we have also prepared multiple transmitted machines, and also promote technology development to synthesize and supply those power at specific points.The output of individual power transfers is weak, so that the impact on the human body will be reduced, and it will reduce costs.

U.S. venture Ossia's wireless power supply, which is a semiconductor trading company's circle as a window, is devised to set radio waves with the aim.The transmission side uses the beacon signal to detect the power route and focus on the receiving side.It can be charged even if the receiving side moves.

There are various types of wireless power supply besides radio waves.The mainstream is to use the magnetic field that occurs when current is flowing into the coil, and the transmission distance is shorter than microwaves, but the power transmission efficiency is high.OMRON faces two coils and works on the development of a product using an "electromagnetic induction system" that sends electricity to the other coil through a magnetic field generated by electric current.The technology is used to select the optimal power supply frequency at the stop position of the coil, and power can be supplied in high efficiency even if the coil is shifted.

The TDK Lambda adopts a "magnetic field resonance method" that transmits electricity by resonating the coils and transmitting electricity.We have developed a power supply system for industrial equipment such as AGV.Due to the fear of disconnection, power supply to robots, which cannot use cables, is also possible, and it is expected that workplace savings and safety will be improved.

ROHM Group's Rapistechology works on a wireless power supply chipset (integrated circuit).The mounting area of the power receiving board is 230 square mines, and the 1 -wat power supply class achieves the smallest implementation area in the industry.The company's conventional products were difficult to install in wristband hematometer, smartwatches, and hearing aids.We are also developing modules using chipsets.

In order to go overseas, such as the United States, which is preceded by the practical use of wireless power supply, and China, which is said to reduce one -quarter of related patents, "Japan will not be able to win unless you work in the third place of technology, business and system."Professor Makoto Shinohara of Kyoto University, a leading wireless power supply research, asserts.

The highest wall of these three elements is the legal system.The use of wireless power supply after the revision of the Radio Law is limited to indoor environments and cannot be used in the city.In order to avoid radio interference, businesses need to be notified to the local communications bureau every time a wireless station is set up, and some regions have pointed out that applications take time and effort.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications representatives, "It is certain that the systematization of wireless power supply is time -consuming, but it is necessary to introduce it in a way that does not affect the world. There is no interference and safety in the future.If so, concerns will be paid, "but the weakness of the system can lead to delays in Japan.

If many people acknowledge the benefits of wireless power supply and show the attitude that society accepts, the range of use may increase.However, as in this case, it is difficult if it is limited to uninhabited indoor use, and it is "a dilemma" (industry officials).How do you incorporate and make use of wireless power supply that has the potential to greatly change people's lives?The attitude of society is also being questioned.

Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun November 4, 2021