Patent Description:
A wireless sensor used in a general machine tool, such as touch probes and tool length setters, includes a sensor (transmitting device) that is operated by a battery and a receiver (receiving device) that acquires a measurement value sensed by the sensor and power from the machine tool.

The battery for the sensor requires replacement, and when to replace the battery is difficult to predict because the battery life greatly varies depending on the frequency of use and operating environment.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses a technology related to a battery charger for charging the battery of a touch probe.

Patent Document <NUM>: <CIT> Document <CIT> discloses a power supply system, comprising: the electronic device including a battery that drives the electronic device,a power receiving antenna that acquires a radio wave for transmitting power to the electronic device, a conversion unit that converts the radio wave received by the power receiving antenna to power, and a charging unit that charges the battery with the power converted by the conversion unit; and a power supply control unit that controls a condition for transmitting the power to the power receiving antenna so that the electronic device operates without interruption.

Both of the wireless sensor using a common battery and the touch probe having the battery charger of Patent Document <NUM> cannot be maintenance-free, requiring the machine tool to be stopped every time the battery is replaced or charged. There are many machine tools used, and thus an increase in the number of sensors requires frequent replacement or wired-charging of the batteries, making the replacement or the charging complicated. This results in frequent stop of the machine tools and lowers productivity.

The battery is often replaced inside the machine tool. If the sensor fails and requires replacement due to the entry of cutting fluid or chips into the sensor during the replacement of the battery, it takes time to resume the production.

When an operator enters the machine tool for maintenance, machining setup, or attachment or detachment of an object to be machined, the safety of the battery charger of Patent Document <NUM>, if placed inside the machine tool, for example, may be affected.

An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply control system and a control system that are capable of charging a power source of a sensor placed in a machine tool easily and safely.

An aspect of the present invention is directed to a power supply control system according to claim <NUM>.

The present invention can provide a power supply control system and a control system that are capable of charging a power source of a sensor placed in a machine tool easily and safely.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a general configuration of a control system <NUM> of the present embodiment. The control system <NUM> includes a machine tool <NUM>, a numerical controller <NUM>, an electronic device <NUM>, and a receiver <NUM>.

The electronic device <NUM> is placed inside or near the machine tool <NUM>. The machine tool <NUM>, the numerical controller <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM> are connected to be able to communicate with each other. Although <FIG> shows only a single electronic device <NUM> in the machine tool <NUM>, the number of electronic devices <NUM> is not limited to one, and any plural number of electronic devices <NUM> may be placed.

The machine tool <NUM> is a device that performs predetermined machining, such as cutting. The machine tool <NUM> includes a motor that is driven for the machining of a workpiece, a main shaft and a feed shaft attached to the motor, and jigs and tools corresponding to the shafts. The machine tool <NUM> drives the motor based on an operation command to perform predetermined machining.

The predetermined machining is not limited to particular machining. Specifically, the machine tool may perform other types of machining, for example, grinding, polishing, rolling, and forging, in addition to the cutting. The machining may or may not involve processing of a workpiece.

The present embodiment can be applied to not only the machine tools, but also a wide variety of general industrial machines. Examples of the industrial machine include various types of machines, for example, machine tools, machining centers, industrial robots, and service robots. The industrial machine is not necessarily the one particular to the present embodiment and can be a general industrial machine.

The numerical controller <NUM> controls a main shaft and drive shaft of the machine tool <NUM> in accordance with a machining program. The numerical controller <NUM> can be achieved by allowing, for example, a computer device including a CPU, memory, and an input/output interface, to execute an appropriate control program.

In particular, the numerical controller <NUM> can acquire an ON-OFF signal or a measurement value acquired from the electronic device <NUM> described later via the receiver <NUM> described later and can perform numerical control using the acquired ON-OFF signal or measurement value.

The numerical controller <NUM> sends a control signal to the receiver <NUM> described later, and the receiver <NUM> changes for the electronic device <NUM> described later the state of the electronic device <NUM> to a "standby" state or a "measuring" state based on the control signal.

The electronic device <NUM> can achieve wireless communication and is provided inside or near the machine tool <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may be a position sensor, such as a touch probe, that detects the positions of a tool and a workpiece. In this case, the positions of the tool and the workpiece detected by the electronic device <NUM> as the position sensor are used as position feedback (position FB).

Alternatively, the electronic device <NUM> may be a temperature sensor that detects, for example, the temperatures of the tool and the workpiece. In this case, the temperatures of the tool and the workpiece detected by the electronic device <NUM> as the temperature sensor are used as temperature feedback (temperature FB).

Although the following description may be made on the assumption that the electronic device <NUM> is a touch probe, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this example.

As shown in <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> includes a power receiving antenna <NUM> and a first communication antenna <NUM>. As will be described in detail later, the power receiving antenna <NUM> is an antenna that receives a radio wave for power transmission from the receiver <NUM>. The first communication antenna <NUM> is an antenna that receives a radio wave for communication with the receiver <NUM>.

The receiver <NUM> is a receiving device that acquires an ON-OFF signal of a switch, which is the result of comparison between a measured voltage and a threshold voltage, for example, from the electronic device <NUM> serving as the touch probe, and wirelessly supplies power to the electronic device <NUM>. When the electronic device <NUM> is, for example, a tool length setter, the receiver <NUM> acquires a measurement value from the electronic device <NUM> and wirelessly supplies power to the electronic device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the receiver <NUM> includes a power supply antenna <NUM>, a second communication antenna <NUM>, and a power transmitter <NUM>. As will be described in detail later, the power supply antenna <NUM> is an antenna that sends a radio wave for power transmission to the electronic device <NUM>. The second communication antenna <NUM> is an antenna that transmits and receives a radio wave for communication with the electronic device <NUM>.

The power transmitter <NUM> is a unit that transmits power to the power supply antenna <NUM>. Although the power transmitter <NUM> is placed outside a housing of the receiver <NUM> in <FIG>, the power transmitter <NUM> is not limited to this example and may be placed inside the housing of the receiver <NUM> to be integrated with the receiver <NUM>. The power transmitter <NUM> placed outside the housing of the receiver <NUM> may be arranged inside the machine tool <NUM> or outside the machine tool <NUM>.

In a set of the electronic device <NUM> and the receiver <NUM>, the power receiving antenna <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> and the power supply antenna <NUM> of the receiver <NUM> are used to wirelessly supply power from the receiver <NUM> to the electronic device <NUM>. Concurrently, in the set of the electronic device <NUM> and the receiver <NUM>, the first communication antenna <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> of the receiver <NUM> are used to achieve the communication to acquire the ON-OFF signal or the measurement value from the electronic device <NUM> or control the electronic device <NUM>.

The radio wave used for the wireless power supply between the electronic device <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> may be in a wireless frequency band of, for example, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. For use of the radio wave with a frequency in each of the wireless frequency bands, a channel at a predetermined frequency around the frequency is used.

The transmission of the radio wave may start after a check by carrier-sense multiple access. The "carrier-sense" is a protocol for avoiding interference. This protocol verifies the absence of other radio station using a wireless channel (own channel) on which the transmission is to be made before starting the transmission of the radio wave, and no transmission at the same frequency is made if the other radio device is using the own channel.

The radio wave used for the communication between the electronic device <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> may be in a wireless frequency band of <NUM>, for example.

As shown in <FIG>, the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> of the receiver <NUM> are provided inside a housing of the machine tool <NUM>, and a body of the receiver <NUM> having a control function (a power supply control unit <NUM>, a second communication unit <NUM>, and an operation control unit <NUM> which are described later) and the power transmitter <NUM> are provided outside the housing of the machine tool <NUM>. Specifically, for example, a hole is formed in the housing of the machine tool <NUM> to connect the power supply antenna <NUM>, the second communication antenna <NUM>, and the power transmitter <NUM> with a cable that passes through the hole and transmits and receives signals.

When the whole part of the receiver <NUM> is placed outside the housing of the machine tool <NUM>, the radio wave transmitted and received between the receiver <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM> is screened by the housing of the machine tool <NUM>, degrading power supply efficiency. However, when the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> are separated from the power transmitter <NUM> and the body of the receiver <NUM>, the power supply efficiency can be kept from degrading. When the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> are separated from the power transmitter <NUM> and the body of the receiver <NUM>, these components can be placed flexibly.

The power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> are covered with a resin case (cover). This can keep chips generated in a cutting process by the machine tool <NUM> from adhering to the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM>.

The receiver <NUM> may include a plurality of power supply antennas <NUM> and a plurality of second communication antennas <NUM>. The increased number of antennas improves power transmission efficiency and communication efficiency.

<FIG> shows that the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> of the receiver <NUM> are provided inside the housing of the machine tool <NUM>, and the body of the receiver <NUM> having the control function is provided outside the housing of the machine tool <NUM>. However, this is merely an example, and the receiver <NUM> is not limited to this example.

<FIG> and <FIG> show control systems 1A and 1B of other variations. As shown in <FIG>, the power supply antenna <NUM> alone may be provided inside the housing of the machine tool <NUM>, and other components of the receiver <NUM> including the second communication antenna <NUM> may be provided outside the housing of the machine tool <NUM>. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, an integrated antenna <NUM> obtained by combining the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> may be provided inside the housing of the machine tool <NUM>, and other components of the receiver <NUM> may be provided outside the housing of the machine tool <NUM>.

As described above, the radio wave used for the wireless power supply between the electronic device <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> may be in a wireless frequency band of, for example, <NUM> or <NUM>. The radio wave for the communication is suitably in a wireless frequency band of, for example, <NUM>.

When the radio wave for the wireless power supply and the radio wave for the communication are in different wireless frequency bands, the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> are suitably separated antennas as shown in <FIG>.

When the radio wave for the wireless power supply and the radio wave for the communication are in the same wireless frequency band of, for example, <NUM>, the integrated antenna <NUM> obtained by combining the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> is suitably used as shown in <FIG>. In this case, as will be described in detail later, the integrated antenna <NUM> is time-shared, i.e., used in a time period for sending the radio wave for the wireless power supply and a time period for transmitting and receiving the radio wave for the communication.

Although the radio wave for the wireless power supply and the radio wave for the communication are in different wireless frequency bands, the configuration shown in <FIG> can be achieved when an array antenna, for example, is used as the integrated antenna <NUM>.

In the following description, the set of the electronic device <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> may be referred to as a "measurement system".

<FIG> is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the electronic device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> includes, in addition to the power receiving antenna <NUM> and the first communication antenna <NUM> described above, a battery <NUM>, a conversion unit <NUM>, a charging unit <NUM>, a battery level detector <NUM>, and a first communication unit <NUM>.

The electronic device <NUM> also includes, in addition to the components shown in <FIG>, components that are well known in the art and essential for the output of the ON-OFF signal based on the comparison between the sensed or measured value and a threshold value, but these components are not shown.

The battery <NUM> is a chargeable secondary battery that drives the electronic device <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may be, for example, a lithium ion battery or a nickel-hydrogen battery, but the battery of the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to these batteries.

The conversion unit <NUM> converts the radio wave for the power transmission that the power receiving antenna <NUM> has received to power. The conversion unit <NUM> may be, for example, a rectifier circuit that converts the radio wave into a direct current circuit, but is not limited to this example.

The charging unit <NUM> charges the battery <NUM> with the power converted by the conversion unit <NUM>.

The battery level detector <NUM> detects the remaining level of the battery <NUM>. For example, the battery level detector <NUM> detects the power of battery <NUM> consumed hourly, and subtracts an accumulated value of the power consumed hourly from the capacity of the battery <NUM> to detect the remaining level of the battery <NUM>.

The first communication unit <NUM> communicates with the receiver <NUM> using the radio wave transmitted and received by the first communication antenna <NUM> to send the ON-OFF signal and information about the value of the remaining level of the battery <NUM> to the receiver <NUM> and acquire the control signal for the electronic device <NUM> from the receiver <NUM>.

The electronic device <NUM> includes the battery <NUM>, which is particularly a chargeable secondary battery, and stores the power to maintain operational stability during the measurement by the electronic device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the receiver <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the receiver <NUM> includes, in addition to the power supply antenna <NUM>, the second communication antenna <NUM>, and the power transmitter <NUM> described above, a power supply control unit <NUM>, a second communication unit <NUM>, and an operation control unit <NUM>.

The power supply control unit <NUM> controls power transmission by sending the radio wave using the power supply antenna <NUM>. In particular, the power supply control unit <NUM> controls a condition for transmitting the power to the power receiving antenna <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> so that the electronic device <NUM> operates without interruption. The power supply control unit <NUM> may control the condition based on the information about the electronic device <NUM> contained in the communication by the second communication unit <NUM> which will be described later. Alternatively, the power supply control unit <NUM> may control the condition based on a previously set detail of control. The "detail of control" may be, for example, power supply out of the operating time of the electronic device <NUM> or power supply in a frequency different from the communication frequency of the electronic device <NUM>. The power supply control unit <NUM> controls at least one of an interval or output of the power supply to control the power transmission.

The second communication unit <NUM> communicates with the electronic device <NUM> by the radio wave transmitted and received by the second communication antenna <NUM>. In particular, the second communication unit <NUM> acquires the ON-OFF signal and the value of the remaining level of the battery <NUM> from the electronic device <NUM> and sends the control signal to the electronic device <NUM>.

The operation control unit <NUM> controls the power transmission by the power supply control unit <NUM> and the communication between the second communication unit <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM> in a mixed manner. In particular, the operation control unit <NUM> controls the timings of the power supply and the communication.

As described above, the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> are components separated from the body of the receiver <NUM> (i.e., the power supply control unit <NUM>, the second communication unit <NUM>, and the operation control unit <NUM>).

How the control systems <NUM> to 1B of the present embodiment operate will be described below with reference to <FIG>.

As described above, in the electronic device <NUM>, the battery level detector <NUM> detects the remaining level of the battery <NUM>, and the first communication unit <NUM> sends the remaining level of the battery <NUM> to the receiver <NUM>.

In the receiver <NUM>, the second communication unit <NUM> acquires the remaining level of the battery <NUM> from the electronic device <NUM>, and the power supply control unit <NUM> controls at least one of the interval or output of the power supply by the radio wave that transmits the power based on the remaining level of the battery <NUM> acquired by the second communication unit <NUM>.

Particularly when the battery <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> is a lithium ion battery, the power supply control unit <NUM> suitably starts the power transmission by sending the radio wave using the power supply antenna <NUM> based on the remaining level of the battery <NUM> falling below a threshold value. The threshold value is a value corresponding to the power required for the stable operation of the electronic device <NUM>.

Alternatively, based on the amount of power consumed from the battery <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>, the power supply control unit <NUM> may send the radio wave using the power supply antenna <NUM> to transmit the power by the amount consumed.

When the radio wave for the wireless power supply and the radio wave for the communication are in the same wireless frequency band of, for example, <NUM> or <NUM>, as described above, the operation control unit <NUM> of the receiver <NUM> controls when to transmit the power by the power supply control unit <NUM> and when to achieve the communication between the second communication unit <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM> to avoid the coincidence of the power transmission and the communication.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example of control of the timings of the power supply and the communication by the operation control unit <NUM>. In the example shown in <FIG>, the second communication unit <NUM> starts the communication with the electronic device <NUM> at regular intervals, and the power supply control unit <NUM> supplies the power in a free period after the end of the communication. Specifically, in a set of the communication and the power supply, time tc for the communication and time tp for the power supply are not necessarily the same, although total time ti of the time tc for the communication and the time tp for the power supply is always the same.

As described above, in each of the control systems <NUM> to 1B, the numerical controller <NUM> performs numerical control of the machine tool <NUM> and communicates with the receiver <NUM> to acquire the ON-OFF signal or the measurement value from the electronic device <NUM> via the receiver <NUM>.

The numerical controller <NUM> generates control information including a power supply permission signal and sends the control information to the receiver <NUM>. Based on the control information, the receiver <NUM> sends a control signal to the electronic device <NUM>. Thus, the receiver <NUM> controls the timing of charging the battery <NUM>.

For example, the control signal may include the timing of charging, i.e., the battery <NUM> is charged when the electronic device <NUM> is on standby and the charging of the battery <NUM> stops when the electronic device <NUM> is measuring.

Alternatively, the control signal may include an instruction to move the electronic device <NUM> to an area with high charging efficiency in the machine tool <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the numerical controller <NUM> moving the electronic device <NUM> to an area with high charging efficiency in the machine tool <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the numerical controller <NUM> sends a position control signal to the machine tool <NUM> to move the electronic device <NUM> to the area with high charging efficiency in the machine tool <NUM>. In the example shown in <FIG>, the electronic device <NUM> is moved closer to the power supply antenna <NUM>. However, the electronic device <NUM> may be moved to any position with high charging efficiency.

Alternatively, the control information may include an instruction to move the power supply antenna <NUM> to an area with high power supply efficiency in the machine tool <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the numerical controller <NUM> moving the power supply antenna <NUM> to an area with high power supply efficiency in the machine tool <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the numerical controller <NUM> sends a position control signal to the machine tool <NUM> to move the power supply antenna <NUM> to the area with high power supply efficiency in the machine tool <NUM>. In the example shown in <FIG>, the power supply antenna <NUM> is moved closer to the electronic device <NUM>. However, the power supply antenna <NUM> may be moved to any position with high power supply efficiency.

In particular, when a mechanism for driving the power supply antenna <NUM> is provided in the receiver <NUM>, the numerical controller <NUM> may send the position control signal to the receiver <NUM>.

The power supply control system <NUM> of the present embodiment is the power supply control system <NUM> that supplies power to the electronic device <NUM>. The power supply control system <NUM> includes: the electronic device <NUM> including the battery <NUM> that drives the electronic device <NUM>, the power receiving antenna <NUM> that acquires a radio wave for transmitting power to the electronic device <NUM>, the conversion unit <NUM> that converts the radio wave received by the power receiving antenna <NUM> to power, and the charging unit <NUM> that charges the battery <NUM> with the power converted by the conversion unit <NUM>; and the power supply control unit <NUM> that controls a condition for transmitting the power to the power receiving antenna <NUM> so that the electronic device <NUM> operates without interruption.

Thus, a power source of the electronic device <NUM> placed in the machine tool <NUM> can be charged easily and safely.

The battery <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> can be charged without limiting the position of the electronic device <NUM> during the power supply, keeping the power transmission efficiency from decreasing.

The power supply control system <NUM> of the present embodiment further includes the receiver <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> includes the first communication antenna <NUM> that transmits and receives a radio wave for communication with the receiver <NUM> and the first communication unit <NUM> that communicates with the receiver <NUM> by the radio wave transmitted and received by the first communication antenna <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> includes the power supply antenna <NUM> that sends a radio wave for power transmission to the electronic device <NUM>, the second communication antenna <NUM> that transmits and receives a radio wave for communication with the electronic device <NUM>, and the second communication unit <NUM> that communicates with the electronic device <NUM> by the radio wave transmitted and received by the second communication antenna <NUM>. The power supply control unit <NUM> controls the condition for transmitting the power to the power receiving antenna <NUM> based on information about the electronic device <NUM> contained in the communication by the second communication unit <NUM>.

This allows concurrent power supply and communication between the electronic device <NUM> and the receiver <NUM>.

In the power supply control system of the present embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> further includes the battery level detector <NUM> that detects the remaining level of the battery <NUM>. The first communication unit <NUM> sends the remaining level of the battery detected by the battery level detector <NUM> to the receiver <NUM>, the second communication unit <NUM> acquires the remaining level of the battery from the electronic device <NUM>, and the power supply control unit <NUM> controls at least one of the interval or output of the power supply by the radio wave that transmits the power based on the remaining level of the battery acquired by the second communication unit <NUM>.

Thus, the power can be supplied depending on the remaining level of the battery <NUM>.

In the measurement system of the present embodiment, the receiver <NUM> may further include the operation control unit <NUM> that controls when to achieve the communication by the second communication unit <NUM> and when to transmit the power by the power supply control unit <NUM>.

This can keep the radio wave for the communication between the electronic device <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> and the radio wave for the power supply, for example, from interfering with each other.

The operation control unit <NUM> may perform control so that the second communication unit <NUM> starts the communication at regular intervals and the power supply control unit <NUM> sends the radio wave for the power transmission in a free period after the end of the communication and before the start of the next communication.

Thus, although the radio wave for the power supply and the radio wave for the communication have the same frequency, both of the power supply and the communication can be achieved without interference between the radio waves.

Each of the control systems <NUM> to 1B of the present embodiment is a control system including the measurement system described above, the machine tool <NUM>, and the numerical controller <NUM> that performs numerical control of the machine tool <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> is provided in the machine tool <NUM>.

This allows the power supply from the battery <NUM> to the electronic device <NUM> by the control of the machine tool <NUM> by the numerical controller <NUM>.

In each of the control systems <NUM> to 1B of the present embodiment the numerical controller <NUM> may generate the control information including when to charge the battery <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>.

Thus, when to charge the battery <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> can be determined by the numerical control by the numerical controller <NUM>.

In each of the control systems <NUM> to 1B of the present embodiment, the numerical controller <NUM> may generate the control information including an instruction to move the electronic device <NUM> to an area with high charging efficiency.

This allows control for improving the charging efficiency the electronic device <NUM> by the numerical control by the numerical controller <NUM>.

In each of the control systems <NUM> and 1B of the present embodiment, the numerical controller <NUM> may generate the control information including an instruction to move the power supply antenna <NUM> to an area with high power supply efficiency.

This allows control for improving the efficiency of power supply from the receiver <NUM> by the numerical control by the numerical controller <NUM>.

In each of the control systems <NUM> to 1B of the present embodiment, the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> are components separated from the power supply control unit <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM>. At least the power supply antenna <NUM> may be provided inside the housing of the machine tool <NUM>, and at least the power supply control unit <NUM> and the second communication unit <NUM> may be provided outside the housing of the machine tool <NUM>.

Thus, compared with when the housing of the machine tool <NUM> screens the radio wave transmitted and received between the receiver <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM> and degrades the power supply efficiency, the power supply efficiency can be kept from degrading. When the power supply antenna <NUM> and the second communication antenna <NUM> are separated from the body of the receiver <NUM>, these components can be placed flexibly.

The embodiments have been described above as advantageous embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Various types of modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the machine tool <NUM> and the numerical controller <NUM> of the above embodiment are separate components. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the machine tool <NUM> and the numerical controller <NUM> may be integrated in the same housing.

A plurality of modes for the power supply from the receiver <NUM> to the electronic device <NUM> may be prepared in advance, and one of the power supply modes may be selected during the standby of the electronic device <NUM> depending on the purpose of use of the electronic device <NUM> or the environment surrounding the electronic device <NUM>.

It has been described in the second operation example that the second communication unit <NUM> starts the communication with the electronic device <NUM> at regular intervals and the power supply control unit <NUM> supplies the power in a free period after the end of the communication. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the power supply control unit <NUM> may supply the power in the free period when the communication is achieved and may skip the power supply when the communication fails.

The receiver <NUM> may include a frequency changer that changes the frequency of the radio wave for the power supply. This is because the frequency of the radio wave that easily reaches the destination varies depending on the environment. When the transmission of the radio wave of a certain frequency fails, the receiver <NUM> can change the frequency to another frequency using the frequency changer to supply the power smoothly. Using the frequency changer, the receiver <NUM> can select the frequency with the highest power supply efficiency to supply the power.

The components of each of the control systems <NUM> to 1B can be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of the hardware and the software. The control performed in cooperation of the components of each of the control systems <NUM> to 1B can also be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of the hardware and the software. The expression "implemented by the software" means that a computer reads and executes a program to implement the functions of the control system or the control.

Claim 1:
A control system, comprising a power supply control system that supplies power to an electronic device (<NUM>), the power supply control system comprising:
the electronic device (<NUM>) including a battery (<NUM>) that drives the electronic device (<NUM>),
a power receiving antenna (<NUM>) that acquires a radio wave for transmitting power to the electronic device (<NUM>),
a conversion unit (<NUM>) that converts the radio wave received by the power receiving antenna (<NUM>) to power, and
a charging unit (<NUM>) that charges the battery (<NUM>) with the power converted by the conversion unit (<NUM>);
a receiver (<NUM>); and
a power supply control unit (<NUM>) that controls a condition for transmitting the power to the power receiving antenna (<NUM>) so that the electronic device (<NUM>) operates without interruption, wherein
the electronic device (<NUM>) includes
a first communication antenna (<NUM>) that transmits and receives a radio wave for communication with the receiver (<NUM>), and
a first communication unit (<NUM>) that communicates with the receiver (<NUM>) by the radio wave transmitted and received by the first communication antenna (<NUM>),
the receiver (<NUM>) includes
a power supply antenna (<NUM>) that sends a radio wave for power transmission to the electronic device (<NUM>),
a second communication antenna (<NUM>) that transmits and receives a radio wave for communication with the electronic device (<NUM>), and
a second communication unit (<NUM>) that communicates with the electronic device (<NUM>) by the radio wave transmitted and received by the second communication antenna (<NUM>), and
the power supply control unit (<NUM>) controls the condition for transmitting the power to the power receiving antenna (<NUM>) based on information about the electronic device (<NUM>) contained in the communication by the second communication unit (<NUM>),
wherein the control system further comprises: a machine tool (<NUM>), which is an industrial machine; and a numerical controller (<NUM>) that performs numerical control of the machine tool (<NUM>), wherein
the electronic device (<NUM>) is provided in the machine tool (<NUM>), and
the numerical controller (<NUM>) is configured to acquire a signal or a measurement value from the electronic device (<NUM>) via the receiver (<NUM>) and perform numerical control of the machine tool (<NUM>) using the signal or the measurement value.