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Self-optimizing power transfer

  • US 10,056,791 B2
  • Filed: 07/13/2012
  • Issued: 08/21/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for charging a power source of a self-propelled device having a spherical housing and an internal drive system within the spherical housing to propel the self-propelled device, the method being performed by one or more processors of the self-propelled device and comprising:

  • detecting a misalignment between an inductive charging interface of the self-propelled device and an inductive charging interface of a charging dock when the self-propelled device is placed in a receptacle of the charging dock; and

    in response to detecting the misalignment, automatically causing the internal drive system of the self-propelled device to rotate within the spherical housing of self-propelled device, so as to move the inductive charging interface of the self-propelled device relative to the charging dock to achieve an alignment between the inductive charging interface of the self-propelled device and the inductive charging interface of the charging dock,wherein detecting the misalignment includes at least one of (a) monitoring an amount of power being received by the self-propelled device from the charging dock, and (b) receiving input from one or more sensors of the self-propelled device that indicate one or more angles of rotation of the self-propelled device relative to the charging dock.

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