Method of contactless charging of aquatic toy, toy and tank therefor
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for providing a kinetic display, the apparatus comprising:
- a container defining a movement limiting environment in which a mobile apparatus is to move, and further configured to contain a liquid medium; and
a submersible negatively buoyant mobile biominetic aquatic toy comprising an inductively chargeable battery and being capable of self-locomotion in the environment under power derived from the battery via an oscillatory propeller;
wherein the container comprises an inductive charging device having a defined zone in said environment, at or near a bottom of the container, located in operation in the liquid medium, to inductively interact to charge the battery of the mobile apparatus when said mobile apparatus is at least in a position selected from one of (a) sufficient proximity to the zone and (b) stationed at or in the zone; and
wherein the toy has control functionality to affect the propeller and able to favor proximity to the charging device to charge the battery, the control functionality responsive to a battery charge status such that it;
i. if fully charged, allows unrestricted movement of the toy in the environment when the battery charge status remains above a first charge status below full charge status,ii. if below said first charge status, limits the drive so the toy sinks in the liquid medium sufficient to at least one of locate to (a) and (b),iii. if (ii) has occurred, allows restricted movement of the toy in the environment only sufficient to localize to the zone even when the charge status is above said first charge status, andiv. if (iii) has occurred, allows unrestricted movement of the toy in the environment when the battery charge status achieves a full charge status or a second charge status below full charge status but above the first charge status.
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Abstract
A combination aquatic toy and a reservoir wherein the reservoir comprises a container to contain a body of water and a contactless electrical power transfer transmitter, the toy is a submersible or is submersible and comprises a body carrying a battery and a battery powered propeller (fin or screw propeller or foil or impeller or other) to drive the toy through the body of water and contactless power transfer receiver to receive power, when in sufficient proximity to the transmitter, from the transmitter.
16 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing a kinetic display, the apparatus comprising:
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a container defining a movement limiting environment in which a mobile apparatus is to move, and further configured to contain a liquid medium; and a submersible negatively buoyant mobile biominetic aquatic toy comprising an inductively chargeable battery and being capable of self-locomotion in the environment under power derived from the battery via an oscillatory propeller; wherein the container comprises an inductive charging device having a defined zone in said environment, at or near a bottom of the container, located in operation in the liquid medium, to inductively interact to charge the battery of the mobile apparatus when said mobile apparatus is at least in a position selected from one of (a) sufficient proximity to the zone and (b) stationed at or in the zone; and wherein the toy has control functionality to affect the propeller and able to favor proximity to the charging device to charge the battery, the control functionality responsive to a battery charge status such that it; i. if fully charged, allows unrestricted movement of the toy in the environment when the battery charge status remains above a first charge status below full charge status, ii. if below said first charge status, limits the drive so the toy sinks in the liquid medium sufficient to at least one of locate to (a) and (b), iii. if (ii) has occurred, allows restricted movement of the toy in the environment only sufficient to localize to the zone even when the charge status is above said first charge status, and iv. if (iii) has occurred, allows unrestricted movement of the toy in the environment when the battery charge status achieves a full charge status or a second charge status below full charge status but above the first charge status. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An assembly, comprising:
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an aquatic and negatively buoyant submersible toy comprising a body carrying a rechargeable battery, a battery powered propeller to self-propel the toy through a body of water, and a contactless power transfer receiver to receive electrical power to charge the battery; and a tank having a base and side walls to retain a body of water for said toy to be submersed in, the tank comprising a contactless or wireless electrical power transfer transmitter located at or towards the base, wherein the toy when in sufficient proximity to the transmitter receives power from the transmitter; the toy further comprising an on-board controller to stop or reduce drive to the propeller, to allow the toy to sink, so the toy locates itself at or near the transmitter to allow a recharge of the battery, when the on-board controller determines a battery status condition situation is met. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of recharging a self-propelled submersible toy contained in a movement limiting environment defined by a tank configured to retain water, said toy comprises an onboard wirelessly rechargeable battery, said tank comprises a wireless power transfer transmitter arranged to recharge the onboard battery of the toy, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining, with the controller, the charge status of the toy; controlling, with the controller, movement of the toy to encourage the toy to submersibly settle at a desired recharging zone; and wirelessly charging the battery in the recharging zone with the wireless power transfer transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification