Multi-body self propelled device with induction interface power transfer

• US 10,101,739 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2016
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sphero Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sphero Inc.
• Inventors: Clarke, David, Luitel, Prashant
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malhotra, Sanjeev
• Application Number:
  US15/156,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20170269589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 180167, 315248, 320108, 1 1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/005 Motorised rolling toys
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/26 Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/00 Vehicles characterised by having other propulsion or other ground- engaging means than wheels or endless track, alone or in addition to wheels or endless track sledges B62B; motor sledges B62M
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A multi-body self-propelled device can include a drive body and a coupled head. The drive body can include a spherical housing, an internal drive system within the spherical housing to propel the multi-body self-propelled device, and a magnet holder coupled to the internal drive system to hold a first set of magnetic elements. The drive body can further include a first power source within the spherical housing to power the internal drive system and a first inductive interface. The coupled head can include second set of magnetic elements to establish a magnetic interaction with the first set of magnetic elements through the spherical housing. The coupled head can also include a second power source, and a second inductive interface. The multi-body self-propelled device can transfer power between the coupled head and the drive body via the first and the second inductive interfaces.

Claims

1. A multi-body self-propelled device comprising:

(i) a drive body comprising;

a spherical housing;

an internal drive system within the spherical housing to propel the multi-body self-propelled device;

a magnet holder coupled to the internal drive system to hold a first set of magnetic elements;

a first power source within the spherical housing to power the internal drive system;

a first inductive interface; and

(ii) a coupled head comprising;

second set of magnetic elements to establish a magnetic interaction with the first set of magnetic elements through the spherical housing;

a second power source; and

a second inductive interface;

wherein the multi-body self-propelled device transfers power between the coupled head and the drive body via the first and the second inductive interfaces.

2. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 1, wherein the first and the second inductive interfaces each comprises a number of coils to transfer both power and data between the coupled head and the driving body.

3. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 1, wherein the coupled head further comprises (i) a wireless communications interface to receive control signals from a controller device, and (ii) one or more processors to interpret the control signals as control commands to operate the multi-body self-propelled device.

4. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 3, wherein the coupled head further comprises a local wireless interface to establish a local data link with the drive body via a corresponding local wireless interface within the housing.

5. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 4, wherein the control commands comprise locomotion commands to be executed on the internal drive system to accelerate and maneuver the multi-body self-propelled device, and wherein the one or more processors of the coupled head transmit the locomotion commands to the internal drive system via the local data link.

6. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 3, wherein the coupled head further comprises an audio output device and a microphone to receive voice commands from a user, and wherein the one or more processors further translate the voice commands to operate the multi-body self-propelled device in at least a partially autonomous mode.

7. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 3, wherein the coupled head further comprises a camera to record image data, and wherein the one or more processors transmit the image data to the controller device via the wireless communications interface.

8. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 1, wherein the coupled head further comprises a charge port to receive power from an external power source.

9. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 8, wherein the received power from the external power source charges the second power source, and wherein the received power from the external power source is further transferred to the drive body to charge the first power source via the first and the second inductive interfaces.

10. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 8, wherein the charge port comprises one of a universal serial bus (USB) or a mini-USB port.

11. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 1, wherein the drive body further comprises a third inductive interface to receive power from an external inductive charge port in order to charge the first power source.

12. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 11, wherein the drive body transfers power, received from the external inductive charge port, to the second power source of the coupled head via the first and the second inductive interfaces.

13. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 1, wherein the internal drive system comprises a pair of wheels powered by a pair of independent motors.

14. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 13, wherein the drive body further comprises a biasing mechanism coupled to the internal drive system, the biasing mechanism providing a continuous force against an inner surface of the spherical housing, causing the pair of wheels to continuously engage the inner surface in order to accelerate and maneuver the multi-body self-propelled device.

15. The multi-body self-propelled device of claim 1, wherein the drive body further comprises (i) a capacitive sensor on an outer surface of the spherical housing, and (ii) one or more processors to detect a touch input on the capacitive sensor and, in response to the touch input, transition from a sleep mode by initiating a predetermined set of actions on the multi-body self-propelled device.