Charging device of moving robot and control method thereof

• US 10,588,255 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2017
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Song, Hyunsup, Nam, Dongkyun, Woo, Jongjin
• Primary Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US15/677,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20180064023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 320107
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/001 Accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/78 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• 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: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A charging device of a robotic lawn mower includes a bottom part installed in a partial region of an operation region of the robot, a support part coupled to the bottom part and positioned on a side of a main body of the robot when the robot is being charged, and a terminal part coupled to the support part and positioned above the main body of the robot when the robot is being charged, wherein the bottom part is formed such that only any one of a plurality of wheels of the robot is mounted thereon when the robot is being charged.

Claims

1. A charging device for a moveable robot, the charging device comprising:

a bottom part having a top surface, the bottom part being arranged to receive at least one wheel of the moveable robot on the top surface;

a support part coupled to the bottom part and extending in an upward direction relative to the top surface; and

a terminal part coupled to the support part and positioned above the moveable robot when the robot is positioned on the top surface,

wherein the terminal part is coupled to the support part by a hinge part and a spring,

wherein a coupling angle of the terminal part relative to the support part is changed by the hinge part and the spring such that when an external force is applied to the terminal part by the moveable robot,

the coupling angle is returned to an initial value when an external force applied to the terminal part is removed, and

wherein the charging device is configured to charge the moveable robot when the at least one wheel is positioned on the top surface of the bottom part.

2. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the at least one wheel that is positioned on the top surface of the bottom part is a main driving wheel.

3. The charging device of claim 2, wherein the bottom part comprises a plurality of holes.

4. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the support part is adjustably coupled to the bottom part.

5. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the support part comprises a concave portion that faces the moveable robot when the at least one wheel of the moveable robot is positioned on the top surface of the bottom part.

6. The charging device of claim 1, further comprising an IR sensor to transmit a preset signal to the robot.

7. The charging device of claim 1, wherein

the support part is formed of a plurality of rod parts,

the plurality of rod parts each having different diameters and sequentially coupled, and

when the coupled state of the plurality of rod parts is adjusted, a length of the support part is changed so as to increase or decrease the distance between the bottom part and the terminal part.

8. The charging device of claim 1, wherein

the bottom part includes

a first bottom member positioned on the ground and

a second bottom part positioned below the ground,

wherein at least one of the support part and the terminal part is positioned inside the second bottom member according to an adjustment of the coupled state between the support part and the terminal part.

9. The charging device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the bottom part and the support part comprises a fastening part that is connected to a boundary wire defining an operation region for the moveable robot.

10. The charging device of claim 9, wherein the bottom part may be installed such that one surface thereof is in contact with the boundary wire.

11. The charging device of claim 1, wherein when an absolute value of an angle between a rotational shaft of the at least one wheel and a plane of the bottom part is within a preset range, the charging device is configured to supply power to the moveable robot through the terminal part when the moveable robot is positioned on the top surface of the bottom part.

12. The charging device of claim 1, wherein when an absolute value of an angle between a rotational shaft of the at least one wheel and a plane of the bottom part is within a preset range, the coupling angle of the terminal part relative to the support part is changed so as to maintain contact between the terminal part and the moveable robot when the moveable robot is positioned on the top surface of the bottom part.

13. The charging device of claim 1, whereby the external force includes a first external force that is applied to the terminal part in a direction horizontal to the ground and a second external force that is applied to the terminal part in a direction perpendicular to the ground.

14. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the terminal part comprises a terminal that contacts the moveable robot when the moveable robot is positioned on the top surface of the bottom part.