Automatic charging station for autonomous mobile machine

• US 20060085105A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infinite Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Infinite Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Chiu, Ting-Yin, Lin, Wen-Hsu
• Granted Patent: US 7,430,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

An automatic charging station for an autonomous mobile machine includes a base, a housing, and a signal transmitter. The base is mounted on the ground or on a planar surface. The housing is rotatably mounted on the base, having at least one guide member and a plurality of electrically conductive members on a surface thereof. The electrically conductive members are located on the housing. The signal transmitter is mounted on the housing for transmitting a signal. When the autonomous mobile machine senses the signal transmitted by the transmitter while moving, the autonomous mobile machine moves along a route towards the housing and then forces the guide member to enable the housing to rotate for facing and accommodating the autonomous mobile machine and to further enable the autonomous mobile machine to contact against the housing to have its electrodes in contact with the electrically conductive members for charging.

Claims

1. An automatic charging station for an autonomous mobile machine, said autonomous mobile machine having a plurality of electrodes, said automatic charging station comprising:

a base;

a housing rotatably mounted on said base for rotation within a predetermined angle while an external force is worked thereon, said housing having a guide member and a plurality of electrically conductive members on its surface for connecting a mains power source, said electrically conductive members being exposed outside said surface of said housing to be located on said housing; and

a signal transmitter mounted on said housing for transmitting a signal;

whereby said autonomous mobile machine moves towards said housing along a route while moving and sensing the signal transmitted from said signal transmitter, said guide member being forced to enable said housing to turn for facing and accommodating said autonomous mobile machine, said autonomous mobile machine further contacting against said housing and enabling said electrodes to contact said electrically conductive members for charging operation.

2. The automatic charging station as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said electrically conductive members is a copper sheet.

3. The automatic charging station as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said electrically conductive members comprises a hook-like portion.

4. The automatic charging station as defined in claim 1, wherein said signal transmitted from said signal transmitter is an infrared one.

5. The automatic charging station as defined in claim 1 further comprising a charging circuit electrically connected with said mains power source;

said electrically conductive members are electrically connected with said charging circuit.