Robot docking station and robot for use therewith
First Claim
1. A robot comprising:
- a movement system for moving the robot over a surface;
at least one magnetic contact extending from the robot;
a control system in communication with the at least one magnetic contact;
a power supply for the robot, the power supply in communication with the control system and the at least one magnetic contact, and the control system is configured for permitting charging of the power supply through the at least one magnetic contact when a predetermined voltage on the at least one contact is detected.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A docking station (20) and a robot (22) for docking therein, include corresponding transmission parts. These transmission parts are for the transmission of energy, such as electricity, for recharging the robot (22), and/or signals, for operating the robot (22), the energy and/or signals passing between the docking station and the robot (22). The docking station (20) and robot (22) are such that the docking of the robot (22) in the docking station (20) is at a horizontal orientation, as the transmission part on the robot (22) includes laterally protruding docking contacts that contact corresponding laterally oriented contact arms of the docking station (20).
258 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A robot comprising:
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a movement system for moving the robot over a surface;
at least one magnetic contact extending from the robot;
a control system in communication with the at least one magnetic contact;
a power supply for the robot, the power supply in communication with the control system and the at least one magnetic contact, and the control system is configured for permitting charging of the power supply through the at least one magnetic contact when a predetermined voltage on the at least one contact is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 32, 34)
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8. A robot comprising:
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a movement system for moving the robot over a surface;
at least one contact for electrical communication with a transmission part, the at least one contact extending laterally from the robot; and
a power supply for the robot, the power supply in communication with the at least one contact. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A docking station comprising:
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a portion configured for receiving a robot;
a receptor mechanism coupled to the robot receiving portion for receiving at least one docking contact of the robot;
a system for providing energy to the robot for charging at least one power supply of the robot, the system coupled to the receptor mechanism; and
the receptor mechanism is configured for contacting the at least one docking contact of the robot in a substantially horizontal orientation and transmitting energy therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A docking station comprising:
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a portion configured for receiving a robot;
a receptor mechanism coupled to the robot receiving portion; and
a controller for coupling with at least one tap of an irrigation system, and the controller is coupled to the receptor mechanism, the receptor mechanism configured for being in at least electrical contact with at least one docking contact of the robot, when the robot is docked in the docking station, and the controller is configured for sending a signal to a robot docked in the docking station, through the receptor mechanism and the at least one docking contact, for initiating operation of the robot. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 36)
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37. A docking system comprising:
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a docking station for location on a surface, the docking station configured for accommodating a robot in at least a docking engagement, the docking station including a first transmission part for at least transferring energy; and
a robot configured for movement over the surface, the robot including a movement system and a second transmission part, the second transmission part configured for at least receiving energy from the first transmission part when the first transmission part is in electrical contact with the second transmission part when the robot is docked in the docking station, and the docking is achieved when the first transmission part and the second transmission part are in at least a substantially horizontal alignment. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A docking system comprising:
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a docking station for location on a surface, the docking station configured for accommodating a robot in at least a docking engagement, the docking station including a first transmission part for at least facilitating the transmission and reception of signals; and
a robot configured for movement over the surface, the robot including a movement system and a second transmission part, the second transmission part configured for at least facilitating the transmission and reception of signals to and from the first transmission part, when the first transmission part is in electrical contact with the second transmission part when the robot is docked in the docking station, and the docking is achieved when the first transmission part and the second transmission part are in at least a substantially horizontal alignment. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. A method for docking a robot comprising:
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responding to a signal in a wire defining a boundary;
moving to a docking station by traveling along at least a portion of the wire;
attempting to dock in the docking station by a first transmission part on the docking station being electrically contacted by a second transmission part on the robot; and
,determining if the electrical contact is at a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A robot comprising:
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a movement system for moving the robot over a surface; and
at least one contact for communicating with a transmission part of a docking station, the at least one contact being magnetic and extending laterally from the robot, the at least one contact for facilitating communication with the at least one transmission part when the movement system moves the robot into a position for docking, and for maintaining the position of the robot in the docking station. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification