Unmanned Vehicle for Powering a Separate Device

• US 20110093139A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamel, Michael John, Townsend, Christopher Pruyn, Arms, Steven Willard
• Application Number:
  US12/974,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093139A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A system includes an unmanned vehicle and a separate device. The unmanned vehicle is for approaching the separate device. The unmanned vehicle includes an unmanned vehicle charging circuit. The separate device includes an energy storage device and a power receiving circuit. The unmanned vehicle charging circuit is for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from the unmanned vehicle to the separate device to the power receiving circuit for charging the energy storage device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising an unmanned vehicle and a separate device, wherein said unmanned vehicle is for approaching said separate device, wherein said unmanned vehicle comprises an unmanned vehicle charging circuit, wherein said separate device includes an energy storage device and a power receiving circuit, wherein said unmanned vehicle charging circuit is for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from said unmanned vehicle to said power receiving circuit for charging said energy storage device.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, further wherein said unmanned vehicle charging circuit is for transmitting electromagnetic radiation from said unmanned vehicle to said power receiving circuit for powering said separate device.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said separate devices, wherein each said separate device has a unique identification code.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said unmanned vehicle is capable of sequential movement to each of said separate devices, wherein said unmanned vehicle charging circuit is capable of sequentially charging said energy storage device on each of said separate devices.

5. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein each said unique identification code is for reading by said unmanned vehicle.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said separate device further includes a sensor and a communications circuit, wherein said communications circuit is connected for wirelessly communicating data from said separate device.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein said communications circuit is connected for wirelessly communicating data from said separate device to said unmanned vehicle when said unmanned vehicle approaches said separate device, wherein said unmanned vehicle includes a circuit for receiving said data.

8. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein said communications circuit includes one from the group consisting of a transmitter and a transceiver.

9. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein said communications circuit includes said power receiving circuit, wherein said power receiving circuit is connected for transmitting digital data from said separate device to said unmanned vehicle.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said communications circuit includes an element to vary reactance of said power receiving circuit for transmitting said digital data.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said element to vary reactance of said power receiving circuit is controlled by data derived from said sensor.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said unmanned vehicle further comprises a circuit for detecting said variation in reactance.

13. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein said sensor includes at least one from the group consisting of a touch sensor, an accelerometer, an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a video camera.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said separate device includes a sensor and a transmitting circuit, wherein said transmitting circuit is connected for wirelessly transmitting data derived from said sensor to a receiver connected to the internet.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein said receiver includes a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein said first circuit is for receiving said wirelessly transmitted data, wherein said second circuit is for communicating information derived from said wirelessly transmitted data on the internet.

16. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said energy storage device includes at least one from the group consisting of a battery, a capacitor, and a fuel cell.

17. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said unmanned vehicle further comprises a circuit for communicating data to said separate device and wherein said separate device includes a circuit for receiving said data.

18. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said separate device further comprises an actuator.

19. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said separate device further comprises a microprocessor.

20. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein said separate device further comprises a multiplexor, a signal conditioner, and an a/d converter.

21. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said separate device further comprises a data logging unit.

22. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein said data logging unit includes a non-volatile memory.

23. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said separate device comprises a sensor, a processor, a non-volatile memory, a signal conditioner, an a/d converter, and a communications circuit, wherein said sensor is connected to said processor through said signal conditioner and said a/d converter, and wherein said processor is connected to said non-volatile memory and to said communications circuit.

24. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said power receiving circuit comprises a rectifier and a regulator.

25. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said power receiving circuit comprises a coil and a capacitor.

26. A system as recited in claim 25, wherein said capacitor comprises a tunable capacitor.

27. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said unmanned vehicle charging circuit is not physically connected to another source of power while charging said separate device.

28. A system as recited in claim 27, wherein said unmanned vehicle charging circuit includes a battery.

29. A system as recited in claim 28, wherein said battery is rechargeable.

30. A system as recited in claim 27, wherein said unmanned vehicle charging circuit includes a solar cell, a fuel cell, or a generator.

31. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said unmanned vehicle includes an unmanned vehicle processor.

32. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said unmanned vehicle processor includes a program for directing movement of said unmanned vehicle.

33. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said unmanned vehicle charging circuit includes a coil for transmitting said electromagnetic radiation.

34. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said unmanned vehicle further comprises a receiver for receiving communication from said separate device.

35. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said unmanned vehicle further comprises an unmanned vehicle data logging unit for storing information received from said separate device.

36. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said unmanned vehicle further comprises an RF transmitter.

37. A system as recited in claim 36, wherein said unmanned vehicle further comprises a coil or antenna for transmitting information to said separate device.

38. A system as recited in claim 36, wherein said unmanned vehicle includes an RF receive signal strength line.

39. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said separate device further comprises a device charging circuit and a device charging circuit monitoring line, wherein said device charging circuit is for charging said energy storage device and wherein said device charging circuit monitoring line is for providing feedback to optimize coupling between separate device and said unmanned vehicle charging circuit.

40. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said unmanned vehicle is at least one from the group consisting of autonomous and remote controlled.

41. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said unmanned vehicle includes one from the group consisting of a drone and a robot.

42. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a docking station, wherein said unmanned vehicle is able to connect to said docking station, wherein said docking station is for at least one from the group consisting of recharging an unmanned vehicle battery and transferring data from said unmanned vehicle.

43. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a structure, wherein said separate device is embedded in said structure.

44. A system, comprising an unmanned vehicle and a separate device, wherein said unmanned vehicle is for approaching said separate device, wherein said unmanned vehicle includes an unmanned vehicle power transmitting circuit, wherein said separate device includes a separate device power receiving circuit, wherein said separate device includes a measurement circuit connected to provide feedback to said unmanned vehicle for automatically adjusting position of said unmanned vehicle to optimize power received by said separate device from said unmanned vehicle.

45. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein said separate device includes a processor to facilitate said adjusting position of said unmanned vehicle to optimize power received by said separate device from said unmanned vehicle.

46. A system as recited in claim 45, wherein said separate device includes a circuit for monitoring power received by said separate device to facilitate said adjusting position of said unmanned vehicle to optimize power received by said separate device from said unmanned vehicle.

47. A system as recited in claim 46, wherein said separate device includes a separate device RF transceiver and an RF signal strength line, wherein said separate device RF transceiver is for receiving an RF signal from said unmanned device to facilitate said adjusting position of said unmanned vehicle to optimize power received by said separate device from said unmanned vehicle.

48. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein said separate device includes a separate device RF transceiver and an RF signal strength line, wherein said separate device RF transceiver is for receiving an RF signal from said unmanned vehicle to facilitate said adjusting position of said unmanned vehicle to optimize power received by said separate device from said unmanned vehicle.

49. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein said separate device includes a separate device processor to facilitate said adjusting position of said unmanned vehicle to optimize power received by said separate device from said unmanned vehicle.

50. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein said measurement circuit includes a measurement related to power received.

51. A system as recited in claim 44, wherein said measurement circuit includes an RF receive signal strength line.

52. A system, comprising an unmanned vehicle and a separate device, wherein said unmanned vehicle is for approaching and wirelessly electromagnetically powering said separate device, wherein said separate device includes a wireless power receiving circuit and a wireless communications circuit, wherein said wireless communications circuit is capable of receiving data and transmitting data.

53. A system as recited in claim 52, wherein said wireless communications circuit includes a transceiver.

54. A system as recited in claim 52, wherein said wireless communications circuit includes a switched reactance modulation circuit.

55. A system as recited in claim 52, wherein said separate device includes an energy storage device and a recharging circuit, wherein said recharging circuit is connected for recharging said energy storage device with energy derived from said wireless power receiving circuit, wherein said energy storage device is connected for powering said separate device when said unmanned vehicle is not providing power to said separate device.

56. A system as recited in claim 52, wherein said separate device includes a data storage device.