Robot with Docking Station, System and Method

• US 20130006418A1
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Positec Power Tools Suzhou Co Ltd (Positec Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Positec Power Tools Suzhou Co Ltd (Positec Group Limited)
• Inventors: Tian, Jiaofeng, Zhou, Chang, Liu, Fangshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,676,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• 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 1/0265 using buried wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence

Abstract

A robot, a station, system and method therefor is described. The docking system includes, among other items, a robot and a docking station. The robot may have a power storage unit configured to supply power for the robot, a docking terminal group having a first docking terminal and a second docking terminal, and a robot control unit configured to control working state of the robot. The docking station includes a conductive terminal group comprising at least a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal. The conductive terminal group is configured to be electrically connected to the docking terminal group respectively. The robot control unit comprises a signal transmission module configured to be electrically connected to the first docking terminal and send a predetermined detection signal, a signal receiving module configured to be electrically connected to the second docking terminal. When the signal receiving module receives a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to the predetermined detection signal, the robot control unit verifies that the docking of the docking terminal group of the robot with the conductive terminal group of the docking station has succeeded. The robot can reliably dock to the docking station without human intervention, which brings extreme convenience to production and life.

Claims

1. A docking system comprising:

a robot and a docking station,

wherein said robot includes

a power storage unit configured to supply power for the robot,

a docking terminal group including a first docking terminal and a second docking terminal;

a robot control unit configured to control a working state of said robot;

said docking station includes

a conductive terminal group, including a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal,

said conductive terminal group configured to be electrically connected to the docking terminal group respectively;

wherein said robot control unit includes

a signal transmission module configured to be electrically connected to said first docking terminal and send a predetermined detection signal;

a signal receiving module configured to be electrically connected to said second docking terminal;

wherein when said signal receiving module receives a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to the predetermined detection signal, said robot control unit verifies that docking of said docking terminal group of said robot with said conductive terminal group of said docking station has succeeded.

5. The docking system of claim 1, wherein said robot also includes at least one of a first signal transition unit and a second signal transition unit, said first signal transition unit is set between said signal transmission module and said first docking terminal, said second signal transition unit is set between said signal receiving module and said second docking terminal, said first signal transition unit and said second signal transition unit can change electrical parameters of signal passing through themselves.

7. The docking system of claim 5, wherein said robot includes said first signal transition unit and said second signal transition unit, said first signal transition unit amplifies the signal passing through itself, said second signal transition unit decreases the signal passing through itself.

8. The docking system of claim 7, wherein said second signal transition unit isolates electrical signal transferred between said second docking terminal and said signal receiving module.

9. The docking system of claim 1, wherein after verifying that the docking of said docking terminal group in said robot and said conductive terminal group in said docking station has succeeded, said robot control unit controls robot stopping moving.

10. The docking system of claim 9, wherein after said robot stopping moving, said signal transmission module sends a predetermined detection signal, if said signal receiving module receives a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, said robot control unit controls said robot keeping the status of stopping moving, if said signal receiving module does not receive a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, said robot control unit controls said robot beginning to move.

11. The docking system of claim 1, wherein said docking station also includes an across circuit set between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, said across circuit transfers signal between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal.

12. The docking system of claim 1, wherein said docking station also includes a docking station control unit, said docking station control unit controls working state of said docking station and detects signal transferred between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, when docking station control unit detects a predetermined startup signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, docking station control unit controls docking station to begin charging process.

15. The docking system of claim 12, wherein said docking station also includes a signal detecting unit which is set between said docking station control unit and said first and second conductive terminals, said docking station control unit detects signal transferred between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal through said signal detecting unit.

16. The docking system of claim 15, wherein said signal detecting unit changes electrical parameters of signal passing through itself.

18. The docking system of claim 16, wherein said signal detecting unit isolates electrical signal transferred between said conductive terminal group and docking station control unit.

19. The docking system of claim 12, wherein said docking station also includes an output power control unit which permits or prevents providing charging power to said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, before beginning charging process, said docking station control unit controls said output power control unit preventing providing charging power to said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, the output power of said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal is zero, after beginning charging process, said docking station control unit controls said output power control unit permitting providing charging power to said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal output said charging power.

2-4. -4. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

13-14. -14. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

20-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A docking method for docking a robot to a docking station, said robot comprising a docking terminal group and a robot control unit, said docking terminal group comprising at least a first docking terminal and a second docking terminal, said robot control unit comprising a signal transmission module configured to be electrically connected to said first docking terminal and a signal receiving module configured to be electrically connected to said second docking terminal, said docking station comprising a conductive terminal group, said conductive terminal group comprising at least a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal, said conductive terminal group configured to be electrically connected to said docking terminal group respectively, wherein said docking method comprising,

said signal transmission module sending out a predetermined detection signal;

determining if said signal receiving module has received a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal;

when said signal receiving module has received a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, verifying that the docking of said docking terminal group in said robot with said conductive terminal group in said docking station has succeeded.

37. The docking method of claim 33, wherein at least one of a first signal transition unit and a second signal transition unit is set in said robot, said first signal transition unit is set between said signal transmission module and said first docking terminal, said second signal transition unit is set between said signal receiving module and said second docking terminal, said first signal transition unit and said second signal transition unit can change electrical parameters of signal passing through themselves.

39. The docking method of claim 37, said first signal transition unit and said second signal transition unit are set in said robot, said first signal transition unit amplifies the signal passing through itself, said second signal transition unit decreases the signal passing through itself.

40. The docking method of claim 39, wherein said second signal transition unit isolates electrical signal transferred between said second docking terminal and said signal receiving module.

41. The docking method of claim 33, wherein after verifying that the docking of said docking terminal group in said robot and said conductive terminal in said docking station has succeeded, said robot stops moving.

42. The docking method of claim 41, wherein after said robot stopping moving, said signal transmission module sends out a predetermined detection signal again, if said signal receiving module receives a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, said robot control unit controls said robot keeping the status of stopping moving, if said signal receiving module does not receive a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, said robot control unit controls said robot beginning to move.

43. The docking method of claim 33, wherein an across circuit is set between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive, said across circuit transfers signal between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal.

44. The docking method of claim 33, wherein a docking station control unit is set in said docking station, said docking station control unit controls working state of said docking station and detects signal transferred between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, when docking station control unit detects a predetermined startup signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, said docking station control unit controls docking station to begin charging process.

34-36. -36. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

45-87. -87. (canceled)