System and Method for in Situ Charging of a Remote Vehicle
First Claim
1. A system for in situ charging of at least one rechargeable power source of a remote vehicle, the system comprising:
- a power recharger having contacts configured to supply power to the at least one rechargeable power source; and
a chassis adapter at least partially enclosing the at least one rechargeable power source and retaining the at least one rechargeable power source on the remote vehicle, and including terminals connected to the at least one rechargeable power source and configured to mate with the power recharger to allow the power recharger to recharge the at least one rechargeable power source, the chassis adapter comprising charger input contacts including a positive contact, a ground, and one or more data contacts,wherein the power recharger automatically disengages from the recharging terminals when the remote vehicle is driven away from the chassis adapter without damaging the power recharger.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for in situ charging of at least one rechargeable power source of a remote vehicle. The system comprises a power recharger having contacts configured to supply power to the at least one rechargeable power source, and a chassis adapter at least partially enclosing the at least one rechargeable power source and retaining the at least one rechargeable power source on the remote vehicle, the chassis adapter including terminals connected to the at least one rechargeable power source and configured to mate with the power recharger to allow the power recharger to recharge the at least one rechargeable power source. The chassis adapter comprises charger input contacts including a positive contact, a ground, and one or more data contacts. The power recharger automatically disengages from the recharging terminals when the remote vehicle is driven away from the chassis adapter without damaging the power recharger.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for in situ charging of at least one rechargeable power source of a remote vehicle, the system comprising:
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a power recharger having contacts configured to supply power to the at least one rechargeable power source; and a chassis adapter at least partially enclosing the at least one rechargeable power source and retaining the at least one rechargeable power source on the remote vehicle, and including terminals connected to the at least one rechargeable power source and configured to mate with the power recharger to allow the power recharger to recharge the at least one rechargeable power source, the chassis adapter comprising charger input contacts including a positive contact, a ground, and one or more data contacts, wherein the power recharger automatically disengages from the recharging terminals when the remote vehicle is driven away from the chassis adapter without damaging the power recharger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for in situ charging of at least one rechargeable power source of a remote vehicle, the method comprising:
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attaching a releasable power recharger to the at least one rechargeable power source, the releasable power recharger having contacts configured to supply power to the at least one rechargeable power source; providing the a chassis adapter that at least partially encloses the at least one power source and retains the at least one power source on the remote vehicle, the chassis adapter including terminals connected to the at least one rechargeable power source and configured to mate with the releasable power recharger to allow the releasable power recharger to recharge the at least one rechargeable power source, the chassis adapter comprising charger input contacts including a positive contact, a ground, and one or more data contacts; and automatically disengaging the releasable power recharger from the recharging terminals when the remote vehicle is driven away from the releasable power recharger without damaging the releasble power recharger. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for in situ charging of at least two rechargeable power sources of a remote vehicle, the system comprising a remote vehicle and an operator control unit for controlling the remote vehicle, and further comprising:
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two power rechargers having contacts configured to supply power to the at least two rechargeable power sources; and two chassis adapters, each chassis adapter at least partially enclosing at least one respective rechargeable power source and retaining the respective at least one rechargeable power source on the remote vehicle, and each of the chassis adapters including terminals connected to the respective at least one rechargeable power source and configured to mate with a power recharger to allow the power recharger to recharge the at least one rechargeable power source, each of the chassis adapters also comprising charger input contacts including a positive contact, a ground, and one or more data contacts, wherein the power rechargers automatically disengage from the respective chassis adapter when the remote vehicle is driven away from the chassis adapter without damaging the chassis adapter. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification