SELF-OPTIMIZING POWER TRANSFER

• US 20140015493A1
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sphero Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sphero Inc.
• Inventors: WIRZ, Ben, ATWELL, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,056,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A method is disclosed for charging a power source of a device. The method is performed by one or more processors. The one or more processors detect that a charging interface of the device and a charging interface of a charging dock are misaligned when the device is placed into contact or operational proximity with the charging dock. The device is automatically caused to move relative to the charging dock to achieve alignment.

Claims

1. A method for charging a power source of a device, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:

detecting that a charging interface of the device and a charging interface of a charging dock are misaligned when the device is placed into contact or operational proximity with the charging dock; and

automatically causing the device to move relative to the charging dock to achieve alignment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that the charging interface of the device and the charging interface of the charging dock are misaligned includes monitoring an amount of power being received by the device from the charging dock.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting that the charging interface of the device and the charging interface of the charging dock are misaligned includes determining that the amount of power being received by the device is less than a threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein automatically causing the device to move relative to the charging dock to achieve alignment is performed in response to determining that the amount of power being received by the device is less than the threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that the charging interface of the device and the charging interface of the charging dock are misaligned includes receiving input from one or more sensors that indicate one or more angles of rotations of the device relative to the charging dock.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein detecting that the charging interface of the device and the charging interface of the charging dock are misaligned includes determining that the one or more angles of rotations of the device is different than one or more threshold angles of rotations by a threshold amount.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein automatically causing the device to move relative to the charging dock to achieve alignment is performed in response to determining that the one or more angles of rotations of the device is different than one or more threshold angles of rotations by the threshold amount.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the input from the one or more sensors is based on a direction of gravity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically causing the device to move relative to the charging dock to achieve alignment includes controlling a drive system of the device to move in one or more directions or to change orientations.

10. A self-propelled device comprising:

a power source;

a charging interface coupled to the power source;

a drive assembly; and

a control mechanism that is coupled to the charging interface and to the drive assembly, the control mechanism being configured to detect that the charging interface and a charging interface of a charging station are misaligned when the self-propelled device is docked to the charging station, the control mechanism causing the drive assembly to move the self-propelled device into alignment relative to the charging station.

11. The self-propelled device of claim 10, further comprising one or more sensors, and wherein the control mechanism uses the one or more sensors in order to detect that the charging interfaces are misaligned.

12. The self-propelled device of claim 11, wherein the control mechanism detects that the charging interfaces are misaligned by receiving input from the one or more sensors that indicate one or more angles of rotations of the device relative to the charging station.

13. The self-propelled device of claim 12, wherein the control mechanism detects that the charging interfaces are misaligned by determining that the one or more angles of rotations of the self-propelled device is different than one or more threshold angles of rotations by a threshold amount.

14. The self-propelled device of claim 10, wherein the control mechanism detects that the charging interfaces are misaligned by analyzing a power signal from the charging station, and determining that an amount of power being received by the self-propelled device is less than a threshold.

15. The self-propelled device of claim 10, wherein the self-propelled device is spherical in shape and the self-propelled device propels itself using the drive assembly to rotate or shift on the charging station.

16. The self-propelled device of claim 10, wherein the charging interface and the charging interface of the charging station are inductive charging interfaces.

17. The self-propelled device of claim 10, wherein the charging interface and the charging interface of the charging station are electrically conductive charging interfaces.

18. The self-propelled device of claim 10, wherein the control mechanism includes one or more processors.

19. A charging station for a self-propelled device, the charging station comprising:

a receptacle to receive the self-propelled device; and

an inductive charging interface to charge the self-propelled device when the self-propelled device is placed in the receptacle;

wherein the receptacle includes a contoured surface to enable the self-propelled device to adjust itself when the self-propelled device detects that its inductive charging interface and the inductive charging interface of the charging station are misaligned when the self-propelled device is placed in the receptacle.

20. The charging station of claim 19, wherein when the charging station provides power to the self-propelled device via the inductive charging interface, the self-propelled device can detect that the inductive charging interfaces are misaligned by determining that an amount of power being received from the charging station is less than a threshold.

21. A system comprising:

a charging station comprising a charging interface; and

a self-propelled device comprising;

a power source;

a charging interface coupled to the power source;

a drive assembly; and

a control mechanism that is coupled to the charging interface and to the drive assembly, the control mechanism being configured to detect that the charging interface and the charging interface of the charging station are misaligned when the self-propelled device is docked to the charging station, the control mechanism causing the drive assembly to move the self-propelled device into alignment relative to the charging station.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the charging interface and the charging interface of the charging station are inductive charging interfaces.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the self-propelled device further comprises one or more sensors, and wherein the control mechanism of the self-propelled device uses the one or more sensors in order to detect that the charging interfaces are misaligned.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the control mechanism of the self-propelled device detects that the charging interfaces are misaligned by (i) receiving input from the one or more sensors that indicate one or more angles of rotations of the device relative to the charging station, and (ii) determining that the one or more angles of rotations of the self-propelled device is different than one or more threshold angles of rotations by a threshold amount.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the control mechanism of the self-propelled device detects that the charging interfaces are misaligned by (i) analyzing a power signal from the charging station, and (ii) determining that an amount of power being received by the self-propelled device is less than a threshold.