AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOT INDUCTIVE CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20140222271A1
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Metralabs GmbH Neue Technologien Und Systeme
• Original Assignee: Metralabs Automation Incorporated
• Inventors: Merten, Matthias, Martin, Christian, Bley, Andreas
• Application Number:
  US14/175,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222271A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and method for inductive charging of autonomous mobile robots are provided. The systems and methods increase safety and reduce contaminants such as metal particles in a clean room environment reduce impurities in charging that increase the transfer resistance during charging.

Claims

1. An autonomous mobile robot, comprising:

a battery configured to power the autonomous mobile robot;

a drive system configured to move the autonomous mobile robot;

a charging system comprising a secondary coil and configured to charge the battery of the autonomous mobile robot;

a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store executable programmed modules;

a processor communicatively coupled with the non-transitory computer readable medium configured to execute programmed modules stored therein;

a charging module stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium and configured to be executed by the processor, the charging module configured to

determine when a charge level of the battery is sufficiently low,

instruct the drive system to approach a charging station comprising a primary coil,

optimize the orientation of the secondary coil of the charging system to the primary coil of the charging station,

commence inductive charging between the charging system and the charging station,

monitor inductive charging between the charging system and the charging station, and

terminate charging based up a determination that the charge level of the batter is sufficiently full or based up a trigger event.

2. A computer implemented method for autonomous mobile robot inductive charging, where one or more processors are programmed to perform steps comprising:

determining when a charge level of a battery in the autonomous mobile robot is sufficiently low;

driving the autonomous mobile robot to approach a charging station;

optimizing the orientation of a secondary coil in the autonomous mobile robot to a primary coil in the charging station;

commencing inductive charging of the battery in the autonomous mobile robot from the charging station;

monitoring said inductive charging; and

terminating said inductive charging based upon a determination that the charge level of the battery is sufficiently full or based upon a trigger event.

3. A method for reducing metallic and non-metallic contaminations in a clean room environment, comprising:

operating an autonomous mobile robot in a clean room environment;

determining when a charge level of a battery in the autonomous mobile robot is sufficiently low;

driving the autonomous mobile robot to approach a charging station;

optimizing the orientation of a secondary coil in the autonomous mobile robot to a primary coil in the charging station;

commencing inductive charging of the battery in the autonomous mobile robot from the charging station;

monitoring said inductive charging; and

terminating said inductive charging based upon a determination that the charge level of the battery is sufficiently full or based upon a trigger event.