IN-SITU POWER CHARGING
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a propulsion unit configured to move the device;
a steering unit configured to control the direction of movement of the device;
a power unit configured to provide power to the propulsion unit;
a charging unit configured to use an electric field to provide electrical power to the power unit;
a first magnetic sensor configured to determine a vector of one or more magnetic fields; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the propulsion unit, the steering unit, the power unit, and the magnetic sensor, wherein the processor is configured to;
receive, from the magnetic sensor, a time-varying signal indicative of a magnetic field;
determine, based on the time-varying signal, that the magnetic field is associated with an electrical power transmission line;
determine, based on the time-varying signal, a distance between the electrical power transmission line and the device;
compare the distance between the electrical power transmission line and the device and a first distance; and
cause the steering unit to direct the device toward the electrical power transmission line based on the comparison to be the first distance away from the electrical power transmission line.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device includes a propulsion unit configured to move the device and a steering unit configured to control the direction of the device. The device also includes a power unit configured to provide power to the propulsion unit and a charging unit configured to use an electric field to provide electrical power to the power unit. The device further includes a first magnetic sensor configured to determine a vector of one or more magnetic fields and a processor communicatively coupled to the propulsion unit, the steering unit, the power unit, and the magnetic sensor. The processor is configured to receive, from the magnetic sensor, a time-varying signal indicative of a magnetic field and determine, based on the time-varying signal, that the magnetic field is associated with an electrical power transmission line. The processor is further configured to cause the steering unit to direct the device toward the electrical power transmission line.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a propulsion unit configured to move the device; a steering unit configured to control the direction of movement of the device; a power unit configured to provide power to the propulsion unit; a charging unit configured to use an electric field to provide electrical power to the power unit; a first magnetic sensor configured to determine a vector of one or more magnetic fields; and a processor communicatively coupled to the propulsion unit, the steering unit, the power unit, and the magnetic sensor, wherein the processor is configured to; receive, from the magnetic sensor, a time-varying signal indicative of a magnetic field; determine, based on the time-varying signal, that the magnetic field is associated with an electrical power transmission line; determine, based on the time-varying signal, a distance between the electrical power transmission line and the device; compare the distance between the electrical power transmission line and the device and a first distance; and cause the steering unit to direct the device toward the electrical power transmission line based on the comparison to be the first distance away from the electrical power transmission line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a processor, a time-varying signal from a first magnetic sensor, wherein the time-varying signal is indicative of a magnetic field; determining, based on the time-varying signal, that the magnetic field is caused by an electrical power transmission line; and causing a steering unit of a device to direct the device toward the electrical power transmission line. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A device comprising:
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a propulsion unit configured to move the device; a power unit configured to provide power to the propulsion unit; a charging unit configured to use an electric field to provide electrical power to the power unit; a first magnetic sensor configured to determine a vector of a magnetic field of an electrical power transmission line; and a transceiver configured to transmit to a receiver the vector of the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A system comprising:
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a vehicle comprising; a propulsion unit configured to move the vehicle; a power unit configured to provide power to the propulsion unit; a charging unit configured to use an electric field to provide electrical power to the power unit; a first magnetic sensor configured to determine a vector of a magnetic field of an electrical power transmission line; and a transceiver configured to transmit a signal indicating the vector of the magnetic field; and a transceiver unit configured receive the signal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A device comprising:
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a propulsion unit configured to move the device; a first magnetic sensor configured to determine a first vector of a magnetic field; a power unit configured to provide power to the propulsion unit; and a charging unit configured to use an electric field to provide electrical power to the power unit, wherein the electric field and the magnetic field are associated with an electrical power transmission line. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. The device of claim 37, further comprising a second magnetic sensor configured to determine a second vector of the magnetic field, wherein the processor is operatively coupled to the second magnetic sensor, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine a distance between the device and the electrical power transmission line based on the first vector of the magnetic field and the second vector of the magnetic field.
Specification