STRUCTURES FOR CHARGING A MULTICOPTER

• US 20170225574A1
• Filed: 02/10/2016
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Thelen, Christian Oliver, Mitrani, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/040,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20170225574A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/08 with two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Some aspects provide for a multicopter that includes a frame and a charging unit receiver configured to receive a portion of a charging unit. In some aspects, a perimeter of a cross-section of the proximal portion of the charging unit receiver may be shorter than a perimeter of a cross-section of the distal portion of the charging unit receiver. In some aspects, a perimeter of a cross-section of the distal portion of the charging unit receiver may be shorter than a perimeter of a cross-section of the proximal portion of the charging unit receiver. Some aspects provide for a charging unit that includes a frame and a multicopter receiver configured to receive a portion of the multicopter. In some aspects, a perimeter of a cross-section of the distal portion of the multicopter receiver may be shorter than a perimeter of a cross-section of the proximal portion of the multicopter receiver.

Claims

1. A multicopter comprising:

a frame; and

a charging unit receiver coupled to the frame and configured to receive a portion of a charging unit, wherein the charging unit receiver comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, and wherein a perimeter of a cross-section of the proximal portion of the charging unit receiver is shorter than a perimeter of a cross-section of the distal portion of the charging unit receiver.

2. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the charging unit receiver further comprises one or more edges configured to guide the portion of the charging unit from the distal portion of the charging unit receiver to the proximal portion of the charging unit receiver.

3. The multicopter of claim 2, wherein the one or more edges comprise one or more sloped edges.

4. The multicopter of claim 3, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a uniform slope.

5. The multicopter of claim 3, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a first edge portion and a second edge portion, wherein a slope of the first edge portion differs from a slope of the second edge portion.

6. The multicopter of claim 3, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a uniform length.

7. The multicopter of claim 3, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a first edge portion and a second edge portion, wherein a length of the first edge portion differs from a length of the second edge portion.

8. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the charging unit receiver comprises a component configured for charging of the multicopter by the charging unit.

9. The multicopter of claim 8, wherein the component comprises one or more charging coils configured for inductive charging of the multicopter by the charging unit.

10. The multicopter of claim 1, further comprising one or more securing mechanisms configured to secure the multicopter to the charging unit.

11. The multicopter of claim 1, wherein the charging unit receiver is integrated with the frame.

12. A charging unit for a multicopter, the charging unit comprising:

a frame; and

a multicopter receiver coupled to the frame and configured to receive a portion of the multicopter, wherein the multicopter receiver comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, and wherein a perimeter of a cross-section of the distal portion of the multicopter receiver is shorter than a perimeter of a cross-section of the proximal portion of the multicopter receiver.

13. The charging unit of claim 12, wherein the multicopter receiver further comprises one or more edges configured to guide the portion of the multicopter from the distal portion of the multicopter receiver to the proximal portion of the multicopter receiver.

14. The charging unit of claim 13, wherein the one or more edges comprise one or more sloped edges.

15. The charging unit of claim 14, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a uniform slope.

16. The charging unit of claim 14, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a first edge portion and a second edge portion, wherein a slope of the first edge portion differs from a slope of the second edge portion.

17. The charging unit of claim 14, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a uniform length.

18. The charging unit of claim 14, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a first edge portion and a second edge portion, wherein a length of the first edge portion differs from a length of the second edge portion.

19. The charging unit of claim 12, further comprising a component configured for charging the multicopter.

20. The charging unit of claim 19, wherein the component comprises one or more charging coils configured for inductive charging of the multicopter.

21. The charging unit of claim 12, further comprising one or more securing mechanisms configured to secure the multicopter to the charging unit.

22. The multicopter of claim 12, wherein the multicopter receiver is integrated with the frame.

23. A multicopter comprising:

a frame; and

a charging unit receiver coupled to the frame and configured to be receivable into a portion of a charging unit, wherein the charging unit receiver comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, and wherein a perimeter of a cross-section of the distal portion of the charging unit receiver is shorter than a perimeter of a cross-section of the proximal portion of the charging unit receiver.

24. The multicopter of claim 23, wherein the charging unit receiver further comprises one or more edges configured to guide the portion of the charging unit from the distal portion of the charging unit receiver to the proximal portion of the charging unit receiver.

25. The multicopter of claim 24, wherein the one or more edges comprise one or more sloped edges.

26. The multicopter of claim 25, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a uniform slope, and wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a uniform length.

27. The multicopter of claim 25, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a first edge portion and a second edge portion, wherein a slope of the first edge portion differs from a slope of the second edge portion.

28. The multicopter of claim 25, wherein the one or more sloped edges comprise a first edge portion and a second edge portion, wherein a length of the first edge portion differs from a length of the second edge portion.

29. The multicopter of claim 23, wherein the charging unit receiver comprises a component configured for charging the multicopter by the charging unit.

30. The multicopter of claim 23, wherein the charging unit receiver is integrated with the frame.