Battery operated self moving mobile object and charging system

• US 5,892,350 A
• Filed: 03/13/1996
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hecker, Stuart N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US08/614,554
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/107, 320/109, 320/DIG. 34, 414/281-282, 446/454, 446/269, 446/431
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/20 Vehicles specially adapted for children, e.g. toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/34 Plug-like or socket-like devices specially adapted for contactless inductive charging of electric vehicles positioning means for charging devices using inductive energy transfer B60L53/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/50 Charging stations characterised by energy-storage or power-generation means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A mobile object self-moving system self-moves mobile objects 14 in a set field. The system comprises charging means 32 for charging batteries 52 of the mobile objects 14 is disposed at a set charging position in the field plate 12, position detecting means 24, 25 for detecting positions of the mobile objects 14 in the field plate 12, and moving course storing means 26 for storing moving courses which are routed via the charging position every a prescribed period of time. Movement control means 28 controls the mobile objects 14 to move along the moving courses, based on positions of the mobile objects 14 detected by the position detecting means 24, 25. The mobile objects 14 are positioned at the charging position 16 every the prescribed period of time to have the batteries thereof charged by the charging means 32. The system is easy to maintain for adjustment, repairs, etc., and can be produced at low costs.

Claims

1. A mobile object self-moving system comprising:

mobile objects including batteries which can be charged;

a field on which the mobile objects move;

charging means which is disposed at set charging positions on the field and which charges the batteries of the mobile objects; and

movement control means which controls movement of the mobile objects so that the mobile objects are positioned at the charging positions to have the batteries thereof charged, the batteries remaining onboard mobile object during charging.

2. A mobile object self-moving system comprising:

mobile objects including batteries which can be charged;

a field on which the mobile objects move;

charging means which is disposed at set charging positions on the field and which charges the batteries of the mobile objects;

movement control means which controls movement of the mobile objects so that the mobile objects are positioned at the charging positions to have the batteries thereof charged;

position detecting means which detects positions of the mobile objects in the field; and

moving course storing means which stores moving courses which are routed via the charging positions,

the movement control means controlling the mobile objects to move along the moving courses, based on positions of the mobile objects detected by the position detecting means.

3. A mobile object self-moving system according to claim 2, wherein

the movement control means controls movement of the mobile objects so that the mobile objects are positioned at the charging positions every prescribed period of time.

4. A mobile object self-moving system according to claim 2, wherein

the movement control means controls movement of the mobile objects so that the mobile objects are positioned at the charging position every a prescribed period of time.

5. A mobile object self-moving system comprising:

mobile objects including batteries which can be charged;

a field on which the mobile objects move;

charging means which is disposed at set charging positions in the field and charges the batteries of the mobile objects; and

movement control means which controls movement of the mobile objects so that the mobile objects are positioned at the charging positions to have the batteries thereof charged, the batteries being on board the mobile object during charging;

charging current detecting means for detecting a charging current from the charging means; and

contact confirming means for confirming contact between the batteries and the charging means, based on the detected current detected by the charging current detecting means,

the movement control means finely adjusting positions of the mobile objects until the contact is detected by the contact confirming means, when the mobile objects are positioned at the charging position.

6. A mobile object self-moving system according to claim 5, wherein

the movement control means controls movement of the mobile objects so that the mobile objects are positioned at the charging positions every prescribed period of time.

7. A mobile object self-moving system comprising:

mobile objects including batteries which can be charged;

a field on which the mobile objects move;

charging means which is disposed at set charging positions on the field and which charges the batteries of the mobile objects; and

movement control means which controls movement of the mobile objects so that the mobile objects are positioned at the charging positions to have the batteries thereof charged; and

securing means for securing the mobile objects to the charging positions on charging.

8. A mobile object self-moving system according to claim 7, wherein

the movement control means controls movement of the mobile objects so that the mobile objects are positioned at the charging positions every prescribed period of time.

9. A mobile object self-moving system comprising:

mobile objects including batteries which can be charged;

a field on which the mobile objects move;

charging means which is disposed at set charging positions on the field and which charges the batteries of the mobile objects;

charged current detecting means for detecting current charged by the charging means;

contact confirming means for confirming contact between the batteries and the charging means, based on the charged current detected by the charged current detecting means;

movement control means for controlling movement of the mobile objects so that the mobile objects are positioned at the charging positions to charge the batteries thereof by the charging means;

position detecting means for detecting positions of the mobile objects on the field; and

moving course storing means for storing moving courses which are routed via the charging position,

the movement control means controlling the mobile objects to move along the moving courses, based on positions of the mobile objects detected by the position detecting means,

the movement control means finely adjusting positions of the mobile objects until the contact is detected by the contact confirming means, when the mobile objects are positioned at the charging position.

10. A mobile object self-moving system according to claim 9, wherein

the movement control means controls movement of the mobile objects so that the mobile objects are positioned at the charging positions every a prescribed period of time.

11. A mobile object self-moving system comprising:

a mobile object including at least one battery which can be charged;

a field on which the mobile object moves;

a charger disposed in the field, the charger including electrodes for charging the at least one battery of the mobile object; and

a movement controller which controls movement of the mobile object so that the mobile object is positioned at the charging position to have the batteries thereof charged;

the batteries being onboard the mobile objects during charging

a charging current detecting unit electrically coupled to the charger for detecting a charging current from the charger; and

contact confirming means for confirming contact between the batteries and the charging means, based on the detected current detected by the charging current detecting unit;

the movement controller finely adjusting positions of the mobile object until the contact in detected by the contact confirming means, when the mobile objects are positioned at the charging position.