Charging an electronic device including traversing at least a portion of a path with an apparatus

• US 8,736,228 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Freed, Ian W., Bezos, Jeffrey P., Robison, Keela N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, MANUEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/973,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/106, 320/107, 320/114, 320/115
• US Class Current: 320/115
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• 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 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A robotic device can provide power management and other functionality for various electronic devices. An electronic device and the robotic device can communicate information such as device charge level, relative position and rate of power consumption and can determine an appropriate time at which the robotic device should cause the electronic device to be charged, either by charging the device directly or transporting the device to an appropriate charger. The robotic device can also cause other functions to be performed as well, such as to enable high-bandwidth data transfer or perform resource-intensive activities when in communication with the electronic device. The robotic device can transport the electronic device to specific locations or to specific users, or as otherwise appropriate.

Claims

1. A method of charging an electronic device, comprising:

in response to determining, at a charging device, that the electronic device should be charged,

determining a location of the electronic device with respect to the charging device;

traversing, with the charging device, at least a portion of a path between a current location of the charging device and the determined location of the electronic device, wherein the charging device is configured to alter the path in response to detecting an object obstructing the path, wherein the charging device traverses the at least the portion of the path without human input;

electronically coupling the charging device and the electronic device; and

causing a power storage element of the electronic device to receive an electrical charge from the charging device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging device includes at least one imaging element, the location of the electronic device being determined at least in part by analyzing, using a processor, at least one image of the electronic device captured using the at least one imaging element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the electronic device is determined at least in part by analyzing, using a processor, location information of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein traversing the at least the portion of the path between the current location of the charging device and the determined location of the electronic device includes utilizing mapping information for a surrounding environment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the object obstructing the path using at least one sensor element of the charging device; and

altering the path to avoid the object, wherein the altering is performed without human input.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein electronically coupling the charging device and the electronic device includes connecting a connector of the charging device with the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging device further includes a plurality of connectors, and wherein electronically coupling the charging device and the electronic device includes identifying a type of the electronic device and selecting at least one of the plurality of connectors based at least in part on the identified type of the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving charge information from the electronic device,

wherein the charging device is operable to provide the electrical charge to the power storage element of the electronic device based at least in part upon the charge information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

predicting a rate of power consumption of the electronic device over a future period of time based at least in part upon a past rate of power consumption,

wherein the charging device is able to cause the power storage element of the electronic device to receive the electrical charge based at least in part upon the predicted rate of power consumption.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging device causes the power storage element of the electronic device to receive the electrical charge during a selected period of time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging device causes the power storage element of the electronic device to receive the electrical charge upon receiving a charge request from the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging device does not cause the power storage element of the electronic device to receive the electrical charge if the electronic device is determined to not require charging at a current time.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

moving the electronic device to a respective location using the charging device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering the electronic device to a user using the charging device in response to at least one of an event and a predicted event.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

using at least one imaging element of the charging device to identify the user.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the power storage element of the electronic device to receive the electrical charge includes charging the electronic device while the electronic device is within a proximity of the charging device, wherein the charging utilizes at least one of an inductive charging element, capacitive charging element and a physical connection.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging device includes at least one power source, the method further comprising:

determining a power level of the power source;

if the determined power level of the power source is below a defined threshold level, coupling the charging device to an external power source without human input.

18. A method of charging an electronic device, comprising:

determining, using a power level determination component of the electronic device, a power level of the electronic device;

based at least in part upon the determined power level of the electronic device, determining whether the electronic device should be charged; and

when it is determined that the electronic device should be charged, sending a communication from the electronic device to a charging device indicating that the electronic device should be charged, wherein in response to receiving the communication, the charging device is configured to traverse at least a portion of a path between the electronic device and the charging device and without human input provide an electrical charge to the electronic device, wherein the charging device is configured to alter the path in response to detecting an object obstructing the path.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

predicting an estimated power consumption for the electronic device over a determined period of time based in part upon at least one of the following;

—

behavioral information for a user of the electronic device, functionality executing on the electronic device, schedule information for the user, a location of the electronic device, a discharge rate of a power source of the electronic device, and historical usage data for the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

if it is determined that the electronic device should not be charged, determining a range of time during which the electronic device should be charged.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication includes data identifying a location of the electronic device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication includes data identifying a time period during which the electronic device is available for charging.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication includes a type identification of the electronic device.

24. A method of causing a first device to be charged, comprising:

under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,

receiving at least power information from the first device;

based at least in part upon the received power information, determining whether to charge the first device; and

if it is determined to charge the first device;

determining a position of the first device with respect to a second device;

traversing, with the second device, at least a portion of a path between a current position of the second device and the determined position of the first device, wherein the second device is configured to alter the path in response to detecting an object obstructing the path wherein the second device traverses the at least the portion of the path without human input; and

causing a power storage element of the first device to receive an electrical charge.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the path between the current position of the second device and the determined position of the first device is determined at least in part on information received by the second device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein causing the power storage element of the first device to receive the electrical charge includes connecting a connector of the second device with the first device.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

transporting the first device to a determined location using the second device, without human input.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

determining whether the first device is available for charging; and

if it is determined to charge the first device and it is determined that the first device is not available for charging, sending at least one command to the first device to alter a functionality of the first device to reduce power consumption.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a processor associated with the housing;

a drive element coupled with the housing, the drive element operable to cause the apparatus to traverse at least a portion of a path in response to instructions received from the processor;

a communication element operable to receive a signal from an electronic device; and

memory including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

determine that the electronic device should be charged;

determine a position of the electronic device with respect to the apparatus;

use the drive element to traverse the at least the portion of the path between a current position of the apparatus and the determined position of the electronic device, wherein the apparatus is configured to alter the path in response to detecting an object obstructing the path, wherein the apparatus traverses the at least the portion of the path without human input; and

receive an electrical charge using a power storage element of the electronic device.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive the electronic device for transport; and

transport the electronic device to a destination.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

at least one sensor element operable to detect the object along the path, wherein the processor is operable to alter the path to avoid the object without human input.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

at least one connector operable to connect with the electronic device.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of connectors and wherein the apparatus is further operable to identify a type of electronic device and select at least one of the plurality of connectors based at least in part on the identified type of electronic device.

34. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

at least one assembly operable to connect to an external power source in order to charge the apparatus.

35. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

a power source, wherein the power source is operable to cause the power storage element of the electronic device to receive the electrical charge.