System and method for implementing force field deterrent for robot
First Claim
1. A cover structure configured to limit infrared transmission between a navigation beacon having at least two infrared emitters and a robot having at least two receivers, the structure comprising:
- a top portion defining an opening; and
a wall portion having an upper periphery, a lower periphery, and a height extending between the upper and lower peripheries, the upper periphery of the wall portion adjoining a periphery of the top portion, the top and wall portions together defining a volume sized to receive at least a portion of a navigation beacon having a directional infrared emitter, the wall portion configured to block an infrared signal transmitted by the directional infrared emitter on the portion of the navigation beacon positionable within the volume;
wherein the opening in the top portion is configured to fit around a base of an omni-directional infrared emitter of the navigation beacon, the omni-directional infrared emitter protruding from the opening such that the cover structure fails to impede transmission of a proximity signal field by the omni-directional infrared emitter; and
wherein an interior of the wall portion comprises a plurality of ribs extending vertically along a length of the wall portion with respect to a surface supporting the cover structure and configured to align the wall portion relative to the omni-directional infrared emitter.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robot navigation system includes a robot, a navigation beacon, and a cover structure. The robot includes a chassis, an omni-directional receiver, and at least one directional receiver. The navigation beacon includes an omni-directional infrared emitter and at least one directional infrared emitter. The cover structure is configured to block infrared transmissions between the at least one directional infrared emitter and the directional receiver while simultaneously permitting transmissions between the omni-directional infrared emitter and the omni-directional receiver. The cover structure may be made of a black silicone material.
74 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A cover structure configured to limit infrared transmission between a navigation beacon having at least two infrared emitters and a robot having at least two receivers, the structure comprising:
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a top portion defining an opening; and a wall portion having an upper periphery, a lower periphery, and a height extending between the upper and lower peripheries, the upper periphery of the wall portion adjoining a periphery of the top portion, the top and wall portions together defining a volume sized to receive at least a portion of a navigation beacon having a directional infrared emitter, the wall portion configured to block an infrared signal transmitted by the directional infrared emitter on the portion of the navigation beacon positionable within the volume; wherein the opening in the top portion is configured to fit around a base of an omni-directional infrared emitter of the navigation beacon, the omni-directional infrared emitter protruding from the opening such that the cover structure fails to impede transmission of a proximity signal field by the omni-directional infrared emitter; and wherein an interior of the wall portion comprises a plurality of ribs extending vertically along a length of the wall portion with respect to a surface supporting the cover structure and configured to align the wall portion relative to the omni-directional infrared emitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A robot navigation system, comprising:
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a robot comprising a chassis, an omni-directional receiver, and at least one directional receiver; a navigation beacon comprising an omni-directional infrared emitter and at least one directional infrared emitter; and a cover structure configured to block infrared transmissions between the at least one directional infrared emitter and the directional receiver while simultaneously permitting transmissions between the omni-directional infrared emitter and at least one of the omni-directional receiver and the at least one directional receiver, the cover structure comprising; a top portion defining an opening; and a wall portion having an upper periphery, a lower periphery, and a height extending between the upper and lower peripheries, the upper periphery of the wall portion adjoining a periphery of the top portion, the top and wall portions together defining a volume sized to receive at least a portion of the navigation beacon having the at least one directional infrared emitter, the wall portion configured to block an infrared signal transmitted by the at least one directional infrared emitter on the portion of the navigation beacon positionable within the volume; wherein the opening in the top portion is configured to fit around a base of the omni-directional infrared emitter of the navigation beacon, the omni-directional infrared emitter protruding from the opening such that the cover structure fails to impede transmission of a proximity signal field by the omni-directional infrared emitter; and wherein an interior of the wall portion comprises a plurality of ribs extending vertically along a length of the wall portion with respect to a surface supporting the cover structure and configured to align the wall portion relative to the omni-directional infrared emitter. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of limiting infrared transmission between a navigation beacon having an omni-directional infrared emitter and at least one directional infrared emitter and a robot having a chassis, an omni-directional receiver, and at least one directional receiver, the method comprising:
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positioning a cover structure configured to block infrared transmissions between the at least one directional infrared emitter and at least one of the directional receiver and the omni-directional receiver, the cover structure comprising; a top portion defining an opening; and a wall portion having an upper periphery, a lower periphery, and a height extending between the upper and lower peripheries, the upper periphery of the wall portion adjoining a periphery of the top portion, the top and wall portions together defining a volume sized to receive at least a portion of the navigation beacon having the at least one directional infrared emitter, the wall portion configured to block an infrared signal transmitted by the at least one directional infrared emitter on the portion of the navigation beacon positionable within the volume; wherein the opening in the top portion is configured to fit around a base of the omni-directional infrared emitter of the navigation beacon, the omni-directional infrared emitter protruding from the opening such that the cover structure fails to impede transmission of a proximity signal field by the omni-directional infrared emitter; and wherein an interior of the wall portion comprises a plurality of ribs extending vertically along a length of the wall portion with respect to a surface supporting the cover structure and configured to align the wall portion relative to the omni-directional infrared emitter; and substantially simultaneously positioning the omni-directional infrared emitter outside of the cover structure to permit communication with the at least one receiver. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification