Coverage robot docking station

• US 9,178,370 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Geringer, Joseph, Henricksen, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rossoshek, Helen
• Application Number:
  US13/729,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20140184144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320113-115, 153/19, 153/20, 700/245, 700/258
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0003 Home robots, i.e. small robots for domestic use
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A coverage robot docking station includes a base having a robot receiving surface. The base defines a power receptacle for receiving a power supply. The base also defines a beacon receptacle for receiving a beacon. A side wall extends from the base, where the side wall and the receiving surface of the base define a robot holder. At least one charging contact is disposed on the robot receiving surface for charging a received robot.

Claims

1. A coverage robot docking station comprising:

a base having a robot receiving surface;

a side wall extending from the base, the side wall and the receiving surface of the base defining a robot holder that supports a received robot above a ground surface, the robot holder including a fluid collection portion arranged to collect fluid dripping from the received robot; and

at least one charging contact disposed on the robot holder and configured for charging the received robot;

wherein the fluid collection portion includes a trough sized and shaped for collecting droplets of fluid dripping from wet components of the received robot on the receiving surface.

2. The coverage robot docking station of claim 1, further comprising first and second supports disposed on the robot holder and spaced from each other, the supports arranged to support the received robot away from the receiving surface, the fluid collection portion defined between the first and second supports.

3. The coverage robot docking station of claim 1, wherein the side wall is arranged to support the received robot in the inclined orientation with respect to the ground surface, the side wall guiding collection of fluid dropping from the received robot to the fluid collection portion.

4. The coverage robot docking station of claim 3, wherein the side wall is arranged for supporting the received robot in a tilted standing position partially resting on the side wall, the at least one charging contact disposed on the side wall.

5. The coverage docking station of claim 1, wherein the base defines a power receptacle for receiving a power supply.

6. The coverage docking station of claim 5, wherein the power receptacle comprises at least one retaining clip releasably engaging and retaining the received power supply.

7. The coverage docking station of claim 6, wherein the at least one retaining clip is spring biased.

8. The coverage docking station of claim 1, wherein the side wall extends from the base at an angle with respect to the receiving surface, the defined robot holder having a substantially L-shape.

9. The coverage docking station of claim 8, further comprising first and second supports disposed on the robot holder and spaced from each other, the supports arranged to support the received robot away from the receiving surface.

10. The coverage docking station of claim 9, wherein the side wall has a proximal end attached to the base and a distal end, the at least one charging contact is disposed on the distal end of the side wall.

11. The coverage docking station of claim 8, wherein the robot holder defines the fluid collection portion where the side wall meets the receiving surface.

12. The coverage docking station of claim 1, further comprising a wall mount fixture attached to a back surface of the side wall for attaching the coverage robot docking station to a wall mount.

13. The coverage docking station of claim 1, further comprising a robot retainer disposed on the robot holder for retaining the received robot in a docked position.

14. The coverage docking station of claim 13, wherein the robot retainer further comprises a nozzle for blowing air into the robot.

15. The coverage docking station of claim 1, wherein the robot receiving surface extends along at least a portion of the side wall.

16. The coverage docking station of claim 1, wherein the base defines a beacon receptacle for receiving a beacon.

17. The coverage docking station of claim 16, wherein the beacon receptacle comprises at least one retaining clip releasably engaging and retaining the received beacon.

18. The coverage docking station of claim 17, wherein the at least one retaining clip is spring biased.

19. The coverage robot docking station of claim 1, further comprising:

an air mover arranged to move air onto the received coverage robot; and

a robot detector arranged to detect the presence of the received coverage robot, the robot detector activating the air mover upon detecting the presence of the received coverage robot;

wherein the air mover is positioned adjacent wet components of the received coverage robot.

20. The coverage robot docking station of claim 19, wherein the air mover comprises a fan having a nozzle disposed in the robot receiving surface to move air onto the wet components of the received coverage robot.

21. The coverage robot docking station of claim 19, wherein the air mover directs a stream of air across the wet components of the coverage robot such that droplets of fluid are moved from the wet components to the trough.

22. The coverage robot docking station of claim 19, wherein the air mover directs a heated stream of air across the wet components of the coverage robot.

23. The coverage robot docking station of claim 1, wherein the received coverage robot comprises an exhaust fan housed in the coverage robot and the receiving surface directs a stream of exhaust air from the exhaust fan across the wet components of the coverage robot.