Magnetically coupled accessory for a self-propelled device
First Claim
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1. A self-propelled device comprising:
- a spherical housing;
an internal drive system provided within the spherical housing;
a biasing component coupled to the internal drive system to cause a pair of wheels of the internal drive system to continuously engage an inner surface of the spherical housing;
a first magnetic coupling component coupled to the biasing component, the first magnetic coupling component to provide a magnetic field that extends through the spherical housing; and
an accessory device external to the spherical housing and comprising (i) a second magnetic coupling component to magnetically couple with the first magnetic coupling component through the spherical housing, and (ii) a contact surface to engage an exterior surface of the spherical housing.
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Abstract
A system comprising a self-propelled device and an accessory device. The self-propelled device includes a spherical housing, and a drive system provided within the spherical housing to cause the self-propelled device to roll. When the self-propelled device rolls, the self-propelled device and the accessory device magnetically interact to maintain the accessory device in contact with a top position of the spherical housing relative to an underlying surface on which the spherical housing is rolling on.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self-propelled device comprising:
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a spherical housing; an internal drive system provided within the spherical housing; a biasing component coupled to the internal drive system to cause a pair of wheels of the internal drive system to continuously engage an inner surface of the spherical housing; a first magnetic coupling component coupled to the biasing component, the first magnetic coupling component to provide a magnetic field that extends through the spherical housing; and an accessory device external to the spherical housing and comprising (i) a second magnetic coupling component to magnetically couple with the first magnetic coupling component through the spherical housing, and (ii) a contact surface to engage an exterior surface of the spherical housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
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a controller device; and a self-propelled device in wireless communication with the controller device, the self-propelled device comprising; a spherical housing; an internal drive system provided within the spherical housing; a biasing component coupled to the internal drive system to cause a pair of wheels of the internal drive system to continuously engage an inner surface of the spherical housing; a first magnetic coupling component coupled to the biasing component, the first magnetic coupling component to provide a magnetic field that extends through the spherical housing; and an accessory device external to the spherical housing and comprising (i) a second magnetic coupling component to magnetically couple with the first magnetic coupling component through the spherical housing, and (ii) a contact surface to engage an exterior surface of the spherical housing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification