Charging system for self-propelled apparatus

• US 9,941,715 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lumiplus Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lumiplus Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Shun-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US15/135,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20170271895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 320104, 320109, 320114, 320115, 901 1, 901 46, 700258
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/28 Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A charging station includes a main body, a central emission module, a supersonic receiver, a controller, and a lateral emission module having a left infrared emitter and a right infrared emitter. The controller drives the left infrared emitter and the right infrared emitter to emit alternatively infrared signals to a first signal area and a second signal area, respectively. When the supersonic receiver receives a supersonic signal from the self-propelled apparatus, the controller drives the central emission module to emit another infrared signal to a third signal area so as to guide the self-propelled apparatus to enter the third signal area. When a distance between the self-propelled apparatus and the charging port is smaller than a predetermined distance, the self-propelled apparatus turns to have a charging-input unit thereof to face the charging port. In addition, a charging system including the charging station and the self-propelled apparatus is also provided.

Claims

1. A charging station, for charging a self-propelled apparatus, comprising:

a main body, including a charging port;

a central emission module, located at the main body at a position corresponding to the charging port;

a lateral emission module, located at the main body, including a left infrared emitter and a right infrared emitter located individually to two opposing sides of the central emission module;

a supersonic receiver, located at the main body, being to receive a supersonic signal emitted by the self-propelled apparatus; and

a controller, located at the main body, coupled with the central emission module, the lateral emission module and the supersonic receiver, driving the left infrared emitter and the right infrared emitter to emit alternatively infrared signals to a first signal area and a second signal area, respectively;

wherein, when the self-propelled apparatus enters the first signal area, the self-propelled apparatus yaws to move in a direction toward the second signal area;

wherein, when the self-propelled apparatus enters the second signal area, the self-propelled apparatus yaws to move in another direction toward the first signal area; and

wherein, when the supersonic receiver receives the supersonic signal from the self-propelled apparatus, the controller drives the central emission module to emit another infrared signal to a third signal area for informing the self-propelled apparatus of entering the third signal range, the controller realizes the supersonic signal to calculate a distance between the self-propelled apparatus and the charging port, and the self-propelled apparatus turns to have a charging-input unit thereof to face the charging port if the distance is smaller than a predetermined distance.

2. The charging station of claim 1, wherein, when the charging-input unit of the self-propelled apparatus faces the charging port, the self-propelled apparatus slows down to move at a lower walk speed toward the charging port.

3. A charging system, comprising:

a self-propelled apparatus, including a supersonic emitter and a charging-input unit, the supersonic emitter being to emit a supersonic signal, the charging-input unit located at a rear side of the self-propelled apparatus; and

a charging station, further comprising;

a main body, including a charging port;

a central emission module, located at the main body at a position corresponding to the charging port;

a lateral emission module, located at the main body, including a left infrared emitter and a right infrared emitter located individually to two opposing sides of the central emission module;

a supersonic receiver, located at the main body, being to receive a supersonic signal emitted by the self-propelled apparatus; and

a controller, located at the main body, coupled with the central emission module, the lateral emission module and the supersonic receiver, driving the left infrared emitter and the right infrared emitter to emit alternatively infrared signals to a first signal area and a second signal area, respectively;

wherein, when the self-propelled apparatus enters the first signal area, the self-propelled apparatus yaws to move in a direction toward the second signal area;

wherein, when the self-propelled apparatus enters the second signal area, the self-propelled apparatus yaws to move in another direction toward the first signal area; and

wherein, when the supersonic receiver receives the supersonic signal from the self-propelled apparatus, the controller drives the central emission module to emit another infrared signal to a third signal area for informing the self-propelled apparatus of entering the third signal range, the controller realizes the supersonic signal to calculate a distance between the self-propelled apparatus and the charging port, and the self-propelled apparatus turns to have a charging-input unit thereof to face the charging port if the distance is smaller than a predetermined distance.

4. The charging system of claim 3, wherein, when the charging-input unit of the self-propelled apparatus faces the charging port, the self-propelled apparatus slows down to move at a lower walk speed toward the charging port.