Charging system by autonomous guide of drone

• US 10,618,653 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chan Hee Han
• Original Assignee: Chan Hee Han
• Inventors: Han, Chan Hee, Shin, Gyu Sik
• Primary Examiner(s): Lang, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US15/579,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20180141657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/222 for storing aircraft, e.g. in hangars
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/37 Charging when not in flight
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations

Abstract

A charging system by autonomous guide of drone includes a drone for being autonomously guided to a charging station on the basis of location and altitude coordinates for charging and for transmitting a charged information to a control station when the charging is completed; a charging station for recognizing the approach of the drone within a chargeable range and for controlling the guide flight of the drone and transmitting a charged information to the control station when the charging is completed; and a control station for detecting the state of charge of the drone in real time and for transmitting a location coordinate and altitude coordinate of the charging station to the drone for guiding flight to the charging station.

Claims

1. A charging system by autonomous guide of drone comprising:

a drone for being autonomously guided to a charging station on the basis of location and altitude coordinates for charging and for transmitting a charged information to a control station when the charging is completed;

a charging station for recognizing the approach of the drone within a chargeable range and for controlling the guide flight of the drone and transmitting a charged information to the control station when the charging is completed; and

the control station for detecting the state of charge of the drone in real time and for transmitting a location coordinate and altitude coordinate of the charging station to the drone for guiding flight to the charging station,

wherein the charging station comprises a charging unit for charging the electric power to the drone,

wherein the charging unit comprises;

two electrode plates being separated and exposed to the outside;

a main signal transmitter formed between the two electrode plates and transmitting a signal at a large angle; and

an auxiliary signal transmitter formed on each of the two electrode plates and transmitting a signal at a small angle; and

wherein a signal transmission area of the auxiliary signal transmitter is located within a signal transmission area of the main signal transmitter.

2. The charging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drone comprises:

a control unit for controlling the drone to fly to the charging station under the control of the control station or to fly to the charging station by communicating with the charging station;

a receiving unit for receiving a control signal transmitted from the control station or the charging station for charging;

a transmitting unit for transmitting a flight signal to the control station or the charging station;

a guiding unit for receiving a radio signal from the control station or the charging station and for allowing the drone to be autonomously guided to the charging station;

a displaying unit for displaying a state in which charging is performed;

a charging unit for charging the electric power supplied from the charging station to the drone; and

a buffering unit for preventing mechanical breakage due to the physical contact between the drone and the charging station when the drone is charged by the wired lines at the charging station.

3. The charging system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said guiding unit transmits one signal of infrared rays, laser beams, and RF signals to the charging station.

4. The charging system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said charging unit charges the electric power to the drone by electromagnetic induction or magnetic resonance.

5. The charging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said charging station further comprises:

a control unit for controlling the drone to be flied to the charging station for charging under a control of the control station or by communication with the drone;

a receiving unit for receiving a guide flight signal transmitted from the control station or the drone for charging;

a transmitting unit for transmitting a guide flight signal to the drone or the control station for charging;

a guiding unit for transmitting a radio signal to the drone to be autonomous guided to the charging station;

a displaying unit for displaying a state in which charging is performed;

and

a buffering unit for preventing mechanical breakage due to physical contact between the drone and the charging station when the charging of the drone is performed by wire.

6. The charging system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said guiding unit transmits a signal of infrared rays, laser beams, and RF signals to the charging station.

7. The charging system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said charging unit charges the electric power to the drone by electromagnetic induction or magnetic resonance.

8. The charging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said drone reserves a flight plan at the control station and flies according to the flight plan under a control of the control station.

9. The charging system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said charging station comprises a hangar so that the drone can be stored or be charged.

10. The charging system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said hangar comprises:

a control unit;

a communicating unit for communicating with the drone or the control station;

a door unit for being opened or closed for charging and storing the drone;

a fixing unit for fixing the aero vehicle;

a electric power generating and storing unit for converting solar light to electric power;

a sensing unit for sensing and manages the wind direction, rain, thunderstorm, temperature, charging status, and charge amount to determine whether the flight of the drone is possible; and

a memory for storing data processed by the control unit.

11. The charging system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said hangar has waterproof function.