Bipedal robot with storage battery

• US 7,328,087 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Kenichi, Demachi, Atsushi, Higashi, Toshiyuki, Saito, Yasuhisa, Kuwahara, Toratsugu, Oka, Teruyuki, Miyazaki, Susumu, Koyanagi, Takuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc; McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US11/456,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/246, 700/251, 700/253, 700/260, 700/261, 318/568.1, 318/568.12, 318/568.16, 318/568.17, 318/568.2, 901/1, 901/9, 901/46, 180/8.1, 180/8.6, 180/65.1, 701/23, 320/116, 320/120, 446/376, 446/384
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/005 using batteries, e.g. as a back-up power source
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/289 characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A bipedal robot of the present invention has a trunk consisting of an upper trunk and a lower trunk which are rotatable around a rotation axis relative to one another. The upper trunk has shoulders on the right and left sides. An arm is provided at each shoulder. A pair of right and left legs is attached to lower ends of the lower trunk. A storage battery is mounted to the back of the upper trunk, positioned within a shoulder width. The storage battery is positioned below the top of a head mounted on the upper trunk. When the robot walks a narrow passage or corridor having a width slightly larger than the width thereof, for example, this arrangement prevents the storage battery from interfering with the passage or the like.

Claims

1. A bipedal robot with a storage battery comprising:

a trunk including an upper trunk having shoulders at right and left sides thereof and a lower trunk positioned below the upper trunk, the upper trunk and the lower trunk being mounted rotatably relative to one another about a vertical rotation axis;

two legs extending downward from a lower end of the lower trunk;

two arms extending from the shoulders of the upper trunk;

a head provided on an upper end of the upper trunk; and

a storage battery mounted on a back surface of the upper trunk, the storage battery being positioned below a top of the head in a region within a shoulder width of the trunk;

wherein the storage battery comprises a plurality of cells and a case in which the cells are accommodated, the case having a first vertical wall and a second vertical wall opposite to the first vertical wall, the first vertical wall being flat, the second vertical wall being non-planar and having at least one protruded portion projecting in a direction away from the first vertical wall, the protruded portion receiving therein at least one of the cells.

2. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the storage battery has a gravity point positioned rearward of and above a reference center of gravity of the bipedal robot with the storage battery removed.

3. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the protruded portion is formed in an upper portion of the case.

4. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of the cells are stacked in layers.

5. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the storage battery is removably mounted on a back surface of the upper trunk.

6. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least some of the cells are connected in series.

7. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein all of the cells are connected in series.

8. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cells are lithium-ion cells.

9. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the cells has a storage capacity that differs from the storage capacity of the remaining cells.

10. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the case further includes a third vertical wall and a fourth vertical wall opposite to the third vertical wall, as well as a bottom wall and a lid opposite to the bottom wall.

11. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the storage battery is covered by a subbody of substantially box-like shape having a width that is less than the shoulder width of the trunk, the subbody detachably affixed to the back of the upper trunk and positioned below the top of the head and in the region within the shoulder width of the trunk.

12. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the storage battery is covered by a subbody of substantially box-like shape having a width approximately equal to the shoulder width of the trunk, the subbody detachably affixed to the back of the upper trunk and positioned below the top of the head and in the region within the shoulder width of the trunk.

13. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the storage battery is comprised of a number of modules, each module including an inner case for containing some of the cells, the modules residing within the case.

14. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 13, wherein at least one module has a capacity greater than the capacity of one or more other modules.

15. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 14, wherein the at least one module of greater capacity includes an inner case having a protruded portion designed to fit within the at least one protruded portion of the case.

16. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 14, wherein at least one pair of modules of greater capacity are arranged on opposite sides of the case, along walls connecting the first vertical wall and the second vertical wall, each module including an inner case having a protruded portion designed to fit within a corresponding protruded portion of the case.

17. The bipedal robot as set forth in claim 16, wherein at least one module of lesser capacity resides between the at least one pair of modules of greater capacity.