Robot power source charging station

• US 8,618,766 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2010
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Anderson, Noel Wayne, Foessel, Alex D., Valentine, Andrew Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US12/891,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20120074891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/54 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/55 Capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 : with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 : Wind power
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system for recharging a mobile robot as a power source. In one embodiment the system comprises a power transmission link having a first end positioned at a selectively located charging station and a second end connected to the battery carried by the robot, the transmission link being configured to transmit power from its first end to its second end to charge the battery. The system further comprises a first wireless power transmitter coupled to receive power from a specified power source, and a first wireless power receiver, connected to the first end of the transmission link and located at a prespecified distance from the first wireless power transmitter. The first wireless power receiver is configured to receive power transmitted across the prespecified distance from the first wireless power transmitter, and to provide power to the first end of the transmission link, for transmission to charge the battery.

Claims

1. An electrical power transfer station, comprising:

a power receiver wirelessly connectable to a power grid for receiving power;

a structure having a housing, connectable to a base plate, having a power transmitter, wirelessly connectable to a device containing a battery, for transmitting the received power to the device for charging the battery;

the base plate having a fixing means to a stationary support, wherein the base plate is placed at a specified ground location wherein the ground is the stationary support, and the fixing means are removable anchor means provided to selectively retain the base plate at the ground location; and

locking means to secure the fixing means to be tamper resistant, wherein;

the base plate is provided with a detector that is operable to detect efforts to remove the anchor means from the ground location.

2. The power transfer station of claim 1, wherein:

the base plate is further provided with an alarm that is responsive to operation of the detector.

3. A method for setting up an electrical power transfer station, comprising the steps of:

wirelessly connecting a power receiver to a power grid for receiving power;

connecting a structure to a base plate, the structure having a housing and a power transmitter, wirelessly connectable to a device containing a battery, for transmitting the received power to the device for charging the battery;

furnishing fixing means to the base plate, for fixing the base plate to a stationary support, wherein the base plate is placed at a specified ground location wherein the ground is the stationary support, and the fixing means are removable anchor means provided to selectively retain the base plate at the ground location; and

using locking means to secure the fixing means to be tamper resistant, wherein;

the base plate is provided with a detector that is operable to detect efforts to remove the anchor means from the ground location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the base plate is further provided with an alarm that is responsive to operation of the detector.