System and method for in situ charging of a remote vehicle
First Claim
1. A system for in situ charging of at least one rechargeable power source of a remote vehicle, the system comprising:
- a power recharger having charger contacts; and
a chassis adapter at least partially enclosing the at least one rechargeable power source and retaining the at least one rechargeable power source on the remote vehicle, the chassis adapter comprising charger input contacts configured to mate with the charger contacts of the power recharger, the charger input contacts including a positive contact, a ground, and one or more data contacts separate from the positive contact, the chassis adapter including terminals in communication with at least the positive contact and the ground and configured to mate with the at least one rechargeable power source for charging the at least one rechargeable power source;
wherein when the power recharger engages and supplies power to the chassis adapter, the chassis adapter;
directly powers the remote vehicle while charging the at least one rechargeable power source, allowing the at least one rechargeable power source to not supply power to the remote vehicle while charging; and
monitors a charging current to the at least one rechargeable power source; and
wherein the power recharger automatically disengages from the charger input contacts when the remote vehicle is driven away from the chassis adapter without damaging the power recharger.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for in situ charging of at least one rechargeable power source of a remote vehicle. The system comprises a power recharger having contacts configured to supply power to the at least one rechargeable power source, and a chassis adapter at least partially enclosing the at least one rechargeable power source and retaining the at least one rechargeable power source on the remote vehicle, the chassis adapter including terminals connected to the at least one rechargeable power source and configured to mate with the power recharger to allow the power recharger to recharge the at least one rechargeable power source. The chassis adapter comprises charger input contacts including a positive contact, a ground, and one or more data contacts. The power recharger automatically disengages from the recharging terminals when the remote vehicle is driven away from the chassis adapter without damaging the power recharger.
46 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for in situ charging of at least one rechargeable power source of a remote vehicle, the system comprising:
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a power recharger having charger contacts; and a chassis adapter at least partially enclosing the at least one rechargeable power source and retaining the at least one rechargeable power source on the remote vehicle, the chassis adapter comprising charger input contacts configured to mate with the charger contacts of the power recharger, the charger input contacts including a positive contact, a ground, and one or more data contacts separate from the positive contact, the chassis adapter including terminals in communication with at least the positive contact and the ground and configured to mate with the at least one rechargeable power source for charging the at least one rechargeable power source; wherein when the power recharger engages and supplies power to the chassis adapter, the chassis adapter; directly powers the remote vehicle while charging the at least one rechargeable power source, allowing the at least one rechargeable power source to not supply power to the remote vehicle while charging; and monitors a charging current to the at least one rechargeable power source; and wherein the power recharger automatically disengages from the charger input contacts when the remote vehicle is driven away from the chassis adapter without damaging the power recharger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for in situ charging of at least one rechargeable power source of a remote vehicle, the method comprising:
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attaching a releasable power recharger having charger contacts to a chassis adapter, the chassis adapter at least partially encloses the at least one power source and retains the at least one power source on the remote vehicle, the chassis adapter comprising charger input contacts configured to mate with the charger contacts of the power recharger, the charger input contacts including a positive contact, a ground, and one or more data contacts separate from the positive contact, the chassis adapter including terminals in communication with at least the positive contact and the ground and configured to mate with the at least one rechargeable power source for charging the at least one rechargeable power source; wherein when the power recharger engages and supplies power to the chassis adapter, the chassis adapter; directly powers the remote vehicle while charging the at least one rechargeable power source, allowing the at least one rechargeable power source to not supply power to the remote vehicle while charging; and monitors a charging current to the at least one rechargeable power source; and automatically disengaging the charger contacts of the releasable power recharger from the charger input contacts of the chassis adapter when the remote vehicle is driven away from the releasable power recharger without damaging the releasable power recharger. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for in situ charging of at least two rechargeable power sources of a remote vehicle, the system comprising a remote vehicle and an operator control unit for controlling the remote vehicle, and further comprising:
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two power rechargers, each having charger contacts; and two chassis adapters, each chassis adapter at least partially enclosing at least one respective rechargeable power source and retaining the respective at least one rechargeable power source on the remote vehicle, and each of the chassis adapters comprising charger input contacts configured to mate with the charger contacts of one of the power rechargers, the charger input contacts including a positive contact, a ground, and one or more data contacts separate from the positive contact, each chassis adapter including terminals in communication with at least the corresponding positive contact and the corresponding ground and configured to mate with at least one rechargeable power source for charging the at least one rechargeable power source; wherein when each power recharger engages and supplies power to the corresponding chassis adapter, the corresponding chassis adapter; directly powers the remote vehicle while charging the at least one rechargeable power source, allowing the at least one rechargeable power source to not supply power to the remote vehicle while charging; and monitors a charging current to the at least one rechargeable power source; and wherein the power rechargers automatically disengage from the respective chassis adapter when the remote vehicle is driven away from the chassis adapter without damaging the chassis adapter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification