Robotic mower inductive charging station

• US 9,376,027 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Harris, Troy W
• Primary Examiner(s): Boateng, Alexis A
• Application Number:
  US14/026,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20150077045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/107, 320/103, 320/109, 320/114, 320/115, 320/134, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/16 DC brushless machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A robotic mower inductive charging station includes a plurality of transmitter coils mounted on a horizontal base structure in a pattern for inductive charging of a robotic mower that may enter and approach the charging station from any direction. The horizontal base structure may have a plurality of slots, perforations or holes covering at least about 50% of the base structure'"'"'s surface area.

Claims

1. A robotic mower inductive charging station, comprising:

a horizontal base structure having a plurality of transmitter coils laying substantially flat on an unpaved ground surface for inductive charging a robotic mower, the transmitter coils mounted in a pattern on the horizontal base structure having a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis at an angle between the first axis and second axis for inductive charging of a robotic mower entering the charging station over the transmitter coils along any of the first, second or third axes; and

a plurality of slots, perforations or holes covering at least about 50% of the base structure'"'"'s surface area to permit vegetation growth through the slots, perforations or holes.

2. The robotic mower inductive charging station of claim 1 wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

3. The robotic mower inductive charging station of claim 1 further comprising a beacon transmitting signals to a robotic mower for finding the inductive charging station.

4. The robotic mower inductive charging station of claim 1 wherein the slots, perforations or holes are within a diameter of each transmitter coil.

5. The robotic mower inductive charging station of claim 1 wherein the base structure is a mesh material.

6. A robotic mower inductive charging station, comprising:

a plurality of transmitter coils arranged on a substantially flat portion of a base structure on an unpaved ground surface for charging a robotic mower when the robotic mower drives over the transmitter coils from any of a plurality of different directions and orientations; and

a plurality of openings both inside and outside the transmitter coils where grass may grow through the substantially flat portion of the base structure.

7. The robotic mower inductive charging station of claim 6 wherein the plurality of openings exceed 50% of the surface area of the base structure.

8. The robotic mower inductive charging station of claim 6 wherein the plurality of transmitter coils are aligned on a first axis, a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and at least one third axis that is at between the first axis and the second axis.

9. The robotic mower inductive charging station of claim 6 further comprising a homing beacon on the base structure.

10. A robotic mower inductive charging system, comprising:

a base structure having a substantially flat portion for charging a robotic mower using a plurality of transmitter coils mounted in a pattern thereon;

holes through the base structure sufficient for vegetation growth; and

the robotic mower having a plurality of receiver coils mounted thereto in a pattern matching the transmitter coils for inductively charging a battery pack on the robotic mower while the robotic mower is positioned in any of a plurality of different orientations over the substantially flat portion of the base structure.

11. The robotic mower inductive charging system of claim 10 further comprising a beacon on the base structure transmitting signals to the robotic mower to find the base structure.

12. The robotic mower inductive charging system of claim 10 wherein the robotic mower has two receiver coils.