# US 2012/0074891 A1 · Robot power source charging station

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- Number: US 2012/0074891 A1
- Document ID: US20120074891A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/891,355
- Filed: 2010-09-27
- Published: 2012-03-29
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-27
- Assignees: Deere & Company
- Inventors: Noel Wayne Anderson; Alex D. Foessel; Andrew Joseph Valentine
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120074891A1

## CPC

- H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction
- B60L 53/12: Inductive energy transfer
- B60L 53/30: Constructional details of charging stations
- B60L 53/305: {Communication interfaces}
- B60L 53/36: by positioning the vehicle
- B60L 53/51: Photovoltaic means
- B60L 53/52: Wind-driven generators
- B60L 53/53: Batteries
- B60L 53/54: Fuel cells
- B60L 53/55: Capacitors
- B60L 53/67: Controlling two or more charging stations
- B60L 53/68: Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
- H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling
- H02J 50/60: responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
- H02J 50/90: involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
- B60L 2200/40: Working vehicles
- B60L 2250/10: by alarm
- H02J 7/34: Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence)
- H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices}
- H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells
- H02J 2207/40: adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
- Y02B 10/30: Wind power
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## 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

### Claim 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; and
locking means to secure the fixing means to be tamper resistant.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power transfer station of claim 1 further comprising:
an alternate power source independent of the power grid for generating power used by the power transmitter to transmit the generated power to the device for charging the battery.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The power transfer station of claim 1 wherein the power receiver is integral with the housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The power transfer station of claim 1 wherein the housing is within range of a power transmitter electrically connected to the power grid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The power transfer station of claim 1 wherein the power receiver is remote from the housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The power transfer station of claim 5 wherein the power receiver is electrically connected to the power transmitter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The power transfer station of claim 5 wherein the remote power receiver is attachable to an exterior surface for receiving power wirelessly from a power transmitter, attached to an interior surface, and electrically connected to the power grid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The power transfer station of claim 1, wherein the structure is adapted for placement on the base plate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The power transfer station of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of base plates placed at different locations in an area that is accessible by a mobile device;
each base plate being adapted to receive and support the structure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The power transfer station of claim 1, 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.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The power transfer station of claim 1, wherein:
releasable locking means are provided for selectively attaching the structure to, and releasing the structure from the base plate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The power transfer station of claim 1, wherein:
the structure and base plate are continually joined together, and are disposed for movement in unison.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The power transfer station of claim 10, wherein:
the structure is selectively movable with respect to the base, in order to provide access to the anchor means, and means are provided to selectively prevent movement of the structure with respect to the base plate, in order to prevent access to the anchor means.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The power transfer station of claim 10, wherein:
the base plate is provided with a detector that is operable to detect efforts to remove the anchor means from the ground location.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The power transfer station of claim 14, wherein:
the base plate is further provided with an alarm that is responsive to operation of the detector.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

The power transfer station of claim 2, wherein:
the alternative power source comprises an energy storage device and a power generating element selected from a group of elements that includes at least one of a solar call, a fuel cell, a wind generator and a piezo electric generator.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The power transfer station of claim 16 wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one of a battery and ultra capacitor.

### Claim 18

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; and
using locking means to secure the fixing means to be tamper resistant.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein:
an alternate power source independent of the power grid is provided for generating power used by the power transmitter to transmit the generated power to the device for charging the battery.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the power receiver is integral with the housing.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the housing is within range of a power transmitter electrically connected to the power grid.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the power receiver is remote from the housing.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22 wherein the power receiver is electrically connected to the power transmitter.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22 wherein the remote power receiver is attachable to an exterior surface for receiving power wirelessly from a power transmitter, attached to an interior surface, and electrically connected to the power grid.

### Claim 25 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the structure is adapted for placement on the base plate.

### Claim 26 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
a plurality of base plates are placed at different locations in an area that is accessible by a mobile device;
each base plate being adapted to receive and support the structure.

### Claim 27 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, 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.

### Claim 28 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein:
releasable locking means are provided for selectively attaching the structure to, and releasing the structure from the base plate.

### Claim 29 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein:
the structure and base plate are continually joined together, and are disposed for movement in unison.

### Claim 30 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein:
the structure is selectively movable with respect to the base, in order to provide access to the anchor means, and means are provided to selectively prevent movement of the structure with respect to the base plate, in order to prevent access to the anchor means.

### Claim 31 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein:
the base plate is provided with a detector that is operable to detect efforts to remove the anchor means from the ground location.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein:
the base plate is further provided with an alarm that is responsive to operation of the detector.

### Claim 33 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein:
the alternate power source comprises an energy storage device and a power generating element selected from a group of elements that includes at least one of a solar call, a fuel cell, a wind generator and a piezo electric generator.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one of a battery and ultra capacitor.