WO2007015206A2

WO2007015206A2 - Automatic battery recharging robot as an alternative to power cables

Info

Publication number: WO2007015206A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/052618
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hubertus M. R. Cortenraad; Martin Ouwerkerk
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2005-08-04
Filing date: 2006-08-01
Publication date: 2007-02-08
Also published as: WO2007015206A3

Abstract

The result of the progressing wireless communication is that the only remaining cable to many devices is the power cable. In this invention disclosure, it is proposed to remove the power cable and to use a battery in combination with a recharging robot. A single robot can be used for many devices, since each device can indicate when its battery is low on power. The recharging robot does not need to be a dedicated robot; the recharging functionality can be integrated in e.g. existing vacuum cleaner robots. Completely cable-less devices and lights do not only eliminate the awful sight of the cables, but furthermore enable the user a larger degree of freedom to place the device where he or she wants, and not where the power outlets of the walls permit.

Description

Automatic battery recharging robot as an alternative to power cables

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to charging electronic devices, more particularly it relates to recharging electronic consumer equipment comprising a rechargeable battery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays wireless communication between CE devices is a hot topic (e.g. WIFI, blue-tooth, etc.). A lot of progress is being made in this field, and if this trend continues, the data communication between the devices in the near future will no longer require any cables. However, despite the fact that no cables are required for the data communication, most devices still need a power cable.

The fact that a power cable is required also limits the positioning of the devices close to positions near a power outlet, which often means close to a wall. Any distance a device is placed from a wall, will lead to a cable from the wall into the room. In many households this is seen as undesired, or maybe even unacceptable. Therefore, if the power cable would not be needed, it would also give people more freedom in where to place the devices.

For lighting systems, the removal of the power cable can lead to a similar "freedom". Nowadays, and in the near future, the conventional light bulb on the ceiling in the centre of the room, is more and more replaced by multi-colour (mood) lighting systems, for example based on LEDs. Many of these lighting systems, are standing lamps. The colour control of these lights can be done wirelessly, but because of the power cord the lamps are in most cases placed close to a wall. Without this cord, the user could put the lights anywhere in the room where he or she wants.

In conclusion, if the power cord would not be required anymore, the undesired sight of all the cables would be solved, and it would give users more freedom where to place devices. If the devices do no longer have a power cable, they most likely are battery- powered, which means that the batteries have to be recharged. Publication US 2003/0075670 Al describes a wireless power transmission system that uses a light source to transfer power from a source to an electronic device. Even if a safety measure is used as described in that publication, it will still be dangerous to use such systems in environments occupied by people. Furthermore, the light source needs to be directed to a receiver which means that the receiver (and thus the electronic device in need of power) can not be moved.

Battery recharging is also an issue when using portable device such as phones, notebooks, or PDAs. If a battery of such a portable device is low, it needs to be charged by way of connecting it via a transformer to mains. An alternative is described in publication WO 03/105311 Al. There, a bidirectional wireless power transmission system is presented, wherein one portable device capable of exchanging power with other devices can be brought into communication with another portable device, so as to recharge the latter. For example, if one mobile phone has low battery, a user can connect a second mobile phone to the first mobile phone in order to recharge the first mobile phone. This may be convenient if there is no mains in the vicinity. This method has some drawbacks. First of all, this recharging method is only possible using a portable device. In these devices there is no room to place batteries having high power supply capacity. Furthermore, the user needs to bring the devices together in order to execute the method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a device and a method which allows unattended recharging of electronic devices in a domestic area without using power cables. Therefore in an aspect the invention relates to a recharging device comprising: a first power storage component; a power exchange system arranged to receive power from an external source and load the first power storage component at a first location, and arranged to load a rechargeable device using electrical power stored in the first power storage component at a second location; a transportation system arranged to move the recharging device from the first location to the second location.

The invention provides an apparatus by means of which any kind of electronic device having a rechargeable unit and a connector can be powered without the need of power cables and without any attention of a user.

In an embodiment, the recharging device comprises a control unit arranged to navigate the recharging device from the first location to the second location. In this case, the recharging device will find its way all by itself. There is no need to define special routes from the first location to the second one. In an embodiment, the power exchange system comprises a solar cell arranged to receive solar energy and connected to the first power storage component. The recharging device can collect energy from the sun, without the need of a special docking station.

In a special embodiment the recharging device as described above comprises a vacuum cleaner. So, this embodiment has a double function, cleaning the house and providing other devices with electrical power, which is very convenient.

The recharging device may for example comprise wheels or it may walk like a dog-like robot.

The invention also relates to a system comprising the recharging device as describes above, a docking station arranged to supply electrical power to the recharging device at the first location, and a rechargeable device, arranged to receive electrical power from the recharging device at the second location.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of recharging a rechargeable device according to claim 12. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, the invention will be explained with reference to some drawings which are intended to illustrate the invention and not to limit its scope, and wherein:

Figure 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the invention moving from one location to another;

Figure 2 schematically shows another embodiment wherein a rechargeable light is placed on a table; Figure 3 schematically shows an embodiment wherein solar energy is collected;

Figure 4 is a cross section of a recharging device according to an embodiment;

Figure 5 is a side view of yet another embodiment showing a robotic dog.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In figure 1 a recharging device 16 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, a light 10 is powered by a battery 12. The light 10 comprises a control unit 14 situated in a foot of the light 10, which control unit 14 is arranged to wirelessly send and receive instructions to other devices. When the light battery 12 is almost empty, the light 10 will communicate to the recharging device 16, referred to as robot 16, that it needs to be recharged. The robot 16 comprises a robot battery 18 for powering the robot 16 and a supply battery 20 for storing power which needs to be supplied to other devices, such as the light 10. The robot 16 further comprises a motor 17, wheels 22, steering means (not shown) and a control unit 24. The control unit 24 is arranged to send and receive instructions to and from other devices. Furthermore, the control unit 24 is arranged to control the steering means and the motor 17. The robot 16 is arranged to receive signals from the light 10 which signals represent information on whether said light 10 is in need of power, and where said light 10 is positioned, e.g. its coordinates. Communication techniques may be used such as Bluetooth™ , WIFI, infrared or any other suitable kind of wireless communication. The robot 16 will use the signals and will find the light 10 and recharge its battery 12. Instead of depending on signals received from devices to be charged, it is possible that the robot 16 comprises means arranged to learn about the environment the robot 16 moves in, and that the robot 16 uses computer vision in order to see the environment. In an embodiment, the robot 16 is arranged to receive commands from a house it moves around in. In this case, the house is "intelligent" and comprises cameras and controlling means, so that the house can control and steer the robot to its destination, by way of sending signals to the robot 16.

The robot 16 comprises a connection 26 which can be connected to a connector 28 of the light 10. The connectors 26 and 28 can be electronic metal connectors, inductive transducers, or any other type of power exchange components. The robot 16 can recharge itself at a (dedicated) power outlet 30 in a wall 32. In an embodiment, the robot 16 has a separate battery 18 for its own power, to prevent being drained by the light 10 so that it can no longer reach the wall outlet. However, it should be noted that only one battery in the robot 16 suffices. Instead of having one connector 26, the robot 16 may have two connectors. One connector may be arranged to connect to the devices that need to be charged. This may for example be low voltage DC connector, such as a 15 V connector. A second connector may be arranged to connect to the power outlet 30 in the wall 32, being for example a 230 V connector. In Figure 1, the example shows the recharging of a device, i.e. the light 10, which is standing of the floor. The recharging is also possible for devices that are placed on a table 33, see Figure 2. In this case, a short cable 31 is required from the device to the table leg. At the leg of the table 33, a connector 29 is mounted for the connection with the connector 26 of the recharging robot 16. In this way, the robot 16 can easily reach the connector 29. The robot 16 may well have a robotic arm arranged to reach for a connector of a rechargeable device remote from the floor. In this case, the robot 16 is not restricted to a two-dimensional world of connectors.

In an embodiment, the control unit 24 comprises a clock wherein the control unit is arranged to activate the robot 16 at a specific time. In this way, the recharging of the device batteries 12 may be performed at a particular time, for example at night, or at a time when nobody is at home. Off course, when needed the recharging can also be done when people are present in the room.

Figure 3 schematically shows an embodiment of the robot 16 comprising a solar cell 23. In Figure 3, the solar cell 23 is placed on top of the robot 16 but other configurations are possible. In this embodiment, the control unit 24 is arranged to drive the robot 16 to a location where there is light, for example under a window 25, see Figure 3. The sun 27 will provide solar energy to the solar cell 23 which is connected to the energy storage component 20. In this embodiment, no special docking station is needed. The solar cell 23 may also be connected to the second storage component 18.

In a special embodiment, the robot 16 comprises a vacuum cleaner robot. The robot 16 will then have the functionality that is required for a recharging robot, the capability of finding the e.g. light and "donate" power, find the docking station, plus the ability to clean a floor. Figure 4 shows such an embodiment, wherein the robot 16 comprises a vacuum cleaner 40. The vacuum cleaner 40 is arranged to vacuum clean part of a floor beneath or around the robot 16. It may comprise an electrical motor and other component needed to perform, as will be known to the skilled reader. In figure 4, a cross section of the robot 16 is depicted. The housing of the robot 16 may have any kind of form. It may for example be box-shaped or disc-shaped. Preferably, the height of the robot 16 is less than 0.5 meter so that it has the capability to drive underneath tables and chairs.

In another embodiment, the robot 16 does not comprise wheels but is arranged to walk using paws or legs. In this case the robot 16 may have a human form having a human like body with arms and legs. The robot 16 may also be animal like, being able to move on two or more paws. Figure 5 shows an embodiment, wherein the pet AIBO™ made by the Sony company, is enhanced with an additional rechargeable battery 42 and a (retractable) connector 41 at the nose of the AIBO dog. In these embodiments, the connector 41 may be arranged at any suitable part of the robot such as the face or hand. While the invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it will be understood that modifications thereof within the principles outlined above will be evident to those skilled in the art. The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments but is intended to encompass such modifications. Furthermore, the invention is not restricted to recharging batteries of static electronic devices such as lights. It may well be used to recharge other dynamic devices such as vacuum clean robots unable to recharge themselves for whatever reason. The scope of the invention is only determined by the accompanying claims, wherein any reference signs used in the claims are not construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A recharging device (16) comprising: a first power storage component (20; 42); a power exchange system (23; 26; 41) arranged to receive power from an external source (27; 30) and load said first power storage component (20; 42) at a first location, and arranged to load a rechargeable device (10) using electrical power stored in said first power storage component (20; 42) at a second location; a transportation system (17, 22) arranged to move said recharging device (16) from said first location to said second location.

2. A recharging device according to claim 1, wherein said first power storage component (20; 42) comprises a rechargeable battery (20; 42).

3. A recharging device according to claim 1, wherein said first power storage component (20; 42) is arranged to supply power to said transportation system (22).

4. A recharging device according to claim 1, wherein said recharging device comprises a second power storage component (18) arranged to supply electrical power to said transportation system (17, 22).

5. A recharging device according to claim 1, comprising a control unit (24) arranged to navigate said recharging device from said first location to said second location.

6. A recharging device according to claim 1, wherein said power exchange system comprises a power exchange component (26; 41) arranged to exchange power with a docking station (30), and arranged to exchange power with a power exchanging component of said rechargeable device.

7. A recharging device according to claim 1, wherein said power exchange system comprises a solar cell (23) arranged to receive solar energy and connected to said first power storage component (20).

8. A recharging device according to claim 1, wherein said recharging device comprises a vacuum cleaner (40).

9. A recharging device according to claim 1, wherein said transporting system comprises at least two wheels (22).

10. A recharging device according to claim 1, wherein said recharging device comprises a robot (16) arranged to walk on robotic legs or robotic paws.

11. A system comprising a recharging device according to claim 1 , a docking station arranged to supply electrical power to said recharging device at said first location, and a rechargeable device, arranged to receive electrical power from said recharging device at said second location.

12. Method of recharging a rechargeable device (10) comprising: - providing a recharging device (16) having a storage component for storing electrical power; receiving electrical power from a source external (27; 30) from said recharging device (16) at a first location; storing said electrical power into a power storage component (20; 42) of said recharging device (16); moving said recharging device (16) from said first location to a second location by means of a transportation system comprised in said recharging device (16); loading electrical power stored in said power storage component (20; 42) into said rechargeable device (10) at said second location.