Inductive coupling across a moving boundary of a mobile device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10661432-B2
Application number	US-201715397221-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2017
Priority date	Jan 3, 2017
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

A method of inductively coupling a first body and a second body is provided, wherein the first body rotates relative to the second body. During rotation, alignment is maintained between a first and second coil. Signals are sent and received between the coils.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of inductively coupling a first body and a second body, wherein the first body is rotatable relative to the second body, the method comprising:
rotating the first body relative to the second body, wherein a first magnet of the first body is magnetically coupled to a second magnet of the second body such that the second body remains coupled to the first body upon rotation of the first body; and
while rotating the first body, maintaining alignment of a first coil disposed in the first body to a second coil disposed in the second body such that the first body is also inductively coupled to the second body, wherein an outer surface of the first body rotates relative to both of the first coil and the first magnet; and
at least one of:
(a) sending a signal from the first coil to the second coil and (b) receiving a signal from the second coil at the first coil.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second coil is fixed relative to an outer surface of the second body.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first body comprises a substantially spherical outer surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first body is configured to be rotated about an axis substantially parallel to the first coil.

5. An apparatus comprising:
a body comprising a body housing comprising an outer surface and an inner surface at least partially defining an interior body volume;
a drive element rotatably engaged with the inner surface;
a biasing mechanism for biasing the drive element into contact with the inner surface, wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a bearing having a body magnet disposed opposite the drive element; and
a body coil disposed in the interior body volume and about the biasing mechanism, wherein the bearing and the body coil are free to move within the interior body volume such that upon rotation of the body, the bearing and the body coil remain in a substantially constant position along a vertical axis of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising an accessory comprising:
an accessory housing defining an interior accessory volume;
an accessory coil disposed in the interior accessory volume; and
a retaining element disposed proximate the accessory coil.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the retaining element comprises an accessory magnet.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the retaining element is configured to magnetically couple with the bearing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein when the retaining element is magnetically coupled with the bearing, a center point of the body coil is aligned with a center point of the accessory coil.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the accessory coil and the retaining element are fixed relative to the accessory housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the accessory coil is disposed about the retaining element.

12. An apparatus comprising:
a first body comprising a first body housing, wherein the first body housing is configured to rotate about an axis;
a first coil disposed in the first body housing, wherein the first body housing is configured to rotate relative to the first coil;
a second body disposed proximate the first body, the second body comprising a second body housing;
a second coil disposed in the second body housing, wherein the second coil is configured to be aligned with the first coil during a rotation of the first body housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first coil is disposed substantially parallel to the axis.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first body housing is substantially cylindrical.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first body housing is substantially spherical.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first coil comprises an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the second coil.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a first magnet disposed in the first body and a second magnet disposed in the second body housing, wherein the first magnet and second magnet magnetically engage to retain the first body in proximity to the second body.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first coil is disposed about the first magnet.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first magnet bears against an inner surface of the first body housing.

Assignees

• Sphero Inc

Inventors

• Rhodes Richard

Classifications

• Y10S901/01

  Mobile robot · CPC title

• B60L1/00

  Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00) · CPC title

• B60L50/60

  using power supplied by batteries (in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75) · CPC title

• B60L50/50

  using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells · CPC title

• B25J5/00 Primary

  Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages (B25J1/00 takes precedence; programme-controlled manipulators B25J9/00 {; vehicle aspects B60, B62, e.g. remote-controlled steering for motor vehicles B62D1/24; control of position of vehicles G05D1/00}) · CPC title