Electronic device including spherical structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11220256-B2
Application number	US-202016751780-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2020
Priority date	Jan 24, 2019
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

An electronic device including a first device having a spherical housing, and a second device arranged on a surface of the spherical housing, wherein the first device includes a first driving device arranged in the spherical housing and configured to deliver power to the spherical housing, a structure arranged in the spherical housing and configured to arrange the second device on a surface of the spherical housing, a second driving device configured to trigger a movement of the structure, a processor electrically connected with the first driving device and the second driving device, and a memory operatively connected with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to store instructions that, when executed, enable the processor to control the second driving device to, in response to identifying a coupling of the second device with the first device, adjust an arrangement direction of the second device with respect to the first driving device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a first device having a spherical housing; and
a second device arranged on a surface of the spherical housing,
wherein the first device comprises:
a first driving device arranged in the spherical housing and configured to deliver power to the spherical housing;
a structure arranged in the spherical housing and configured to arrange the second device on a surface of the spherical housing;
a second driving device configured to trigger a movement of the structure;
a processor electrically connected with the first driving device and the second driving device; and
a memory operatively connected with the processor,
wherein the memory is configured to store instructions that, when executed, enable the processor to control the second driving device to, in response to identifying a coupling of the second device with the first device, adjust an arrangement direction of the second device with respect to the first driving device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor arranged in the first driving device; and
a sensor corresponding member arranged in the second device,
wherein the sensor is configured to output an electrical signal on the sensor corresponding member in response to facing and aligning with the sensor corresponding member, and
wherein the memory is further configured to store instructions, when executed, enable the processor to control the second driving device for a movement of the structure, wherein the electrical signal is outputted.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor corresponding member comprises a magnet, and
the sensor comprises a sensor for obtaining the magnet.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to store an instruction, when executed, that enables the processor to enter a wake-up mode from a sleep mode in response to the identification of coupling of the second device with the first device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second device comprises:
a one side part comprising a sensor; and
another side part comprising a sensor corresponding member,
wherein, the sensor is configured to, in response to the one side part and the another side part facing and coupling with each other, output an electrical signal on the sensor corresponding member, and, in response to the electrical signal being sensed, transmit a signal on the coupling of the second device with the first device to the first device.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the second device is configured to, in response to the electrical signal not being sensed, output corresponding information through a display or a speaker in the second device.

7. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the sensor corresponding member comprises a magnet, and
the sensor comprises a sensor for obtaining the magnet.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second device comprises:
a one side part comprising a first terminal; and
another side part comprising a second terminal,
wherein the first terminal is configured to, in response to the one side part and the another side part facing and coupling with each other, cause conduction between the first terminal and the second terminal, and

in response to sensing conduction between the first terminal and the second terminal, transmit a signal on the coupling of the second device with the first device to the first device.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first driving device comprises:
at least one wheel, and
a motor connected with the at least one wheel.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first driving device, in response to determining that an arrangement direction of the second device with respect to the first driving device is required to be adjusted, is further configured to cause a direction going from the center on a rotation axis between a pair of wheels to a set position on the second device to be orthogonal with the rotation axis.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the second device comprises a camera arranged in the set position.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one first magnet arranged in the structure; and
at least one second magnet arranged in the second device,
wherein the structure is further configured to move together with the second device, due to an attractive force or a repulsive force between the first magnet and the second magnet.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one first magnet comprises a plurality of magnets, and
the plurality of magnets faces the spherical housing, to be circularly arrayed at a predetermined angle.

14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the structure comprises a ring structure comprising an annular surface arranged to face an inner surface of the spherical housing.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the second device is configured in a ring shape arranged along the annular surface.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the second driving device is arranged between the ring structure and the first driving device and comprises at least one motor connected with the ring structure.

17. An electronic device, comprising:
a first device having a spherical housing; and
a second device arranged on a surface of the spherical housing,
wherein the first device comprises:
a first driving device arranged in the spherical housing and configured to deliver power to the spherical housing;
a structure arranged in the spherical housing and configured to arrange the second device on a surface of the spherical housing;
a second driving device configured to trigger a movement of the structure; and
a plurality of first magnets arranged in the structure,
wherein the second device comprises:
a ring shaped housing arranged along the spherical housing; and
a plurality of second magnets arranged in the ring shaped housing along a surface of the spherical housing,
wherein the structure is further configured to move together with the second device, due to an attractive force or a repulsive force between the plurality of first magnets and the plurality of second magnets, and
wherein some of the plurality of first magnets are arrayed at an interval different from that of other portions of the plurality of first magnets.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the first device further comprises:
a processor electrically connected with the first driving device and the second driving device; and
a memory operatively connected with the processor,
wherein the memory is configured to store instructions, when executed, that enable the processor to default set the first driving device and the second driving device in response to identifying coupling of the second device with the first device, and
wherein the default setting corrects a posture of the second driving device with respect to the first driving device, or a posture of the first driving device with respect to the second driving device, to an initial posture.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the first device further comprises:
a processor electrically connected with the first driving device and the second driving device; and
a memory operatively connected with the processor,
wherein the memory is configured to store instructions, when executed, that enable the processor to, after default setting of the first driving device and the second driving device, e

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jeong Eunsu
• Lee Woochul
• Cho Byunghun
• Na Hyoseok
• Yun Yongsang
• Hwang Hochul

Classifications

• B60W50/14

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• B25J5/007

  mounted on wheels · CPC title

• B60W30/02 Primary

  Control of vehicle driving stability · CPC title

• B25J11/00 Primary

  Manipulators not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B25J9/1664

  characterised by motion, path, trajectory planning · CPC title