Inductive coupling across a moving boundary of a mobile device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018186242-A1
Application number	US-201715397221-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 3, 2017
Priority date	Jan 3, 2017
Publication date	Jul 5, 2018
Grant date	—

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; 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; 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 coil is movable relative to an outer surface of the first body.

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

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

6 . 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 disposed opposite the drive element; and a body coil disposed in the interior body volume and about the biasing mechanism.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , 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.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the bearing and the retaining element comprises a magnet.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the retaining element is configured to magnetically couple with the bearing.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , 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.

11 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the accessory coil and the retaining element are fixed relative to the accessory casing.

12 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the accessory coil is disposed about the retaining element.

13 . 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.

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

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first body housing is substantially cylindrical.

16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first body housing is substantially spherical.

17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first coil comprises an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the second coil.

18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , 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.

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

20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first magnet bears against an inner surface of the first body casing.

Assignees

• Sphero Inc

Inventors

• Rhodes Richard

Classifications

• B60L1/00

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

• Y10S901/01

  Mobile robot · CPC title

• B60L50/60

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

• B60L11/182 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B25J5/00

  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