Automated docking system for charging chargeable mobile devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024030728-A1
Application number	US-202318347846-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 6, 2023
Priority date	Jul 19, 2022
Publication date	Jan 25, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an automated docking system for charging chargeable mobile devices. Conventionally, docking systems utilize expensive technology like wireless charging leading to higher cost. The system of the present disclosure provides a cost effective generic docking station with internet of things (IoT) interface for heterogeneous chargeable mobile devices which leads to precise docking. The generic design of the docking station enables docking different category of the chargeable mobile devices such as fork type, unit load type, at same docking station with different charging currents. IoT enabled docking station communicates with the chargeable mobile devices and charges them based on battery health, quick/slow charge, category, task duration and/or the like. The present disclosure brings a design flexibility to the docking station and contact pads, so that the flexible design adjusts itself in translation and rotation axis for certain degrees of freedom if there is an error in docking.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An automated docking system for charging a chargeable mobile device, the automated docking system comprising:
a docking station, wherein the docking station comprises:
a base assembly, wherein the base assembly comprises:
a base plate, wherein the base plate comprises a first end, a second end, a plurality of mounting holes adapted for provisioning grouting and a plurality of mounting holes adapted for provisioning a battery charger mount plate, and wherein the first end of the base plate is connected to a first dead weight and the second end of the base plate is connected to a second dead weight;
a rear plate coupled to the base plate through a plurality of coil springs, wherein each of the plurality of coil springs is adapted to provide a cushioning effect for the docking station during an autodocking process of the automated docking system for charging the chargeable mobile device;

a floating assembly, wherein the floating assembly comprises:
a rod housing, wherein the rod housing comprises a first side and a second side, and wherein each side of the rod housing comprises a set of holes;
a floating plate, wherein the floating plate comprises a pair of flanges and a flat portion substantially protruding towards an angular assembly, wherein each flange of the pair of flanges comprises a corresponding hole;
a first set of guide rods, wherein each guide rod of the first set of guide rods comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein each guide rod of the first set of guide rods is adapted to pass through a corresponding hole of the set of holes at a corresponding side of the rod housing, and each of the first end and the second end of each of the first set of guide rods is connected to a corresponding flange from the pair of flanges of the floating plate via one or more screws;
a pair of stoppers, wherein each stopper from the pair of stoppers is connected to a corresponding side from the first side and the second side of the rod housing and is adapted to adjust a lateral stroke required for the auto docking process of the automated docking system; and
a first set of tension springs inserted over the first set of guide rods and positioned between the rod housing and the pair of flanges of the floating plate, wherein the first set of tension springs is adapted to permit a lateral movement of the docking station from an initial position to a desired position during the autodocking process of the automated docking system for charging the chargeable mobile device;

a center assembly, wherein the center assembly comprises:
a mounting block having a plurality of holes;
a second set of guide rods, wherein each guide rod of the second set of guide rods comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of each guide rod of the second set of guide rods is sliding inside a corresponding hole of the plurality of holes of the mounting block and connected with each other by a small plate and one or more screws, and the second end of each guide rod of the second set of guide rods is coupled to the rod housing; and
a second set of tension springs inserted over the second set of guide rods and positioned between the rod housing and the mounting block, wherein the second set of tension springs is adapted to permit a longitudinal movement of the docking station from an initial position to a desired position during the autodocking process of the automated docking system for charging the chargeable mobile device;

the angular assembly configured to provide an angular motion to the docking station during the autodocking process of the automated docking system for charging the chargeable mobile device; and
a fleet management network comprising a plurality of the chargeable mobile devices to be charged at the docking station.

2 . The automated docking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the angular assembly comprises:
a table assembly mounted on the floating plate; a charging pad mounting plate, wherein the charging pad mounting plate comprises a top surface and a bottom surface; a charging pad, wherein the charging pad is coupled to the table assembly through the charging pad mounting plate; a plurality of standoffs, wherein each standoff from the plurality of standoffs comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of each standoff from the plurality of standoffs is connected to the charging pad mounting plate; a plurality of rollers, wherein each roller from the plurality of rollers is adapted to be connected to a corresponding second end of standoff from the plurality of standoffs via a screwing mechanism; a plurality of self-centering springs, wherein each self-centering spring from the plurality of self-centering springs comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of each self-centering spring from the plurality of self-centering springs is connected to a first set of pins mounted on the floating plate and the second end of each self-centering spring from the plurality of self-centering springs is connected to a second set of pins mounted on to the bottom surface of the charging pad mounting plate; a ball plunger, wherein the ball plunger comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end of the ball plunger is adapted to be in contact with a hole made on the floating plate when the automated docking system is in an idle state and the second end of the ball plunger is mounted to the charging pad mounting plate; and a plurality of angle restrictors adapted to control the angular motion of the angular assembly, wherein the plurality of angle restrictors are mounted onto the floating plate and positioned adjacent to the ball plunger.

3 . The automated docking system as claimed in claim 1 , comprises a housing cover enclosing the docking station and mounted to the base plate of the base assembly, wherein the housing cover comprises a plurality of patterns that enable the plurality of chargeable devices a position and orientation (pose) detection of the docking station.

4 . The automated docking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the battery charger mount plate is adapted to hold a battery charger with help of a toggle clamp which is mounted onto the battery charger mount plate.

5 . The automated docking system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the table assembly is a turn table assembly.

6 . The automated docking system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of rollers are configured to guide docking element mounted to each of the plurality of chargeable devices.

7 . The automated docking system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of self-centering springs are configured to ensure keeping the angular assembly at center with help of the ball plunger.

Assignees

• Tata Consultancy Services Ltd

Inventors

• Chintalapalli Patta Venkat Raju
• Bangalore Srinivas Venkatesh Prasad
• Kamble Pradeep Prabhakar
• Kalhapure Swapnil Sunil
• Bhogineni Sreehari Kumar

Classifications

• H02J7/731 Primary

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/70 Primary

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/0044 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G06F1/1632

  External expansion units, e.g. docking stations · CPC title

• A47L9/2873

  Docking units or charging stations (for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02) · CPC title