Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2024-09-16)
Rejection types: 103 - Obviousness, 112 - Written Description/Enablement

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1\. An intelligent charging pile for a robot, comprising: a charging loop, a protecting loop, and a communication control loop; wherein, the charging loop is connected with the protecting loop, the protecting loop is connected with the communication control loop, and the communication control loop controls the charging loop to be turned off by means of controlling the protecting loop to be turned off, and the communication control loop is connected with the charging loop, and the communication control loop is further used for acquiring battery information data of the robot and sending, according to the battery information data, an adjustment instruction to the charging loop; and
the charging loop is used for adjusting, according to the adjustment instruction, an own charging parameter and charging, according to the adjusted charging parameter, the robot.

2\. The intelligent charging pile for the robot according to claim 1, wherein the charging loop comprises: a power supply input socket, a charging module, and a contactable electrode; wherein, the power supply input socket is connected with a mains supply and is used for introducing an input power supply;
the charging module is connected with the communication control loop and is used for adjusting, according to the adjustment instruction, the own charging parameter; and
the contactable electrode is connected with the robot and is used for charging, according to the adjusted charging parameter, the robot.

3\. The intelligent charging pile for the robot according to claim 2, wherein a sensor is arranged in the contactable electrode, and the sensor is used for detecting whether contact between the charging pile and the robot meets a preset requirement;
and the communication control loop is connected with the sensor and is used for enabling, when the sensor detects that the contact between the charging pile and the robot meets the preset requirement, an own detection program.

4\. The intelligent charging pile for the robot according to claim 3, wherein the communication control loop comprises: an alignment detection unit, the alignment detection unit is connected with the contactable electrode, and the alignment detection unit is used for detecting, when the sensor detects that the contact between the charging pile and the robot meets the preset requirement, whether the robot has been aligned with the charging pile; and
the communication control loop is used for controlling, after it is detected that the robot has been aligned with the charging pile, the protecting loop to be turned on, so as to enable the contactable electrode to charge the robot.

5\. The intelligent charging pile for the robot according to claim 1, wherein the communication control loop comprises: an automatic control unit, and the automatic control unit is used for detecting whether the robot establishes a communication connection with the charging pile and acquiring, after detecting that the robot establishes a communication connection with the charging pile, the battery information data sent by the robot.

6\. The intelligent charging pile for the robot according to claim 1, wherein the communication control loop comprises: a manual control unit and a storage unit, and
the storage unit stores the battery information data of various kinds of robots; and
the manual control unit is used for detecting whether the battery information data in the storage unit is called and taking, when detecting that the battery information data in the storage unit is called, the called battery information data as the battery information data of the robot.

7\. The intelligent charging pile for the robot according to claim 1, wherein the communication control loop further comprises: a charging control unit, and the charging control unit is used for making a logic determination on the battery information data and sending, after the logic determination shows no error, the adjustment instruction to the charging loop.
8\. The intelligent charging pile for the robot according to claim 1, wherein the communication control loop further comprises: a voltage detection unit, and the voltage detection unit is connected with the robot and is used for detecting a charging voltage of the robot;
the charging control unit is further used for controlling, when the voltage detection unit detects that the charging voltage is not within a preset voltage range, the protecting loop to be turned off, so as to cause the charging loop to stop charging the robot.

9\. The intelligent charging pile for the robot according to claim 1, wherein the communication control loop further comprises: a display unit, and the display unit is in communication connection with the robot and is used for displaying a state of charge of the robot.

10\. The intelligent charging pile for the robot according to claim 1, wherein the battery information data comprises at least one of: a battery type, a battery parameter, and a state of health of the battery. 11 12 13

OFFICE ACTION:
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a).  The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims.  Therefore, the “charging loop 1”, the “protecting loop 2” and the “communication control loop 3” must be shown/identified on Fig. 2 or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s).  No new matter should be entered.  Although each of these elements are illustrated in Fig. 1, there is no connection to how these three groups are tied to the elements illustrated in Fig. 2. Because of this it is difficult, if not impossible, to identify which components make up each of these three main groups as illustrated in Fig. 1.
Also, the drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims.  Therefore, the “voltage detection unit” (see claim 8) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s).  No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Although the term “own” is used 14 times in the specification, the term does not appear to carry the standard understanding of this term, thus making the application difficult to understand. In the interest of compact prosecution, the examiner will make a best guess of what is meant by the limitations in the claim language. The examiner suggests the applicant consider rewording the areas in the specification where “own” is used to provide a less ambiguous understanding of the claimed invention.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement.  The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention.
It appears the inventor(s) filed the current application with a machine translation from a foreign language. While machine translations may be acceptable in some cases, there are cases when the machine translation does not accurately translate what was meant by the applicant.  In particular the use of the word “loop” appears to be incorrectly translated, and based on the application as a whole, the examiner believes the term may be used to mean “circuit” or “circuitry”, i.e. “charging circuitry”, “protecting circuitry” and “communication control circuitry”.
Likewise the term “an own” as used in claims 1 and 3, and “the own” as used in claim 2 appear to mean the charging parameter for a particular battery/battery-type as used in claims 1 and 2, and a detection program for a particular battery type?  It is not clear what the applicant is attempting to claim, but in the interest of compact prosecution, the examiner will make a best guess of what is meant by the limitations.
Note
For the purposes of this rejection, the term “loop” is understood to mean “circuit” or “circuitry”, and the term “an own” or “the own” is understood to mean for a particular element. Although the term “own” is used 14 times in the specification, the term does not appear to carry the standard understanding of this term, thus making the application difficult to understand. In the interest of compact prosecution, the examiner will make a best guess of what is meant by the limitations in the claim language.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1, 5 and 7-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xiong et al. U.S. PGPub 2019/0052101 A1 (hereinafter Xiong) in view of Sussman et al. U.S. PGPub 2019/0092183 A1 (hereinafter Sussman).
Regarding Claim 1, Xiong teaches an intelligent charging pile for a robot (Xiong, Fig. 1, Element 10; Para. [0008], Lines 1-2, “recharging dock”, and Title, “Robot Recharging Dock …”), comprising a charging loop (Xiong, Fig. 1, Element 12, and Fig. 2, Element 122; Para. [0012], “output circuit”, Para. [0013], Lines 4-7, and Paras. [0020] – [0022]), a protecting loop (Xiong, Fig. 2, Elements 121; Para. [0012], “switch controlling circuit”, and Paras. [0013] – [0019], Elements 121A&B), and a communication control loop (Xiong, Figs. 1-2, Element 13; Paras. [0009] – [0011], “sensing circuit”), wherein, the charging loop is connected with the protecting loop, the protecting loop is connected with the communication control loop, and the communication control loop controls the charging loop to be turned off by means of controlling the protecting loop to be turned off (Xiong, Fig. 2; Para. [0009]), but does not explicitly teach acquiring battery information of the robot and sending an adjustment instruction for charging the robot.
Sussman, however, teaches the communication control loop is connected with the charging loop (Sussman, Fig. 19; Paras. [0110] – [0117]), and the communication control loop is further used for acquiring battery information data of the robot (Sussman, Fig. 22, steps 852, 858 and 860; Paras. [0134] – [0138]) and sending, according to the battery information data, an adjustment instruction to the charging loop, and the charging loop is used for adjusting, according to the adjustment instruction, an own charging parameter and charging, according to the adjusted charging parameter, the robot (Sussman, Fig. 22, steps 862-874; Paras. [0139] – [0140], “using current selected from the particular charging profile being used”).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to understand that although Xiong is silent as to the details of acquiring battery information of the robot in order to adjust the charging as suggested in paragraph [0009], Xiong would inherently incorporate some type of conventional communication circuitry commonly understood in the art.  The communication circuitry taught by Sussman, for controlling the charging of the rechargeable battery, teaches one of the many conventional battery charging circuits utilized in the art for charging a battery.  A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to choose based on desirability, one of the many known conventional methods, such as the one taught by Sussman, to control the charging of the battery of the robot within the robot recharging dock of Xiong.
Regarding Claim 5, The combined teaching of the Xiong and Sussman references discloses the claimed invention as stated above in claim 1.  Furthermore, Xiong teaches wherein the communication control loop (Xiong, Figs. 1-2, Element 13, “sensing circuit”) is used for detecting whether the robot establishes a communication connection with the charging pile (Xiong, Paras. [0009] – [0011]).  Furthermore, Sussman teaches acquiring, after detecting that the robot establishes a communication connection with the charging pile, the battery information data sent by the robot (Sussman, Fig. 22, steps 852, 858 and 860; Paras. [0134] – [0138]).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to understand that although Xiong is silent as to the details of acquiring battery information of the robot in order to adjust the charging as suggested in paragraph [0009], Xiong would inherently incorporate some type of conventional communication circuitry commonly understood in the art.  The communication circuitry taught by Sussman, for controlling the charging of the rechargeable battery, teaches one of the many conventional battery charging circuits utilized in the art for charging a battery.  A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to choose based on desirability, one of the many known conventional methods, such as the one taught by Sussman, to control the charging of the battery of the robot within the robot recharging dock of Xiong.
Regarding Claim 7, The combined teaching of the Xiong and Sussman references discloses the claimed invention as stated above in claim 1.  Furthermore, Xiong teaches wherein the communication control loop (Xiong, Figs. 1-2, Element 13; Paras. [0009] – [0011], “sensing circuit”) further comprises a charging control unit, and the charging control unit is used for making a logic determination on the battery information data and sending, after the logic determination shows no error, the adjustment instruction to the charging loop (Xiong, Fig. 2; Para. [0009]).
Regarding Claim 8, The combined teaching of the Xiong and Sussman references discloses the claimed invention as stated above in claim 1.  Furthermore, Xiong teaches wherein the communication control loop (Xiong, Figs. 1-2, Element 13; Paras. [0009] – [0011], “sensing circuit”) further comprises a voltage detection unit, and the voltage detection unit is connected with the robot and is used for detecting a charging voltage of the robot, the charging control unit is further used for controlling, when the voltage detection unit detects that the charging voltage is not within a preset voltage range, the protecting loop to be turned off, so as to cause the charging loop to stop charging the robot (Xiong, Fig. 2; Para. [0009]).
Regarding Claim 9, The combined teaching of the Xiong and Sussman references discloses the claimed invention as stated above in claim 1.  Furthermore, Sussman teaches wherein the communication control loop further comprises a display unit, and the display unit is in communication connection with the robot and is used for displaying a state of charge of the robot (Sussman, Fig. 13A, Element 526; Paras. [0089] and [0115]).
Absent of showing criticality of the displaying battery information of Xiong, it would have been an obvious matter of design choice to use the display of Sussman based on desirability, since applicant has not disclosed that this type of display solves any stated problem or is for any particular purpose and it appears that the invention would perform equally well with other types of battery state status.
Regarding Claim 10, The combined teaching of the Xiong and Sussman references discloses the claimed invention as stated above in claim 1.  Furthermore, Sussman teaches wherein the battery information data comprises at least one of a battery type, a battery parameter, and a state of health of the battery (Sussman, Fig. 22, steps 852, 858 and 860; Paras. [0134] – [0138]).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to understand that although Xiong is silent as to the details of acquiring battery information of the robot, Xiong would inherently incorporate some type of conventional communication circuitry commonly understood in the art.  The communication circuitry taught by Sussman, for controlling the charging of the rechargeable battery, teaches one of the many conventional battery charging circuits utilized in the art for charging a battery.  A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to choose based on desirability, one of the many known conventional methods, such as the one taught by Sussman, to control the charging of the battery of the robot within the robot recharging dock of Xiong.
Claims 2-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xiong et al. U.S. PGPub 2019/0052101 A1 (hereinafter Xiong) in view of Sussman et al. U.S. PGPub 2019/0092183 A1 (hereinafter Sussman) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Koyanagi et al. U.S. PGPub 2006/0043929 A1 (hereinafter Koyanagi).
Regarding Claim 2, The combined teaching of the Xiong and Sussman references discloses the claimed invention as stated above in claim 1.  Furthermore, Xiong teaches wherein the charging loop (Xiong, Fig. 1, Element 12, and Fig. 2, Element 122; Para. [0012], “output circuit”, Para. [0013], Lines 4-7, and Paras. [0020] – [0022]) comprises a power supply input socket (Xiong, Fig. 2, Element 14).
Furthermore, Sussman teaches the charging module is connected with the communication control loop (Sussman, Fig. 19; Paras. [0110] – [0117]) and is used for adjusting, according to the adjustment instruction, the own charging parameter (Sussman, Fig. 22, steps 862-874; Paras. [0139] – [0140], “using current selected from the particular charging profile being used”), and the contactable electrode is connected with the robot and is used for charging, according to the adjusted charging parameter, the robot (Sussman, Fig. 19, Element 200; Para. [0110]).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to understand that although Xiong is silent as to the details of acquiring battery information of the robot in order to adjust the charging as suggested in paragraph [0009], Xiong would inherently incorporate some type of conventional communication circuitry commonly understood in the art.  The communication circuitry taught by Sussman, for controlling the charging of the rechargeable battery, teaches one of the many conventional battery charging circuits utilized in the art for charging a battery.  A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to choose based on desirability, one of the many known conventional methods, such as the one taught by Sussman, to control the charging of the battery of the robot within the robot recharging dock of Xiong.
The combined teaching of the Xiong and Sussman references discloses the claimed invention as stated above, but does not explicitly teach the details of the power supply input, charging module and contactable electrode(s)
Koyanagi, however, teaches wherein the charging loop (Koyanagi, Fig. 4, Element 60; Para. [0039]) comprises a power supply input socket (Koyanagi, Fig. 4, Element 70; Para. [0042]), a charging module (Koyanagi, Fig. 4, Elements 61-64; Para. [0042]), and a contactable electrode (Koyanagi, Fig. 4, Elements 30; Para. [0043]), wherein, the power supply input socket is connected with a mains supply and is used for introducing an input power supply (Koyanagi, Para. [0042]), the charging module is connected with the communication control loop (Koyanagi, Fig. 4, Element 50; Para. [0039]).
Absent of showing criticality of the elements making up the power module of the charging device of Xiong, it would have been an obvious matter of design choice to use the power module layout of Koyanagi based on desirability, since applicant has not disclosed that this type of power module solves any stated problem or is for any particular purpose and it appears that the invention would perform equally well with other types of power module layouts.
Regarding Claim 3, The combined teaching of the Xiong, Sussman and Koyanagi references discloses the claimed invention as stated above in claims 2/1.  Furthermore, Xiong teaches wherein a sensor (Xiong, Fig. 2, Element 131; Paras. [0010] – [0011]) is arranged in the contactable electrode (Xiong, Fig. 1, Element 11; Para. [0008]), and the sensor is used for detecting whether contact between the charging pile and the robot meets a preset requirement (Xiong, Fig. 2; Para. [0009]), and the communication control loop (Xiong, Figs. 1-2, Element 13; Paras. [0009] – [0011], “sensing circuit”) is connected with the sensor and is used for enabling, when the sensor detects that the contact between the charging pile and the robot meets the preset requirement, an own detection program (Xiong, Fig. 2; Para. [0009]).
Regarding Claim 4, The combined teaching of the Xiong, Sussman and Koyanagi references discloses the claimed invention as stated above in claims 3/2/1.  Furthermore, Xiong teaches wherein the communication control loop (Xiong, Figs. 1-2, Element 13; Paras. [0009] – [0011], “sensing circuit”) comprises an alignment detection unit, the alignment detection unit is connected with the contactable electrode, and the alignment detection unit is used for detecting, when the sensor detects that the contact between the charging pile and the robot meets the preset requirement, whether the robot has been aligned with the charging pile, and the communication control loop is used for controlling, after it is detected that the robot has been aligned with the charging pile, the protecting loop to be turned on, so as to enable the contactable electrode to charge the robot (Xiong, Fig. 2; Para. [0009]).
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xiong et al. U.S. PGPub 2019/0052101 A1 (hereinafter Xiong) in view of Sussman et al. U.S. PGPub 2019/0092183 A1 (hereinafter Sussman) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Yamada et al. U.S. PGPub 2013/0308239 A1 (hereinafter Yamada).
Regarding Claim 6, The combined teaching of the Xiong and Sussman references discloses the claimed invention as stated above in claim 1.  Furthermore, Xiong teaches the communication control loop (Xiong, Figs. 1-2, Element 13; Paras. [0009] – [0011], “sensing circuit”).  Furthermore, Sussman teaches a manual control unit (Sussman, Fig. 22, step 854; Para. [0138]) and a storage unit, and the storage unit stores the battery information data of various kinds of robots, and the manual control unit is used for detecting whether the battery information data in the storage unit is called and taking, when detecting that the battery information data in the storage unit is called, the called battery information data as the battery information data of the robot (Sussman, Fig. 22, steps 852, 858 and 860; Paras. [0134] – [0138]).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to understand that although Xiong is silent as to the details of acquiring battery information of the robot in order to adjust the charging as suggested in paragraph [0009], Xiong would inherently incorporate some type of conventional communication circuitry commonly understood in the art.  The communication circuitry taught by Sussman, for controlling the charging of the rechargeable battery, teaches one of the many conventional battery charging circuits utilized in the art for charging a battery.  A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to choose based on desirability, one of the many known conventional methods, such as the one taught by Sussman, to control the charging of the battery of the robot within the robot recharging dock of Xiong.
The combined teaching of the Xiong and Sussman references discloses the claimed invention as stated above, but does not teach a storage unit, although it is implied by the disclosure.
Yamada, however, teaches wherein the communication control loop comprises a manual control unit and a storage unit, and the storage unit stores the battery information data (Yamada, Fig. 1, Element 15; Para. [0050]).
Absent of showing criticality of the storage unit to hold battery information for the battery of the robot of Xiong, it would have been an obvious matter of design choice to use the memory storage of Yamada based on desirability, since applicant has not disclosed that this type of storage solves any stated problem or is for any particular purpose and it appears that the invention would perform equally well with other types of data storage methods.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Wu U.S. PGPub 2002/0109485 teaches a battery charging device configured for different battery types along with protection devices.
Caussy et al. U.S. PGPub 2020/0249688 teaches a robot docking station retrieving battery information from the robot.

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
First Named Inventor: Navy ZHANG
§   Art Unit: 2859
@
Application No.: 17/562,816
§   Examiner: ROBBINS, JERRY D
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Date Filed: December 27, 2021
§   Confirmation No.: 1585
@
Title: INTELLIGENT CHARGING PILE FOR
§
ROBOT
Commissioner for Patents P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
SUBSTITUTE SPECIFICATION UNDER 37 C.F.R.
Mail Stop Amendment Commissioner for Patents P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Dear Commissioner:
Applicant respectfully requests entry of the following MARKED-UP copy of a Substitute Specification for this patent application. The changes herein simply replace the word "own" with "self'. No new matter has been added.
Dated this 18th day of February, 2025.
Respectfully submitted, /Victoria Tomoko Carrington/

NEXT OFFICE ACTION: Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Status of Amendment
Examiner acknowledges receipt of amendment to application 17/562,816 received February 18, 2025. Claim 6 is canceled, claims 1-5 and 7-9 are amended, and claim 10 is left as original.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5 and 7-10 are allowed.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The primary reason for allowance of the claims is the inclusion of retrieving battery information of various kinds of robots versus what is commonly found in the prior art of retrieving battery information for various kinds of batteries.  This small distinction, i.e. the way the claimed invention determines a battery charging parameter, distinguishes the invention from the prior art.
Regarding Claim 1: Though the prior art discloses an intelligent charger for a robotic device comprising charging, protecting and communicating circuitry to determine a charging parameter of a battery of the robotic device in order to adjust the charging of the battery of the robotic device according to the data received, it fails to teach or suggest the aforementioned limitations of claim 1, and further including the combination of:
wherein the communication control circuitry comprises: a manual control unit and a storage unit, and the storage unit stores the battery information data of various kinds of robots; and
the manual control unit is used for detecting whether the battery information data in the storage unit is called and taking, when detecting that the battery information data in the storage unit is called, the called battery information data as the battery information data of the robot.
Conclusion
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20190052101A1: Claims:
A robot recharging dock, comprising: a recharging dock body; at least a pair of recharging contact pads configured on at least one side of the recharging dock body; at least one recharging switch circuit, a recharging power supply connected to the recharging contact pads through the at least one recharging switch circuit; and a sensing circuit connected to the at least one recharging switch circuit; wherein the sensing circuit is configured to turn on the recharging switch circuit upon detecting a magnetic component of a robot, so that the recharging power supply outputs a recharging voltage to the recharging contact pads.
a recharging dock body;
at least a pair of recharging contact pads configured on at least one side of the recharging dock body;
at least one recharging switch circuit, a recharging power supply connected to the recharging contact pads through the at least one recharging switch circuit; and
a sensing circuit connected to the at least one recharging switch circuit;
wherein the sensing circuit is configured to turn on the recharging switch circuit upon detecting a magnetic component of a robot, so that the recharging power supply outputs a recharging voltage to the recharging contact pads.
The robot recharging dock according to claim 1 , wherein the sensing circuit comprises: a first resistor, a first capacitor, and a sensor; wherein a first end of the first resistor connects to a first power supply, and a second end of the first resistor connects to a first end of the sensor; a first end of the first capacitor connects to the first power supply, and a second end of the first capacitor are grounded; and a second end of the sensor connects to the recharging switch circuit, and a third end of the sensor are grounded.
a first resistor, a first capacitor, and a sensor;
wherein a first end of the first resistor connects to a first power supply, and a second end of the first resistor connects to a first end of the sensor;
a first end of the first capacitor connects to the first power supply, and a second end of the first capacitor are grounded; and
a second end of the sensor connects to the recharging switch circuit, and a third end of the sensor are grounded.
The robot recharging dock according to claim 1 , wherein the recharging switch circuit comprises a switch-controlling circuit and an output circuit; a first end of the switch-controlling circuit connects to the sensing circuit, and a second end of the switch-controlling circuit connects to a first end of the output circuit; and a second end of the output circuit connects to the recharging power supply, and a third end of the output circuit connects to the recharging contact pads.
a first end of the switch-controlling circuit connects to the sensing circuit, and a second end of the switch-controlling circuit connects to a first end of the output circuit; and
a second end of the output circuit connects to the recharging power supply, and a third end of the output circuit connects to the recharging contact pads.
The robot recharging dock according to claim 3 , wherein the switch-controlling circuit further comprises a first switch-controlling circuit and a second switch-controlling circuit; the first switch-controlling circuit comprises a second resistor, a third resistor, and a first transistor; a first end of the second resistor and a first end of the third resistor respectively connects to the second end of the sensing circuit, a second end of the second resistor connects to a second power supply; a second end of the third resistor connects to a gate of the first transistor, a source of the first transistor connects to the second power supply, and a drain of the first transistor connects to the second switch-controlling circuit; the second switch-controlling circuit comprises a fourth resistor, a second transistor, and a fifth resistor; a first end of the fourth resistor and a source of the second transistor are grounded; a second end of the fourth resistor and a gate of the second transistor connect to the drain of the first transistor; and a drain of the second transistor connects to a first end of the fifth resistor, and a second end of the fifth resistor connects to the output circuit.
the first switch-controlling circuit comprises a second resistor, a third resistor, and a first transistor;
a first end of the second resistor and a first end of the third resistor respectively connects to the second end of the sensing circuit, a second end of the second resistor connects to a second power supply;
a second end of the third resistor connects to a gate of the first transistor, a source of the first transistor connects to the second power supply, and a drain of the first transistor connects to the second switch-controlling circuit;
the second switch-controlling circuit comprises a fourth resistor, a second transistor, and a fifth resistor;
a first end of the fourth resistor and a source of the second transistor are grounded;
a second end of the fourth resistor and a gate of the second transistor connect to the drain of the first transistor; and
a drain of the second transistor connects to a first end of the fifth resistor, and a second end of the fifth resistor connects to the output circuit.
The robot recharging dock according to claim 4 , wherein the output circuit comprises: a second capacitor, a sixth resistor, and a third transistor; a first end of the second capacitor, a first end of the sixth resistor, and a gate of the third transistor connect to the second end of the fifth resistor; a second end of the second capacitor, a second end of the sixth resistor, and a source of the third transistor connect to a recharging power supply; and a drain of the third transistor connects to the recharging contact pads.
a second capacitor, a sixth resistor, and a third transistor;
a first end of the second capacitor, a first end of the sixth resistor, and a gate of the third transistor connect to the second end of the fifth resistor;
a second end of the second capacitor, a second end of the sixth resistor, and a source of the third transistor connect to a recharging power supply; and
a drain of the third transistor connects to the recharging contact pads.
The robot recharging dock according to claim 5 , wherein the first transistor, the second transistor, and the third transistor are field effect transistors (FETs).
The robot recharging dock according to claim 6 , wherein the first transistor and the third transistor are P-channel FETs, and the second transistor is an N-channel FET.
The robot recharging dock according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a Hall sensor.
A robot recharging system, comprising: a robot, and a recharging dock configured to charge the robot; the recharging dock comprising: a recharging dock body; at least a pair of recharging contact pads is configured on at least one side of the recharging dock body; at least one recharging switch circuit, a recharging power supply connected to the recharging contact pads through the at least one recharging switch circuit; and a sensing circuit connected to the at least one recharging switch circuit; wherein the sensing circuit is configured to turn on the recharging switch circuit upon detecting a magnetic component of the robot, so that the recharging power supply outputs a recharging voltage to the recharging contact pads.
a robot, and a recharging dock configured to charge the robot;
the recharging dock comprising:
at least a pair of recharging contact pads is configured on at least one side of the recharging dock body;
wherein the sensing circuit is configured to turn on the recharging switch circuit upon detecting a magnetic component of the robot, so that the recharging power supply outputs a recharging voltage to the recharging contact pads.
The robot recharging system according to claim 9 , wherein the sensing circuit comprises: a first resistor, a first capacitor, and a sensor; wherein a first end of the first resistor connects to a first power supply, and a second end of the first resistor connects to a first end of the sensor; a first end of the first capacitor connects to the first power supply, and a second end of the first capacitor are grounded; and a second end of the sensor connects to the recharging switch circuit, and a third end of the sensor are grounded.
The robot recharging system according to claim 9 , wherein the recharging switch circuit comprises a switch-controlling circuit and an output circuit; a first end of the switch-controlling circuit connects to the sensing circuit, and a second end of the switch-controlling circuit connects to a first end of the output circuit; and a second end of the output circuit connects to the recharging power supply, and a third end of the output circuit connects to the recharging contact pads.
The robot recharging system according to claim 11 , wherein the switch-controlling circuit further comprises a first switch-controlling circuit and a second switch-controlling circuit; the first switch-controlling circuit comprises a second resistor, a third resistor, and a first transistor; a first end of the second resistor and a first end of the third resistor respectively connects to the second end of the sensing circuit, a second end of the second resistor connects to a second power supply; a second end of the third resistor connects to a gate of the first transistor, a source of the first transistor connects to the second power supply, and a drain of the first transistor connects to the second switch-controlling circuit; the second switch-controlling circuit comprises a fourth resistor, a second transistor, and a fifth resistor; a first end of the fourth resistor and a source of the second transistor are grounded; a second end of the fourth resistor and a gate of the second transistor connect to the drain of the first transistor; and a drain of the second transistor connects to a first end of the fifth resistor, and a second end of the fifth resistor connects to the output circuit.
The robot recharging system according to claim 12 , wherein the output circuit comprises: a second capacitor, a sixth resistor, and a third transistor; a first end of the second capacitor, a first end of the sixth resistor, and a gate of the third transistor connect to the second end of the fifth resistor; a second end of the second capacitor, a second end of the sixth resistor, and a source of the third transistor connect to a recharging power supply; and a drain of the third transistor connects to the recharging contact pads.
The robot recharging system according to claim 13 , wherein the first transistor, the second transistor, and the third transistor are FETs.
The robot recharging system according to claim 14 , wherein the first transistor and the third transistor are P-channel FETs, and the second transistor is an N-channel FET.
The robot recharging system according to claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a Hall sensor.
Ref US20060043929A1: Claims:
A charging system of a biped walking robot for charging a battery provided in a biped walking robot, comprising: seating and retaining means on which the biped walking robot can sit and which retains the biped walking robot at a seated posture; a power feeding connector to be connected to a power receiving connector provided in the biped walking robot when the biped walking robot sits on the seating and retaining means; connection detecting means for detecting whether the power receiving connector and the power feeding connector are in a connected state; a charging power source for supplying charging current to the battery; and charging control means for charging the battery by supplying charging current to the battery from the charging power source through the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector when the connection detecting means detects that the power receiving connector and the power feeding connector are in the connected state.
seating and retaining means on which the biped walking robot can sit and which retains the biped walking robot at a seated posture;
a power feeding connector to be connected to a power receiving connector provided in the biped walking robot when the biped walking robot sits on the seating and retaining means;
connection detecting means for detecting whether the power receiving connector and the power feeding connector are in a connected state;
a charging power source for supplying charging current to the battery; and
charging control means for charging the battery by supplying charging current to the battery from the charging power source through the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector when the connection detecting means detects that the power receiving connector and the power feeding connector are in the connected state.
The charging system of a biped walking robot according to claim 1 , wherein the power feeding connector comprises a first charging terminal for outputting charging current and a first detecting terminal for detecting whether the power receiving connector and the power feeding connector are in the connected state, the power receiving connector comprises a second charging terminal that is brought into conduction with the first charging terminal and a second detecting terminal that is brought into conduction with the first detecting terminal when the power receiving connector is connected with the power feeding connector, and in the course of transition of the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector from a disconnected state to a connected state, the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal are brought into conduction, and then the first detecting terminal and the second detecting terminal are brought into conduction, and the connection detecting means detects that the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector are in the connected state when the first detecting terminal and the second detecting terminal are brought into conduction.
wherein the power feeding connector comprises a first charging terminal for outputting charging current and a first detecting terminal for detecting whether the power receiving connector and the power feeding connector are in the connected state,
the power receiving connector comprises a second charging terminal that is brought into conduction with the first charging terminal and a second detecting terminal that is brought into conduction with the first detecting terminal when the power receiving connector is connected with the power feeding connector, and
in the course of transition of the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector from a disconnected state to a connected state, the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal are brought into conduction, and then the first detecting terminal and the second detecting terminal are brought into conduction, and
the connection detecting means detects that the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector are in the connected state when the first detecting terminal and the second detecting terminal are brought into conduction.
The charging system of a biped walking robot according to claim 2 , wherein, in the course of the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector shifting from a connected state to a disconnected state, the first detecting terminal and the second detecting terminal are placed in a detached state, and then the first charging terminal and the second charging terminal are placed in a detached state, further comprising: a capacitor connected across output terminals of the charging power source; and discharging means for discharging charges from the capacitor, wherein, when the state detected by the connection detecting means is switched from a state wherein the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector are in connection to a state wherein the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector are not in connection, the charging control means stops supply of charging current by the charging power source and discharges the charges from the capacitor by the discharging means.
a capacitor connected across output terminals of the charging power source; and
discharging means for discharging charges from the capacitor,
wherein, when the state detected by the connection detecting means is switched from a state wherein the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector are in connection to a state wherein the power feeding connector and the power receiving connector are not in connection, the charging control means stops supply of charging current by the charging power source and discharges the charges from the capacitor by the discharging means.
The charging system of a biped walking robot according to claim 1 , further comprising a shutter provided at the front of the power receiving connector, wherein the shutter covers an opening of the power receiving connector in a state wherein the power receiving connector has been disconnected from the power feeding connector, whereas the shutter is released to expose the opening as the power feeding connector comes in contact with the power receiving connector when the power receiving connector is fitted to the power feeding connector.
the shutter covers an opening of the power receiving connector in a state wherein the power receiving connector has been disconnected from the power feeding connector, whereas the shutter is released to expose the opening as the power feeding connector comes in contact with the power receiving connector when the power receiving connector is fitted to the power feeding connector.
The charging system of a biped walking robot according to claim 2 , further comprising a shutter provided at the front of the power receiving connector, wherein the shutter covers an opening of the power receiving connector in a state wherein the power receiving connector has been disconnected from the power feeding connector, whereas the shutter is released to expose the opening as the power feeding connector comes in contact with the power receiving connector when the power receiving connector is fitted to the power feeding connector.
The charging system of a biped walking robot according to claim 3 , further comprising a shutter provided at the front of the power receiving connector, wherein the shutter covers an opening of the power receiving connector in a state wherein the power receiving connector has been disconnected from the power feeding connector, whereas the shutter is released to expose the opening as the power feeding connector comes in contact with the power receiving connector when the power receiving connector is fitted to the power feeding connector.
The charging system of a biped walking robot according to claim 1 , wherein the power receiving connector has a tapered recession whose inclined surfaces gradually approach each other toward a terminal from the opening, and the power feeding connector has a projection shaped to match the tapered shape of the power receiving connector.
the power receiving connector has a tapered recession whose inclined surfaces gradually approach each other toward a terminal from the opening, and
the power feeding connector has a projection shaped to match the tapered shape of the power receiving connector.
The charging system of a biped walking robot according to claim 2 , wherein the power receiving connector has a tapered recession whose inclined surfaces gradually approach each other toward a terminal from the opening, and the power feeding connector has a projection shaped to match the tapered shape of the power receiving connector.
The charging system of a biped walking robot according to claim 3 , wherein the power receiving connector has a tapered recession whose inclined surfaces gradually approach each other toward a terminal from the opening, and the power feeding connector has a 
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