Technical Field

The invention relates in a first aspect to a docking assembly for charging a battery of an electronic device, in particular of a robot. The docking assembly comprises a first docking element and a second docking element. A second aspect relates to the first docking el ement advantageously comprising an elastic element. A third aspect relates to the second docking element. A fourth aspect of the invention refers to the elastic element. A fifth aspect refers to a method for docking the first dock ing element to the second docking element for charging a battery of an electronic device, in particular a robot.

Background Art

Electronic devices and in particular robots are advantageously equipped with a battery as a power source. Therefore, the electronic device or robot is equipped with a docking socket to dock to a stationary docking port to recharge the battery.

A legged robot equipped with a battery might be able to walk on its own to a docking port to recharge its battery.

Such legged robots are very often used in rough terrains. Therefore, the docking socket might be contami nated with dirt or water at the time the battery of the robot needs to be recharged. The contamination might cause an issue for the recharging, since it might interrupt the electrical connection between the docking socket and the docking port.

There are many challenges addressed in regard of such docking assemblies comprising a docking socket and a docking port. Disclosure of the Invention

The problem to be solved by the present inven tion is therefore to provide a robust docking assembly comprising a docking socket and a docking port.

The problem is solved by the subjects of the independent claims concerning a first, a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth aspect of the invention.

Unless otherwise stated, the following defini tions shall apply in this specification:

The terms "a", "an", "the" and similar terms used in the context of the present invention are to be construed to cover both the singular and plural unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by the context. Further, the terms "including", "containing" and "comprising" are used herein in their open, non-limiting sense. The term "containing" shall include both, "compris ing" and "consisting of".

A first aspect of the invention refers to a docking assembly for charging a battery of an electronic device.

The electronic device is in particular a robot, a legged robot or an autonomous legged robot.

The docking assembly comprises a first docking element and a second docking element.

If the first element docks to the second dock ing element:

- a concave recess of the first docking element posi tively fits into a convex protrusion of the second docking element in a direction of a center axis of the concave recess,

- at least one electrical contact part integrated into a concave surface of the concave recess electrically connects to at least one electrical contact part in tegrated into a convex surface of the convex protru sion, - a second surface of the first docking element is sep arated from the concave surface by means of a rim encircling the concave recess, and positively fits to a second surface of the second docking element in a direction of the center axis,

- at least one electrical contact part integrates into the second surface of the first docking element elec trically connects to at least one electrical contact part integrated into the second surface of the second docking element.

In an advantageous embodiment of the inven tion, the first docking element is a docking port compris ing a power supply and the second docking element is a docking socket integrated into the electronic device, for charging of the battery when the docking socket is docked to the docking port, or vice versa. Vice versa means that in a further embodiment, also the second docking element might be adapted to be the docking port and the first element might be the docking socket integrated into the electronic device.

In an advantageous embodiment, the docking port comprises a power supply and is configured to charge the battery of the electronic device, when the docking socket is docked to the docking port.

In particular, the docking port is configured as an independent module placed on the ground.

In particular, docking socket might be inte grated into a bottom side of a torso of a legged robot.

Advantageously, a legged robot might walk to wards a docking port if it needs to be recharged. The legged robot might detect the docking socket according to a method for docking the docking socket to the docking port above the docking port and estimate the pose for position ing itself in relation to the docking port, such that the docking socket is positioned directly above the docking port, such that a center axis of the convex protrusion is congruently aligned with the center axis of the concave recess. In a next step, the legged robot might lower the torso in a direction of the center axis of the convex protrusion towards the docking port, such that the docking socket docks to the docking port.

In particular, the term "convex" here refers to all possible shapes that protrude from the docking socket body. In particular, such a first convex surface might be the surface of a hemispherical-like shape or a cone that protrudes from the docking socket.

In particular, the term "concave" here refers to all possible shapes that form an recess or indentation into the docking port. Such a first concave surface of the docking port might have a hemispherical-like surface. Ad vantageously, the first concave surface is the surface of a cone-like shape.

In particular, the term "rim" here refers to a wall that protrudes from the first docking element and forms the at least one electrical contact part of the con cave surface at the inner side of the wall and the at least one electrical contact part of the second surface of the first docking element at the outside of the wall.

In particular, the surface of the rim has at the outside the form of a truncated cone and/or at the inside the form of a hemisphere.

In particular the arrangement of the at least one electrical contact part of the concave surface at the inner wall of the rim and the arrangement of the at least one electrical contact part of the first surface of the first docking element at the outer wall of the rim allows to provide two different connections to the second docking element but at the same time to safe space, since the electrodes are arranged in a very compact way.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one electrical contact part of the convex surface and the at least one electrical contact part of the second surface of the second docking element are arranged on the second docking element in a way that they face each other if not docking to the first docking element and that they face the concave surface at the inner side of the rim and the second surface of the first docking element at the outer side of the rim if docked to the first docking element. This arrangement safes space and is there fore very advantageous if the second docking element is integrated into a robot or electronic device.

In addition, the advantageous arrangement of the concave surface positively fitting to the convex sur face allows to enable a stable connection, even though there might be contamination or residuals sitting on the first and/or second docking element. Advantageously, there is more than one electrical contact part integrated into the concave surface or convex surface to connect to each other. Even if one of the electrical contact parts is con taminated, the remaining electrical contact parts might still connect to each other and therefore provide a stable connection. In a further embodiment of the invention, the first docking element comprises an elastic element with a geometry adapted to swivel the concave recess around a pivot point to compensate for the misalignment, if the second docking element docks to the first element while an angle to the center axis. In particular an advantageous angle is 20° > a ³ -20°.

In particular, the elastic element therefore enables a self-centering of the first and the second dock ing element in the process of docking to each other.

Therefore, the docking assembly is very robust in terms of alignment issues that might occur in the pro cess of e.g. an autonomous robot trying to dock with a docking socket to a docking port. In particular, if the autonomous robot does not have a camera on the bottom side of its torso, it might not be able to precisely recognize the docking port. If the docking port corresponds to the first docking element and comprises the elastic element, the docking port is more robust to receive the docking socket, even if the docking angle is not very precisely in a direction of the center axis.

Furthermore, also if there is a lateral shift between the convex surface of the first docking element, e.g. the docking socket, and the second docking element, e.g. the port socket, the swivelling or pivoting of the elastic element allows the first element to still dock to the second docking element even though the misalignment of the docking direction.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention,

- the at least one electrical contact part of the con cave surface and the electrical contact part of the convex surface are power electric contacts, and/or

- the at least one electrical contact part of the second surface of the first docking element and the at least one electrical contact part of the second surface of the second docking element are ground contacts, and/or

- a first center electric contact part integrated in the lowest area of the concave surface is connectable to a second center electric contact part integrated in the topmost area of the convex surface, wherein the first and the second center electric contact parts are signal contacts adapted to detect a contact be tween the first and the second docking element.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one electrical contact part of the concave surface and the electrical contact part of the convex sur face have a power connection +60V > power connection > +40V, in particular +48V.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first center electric contact part and the second center electric contact part have a power connection of +20V > power connection center electric contcacts > +10V, in particular of +12V.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first and the second center electric contact parts get in contact if the first docking element docks to the second docking element, the docking is detected and the power supply for the at least one electrical contact part of the concave and convex surface activated. In particular, the activation happens with a time delay, to prevent electric shortages that might happen if the first and second docking element are misaligned but the power supply is still acti vated.

In an advantageous embodiment, the first and second center electrode only have contact if the at least one electrical contact part of the concave surface and the at least one electrical contact part of the convex surface are in contact and if the at least one electrical contact part of the second surface of the first docking element and the at least one electrical contact part of the second surface of the second docking element are in contact.

A second aspect of the invention refers to a first docking element for the docking assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

Advantageously, the first docking element is a docking port for an electronic device or robot. Therefore, the first docking element comprises a power supply to pro vide power to charge the battery of an electronic device or robot.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first docking element comprises one elec trical contact part that is integrated into the concave surface and is adapted to electrically connect to at least two, further particular to at least four, of the electrical contact parts of the convex surface, if the first docking element is docked to the second docking element. In par ticular, the electrical contact part of the concave surface is adapted to electrically connect to all of the electrical contact parts of the convex surface. In particular, the at least one electrical con tact part of the concave surface extends over an area of the concave surface to form a contact ring.

In particular, the at least one electrical con tact part of the concave surface extends over an area of the concave surface such that it forms a ring-like elec trode, in particular with a shape of a truncated cone.

Further particular, the electrical contact part of the second surface of the first docking element has a ring or ring-like form, in particular has the geo metrical shape of the surface of a truncated cone.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the second aspect, the at least one electrical contact part of the second surface of the first docking element encompasses the rim. In particular, the electrical contact part of the second surface of the first docking element is adapted to electrically connect to at least two, in particular at least four, very particular to each of the at least one electrical contact parts of the second surface of the sec ond docking element, if the first docking element is docked to the second docking element.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one electrical contact part of the concave surface is arranged at an inner surface of the circular rim encom passing the concave surface and the at least one electrical contact part of the second surface is arranged at an outer surface of the circular rim. The rim isolates the at least one electrical contact part of the concave surface from the at least one electrical contact part of the second surface.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the second aspect, the first docking element comprises the elastic element with a geometry adapted to swivel the con cave recess around the pivot point.

In particular, the pivot point of the elastic element is arranged on the center axis in a direction to wards the second docking element, if the second docking element docks to the first docking element, outside the first docking element.

In particular, the pivot point of the elastic element is arranged on the center axis in a direction be yond the concave surface.

Because of the arrangement of the pivot point, a center point of the concave recess or surface does not shift laterally while swivelling, but essentially remains at a fix position.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first docking element comprises a first center electric contact part integrated at the lowest point of the concave surface.

In particular, the first center electric con tact part is adapted to connect to a second electric con tact part of the second docking element.

Advantageously, the first and second center electric contact parts are signal electric electrodes to identify the docking conditions between the first and sec ond docking element. In particular, they only connect after the first and the second docking element have connected.

A third aspect of the invention refers to a second docking element for the docking assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

The second docking element is advantageously a docking socket integrated into an electronic device or ro bot and adapted to dock to a docking port for recharging the battery of the device or robot.

In an advantageous embodiment of the third as pect, the second docking element comprises four electrical contact parts integrated into the convex surface, and/or four electrical contact parts integrated into the second surface of the second docking element.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the third aspect, the second docking element comprises a second center electric contact part integrated at the topmost point of the convex surface. In particular, the second center electric contact part is adapted to connect to a first center electric contact part of the first docking element.

A fourth aspect refers to an elastic element, in particular for the docking assembly according to the first aspect or the first docking element according to the second aspect of the invention.

The elastic element comprises at least three tube segments. Each tube segment links to two other tube segments by a bridge for forming a ring-like structure.

Each tube segment has a center axis. All of the center axes of the tube segments intersect with an axis of the ring-like structure at a point outside the ring-like structure.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention ac cording to the fourth aspect has four tube segments.

In particular, the elastic element is made of a material polyurethane.

A fifth aspect of the invention refers to a method for docking the first docking element to the second docking element for charging a battery of an electronic device, in particular a robot.

The first docking element is a docking port and the second docking element is a docking socket integrated into the electronic device, or vice versa. Vice versa means that in a further embodiment, also the second docking el ement might be adapted to be the docking port and the first element might be the docking socket integrated into the electronic device.

The method comprises the steps of - detecting the docking port with a camera of the elec tronic device, - estimating the pose for positioning of the electronic device such that it docks with the docking socket to the docking port, and

- controlling the electronic device to adopt to the po sition for docking with the docking socket to the docking port.

Advantageously, the electronic device is an au tonomous robot. Such an autonomous robot comprises a camera to detect the docking port if the docking port is arranged within the camera coverage of the camera.

If the camera detects the docking port, a logic unit of the robot estimates the pose that the robot needs to adopt to dock the docking socket to the docking port. The autonomous robot can then adopt the pose to dock the docking socket to the docking port.

Even if the pose is not adopted very precisely, the robot might dock with the docking socket to the docking port, if the docking port comprises an elastic element that compensates for misalignments of the docking socket.

Other advantageous embodiments are listed in the dependent claims as well as in the description below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become ap parent from the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows schematic of a cross section of the docking assembly according to an advantageous embodi ment of the first aspect of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic of a perspective view of a first docking element according to an advantageous embodiment of second aspect of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a schematic of a perspective view of a second docking element according to an advantageous embodiment of the third aspect of the invention; and

Fig. 4 shows a schematic of a perspective view of an elastic element according to an advantageous embod iment according to a fourth aspect of the invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

Fig . 1 shows a cross section of an advantageous embodiment of the docking assembly 1000. The docking as sembly 1000 comprises a first docking element 1 and docking to a second docking element 2.

A concave recess in a direction of a center axis 100 of the first docking element 1 positively fits into a convex protrusion of the second docking element 2 in a direction of the center axis 100.

At least one electrical contact part 101 is integrated into a concave surface 11 of the concave recess to electrically connect to at least one electrical contact part 201 integrated into a convex surface 21 of the convex protrusion .

A second surface 12 of the first docking ele ment 1 is separated from the concave surface 11 by means of a rim 110 encircling the concave recess. In addition, the second surface 12 is adapted to positively fit to a second surface 22 of the second docking element 2 in a direction of the center axis 100.

At least one electrical contact part 102 inte grated into the second surface 12 of the first docking element 1 electrically connects to at least one electrical contact part 202 integrated into the second surface 22 of the second docking element 2.

In the advantageous embodiment of the docking assembly 1000 in Fig. 1, the first docking element 1 is a docking port and the second docking element 2 is a docking socket. The docking port advantageously comprises a power supply and is configured to charge the battery of the electronic device or robot when a docking socket is docked to the docking port.

The docking socket advantageously is adapted to be integrated into the electronic device for charging of the battery when the docking socket docks to the docking port.

Further advantageously, the first docking el ement 1 comprises an elastic element 3 with a geometry adapted to swivel the concave recess around a pivot point if the second docking element 2 docks to the first docking element with an angle to the center axis 100, to compen sate for the misalignment of the second docking element 2. Advantageously, the angle is 20° ³ a ³ -20°.

Advantageously, the pivot point of the elastic element 3 is arranged on the center axis 100 in a direction towards the second docking element 2, if the second docking element 2 docks to the first docking element 1, outside the first docking element 1.

Advantageously, the pivot point of the elastic element 3 is arranged on the center axis 100 in a direction beyond the concave surface 11.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the docking assembly 1000 in Fig. 1, the at least one electri cal contact part 101 of the concave surface 11 and the at least one electrical contact part 201 of the convex surface 21 are power electric contacts. In particular they provide a high voltage power, in particular of above +40V, in par ticular +48V.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the docking assembly 1000 in Fig. 1, the at least one electri cal contact part 102 of the second surface 12 of the first docking element 1 and the at least one electrical contact part 202 of the second surface 22 of the second docking element 2 are ground contacts. In a further advantageous embodiment of the docking assembly 1000 in Fig. 1, the first docking element 1 comprises a first center electric contact part 103 inte grated into the lowest area of the concave surface 11. This first center electric contact part 103 is connectable to a second center electric contact part 203 integrated into the topmost area of the convex surface 21.

The first 103 and the second 203 center elec tric contact parts are adapted to detect whether the second docking element 2 is docked to the first docking element 1. If the first center electric contact 103 connects to the second electric contact 203 the first docking element 1 docks to the second docking element 2 and the charging begins. If the first docking element docks to the second docking element, and only then, power is applied to the least one electrical contact part 101 of the concave sur face 11 and the at least one electrical contact part 201 of the convex surface 21, for charging of the battery of the electronic device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the docking of the first docking element 1 to the second docking element 2 happens by means of a method for charging a battery of an electronic device according to the fifth aspect of the invention.

Fig . 2 shows a perspective view of an embodi ment of the first docking element 1. The first docking element 1 comprises at least one electrical contact part 101 integrated into the concave surface 11 and adapted to electrically connect to at least two of the electrical contact parts 201 integrated into the convex surface 21 if the first docking element 1 is docked to the second docking element 2. In particular, for an embodiment of the docking assembly as shown in Fig. 1, the at least one electrical contact part 101 of the concave surface 11 electrically connects to four electrical contact parts 201 of the convex surface 21. In particular, an advantageous embodiment of the at least one electrical contact part 101 of the concave surface 11 extends over an area of the concave surface 11 such that it forms a ring-like electrode, as shown in Fig. 2. In particular, the ring-like electrode might have the geometrical shape of a surface of a truncated cone.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the first docking element 1, the at least one electrical con tact part 102 of the second surface 12 encompasses the rim 110 and is adapted to electrically connect to each of the at least one electrical contact parts 202 integrated into the second surface 21 of the second docking element 2, if the first docking element 1 docks to the second docking element 2.

In particular, the electrical contact part 102 of the second surface 12 has a ring or ring-like form, in particular has the geometrical shape of the surface of a truncated cone.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the first docking element 1, the docking element 1 comprises an elastic element 3 (not visible from the outside). The geometry of the elastic element 3 is adapted to swivel or pivot the concave recess around a pivot point.

Advantageously, the pivot point of the elastic element 3 is arranged on the center axis 100 in a direction towards the second docking element 2, if the second docking element 2 docks to the first docking element 1 outside the first docking element 1.

Advantageously, the pivot point of the elastic element 3 is arranged on the center axis 100 in a direction beyond the concave surface 11.

Further advantageously, the first docking el ement 1 comprises a first center electric contact part 103 integrated into the lowest point or area of the concave surface 11. The center electric contact part 103 is not visible in the perspective view of the fist docking element 1 in Fig 2, but is visible in the cross-section view of the first docking element 1 in Fig. 1.

In particular, the center electric contact part 103 is adapted to connect to a second electric contact part 203 of the second docking element 2, if the first docking element 1 docks to the second docking element 2.

In particular, the center electric contact part 103 might be arranged within an opening in the lowest area of the concave surface 11.

Further advantageously, the first docking el ement 1, if embodied as a docking port, comprises further a power supply 111.

In addition, in a further advantageous embodi ment of the first docking element 1, if embodied as a docking port, the first docking element 1 comprises marking surfaces 112. Such marking surfaces 112 might be recognized by an autonomous robot if it is looking for a docking port to dock to with its docking socket for charging the bat tery.

Fig . 3 shows a perspective view of an embodi ment of the second docking element 2.

In an advantageous embodiment as shown in Fig. 3, the second docking element 2 comprises four electrical contact parts 201 integrated into the convex surface 21 and/or four electrical contact parts 202 integrated into the second surface 22.

The advantageous embodiment of the second dock ing element 2 as shown in Fig. 3 comprises further a second center electric contact part 203 integrated at the topmost point of the convex surface 21.

In particular, the second center electric con tact part 203 is adapted to connect to a first center electric contact part 103 of the first docking element 1, if the second docking element 2 docks to the first docking element 1. Fig . 4 shows a perspective view of an embodi ment of the elastic element 3.

In the advantageous embodiment of the elastic element 3 as shown in Fig. 4, the elastic element 3 com- prises at least three tube segments 31, in particular here it comprises four tube segments 31, wherein each tube seg ment 31 links to two other tube segments 31 by a bridge 32 for forming a ring-like structure. Each tube segment 31 has a center axis 301. All center axes 301 of each of the tube segments 31 intersect in one point and intersect with an axis 300 of the ring-like structure at a point outside the ring-like structure. The intersection point of the center axes 301 is the pivot point of the elastic element 3.

Reference Numbers

First docking element 1

Concave surface 11

Second surface of first docking element 12

Center axis 100

Electrical contact in concave surface 101

Electrical contact in second surface of first 102 docking element

Rim 110

Docking assembly 1000

Second docking element 2

Convex surface 21

Second surface of second docking element 22

Electrical contact in convex surface 201

Electrical contact in second surface of second 202 docking element

Elastic element 3

Tube segment 31

Axis of ring-like structure of elastic element 300

Center axis of tube segment 301