IP Library Granted Patent US 11,613,030
Granted Patent B2
US 11,613,030 · App. 16/845,968 · Granted Mar 28, 2023

Robot and robot system having the same

Inventors: Hoseong Kang (Seoul, KR); Iljae Lee (Seoul, KR); Sunho Yang (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
B25J19/005B25J5/007B25J9/0009B25J9/161B25J19/022B25J9/12B25J11/009
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,613,030
App. No.
16/845,968
Granted
Mar 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robot is provided with driving wheels, a battery, a charging terminal, a charging terminal mounter in which the charging terminal is disposed, a first spring elastically supporting the charging terminal in an outward direction, a switch switched by the charging terminal mounter when the charging terminal mounter retreats, and a processor for stopping the driving wheels when the switch is switched by the charging terminal mounter.

Claims (70)

1. A robot, comprising:

a battery;

a driving wheel;

a charging terminal for charging the battery;

a charging terminal mounter, the charging terminal being disposed in the charging terminal mounter;

a first spring configured to elastically support the charging terminal in a forward direction;

a switch configured to be turned on by the charging terminal mounter when the charging terminal mounter retracts; and

a processor configured to stop the driving wheel when the switch is turned on by the charging terminal mounter,

wherein the charging terminal protrudes outside of an outer circumferential surface of the robot due to the elastic support from the first spring.

2. The robot according to claim 1 , further comprising a lidar sensor,

wherein a height of the charging terminal is lower than a height of the lidar sensor.

3. The robot according to claim 1 , wherein the charging terminal mounter includes:

a main mounter having an opening surrounding an outer circumference of the charging terminal; and

a push body extending from the main mounter and configured to press a switch terminal of the switch.

4. The robot according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a robot bracket, wherein the switch is attached to the robot bracket; and

a spring guide configured to support the first spring.

5. A robot system, comprising:

a robot including:

a driving wheel;

a battery;

a charging terminal mounter; and

a charging terminal disposed in the charging terminal mounter; and

a charging station including:

a supply terminal mounter; and

a supply terminal configured to be connected with the charging terminal and disposed in the supply terminal mounter; and

a second spring configured to elastically support the supply terminal mounter in a rearward direction,

wherein the robot further includes:

a first spring configured to elastically support the charging terminal in a forward direction, the forward direction being opposite to the rearward direction;

a switch configured to be turned on by the charging terminal mounter when the charging terminal mounter retracts; and

a processor configured to stop the driving wheel when the switch is turned on by the charging terminal mounter, and

wherein, when the charging terminal is brought into contact with the supply terminal while the robot is moving, the first spring is compressed before the second spring is compressed.

6. The robot system according to claim 5 , wherein the second spring starts to compress after the first spring is maximally compressed.

7. The robot system according to claim 5 , wherein each of the first spring and the second spring is a coil spring, and

wherein a cross-sectional diameter of the first spring is less than a cross-sectional diameter of the second spring.

8. The robot system according to claim 5 , wherein the charging terminal protrudes outside of an outer circumferential surface of the robot due to the elastic support from the first spring.

9. The robot system according to claim 5 , wherein the robot further includes a lidar sensor, and

wherein a height of the charging terminal is lower than a height of the lidar sensor.

10. The robot system according to claim 5 , wherein the charging terminal mounter includes:

a main mounter having an opening surrounding an outer circumference of the charging terminal; and

a push body extending from the main mounter and configured to press a switch terminal of the switch.

11. The robot system according to claim 5 , wherein the robot further includes:

a robot bracket, wherein the switch is attached to the robot bracket; and

a spring guide configured to support the first spring.

12. The robot system according to claim 5 , wherein the supply terminal mounter and the supply terminal protrude to outside of an outer circumferential surface of the charging station due to the elastic support from the second spring.

13. The robot system according to claim 5 , wherein the charging station further includes:

a supply terminal shaft configured to guide movement of the supply terminal mounter; and

a station bracket connected to the supply terminal shaft to support the second spring.

14. The robot system according to claim 13 , wherein the supply terminal mounter includes a guide hole, and

wherein an outer circumference of the supply terminal shaft is guided along the guide hole of the supply terminal mounter.

15. A robot system, comprising:

a robot including:

a driving wheel;

a charging terminal mounter;

a charging terminal disposed in the charging terminal mounter;

a first spring configured to elastically support the charging terminal mounter;

a switch configured to be turned on by the charging terminal mounter when the charging terminal mounter retracts; and

a processor configured to stop the driving wheel when the switch is turned on; and

a charging station including:

a supply terminal mounter;

a supply terminal configured to be connected with the charging terminal and disposed in the supply terminal mounter; and

a second spring configured to elastically support the supply terminal mounter,

wherein a maximum elastic force of the first spring is less than a minimum elastic force of the second spring.

16. The robot system according to claim 15 , wherein the second spring starts to compress after the first spring is maximally compressed.

17. The robot system according to claim 15 , wherein each of the first spring and the second spring is a coil spring, and

wherein a cross-sectional diameter of the first spring is less than a cross-sectional diameter of the second spring.

18. The robot system according to claim 15 , wherein the charging terminal mounter includes:

a main mounter having an opening surrounding an outer circumference of the charging terminal; and

a push body extending from the main mounter and configured to press a switch terminal of the switch.

19. The robot system according to claim 15 , wherein the supply terminal mounter and the supply terminal protrude to an outside of an outer circumferential surface of the charging station by the elastic support of the second spring.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2025
From: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
To: BEAR ROBOTICS KOREA, INC.
Reel/Frame 072964/0006 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: KANG, HOSEONG; LEE, ILJAE; YANG, SUNHO
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 052468/0572 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2019-0161331 · Dec 6, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210170610A1 · Jun 10, 2021