Robot charging dock with illuminated charge connector

1. Robot charging dock, comprising:

a charge connector configured to mate with a charging port of a mobile robot;

a charge connector frame having a front surface on which the charge connector is mounted; the front surface having a first side edge and a second side edge;

a front cover disposed over the charge connector frame and having an aperture through which the charge connector protrudes; at least a portion of the front cover is spaced from the front surface of the charge connector frame, defining an internal region;

an opening to the internal region formed along at least a portion of a perimeter of the aperture; and

a light source disposed in the internal region; the light source being directed toward the opening to allow the light source to illuminate charge connector.

2. The robot charging station of claim 1 wherein the light source is positioned proximate one of the first side edge or the second side edge of the front surface of the charge connector frame.

3. The robot charging station of claim 2 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs positioned along a portion of one of the first side edge or the second side edge of the front surface of the charge connector frame; wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are directed toward the opening to illuminate the charge connector.

4. The robot charging station of claim 3 wherein the—light source comprises a light pipe having an input side positioned proximate and facing the plurality of LEDs and an output side facing the charge connector.

5. The robot charging station of claim 4 wherein the plurality of LEDs are disposed along an edge of a printed circuit board; wherein the printed circuit board is mounted on a side surface of the charge connector frame with the plurality LEDs extending beyond one of the first side edge and the second side edge of the front surface.

6. The robot charging station of claim 5 wherein the light pipe is mounted on the front surface of the charge connector frame with the input side extending along a portion of one of the first side edge and the second side edge of the front surface to align with the plurality of LEDs extending beyond one of the first side edge and the second side edge of the front surface.

7. The robot charging station of claim 6 wherein the light pipe is rectangular in shape and has a first side edge which extends along a portion of one of the first side edge and the second side edge of the front surface to align with the plurality of LEDs extending beyond one of the first side edge and the second side edge of the front surface; wherein the light pipe has a second side edge which is aligned with the opening to the internal region.

8. The robot charging station of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a first light source positioned proximate the first side edge and a second light source positioned proximate the second side edge.

9. The robot charging station of claim 8 wherein the first light source comprises a first plurality of LEDs positioned along a portion of the first side edge of the front surface of the charge connector frame and the second light source comprises a second plurality of LEDs positioned along a portion of the second side edge of the front surface of the charge connector frame; wherein the first plurality of LEDs are directed toward a first opening formed along a first portion of the perimeter of the aperture and the second plurality of LEDs are directed toward a second opening formed along a second portion of the perimeter of the aperture.

10. Robot charging dock, comprising:

a charge connector configured to mate with a charging port of a mobile robot;

a charge connector frame having a front surface on which the charge connector is mounted; the front surface having a first side edge and a second side edge;

a front cover disposed over the charge connector frame and having an aperture through which the charge connector protrudes; at least a portion of the front cover is spaced from the front surface of the charge connector frame, defining an internal region;

an opening to the internal region formed along at least a portion of a perimeter of the aperture; and

a light source disposed in the internal region; the light source being directed toward the opening to allow the light source to illuminate charge connector;

wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs positioned along a portion of one of the first side edge or the second side edge of the front surface of the charge connector frame; wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are directed toward the opening to illuminate the charge connector; and

wherein the—light source comprises a light pipe having an input side positioned proximate and facing the plurality of LEDs and an output side facing the charge connector.

11. The robot charging station of claim 10 wherein the the light source comprises a first light source comprising a first plurality of LEDs positioned proximate the first side edge of the front surface of the charge connector frame and a second light source comprising a second plurality of LEDs positioned proximate the second side edge of the front surface of the charge connector frame, and wherein the light pipe comprises a first light pipe and a second light pipe, the first light pipe having an input side positioned proximate and facing the first plurality of LEDs and the second light pipe having an input side positioned proximate and facing the second plurality of LEDs, and each of the first light pipe and the second light pipe having an output side facing the charge connector.

12. The robot charging station of claim 11 wherein the first plurality of LEDs are disposed along an edge of a first printed circuit board, wherein the first printed circuit board is mounted on a first side surface of the charge connector frame with the first plurality LEDs extending beyond the first side edge of the front surface; and wherein the second plurality of LEDs are disposed along an edge of a second printed circuit board, wherein the second printed circuit board is mounted on a second side surface of the charge connector frame with the second plurality LEDs extending beyond the second side edge of the front surface.

13. The robot charging station of claim 12 wherein the first light pipe is mounted on the front surface of the charge connector frame with the input side extending along a portion of the first side edge to align with the first plurality of LEDs extending beyond the first side edge of the front surface; and wherein the second light pipe is mounted on the front surface of the charge connector frame with the input side extending along a portion of the second side edge to align with the second plurality of LEDs extending beyond the second side edge of the front surface.

14. The robot charging station of claim 13 wherein the first light pipe is rectangular in shape and a first side edge which extends along a portion of the first side edge of the front surface to align with the first plurality of LEDs extending beyond the first side edge of the front surface; wherein the first light pipe has a second side edge which is aligned with the first opening to the internal region; and wherein the second light pipe is rectangular in shape and a first side edge which extends along a portion of the second side edge of the front surface to align with the second plurality of LEDs extending beyond the second side edge of the front surface; and wherein the second light pipe has a second side edge which is aligned with the second opening to the internal region.