Docking system
US7501780B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 19, 2007 |
| Grant date | Mar 10, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/0272
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A docking system includes: a station including: a light emitter comprising light emitting elements arranged in a circular arc form so as to cause optical axes of light generated from the light emitting elements to pass through a curvature center of the circular arc; and a self-moving robot including: a body part having a circular arc part being substantially the same in curvature radius as the circular arc of the station; a movement mechanism attached to the body part to move the body part and capable of causing the body part to conduct on-the-spot rotation at a curvature center of the circular arc part; light receivers attached to the body part to receive a light signal from the light emitter; a direction detector detecting a direction in which the light signal is emitted; and a controller controlling the movement mechanism to move the body part in the direction detected by the direction detector.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.