IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0634489
(2015-02-27)
|
등록번호 |
US-9284062
(2016-03-15)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
20 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
▼
A multi-zone battery station is provided, comprising a plurality of landing areas configured to support a UAV. The battery station may permit battery life to be reloaded onto a UAV, which may include recharging a battery of the UAV or exchanging the UAV battery for a new battery. The different zones
A multi-zone battery station is provided, comprising a plurality of landing areas configured to support a UAV. The battery station may permit battery life to be reloaded onto a UAV, which may include recharging a battery of the UAV or exchanging the UAV battery for a new battery. The different zones may accommodate different UAV types, different battery types, or operate in accordance with different energy provision rules. A marker may be provided on a landing area to aid in guiding the UAV to an appropriate landing area.
대표청구항
▼
1. A UAV energy provision station, said station comprising: a first UAV landing area configured to (1) support a UAV of a first type when the UAV is resting on the station, said UAV coupled to a first battery configured to power the UAV, and (2) charge the first battery or exchange the first battery
1. A UAV energy provision station, said station comprising: a first UAV landing area configured to (1) support a UAV of a first type when the UAV is resting on the station, said UAV coupled to a first battery configured to power the UAV, and (2) charge the first battery or exchange the first battery for another battery while the UAV is supported by the first UAV landing area; anda second UAV landing area configured to (1) support a UAV of a second type different from the first type when the UAV is resting on the station, said UAV coupled to a second battery configured to power the UAV, and (2) charge the second battery or exchange the second battery for another battery while the UAV is supported by the second UAV landing area,wherein the first UAV landing area cannot charge the second battery or exchange the second battery for another battery for a UAV of the second type. 2. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the second UAV landing area is not configured to charge the first battery or exchange the first battery for another battery for a UAV of the first type. 3. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the UAV of the first type and the UAV of the second type have different dimensions or shapes. 4. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first UAV landing area is configured to accommodate a battery of a first type while not being able to accommodate a battery of a second type, and the second UAV landing area is configured to accommodate a battery of a second type while not being able to accommodate a battery of a first type. 5. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the UAV of the first type comprises a recessed region into which the first battery is inserted to couple to the UAV and provide power to the UAV. 6. The energy provision station of claim 5, wherein a battery charging unit is configured to charge the first battery while the first battery is inserted in the recessed region. 7. The energy provision station of claim 1, wherein the first UAV landing area and the second UAV landing area comprise visible markers configured to aid the UAV in landing. 8. The energy provision station of claim 7, wherein the visible markers comprise images or LED lights. 9. The energy provision station of claim 7, wherein the visible markers dynamically change over time. 10. A UAV energy provision station, said station comprising: a first UAV landing area configured to (1) support a first UAV when the first UAV is resting on the station, said first UAV coupled to a first battery configured to power the first UAV, and (2) charge the first battery or exchange the first battery for another battery in accordance with a first set of energy provision rules while the first UAV is supported by the first UAV landing area; anda second UAV landing area configured to (1) support a second UAV when the second UAV is resting on the station, said second UAV coupled to a second battery configured to power the second UAV, and (2) charge the second battery or exchange the second battery for another battery in accordance with a second set of energy provision rules while the second UAV is supported by the second UAV landing area,wherein the first set of energy provision rules only permits charging the first battery without permitting exchanging the first battery for another battery. 11. The energy provision station of claim 10, wherein the second set of energy provision rules only permits exchanging the second battery for another battery without permitting charging of the second battery. 12. The energy provision station of claim 10, wherein the first set of energy provision rules provides faster completion of the charge of the first battery or faster exchange of the first battery for another battery relative to those of the second set of energy provision rules. 13. The energy provision station of claim 10, wherein the first set of energy provision rules provides charging the first battery to a first state of charge or exchanging the first battery for another battery of the first state of charge, and the second set of energy provision rules provides charging the second battery to a second state of charge or exchanging the second battery for another battery of the second state of charge, wherein the second state of charge is different from the first state of charge. 14. The energy provision station of claim 10, wherein the first set of energy provision rules depends on a state of charge of the first battery, and wherein the second set of energy provision rules depends on a state of charge of the second battery. 15. The energy provision station of claim 10, further comprising a first GPS sensor, wherein the first UAV or the second UAV has a second GPS sensor, wherein the first GPS sensor and the second GPS sensor operate in concert to provide navigation to the first UAV or the second UAV in relation to the energy provision station. 16. A method for directing a UAV to a landing area of a UAV energy provision station, said method comprising: providing a first UAV landing area configured to (1) support a UAV when the UAV is resting on the station, said UAV coupled to a first battery configured to power the UAV, and (2) charge the first battery or exchange the first battery for another battery while the UAV is supported by the first UAV landing area; andproviding a second UAV landing area configured to (1) support a UAV when the UAV is resting on the station, said UAV coupled to a second battery configured to power the UAV, and (2) charge the second battery or exchange the second battery for another battery while the UAV is supported by the second UAV landing area, wherein the first UAV landing area cannot charge the second battery or exchange the second battery for another battery; andreceiving, at a processor, a signal indicative of information about a UAV having a battery on board, that is to land at the UAV energy provision station, and generating a command for the UAV to land at the first UAV landing area or the second landing area based on the information about the UAV. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the information about the UAV comprises information about a type of the UAV. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first UAV landing area is configured to support a UAV of a first type and a second UAV landing area is configured to support a UAV of a second type that is different from the first type, and wherein the command is for the UAV to land at the first UAV landing area when the UAV is of the first type, or for the UAV to land at the second UAV landing area when the UAV is of the second type. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the information about the UAV comprises information about a state of charge of a battery on board the UAV. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the information about the UAV comprises information about a timeframe in which the battery on board the UAV needs to be charged or exchanged for another battery. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the information about the UAV comprises an estimate for the state of charge on the battery board on board the UAV needs to be to meet an anticipated travel plan for the UAV. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining, using one or more processors on board the UAV, whether additional battery life is needed for the battery on board the UAV to meet the anticipated travel plan. 23. The method of claim 16, wherein the information about the UAV comprises information about whether the battery on board the UAV needs to be charged and not exchanged for another battery or vice versa. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first UAV landing area only permits charging the first battery without permitting exchanging the first battery for another battery, wherein the command is for the UAV to land at the first UAV landing area when the battery on board the UAV needs to be charged, wherein the second UAV landing area only permits exchanging the battery for another battery without permitting charging of the battery, and wherein the command is for the UAV to land at the second UAV landing area when the battery on board the UAV needs to be exchanged for another battery. 25. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving, at a processor, a signal indicative of information about one or more batteries stored at the UAV energy provision station.
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