Drone wireless charging system

Abstract

Disclosed is a UAV wireless charging system, comprising: a plurality of charging pads arranged in an array; an identification unit connected to each of the charging pads and operated when a terminal of a UAV is placed; and a control unit connecting a charger to the charging pad operated by the identification unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging system for charging a battery of an unmanned aerial vehicle.

[0002] In particular, the invention relates to a drone wireless charging system that can automatically find the terminal position of the drone's battery and charge the drone's battery when the drone is placed on the drone station. Background Art

[0003] Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been chosen as a core technology for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

[0004] Drones are attracting attention for their practicality, as they can perform long-distance photography, transportation, spraying, and other tasks through unmanned technology, and are predicted to be used in various industrial sites in the future.

[0005] To increase the practical potential of drones, technological development is actively underway. One area of ​​focus is battery charging, which is used to recharge drone batteries. Since drones operate unmanned, they require a power source to operate their various devices, and batteries are typically used as this power source.

[0006] Independently of the development of technologies for increasing battery capacity, technologies are also being developed that can charge drone batteries through unmanned technology. Among these, the most popular method is the method of using drone stations.

[0007] A drone station is a place where drones can be placed along their travel path. The drone charging method using a drone station is to charge the drone by connecting the charger to the drone's terminals while the drone is placed on the station, thereby connecting the battery.

[0008] While this method is theoretically simple, it does require locating the drone's power connector. Because drones are operated using unmanned technology, while the drone's location can be determined at a macroscopic level, the precise location of the drone's power connector is difficult to determine at a microscopic level. Consequently, connecting a charger to the drone's power connector is difficult, resulting in the drone's battery not charging. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Technical issues

[0010] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem and aims to provide a drone wireless charging system that can accurately and quickly find the drone's terminals and charge the drone's battery when the drone is placed on a drone station.

[0011] Technical Solution

[0012] According to one embodiment, a wireless charging system for a drone includes: a plurality of charging pads arranged neatly; an identification unit connected to each of the charging pads and operated when a terminal of the drone is placed; and a control unit connecting a charger to the charging pad operated by the identification unit.

[0013] The present invention is characterized in that the identification portion includes: a first identification portion that allows current to flow in one direction; and a second identification portion that allows current to flow in the other direction.

[0014] The present invention is characterized in that the first recognition portion and the second recognition portion include a light emitting portion.

[0015] The present invention is characterized in that the control unit confirms the operation of the first recognition unit and the second recognition unit, thereby confirming the charging pad connected to the terminal of the drone.

[0016] The present invention is characterized in that when the first recognition unit or the second recognition unit connected to a plurality of charging pads operates, the control unit connects the terminals of the chargers corresponding to the plurality of charging pads.

[0017] The present invention is characterized in that it includes a communication unit capable of transmitting and receiving information with the drone through short-range communication, and the control unit receives the drone information sent by the drone from the communication unit.

[0018] The present invention is characterized in that a storage unit is provided that stores information about the type of drone and the battery of the drone in advance, and the control unit compares the information about the drone with the information stored in the storage unit.

[0019] The present invention is characterized in that it further includes a control unit that stores historical information on the battery charging of the drone.

[0020] Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the wireless charging system for a drone can be configured such that a control unit senses a charging pad on which a drone terminal is placed, accurately connects a charger to the charging pad, and thereby charges the drone battery.

[0022] In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the communication unit can accurately sense the type of drone installed on the drone station and the drone's battery, thereby efficiently charging the drone's battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a wireless charging system for a drone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing that a “+” terminal and a “−” terminal of a drone battery are arranged on a charging pad of a drone wireless charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the operating state of the wireless charging system for a drone according to an embodiment of the present invention in the state of FIG.

[0026] Figure 4 1 is a diagram illustrating a “+” terminal of a battery of a drone, a charging pad, an identification unit, and a control unit of a drone wireless charging system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which a “+” terminal of a drone is placed on a plurality of charging pads in a drone wireless charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 It shows Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the operating state of the wireless charging system for a drone according to an embodiment of the present invention in the state of FIG.

[0029] Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an additional inspection unit in a wireless charging system for a drone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 8 The block diagram shows a partial structure of a wireless charging system for a drone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Reference numerals:

[0032] 100: Drone, 110: "+" terminal (of the drone's battery), 120: "-" terminal (of the drone's battery), 200: Charging pad, 300: Identification unit, 310: First identification unit, 311: First transistor, 312: First light-emitting unit, 320: Second identification unit, 321: Second transistor, 322: Second light-emitting unit, 400: Control unit, 500: Charger, 600: Inspection unit, 700: Communication unit, 800: Storage unit, 900: Control unit

[0033] The present invention is susceptible to various modifications and embodiments. Specific embodiments will be exemplified and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to any specific embodiment, but rather should be understood to encompass all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives encompassed within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0034] The terms used in the present invention are used only to illustrate specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. When the context does not clearly indicate otherwise, a singular expression includes a plural expression. In the present invention, terms such as "including" or "having" should be understood as being used to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements, parts or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not exclude in advance the presence or additional possibility of one or more other features or numbers, steps, operations, constituent elements, parts or combinations thereof.

[0035] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. At this time, it should be noted that the same symbols are used to represent the same components in the accompanying drawings as much as possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and components that may obscure the gist of the present invention are omitted. Similarly, some components are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically shown in the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, for the convenience of explanation, Figure 2 As a reference, the position of the charging pad 200 is represented by rows and columns.

[0036] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a wireless charging system for a drone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The wireless charging system for drones of the present invention may include: a plurality of charging pads 200 , an identification unit 300 correspondingly connected to the charging pads 200 , and a control unit 400 .

[0038] The charging pad 200 is placed on an open side of the drone station. A frame can be arranged on the drone station. The frame can be arranged in a grid pattern. The charging pad 200 can be placed in the spaces between the frames arranged in the grid pattern. The frames can be arranged in different patterns.

[0039] As an example, the frames can be arranged in a grid pattern, so that the space is arranged from one row and one column to four rows and four columns. Then, quadrilateral charging pads 200 can be arranged in each of these spaces. However, the shape and arrangement of the frames, the shape of the charging pads 200, etc., can of course be varied according to circumstances and the invention.

[0040] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing that a “+” terminal and a “−” terminal of a drone battery are arranged on a charging pad of a drone wireless charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the operating state of the wireless charging system for a drone according to an embodiment of the present invention in the state of FIG.

[0042] Each charging pad 200 may be connected to an identification unit 300. Each identification unit 300 may operate when a terminal of the drone 100 is placed on the charging pad 200. For example, if the charging pads 200 are arranged from 1 row and 1 column to 4 rows and 4 columns, the "+" terminal 110 of the drone 100 is placed on the charging pad 200 arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns, and the "-" terminal 120 is placed on the charging pad 200 arranged in 4 rows and 4 columns, each identification unit 300 connected to each charging pad 200 can detect this fact.

[0043] In this case, the drone 100 can function as a connector connecting an open circuit. Specifically, each identification unit 300 acts as a resistor in the open circuit. The battery and terminals in the drone 100 allow current to flow in one direction, thereby operating the identification unit 300. Specifically, when the drone 100 is placed on the charging pad 200, the identification unit 300 connected to the charging pad 200, which is in contact with the terminals of the drone 100's battery, can operate.

[0044] The recognition unit 300 may include a first recognition unit 310 and a second recognition unit 320. Each of the first recognition unit 310 and the second recognition unit 320 is connected to a charging pad 200. The first recognition unit 310 allows current to be applied in one direction, and the second recognition unit 320 allows current to be applied in the opposite direction.

[0045] The control unit 400 is connected to each identification unit 300, detects the identification unit 300 to which current is applied, and connects the charger 500 to the charging pad 200 corresponding to the identification unit 300. The control unit 400 distinguishes between the "+" terminal and the "-" terminal of the charger 500 and connects them to each charging pad 200.

[0046] The terminals connecting the drone 100 to the battery are divided into a "+" terminal 110 and a "-" terminal 120. Therefore, the charging pad 200 with the "+" terminal 110 of the drone 100 can be connected to the "+" terminal of the charger 500, and the charging pad 200 with the "-" terminal 120 of the drone 100 can be connected to the "-" terminal of the charger 500, thereby forming a closed circuit. Each charging pad 200 is connected to both the first identification unit 310 and the second identification unit 320, thereby allowing current to flow in both directions. When a closed circuit is formed, current can flow within the closed circuit.

[0047] Through analysis of the above embodiments, a closed circuit can be formed by the charger 500, the "+" terminal of the charger 500, the first identification part 310, the charging pad 200 arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns, the "+" terminal 110 of the drone 100, the battery of the drone, the "-" terminal 120 of the drone 100, the charging pad 200 arranged in 4 rows and 4 columns, the second identification part 320, and the "-" terminal of the charger 500.

[0048] In addition, as the reference is established, the control unit 400 may connect the “+” terminal and the “−” terminal of the charger 500 to the respective terminals on each charging pad 200 .

[0049] Assuming that the current flowing in one direction through the first identification unit 310 is "+" as a reference, the control unit 400 can understand that the "+" terminal 110 of the drone 100 is arranged on the charging pad 200 arranged in the 2nd row and 2nd column, and the "-" terminal 120 of the drone 100 is arranged in the 4th row and 4th column. Therefore, the control unit 400 can connect the "+" terminal of the charger 500 to the charging pad 200 arranged in the 2nd row and 2nd column, and connect the "-" terminal of the charger 500 to the charging pad 200 arranged in the 4th row and 4th column.

[0050] The first recognition unit 310 and the second recognition unit 320 that implement this situation can be implemented by transistors 311, 321 and resistors 312, 322. Transistors allow current to flow in one direction, so the transistors arranged in the first recognition unit 310 and the second recognition unit 320 can be arranged to allow current to flow in opposite directions. In the present invention, the transistors 311, 321 and the resistors 312, 322 can be represented by independent structures, but of course it is not excluded that the two structures are combined into one structure.

[0051] Preferably, the first recognition unit 310 includes a first transistor 311 that allows current to flow only in one direction, and the second recognition unit 320 includes a second transistor 321 that allows current to flow only in the other direction.

[0052] The resistor operates when current flows. The resistor can be of various types, but preferably, a light-emitting portion that emits light when current flows. That is, the first identification unit 310 may include a first light-emitting portion 312 , and the second identification unit 320 may include a second light-emitting portion 322 .

[0053] Therefore, when the drone 100 is placed on the charging pad 200 and a closed current is formed to flow, the control unit 400 can detect which of the first identification units 310 and second identification units 320 connected to each charging pad 200 emits light, thereby determining the arrangement position of the drone 100 terminals and whether the arranged terminal is the "+" terminal 110 or the "-" terminal 120. However, in addition to the light-emitting unit, the resistor can also be a heating element that emits heat or a speaker that emits sound.

[0054] Figure 4 1 is a diagram illustrating a “+” terminal of a battery of a drone, a charging pad, an identification unit, and a control unit of a drone wireless charging system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] In addition, as yet another embodiment, the identification unit 300 may include a load sensor for measuring a load.

[0056] The terminals of the drone 100's battery are located on charging pads 200. Pressure is applied to the charging pads 200 where the drone 100's terminals are located, causing them to be pressed. The recognition unit 300 located on the underside of each charging pad 200 can detect the applied pressure, and the control unit 400 can sense the pressure and search for the charging pads 200 where the drone 100's battery terminals are located.

[0057] However, in this case, the control unit 400 cannot determine whether the terminals of the drone 100 battery placed on the charging pad 200 are "+" terminals 110 or "-" terminals 120, so a further auxiliary device is required. The further auxiliary device can be the aforementioned light-emitting unit. Specifically, the first light-emitting unit 312 can emit light when current flows in one direction, and the second light-emitting unit 322 can emit light when current flows in the opposite direction.

[0058] The controller 400 connects the first light-emitting unit 312 to any one of the charging pads 200 where the drone 100 terminals are located, and connects the second light-emitting unit 322 to another one. Assuming that both the first light-emitting unit 312 and the second light-emitting unit 322 are emitting light, the controller 400 can determine that the drone 100's "+" terminal 110 is located on the charging pad 200 connected to the first light-emitting unit 312, and the "-" terminal 120 is located on the remaining charging pads 200. The controller 400 then connects the charger 500's "+" terminal to the circuit where the first light-emitting unit 312 emits light, and connects the charger 500's "-" terminal to the circuit where the second light-emitting unit 322 emits light.

[0059] Assuming that the first light emitting part 312 and the second light emitting part 322 do not emit light, the control part can recognize that the "+" terminal 110 of the drone 100 is arranged at the charging pad 200 connected with the second light emitting part 322, and the "-" terminal 120 of the drone 100 is arranged at the remaining charging pad 200.

[0060] Meanwhile, when the recognition part 300 is a load sensor, the present application can prevent misoperation through the communication part 700 described later. The load sensor can be applied with a load by an external factor. Therefore, when the load sensor is misoperated, the control part 400 can make a wrong recognition. In order to prevent this, the near field communication part of the drone 100 transmits ID information to the communication part 700 of the drone wireless charging system described later, and then the control part 400 can recognize that the terminal of the battery of the drone 100 is arranged on the charging pad 200 to which a load is applied to the load sensor. Thereby, misoperation of the control part 400 due to misoperation of the recognition part 300 by an external environment can be prevented.

[0061] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the "+" terminal of the drone is placed on a plurality of charging pads in the drone wireless charging system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0062] Figure 6 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation state of the drone wireless charging system according to an embodiment of the present application in a state of FIG. 1. Figure 5

[0063] The terminal of the battery of the drone 100 can be connected to a plurality of charging pads 200. This is because the terminal of the battery of the drone 100 has a set size. In this case, a plurality of recognition parts 300 can operate. That is, the recognition part 300 connected to the plurality of charging pads 200 connected to the terminal of the drone 100 operates. Among them, of course, the first recognition part 310 connected to the plurality of charging pads 200 connected to the "+" terminal 110 of the drone 100 operates, and the second recognition part 320 connected to the plurality of charging pads 200 connected to the "-" terminal 120 of the drone 100 operates. The control part 400 confirms that current flows through each recognition part 300, and can connect the terminal of the charger 500 to each charging pad 200 on which the recognition part 300 operates.

[0064] In addition, the control part 400 recognizes whether each terminal of the battery of the drone 100 is connected to the charging pad 200 through the operation of the recognition part 300, and thus can also grasp a case in which each terminal of the battery of the drone 100 is not accurately connected to the charging pad 200, and in this case, the control part 400 can issue an instruction to the drone 100 to reposition the drone 100.

[0065] ​For example, assume a case where the "+" terminal 110 of the drone 100 is simultaneously connected to the charging pads 200 arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns and 2 rows and 3 columns. Here, assume that the "+" terminal 110 of the drone 100 is accurately arranged at the charging pad 200 arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns, although the charging pad 200 arranged in 2 rows and 3 columns and the "+" terminal 110 of the drone 100 are connected, the connection is not stable.

[0066] Although the first light emitting part 312 of the first recognition part 310 connected to the charging pad 200 arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns operates normally, the first light emitting part 312 of the first recognition part 310 connected to the charging pad 200 arranged in 2 rows and 3 columns does not operate stably.

[0067] In this case, although the control part 400 can recognize that the charging pad 200 connected to the "+" terminal 110 of the drone 100, the control part 400 can confirm that the terminal of the drone 100 is not stably arranged at the charging pad 200. The control part 400 can transmit a control signal to the drone 100 through the communication part 700 described later, and issue a position rearrangement command to the drone 100, and the drone 100 can rearrange the position when receiving the control signal.

[0068] Figure 7 is a view illustrating that a checking part is added in the drone wireless charging system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0069] In addition, the control part 400 can perform a periodic test of the first recognition part 310 and the second recognition part 320. In this case, for convenience of explanation, assume that the first recognition part 310 and the second recognition part 320 each include the first light emitting part 312 and the second light emitting part 322.

[0070] The first light emitting part 312 and the second light emitting part 322 are electronic devices that operate when current flows, and are devices with fixed life spans. Therefore, it is necessary to check whether the first light emitting part 312 and the second light emitting part 322 operate. The control part 400 connects the first recognition part 310, the second recognition part 320, and the checking part 600 connected to each charging pad 200 at a set period or irregularly, and checks whether the first recognition part 310 and the second recognition part 320 operate. The checking part 600 can cause the first recognition part 310 and the second recognition part 320 to flow current in one direction or another direction through a switch or other configurations. Therefore, the first light emitting part 312 and the second light emitting part 322 can operate when connected to the checking part 600.

[0071] Assuming that the inspection unit 600 is connected to any one of the first identification unit 310 and the second identification unit 320, but the first light-emitting unit 312 and the second light-emitting unit 322 are not operating, the control unit 400 can send a control signal to the control unit 900 described later to notify the control unit 900 that an abnormality has occurred in the non-operating light-emitting unit.

[0072] Figure 8 The block diagram shows a partial structure of a wireless charging system for a drone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] The wireless charging system for drones of the present invention may include a communication unit 700 , a storage unit 800 , and a control unit 900 .

[0074] Drone 100 is equipped with a short-range communication unit. For example, the short-range communication unit of drone 100 can be RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), Bluetooth (BLE), NFC (Near Field Communication), etc. The short-range communication unit of drone 100 transmits pre-stored ID information to the communication unit 700 of the drone wireless charging system.

[0075] The ID information includes information about the type of drone 100 and the type of the battery in the drone 100. The drone 100 includes a short-range communication unit because if the battery level in the drone 100 is insufficient, information about the drone 100 cannot be transmitted through normal communication.

[0076] The communication unit 700 can perform short-range communication with the drone 100 to receive the ID information of the drone 100. The communication unit 700 transmits the ID information to the control unit 400.

[0077] The control unit 400 is connected to the storage unit 800. The storage unit 800 stores information about the type of drone 100 and the battery in the drone 100. The control unit 400 can compare the ID information with the pre-stored information in the storage unit 800 and, using the corresponding pre-stored information, confirm the type of drone 100 and the battery in the drone 100 mounted on the drone station. This allows the control unit 400 to determine the battery charging voltage. The control unit 400 can change the voltage of the charger 500 and connect the terminals of the charger 500 to the respective charging pads 200 to charge the drone 100's battery.

[0078] The control unit 900 can send and receive information with the control unit 400.

[0079] When the control unit 400 charges the drone 100, the control unit 900 updates and stores the ID information. By matching the received ID information, the control unit 900 updates and stores the drone 100's battery charging time, the number of times the drone 100 has been charged, and other information. This allows the control unit 900 to verify the drone 100's battery status.

[0080] In addition, the control unit 900 can send and receive information with the drone 100, receive the battery charging rate of the drone 100, etc. When the charging rate of the battery of the drone 100 is abnormal, the control unit 900 can send a control signal to the control unit 400, instructing the disconnection between the terminals of the charger 500 and the charging pad 200.

[0081] In addition, although the control unit 900 and the control unit 400 are described above as being independently configured, the control unit 900 and the control unit 400 may be integrally configured.

[0082] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention. However, anyone skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes to the present invention by adding, changing, deleting or increasing the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the concept of the present invention described in the patent claims, and such modifications and changes are also included in the scope of the rights of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wireless charging system for a drone, comprising: Multiple charging pads, neatly arranged; an identification unit connected to each of the charging pads and operated when the terminal of the drone is placed; as well as a control unit, connecting a charger to the charging pad operated by the identification unit, The identification portion includes a first identification portion and a second identification portion, wherein the first identification portion and the second identification portion are connected to a charging pad to allow current to be applied in opposite directions to each other. The control unit checks the first recognition unit and the second recognition unit to which current is applied, distinguishes between a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the charger, and connects to the charging pad corresponding to the first recognition unit and the second recognition unit.

2. The UAV wireless charging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first recognition portion allows current to flow in one direction, and the second recognition portion allows current to flow in another direction.

3. The UAV wireless charging system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first recognition portion and the second recognition portion include a light emitting portion.

4. The UAV wireless charging system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control unit confirms the operations of the first recognition unit and the second recognition unit, thereby confirming the charging pads connected to the respective terminals of the drone.

5. The UAV wireless charging system according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the first recognition unit or the second recognition unit connected to the plurality of charging pads operates, the control unit connects the terminals of the charger corresponding to each of the plurality of charging pads.

6. The UAV wireless charging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: comprising a communication unit capable of transmitting and receiving information with the drone via short-range communication, The control unit receives drone information transmitted by the drone from the communication unit.

7. The UAV wireless charging system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The device includes a storage unit that stores information about the type of drone and the battery of the drone in advance. The control unit compares the information of the drone with the information stored in the storage unit.

8. The UAV wireless charging system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller further includes a controller that stores the charging history information of the drone's battery.

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