Wireless charging method

Abstract

The wireless charging method comprises the following steps: performing communication through a first underwater wireless communication unit of charging equipment and a second underwater wireless communication unit of an underwater carrier to obtain carrier information of the underwater carrier; the underwater carrier is positioned through a charging positioning unit of the charging equipment, and a positioning success signal is generated after positioning is completed; after a main control unit of the charging equipment receives the positioning success signal, according to the carrier information, a wireless charging transmitting unit of the charging equipment is controlled to charge a storage battery unit of the underwater carrier through electric power from a cable via a wireless charging receiving unit of the underwater carrier; the wireless charging transmitting unit and the wireless charging receiving unit support a wireless charging technology.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless charging method, and in particular to a wireless charging method for charging an underwater vehicle by means of a charging device floating on the water surface. Background Art

[0002] Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) without cables can perform underwater activities such as underwater exploration or research in a wide range of mobile ways. Since autonomous underwater vehicles do not have cables, they cannot be powered by cables from a mother ship as in the existing operation mode. On the other hand, ornamental bionic fish (also called bionic mechanical fish) do not have cables in the pool. These autonomous underwater vehicles or bionic fish must move to a designated location and surface before the power is exhausted to be charged through an electrical connection cable. Therefore, whether there are other ways to charge underwater vehicles has become a problem to be solved. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a wireless charging method for charging an underwater vehicle.

[0004] The wireless charging method of the present invention is applicable to charging equipment, underwater vehicles, and cables, and comprises steps (A) to (C).

[0005] In step (A), the first underwater wireless communication unit of the charging device communicates with the second underwater wireless communication unit of the submerged vehicle to obtain vehicle information of the submerged vehicle. The first underwater wireless communication unit and the second underwater wireless communication unit support underwater wireless communication technology.

[0006] In step (B), the underwater vehicle is positioned by the charging positioning unit of the charging device, and a positioning success signal is generated after the positioning is completed.

[0007] In step (C), after receiving the positioning success signal, the main control unit of the charging device controls the wireless charging transmitting unit of the charging device to charge the battery unit of the underwater vehicle via the wireless charging receiving unit of the underwater vehicle with the power from the cable according to the vehicle information. The wireless charging transmitting unit and the wireless charging receiving unit support wireless charging technology.

[0008] In some implementations, the wireless charging method is also applicable to a management device, and further comprises step (D), wherein the management device communicates with a water wireless communication unit of the charging device to obtain charging terminal information of the charging device. The water wireless communication unit supports water wireless communication technology.

[0009] In some implementations, the wireless charging method further includes step (E), obtaining positioning information through a first spatial positioning unit of the charging device, wherein in step (D), the charging end information includes the positioning information and the charging status of the underwater vehicle.

[0010] In some implementations, in step (E), when the vehicle control unit of the submersible vehicle determines that the charging condition is met, the submersible vehicle is controlled to float up, so as to obtain the vehicle positioning information through the second spatial positioning unit of the submersible vehicle. The vehicle control unit obtains the positioning information of the charging device through the second underwater wireless communication unit, and controls the submersible vehicle to move in the water according to the vehicle positioning information and the positioning information, so as to reach the location of the charging device.

[0011] In step (A), after determining that the charging positioning unit generates the positioning success signal, the main control unit controls the first underwater wireless communication unit to communicate with the second underwater wireless communication unit of the submersible vehicle to obtain the vehicle information of the submersible vehicle.

[0012] In some implementations, in step (D), the first spatial positioning unit obtains the positioning information through global positioning system GPS technology or ultra-wideband UWB technology. The water wireless communication technology is wireless area network Wi-Fi technology, fourth generation mobile communication 4G technology, or fifth generation mobile communication 5G technology.

[0013] In some other embodiments, in step (A), the underwater wireless communication technology is a communication technology that uses ultrasound or wireless audio called LoRa as a transmission medium.

[0014] In some other embodiments, in step (B), the underwater vehicle includes a magnet, and the charging positioning unit includes a proximity switch. When the magnet is adjacent to the charging positioning unit so that the magnetic reed of the proximity switch is actuated and the proximity switch is changed from non-conductive to conductive, the wireless charging transmitting unit of the charging device and the wireless charging receiving unit of the underwater vehicle are in a charging position to indicate that positioning is completed.

[0015] In some implementations, in step (C), the wireless charging technology is the Qi standard, the A4WP standard, or the PMA standard.

[0016] In some other embodiments, the wireless charging method is also applicable to another charging device and a transmission line, and further includes a step (F), wherein the series connection unit of the charging device forms an electrical connection with the series connection unit of another charging device via the transmission line to transmit the charging power from the cable.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the vehicle information is obtained by the first underwater wireless communication unit and the second underwater wireless communication unit that support the underwater wireless communication technology, and the underwater vehicle is positioned by the charging positioning unit, so that after receiving the positioning success signal, the main control unit can control the wireless charging transmitting unit to charge the battery unit via the wireless charging receiving unit according to the vehicle information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a charging device and an underwater vehicle to which the wireless charging method of the present invention is applicable;

[0019] Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating a first embodiment of the wireless charging method of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the charging device and the underwater vehicle to which the wireless charging method of the present invention is applicable;

[0021] Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment of the wireless charging method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0023] Before the present invention is described in detail, it should be noted that similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in the following description.

[0024] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2The first embodiment of the wireless charging method of the present invention is applicable to a charging device 1, an underwater vehicle 2, a management device 9, and a cable 3, and includes steps S11 to S15. The charging device 1 includes a main control unit 11, and a first underwater wireless communication unit 12 electrically connected to the main control unit 11, a wireless charging transmitting unit 13, an above-water wireless communication unit 14, a first space positioning unit 15, a charging positioning unit 16, and a series connection unit 17. The underwater vehicle 2 includes a vehicle control unit 21, and a wireless charging receiving unit 23 electrically connected to the vehicle control unit 21, a second underwater wireless communication unit 22, and a battery unit 24. The main control unit 11 and the vehicle control unit 21 are, for example, a microcontroller. The management device 9 is, for example, a computer device with a networking function.

[0025] In step S11, the first underwater wireless communication unit 12 of the charging device 1 communicates with the second underwater wireless communication unit 22 of the underwater vehicle 2 to obtain vehicle information of the underwater vehicle 2. The first underwater wireless communication unit 12 and the second underwater wireless communication unit 22 support an underwater wireless communication technology. In this embodiment, the charging device 1 floats on the water surface, and its appearance on the water surface presents a lotus structure. The underwater vehicle 2 is a bionic fish, and the vehicle control unit 21 can control a driving module of the bionic fish to move in the water according to predetermined program instructions. The driving module, for example, includes various joints, structures for floating up and down, tail fins for swimming, related connecting rods and motors and other components.

[0026] The underwater wireless communication technology is a communication technology that uses ultrasound or wireless audio called LoRa (Long range) as a transmission medium. For example, the first underwater wireless communication unit 12 includes an ultrasonic transducer to convert an amplitude shift modulation (ASK) electrical signal into an ultrasonic signal for underwater transmission, and the second underwater wireless communication unit 22 includes another ultrasonic transducer to receive the ultrasonic signal from underwater and convert it into an electrical signal, so that the vehicle control unit 21 can demodulate the original signal. The vehicle information includes, for example, a swimming trajectory, a swimming time, a motor element movement number, a battery power, a battery voltage value, a battery output current value, an operation error record, and other information.

[0027] In step S12, a positioning information is obtained through a first spatial positioning unit 15 of the charging device 1. The first spatial positioning unit 15 obtains the positioning information, for example, by using global positioning system GPS technology, ultra-wideband UWB technology, Bluetooth Bluetooth, or other micro-positioning technologies. The management device 9 communicates with the water wireless communication unit 14 of the charging device 1 to obtain a charging end information of the charging device 1. The water wireless communication unit 14 and the management device 9 support a water wireless communication technology. The water wireless communication technology is, for example, wireless area network Wi-Fi technology, fourth-generation mobile communication 4G technology, or fifth-generation mobile communication 5G technology. The charging end information includes the positioning information and a charging status of a submersible vehicle. The charging status of the submersible vehicle indicates that the charging device is charging the submersible vehicle, or that the charging device is not charging the submersible vehicle.

[0028] In step S13, the underwater vehicle 2 is positioned by the charging positioning unit 16 of the charging device 1, and a positioning success signal is generated after the positioning is completed. In this embodiment, the underwater vehicle 2 includes a magnet, and the charging positioning unit 16 includes a proximity switch. The magnet is matched with the setting position of the underwater vehicle 2 and the setting position of the proximity switch at the charging device 1. When the magnet is close to the charging positioning unit 16, the magnetic reed of the proximity switch is actuated, causing the proximity switch to change from non-conductive to conductive, the logic value of the proximity switch changes and generates the positioning success signal (or changes the logic value of the positioning success signal). At this time, the wireless charging transmitting unit 13 of the charging device 1 and the wireless charging receiving unit 23 of the underwater vehicle 2 will be in a charging position, and at the same time, the magnet or another magnet of the underwater vehicle 2 can be adsorbed on a metal sheet of the charging device 1 through the design of the mechanism to maintain the stability of the relative position when the positioning is completed.

[0029] In step S14, after receiving the positioning success signal, the main control unit 11 of the charging device 1 controls the wireless charging transmitting unit 13 of the charging device 1 to charge the battery unit 24 of the underwater vehicle 2 via the wireless charging receiving unit 23 of the underwater vehicle 2 with power from the cable 3 according to the vehicle information, such as when the battery voltage value is lower than a preset threshold value or the battery power is lower than another threshold value. The wireless charging transmitting unit 13 and the wireless charging receiving unit 23 support a wireless charging technology, such as the Qi standard, the A4WP standard, or the PMA standard.

[0030] In step S15, the serial connection unit 17 of the charging device 1 is, for example, a serial interface, which includes a power transmission contact and a communication signal contact. The serial interface of the serial connection unit 17 of the charging device 1 is electrically connected to the serial connection unit 17 of another charging device via a transmission line, so that the two charging devices 1 can transmit charging power from the cable 3 via the power transmission contact and transmit information via the communication signal contact.

[0031] See also Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the second embodiment of the wireless charging method of the present invention is applicable to the charging device 1, the submersible vehicle 2, the management device 9, and the cable 3, and includes steps S21 to S26. The charging device 1, the submersible vehicle 2, the management device 9, and the cable 3 are substantially the same as the first embodiment, except that the submersible vehicle 2 further includes a second spatial positioning unit 25 electrically connected to the vehicle control unit 21. In this embodiment, the first spatial positioning unit 15 and the second spatial positioning unit 25 both utilize ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to obtain the corresponding positioning information and a vehicle positioning information, respectively. For example, the charging device 1 and the submersible vehicle 2 are disposed in a pool, and a plurality of positioning base stations supporting ultra-wideband technology are disposed around the pool at fixed positions, and the number of the positioning base stations is, for example, three, but not limited thereto. The first spatial positioning unit 15 and the second spatial positioning unit 25 respectively transmit and receive signals through the positioning base station to obtain their own coordinate positions (i.e., the positioning information and the vehicle positioning information).

[0032] In step S21, the first spatial positioning unit 15 of the charging device 1 obtains the positioning information. When the vehicle control unit 21 of the submersible vehicle 2 determines that a charging condition is met, it controls the submersible vehicle 2 to float up, so as to obtain the vehicle positioning information through the second spatial positioning unit 25. The charging condition is, for example, when the battery power is less than 20% of the fully charged state, but is not limited to this. The vehicle control unit 21 then obtains the positioning information of the charging device 1 through the second underwater wireless communication unit 22, and controls the submersible vehicle 2 to move in the water after sinking according to the vehicle positioning information and the positioning information, so as to reach the position of the charging device 1.

[0033] Step S22 is the same as step S13. Step S23 is substantially the same as step S11, except that the main control unit 11 controls the first underwater wireless communication unit 12 to communicate with the second underwater wireless communication unit 22 of the submersible vehicle 2 to obtain the vehicle information of the submersible vehicle 2 after determining that the charging and positioning unit 16 generates the positioning success signal. Step S24 is the same as step S12. Step S25 is the same as step S14. Step S26 is the same as step S15.

[0034] In addition, it is particularly noted that: in step S14 and step S25, when the charging device 1 completes charging the battery unit 24 of the underwater vehicle 2, for example, when the vehicle control unit 21 determines that the battery power is higher than 90% of the fully charged state, the vehicle control unit 21 controls the driving module to make the underwater vehicle 2 swing or shake, so that the magnet of the underwater vehicle 2 and the metal sheet of the charging device 1 are no longer adsorbed and separated, or the underwater vehicle 2 changes position and the proximity switch changes from conducting to non-conducting, then the charging device 1 can also know that charging is to be terminated according to the change in the logic value corresponding to the proximity switch. In addition, in other embodiments, the order of steps S11 to S15 and S21 to S26 can also be changed, as long as the information required for each step has been obtained in the previous step.

[0035] In summary, the charging method can realize a wireless charging method for underwater vehicles using a charging device 1 floating on the water surface, so as to use the water wireless communication unit 14 to issue the instructions from the management device 9 to all surrounding underwater vehicles 2, which not only has the advantage of high integration, but also can solve the problem that the position of the charging device 1 cannot be seen underwater. On the other hand, since the application method of the charging method is simple, the versatility and flexibility are high, it can also be made into landscape landscaping, the cost is controllable and it has a wide range of application value, so it can indeed achieve the purpose of the present invention.

[0036] The above are merely embodiments of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. In other words, any simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the description of the present invention are still within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wireless charging method, applicable to charging equipment, underwater vehicles, and cables; characterized in that: The wireless charging method comprises: (A) communicating with a second underwater wireless communication unit of the underwater vehicle through a first underwater wireless communication unit of the charging device to obtain vehicle information of the underwater vehicle, wherein the first underwater wireless communication unit and the second underwater wireless communication unit support underwater wireless communication technology; (B) positioning the underwater vehicle through the charging positioning unit of the charging device, and generating a positioning success signal after positioning is completed; and (C) After receiving the positioning success signal, the main control unit of the charging device controls the wireless charging transmitting unit of the charging device to charge the battery unit of the underwater vehicle via the wireless charging receiving unit of the underwater vehicle with the power from the cable according to the vehicle information. The wireless charging transmitting unit and the wireless charging receiving unit support wireless charging technology.

2. The wireless charging method according to claim 1 is also applicable to management equipment, characterized in that: The wireless charging method further comprises: Step (D), communicating with the water wireless communication unit of the charging device through the management device to obtain the charging end information of the charging device, and the water wireless communication unit supports water wireless communication technology.

3. The wireless charging method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The wireless charging method further comprises: Step (E), obtaining positioning information through the first spatial positioning unit of the charging device. In step (D), the charging end information includes the positioning information and the charging status of the underwater vehicle.

4. The wireless charging method according to claim 3, characterized in that: In step (E), when the vehicle control unit of the underwater vehicle determines that the charging conditions are met, the underwater vehicle is controlled to float up, so as to obtain the vehicle positioning information through the second spatial positioning unit of the underwater vehicle, and the vehicle control unit obtains the positioning information of the charging device through the second underwater wireless communication unit, and controls the underwater vehicle to move in the water according to the vehicle positioning information and the positioning information, so as to reach the position of the charging device. In step (A), after determining that the charging positioning unit generates the positioning success signal, the main control unit controls the first underwater wireless communication unit to communicate with the second underwater wireless communication unit of the submersible vehicle to obtain the vehicle information of the submersible vehicle.

5. The wireless charging method according to claim 3, characterized in that: In step (D), the first spatial positioning unit obtains the positioning information through global positioning system GPS technology or ultra-wideband UWB technology, and the water wireless communication technology is wireless area network Wi-Fi technology, fourth-generation mobile communication 4G technology, or fifth-generation mobile communication 5G technology.

6. The wireless charging method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (A), the underwater wireless communication technology is a communication technology that uses ultrasound or wireless audio called LoRa as a transmission medium.

7. The wireless charging method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (B), the underwater vehicle includes a magnet, and the charging positioning unit includes a proximity switch. When the magnet is adjacent to the charging positioning unit, causing the magnetic reed of the proximity switch to actuate and cause the proximity switch to change from non-conductive to conductive, the wireless charging transmitting unit of the charging device and the wireless charging receiving unit of the underwater vehicle will be in a charging position to indicate that the positioning is completed.

8. The wireless charging method according to claim 7, characterized in that: In step (C), the wireless charging technology is Qi standard, A4WP standard, or PMA standard.

9. The wireless charging method according to claim 1 is also applicable to another charging device and transmission line, characterized in that: The wireless charging method further comprises: Step (F), forming an electrical connection with the series connection unit of another charging device via the transmission line through the series connection unit of the charging device to transmit the charging power from the cable line.

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