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EP0213938A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Failsafe brake for a multi-wheel vehicle with motor controlled steering

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1986-08-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-08-29
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Abstract

Abstract A braking system for a controllable mobile robot with a plurality of wheels which carry the robot to a specified position in response to commands from a guidance system. The braking system is used in conjunction with servo motors that are used for steering the mobile apparatus and includes a capacitor 391 which stores power during non-braking conditions. During braking, a relay, with contacts 393, 403, 401, and 397, transfers power from the capacitor to the servo motors 64 that are used to steer the robot and is connected in such a manner as to uncoordinate the steering wheels and to cause them to turn in a direction that opposes the forward motion of the robot.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas J. Doty

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 12:02
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0287; G05D1/0289; G05D1/0268; G05D1/0274

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 50 words
A fail safe brake for a mobile apparatus comprising: communication means for communicating a commanded destination to the mobile ap­paratus; navigation means for navigating the mobile apparatus to the commanded destination; moving means for moving the mobile apparatus to the commanded destination; and brake means for stopping the moving means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 50 words
A fail safe brake for a mobile apparatus comprising: communication means for communicating a commanded destination to the mobile ap­paratus; navigation means for navigating the mobile apparatus to the commanded destination; moving means for moving the mobile apparatus to the commanded destination; and brake means for stopping the moving means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 52 words
2 The fail safe brake according to claim 1 wherein the the moving means is electrically powered and the brake means comprises: power sensor means for sensing the lost of power and to provide a stop signal thereby; and stopping means for stopping the mobile apparatus in response to the stop signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The fail safe brake according to claim 2 wherein the stopping means is responsive to the communication means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 54 words
The fail safe brake according to claim 1 wherein the communication means comprises: a first transmitter and receiver operatively connected to the absolute means for trans­mitting and receiving of data to the mobile apparatus; and a second transmitter and receiver means for transmitting and receiving data from the absolute means at the mobile apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The fail safe brake according to claim 4 wherein the first and second transmitters comprises: means for converting data to light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The fail safe brake according to claim 5 wherein the first and second receivers comprises: means for converting light into data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 58 words
A fail safe method of stopping method of mobile apparatus comprising: communicating a commanded destination to the mobile apparatus with a communica­tion means; navigating the mobile apparatus to the commanded destination with a navigation means; moving the mobile apparatus to the commanded destination with a plurality of wheels; and stopping the plurality of wheels with a brake means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 58 words
A fail safe method of stopping method of mobile apparatus comprising: communicating a commanded destination to the mobile apparatus with a communica­tion means; navigating the mobile apparatus to the commanded destination with a navigation means; moving the mobile apparatus to the commanded destination with a plurality of wheels; and stopping the plurality of wheels with a brake means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 44 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the the plurality of wheels are electrically powered and the step of stopping comprises: sensing the lost of power and to provide a stop signal thereby; and stopping the mobile apparatus in response to the stop signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein the stopping step includes the step of responding to the communication means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 74 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of communicating comprises: transmitting and receiving of data between the mobile apparatus and the navigation means with a first transmitter and receiver operatively connected to the navigation means; and transmitting and receiving of data between the mobile apparatus and the navigation means with a second transmitter and receiver means the second transmitter and receiver being operatively connected to the navigation means at the mobile apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein the step of transmitting data comprises: converting data into light a transmitter means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of receiving data comprises: converting light into data.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB2095350A Cited
GB2129161A Cited

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