Self-propelled device

• US 10,048,694 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Inventors: Abe, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Moyer, Dale
• Application Number:
  US15/109,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20160324386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner includes a first transmitting unit transmitting a signal including first identification information with directivity of a predetermined width, and a first receiving unit receiving a signal with directivity wider than directivity of the first transmitting unit. A charger includes a second receiving unit receiving the signal including the first identification information, and a second transmitting unit transmitting a signal including second identification information when the second receiving unit receives the signal including the first identification information. A first control unit controls, when the signal including the second identification information is received by the first receiving unit, drive of a motor to allow a body case to travel based on a direction that the signal including the first identification information is transmitted.

Claims

1. A self-propelled device comprising:

a traveling element; and

a marker configured to guide the traveling element, the traveling element including;

a body case;

a driving wheel rotatably provided in the body case to enable the body case to travel;

a motor configured to allow the driving wheel to be rotationally driven;

a traveling element-side transmitting unit configured to transmit a signal including traveling element-side identification information with directivity of a predetermined width;

a traveling element-side receiving unit configured to be receivable of a signal with directivity wider than the directivity of the traveling element-side transmitting unit;

a control unit configured to control transmission of a signal from the traveling element-side transmitting unit, reception of a signal by the traveling element-side receiving unit, and drive of the motor, the marker including;

a marker-side receiving unit configured to receive the signal including the traveling element-side identification information; and

a marker-side transmitting unit configured to transmit a signal including marker-side identification information when receiving the signal including the traveling element-side identification information by the marker-side receiving unit, wherein,

the control unit causes a signal including the traveling element-side identification information to be transmitted sequentially in a plurality of directions, determines whether the signal including the marker-side identification information is received in each direction, decides a direction where the body case to travel based on a direction that the signal including the marker-side identification information is received, and controls drive of the motor to allow the body case to travel to the determined direction.

2. The self-propelled device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit controls drive of the motor to change a direction of the body case, thereby sequentially causing the traveling element-side transmitting unit to transmit a signal and the traveling element-side receiving unit to receive a signal, in a plurality of directions.

3. The self-propelled device according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of each of the traveling element-side transmitting unit and the traveling element-side receiving unit are arranged in the body case, and

the control unit causes the traveling element-side transmitting unit and the traveling element-side receiving unit to sequentially perform transmission/reception of a signal in a plurality of directions around the body case.

4. The self-propelled device according to claim 1, wherein

the traveling element is a vacuum cleaner provided with a secondary battery, and

the marker is a charger capable of connecting with the vacuum cleaner to charge the secondary battery of the connected vacuum cleaner.

5. The self-propelled device according to claim 1, wherein

in a case directions determined that a signal including the marker-side identification information is received are a predetermined number or less of successive directions, the control unit controls drive of the motor to allow the body case to travel based on a direction that the signal including the traveling element-side identification information is received.

6. The self-propelled device according to claim 1, wherein

in a case directions determined that the signal including the marker-side identification information is received are a predetermined number or more of successive directions, the control unit controls so that at least either of output intensity of the traveling element-side transmitting unit or reception sensitivity of the traveling element-side receiving unit is lowered.

7. The self-propelled device according to claim 1, wherein

in a case directions determined that a signal including the marker-side identification information is received are a plurality of directions not successive, the control unit controls so that at least either of output intensity of the traveling element-side transmitting unit or reception sensitivity of the traveling element-side receiving unit is lowered.