Robot cleaning system and control method having wireless electric power charge function

• US 10,130,228 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Nam Yun, Park, Eun Seok, Kwon, Sang Wook, Hong, Young Tack, Ryu, Young Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Jerry D
• Application Number:
  US15/056,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20160254695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Provided are a wirelessly charged robot cleaner in a robot cleaning system and a controlling method thereof. The wirelessly charged robot may include a target resonator to receive a resonance power through energy-coupling with a source resonator of a wireless power transmitter, a wireless power receiving unit to convert the received resonance power into a rated voltage, and a battery controller to check a remaining capacity of the battery based on a scope of a predetermined area to be cleaned, and to charge, using the rated voltage, the battery based on the remaining capacity of the battery.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus, the cleaning apparatus comprising:

a wireless power receiver configured to receive a wireless power from a wireless power transmitter; and

a controller configured to;

control the cleaning apparatus to move autonomously,

determine whether an area has been cleaned,

control the cleaning apparatus to move to the area in response to the controller determining the area has not been cleaned,

determine whether the cleaning apparatus in the area is within a predetermined distance, and

control the wireless power receiver to receive the wireless power based on a radio wave reception scheme in response to the controller determining the cleaning apparatus in the area is not within the predetermined distance, and to receive a wireless power based on a magnetic resonance scheme in response to the controller determining the cleaning apparatus in the area is within the predetermined distance.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether a remaining capacity of a battery is less than a predetermined capacity.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to measure a distance between the cleaning apparatus and the wireless power transmitter.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether wireless charging is available based on a distance between the cleaning apparatus and the wireless power transmitter.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a location of the wireless power transmitter.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus has a capability of automatic driving.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus is a robot cleaner.

8. An operation method of a cleaning apparatus, the method comprising:

moving autonomously;

determining whether an area has been cleaned;

moving to the area in response to determining the area has not been cleaned;

determining whether the cleaning apparatus in the area is within a predetermined distance; and

receiving a wireless power based on a radio wave reception scheme in response to determining the cleaning apparatus in the area is not within the predetermined distance, and receiving a wireless power based on a magnetic resonance scheme in response to determining the cleaning apparatus in the area is within the predetermined distance.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining whether a remaining capacity of a battery is less than a predetermined capacity.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising measuring a distance between the cleaning apparatus and the wireless power transmitter.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining whether wireless charging is available based on a distance between the cleaning apparatus and the wireless power transmitter.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a location of the wireless power transmitter.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the cleaning apparatus has a capability of automatic driving.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the cleaning apparatus is a robot cleaner.