Robot cleaner, system thereof and method for controlling same
First Claim
1. A robot cleaner for performing a cleaning operation while wirelessly communicating with an external device, comprising:
- a body;
a driving portion that drives a plurality of wheels mounted on the body of the robot cleaner;
a dust collecting portion mounted on the body, for collecting dust from a floor surface within a work area;
a plurality of proximity switches arranged on a lower surface of the body facing the floor surface spaced at a predetermined distance from each other, the plurality of proximity switches being capable of detecting the existence of a metal member, in a direction toward the floor surface; and
a controlling portion that calculates a travel distance and a travel trajectory by using an output signal from the proximity switches during the travel of the robot cleaner, and controls the driving portion so that the driving portion performs an assigned job by using the calculated trajectory.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A robot cleaner, a system thereof, and a method for controlling the same. The robot cleaner system includes a robot cleaner that performs a cleaning operation while communicating wirelessly with an external device. The robot cleaner has a plurality of proximity switches arranged in a row on a lower portion of the cleaner body. A guiding plate is disposed in the floor of the work area, the guiding plate having metal lines formed in a predetermined pattern, the metal lines being detectible by the proximity switches. Since the recognition of the location and the determination of traveling trajectory of the cleaner within a work area becomes easier, performance of the robot cleaner is enhanced, while a burden of having to process algorithms is lessened.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A robot cleaner for performing a cleaning operation while wirelessly communicating with an external device, comprising:
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a body;
a driving portion that drives a plurality of wheels mounted on the body of the robot cleaner;
a dust collecting portion mounted on the body, for collecting dust from a floor surface within a work area;
a plurality of proximity switches arranged on a lower surface of the body facing the floor surface spaced at a predetermined distance from each other, the plurality of proximity switches being capable of detecting the existence of a metal member, in a direction toward the floor surface; and
a controlling portion that calculates a travel distance and a travel trajectory by using an output signal from the proximity switches during the travel of the robot cleaner, and controls the driving portion so that the driving portion performs an assigned job by using the calculated trajectory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A robot cleaner system, comprising:
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a robot cleaner that performs a cleaning operation while communicating wirelessly with an external device, the robot cleaner having a plurality of proximity switches arranged in a row on a lower portion of the robot cleaner; and
a guiding plate disposed in a floor of a work area, the guiding plate having metal lines formed in a predetermined pattern, the metal lines being detectible by the proximity switches. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for controlling a robot cleaner, the robot cleaner recognizing a travel location by using a detection signal detected by a plurality of proximity switches arranged on a lower surface of the robot cleaner at a predetermined space from each other and from metal lines formed on a floor surface of a work area in a predetermined pattern, the controlling method comprising the steps of:
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generating and storing a pattern map of the metal lines while moving the robot cleaner within the work area;
when inputted with an operation request signal, recognizing the location of the robot cleaner by comparing the pattern map with the detection signal detected by the proximity switches, and calculating a traveling path from the recognized location to a targeting location; and
moving the robot cleaner along the floor surface of the work area according to the calculated traveling path. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification