Self-directed dust cleaner

• US 20050120505A1
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tani, Takao
• Application Number:
  US10/983,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20050120505A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

In a self-directed dust cleaner with surveiling function, when an object sensor senses existence of an object supposed as an intruder, a main controller controls that a driving apparatus to rotate a movable body to orient a lens of an imaging apparatus to the object. The imaging apparatus takes a picture image including the object, and an image data outputted from the imaging apparatus is transmitted to a telephone communication apparatus via a wireless LAN and a LAN cable. The telephone communication apparatus calls a mobile equipment of a user so as to transmit the image data taken by the imaging apparatus. Judgment whether unusual situation such as an intruder has occurred or not is entrusted to the user, so that an algorithm executed in the main controller becomes simple.

Claims

1. A self-directed dust cleaner comprising:

a movable body;

a driving apparatus for moving the movable body on a floor;

a dust collection apparatus for collecting dust on the floor;

an imaging apparatus for taking a picture image of environment of the movable body;

a telephone communication apparatus for communicating with a telephone exchanger via a telephone line;

at least an object sensor for sensing an existence of an object; and

a main controller for controlling each element of the dust cleaner;

wherein

when the object sensor senses existence of an object, the main controller controls the elements in a manner so that the driving apparatus moves the movable body for orientating the imaging apparatus to a direction in which the object sensor senses the existence of the object, the imaging apparatus takes a picture image, and the telephone communication apparatus transmits an image data of the picture image taken by the imaging apparatus to a mobile equipment of a user.

2. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of wireless communication apparatuses used for transmitting the image data to the telephone communication apparatus.

3. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 2 further comprising:

a battery charger stationary disposed at a predetermined position in a house and used for charging a secondary battery provided on the movable body; and

wherein

one of the wireless communication apparatuses is provided on the movable body, and the other is provided on the battery charger; and

the battery charger and the telephone communication apparatus is connected by a LAN cable.

4. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 3, wherein

the battery charger further has a memory into which the image data is stored.

5. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the object sensor is an infrared sensor for sensing infrared rays emitted from the object.

6. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 5, wherein

a plurality of the infrared sensors is provided on a circle at a predetermined angular interval in a vicinity of an outer periphery of the movable body.

7. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the main controller operates an automatic dust collection mode and a security surveiling mode that can alternatively be selected;

when only the security surveiling mode is selected, the movable body is stopped at a predetermined position on a floor of a house; and

when the object sensor senses the existence of the object, the driving apparatus rotates the movable body at the position.

8. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 1, wherein

when both of the automatic dust collection mode and the security surveiling mode are simultaneously selected, the security surveiling mode is intermittently carried out and the movement of the movable body and the dust collection apparatus are suspended briefly, while the security surveiling mode is carried out.

9. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

a sounding apparatus for generating a threatening sound to the object corresponding to a remote control of the user.

10. A self-directed dust cleaner comprising:

a movable body;

a moving means provided on the movable body for moving the movable body on a floor of a house in self-directed;

a dust collection means provided on the movable body for collecting dust on the floor while moving on the floor;

a position sensing means for sensing a position of the movable body on the floor;

an obstacle sensor for sensing obstacles;

a navigation means for controlling moving direction of the movable body on the floor with clearing the obstacles;

an object sensing means provided on the moving body for sensing an object, which can be supposed as an intruder;

an image taking means provided on the moving body for taking a picture image including the object when the object sensing means senses the object;

a memory means for storing an image data outputted from the image taking means; and

an image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data outputted from the image taking means to a mobile equipment of a user.

11. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 10, wherein

the image data transmitting means has a telephone communication means separately provided from the movable body for calling the mobile equipment of the user and a wireless data transmitting means for transmitting the image data from the movable body to the telephone communication means.

12. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 10, wherein

the object sensing means senses infrared rays emitted from the object.

13. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 10, wherein

when the object sensing means senses an object, the moving means and the dust collection means are stopped or suspended operation thereof.

14. The self-directed dust cleaner in accordance with claim 13, wherein

when the object sensing means senses an object, the moving means moves the movable body in a manner so that the image taking means can take the picture image including the object.