Apparatus and method for controlling operation of robot cleaner

• US 20060237158A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Shim, In-Bo, Roh, Hee-Suk, Kim, Young-Gie
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 164/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner including: a battery installed in the robot cleaner; and a means for selectively cutting off power supply of the battery to at least one or more units operated for performing a cleaning operation when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped. When the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped, the robot cleaner is changed to the power saving mode or to the standby mode, and accordingly, power consumption of the battery of the robot cleaner can be reduced.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner comprising:

a battery installed in the robot cleaner; and

a means for selectively cutting off power supply of the battery to at least one or more units operated for performing a cleaning operation when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped, the switching unit cuts off power supply of the battery to the display unit, the driving unit and the sensing unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped the switching unit cuts off power supply of the battery to the driving unit and the sensing unit, and then, when a pre-set time elapses, the switching unit cuts off power supply of the battery to the display unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped, the display unit displays a cleaning completion message for a pre-set time.

2. An apparatus for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner comprising:

a display unit for displaying an operation state of the robot cleaner, a sensing unit for sensing a position of the robot cleaner, a position of a charging station installed at a fixed object, and an obstacle;

a driving unit for moving the robot cleaner;

a battery installed at the robot cleaner;

a controller for outputting a power saving control signal according to whether a mode of the robot cleaner is a cleaning mode or not; and

a switching unit for selectively cutting off power of a battery applied to the display unit, the sensing unit and the driving unit based on the power saving control signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein when the robot cleaner is in the cleaning mode, the switching unit applies power of the battery to the display unit, the driving unit and the sensing unit.

7. A method for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner comprising:

applying power of a battery installed in the robot cleaner to at least one or more units operated for performing a cleaning operation of the robot cleaner; and

cutting off power of the battery applied to at least one or more units when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, in the step of cutting off power of the battery, power of the battery is selectively cut off.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein, in the step of applying power of the battery, power of the battery is applied to a display unit, a sensing unit and a driving unit operated for performing the cleaning operation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, in the step of cutting off power of the battery, when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped, power of the battery applied to the display unit, the sensing unit and the driving unit is cut off.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein, in the step of cutting off power of the battery, when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped, power of the battery applied to the driving unit and the sensing unit is cut off, and then, when a pre-set time elapses, power of the battery applied to the display unit is cut off.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped, the display unit displays a cleaning completion message for a pre-set time.

13. A method for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner comprising:

performing a cleaning operation by changing the robot cleaner to a cleaning mode according to a user command; and

changing the cleaning mode to a power saving mode when a cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is terminated.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the cleaning mode is a mode in which power of the battery of the robot cleaner is applied to at least one or more units operated for performing the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the power saving mode is a mode in which power of the battery applied to at least one or more units is cut off.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

changing the cleaning mode to a standby mode, and then, changing the standby mode to the power saving mode when a pre-set time elapses after the cleaning mode was changed to the standby mode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the standby mode is a mode in which power of the battery applied to the display unit is cut off when a pre-set time elapses after power of the battery is applied to the display unit of the robot cleaner for the pre-set time.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the display unit displays a cleaning operation completion message during a pre-set time.

19. An apparatus for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner, which has a display unit for displaying an operation state of the robot cleaner, a sensing unit for sensing a position of the robot cleaner, a position of a charging station installed at a fixed object, and an obstacle, a driving unit for moving the robot cleaner, and a battery installed at the robot cleaner, comprising:

a controller for generating a control signal when the robot cleaner is in a cleaning mode, generating a first power saving control signal when the robot cleaner is in a standby mode, and generating a second power saving control signal when the robot cleaner is in a power saving mode; and

a switching unit for applying power of the battery to the display unit, the sensing unit and the driving unit based on the control signal, cutting off power supply of the battery to the sensing unit and the driving unit based on the first power saving control signal, and cutting off power supply of the battery to the display unit based on the second power saving control signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the display unit displays a cleaning completion message during a pre-set time when the robot cleaner is in a standby mode.

21. An apparatus for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner comprising:

a means for selectively cutting off power supply to at least one or more units operated for performing a specific operation when the specific operation of the mobile robot is stopped.