Cleaning robot having auto-return function to charging-stand and method using the same

• US 20060241814A1
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jung, Il-Kyun
• Application Number:
  US11/300,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241814A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/259
• 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 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a cleaning robot, and more particularly a cleaning robot comprising a camera unit for photographing an external image containing the charging-stand image, converting it into electrical image information, and outputting externally; and a microprocessor for storing the image information inputted the camera unit, acquiring position information of the charging-stand from the external image on the basis of the image information of the charging-stand in detecting a return signal, and causing the cleaning robot to be returned to the charging-stand. The cleaning robot having an auto-return function to a charging-stand detects a direction and position of the charging-stand using image information of the charging-stand, and thereby correctly and rapidly returning to the charging-stand for the cleaning robot.

Claims

1. A cleaning robot having an auto-return function to a charging-stand, the cleaning robot is characterized by photographing to store an image of the charging-stand, when detecting a return signal of the charging-stand, photographing an external image, confirming a position of the charging-stand from the photographed external image, and returning to the charging-stand.

2. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cleaning robot comprises:

a camera unit for photographing an external image containing the charging-stand image, converting it into electrical image information, and outputting externally; and

a microprocessor for storing the image information inputted the camera unit, acquiring position information of the charging-stand from the external image on the basis of the image information of the charging-stand in detecting a return signal, and causing the cleaning robot to be returned to the charging-stand.

3. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 2, wherein the cleaning robot comprises:

a memory for storing an operating program for a driving of the cleaning robot, the memory including an image information database for storing the image information of the charging-stand for the cleaning robot; and

a voltage detecting circuit for detecting a battery voltage of the cleaning robot at every predetermined period, and outputting a charging request signal when the detected battery voltage is below a reference value.

4. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 2, wherein the microprocessor comprises:

a running control unit for controlling a running of the cleaning robot;

an image information acquisition unit for extracting the image information of the charging-stand from the image information inputted through the camera unit, and storing the extracted image information of the charging-stand in the database of the image information; and

a charging-stand position calculating unit for searching the image information of the charging-stand from the image information inputted through the camera unit when the charging request signal is inputted from the battery voltage detecting circuit, acquiring position information of the charging-stand, and outputting a running control signal to the running control unit, wherein the running control signal causes the cleaning robot to be returned to the charging-stand according to the acquired position information.

5. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 4, wherein the camera unit comprises:

a camera control unit for controlling the photographing of the external image depending on a photographing control signal of the microprocessor;

a photographing unit for photographing the external image depending on a control of the camera control unit; and

a converter for converting the external image photographed through the photographing unit, into electrical image information, and outputting the electrical image information.

6. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 4, wherein the charging-stand position calculating unit causes, when the charging request signal is inputted, the cleaning robot to rotate 360 degrees at a predetermined interval, generates a rotation control signal for photographing the external image, and outputs the rotation control signal to the running control unit.

7. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 4, wherein the image information of the charging-stand is shape information based upon an outer shape of the charging-stand.

8. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 4, wherein the image information of the charging-stand is color information based upon a color of the charging-stand.

9. A cleaning robot having an auto-return function to a charging-stand, the cleaning robot is characterized by photographing to store images of the charging-stand and a surrounding thereof, when detecting a return signal of the charging-stand, photographing an external image detecting an surrounding image around the charging-stand from the photographed external image, confirming a position of the charging-stand, and returning to the charging-stand.

10. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 9, wherein the cleaning robot comprises:

a camera unit for photographing external images containing the charging-stand image and a surrounding image, converting them into electrical image information, and outputting externally; and

a microprocessor for storing the image information inputted the camera unit, acquiring position information of the charging-stand from the external image on the basis of the surrounding information around the charging-stand in detecting a return signal, and causing the cleaning robot to be returned to the charging-stand.

11. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 10, wherein the cleaning robot comprises:

a memory for storing an operating program for a driving of the cleaning robot, the memory including an image information database for storing the image information of the charging-stand and a surrounding information database for storing the surrounding information around the charging-stand; and

a voltage detecting circuit for detecting a battery voltage of the cleaning robot at every predetermined period, and outputting a charging request signal when the detected battery voltage is below a reference value.

12. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 10, wherein the microprocessor comprises:

a running control unit for controlling a running of the cleaning robot;

an image information acquisition unit for extracting the surrounding information from the surrounding image around the charging-stand inputted through the camera unit, and storing the extracted surrounding information around the charging-stand in the database of the surrounding information; and

a charging-stand position calculating unit for searching the surrounding information around the charging-stand from the image information inputted through the camera unit when the charging request signal is inputted from the battery voltage detecting circuit, acquiring position information of the charging-stand on the basis of the surrounding information around the charging-stand, and outputting a running control signal to the running control unit, wherein the running control signal causes the cleaning robot to be returned to the charging-stand according to the acquired position information.

13. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 12, wherein the camera unit comprises:

a camera control unit for controlling the photographing of the external image depending on a photographing control signal of the microprocessor;

a photographing unit for photographing the external image depending on a control of the camera control unit; and

a converter for converting the external image photographed through the photographing unit, into electrical image information, and outputting the electrical image information.

14. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 12, wherein the charging-stand position calculating unit causes, when the charging request signal is inputted, the cleaning robot to rotate 360 degrees at a predetermined interval, generates a rotation control signal for photographing the external image, and outputs the rotation control signal to the running control unit.

15. The cleaning robot as set forth in claim 12, wherein the surrounding information around the charging-stand is shape information based upon an outer shape of the surrounding around the charging-stand, or color information based upon an outer shape of the surrounding around the charging-stand.

16. A method for auto-returning to a charging-stand for a cleaning robot, the method comprising the steps of:

a) acquiring image information of the charging-stand from images inputted through a camera, and storing the acquired image information of the charging-stand for the cleaning robot;

b) receiving information of a power level remained on a battery of the cleaning robot, the a power level remained on the battery being periodically measured;

c) outputting a signal for driving the camera in order to acquire a surrounding image when the a power level remained on the battery is below a predetermined value; and

d) searching the image information of the charging-stand acquired and stored by accomplishing the step a) in the image inputted through the camera, confirming a position of the charging-stand, and thereby outputting a control signal for returning the cleaning robot to the charging-stand.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the image information includes at least any one of color information and shape information of the charging-stand.

18. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein, the image inputted though the camera unit in the step d) is an image which is acquired during rotating 360 degrees at a predetermined interval.

19. The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprises e) acquiring surrounding information around the charging-stand in the image inputted through the camera unit whenever the cleaning robot moves at every predetermined distance, and storing the acquired surrounding information;

wherein, the step d) further comprises a step of extracting the surrounding information in the image inputted through the camera unit, comparing the extracted surrounding information with the surrounding information acquired and stored by accomplishing the step e), calculating a direction of a position at which the charging-stand is placed, and thereby outputting the control signal for returning the cleaning robot to the charging-stand.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the surrounding information includes shape information of a surrounding object around the charging-stand.