Obstacle-detectable mobile robotic device

• US 20070145235A1
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-Supply Insternational Company Limited
• Original Assignee: E-Supply Insternational Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Hung-Kai
• Granted Patent: US 7,411,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/206.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/02 by astronomical means G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals

Abstract

An obstacle-detectable mobile robotic device includes a frame body capable of traveling on a surface, a control circuit mounted to the frame body for controlling the traveling manner and direction of the frame body, and a detection system mounted to the frame body and electrically connected with the control circuit. The detection system has an optical emitter, an optical receiver, and a reflector. The optical emitter emits the light onto the surface, and the light is reflected onto the reflector and then to the optical receiver to be received by the optical receiver. A receiving area generated by the optical receiver on the reflector never overlaps the surface. Accordingly, the obstacle-detectable mobile robotic device can effectively avoid ambient light pollution to have preferable detection potency.

Claims

1. An obstacle-detectable mobile robotic device comprising:

a frame body capable of traveling on a surface;

a control circuit mounted to said frame body for controlling traveling manner and direction of said frame body; and

a detection system mounted to said frame body and electrically connected with said control system, said detection system having an optical emitter, an optical receiver, and a reflector, said optical emitter emitting the light toward the surface at a given angle to define a projection area on the surface, said reflector facing said projection area, the light emitted to the projection area being reflected to said reflector to define a reflection area on said reflector, the reflection area being variably located on said reflector subject to a height that the surface is positioned, said optical receiver facing said reflector to define a receiving area on said reflector, the receiving area never overlapping the surface;

while said optical emitter is spaced from the surface for a given distance, the reflection area overlaps said receiving area;

while said optical emitter is more distant from the surface, the reflection area does not overlap the receiving area;

whether said optical receiver receives the light from said optical emitter depends on whether the receiving area overlaps the reflection area.

2. The obstacle-detectable mobile robotic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said detection system comprises a housing and at least one spacer, said housing being mounted to said frame body and having an opening facing the surface, said spacer partitioning an inner space of said housing into two compartments;

said optical emitter and receiver are located in said two compartments respectively;

said reflector is located in said housing.

3. The obstacle-detectable mobile robotic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said reflector is a mirror surface or a metallic surface.

4. The obstacle-detectable mobile robotic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical emitter comprises an infrared emitter and said optical receiver comprises an infrared receiver.