ROBOT CLEANING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD HAVING WIRELESS ELECTRIC POWER CHARGE FUNCTION

• US 20160254695A1
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Nam Yun, PARK, Eun Seok, KWON, Sang Wook, HONG, Young Tack, RYU, Young Ho
• Granted Patent: US 10,130,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Provided are a wirelessly charged robot cleaner in a robot cleaning system and a controlling method thereof. The wirelessly charged robot may include a target resonator to receive a resonance power through energy-coupling with a source resonator of a wireless power transmitter, a wireless power receiving unit to convert the received resonance power into a rated voltage, and a battery controller to check a remaining capacity of the battery based on a scope of a predetermined area to be cleaned, and to charge, using the rated voltage, the battery based on the remaining capacity of the battery.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus, the cleaning apparatus comprising:

a wireless power receiver configured to receive a wireless power from a wireless power transmitter; and

a controller configured to charge a battery based on the wireless power and enable the cleaning apparatus to clean a cleaning area during a charging or the reception of the wireless power.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus simultaneously receives the wireless power and cleans the cleaning area corresponding to a wireless charging area when the cleaning apparatus is located within the wireless charging area.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller verifies whether a wireless charging is available based on a distance between the cleaning apparatus and the wireless power transmitter.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the wireless charging is available, the cleaning apparatus simultaneously receives the wireless power and cleans the cleaning area.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller verifies whether a cleaning area within a wireless charging distance is cleaned.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein when the cleaning area within a wireless charging distance is not cleaned, the cleaning apparatus moves to the cleans the cleaning area within a wireless charging distance and cleans the cleaning area within a wireless charging distance.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprise:

an AC/DC converter configured to convert the wireless power into a direct signal; and

a DC converter configured to adjust a level of the direct signal and output a rated voltage.

8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller verifies a remaining capacity of the battery.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprise a communicating unit configured to transmit, to the wireless power transmitter, information about an amount of power to be charged and a location of the cleaning apparatus.

10. An operating method of a cleaning apparatus, the operating method comprising:

receiving a wireless power from a wireless power transmitter; and

charging a battery based on the wireless power; and

cleaning a cleaning area during a charging or reception of the wireless power.

11. The operating method of claim 10, further comprise simultaneously receiving the wireless power and cleaning the cleaning area corresponding to a wireless charging area when the cleaning apparatus is located within the wireless charging area.

12. The operating method of claim 10, further comprise verifying whether a wireless charging is available based on a distance between the cleaning apparatus and the wireless power transmitter.

13. The operating method of claim 12, further comprise when the wireless charging is available, simultaneously receiving the wireless power and cleaning the cleaning area.

14. The operating method of claim 10, further comprise verifying whether a cleaning area within a wireless charging distance is cleaned.

15. The operating method of claim 14, further comprise when the cleaning area within a wireless charging distance is not cleaned, moving to the cleans the cleaning area within a wireless charging distance and cleaning the cleaning area within a wireless charging distance.

16. The operating method of claim 10, further comprise:

converting the wireless power into a direct signal; and

adjusting a level of the direct signal; and

outputting a rated voltage.

17. The operating method of claim 10, further verifying a remaining capacity of the battery.

18. The operating method of claim 10, further comprise transmitting, to the wireless power transmitter, information about an amount of power to be charged and a location of the cleaning apparatus.