Charge induction apparatus of robot cleaner and method thereof
First Claim
1. A charging apparatus for a robot cleaner which travels along a studied route for carrying out a cleaning operation, the apparatus comprising:
- control means for controlling an overall operation of the robot cleaner;
a memory for storing a plurality of driving programs representing structures of various rooms for which cleaning operations will be performed;
driving means for moving the robot cleaner in forward and reverse directions and in left and right directions according to control signals from the control means;
travel distance detecting means for detecting a distance traveled by the driving means;
travel direction detecting means for detecting a travel direction varied by the driving means;
obstacle detecting means for detecting whether or not there is an obstacle within a cleaning area and for detecting a distance to the obstacle from the cleaner;
charge level detecting means for detecting a charge voltage level of a battery changing according to the travel of the cleaner;
an electric power source supplier for charging the battery to above a predetermined level when the charge voltage level of the battery detected by the charge level detecting means drops below the predetermined level; and
an electric power source receiving means for electrically connecting the electric power source supplier to the battery so that the power source supplied from the electric power source supplier can be applied to the battery;
said memory including a first storage area for storing initial information representative of said electric power source supplier, and a second storage area for storing current information representative of a current position of said robot cleaner, said control means controlling movement of said robot cleaner towards said electric power source provider based upon said initial information, said current information, and said charge voltage level detected by said charge level detecting means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a charging apparatus for a robot cleaner and a method for charging the robot cleaner by which the robot cleaner can be accurately induced to a power source supplier to receive a battery charge when a battery power source drops below a predetermined level. The apparatus includes a control unit for controlling an overall operation, a memory which stores a driving program including structures for various rooms for which cleaning operations may be performed, and a driving unit for moving the robot cleaner in forward, reverse, left and right directions according to control signals of the control unit. A travel distance detecting unit is provided for detecting a travel distance covered by the driving unit and a travel direction detecting unit is provided for detecting a travel direction varied by the driving unit. An obstacle detecting unit is also provided for detecting whether or not there is an obstacle with a cleaning area and for detecting a distance to the obstacle from the cleaner. A charged level detecting unit detects a charge voltage level of a battery and an electric power source supplier is provided for charging the battery to above a predetermined level when the charge voltage level of the battery detected by the charge level detecting unit drops below the predetermined level. An electric power source receiving unit is also provided for electrically connecting the electric power source supplier to the battery so that the power source supplied from the electric power source supplier can be applied to charge the battery.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A charging apparatus for a robot cleaner which travels along a studied route for carrying out a cleaning operation, the apparatus comprising:
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control means for controlling an overall operation of the robot cleaner; a memory for storing a plurality of driving programs representing structures of various rooms for which cleaning operations will be performed; driving means for moving the robot cleaner in forward and reverse directions and in left and right directions according to control signals from the control means; travel distance detecting means for detecting a distance traveled by the driving means; travel direction detecting means for detecting a travel direction varied by the driving means; obstacle detecting means for detecting whether or not there is an obstacle within a cleaning area and for detecting a distance to the obstacle from the cleaner; charge level detecting means for detecting a charge voltage level of a battery changing according to the travel of the cleaner; an electric power source supplier for charging the battery to above a predetermined level when the charge voltage level of the battery detected by the charge level detecting means drops below the predetermined level; and an electric power source receiving means for electrically connecting the electric power source supplier to the battery so that the power source supplied from the electric power source supplier can be applied to the battery; said memory including a first storage area for storing initial information representative of said electric power source supplier, and a second storage area for storing current information representative of a current position of said robot cleaner, said control means controlling movement of said robot cleaner towards said electric power source provider based upon said initial information, said current information, and said charge voltage level detected by said charge level detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for charging a robot cleaner which is internally stored with information on a current position thereof, an area to be cleaned and a position of an electric power source supplier, the method comprising the step of:
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storing initial position information of the cleaner against X and Y axes in a control means during an initial contact between the cleaner and the electric power source supplier before beginning a cleaning operation; moving the cleaner in a cleaning operation; detecting a charge on a battery power source for supplying a driving energy to the cleaner in order to determine to what degree the battery power source has been consumed during movement of the cleaner in the cleaning operation; and moving the robot cleaner to the electric power source supplier according to the internally stored information on a current position and the initial position information stored in the initial position information storage step in order to charge the battery power source when the charge on the battery power source detected by the detecting step is below a predetermined level set by a control means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification