Self-running vacuum cleaner

• US 6,968,592 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nemoto, Yasuhiro, Takeuchi, Ikuo, Koseki, Atsushi, Tajima, Taiji, Arai, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUIDOTTI, LAURA COLE
• Application Number:
  US10/102,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/39, 700245-247, 700/253, 700/257, 700/258, 701/23, 701 24- 26, 318/568.1, 901/1, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 180/167
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• 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 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle

Abstract

A self-running vacuum cleaner comprises a homing mode of following a back of a user with receiving a signal from a light emitting means or a transmitting means of a position indicator means held by the user, an instruction operation mode, in which the user instructs a cleaning area to the self-running vacuum cleaner, and an execution mode for cleaning up the cleaning area instructed. When the self-running vacuum cleaner operates under the homing mode or the instruction mode, a signal from the light-emitting means or the transmitting means is received by a receiver means attached on a periphery portion of a measuring means, which is provided in an upper portion of the vacuum cleaner. Comparing the signals from the two (2) receiver means in strength thereof determines the distance and the direction from the position indicated by the light-emitting means or the transmitting means up to the vacuum cleaner.

Claims

1. A self-running vacuum cleaner, being able to move by itself, comprising:

an instruction means, operable separately from a main body of the self-running vacuum cleaner and portable by a hand of a user, for generating an instruction signal therefrom at least one spatial position selected by the user;

a cleaning portion for cleaning up a floor surface;

a moving means for moving the cleaning portion;

a driving means for driving the moving means; and

a position detecting means using at least two receivers, to receive input of any of the instruction signals generated by the instruction means at each said at least one spatial position, and use each subject instruction signal to calculate a spatial position corresponding thereto where the subject instruction signal was generated, irrespective of movement of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the vacuum cleaner moves to at least one spatial position where the instruction signal was generated as calculated by the position detecting means.

2. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 1, wherein the instruction means comprises a light emitting means, and the instruction signal is a light signal.

3. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 1, wherein the position detecting means detects at least two spatial positions corresponding to at least two instruction signals, respectively, and wherein the vacuum cleaner moves to the at least two spatial positions.

4. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 1,

wherein the self-running vacuum cleaner is selectable into any one of a plurality of modes, including:

a mode of following the instruction signal generated from the instruction means;

a mode of instructing plural instruction signals corresponding to plural spatial positions from the instruction means; and

a mode of moving to any one of the plural spatial positions to effect cleaning.

5. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 1, wherein the position detecting means calculates a spatial position of the instruction signal using receiving directions of the instruction signal.

6. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 1, wherein any data in the instruction signal contains no spatial position data.

7. A self-running vacuum cleaner, being able to move by itself, comprising:

an instruction means, operable separately from a main body of the self-running vacuum cleaner and portable by a hand of a user, for generating an instruction signal therefrom at each of a plurality of spatial positions selected by the user;

a cleaning portion for cleaning up a floor surface;

a moving means for moving the cleaning portion;

a driving means for driving the moving means;

a position detecting means using at least two receivers, to receive input of ones of the instruction signals generated by the instruction means at each said plurality of spatial positions and use each subject instruction signal to calculate a spatial position corresponding thereto where each subject instruction signal was generated, irrespective of movement of the vacuum cleaner; and

an area defining means for defining a cleaning area on the floor surface based on plural spatial positions where ones of the instruction signal were generated as calculated by the position detecting means.

8. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 7, wherein the instruction means comprises a light emitting means, and the instruction signal is a light signal.

9. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 7, wherein the position detecting means detects at least three spatial positions corresponding to at least three instruction signals, respectively, and wherein the vacuum cleaner moves to the at least three spatial positions.

10. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 7, wherein a moving pattern for moving the vacuum cleaner within the cleaning area is memorized in advance, and the vacuum cleaner is driven in accordance with the moving pattern.

11. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 7, wherein a plurality of moving patterns for moving the vacuum cleaner within the cleaning area are memorized in advance, and are selectable such that the vacuum cleaner is driven in accordance with a selected moving pattern.

12. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 7,

wherein the self-running vacuum cleaner is selectable into any one of a plurality of modes, including:

a mode of following the instruction signal generated from the instruction means;

a mode of instructing plural instruction signals corresponding to plural spatial positions from the instruction means; and

a mode of moving to any one of the plural spatial positions to effect cleaning.

13. A self-running vacuum cleaner, being able to move by itself, comprising:

an instruction remote, operable separately from a main body of the self-running vacuum cleaner and portable by a hand of a user, allowing transmission of an instruction signal therefrom at least one spatial position selected by the user;

a cleaning portion for cleaning up a floor surface;

moving mechanisms to effect movement of the cleaning portion;

a driving unit to drive the moving mechanisms; and

a position detecting unit using at least two receivers to receive input of any of the instruction signals generated by the instruction remote at each of at least one spatial position and to use each subject instruction signal to calculate a spatial position corresponding thereto where the instruction signal was generated, irrespective of the movement of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the vacuum cleaner moves to at least one spatial position where the instruction signal was generated as calculated by the position detecting unit.

14. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 13, wherein the instruction remote comprises light emitter hardware, and the instruction signal is a light signal.

15. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 13, wherein the position detecting unit detects at least two spatial positions corresponding to at least two instruction signals, respectively, and wherein the vacuum cleaner moves to the at least two spatial positions.

16. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 13,

wherein the self-running vacuum cleaner is selectable into any one of a plurality of modes, including:

a mode of following the instruction signal generated from the instruction remote;

a mode of instructing plural instruction signals corresponding to plural spatial positions from the instruction remote; and

a mode of moving to any one of the plural spatial positions to effect cleaning.

17. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 13, wherein the position detecting unit calculates a spatial position of the instruction signal using multiple receiving directions of the instruction signal.

18. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 13, wherein any data in the instruction signal contains no spatial position data.

19. A self-running vacuum cleaner, being able to move by itself, comprising:

an instruction remote, operable separately from a main body of the self-running vacuum cleaner and portable by a hand of a user, for generating an instruction signal therefrom at each of a plurality of spatial positions selected by the user;

a cleaning portion for cleaning up a floor surface;

moving mechanisms to effect movement of the cleaning portion;

a driving unit to drive the moving mechanisms;

a position detecting unit using at least two receivers to receive input of ones of the instruction signals generated by the instruction remote at each said plurality of spatial positions and to use each subject instruction signal to calculate a spatial position corresponding thereto where each subject instruction signal was generated, irrespective of movement of the vacuum cleaner; and

an area defining unit to define a cleaning area on the floor surface based on plural spatial positions where ones of the instruction signal were generated as calculated by the position detecting unit.

20. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 19, wherein the instruction remote comprises light emitting hardware, and the instruction signal is a light signal.

21. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 19, wherein the position detecting unit detects at least three spatial positions corresponding to at least three instruction signals, respectively, and wherein the vacuum cleaner moves to the at least three spatial positions.

22. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 19, wherein a moving pattern for moving the vacuum cleaner within the cleaning area is memorized in advance, and the vacuum cleaner is driven in accordance with the moving pattern.

23. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 19, wherein a plurality of moving patterns for moving the vacuum cleaner within the cleaning area are memorized in advance, and are selectable such that the vacuum cleaner is driven in accordance with a selected moving pattern.

24. A self-running vacuum cleaner, as described in claim 19,

wherein the self-running vacuum cleaner is selectable into any one of a plurality of modes, including:

a mode of following the instruction signal generated from the instruction remote;

a mode of instructing plural instruction signals corresponding to plural spatial positions from the instruction remote; and

a mode of moving to any one of the plural spatial positions to effect cleaning.

25. A self-running vacuum cleaner, being able to move by itself, comprising:

an instruction remote transmitter to transmit a radiation instruction beacon therefrom at least one spatial position separated from a main body of the self-running vacuum cleaner as selected by the user;

a cleaning portion for cleaning up a floor surface;

a moving means for moving the cleaning portion;

a driving means for driving the moving means; and

a position detecting means using at least two radiation receivers, to receive input of any of the radiation instruction beacons transmitted by the instruction remote transmitter at each said at least one spatial position, and use each subject radiation instruction beacon to calculate a spatial position corresponding to where the subject radiation instruction beacon was generated, irrespective of movement of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the vacuum cleaner moves to at least one spatial position where the radiation instruction beacon was generated as calculated by the position detecting means.