Robot cleaner having RF antenna

• US 7,489,277 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Roh, Hee-Suk, Sung, Ji-Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US11/462,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20070035457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/741, 343/895, 343/872
• US Class Current: 343/702
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• 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 9/2894 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/27 Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies H01Q1/08, H01Q1/12, H01Q1/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

A robot cleaner including: a main body; and an RF antenna installed at the main body with such a length appropriate for communication with a remote controller. Because the RF antenna is installed within the main body, the degradation of traveling performance and cleaning efficiency caused as the antenna contacts with an external obstacle can be prevented.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body having a particular shape; and

a RF antenna installed at the main body with a length appropriate for communication with a remote controller,

wherein the RF antenna is configured to correspond to the particular shape of the main body.

2. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the RF antenna is disposed along a surface of the main body.

3. The robot cleaner of claim 2, wherein the RF antenna has a structure on a same that is plane parallel to at least one of a top surface or bottom surface of the main body.

4. The robot cleaner of claim 3, wherein the RF antenna is attached to at least one of a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface of the main body.

5. The robot cleaner of claim 3, wherein the RF antenna is exposed to an outside of the main body, or installed within the main body.

6. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the RF antenna is configured to follow a contour of the particular shape of the main body.

7. The robot cleaner of claim 6, wherein the particular shape of the main body has a cylindrical form, and the RF antenna is disposed in a circumferential direction of the main body.

8. The robot cleaner of claim 7, wherein the RF antenna is formed in a loop shape with one side thereof opened along a circumferential direction of the main body.

9. The robot cleaner of claim 8, wherein the RF antenna is formed along a circumferential portion of the main body.

10. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein the RF antenna is disposed to be tightly attached on an inner surface of the main body of the robot cleaner.

11. The robot cleaner of claim 7, wherein the RF antenna is formed in a plurality of opened loop structures, the plurality of loop structures are spaced apart with each certain interval therebetween along the heightwise direction of the main body of the robot cleaner, and respective first ends of the opened portion are electrically connected.

12. The robot cleaner of claim 7, wherein the RF antenna is formed in a spiral structure on a same plane.

13. The robot cleaner of claim 7, wherein the RF antenna is disposed at the upper or lower portion of the main body.

14. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body having a particular shape; and

a RF antenna installed at the main body with a length appropriate for communication with a remote controller,

wherein the RF antenna is configured to follow a contour of the particular shape of the main body.

15. The robot cleaner of claim 14, wherein the RF antenna has a structure on a same plane that is parallel to at least one of a top surface or bottom surface of the main body.

16. The robot cleaner of claim 14, wherein the particular shape of the main body has a cylindrical form, and the RF antenna is disposed in a circumferential direction of the main body.

17. The robot cleaner of claim 16, wherein the RF antenna is formed in a loop shape with one side thereof opened along a circumferential direction of the main body.

18. The robot cleaner of claim 16, wherein the RF antenna is formed in a plurality of opened loop structures, the plurality of loop structures are spaced apart with each certain interval therebetween along the heightwise direction of the main body of the robot cleaner, and respective first ends of the opened portion are electrically connected.

19. The robot cleaner of claim 16, wherein the RF antenna is formed in a spiral structure on the same plane.