Robot cleaner system and a method for returning to external recharging apparatus

• US 7,489,985 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Ki-Man, Lee, Ju-Sang, Jeung, Sam-Jong, Ko, Jang-Youn, Lim, Kwang-Soo, Song, Jeong-Gon
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson; Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paul; Antony M
• Application Number:
  US11/075,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 318560-587, 318/568.12, 700/245, 700/259
• US Class Current: 700/259
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• 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 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00

Abstract

A robot cleaner system and a method for the robot cleaner to return to an external recharging apparatus. The robot cleaner system has an external recharging apparatus including a charging stand having a charging terminal, and a plurality of transmission parts for sending signals having different codes and strengths; a robot cleaner including a rechargeable battery, a connection terminal for connection with the charging terminal to supply power to the rechargeable battery, a receiving part for receiving signals from the plurality of transmission parts, and a control part for controlling a movement of the robot cleaner using the signals received by the receiving part, so that the connection terminal is connected to the charging terminal.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner system comprising:

a first transmitter generating first infrared signals, the first transmitter being associated with an external apparatus;

a second transmitter generating second infrared signals, the second transmitter being associated with the external apparatus, the second infrared signals having less strength than the first infrared signals and having a different code than the first infrared signals, wherein the codes of the infrared signals differ in wave size or shape;

a receiving part simultaneously receiving the first and second infrared signals, the receiving part being associated with a robot cleaner; and

a control part for controlling a movement of the robot cleaner based upon the first and second infrared signals so that the robot cleaner is moved to a desired position with respect to the external apparatus.

2. The robot cleaner system of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter comprises a pair of first transmitters provided on a face of the external apparatus.

3. The robot cleaner system of claim 2, wherein the second transmitter is on the face between the pair of first transmitters.

4. The robot cleaner system of claim 1, wherein the first signals have a first angle range and the second signals have a second angle range, and the second angle range being narrower than the first angle range.

5. The robot cleaner system of claim 1, further comprising a third transmitter generating third signals, the third transmitter being associated with the external apparatus, the third signals having less strength than the second signals.

6. The robot cleaner system of claim 5, wherein the first signals have a first angle range, the second signals have a second angle range, and the third signals have a third angle range, wherein in the second angle range is narrower than the first angle range and the third angle range is narrower than the second angle range.

7. The robot cleaner system of claim 5, wherein the third signals have a different code from the first infrared signals and the second infrared signals, and the codes of the infrared signals differ in wave size or shape.

8. The robot cleaner system of claim 5, wherein a plurality of second transmitters or a plurality of third transmitters are provided.

9. The robot cleaner system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of second transmitters are disposed on the front and both sides of the external apparatus.

10. The robot cleaner system of claim 5, wherein the third signals have a different code from the first infrared signals and the second infrared signals.