Detecting apparatus and method of robot cleaner

• US 8,301,304 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sang-Cheon, Choi, Woo-Jin, Jung, Young-Gyu, Nah, Tae-Woong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, SPENCER D
• Application Number:
  US12/331,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20090157225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/250, 700/254, 700/258, 700/259, 901/1, 901/46, 901/47, 356/3, 356/3.01, 356/3.02, 356/3.16, 356/123, 35613905-13908, 356/399, 356/400, 250/201.1, 250/515.1, 359/221.2, 359/227, 359/233
• US Class Current: 700/254
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 for measuring contours or curvatures

Abstract

A detecting apparatus and method of a robot cleaner is disclosed. The apparatus includes a detecting unit provided with a transmitting unit for sending a signal to detect the floor and a receiving unit for receiving a signal sent from the transmitting unit to be reflected on the floors an optic angle adjusting unit disposed at least one of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit and configured to adjust optic angles of the signals, and a light shielding unit configured to partially shield a signal sent through the optic angle adjusting unit in order to reduce a deviation of each signal of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit. Accordingly, a measurement deviation with respect to color and feel of the floor can be reduced. Also, an amount of light received at the receiving unit can be obtained as much as required, which allows an accurate detection of the detecting apparatus. In addition, even if there are both drop-off and bump on the floor, the robot cleaner can smoothly operate.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner, comprising:

a detecting apparatus capable of detecting a floor on which the robot cleaner moves, the detecting apparatus comprising;

a detecting unit provided with a transmitting unit for sending a signal to detect the floor and a receiving unit for receiving the signal sent from the transmitting unit;

an optic angle adjusting unit disposed at at least one of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit and configured to form optic angles of the signals;

a light shielding unit configured to partially shield a signal sent through the optic angle adjusting unit by shielding a peripheral portion of the signal in order to reduce a measurement deviation between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit; and

a light amount adjusting unit configured to feedback an amount of light received at the receiving unit to adjust an amount of light sent from the transmitting unit,

wherein the light shielding unit is configured to partially shield the optic angle adjusting unit, and shield the optic angle adjusting unit by a certain length from an outer side of the optic angle adjusting unit to an inner side thereof.

2. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the detecting unit includes a first detecting sensor disposed at a rear side of the robot cleaner based upon an ongoing direction of the robot cleaner and at least one second detecting sensor disposed at a position different than the position of the first detecting sensor,

wherein when a distance between the robot cleaner and the floor, detected by the first detecting sensor, is shorter than a certain distance, the robot cleaner is determined to be inclined.

3. A method for detecting a floor on which a robot cleaner moves, the method comprising:

a floor detecting step comprising sending a signal from a transmitting unit for detecting the floor and receiving the signal reflected from the floor at a receiving unit;

an optic angle adjusting step comprising forming an optical angle of at least one of the sent signal and the received signal by an optical angle adjusting unit;

a light shielding step comprising partially shielding a signal sent through the optic angle adjusting unit by shielding a peripheral portion of the signal in order to reduce a measurement deviation between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit; and

a light amount adjusting step comprising feeding back an amount of light of the received signal so as to adjust an amount of light of the sent signal,

wherein the light shielding step shields a part of the signal at a side where the sent signal and the received signal are not neighbored to each other.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the floor detecting step further comprises:

a first detecting step of detecting the floor at a rear side of the robot cleaner based upon an ongoing direction of the robot cleaner; and

a second detecting step of detecting the floor at at least one position other than the rear side.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the distance between the robot cleaner and the floor, detected at the first detecting step, is shorter than a certain distance, the robot cleaner is determined to be inclined.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein if the distance detected at the first detecting step between the robot cleaner and the floor is constant, and a distance detected at the second detecting step between the robot cleaner and the floor is longer than a certain distance, it is determined that a drop-off exists in front of the robot cleaner.