Vacuum cleaner

• US 8,613,125 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeong, Kyeong-Seon, Choi, Kyu-Chun, Hwang, Geun-Bae, Sun, Chang-Hwa, Min, Ju-Young, Chong, Chung-Ook
• Primary Examiner(s): SCRUGGS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/593,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20100132149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,111 Days
• Field of Search: 15D/IG.10, 153/401, 153/39, 153/272, 153/19
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
• 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 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0891 specially adapted for land vehicles

Abstract

The present embodiments relate to a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner according to present embodiments includes a main body; a wheel for moving the main body; a driving unit for driving the wheel; a sensor for sensing movement of the main body; and a controller for controlling the driving unit according to data sensed by the sensor.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a main body capable of rotating with respect to a rotational center extending in a horizontal direction;

a suctioning nozzle connected to the main body;

a wheel for moving the main body;

a driving unit for driving the wheel;

a sensor for sensing rotation of the main body; and

a controller for controlling the driving unit according to data sensed by the sensor,

wherein, when the main body tilts in a direction closer toward the suctioning nozzle, the controller controls the operation of the driving unit to rotate the wheel in a direction to move the main body forward, and

wherein, when the main body tilts in a direction deviating from the suctioning nozzle, the controller controls the operation of the driving unit to rotate the wheel in a direction to move the main body rearward.

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein an axis of the wheel is the same as the rotational center.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the axis of the wheel and a center of gravity of the main body are separated from each other.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a hose connector provided at a position higher than the rotational center.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sensor senses a rotated angle of the main body.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sensor senses a relative displacement or a relative velocity between a first portion separated from the rotational center of the main body and the rotational center.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sensor senses a change in distance between the main body and a surface to be cleaned.

8. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a main body having one or more of a rotational center extending in a horizontal direction;

a hose connector provided on the main body in a position apart from the rotational center;

a suctioning nozzle connected to the hose connector;

a wheel for moving the main body;

a driving unit for driving the wheel;

a sensor for sensing rotational movement of the main body; and

a controller for controlling an operation of the driving unit according to data sensed by the sensor,

wherein, when the main body tilts in a direction closer toward the suctioning nozzle, the controller controls the operation of the driving unit to rotate the wheel in a direction to move the main body forward, and

wherein, when the main body tilts in a direction deviating from the suctioning nozzle, the controller controls the operation of the driving unit to rotate the wheel in a direction to move the main body rearward.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the hose connector is provided at a position higher than a center of gravity of the main body.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein an axis of the wheel provides the rotational center of the main body and supports the main body.

11. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the wheel rotates in the same direction as a rotated direction of the main body.

12. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the sensor senses a rotated angle of the main body, and

the controller stops the driving unit when the rotated angle of the main body falls within a predetermined range, and operates the driving unit when the rotated angle of the main body exceeds the predetermined range.

13. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a main body having a rotational center extending in a horizontal direction;

a suctioning nozzle connected to the main body;

a wheel for moving the main body;

a driving unit for driving the wheel;

a sensor for sensing a change in distance between the main body and a surface to be cleaned, according to a rotation of the main body; and

a controller for controlling an operation of the driving unit according to data sensed by the sensor,

wherein, when the main body tilts in a direction closer toward the suctioning nozzle, the controller controls the operation of the driving unit to rotate the wheel in a direction to move the main body forward, and

wherein, when the main body tilts in a direction deviating from the suctioning nozzle, the controller controls the operation of the driving unit to rotate the wheel in a direction to move the main body rearward.

14. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the sensor is disposed in a plurality of positions apart from one another on the main body.

15. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a light emitter and a photo detector for detecting light emitted from the light emitter.

16. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

a main body provided with a first movement sensor and a plurality of wheels;

a suctioning apparatus connected to the main body, to suction air including dust from a surface to be cleaned and transferring the suctioned air including dust to the main body;

a second movement sensor provided on the suctioning apparatus;

a transmitter configured to transmit data sensed by the second movement sensor and provided to the suctioning apparatus;

a receiver configured to receive data transmitted from the transmitter and provided to the main body;

a driving unit for driving each of the wheels; and

a controller for controlling an operation of the driving unit according to data sensed by each of the movement sensors,

wherein each movement sensor comprises an acceleration sensor, and

wherein the driving unit includes a plurality of motors for driving the wheels, respectively, and axes of the respective motors are rotated at the same speed or at different speeds according to data sensed by each of the movement sensors.