Method for operating autonomous moving cleaning apparatus

• US 8,744,662 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Y. Ko
• Original Assignee: Joseph Y. Ko
• Inventors: Ko, Joseph Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHNEIDER, PAULA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/465,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20130297139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/26, 15/3
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0203 Cleaning or polishing vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0215 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A method for operating an autonomous moving cleaning apparatus includes the steps of: a microcontroller unit (MCU) processes a digital signal through an encoding technique to form an encrypted encoding data set; the MCU continuously sends out the encrypted encoding data set; data values in the encrypted encoding data set are converted to high or low voltages to activate a light emission member to generate flicker light; a light receiving member continuously receives a string of reflective light corresponding to the flicker light to form a corresponding high or low voltage which is converted to a corresponding digital signal sent to the MCU to be compared with the encrypted coding data set for decoding; and the MCU controls operations of a servomotor based on decoding correctness and the detected corresponding digital signal. Thus the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus can function steadily without being interfered by external lights.

Claims

1. A method for operating an autonomous moving cleaning apparatus which includes at least a battery to support operation of the cleaning apparatus, a driving wheel to drive moving of the cleaning apparatus, a floor sweeping roller to clear dirt on a floor, at least one servomotor to drive the driving wheel and the floor sweeping roller, a microcontroller unit to control spinning of the servomotor, a light emission member activated by a voltage sent and converted by the microcontroller unit, a light receiving member to receive light from the light emission member and convert the light to send to operate the microcontroller unit and a function key to select preset functions provided by the microcontroller unit to control the servomotor, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a digital signal by the microcontroller unit and processing the digital signal through an encoding technique to form an encrypted encoding data set;

sending out continuously the encrypted encoding data set by the microcontroller unit;

converting data values in the encrypted encoding data set to high or low voltages to activate the light emission member to generate flicker light; and

receiving continuously a string of reflective light corresponding to the flicker light by the light receiving member to form a corresponding high or low voltage which is converted to form a corresponding digital signal sent to the microcontroller unit to be compared with the encrypted encoding data set for decoding;

wherein the microcontroller unit controls the servomotor to spin forwards, decelerate, spin backwards or stop based on decoding correctness and the detected corresponding digital signal in a condition of strong, weak, presence or absence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the encrypted encoding data set is formed through Manchester encoding technique.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller unit further includes an encoder to form the encrypted encoding data set and a decoder to compare with the encrypted encoding data set for decoding.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the microcontroller unit further includes an encoder to form the encrypted encoding data set and a decoder to compare with the encrypted encoding data set for decoding.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus further includes an electronic switch controlled by the data values in the encrypted encoding data set and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the voltage corresponding to the light received by the light receiving member to the corresponding digital signal.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus further includes an electronic switch controlled by the data values in the encrypted encoding data set and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the voltage corresponding to the light received by the light receiving member to the corresponding digital signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus is a floor sweeping machine.

8. A method for operating an autonomous moving cleaning apparatus which includes at least a battery to support operation of the cleaning apparatus, a driving wheel to drive moving of the cleaning apparatus, a dust suction fan motor to clear dirt on a floor, at least one servomotor to drive the driving wheel, a microcontroller unit to control spinning of the servomotor, a light emission member activated by a voltage sent and converted by the microcontroller unit, a light receiving member to receive light from the light emission member and convert the light to send to operate the microcontroller unit and a function key to select preset functions provided by the microcontroller unit to control the servomotor, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a digital signal by the microcontroller unit and processing the digital signal through an encoding technique to form an encrypted encoding data set;

sending out continuously the encrypted encoding data set by the microcontroller unit;

converting data values in the encrypted encoding data set to high or low voltages to activate the light emission member to generate flicker light; and

receiving continuously a string of reflective light corresponding to the flicker light by the light receiving member to form a corresponding high or low voltage which is converted to form a corresponding digital signal sent to the microcontroller unit to be compared with the encrypted encoding data set for decoding;

wherein the microcontroller unit controls the servomotor to spin forwards, decelerate, spin backwards or stop based on decoding correctness and the detected corresponding digital signal in a condition of strong, weak, presence or absence.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the encrypted encoding data set is formed through Manchester encoding technique.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller unit further includes an encoder to form the encrypted encoding data set and a decoder to compare with the encrypted encoding data set for decoding.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the microcontroller unit further includes an encoder to form the encrypted encoding data set and a decoder to compare with the encrypted encoding data set for decoding.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus further includes an electronic switch controlled by the data values in the encrypted encoding data set and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the voltage corresponding to the light received by the light receiving member to the corresponding digital signal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus further includes an electronic switch controlled by the data values in the encrypted encoding data set and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the voltage corresponding to the light received by the light receiving member to the corresponding digital signal.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus is a vacuum cleaner which includes a dust suction port at a lower side thereof communicating with the dust suction fan motor.

15. A method for operating an autonomous moving cleaning apparatus which includes at least a battery to support operation of the cleaning apparatus, a driving wheel to drive moving of the cleaning apparatus, at least one servomotor to drive the driving wheel, a microcontroller unit to control spinning of the servomotor, a light emission member activated by a voltage sent and converted by the microcontroller unit, a light receiving member to receive light from the light emission member and convert the light to send to operate the microcontroller unit and a function key to select preset functions provided by the microcontroller unit to control the servomotor, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a digital signal by the microcontroller unit and processing the digital signal through an encoding technique to form an encrypted encoding data set;

sending out continuously the encrypted encoding data set by the microcontroller unit;

converting data values in the encrypted encoding data set to high or low voltages to activate the light emission member to generate flicker light; and

receiving continuously a string of reflective light corresponding to the flicker light by the light receiving member to form a corresponding high or low voltage which is converted to form a corresponding digital signal sent to the microcontroller unit to be compared with the encrypted encoding data set for decoding;

wherein the microcontroller unit controls the servomotor to spin forwards, decelerate, spin backwards or stop based on decoding correctness and the detected corresponding digital signal in a condition of strong, weak, presence or absence.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the encrypted encoding data set is formed through Manchester encoding technique.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the microcontroller unit further includes an encoder to form the encrypted encoding data set and a decoder to compare with the encrypted encoding data set for decoding.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the microcontroller unit further includes an encoder to form the encrypted encoding data set and a decoder to compare with the encrypted encoding data set for decoding.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus further includes an electronic switch controlled by the data values in the encrypted encoding data set and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the voltage corresponding to the light received by the light receiving member to the corresponding digital signal.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus further includes an electronic switch controlled by the data values in the encrypted encoding data set and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the voltage corresponding to the light received by the light receiving member to the corresponding digital signal.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus is a floor moping apparatus which includes a lower side attached to a floor moping element to clear dirt on a floor.