Self-propelled apparatus with an anti-drop system

• US 9,606,545 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2016
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lumiplus Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lumiplus Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Shun-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gurari, Erez
• Application Number:
  US15/063,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20170102714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• 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: B60K 2031/0016 Identification of obstacles; Selection of a target vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/48 Active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0891 specially adapted for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0203 Cleaning or polishing vehicle

Abstract

A self-propelled apparatus includes a main body and an anti-drop system. The main body includes an aperture located at a bottom portion thereof and communicative with an interior thereof. The anti-drop system located inside the main body respective to the aperture includes an infrared detection module and an angle-limiting unit electrically coupled with the infrared detection module. The infrared detection module detects a distance between the bottom portion and a first detection surface. The infrared detection module includes an infrared emitting unit and an infrared receiving unit. The infrared emitting unit emits an infrared signal to the first detection surface. The infrared signal produces a first boundary signal and a second boundary signal after the infrared signal passes through the angle-limiting unit. The infrared receiving unit receives a reflected signal of the first boundary signal with respect to the first detection surface.

Claims

1. A self-propelled apparatus with an anti-drop system, comprising:

a main body, including an aperture and at least one driving wheel located at a bottom portion of the main body, the aperture being located also to the bottom portion and communicative with an interior of the main body; and

an anti-drop system, located inside the main body at a place respective to the aperture, further including an infrared detection module and an angle-limiting unit electrically coupled with the infrared detection module, the infrared detection module being to detect a distance between the bottom portion of the main body and a first detection surface, the infrared detection module further including an infrared emitting unit and an infrared receiving unit, the infrared emitting unit being to emit an infrared signal to the first detection surface, the infrared signal producing a first boundary signal and a second boundary signal after the infrared signal passes through the angle-limiting unit, an angle being formed by the first boundary signal and the second boundary signal, the infrared receiving unit being to receive an infrared receiving signal that is the reflected signal of the first boundary signal by the first detection surface.

2. The self-propelled apparatus with an anti-drop system of claim 1, wherein the angle-limiting unit further has a first side, a second side opposing to the first side, and a protrusive portion, one end of the infrared emitting unit being located at the first side, another end of the infrared receiving unit being located at the second side, the protrusive portion being located at the first side, the infrared signal emitted by the infrared emitting unit being to pass through the protrusive portion and then to reach the first detection surface.

3. The self-propelled apparatus with an anti-drop system of claim 1, wherein the angle-limiting unit is a lens module.

4. The self-propelled apparatus with an anti-drop system of claim 1, wherein the anti-drop system further includes a fixation frame for fixing the infrared detection module.

5. The self-propelled apparatus with an anti-drop system of claim 1, wherein the anti-drop system further includes a circuit board electrically coupled with the infrared detection module.

6. The self-propelled apparatus with an anti-drop system of claim 1, wherein the first boundary signal is to irradiate the first detection surface, and the infrared receiving unit is to receive the second boundary signal.

7. The self-propelled apparatus with an anti-drop system of claim 1, wherein the infrared detection module is further to detect a distance between a front end of the main body and a second detection surface, and the main body is stopped or slowed down when the distance between the front end of the main body and the second detection surface is less or equal to another distance defined by an anti-collision region.