Apparatus and method of controlling operation of cleaner

• US 9,717,384 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Song, Hee-Jun, Ham, Jong-Gyu
• Primary Examiner(s): STRANGE, AARON N
• Application Number:
  US13/333,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,050 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2868 Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

An apparatus controls operations of a cleaner. The apparatus comprises a network interface unit for receiving first information regarding external conditions through an external network, and a controller for setting up operating schedules of the cleaner based on the first information.

Claims

1. An apparatus to control operations of a cleaner, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface configured to receive an electricity usage amount of another device;

a detector configured to detect a dust uptake rate per hour of the cleaner; and

a controller configured to;

update one or more scheduled charging calendar dates and times of one or more operating schedules of the cleaner by using the electricity usage amount of another device, the detected dust uptake rate per hour, and current scheduled charging calendar dates and times of the one or more operating schedules of the cleaner.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network interface further receives air pollution information,

the controller is further configured to update the one of more operating schedules of the cleaner by further using the air pollution information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network interface is further configured to receive a plurality of information about a real-time pricing system that is based on electricity prices that vary on an hourly basis,

wherein the controller is further configured to update the one or more scheduled charging calendar dates by further using the received plurality of information about a real-time pricing system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to update the one or more operating schedules of the cleaner by further using user schedule information.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage configured to store the one or more operating schedules of the cleaner and the current scheduled charging calendar dates.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector is further configured to detect a remaining battery amount of the cleaner,

wherein the controller is configured to update the one or more scheduled charging calendar dates and times of the one or more operating schedules of the cleaner by further using the detected remaining battery amount of the cleaner.

7. A method to control operations of a cleaner, the method comprising:

receiving an electricity usage amount of another device;

detecting a dust uptake the cleaner; and

updating one or more scheduled charging calendar dates and times of one or more operating schedules of the cleaner by using the received electricity usage amount of the other device, the detected dust uptake rate per hour of the cleaner, and current scheduled charging calendar dates and times of the one or more operating schedules of the cleaner.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving air pollution information,

wherein the updating of one or more scheduled charging calendar dates and times of one or more operating schedules of the cleaner performs by further using the received air pollution information.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of information about a real-time pricing system that is based on electricity prices that vary on an hourly basis,

wherein the updating of one or more scheduled charging calendar dates and times of one or more operating schedules of the cleaner performs by further using the received plurality of information about a real-time pricing system.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the updating of one or more scheduled charging calendar dates and times of one or more operating schedules of the cleaner performs by further using user schedule information.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

storing the current scheduled charging calendar dates and times of the one or more operating schedules of the cleaner.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

Detecting a remaining battery amount of the cleaner,

wherein the updating of one or more scheduled charging calendar dates and times of one or more operating schedules of the cleaner performs by further using the detected remaining battery amount of the cleaner.

13. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a method for controlling operations of a cleaner, the method comprising:

receiving an electricity usage amount of another device,

detecting a dust uptake rate per hour of the cleaner; and

updating one or more scheduled charging calendar dates and times of one or more operating schedules of the cleaner by using the received electricity usage amount of the other device, the detected dust uptake rate per hour of the cleaner, and current scheduled charging calendar dates and times of the one or more operating schedules of the cleaner.