Charging device of robot cleaner

• US RE47,265 E1
• Filed: 12/10/2015
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Bong-Ju, Shim, In-Bo, Sung, Ji-Hoon, Yim, Byung-Doo, Kim, Sung-Guen
• Primary Examiner(s): Wassum, Luke S
• Application Number:
  US14/965,286
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• 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 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0061 the light source comprising a LED semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0988 Diaphragms, spatial filters, masks for removing or filtering a part of the beam
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0215 Vacuum cleaner
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A charging device of a robot cleaner is provided. The charging device of a robot cleaner according to the embodiment includes at least one cover forming an appearance of the charging device, a base which is coupled with the cover and includes a terminal unit for charging the robot cleaner, an induction signal generating unit disposed at a side of the cover or the base to transmit a return induction signal to the robot cleaner, and an induction signal guide member disposed at a side of the induction signal generating unit to enhance a docking performance of the robot cleaner by improving linearity of the induction signal. The charging device according to the embodiment can guide the path for the return of the robot cleaner and recharge the robot cleaner stably.

Claims

1. A charging device of a robot cleaner, the charging device comprising:

a main body comprising a terminal unit configured to charge the robot cleaner, the main body defining an appearance;

an induction signal generating unit disposed at a side of the main body to transmit a return induction signal to the robot cleaner; and

an induction signal guide member disposed at a side of the induction signal generating unit to enhance docking performance of the robot cleaner by improving linearity of the return induction signal by limiting a transmission angle of the return induction signal transmitted by the induction signal generating unit,

wherein the induction signal generating unit comprises at least one docking induction light emitting unit to guide the robot cleaner to a docking position by transmitting a docking induction signal,

wherein the induction signal guide member comprises a guide which is opened at a front side and surrounds at least both sides of the at least one docking induction light emitting unit, and first and second reflections units are extended from the guide to block the docking induction signal and spaced apart from each other, and

wherein an extended direction of the first and second reflection units crosses a direction of transmitting the docking induction signal.

2. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the induction signal generating unit further comprises at least a pair of access induction light emitting units to transmit the return induction signal for guiding the robot cleaner to a return position, and the at least a pair of access induction light emitting units are disposed outside the guide.

3. The charging device according to claim 2, wherein the induction signal guide member improves linearity of the docking induction signal by restricting a transmission angle of the signal transmitted from the at least one docking induction light emitting unit.

4. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second reflection units protrude from both inner sides of the guide to face each other, a space between the first and second reflection units facing each other being disposed on the same line as the at least one docking induction light emitting unit.

5. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein an end of each of the first and second reflection unit slopes.

6. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of each of the first and second reflection units which is toward the at least one docking induction light emitting unit has a shorter projection length than a surface of each of the first and second reflection units which is toward the opened front side of the guide.

7. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the end of each of the first and second reflection units slopes toward the opened front side.

8. A charging device of a robot cleaner, the charging device comprising:

a main body comprising a terminal unit to charge the robot cleaner, the main body defining an appearance of the charging device;

an induction signal generating unit disposed at a side of the main body,

wherein the induction signal generating unit comprises a pair of access induction light emitting units transmitting a return induction signal for guiding the robot cleaner to a return position, and one docking induction light emitting unit guiding the robot cleaner to a docking position by transmitting a docking induction signal, and

wherein the docking induction light emitting unit is disposed between the access induction light emitting units;

an induction signal guide member disposed at a side of the induction signal generating unit to enhance docking performance of the robot cleaner, and

an extended direction of the pair of access induction light emitting units crosses a direction of transmitting the docking induction signal,

wherein the induction signal guide member comprises a guide having a front opening to guide the docking induction signal, and first and second reflections units are extended from the guide to partially block the docking induction signal and spaced apart from each other,

wherein the one docking induction light emitting unit is configured to transmit the docking induction signal to an area where the signals transmitted by the access induction light emitting units overlap, and

wherein the induction signal guide member improves the linearity of the docking induction signal by limiting the transmission angle of the docking induction signal transmitted from the docking induction light emitting unit.

9. The charging device of claim 8, wherein the guide surrounds the docking induction light emitting unit.

10. The charging device of claim 9, wherein a plurality of reflection units are extended from the guide and the reflection units are spaced at a predetermined distance from each other.

11. The charging device of claim 10, wherein the reflection units protrude from both inner sides of the guide to face each other.

12. The charging device of claim 11, wherein a space, between the reflection units facing each other, is disposed on the same line as the docking induction light emitting unit.

13. The charging device of claim 10, wherein an end of each of the reflection units slopes.

14. The charging device of claim 10, wherein a surface of each of the reflection units which is toward the docking induction light emitting unit has a shorter projection length than a surface of each of the reflection units which is toward the opened front side of the guide.

15. The charging device of claim 10, wherein an end of each of the reflection units slopes toward the opened front side of the guide.