Charging unit and charging system for self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner

• US 10,199,840 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shudo, Takumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/915,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20160352112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/28 Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
• 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 1/0244 using reflecting strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A charging unit for charging a battery of a self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner which runs on a floor based on outputs of an infrared beam reflection-type floor detection sensor and an infrared beam detection sensor, includes an infrared beam-transmitting unit for emitting an infrared beam for indicating a return path and an infrared beam-absorbing part, in which the infrared beam-transmitting unit and the infrared beam-absorbing part are provided such that the infrared beam detected by the infrared beam detection sensor and the infrared beam absorbing part detected by the floor detection sensor allow the vacuum cleaner to return to the charging unit.

Claims

1. A charger that charges a battery of a self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner which runs on a floor based on outputs of an infrared beam reflection floor detection sensor and an infrared beam detection sensor, the charger comprising:

infrared beam-transmitting circuitry that emits an infrared beam to indicate a return path, and

an infrared beam absorber, wherein

the floor detection sensor detects a presence of the infrared beam absorber,

the infrared beam-transmitting circuitry and the infrared beam absorber are provided such that the infrared beam detected by the infrared beam detection sensor and the infrared beam absorber detected by the floor detection sensor guide the vacuum cleaner to return to the charger,

the floor detection sensor detects whether the floor is present by irradiating the floor with an infrared light from an infrared light emitter and receiving reflected infrared light from the infrared light emiter that is reflected by the floor.

2. The charger of claim 1, wherein the infrared beam absorber includes a plurality of infrared beam-absorbing members disposed near the return path and along the floor.

3. The charger of claim 1, wherein the infrared beam absorber includes a plurality of band-shaped infrared beam-absorbing members disposed in parallel to the return path and along the floor.

4. The charger of claim 1, wherein the infrared absorber includes a band-shaped infrared beam-absorbing member disposed orthogonal to the return path and along the floor.

5. A charging system for a self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner including an infrared beam reflection floor detection sensor, and

a charger including an infrared beam absorber, wherein

when the self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner is to be charged and returns to the charger, the floor detection sensor detects the infrared beam absorber, and

the floor detection sensor detects whether the floor is present by irradiating the floor with an infrared light from an infrared light emitter and receiving reflected infrared light from the infrared light emitter that is reflected by the floor, and

infrared beam-transmitting circuitry and the infrared beam absorber are provided such that an infrared beam detected by an infrared beam detection sensor and the infrared beam absorber detected by the floor detection sensor guide the vacuum cleaner to return to the charger.