Self-running cleaner with collision obviation capability

• US 20050171637A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Saeki, Ryo, Tani, Takao
• Application Number:
  US11/045,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171637A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0259 using magnetic or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165

Abstract

A main body of a self-running cleaner conducts a cleaning job while self-propelling at a velocity vector in the direction of the arrow. A person approaches with a movement vector in the direction of the arrow in front of the main body. A determination processing unit of the main body rotates the main body such that the velocity vector of the main body is orthogonal to the movement vector of the person when determination is made of the possibility of collision between the obstacle and the main body from a calculated result (rotation A). Then, the main body is moved straight ahead a predetermined distance in the direction of travel after the rotation. When the person continues to move during the withdrawal operation of the main body, and determination is made that there is no possibility of collision therebetween, the determination processing unit rotates the main body 180° (rotation B), and moves the main body straight ahead the predetermined distance, such that the main body returns to the former position immediately previous to the obviation operation. The main body is rotated such that the velocity vector of the main body corresponds to the direction of travel immediately previous to the sensing of a person (rotation C), and the cleaning job is resumed.

Claims

1. A self-running cleaner comprising:

a cleaning unit cleaning a floor,

a travel steering unit for self-propelling of a main body,

a position identify unit identifying an azimuth of cleaning of said main body,

an obstacle sensing unit sensing presence of an obstacle, and

a determination processing unit controlling said cleaning unit and said travel steering unit in accordance with an input from said position identify unit and said obstacle sensing unit,

wherein said obstacle sensing means senses said obstacle and outputs an activated sensed signal,

wherein said determination processing unit comprises

a moving/stationary determination unit determining whether said obstacle is moving/stationary in response to activation of said sensed signal, and

a storage unit storing the azimuth of cleaning corresponding to a sensed time point of said obstacle and a moving direction of said obstacle,

in response to determination that said obstacle is moving by said moving/stationary determination unit, said travel steering unit rotates and moves said main body straight ahead a predetermined distance to withdraw said main body from said obstacle such that a direction of travel of said main body is orthogonal to the moving direction of the obstacle. and in response to inactivation of said sensed signal after the withdrawal, said main body has the direction of travel rotated 180° and

moved straight ahead said predetermined distance to return to a former position where said obstacle was sensed, and said cleaning unit and said travel steering unit are driven after said main body has the direction of travel rotated back to the azimuth of cleaning corresponding to said sensed time point.

2. A self-running cleaner comprising:

a cleaning unit cleaning a floor,

a travel steering unit for self-propelling of a main body,

a position identify unit identifying an azimuth of cleaning of said main body,

an obstacle sensing unit sensing presence of an obstacle, and

a determination processing unit controlling said cleaning unit and said travel steering unit in accordance with an input from said position identify unit and said obstacle sensing unit,

wherein said obstacle sensing unit senses said obstacle and outputs a sensed signal,

wherein said determination processing unit comprises

a moving/stationary determination unit determining whether said obstacle is moving/stationary in response to activation of said sensed signal,

withdrawal means for withdrawing said main unit from said obstacle with a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of said obstacle as a direction of travel in response to determination that said obstacle is moving by said moving/stationary determination unit, and

recovery means responsive to inactivation of said sensed signal after withdrawal for returning said main body back to a former position where said obstacle was sensed, and executing a cleaning job with the azimuth of cleaning corresponding to a sensed time point of said obstacle as the direction of travel.

3. The self-running cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said determination processing unit further comprises a storage unit storing the azimuth of cleaning corresponding to the sensed time point of said obstacle and the moving direction of said obstacle.

4. The self-running cleaner according to claim 3, wherein

said obstacle sensing unit responds to activation of said sensed signal to detect twice a position of said obstacle at an interval of a predetermined term to output first and second detection result signals,

said moving/stationary determination unit determines whether said obstacle is moving/stationary based on said first and second detection result signals to detect the moving direction of said obstacle.

5. The self-running cleaner according to claim 4, wherein

said withdrawal means comprises means for rotating and moving said main body straight ahead a predetermined distance by said travel steering unit such that the direction of travel of said main body is orthogonal to the moving direction of said obstacle, and

said recovery means comprises means being responsive to inactivation of said sensed signal for turning the direction of travel of said main body 180°

and moving said main body straight ahead said predetermined distance to return to a former position where said obstacle was sensed, and means for driving said cleaning unit and said travel steering unit after the direction of travel of said main body is turned to the azimuth of cleaning corresponding to said sensed time point.

6. A self-running cleaner comprising:

a cleaning unit cleaning a floor,

a travel steering unit for self-propelling of a main body,

a position identify unit identifying an azimuth of cleaning of said main body,

an obstacle sensing unit sensing presence of an obstacle,

a determination processing unit controlling said cleaning unit and said travel steering unit in accordance with an input from said position identify unit and said obstacle sensing unit, and

a notify unit indicating a state of said main body by an audio or visual signal, wherein

said obstacle sensing unit senses said obstacle to output a sensed signal, and

said determination processing unit responds to input of said sensed signal to reduce a running speed of said main body through said travel steering unit, and outputs an audio or visual signal towards said obstacle from said notify unit.