BUMPER DEVICE OF ROBOT CLEANER AND ROBOT CLEANER HAVING THE SAME

• US 20060260090A1
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Young-Gie
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/325
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0227 using mechanical sensing means, e.g. for sensing treated area

Abstract

A bumper device of a robot cleaner, and a robot cleaner equipped with the bumper device are disclosed. The bumper device of a robot cleaner includes: a bumper housing coupled to cover an outer circumferential surface of a main body of a robot cleaner, made of a material for restraining an expansion, and having an internal passage; an air tube insertedly installed inside the bumper housing so as to be expandable along the internal passage; and a sensing unit for sensing expansion of the air tube. Even if an impact is applied to any position of front, side and rear surfaces of the main body, it can be lessened in its transfer to the robot cleaner.

Claims

1. A bumper device of a robot cleaner comprising:

a bumper housing coupled to cover an outer circumferential surface of a main body of a robot cleaner, made of a material for restraining an expansion, and having an internal passage;

an air tube insertedly installed inside the bumper housing so as to be expandable along the internal passage; and

a sensing unit for sensing expansion of the air tube.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit comprises a light emitting unit for emitting light and a light receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light emitting unit, and an operational piece moved for making an interference between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit by interworking with expansion of the air tube is attached at one end of the air tube.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the operational piece comprises slits allowing light emitted from the light emitting unit to pass therethrough toward the light receiving unit.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit comprises a light emitting unit for emitting light and a light receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light emitting unit, and a first operational piece moved for making an interference between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit by interworking with expansion of the air tube is attached at one end of the air tube and a second operational piece moved for making an interference between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit by interworking with expansion of the air tube is attached at the other end of the air tube.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first and second operational pieces comprise slits allowing light emitted from the light emitting unit to pass therethrough toward the light receiving unit, and are installed in a folded manner.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the bumper housing is made of a fabric material.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein the bumper housing is made of a fabric material.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the bumper housing is made of a fabric material.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the air tube is made of a viscoelastic material.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the air tube is made of a viscoelastic material.

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the air tube is made of a viscoelastic material.

12. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body;

a driving wheel installed at a lower portion of the main body and enabling the robot cleaner to travel; and

a bumper device coupled to cover an outer circumferential surface of the main body of the robot cleaner and buffering an impact.

13. The cleaner of claim 12, wherein the bumper device comprises:

a bumper housing coupled to cover an outer circumferential surface of the main body of the robot cleaner, made of a material for restraining an expansion, and having an internal passage;

an air tube insertedly installed inside the bumper housing so as to be expandable along the internal passage; and

a sensing unit for sensing expansion of the air tube.

14. The cleaner of claim 13, wherein the sensing unit comprises a light emitting unit for emitting light and a light receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light emitting unit, and an operational piece moved for making an interference between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit by interworking with expansion of the air tube is attached at one end of the air tube.

17. The cleaner of claim 12, wherein the bumper housing is made of a fabric material.

19. The cleaner of claim 12, wherein the air tube is made of a viscoelastic material.

15. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body;

a driving wheel installed at a lower portion of the main body and enabling the robot cleaner to travel; and

a bumper housing coupled to cover an outer circumferential surface of the main body of the robot cleaner, made of a material for restraining an expansion, and having an internal passage;

an air tube insertedly installed in the bumper housing so as to be expandable along the internal passage; and

a sensing unit comprising a light emitting unit for emitting light, a light receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light emitting unit, a first operational piece moved for making an interference between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit by interworking with expansion of the air tube and attached at one end of the air tube, and a second operational piece moved for making an interference between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit by interworking with expansion of the air tube and attached at the other end of the air tube.

16. The cleaner of claim 15, wherein the first and second operational pieces comprise slits allowing light emitted from the light emitting unit to pass therethrough toward the light receiving unit, and are installed in a folded manner.

18. The cleaner of claim 15, wherein the bumper housing is made of a fabric material.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the air tube is made of a viscoelastic material.