ROBOT CLEANER HAVING FUNCTION FOR DETECTING SEPARATION OF DUST TANK AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20070039293A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: IM, Hyoung-Deuk, BAEK, Oh-Hyun
• Granted Patent: US 7,921,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/354
• 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 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1472 combined with security means, e.g. for preventing use, e.g. in case of absence of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners

Abstract

A robot cleaner comprises: a body having a receiving portion for mounting a dust tank; a detecting unit installed at the receiving portion, for detecting whether the dust tank has been separated from the body by an interaction with the dust tank; and a controller for controlling a suction motor installed in the body according to a detection result. When the dust tank is separated from the receiving portion, the detecting unit detects the separated state of the dust tank immediately thus to stop the suction motor. Accordingly, dust is prevented from being introduced into the body.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner, comprising:

a body having a receiving portion for mounting a dust tank;

a detecting unit installed at the receiving portion, for detecting whether the dust tank has been separated from the body by an interaction with the dust tank; and

a controller for controlling a suction motor installed in the body according to a detection result.

2. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is composed of at least one of a magnetic sensor and an infrared sensor.

3. The robot cleaner of claim 2, wherein an inlet connected to a suction motor mounted in the body is formed at the receiving portion, an outlet contacting the inlet under a state that the dust tank is coupled to the receiving portion is formed at the dust tank, and a magnetic sensor for detecting whether the dust tank is separated form the receiving portion is mounted at a contact portion between the inlet and the outlet.

4. The robot cleaner of claim 3, wherein the magnetic sensor is formed of a rubber material so as to seal the contact portion between the inlet and the outlet.

5. The robot cleaner of claim 2, wherein at least one coupling protrusion is provided at the dust tank, an insertion groove for inserting the coupling protrusion is formed at the receiving portion of the body in correspondence with the coupling protrusion, and an infrared sensor is installed at the insertion groove.

6. The robot cleaner of claim 5, wherein the infrared sensor consists of a light emitting portion for emitting infrared rays and a light receiving portion for receiving infrared rays, and the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are arranged to face each other in the insertion groove.

7. The robot cleaner of claim 5, wherein the infrared sensor consists of a light emitting portion for emitting infrared rays and a light receiving portion for receiving infrared rays, and the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are integrally formed.

8. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the controller stops the suction motor when it is detected that the dust tank is separated from the receiving portion by the detecting unit, and operates the suction motor when it is detected that the dust tank is mounted at the receiving portion by the detecting unit.

9. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is formed outside the body, and the dust tank is detachably coupled to the receiving portion.

10. The robot cleaner of claim 1, further comprising an indicating unit for indicating a separated state of the dust tank from the receiving portion when it is detected that the dust tank is separated from the receiving portion by the detecting unit.

11. The robot cleaner of claim 10, wherein the indicating unit is implemented as at least one of an alarm sound generating unit and a display unit.

12. A method for controlling a robot cleaner, comprising:

detecting whether a dust tank has been separated from a body; and

determining whether to operate a suction motor according to the detection result.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of detecting is performed by a magnetic sensor.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of detecting is performed by an infrared sensor.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of detecting is performed by a magnetic sensor and an infrared sensor.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining comprises:

stopping the suction motor when it is detected that the dust tank is separated from the body; and

operating the suction motor when it is detected that the dust tank is mounted at the body.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying a separated s state of the dust tank from the body when it is detected that the dust tank is separated from the body.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of displaying comprises generating an alarm sound or displaying an image.