MOBILE ROBOT AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20080065266A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sang Yun
• Application Number:
  US11/852,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20080065266A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• 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 1/028 using a RF signal

Abstract

A mobile robot includes a first receiver that receives a header signal transmitted via a first communication method, and a second receiver that receives data signals transmitted via a second communication method different than the first communication method. The header signal indicates that the data signals will be transmitted, and each data signal corresponds to a specific area of communication coverage.

Claims

1. A mobile robot, comprising:

a first receiver that receives a header signal transmitted via a first communication method; and

a second receiver that receives data signals transmitted via a second communication method different than the first communication method,

wherein the header signal indicates that the data signals will be transmitted, and each data signal corresponds to a specific area of communication coverage.

2. The mobile robot of claim 1, wherein the first receiver is a radio frequency receiver, and the second receiver is an infrared receiver.

3. The mobile robot of claim 2, further comprising a control unit that analyzes the header signal and the data signals, determines a location of the mobile robot based on the analysis, and sets a heading direction of the mobile robot to allow the mobile robot to travel to a charging station.

4. The mobile robot of claim 3, wherein the control unit determines the location of the mobile robot by calculating a time interval between reception of the header signal and reception of the data signals, and calculating a time taken to receive the data signals.

5. The mobile robot of claim 3, wherein the control unit determines a distance between the mobile robot and the charging station according to an intensity of the data signals.

6. The mobile robot of claim 3, wherein the control unit sets the heading direction of the mobile robot by determining a distance between the mobile robot and the charging station, and determining the areas of coverage corresponding to the data signals.

7. The mobile robot of claim 3, wherein the control unit determines that the mobile robot is located in an area in which the specific coverage areas corresponding to the data signals overlap.

8. A method for controlling a mobile robot, comprising:

receiving a header signal transmitted via a first communication method;

receiving data signals transmitted via a second communication method different than the first communication method;

analyzing the header signal and the data signals;

determining a location of the mobile robot based on the analysis; and

setting a heading direction of the mobile robot to allow the mobile robot to travel to a charging station,

wherein the header signal indicates that the data signals will be transmitted, and each data signal corresponds to a specific area of communication coverage.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first communication method is a radio frequency communication method, and the second communication method is an infrared communication method.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the location of the mobile robot is determined by calculating a time interval between reception of the header signal and reception of the data signals, and calculating a time taken to receive the data signals.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining a distance between the mobile robot and the charging station according to an intensity of the data signals.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the heading direction of the mobile robot is set by determining a distance between the mobile robot and the charging station, and determining the areas of coverage corresponding to the data signals.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining that the mobile robot is located in an area in which the specific coverage areas corresponding to the data signals overlap.

14. A charging station for a mobile robot, comprising:

a first transmitter that transmits a header signal via a first communication method; and

a second transmitter that transmits data signals via a second communication method different than the first communication method,

wherein the header signal indicates that the data signals will be transmitted, and each data signal corresponds to a specific area of communication coverage.

15. The charging station of claim 14, wherein the first transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter and the second transmitter is an infrared (IR) transmitter.

16. The charging station of claim 15, wherein the IR transmitter comprises a plurality of IR transmission modules having different areas of communication coverage.

17. The charging station of claim 16, further comprising a control unit that controls the IR transmission modules to sequentially transmit the data signals after the first transmitter transmits the header signal.

18. The charging station of claim 16, further comprising a control unit that varies intensities of the data signals to vary ranges of the areas of communication coverage.