TOUCH SENSITIVE ROBOT

• US 20100228395A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: SIP, KIM-YEUNG, CHU, YUNG-HUNG, LIN, CHEN-TER
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/258
• 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 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners

Abstract

A touch sensitive robot includes a body having a control panel, a touch sensor, a driver, and a controller. The touch sensor includes a first conductive belt, a second conductive belt, a power source, and a current sensor. The first conductive belt is wrapped on the body. The second conductive belt is wrapped around but spaced away from the first conductive belt. The power source and the current sensor are connected in series between the first conductive belt and the second conductive belt to form a closed circuit when a point of the second conductive belt is touched to contact the first conductive belt. The current sensor is for measuring the flow of the electrical current of the close loop. The controller is for controlling the driver to turn the body based upon the measurement of the current sensor to orient the control panel to the touch point.

Claims

1. A touch sensitive robot comprising:

a body comprising an interaction section;

a touch sensor comprising;

a first conductive belt being wrapped on the body;

a second conductive belt being wrapped around but spaced away from the first conductive belt;

a power source and a current sensor connected in series between the first conductive belt and the second conductive belt;

a driver; and

a controller configured for controlling the driver to turn the body based upon the measurement of the current sensor.

2. The touch sensitive robot of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a circular bottom board, a dome-shaped shell, and a pair of wheels, the circular bottom board sealing the dome-shaped shell, the interaction section being mounted in the outer surface of the dome-shaped shell, the pair of wheels being movably fixed to the circular bottom board and capable of turning the body.

3. The touch sensitive robot of claim 1, wherein the body further comprising an attachment portion extending outwards from and encircling the circumferential surface of the circular bottom board, the touch sensor further comprising an isolating cover, the isolating cover covering the attachment portion and defining a space between the isolating cover and the attachment portion, the first conductive belt and the second conductive belt being received in the space, the first conductive belt being attached to the isolating cover, the second conductive belt being attached to the attachment portion, the first conductive belt and the second conductive belt facing but being spaced away from each other.

4. The touch sensitive robot of claim 3, wherein in a cross-section taken along the diameter of the circular bottom board, the attachment portion comprising a connecting plate extending away from the circumference surface of the circular bottom board and an engaging plate extending away from the connecting plate, parallel to the circumference surface of the circular bottom board, the isolating cover comprising a cap-shaped covering section and two engaging flanges inwards from two ends of the cap-shaped covering section, the engaging flanges engaging with the engaging plate.

5. The touch sensitive robot of claim 3, wherein the isolating cover is made of rubber.

6. The touch sensitive robot of claim 3, wherein the isolating cover is made of silica gel.

7. The touch sensitive robot of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive robot is a robotic vacuum cleaner and the interaction section is a control panel.

8. The touch sensitive robot of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive robot is a robot and the interaction section is a robotic face.

9. The touch sensitive robot of claim 1, wherein the first conductive belt forms a discontinuous ring and the second conductive belt accordingly forms a discontinuous ring.

10. The touch sensitive robot of claim 1, wherein the first conductive belt is made of a conductive material of a high elasticity.

11. The touch sensitive robot of claim 1, wherein the first conductive belt is made of conductive rubber.

12. The touch sensitive robot of claim 1, wherein the second conductive belt is made of copper.

13. The touch sensitive robot of claim 1, wherein the first conductive belt comprising two first distal ends, the second conductive belt comprising two second distal ends, the power source and the current sensor being connected between one of the first distal ends and one of the second distal ends.

14. The touch sensitive robot of claim 1, wherein the first conductive belt and the second conductive belt have different electrical resistivities.