ROBOT CLEANER, MAINTENANCE STATION, AND CLEANING SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME

• US 20120013907A1
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Hyun Soo, Kim, Dong Won, Lee, Jun Hwa, Hong, Jun Pyo, Yoon, Sang Sik
• Granted Patent: US 9,186,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/438
• 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 2201/024 Emptying dust or waste liquid containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/028 Refurbishing floor engaging tools, e.g. cleaning of beating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• 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 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/28 Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2815 using optical detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices

Abstract

In a cleaning system, dust stored in a dust box is suspended in air introduced into the dust box through a first opening formed through a robot cleaner, and is then discharged to a second opening formed through a maintenance station through the first opening of the robot cleaner.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a body;

a dust box provided at the body, to store dust; and

a dust sensing unit to detect dust stored in the dust box,

wherein the dust sensing unit comprises a sensor installed at a region other than the dust box.

2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dust sensing unit comprises a light emitting unit to transmit a signal and a light receiving sensor to sense the signal transmitted by the light emitting unit,

the light emitting unit and the light receiving sensor are installed at regions other than the dust box, and

the signal transmitted from the light emitting unit reaches the light receiving sensor after passing through at least a portion of an interior of the dust box.

3. The robot cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting unit and the light receiving sensor are installed so as to face each other.

4. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dust sensing unit further comprises a reflecting member installed within the dust box, to reflect the signal transmitted from the light emitting unit to the light receiving sensor.

5. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein:

the dust box comprises at least one inlet, through which dust is introduced into the dust box; and

the light emitting unit and the light receiving sensor are provided at a portion of the body corresponding to the inlet of the dust box, to perform signal transmission and signal reception through the inlet of the dust box, respectively.

6. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display provided at the body, to display various information,

wherein the display unit displays dust sensing information from the dust sensing unit.

7. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein no connecting terminal associated with the dust sensing unit is provided at the dust box.

8. A robot cleaner comprising:

a body;

a dust box provided at the body, to store dust; and

a dust sensing unit to measure an amount of dust stored in the dust box,

wherein the dust sensing unit comprises a light emitting unit installed at a region other than the dust box,

wherein a signal transmitted from the light emitting unit reaches a light receiving sensor after passing through at least a portion of an interior of the dust box.

9. The robot cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the dust box is adapted to allow signals transmitted by the light emitting unit to reach the light receiving sensor.

10. The robot cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the light emitting unit and the light receiving sensor are installed so as to face each other.

11. The robot cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the dust box comprises a transmitted-signal passing portion arranged at a position corresponding to the light emitting sensor, to allow a signal to enter the dust box, and a received-signal passing portion arranged at a position corresponding to the light receiving sensor, to allow a signal to emerge from the dust box.

12. The robot cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the transmitted-signal passing portion and the received-signal passing portion are made of a transparent material.

13. The robot cleaner according to claim 8, wherein no connecting terminal associated with the dust sensing unit is provided at the dust box.