CHARGING DEVICE OF ROBOT CLEANER

• US 20120143428A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Bong-Ju, Shim, In-Bo, Sung, Ji-Hoon, Yim, Byung-Doo, Kim, Sung-Guen
• Granted Patent: US 8,825,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0061 the light source comprising a LED semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0988 Diaphragms, spatial filters, masks for removing or filtering a part of the beam
• 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: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A charging device of a robot cleaner is provided. The charging device of a robot cleaner according to the embodiment includes at least one cover forming an appearance of the charging device, a base which is coupled with the cover and includes a terminal unit for charging the robot cleaner, an induction signal generating unit disposed at a side of the cover or the base to transmit a return induction signal to the robot cleaner, and an induction signal guide member disposed at a side of the induction signal generating unit to enhance a docking performance of the robot cleaner by improving linearity of the induction signal. The charging device according to the embodiment can guide the path for the return of the robot cleaner and recharge the robot cleaner stably.

Claims

1. A charging device of a robot cleaner, the charging device comprising:

a main body comprising a terminal unit configured to charge the robot cleaner, the main body defining an appearance;

an induction signal generating unit disposed at a side of the main body to transmit a return induction signal to the robot cleaner; and

an induction signal guide member disposed at a side of the induction signal generating unit to enhance docking performance of the robot cleaner by improving linearity of the induction signal.

2. The charging device according to claim 1, wherein the induction signal generating unit comprises at least a pair of access induction sensors transmitting a signal for guiding the robot cleaner to a return position, and at least one docking induction sensor guiding the robot cleaner to a docking position by transmitting a docking induction signal to an area where the signals transmitted by the access induction sensors intersect.

3. The charging device according to claim 2, wherein the induction signal guide member improves the linearity by restricting a transmission angle of the signal transmitted from the docking induction sensor.

4. The charging device according to claim 2, wherein the induction signal guide member comprises a guide which is opened at a front side and surrounds at least both sides of the docking induction sensor.

5. The charging device according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of reflections units are disposed in the guide to block the docking induction signal, the transmission angle of which is relatively large, from being transmitted outwards.

6. The charging device according to claim 5, wherein the reflection units are spaced a predetermined distance from each other.

7. The charging device according to claim 5, wherein the reflection units protrude from both inner sides of the guide to face each other, a space between the reflection units facing each other being disposed on the same line as the docking induction sensor.

8. The charging device according to claim 5, wherein an end of the reflection unit slopes.

9. The charging device according to claim 5, wherein a surface of each of the reflection units which is toward the docking induction sensor has a shorter projection length than a surface of each of the reflection units which is toward the opened front side of the guide.

10. The charging device according to claim 5, wherein the end of each of the reflection units slopes toward the opened front side.