CLEANING ROBOT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20150150428A1
• Filed: 07/22/2014
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: PARK, Young Jae, Kim, Won Kuk, Sin, Hyo Won, Jang, Jae Hwi, Kim, Sin Ae
• Granted Patent: US 10,285,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/283 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• 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: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• 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 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30

Abstract

A cleaning robot and a control method thereof may improve power consumption efficiency by using low-voltage power for a moving or inspecting operation and performing the moving or inspecting operation while operation of the cleaning unit is stopped when the operation of the cleaning unit is not needed. The cleaning robot includes a battery, a moving unit, a cleaning unit, a power converter which converts and outputs power supplied from the battery into a first voltage driving the moving unit and a second voltage driving the cleaning unit, and a controller which supplies power having the first voltage to the moving unit so as to drive the moving unit and supplies power having the second voltage to the cleaning unit so as to perform a cleaning operation. The controller continues driving the moving unit but stops driving the cleaning unit when the cleaning robot moves on an already cleaned area.

Claims

1. A cleaning robot comprising:

a battery;

a moving unit;

a cleaning unit;

a power converter to convert and output power supplied from the battery into a first voltage driving the moving unit and a second voltage driving the cleaning unit; and

a controller which supplies power having the first voltage to the moving unit so as to drive the moving unit and supplies power having the second voltage to the cleaning unit so as to perform a cleaning operation,

wherein the controller changes power supply to the cleaning unit according to at least one of a cleaning state and an operation mode.

2. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the controller interrupts the power supply from the power converter to the cleaning unit, when the cleaning robot moves on an already cleaned area of the cleaning area.

3. The cleaning robot according to claim 2, wherein the controller interrupts the power supply to the cleaning unit, when a moving distance on the already cleaned area exceeds a reference distance.

4. The cleaning robot according to claim 2, wherein the controller interrupts the power supply to the cleaning unit, when a time required to move on the already cleaned area exceeds a reference time.

5. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the controller interrupts the power supply from the power converter to the cleaning unit, when the cleaning robot is in a returning mode in which the cleaning robot returns to a docking station in order to perform a charging operation.

6. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the controller interrupts the power supply from the power converter to the cleaning unit, when the cleaning robot is in an inspecting mode in which the cleaning robot inspects an area to be cleaned.

7. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the second voltage is in a higher level than the first voltage.

8. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit comprises an air blowing unit in which a fan is rotated by a motor so as to generate a sucking force.

9. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the power converter converts and outputs the power supplied from the battery into a third voltage driving the controller.

10. A method of controlling a cleaning robot, comprising:

receiving power having a first voltage from a battery, driving a moving unit, and moving on a cleaning area;

receiving power having a second voltage, which is higher than the first voltage, from the battery, driving a cleaning unit, and performing a cleaning operation on the cleaning area; and

stopping the cleaning operation according to at least one of a cleaning state and an operation mode.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the stopping of the cleaning operation is performed when the cleaning robot moves on an already cleaned area of the cleaning area.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the stopping of the cleaning operation is performed when a moving distance on the already cleaned area exceeds a preset distance in a case in which the cleaning robot moves on the already cleaned area.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the stopping of the cleaning operation is performed when an estimated moving time on the already cleaned area exceeds a preset time in a case in which the cleaning robot moves on the already cleaned area.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the stopping of the cleaning operation is performed when the cleaning robot is in an inspecting mode in which the cleaning robot inspects an area to be cleaned.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising determining whether a charging operation of the battery is needed,

wherein the stopping of the cleaning operation is performed when the cleaning robot is in a returning mode in which the cleaning robot returns to a docking station in order to perform the charging operation.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the returning to the docking station is performed based on route information which is already secured.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising inspecting the docking station in order to perform the charging operation, when it is determined that the battery needs to be charged,

wherein the stopping of the cleaning operation is performed while the cleaning robot inspects the docking station in order to perform the charging operation of the battery.

18. A robot comprising:

a moving unit;

a cleaning unit; and

a controller to;

supply a first voltage to the moving unit to thereby cause the moving unit to move the robot,

supply a second voltage to the cleaning unit to thereby cause the robot to clean a surface while the robot is being moved by the moving unit,

while the robot is cleaning the surface, determine whether cleaning of the surface by the robot is to be stopped, and

when it is determined that the cleaning of the surface by the robot is to be stopped, interrupt the supply of the second voltage to the cleaning unit while continuing to supply the first voltage to the moving unit so that the robot continues to be moved by the moving unit with the cleaning by the cleaning unit being stopped.

19-23. -23. (canceled)