CLEANING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20160278593A1
• Filed: 01/09/2014
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: LEE, Dongkyu, AHN, Seungkwon, KIM, Kihyung, KIM, Jihwan, HONG, Kichu
• Granted Patent: US 10,143,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/00 Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes suction devices for removing ash F23J1/02; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/04 for using the exhaust air for other purposes, e.g. for distribution of chemicals in a room, for sterilisation of the air spraying or atomising in general B05
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/10 Filters in general B01D; cyclones B04C; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters for machines for cleaning floors A47L11/40
• 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: F24F 2221/38 Personalised air distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/42 Mobile autonomous air conditioner, e.g. robots
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/10 by separation, e.g. by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means

Abstract

Provided is a cleaning device comprising: a camera unit for capturing an image; a cleaning unit for cleaning; an air purification unit for purifying air; a driving unit for moving the cleaning device; and a processor for controlling the camera unit, the cleaning unit, the air purification unit and the driving unit, wherein the processor detects a user by using the camera unit, cleans by moving the cleaning device to a position exceeding a first threshold distance from the detected user when the cleaning device is in a cleaning mode, and purifies the air by moving the cleaning device to a position within a second threshold distance from the detected user when the cleaning device is in an air purification mode.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising:

a camera unit configured to capture images;

a cleaning unit configured to perform cleaning;

an air cleaning unit configured to perform air cleaning;

a driving unit configured to move the cleaning device; and

a processor configured to control the camera unit, the cleaning unit, the air cleaning unit, and the driving unit,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

detect a user by using the camera unit,

move the cleaning device from the current location to the location that exceeds a first threshold distance from the detected user if the cleaning device is in a cleaning mode,

perform cleaning,

move the cleaning device from the current location to the location that is within a second threshold distance from the detected user if the cleaning device is in an air cleaning mode, and

perform cleaning.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to set up the first threshold distance and the second threshold distance based on an area of activity of the detected user.

3. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the area of activity is decided by an amount of movement made by the user within a preset period of time.

4. The cleaning device of claim 2, wherein, if the area of activity is within a preset range, the first threshold distance or the second threshold distance is set to be smaller than a preset value, or

wherein, if the area of activity deviates from a preset range, the first threshold distance or the second threshold distance is set to be greater than a preset value.

5. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the second threshold distance is equal to the first threshold distance.

6. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein, the processor is further configured to:

receive user information respective to the detected user, and

perform the cleaning mode or the air cleaning mode by using the received user information if the user is detected.

7. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein, the processor is further configured to receive user information respective to each of the detected multiple users and determine priority levels respective to each user by using the received user information if multiple users are detected, and

wherein the processor is further configured to perform the cleaning mode or the air cleaning mode with respect to the user having a higher priority level.

8. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein, the processor is configured to perform either the cleaning mode or the air cleaning mode by an order of users positioned in locations having shorter distances from the cleaning device among the multiple users if case multiple users are detected.

9. The cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first outlet port is configured to discharge air being sucked in by the cleaning unit; and

a second outlet port is configured to discharge air being sucked in by the air cleaning unit.

10. The cleaning device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to control the driving unit so as to prevent the first outlet port from facing the detected user if the cleaning device is in the cleaning mode.

11. The cleaning device of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to control the driving unit so as to allow the second outlet port to face the detected user if the cleaning device is in the air cleaning mode.

12. The cleaning device of claim 9, wherein the first outlet port and the second outlet port are equipped to face directions opposite to one another.

13. The cleaning device of claim 9, wherein the first outlet port corresponds to the same outlet port as the second outlet port, and

wherein the processor is further configured to:

control the driving unit so as to prevent the first outlet port and the second outlet port from facing the detected user if the cleaning device is in the cleaning mode, and

control the driving unit so as to allow the first outlet port and the second outlet port to face the detected user if the cleaning device is in the air cleaning mode.

14. The cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to transmit information an external device and receive information from the external device

wherein the processor is configured to transmit first information related to the cleaning mode and second information related to the air cleaning mode to the external device, and receive the first information and the second information from the external device.

15. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein the first information includes at least one of map information of a cleaning zone, cleaning-completed zone (or cleaned zone) information, information on a zone that is scheduled for cleaning, cleaning path information, cleaning command information, and pollution level information.

16. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein the second information includes at least one of map information of an air cleaning zone, air-cleaning-completed zone (or air-cleaned zone) information, information on a zone that is scheduled for air cleaning, air cleaning path information, air cleaning command information, and pollution level information.

17. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

display the first information if a first state of the external device is detected, and

display the second information if a second state of the external device is detected.

18. The cleaning device of claim 17, wherein the external device is further configured to:

detect a case when an upper portion of the external device is tilted outward based on a horizontal center line of the external device as the first state, and

detect a case when an upper portion of the external device is tilted inward based on a horizontal center line of the external device as the second state.

19. The cleaning device of claim 17, wherein the external device is further configured to detect a case when a lower-side image of the cleaning device as the first state, and

wherein the external device detects when an upper-side image of the cleaning device as the second state.

20. A method of controlling a cleaning device, the method comprising:

detecting a user;

moving the cleaning device from the current location to the location that exceeds a first threshold distance from the detected user if the cleaning device is in a cleaning mode;

preforming cleaning;

moving the cleaning device from the current location to the location that is within a second threshold distance from the detected user if the cleaning device is in an air cleaning mode; and

performing cleaning.