Robot cleaner having floor-disinfecting function

• US 7,251,853 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2004
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ko, Jang-youn, Lee, Ju-sang, Song, Jeong-gon, Park, Jee-su, Cho, Young-ik
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider; Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/822,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20050022330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/39, 153/401
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0061 adapted for disinfecting or sterilising
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93

Abstract

A robot cleaner for simultaneously and selectively performing automatic floor cleaning and automatic floor disinfection. The robot cleaner includes a body traveling automatically on a surface to be cleaned, a driving unit for driving a plurality of wheels provided under the body, and obstacle detecting sensors positioned to a front of the body for detecting an obstacle located ahead of a traveling direction. The robot cleaner also includes memory for storing position information of the obstacle detected by the obstacle detecting sensor, a dust vacuuming and collecting section installed to the body for vacuuming dust on a floor, and a disinfecting section installed under a bottom portion of the body for disinfecting the floor. The robot cleaner also includes a control section for controlling the driving unit to traverse the robot cleaner along a given traveling path, and also control the dust vacuuming and collecting section and the disinfecting section.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a body automatically traveling on a surface to be cleaned;

a driving unit for driving a plurality of wheels provided under the body;

at least one obstacle detecting sensor positioned to a front of the body for detecting an obstacle located ahead of a traveling direction;

memory for storing position information of the obstacle detected by the obstacle-detecting sensor;

a dust vacuuming and collecting section installed to the body for vacuuming dust on a floor;

a disinfecting section installed under a bottom portion of the body for disinfecting the floor; and

a control section controlling the driving unit to traverse the robot cleaner along a given traveling path and selectively operating the disinfecting section simultaneously with the dust vacuuming and collecting section and independently from the dust vacuuming and collecting section.

2. The robot cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disinfecting section includes

a disinfection lamp;

a receptacle chamber formed on a bottom of the body for accommodating the disinfection lamp; and

a transparent window detachably engaged to the receptacle chamber, through which the disinfection lamp irradiates a light on the floor.

3. The robot cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disinfecting section is installed to one front portion of the bottom of the body.

4. The robot cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disinfecting section is installed between the driving unit and the dust vacuuming and collecting section under the bottom of the body.

5. The robot cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disinfecting section is installed to one rear portion of the bottom of the body.

6. The robot cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disinfecting section is installed to left and right sides of the bottom of the body.

7. The robot cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving unit includes

a pair of motors installed in the body and driven by supplied power;

a pair of driving wheels rotated by the pair of driving motors;

a pair of driven wheels followed by the pair of driving wheels; and

transmission means for driving the driving wheels and the driven wheels.

8. The robot cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission means is a timing belt.

9. A method of operating a robot cleaner, the robot cleaner having a body with a plurality wheels, a driving unit, at least one obstacle detecting sensor, a memory for storing position information of obstacles detected by the obstacle detecting sensor, a dust vacuuming and collecting section in the body, a disinfecting section in the body, and a control section for controlling the driving unit, the dust vacuuming and collecting section, and the disinfecting section, comprising the steps of:

automatically driving the robot cleaner on a surface to be cleaned along a given travel path;

detecting obstacles in the travel path using the obstacle detecting sensor; and

disinfecting the surface being cleaned by selectively operating the disinfecting section simultaneously with and independently of suctioning dust from the surface being cleaned into the dust vacuuming and collecting section.