Control system of a robot cleaner

• US 7,343,221 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ann, Sung Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/756,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/247, 700/249, 700/254, 700/258, 700/259, 700/262, 700/264, 318/568.11, 318/568.12, 318/568.16, 318/587
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals

Abstract

A control system of a robot cleaner including a signal transmitting unit and a cleaning unit is provided. The signal transmitting unit wirelessly transmits reference signals, while the cleaning unit receives the reference signals from the signal transmitting unit and performs cleaning while moving through a region to be cleaned set in accordance to the received reference signals. Accordingly, the present invention causes the robot cleaner to be efficient in cleaning a local region of a given large area and provides for convenient use of the robot cleaner.

Claims

1. A control system of a robot cleaner, comprising:

a signal transmitting unit to wirelessly transmit reference signals, and to set a region circumferentially surrounding the signal transmitting unit to be cleaned; and

a cleaning unit to receive the reference signals from the signal transmitting unit, and to clean the region surrounding the signal transmitting unit, the region to be cleaned set in accordance with the received reference signals.

2. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit sets the region to be cleaned to a region around the signal transmitting unit surrounded by a boundary spaced apart from the signal transmitting unit by a predetermined distance.

3. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reference signals are infrared signals.

4. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the signal transmitting unit transmits the reference signals in at least three directions.

5. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the signal transmitting unit comprises:

a unit body including a transmitter; and

a tripod-shaped support to support the unit body.

6. The control system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit further comprises:

a controller to control an overall operation of a cleaning operation;

an interface unit to perform impedance matching with respect to the reference signals, and to input the matched reference signal to the controller;

a detection unit to detect an obstruction during movement of the robot cleaner;

an input unit to receive a setting command; and

a driving unit to drive a wheel motor and a suction motor connected to an output side of the controller.

7. The control system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the signal transmitting unit further comprises:

a unit body vertically erected; and

a support unit extending outward from a center of the unit body in three directions.

8. The control system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting unit further comprises:

a transmitting end to transmit reference signals to an outside of the unit body;

a reference signal generating unit to generate reference signals in response to operation signals; and

a switch provided to allow user input to the signal transmitting unit.

9. The control system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the reference signals are infrared signals.

10. The control system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the controller stops the cleaning operation upon detection of an obstruction via the detection unit.

11. The control system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the controller resumes the cleaning operation upon changing the movement direction of the cleaning unit.

12. A control system of a robot cleaner, comprising:

a signal transmitting unit to wirelessly transmit reference signals; and

a cleaning unit to receive the reference signals, and to set a region circumferentially surrounding the signal transmitting unit to be cleaned in relation to a location of the signal transmitting unit setting the region circumferentially surrounding the signal transmitting unit within a circumferential boundary spaced from the signal transmitting unit by a predetermined distance.

13. A control system of a robot cleaner, comprising:

a signal transmitting unit wirelessly transmitting reference signals and setting a region to be cleaned limited to a circumferential area surrounding the signal transmitting unit that the reference signals are able to reach; and

a cleaning unit receiving the reference signals from the signal transmitting unit and cleaning the circumferential area surrounding the signal transmitting unit that the reference signals are able to reach, the region to be cleaned set in accordance with the received reference signals.