Bumper device of robot cleaner and robot cleaner having the same

• US 7,480,960 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Young-Gie
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III; Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scruggs; Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/382,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20060260090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 153/25, 153/401, 153/19, 153/39
• US Class Current: 15/325
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0227 using mechanical sensing means, e.g. for sensing treated area

Abstract

A bumper device of a robot cleaner, and a robot cleaner equipped with the bumper device are disclosed. The bumper device of a robot cleaner includes: a bumper housing coupled to cover an outer circumferential surface of a main body of a robot cleaner, made of a material for restraining an expansion, and having an internal passage; an air tube insertedly installed inside the bumper housing so as to be expandable along the internal passage; and a sensing unit for sensing expansion of the air tube. Even if an impact is applied to any position of front, side and rear surfaces of the main body, it can be lessened in its transfer to the robot cleaner.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body;

a driving wheel installed at a lower portion of the main body and enabling the robot cleaner to travel; and

a bumper housing coupled to cover an outer circumferential surface of the main body of the robot cleaner, the bumper housing being made of a material that restrains an expansion, and having an internal passage;

an air tube insertedly installed in the bumper housing so as to be expandable along the internal passage; and

a sensor comprising a light emitter that emits light, a light receiver that receives light emitted from the light emitter, a first operational piece that moves to cause an interference between the light emitter and the light receiver by interworking with expansion of the air tube and attached at one end of the air tube, and a second operational piece that moves to cause an interference between the light emitter and the light receiver by interworking with expansion of the air tube and attached at the other end of the air tube.

2. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first and second operational pieces comprise slits allowing light emitted from the light emitter to pass therethrough toward the light receiver, and are installed in a folded manner.

3. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the bumper housing is made of a fabric material.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the air tube is made of a viscoelastic material.