System for automatically exchanging cleaning tools of robot cleaner, and method therefor

• US 7,600,521 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Woo, Chun-Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kornakov; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, NATASHA N.
• Application Number:
  US11/200,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20060060216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 134/57.R, 134/58.R, 134/59, 134/18, 153/001, 318/568.12
• US Class Current: 134/57.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• 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: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• 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 1/0268 using internal positioning means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system for automatically exchanging cleaning tools of a robot cleaner and a method therefor. The system for automatically exchanging the cleaning tools of the robot cleaner includes the robot cleaner for deciding whether a currently-mounted first cleaning tool is suitable for a bottom state of a cleaning area, and returning to and being docked on an exchange unit when the first cleaning tool is not suitable for the bottom state, and the exchange unit for exchanging the first cleaning tool currently mounted on the robot cleaner with a second cleaning tool suitable for the bottom state when the robot cleaner is docked.

Claims

1. A system for automatically exchanging cleaning tools of a robot cleaner, comprising:

the robot cleaner for detecting a bottom state of the cleaning area, deciding whether a currently-mounted first cleaning tool is suitable for the detected bottom state of the cleaning area, and returning to and being docked on an exchange unit when the first cleaning tool is not suitable for the bottom state;

wherein the robot cleaner comprises;

a cleaning tool mounting unit on which the cleaning tools are mounted;

a bottom state detecting unit for detecting the bottom state of the cleaning area; and

a microcomputer for switching the mode of the robot cleaner into a cleaning tool exchange mode according to the detection result of the bottom state detecting unit, and transmitting the detected information to the exchange unit

the exchange unit for exchanging the first cleaning tool currently mounted on the robot cleaner with a second cleaning tool suitable for the bottom state when the robot cleaner is docked.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the robot cleaner further comprises a cleaning tool driving unit for connecting or disconnecting the cleaning tool to/from the robot cleaner according to the control signal from the microcomputer.

3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the exchange unit is formed on a charging unit for charging the robot cleaner.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the exchange unit comprises:

a sensing unit for sensing the position and direction of the robot cleaner with respect to the exchange unit;

a cleaning tool housing unit for housing various cleaning tools;

a cleaning tool exchange unit for exchanging the first cleaning tool currently mounted on the robot cleaner with the second cleaning tool selected among the various cleaning tools housed in the cleaning tool housing unit; and

a control unit for selecting the second cleaning tool among the various cleaning tools on the basis of the bottom state detected by the robot cleaner, and docking the exchange unit and the robot cleaner according to the sensing signal from the sensing unit.

5. A system for automatically exchanging cleaning tools of a robot cleaner, comprising:

the robot cleaner comprising;

a bottom tool mounting unit on which the cleaning tools are mounted;

an input unit for receiving an input signal relating to a cleaning method selected by the user; and

a microcomputer for switching the mode of the robot cleaner into a cleaning tool exchange mode on the basis of the inputted cleaning method, and transmitting the selected cleaning method information; and

an exchange unit comprising;

a sensing unit for sensing the position and direction of the robot cleaner with respect to the exchange unit;

a cleaning tool housing unit for housing various cleaning tools;

a cleaning tool exchange unit for exchanging a first cleaning tool currently mounted on the robot cleaner with a second cleaning tool selected among the various cleaning tools housed in the cleaning tool housing unit; and

a control unit for selecting the second cleaning tool among the various cleaning tools housed in the cleaning tool housing unit on the basis of the selected cleaning method information, and docking the exchange unit and the robot cleaner according to the sensing signal from the sensing unit.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the exchange unit is formed on a charging unit for charging the robot cleaner.