Robot cleaner

• US 8,973,210 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sung-Guen, Shim, In-Bo, Yim, Byung-Doo, Sung, Ji-Hoon, Kim, Bong-Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/380,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20120090126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: 153/39, 153/401
• US Class Current: 15/339
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93

Abstract

Provided is a robot cleaner. In an embodiment, the robot cleaner for avoiding obstacles and sucking foreign materials using a plurality of sensors and a suction motor is characterized in that a drive suppression unit for detecting obstacles having a corresponding height is integrated with a base for forming a lower portion of a main body in order to not climb obstacles of a constant height during a driving period of the robot cleaner. The present disclosure according to the embodiment improves drive stability of the robot cleaner by sensing a threshold in erroneous state of the sensor for sensing the threshold.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner which sucks foreign substances on an area to be cleaned while avoiding an obstacle using a plurality of sensors and a suction motor, the robot cleaner comprising:

a base defining a lower portion of a main body; and

a drive suppression unit integrated with the base, the drive suppression unit interfering with an obstacle having a predetermined height to prevent the robot cleaner from passing over the obstacle having the predetermined height,

wherein the drive suppression unit comprises;

a sensor receiving groove in which a portion of the base is recessed to provide a mounting space of a detection sensor for detecting a threshold or cliff; and

a hook in which a portion of the base relatively protrudes due to the recession of the sensor receiving groove to interfere with the obstacle.

2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a sensor mounting hole for mounting the detection sensor is defined in the sensor receiving groove.

3. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the drive suppression unit is disposed at a front side of a drive wheel for driving and is disposed along an edge of the base.

4. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a caster which is varied in position to reduce an impact applied to the robot cleaner when the robot cleaner passes over the obstacle that does not interfere by the drive suppression unit.

5. The robot cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the caster comprises:

a main shaft rotatably fixed to the base;

a variable frame rotatably connected to the main shaft, the variable frame having one side connected to a wheel; and

an elastic member disposed between the other side of the variable frame disconnected to the wheel and a member support unit extending from the main shaft and disposed under the variable frame to elastically support the variable frame.

6. The robot cleaner according to claim 5, wherein a support frame suppressing a portion of the variable frame connected to the wheel to maintain a horizontal state of the variable frame is disposed on the main shaft.

7. The robot cleaner according to claim 5, wherein a shaft fixing pin connecting the main shaft to the variable frame to define a rotation center is fitted into a central portion of the variable frame.

8. A robot cleaner, comprising:

a base defining a lower portion of a main body;

a detection sensor to detect an obstacle or cliff; and

a caster disposed on the base,

wherein the caster comprises;

a main shaft rotatably connected to the base;

a variable frame rotatably connected to the main shaft, the variable frame having one side connected to a wheel; and

an elastic member connected to the variable frame to provide elastic force to the variable frame.

9. The robot cleaner according to claim 8, further comprising a support frame to maintain a horizontal state of the variable frame.