Abstract:
A robot cleaning system having a general cleaning function using a cleaner (100) and a cleaning robot (10) charging function using a cleaning robot. The robot cleaning system includes a cleaner (100) that performs manual cleaning while being moved by a user in an area to be cleaned and a charger (140) to be connected to the cleaning robot (10) that performs automatic cleaning, so as to charge a rechargeable battery (60) mounted in the cleaning robot (10). A body of the cleaner has a space (S) for receiving the cleaning robot (10) when the cleaning robot (10) returns to the cleaner (100) for the sake of charging. A power terminal (141) is provided at a surface of the body defining the receiving space (S) to supply electric power to the cleaning robot (10).
Abstract:
An automatic charging system of a robot cleaner includes: a rotating plate (306) installed at a robot cleaner; an infrared ray receiving unit (304,305) mounted at the rotating plate (306) and receiving an infrared signal generated from a power supply unit (400) while being rotated; a microcomputer (303) for moving the robot cleaner to the power supply unit (400) on the basis of the received infrared signal; and an ultrasonic generator (308) for generating a stop signal when the robot cleaner nears to the power supply unit (400). A robot cleaner can be accurately and quickly moved to a power supply unit for a rapid charging operation, and a cost for implementing the robot cleaner can be reduced.
Abstract:
A robot cleaning system having a general cleaning function using a cleaner (100) and a cleaning robot (10) charging function using a cleaning robot. The robot cleaning system includes a cleaner (100) that performs manual cleaning while being moved by a user in an area to be cleaned and a charger (140) to be connected to the cleaning robot (10) that performs automatic cleaning, so as to charge a rechargeable battery (60) mounted in the cleaning robot (10). A body of the cleaner has a space (S) for receiving the cleaning robot (10) when the cleaning robot (10) returns to the cleaner (100) for the sake of charging. A power terminal (141) is provided at a surface of the body defining the receiving space (S) to supply electric power to the cleaning robot (10).
Abstract:
A robot cleaning system is capable of performing automatic cleaning and manual cleaning with a minimal number of devices. The robot cleaning system includes a first cleaning unit (100) to perform automatic cleaning while moving by itself in an area to be cleaned, and a second cleaning unit (200) to perform manual cleaning while being coupled to the first cleaning unit (100) as it is moved by a user in an area to be cleaned. Each of the first and second cleaning units contains a blower (120,220) and dust collector (130,230) to vacuum. The first cleaning unit has a dust outlet (115) to deliver dust to the second cleaning unit (300) when the first cleaning unit (100) is coupled to the second cleaning unit (200) via the dust outlet (115) of the first cleaning unit (100), a connector (240), and the connection port (212) of the second cleaning unit.
Abstract:
A method of charging a battery of a device (40), the method comprising the steps of: providing a non-charging energy to charging terminals (16) of a charger (10); detecting a presence of a robotic device (40) docked with the charger (10) by recognizing a load formed by a circuit in the charger (10) combined with a complementary circuit in the robotic device (40); and increasing energy to the charging terminals (16) to a charging current to charge the battery.
Abstract:
A robot cleaner comprises a suction unit installed within a cleaner body, for sucking dirt on a floor; a driving unit for moving the cleaner body; a detecting unit mounted at the cleaner body, for detecting a height between a bottom of the cleaner body and a floor; and a control unit controlling the suction unit in response to signal from the detecting unit, for adjusting a suction force of the suction unit. Accordingly, cleaning efficiency of the robot cleaner can be improved by controlling the suction force for sucking dirt in accordance with unevenness of the floor.
Abstract:
A charging apparatus used with a mobile robot (30) has an improved charging structure so that a mobile robot (30) is easily brought into electrical contact with a charging unit (10), thereby reducing manufacturing costs and preventing a charging failure. The charging unit (10) is provided with a plurality of charging terminals (20) which are brought into electrical contact with corresponding ones of contact terminals (33a/b) of the mobile robot (30). Each of the charging terminals (20) includes a body (21) and a head (21a). A contact plate (23) is mounted to a predetermined portion of the head (21a) to be brought into electrical contact with a corresponding one of the contact terminals (33a/b).
Abstract:
The invention concerns a system for guiding and positioning relative to a fixed recharging station an autonomous mobile robot comprising a rechargeable battery. The system operates by means of at least one directional infrared beam emitted by the fixed station, the mobile robot being equipped with a directional system for detecting infrared emission connected to a microcomputer incorporated in said robot. The robot moves on working surface in an essentially random manner, the microcomputer comprising an algorithm for controlling the return to the fixed station by moving the robot towards the direction of said infrared beam. The microcomputer algorithm initiates the return towards the fixed recharging station after a minimum working time, independently of the state of the battery charge, and when the mobile robot detects an intensity greater than a certain threshold, said threshold decreasing with the increase of the working time interval and/or when the state of the battery charge is below a certain level. Several infrared beams operating in different directions can be emitted to cause the robot to return to the recharge station.