Charge induction apparatus of robot cleaner and method thereof
US5646494A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 3, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 3, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/14
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a charging apparatus for a robot cleaner and a method for charging the robot cleaner by which the robot cleaner can be accurately induced to a power source supplier to receive a battery charge when a battery power source drops below a predetermined level. The apparatus includes a control unit for controlling an overall operation, a memory which stores a driving program including structures for various rooms for which cleaning operations may be performed, and a driving unit for moving the robot cleaner in forward, reverse, left and right directions according to control signals of the control unit. A travel distance detecting unit is provided for detecting a travel distance covered by the driving unit and a travel direction detecting unit is provided for detecting a travel direction varied by the driving unit. An obstacle detecting unit is also provided for detecting whether or not there is an obstacle with a cleaning area and for detecting a distance to the obstacle from the cleaner. A charged level detecting unit detects a charge voltage level of a battery and an electric power source supplier is provided for charging the battery to above a predeter…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.