IP Library Granted Patent US 11,392,137
Granted Patent B2
US 11,392,137 · App. 16/812,983 · Granted Jul 19, 2022

Robot cleaner and control method thereof

Inventors: Wonguk Jeong (Suwon-si, KR); Minjeong Kang (Suwon-si, KR); Seungsoo Kang (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
G05D1/0274A47L9/2826A47L11/4011A47L2201/04A47L2201/06G05D2201/0215
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,392,137
App. No.
16/812,983
Granted
Jul 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robot cleaner is provided. A robot cleaner includes a cleaner main body, a battery configured to supply a power, a memory configured to store floor material information corresponding to each of a plurality of subspaces configuring a space, and a processor configured to identify a cleaning mode corresponding to each of the plurality of subspaces based on the floor material information corresponding to each of the plurality of subspaces, identify an order of priority of each of the plurality of subspaces based on the identified cleaning mode and a remaining amount of power, and set a movement path of the robot cleaner based on the identified order of priority.

Claims (62)

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a cleaner main body;

a battery configured to supply a power;

a memory configured to store floor material information corresponding to each of a plurality of subspaces configuring a space; and

a processor configured to:

identify a cleaning mode corresponding to each of the plurality of subspaces based on the floor material information corresponding to each of the plurality of subspaces,

identify an order of priority of each of the plurality of subspaces based on the identified cleaning mode and a remaining amount of power, and

set a movement path of the robot cleaner based on the identified order of priority.

2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a sensor,

wherein the processor is further configured to:

obtain position information, shape information, and floor material information of each of the plurality of subspaces based on a signal received through the sensor, and

obtain a map corresponding to the space based on the obtained information and store the map in the memory.

3. The robot cleaner according to claim 2 ,

wherein the sensor comprises a camera, and

wherein the processor is further configured to analyze an image received through the camera to obtain the floor material information.

4. The robot cleaner according to claim 2 ,

wherein the memory is further configured to store information regarding a sound absorption coefficient at a frequency for each floor material, and

wherein, when a frequency signal output from the sensor is reflected by a floor of the subspace and detected through the sensor, the processor is further configured to obtain the floor material information based on the information regarding the sound absorption coefficient and an intensity of the reflected frequency signal.

5. The robot cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

obtain a cleaning mode corresponding to each of the plurality of subspaces and position information of each of the plurality of subspaces based on the map stored in the memory,

identify an order of priority of each of the plurality of subspaces based on the identified cleaning mode and a remaining amount of power, and

set the movement path of the robot cleaner based on the identified order of priority and the position information of each of the plurality of subspaces.

6. The robot cleaner according to claim 1 ,

wherein a cleaning mode corresponding to a first subspace among the plurality of subspaces is a normal mode,

wherein a cleaning mode corresponding to a second subspace among the plurality of subspaces is a power mode, and

wherein, when a remaining amount of power is less than a threshold value, the processor is further configured to apply an order of priority in an order of the first subspace and the second subspace.

7. The robot cleaner according to claim 6 , wherein, when a remaining amount of power is equal to or more than a power amount required for cleaning the first subspace and less than a power amount required for cleaning both of the first subspace and the second subspace, the processor is further configured to include a charging station configured to charge the battery, after cleaning the first subspace, in the set movement path.

8. The robot cleaner according to claim 6 , wherein, when a remaining amount of power is equal to or more than a threshold value, the processor is further configured to apply an order of priority in an order of the second subspace and the first subspace.

9. The robot cleaner according to claim 6 , wherein, when a remaining amount of power is equal to or more than a threshold value, the processor is further configured to apply an order of priority in an order of a subspace closer to a current position of the robot cleaner based on position information of each of the first subspace and the second subspace.

10. The robot cleaner according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a sensor,

wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify a pollution level of a first subspace among the plurality of subspaces based on a signal received through the sensor, while travelling along the set movement path, and

change the cleaning mode from a normal mode to a power mode based on the identified pollution level and clean the first subspace.

11. The robot cleaner according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a sensor,

wherein, when an object is detected through the sensor, the processor is further configured to identify whether the object is a dynamic object or a static object, and

wherein, when the object is identified as a dynamic object, the processor is further configured to exclude the subspace from the movement path based on at least one of shape information or floor material information of the subspace.

12. A control method of a robot cleaner including floor material information corresponding to each of a plurality of subspaces configuring a space, the method comprising:

identifying a cleaning mode corresponding to each of the plurality of subspaces based on the floor material information corresponding to each of the plurality of subspaces;

identifying an order of priority of each of the plurality of subspaces based on the identified cleaning mode and a remaining amount of power included in the robot cleaner; and

setting a movement path of the robot cleaner based on the identified order of priority.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

obtaining position information, shape information, and floor material information of each of the plurality of subspaces based on a signal received through a sensor included in the robot cleaner; and

obtaining a map corresponding to the space based on the obtained information and storing the map in a memory.

14. The method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the sensor comprises a camera, and

wherein the obtaining comprises obtaining the floor material information by analyzing an image received through the camera.

15. The method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the memory stores information regarding a sound absorption coefficient at a frequency for each floor material, and

wherein the obtaining comprises, when a frequency signal output from the sensor is reflected by a floor of the subspace and detected through the sensor, obtaining the floor material information based on the information regarding the sound absorption coefficient and an intensity of the reflected frequency signal.

16. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:

obtaining a cleaning mode corresponding to each of the plurality of subspaces and position information of each of the plurality of subspaces based on the map,

wherein the setting of the movement path comprises setting the movement path of the robot cleaner based on the identified order of priority and the position information of each of the plurality of subspaces.

17. The method according to claim 12 ,

wherein a cleaning mode corresponding to a first subspace among the plurality of subspaces is a normal mode,

wherein a cleaning mode corresponding to a second subspace among the plurality of subspaces is a power mode, and

wherein, when a remaining amount of power is less than a threshold value, the identifying of an order of priority comprises applying an order of priority in an order of the first subspace and the second subspace.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the setting of the movement path comprises, when a remaining amount of power is equal to or more than a power amount required for cleaning the first subspace and less than a power amount required for cleaning both of the first subspace and the second subspace, including a charging station configured to charge a battery of the robot cleaner, after cleaning the first subspace, in the movement path.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the identifying of an order of priority comprises, when a remaining amount of power is equal to or more than a threshold value, applying an order of priority in an order of the second subspace and the first subspace.

20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the identifying of an order of priority comprises, when a remaining amount of power is equal to or more than a threshold value, applying an order of priority in an order of a subspace closer to a current position of the robot cleaner based on position information of each of the first subspace and the second subspace.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2020
From: JEONG, WONGUK; KANG, MINJEONG; KANG, SEUNGSOO
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 052055/0460 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2019-0030067 · Mar 15, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200293060A1 · Sep 17, 2020