Robot cleaner having function for detecting separation of dust tank and control method thereof
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsOh-Hyun Baek, Hyoung-Deuk Im
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A robot cleaner is provided that includes a body having a receiving portion configured to receive a dust tank mounted thereto, a detector installed at the receiving portion that detects whether the dust tank has been separated from the body by an interaction with the dust tank, and a controller that controls a suction motor installed in the body according to a detection result of the detector. When the dust tank is separated from the receiving portion, the detector detects the separated state of the dust tank immediately and the controller stops the suction motor, thus, preventing dust from being introduced into the body.
Claims11
A robot cleaner, comprising:
- a body having a receiving portion configured to receive a dust tank mounted thereto;
- a detector installed at the receiving portion, that detects whether the dust tank has been separated from the body by an interaction with the dust tank;
- and
- a controller that controls a suction motor installed in the body according to a detection result, wherein the detector comprises an infrared sensor, wherein at least one coupling protrusion is provided at the dust tank, wherein at least one insertion groove configured to receive inserted therein the at least one coupling protrusion is formed at the receiving portion of the body in correspondence with the at least one coupling protrusion, and wherein the infrared sensor is installed at the at least one insertion groove.
A method for controlling a robot cleaner, the method comprising:
- detecting whether a dust tank has been separated from a body;
- and
- determining whether to operate a suction motor according to the detection result, wherein the detecting is performed by an infrared sensor installed at least one insertion groove formed at a receiving portion of the body and configured to receive inserted therein at least one coupling protrusion formed at the dust tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.