KR-20260062602-A - ROBOT CLEANER AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF

KR20260062602AKR 20260062602 AKR20260062602 AKR 20260062602AKR-20260062602-A

Abstract

A robot vacuum cleaner and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. In particular, the robot vacuum cleaner according to the present disclosure includes a communication unit, a memory, and a processor. The processor receives information regarding a plurality of robot vacuum cleaners capable of individually docking with a plurality of stations through the communication unit and stores it in the memory. When a first robot vacuum cleaner, which is communicationally connected to a first station that is one of the plurality of stations, docks with a second station that is communicationally connected to a second robot vacuum cleaner, the processor adjusts the communication connection state between the plurality of stations and the plurality of robot vacuum cleaners based on the docking state.

Inventors

박상건

Assignees

삼성전자주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241029

Claims (15)

Regarding robot vacuum cleaners, Communications Department; Memory; and Includes a processor; The above processor is, Information regarding multiple robot vacuum cleaners capable of individually docking with multiple stations is received through the communication unit and stored in the memory, and A robot vacuum cleaner that, when a first robot vacuum cleaner connected to a first station, which is one of the plurality of stations, docks with a second station connected to a second robot vacuum cleaner, adjusts the communication connection state between the plurality of stations and the plurality of robot vacuum cleaners based on the docking state.
In Article 1, When docking information for the second station is received from the first robot vacuum cleaner through the communication unit, and status information of the second robot vacuum cleaner is received from the second robot vacuum cleaner through the communication unit, A robot vacuum cleaner, wherein the processor transmits pairing information for the second station to the first robot vacuum cleaner and controls the communication unit to transmit pairing information for a new station to the second robot vacuum cleaner.
In Article 1, The above memory is, Stores information regarding the functions provided by each of the aforementioned plurality of stations, and The above processor is, A robot vacuum cleaner that, when the current state of each of the plurality of robot vacuum cleaners is identified, transmits a control signal to the plurality of robot vacuum cleaners through the communication unit to dock to a station that provides a function corresponding to the current state of each of the plurality of robot vacuum cleaners based on information stored in the memory.
In Paragraph 3, The above processor is, A robot vacuum cleaner that, when a robot vacuum cleaner docked to a station providing a function corresponding to the current state of each of the above robot vacuum cleaners is identified, transmits a control signal to the docked robot vacuum cleaner through the communication unit to undocking the robot vacuum cleaner from the station.
In Paragraph 3, The above processor is, A robot vacuum cleaner that, when the current state of one of the plurality of robot vacuum cleaners is identified as requiring mop cleaning, transmits a control signal to the one robot vacuum cleaner through the communication unit to dock to a station among the plurality of stations that provides a mop cleaning function.
In Paragraph 3, The above processor is, A robot vacuum cleaner that, when the current state of one of the plurality of robot vacuum cleaners is identified as requiring water replenishment, transmits a control signal to the one robot vacuum cleaner through the communication unit to dock to a station among the plurality of stations that provides a water replenishment function.
Regarding robot vacuum cleaners, Communications Department; Memory; and Includes a processor; The above processor is, When paired with the first station among multiple stations, information about the first station is stored in the memory, and When docking with the second station among the plurality of stations while in a state of communication connection with the first station, pairing information of the second station is received from the second station via a first communication method, and The pairing information of the second station is transmitted to the first station via a second communication method, and the communication connection state with the first station is terminated. A robot vacuum cleaner that controls the communication unit to transmit pairing information of the robot vacuum cleaner to the second station and establish a communication connection with the second station.
In a method for controlling a robot vacuum cleaner, A step of receiving and storing information about multiple robot vacuum cleaners that can be individually docked with multiple stations; and A control method comprising: a step of adjusting the communication connection state between the plurality of stations and the plurality of robot vacuums based on the docking state when a first robot vacuum connected to a first station, which is one of the plurality of stations, docks with a second station connected to a second robot vacuum.
In Paragraph 8, The step of adjusting the communication connection status above is, When docking information for the second station is received from the first robot vacuum cleaner, and status information of the second robot vacuum cleaner is received from the second robot vacuum cleaner, A step of transmitting pairing information for the second station to the first robot vacuum cleaner; and A control method comprising the step of transmitting pairing information for a new station to the second robot vacuum cleaner.
In Paragraph 8, A step of storing information about the functions provided by each of the plurality of stations; and A control method further comprising the step of, when the current state of one of the plurality of robot vacuum cleaners is identified, controlling it to dock to a station that provides a function corresponding to the current state based on the stored information.
In Article 10, A control method further comprising the step of controlling another robot vacuum cleaner to undocking with said station when the other robot vacuum cleaner is identified as docking with said station, which provides a function corresponding to said current state.
In Article 10, The step of controlling docking to a station that provides a function corresponding to the above current state is, A control method comprising the step of controlling docking to a station providing a mop washing function among the plurality of stations when the current state is identified as a state requiring mop washing.
In Article 10, The step of controlling docking to a station that provides a function corresponding to the current state is: A control method comprising the step of controlling docking to a station providing a water replenishment function among the plurality of stations when the current state is identified as a state requiring water replenishment.
In a method for controlling a robot vacuum cleaner, A step of storing information about the first station when paired with the first station among a plurality of stations; When docked with the second station among the plurality of stations, a step of receiving pairing information from the second station; A step of transmitting the received pairing information of the second station to the first station and releasing the communication connection state with the first station; and A control method comprising the step of transmitting pairing information of the robot vacuum cleaner to the second station and establishing a communication connection with the second station.
In a non-transient computer-readable recording medium storing a program for performing a control method of a robot vacuum cleaner, The above control method is, A step of receiving and storing information about multiple robot vacuum cleaners that can be individually docked with multiple stations; and A non-transient computer-readable recording medium comprising: a step of adjusting the communication connection state between the plurality of stations and the plurality of robot vacuums based on the docking state when a first robot vacuum connected to a first station, which is one of the plurality of stations, docks with a second station connected to a second robot vacuum.

Description

Robot Cleaner and Control Method Thereof The present disclosure relates to a robot vacuum cleaner and a method for controlling the same. A robot vacuum cleaner is a device that moves and cleans a designated area on its own without any separate operation by the user. While the robot vacuum cleaner is visiting various points within the space to perform cleaning, if various events occur, such as the battery capacity dropping below a threshold, cleaning being completed, the cleaning end time set by the user arriving, or the user inputting a cleaning end command, it can move to a station installed within the space and dock at the station. A station is a device that provides the necessary functions to the robot vacuum cleaner when it is docked. Recently, with the widespread use of robot vacuum cleaners, there has been an increasing number of cases where one or more robot vacuums and stations are used in large indoor spaces. In such cases, when attempting to check the station's status via the robot vacuum, incorrect information may be identified. For example, information such as the remaining dustbin or water tank levels may not be accurately displayed. Therefore, when multiple robot vacuums and stations are present, there has been a growing need for technology to efficiently manage pairing connections between them. FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining the operation of a robot vacuum cleaner and a station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram briefly illustrating the configuration of a robot vacuum cleaner according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3a is a block diagram briefly illustrating the configuration of a station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3b is a drawing showing an example of the external configuration of a station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 4 to 6 are sequence diagrams for explaining various examples of a method for controlling the communication connection status between a plurality of robot vacuum cleaners and stations. FIGS. 7 to 10 are flowcharts for explaining a control method of a robot vacuum cleaner according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The terms used in the embodiments of this disclosure have been selected to be as widely used as possible, taking into account their functions within this disclosure; however, these terms may vary depending on the intent of those skilled in the art, case law, the emergence of new technologies, etc. Additionally, in specific cases, terms have been arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in such cases, their meanings will be described in detail in the relevant explanatory section of this disclosure. Therefore, terms used in this disclosure should be defined not merely by their names, but based on their meanings and the overall content of this disclosure. In this specification, expressions such as “have,” “may have,” “include,” or “may include” indicate the presence of such features (e.g., numerical values, functions, operations, or components such as parts) and do not exclude the presence of additional features. The expression "at least one of A or/and B" should be understood as representing either "A" or "B" or "A and B". Expressions such as "first," "second," "first," or "second" used in this specification may modify various components regardless of order and/or importance, and are used only to distinguish one component from another and do not limit said components. Where it is stated that a component (e.g., Component 1) is "(operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to" or "connected to" another component (e.g., Component 2), it should be understood that the component may be directly connected to the other component or connected through the other component (e.g., Component 3). The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprising" or "consisting of" are intended to specify the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof. In the present disclosure, a "module" or "part" performs at least one function or operation and may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software. Additionally, a plurality of "modules" or a plurality of "parts" may be integrated into at least one module and implemented by at least one processor (not shown), except for a "module" or "part" that needs to be implemented in specific hardware. In this specification, the term "user" may refer to a person using an electronic device (mobile robot) or a device using an electronic device (mobile robot) (e.g., an artificial intelligence electronic