Robot vacuum cleaner having microbe sensing function

Abstract

A robot vacuum cleaner having a microbe sensing function is provided. The robot vacuum cleaner includes: a cleaner body which automatically travels in an area to be cleaned; a suction unit which sucks dust in the area to be cleaned into a specific space included in the cleaner body; a microbe contamination sensor which detects a microbe contamination in the area to be cleaned; and a sterilizing unit which sterilizes a corresponding portion according to a microbe contamination measuring signal generated from the microbe contamination sensor. Accordingly, a robot vacuum cleaner directly measures a level of microbe contamination to perform a sterilizing operation according to the result obtained from measurement. As a result, the sterilizing operation is performed sufficiently in a severely contaminated area, the sterilizing operation is performed in a general manner in other areas, and thus a cleaning operation can be rapidly carried out. Therefore, efficiencies in the cleaning and sterilizing operations are improved.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0022325, filed on Mar. 9, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the invention[0003]The present invention relates to a robot vacuum cleaner that automatically travels in an area to be cleaned in order to suck and thereby remove contaminants (i.e. dust) on the floor, and more particularly, to a robot vacuum cleaner having a microbe sensing function.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In general, a robot vacuum cleaner is an autonomous vacuum cleaner which can remove dust on the floor by suction while finding its own way around an area to be cleaned without a user's control. Such robot vacuum cleaner uses a sensor to avoid an obstacle that exists in the area to be cleaned, so that the robot vacuum cleaner can travel itse...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is an improved robot cleaner that can detect and remove microbe contamination in addition to cleaning. The robot cleaner has a microbe contamination sensor that detects smell components produced by microbes and a sterilizing unit that uses ultraviolet rays or steam to sterilize the contaminated area. The sensor uses a gas sensor with a sensing layer, an electrode, a heater, a filter layer, and a mesh cap. The sensing layer is made of metal oxide materials with additives and a catalyst, and the sterilizing unit includes an ultraviolet ray lamp or steam generator. The technical effects of this invention are improved cleaning efficiency and reduced risk of spreading microbes.

Problems solved by technology

In this structure, however, it is difficult to expect that the sterilizing operation is carried out effectively.

Therefore, if the cleaning operation is performed together with the sterilizing operation with respect to a whole area irrespective of the microbe contaminant, efficiency of the sterilizing operation decreases.

Further, the sterilizing operation may be performed improperly because a sufficient time may not be ensured for an area required to be sterilized.

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