Robot Cleaner Light Signaling for Driving Status Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in determining the status and conditions of robot cleaners while they are operating autonomously, as existing technologies lack effective methods to communicate their driving conditions and surroundings.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating light emitting units on the robot cleaner that emit light in various forms and patterns based on its driving conditions, such as stopping, moving, or rotating, to provide visual feedback of its status and surroundings, along with a controller that manages the light emitting units to reflect light in specific patterns and angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple functions are implemented in the robot cleaner, then the capability and versatility of the device are improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the driving condition status worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces light emitting units as intermediary devices that visually represent the driving condition status of the robot cleaner. These light emitting units act as mediators between the complex internal state of the multi-functional device and the user's perception, translating internal status into observable visual signals without adding complexity to the core cleaning functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color changes in light emitting units to encode different driving condition statuses. By varying the color, intensity, or pattern of emitted light, the system communicates multiple pieces of status information (such as cleaning mode, battery level, obstacle detection) through simple visual cues, making it easy for users to monitor the device state despite the complexity of implemented functions
2Ease of operation
If light emitting units are added to show driving conditions, then the ease of operation and user awareness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitting units are designed to serve multiple purposes: they indicate driving condition status, provide aesthetic illumination, and can potentially guide the robot's movement path. By making these components multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated devices for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while still improving user awareness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent strategically positions light emitting units at specific locations on the robot cleaner body where they can effectively communicate status information to users. By concentrating visual indication functions at specific locations rather than distributing them throughout the entire device, the system achieves good user awareness with minimal additional structural complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to easily identify the driving conditions and surrounding environment of the robot cleaner through visual cues, enhancing user awareness and providing an aesthetic appearance of life-like movement without manual control.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light emitting units provided at a lower portion of the main body, and formed to emit light to an outside according to a driving condition of the driving unit
Implementation Method 2
a reflector formed in a partial region of an inner surface of the support portion to have an opening portion to reflect light toward a lower portion thereof
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a robot cleaner comprising: a main body which forms an outer appearance; a driving unit for moving the main body; a cleaning unit, installed at the lower portion of the main body, for sucking filth or dust on a floor surface or in the air; light emitting units which are installed at the lower portion of the main body and configured to externally emit light according the driving condition of the driving unit; and a controller for controlling the plurality of light emitting units so that the light emitting units emit light in forms different from each other according to each of a first driving condition where the main body is stopped, a second driving condition where the main body moves, and a third driving condition where the main body rotates.