Robot Cleaner Multi-Sensor Dust Detection for Re-Cleaning Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional robot cleaners cannot determine if dust has been properly removed from a cleaned area, leading to limitations in cleaning function and performance, as they lack the ability to assess the cleaning state and perform re-cleaning accordingly.

Innovation Solution

A robot cleaner equipped with multiple dust sensors and a control unit that sets traveling routes and modes, interchanges sensing orders, and adjusts cleaning based on sensing results to determine the cleaning state and perform re-cleaning as needed, ensuring effective dust removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single dust sensor is used to detect dust during cleaning, then the device complexity is low, but the cleaning state cannot be accurately determined

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning state determination accuracyVSAvoidnumber of dust sensors
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning area is divided into multiple zones with different dust sensors monitoring each zone. The cleaning path is segmented into pre-cleaning and post-cleaning detection sections, allowing comprehensive coverage of the cleaning state through distributed sensing points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a temporal dimension by comparing dust levels before and after cleaning operations. Multiple sensors are positioned to detect dust at different stages of the cleaning process, creating a time-based evaluation framework that transforms spatial sensor distribution into temporal cleaning state assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If multiple dust sensors are added to determine cleaning state, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust removal verification accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously receives dust detection data from multiple sensors and compares it against cleaning standards. This feedback mechanism enables automatic determination of cleaning quality and triggers re-cleaning operations when necessary, creating a closed-loop control system that uses sensor data to drive cleaning decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Dust sensors are positioned to detect dust levels before cleaning operations begin, allowing the system to pre-assess cleaning needs and plan appropriate cleaning actions. This preliminary detection enables proactive cleaning scheduling and resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the robot cleaner does not verify cleaning results, then the productivity is high, but the cleaning quality is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning quality assuranceVSAvoidcleaning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic verification of cleaning quality through scheduled post-cleaning dust detection. The system performs cleaning operations followed by periodic dust level checks, creating a rhythm of clean-verify-reclean cycles that ensure quality standards are met while maintaining efficient operation patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning system autonomously monitors its own performance through integrated dust sensors and automatically determines when re-cleaning is needed. The control unit processes sensor data and makes independent decisions about cleaning quality and subsequent actions without external intervention, enabling self-verification of cleaning results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The robot cleaner can accurately assess the cleaning state of a traveling route, perform re-cleaning when necessary, and achieve thorough cleaning by utilizing multiple dust sensors and a control unit to optimize its cleaning operations.

Implementation Method 1

a first dust sensor disposed at the front side of the main body and sensing dust in a traveling path of the main body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP3048502B1Robot cleaner and method for controlling robot cleaner
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3048502B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3048502B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3048502B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided is a robot cleaner and a method for controlling the robot cleaner. A cleaning state of a traveling route is determined according to sensing results from a plurality of dust sensors, and cleaning is performed according to the cleaning state to determine whether cleaning has been properly performed on the traveling route, and the traveling route may be cleaned again.