Rotary Mop Attachment Sensing for Floor-Protecting Robot Cleaners

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current robot cleaners lack a method to detect whether a mop cloth is attached to the rotating mop, leading to ineffective cleaning due to potential misuse without a mop.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a mop sensing unit with micro switches on the rotating plate to detect the presence of a mop cloth and transmit a reference voltage signal to the controller, which determines the attachment state and alerts the user if the mop cloth is not properly attached.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mop sensing unit with micro switches is added to detect mop cloth attachment, then the reliability of cleaning operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning operation reliabilityVSAvoidsensing unit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex optical or capacitive sensing systems with simple mechanical micro switches that detect mop cloth attachment through direct physical contact. The micro switch acts as a binary sensor that closes the circuit when the mop cloth is present, providing reliable detection with minimal structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inexpensive micro switches as disposable or replaceable sensing elements. These simple mechanical components can be easily replaced if worn out, and their low cost allows for redundancy without significantly increasing system complexity or expense.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If multiple micro switches are arranged on each rotary mop to detect mop cloth attachment, then the measurement precision of attachment state is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment state detection precisionVSAvoidmicro switch arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the sensing function into multiple discrete micro switches positioned at different locations on the rotary mop. Each micro switch independently detects attachment at its specific position, and the controller integrates these segmented detection results to determine overall attachment status, improving precision through distributed sensing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses more micro switches than the absolute minimum required for basic detection. This excessive action provides redundant detection points that improve measurement precision by confirming attachment status through multiple independent sensors, ensuring reliable detection even if one sensor fails.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11844475B2AI robot cleaner and robot system having the same

Publication Date: 2023.12.19 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A robot cleaner of the present disclosure includes: a main body forming an outer shape; a pair of rotary mops configured to rotate in contact with a floor to move the main body; a drive motor configured to rotate the pair of rotary mops; a mop sensing unit comprising at least one micro switch provided on a surface of the rotating plate configured to output a sensing signal when the mop cloth is attached; and a controller configured to determine attachment state of the mop cloth based on the sensing signal and control the driving of the rotary mop. Accordingly, the robot cleaner may detect whether the mop cloth is attached to the rotating mop, and alert the user, thereby protecting the floor by preventing wet cleaning without the mop.