Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a rotatable wet cloth cleaning unit. The vacuum cleaner is capable of not only cleaning dust, but also removing stubborn dirt such as a foreign substance stuck in a floor surface to be cleaned. The robot cleaner has a robot cleaner body which as a control unit programmed to cause the robot cleaner to automatically run along a floor surface to be cleaned and perform a cleaning operation in accordance with preset values. The robot cleaner further includes a driving portion driven in accordance with a control signal from the control unit and a dust suction portion for capturing and collecting dust by a suction motor. The robot cleaner has a rotatable wet cloth cleaning unit detachably secured to a lower surface of the robot cleaner body.

Abstract: A robot cleaner for cleaning ambient air in a cleaning area while cleaning a cleaning surface, and a system thereof. The robot cleaner and the system thereof comprise a body, a driving part driving a plurality of wheels disposed at a lower portion of the body, a dust suction part formed in the body to draw-in dust from a cleaning surface, and an air cleaning part formed in the body to draw-in dust-ladened air from a cleaning area. The robot cleaner cleans the air and discharges cleaned air, and, utilizing a controller disposed in the body, controls the driving part and the air cleaning part. Accordingly, since the robot cleaner provides cleaned and fresh air to a predetermined cleaning area while cleaning a surface, it contributes to a fresher residential environment.

Abstract: A robot cleaner, a system thereof, and a method for controlling the same. The robot cleaner system includes a robot cleaner that performs a cleaning operation while communicating wirelessly with an external device. The robot cleaner has a plurality of proximity switches arranged in a row on a lower portion of the cleaner body. A guiding plate is disposed in the floor of the work area, the guiding plate having metal lines formed in a predetermined pattern, the metal lines being detectible by the proximity switches. Since the recognition of the location and the determination of traveling trajectory of the cleaner within a work area becomes easier, performance of the robot cleaner is enhanced, while a burden of having to process algorithms is lessened.

Abstract: Disclosed is a driving apparatus for a robot cleaner enabling drive wheels to be in contact with a floor all the time. The driving apparatus for a robot cleaner includes a robot cleaner main body, driving motors mounted in the robot cleaner main body, and for transferring power to drive wheels, driving motor housings hinged with the robot cleaner main body, and for accommodating the driving motors therein, and pressure members disposed between the robot cleaner main body and the driving motor housings, and for pressing the driving motor housings. Accordingly, the driving motor housings are mounted to rotate about the center of the rotation hinges so that the drive wheels come in contact with the floor all the time, preventing the drive wheels from being lifted over the floor and making lost rotations due to curved portions of the floor or obstacles.

Abstract: A robot cleaner system for detecting an external recharging apparatus which is positioned in a non-detectable area by an upper camera thereof, and a docking method for docking the robot cleaner system with the external recharging apparatus. The robot cleaner system includes an external recharging apparatus with a power terminal connected to a utility power supply, a recharging apparatus recognition mark formed on the external recharging apparatus, and a robot cleaner, having a recognition mark sensor that detects the recharging apparatus recognition mark, and a rechargeable battery. The robot cleaner automatically docks to the power terminal to recharge the rechargeable battery. The recharging apparatus recognition mark is made of retroreflective material or a metal tape, and the recognition mark sensor may be a photosensor or a proximity sensor.

Abstract: A robot cleaner, robot cleaning system, and a method for controlling the same, using wireless communications an upwardly-looking camera for photographing an upper image perpendicular to a forward-looking direction of driving the robot cleaner; and a controller for controlling the driving unit to allow the robot cleaner to drive within a cleaning area according to a predetermined driving path, and compensating the driving path by analyzing the image photographed by the upwardly-looking camera. Optional features include second forwardly directed camera to provide a three dimensional image sensors for sensing walls or obstacles and transmission of data to external processor/controllers by a radio antenna. The inventive system can recognize the robot cleaner position more accurately by using a relatively constant upper image reducing movement error to a target position.

Abstract: A robot cleaner, a robot cleaning system and a method for controlling the same that is capable of independently determining whether a cleaning work in a work area is completed.

Abstract: A robot cleaner includes a drive unit for driving a plurality of wheels, a camera disposed in a body for photographing an upper image extending perpendicular to a running direction, a controller for recognizing a position by using position information obtained from a recognition mark formed on a ceiling of a working area that is photographed by the camera, and controlling the drive unit by using the recognized position information to correspond to a target cleaning operation. Accordingly, since the recognition mark for the recognition of a current position of the robot cleaner is formed on a ceiling that has a few changes, the position recognition is performed with more accuracy and the traveling of the robot cleaner to the target work area and a cleaning operation is performed efficiently.

Abstract: A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner includes a cyclone body and a separately removable contaminant receptacle. The cyclone body, which is fixed to a fan motor portion of a cleaner body, separates contaminants from the air that is drawn into the cleaner body. The cyclone body having a contaminant outlet, through which the contaminants are discharged. The contaminant receptacle is removably coupled to a lower side of the cyclone body and receiving the contaminants through a contaminant inlet that is aligned with the contaminant outlet of the cyclone body. Since the contaminant receptacle is removable independent of the cyclone body, it is smaller, lighter and easier for a user to handle.

Abstract: A robot vacuum cleaner comprises a cleaner body having a wheel disposed at a lower portion and a suction port through which contaminants are drawn in from a cleaning surface; and an air circulating mechanism for filtering out contaminants from the contaminant-laden air drawn in through the suction port and then jetting the contaminant-free air to an air jet opening to help dislodge contaminants from the cleaning surface. The air jet opening is adjacent to the suction port; and the two elements are surrounded by a sealing member for sealing off a portion between the cleaning surface and the cleaner body to prevent dislodged contaminants from being dispersed outwardly.

Abstract: A robot cleaning system using a mobile communication network capable of controlling a cleaning robot from a long distance, the robot cleaning system transmitting an image data after converting the image data photographed at self-contained cameras by means of a mobile communication signal.

Abstract: A robot cleaner, a system thereof, and a method for controlling the same. The robot cleaner system includes a robot cleaner that performs a cleaning operation while communicating wirelessly with an external device. The robot cleaner has a plurality of proximity switches arranged in a row on a lower portion of the cleaner body. A guiding plate is disposed in the floor of the work area, the guiding plate having metal lines formed in a predetermined pattern, the metal lines being detectible by the proximity switches. Since the recognition of the location and the determination of traveling trajectory of the cleaner within a work area becomes easier, performance of the robot cleaner is enhanced, while a burden of having to process algorithms is lessened.

Abstract: A robot cleaner, robot cleaning system, and a method for controlling the same, the robot cleaner cleaning by wirelessly communicating with an external apparatus having a driving unit for driving a plurality of wheels; an upper camera disposed on a main body for photographing an upper image perpendicular to a direction of driving the robot cleaner; and a controller for controlling the driving unit to allow the robot cleaner to drive with a cleaning area according to a predetermined driving pattern, and compensating the driving path by analyzing the image photographed by the upper camera. In other embodiments, the robot cleaner may include a second forwardly directed camera which may be utilized to provide a three dimensional image of the cleaning area, and also sensors for sensing the walls defining a cleaning area or obstacles in the cleaning area.

Abstract: A robot cleaning system using a mobile communication network capable of controlling a cleaning robot from a long distance, the robot cleaning system transmitting an image data after converting the image data photographed at self-contained cameras by means of a mobile communication signal.

Abstract: A robot cleaner capable of returning to an external recharging device.

Abstract: A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner includes a cyclone body and a separately removable contaminant receptacle. The cyclone body, which is fixed to a fan motor portion of a cleaner body, separates contaminants from the air that is drawn into the cleaner body. The cyclone body having a contaminant outlet, through which the contaminants are discharged. The contaminant receptacle is removably coupled to a lower side of the cyclone body and receiving the contaminants through a contaminant inlet that is aligned with the contaminant outlet of the cyclone body. Since the contaminant receptacle is removable independent of the cyclone body, it is smaller, lighter and easier for a user to handle.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body, a suction brush, through which air and contaminants are drawn in, and a cyclone type dust collecting device. The cleaner body has a motor driving chamber and a dust collecting chamber in communication with the motor driving chamber. The cyclone type dust collecting device is mounted in the dust collecting chamber and separates by centrifugal force the contaminants from the air. The cyclone type dust collecting device includes a hollow cylindrical cyclone body having an open top, a closed bottom, and a contaminant outlet. The open top allows air and contaminants into the cyclone body, where the contaminants are separated from the air by centrifugation. The contaminants are then discharged from the cyclone body through the contaminant outlet.