KR100695172B1 - Robot cleaner providing microbe sensing function - Google Patents

Abstract

A robot cleaner having microbe sensing function is provided to fully sterilizing the contaminated area and to normally sterilize the area with less contamination by sensing the contamination level through a microbe. A robot cleaner having microbe sensing function comprises a main body(110) automatically traveling a cleaning area; a dust sucking unit(150) sucking dust in the cleaning area into a predetermined space in the main body; a microbe sensing unit(170) detecting where or not a microbe exists in the cleaning area; and a sterilizing unit(160) operating the sterilizing action according to a microbe contamination measuring signal by the microbe sensing unit. The microbe sensing unit is a gas sensor(171) detecting where or not the microbe exists by sensing a special smell emitted by the microbe. The special smell component is 1-octen-3-lo.

Description

Robot cleaner providing microbe sensing function

1 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of a robot cleaner according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a microorganism detection unit employed in the robot cleaner shown in FIG.

3 is a view showing a modified example of the sterilization unit employed in the robot cleaner shown in FIG.

<Description of Symbols for Major Parts of Drawings>

100 ... robot cleaner 110 ... body

120 Controller 130 Obstacle Detection Sensor

141,142 Camera 150 ...

160 Sterilization 170 Microbiological Detection

Gas Sensor 172 Bypass Hall

The present invention relates to a robot cleaner for sucking and removing contaminants such as dust on the floor while automatically moving around the cleaning space, and more particularly, a robot cleaner having a function of detecting microorganisms.

In general, a robot vacuum cleaner refers to an automatic vacuum cleaner that suctions and removes dust accumulated on the floor while driving a cleaning space by itself without a user's manipulation. Since the robot cleaner uses a sensor to freely change direction while avoiding obstacles in the cleaning space, the robot cleaner can be used not only in a large open space but also in a household filled with furniture, and thus has been in the spotlight.

Meanwhile, as respiratory diseases caused by various bacteria and pathogens have recently emerged as problems, there is a need for a cleaner that can effectively remove such microorganisms rather than a simple dust removal level. No. 2005-13866 discloses a robot cleaner with a sterilization function added to the cleaning function. This is designed to install sterilizing UV lamps on some parts of the robot cleaner so that sterilization by UV lamps can be performed while cleaning is in progress.

However, in such a structure, since the cleaning operation is performed by the user's mode selection to turn on / off the UV lamp, whether or not contamination by microorganism actually occurs, it is difficult to see that efficient sterilization is achieved. In other words, if sterilization is carried out by focusing ultraviolet rays where microbial contamination occurs and only basic sterilization is performed, sterilization can be performed quickly and effectively. As you progress, your work efficiency decreases. On the contrary, where sterilization is really necessary, you may not have enough time to sterilize it.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, there is a need for a robot cleaner capable of recognizing contamination by microorganisms.

The present invention has been made in view of the above necessity, and an object thereof is to provide an improved robot cleaner to detect sterilization by microorganisms and actively carry out sterilization with cleaning.

Robot cleaner of the present invention for achieving the above object, the main body for automatically running the cleaning space; A suction part for sucking dust and the like in the cleaning space into a predetermined space provided in the main body; And a sterilization unit for sterilizing the corresponding area according to the microbial contamination detection unit detecting the microbial contamination in the cleaning space and the microbial contamination measurement signal by the microorganism detection unit.

The microbial contamination detection unit is preferably a gas sensor to detect the presence of microorganisms by detecting a specific odor component such as 1-octen-3-ol.

The gas sensor includes a substrate, a sensing layer stacked on the substrate and reacting with the specific odor component to cause a resistance change, an electrode embedded in the sensing film to measure the resistance change, and the sensing film to measure resistance change. And a semiconductor sensor having a heater for heating to a suitable temperature, a filtration layer for filtering gas other than the specific odor component from being mixed with the sensing film, and a mesh cap for preventing dust from being mixed into the sensing film. have.

The sensing film has at least one component selected from among metal oxides SnO ₂ , In ₂ O ₃ , WO ₃ , and SiO ₂ as a main material, and at least one selected from ZnO, Al ₂ O ₃ , NiO, and TiO ₂ as an additive material. It is added at a ratio of 5 to 15wt% per unit weight of the main substance, and as a catalyst, at least one component of noble metals such as Pt, Pd, Au and the like can be made by adding at a ratio of 0.1 to 1wt% per unit weight of the main substance. have.

The sterilization unit may be one of an ultraviolet lamp and a steam generator.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, terms or words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to the common or dictionary meanings, and the inventors should properly explain the concept of terms in order to best explain their own invention. Based on the principle that can be defined, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in the specification and the drawings shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical idea of the present invention, various modifications that can be replaced at the time of the present application It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

1 shows a robot cleaner 100 according to the present invention.

As shown, the robot cleaner 100 of the present invention has a structure in which the running, cleaning and sterilization is automatically performed by the controller 120 embedded in the main body 110. That is, when the sensor 120 detects its position and the position of the obstacle using the obstacle sensor 130, the front camera 141, and the upper camera 142, the controller 120 based on the information, the main body 110 cleans the space. To automatically run, in the process of the suction unit 150 to perform the cleaning operation to suck the dust, the sterilization unit 160 including the ultraviolet lamp 161 to perform the sterilization operation. Up to now, it is similar to the conventional robot cleaner disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-13866.

However, the robot cleaner 100 of the present invention is further provided with a microbial detection unit 170 that can determine whether or not microbial contamination has occurred in the cleaning space. That is, in the case of the conventional robot cleaner, the sterilization operation is performed only in a predetermined pattern by the on / off of the sterilization mode, but in the present invention, the microorganism detection unit 170 measures whether the microorganism is contaminated and the result Accordingly, feedback control is performed to differentiate sterilization operations.

The microorganism detection unit 170 is installed in the bypass pipe 172 branched from the reduction unit 150 to collect and measure a part of the air sucked from the reduction unit 150, and is included in the intake air. It is provided with a gas sensor 171 that can detect a specific odor component of the microorganism. In other words, when contamination is caused by microorganisms, a unique odor is produced. When analyzing the components causing the odor, there are components included in the microorganisms, although they are slightly different. The microorganism detection unit 170 is configured as a gas sensor 171 that can detect the common specific odor component and find out the degree of contamination by microorganisms. Therefore, when it is detected that the specific odor component is contained in the air introduced through the reducer 150, the signal is transmitted to the controller 120, the controller 120 is located in the area that is determined to be a lot of pollution Differentiated sterilization such as longer lasting sterilization time by the ultraviolet lamp 161 is performed. 1-octen-3-ol is a common ingredient in the smell of most microorganisms. Of course, not all strains contain this component, but microorganisms found in everyday life exist in complex species, so it is expected that these components will be commonly found in environments where many microorganisms are contaminated.

Meanwhile, as the gas sensor 171 for detecting the 1-octen-3-ol component, a semiconductor type as illustrated in FIG. 2 may be employed. This is a structure for measuring the change in the electrical resistance of the sensing film 171c in response to 1-octen-3-ol. The electrode 171b and the sensing film 171c are laminated on the alumina substrate 171a, and thus the sensing film ( The resistance change of the 171c is configured to be measured by the electrode 171b. Reference numeral 171d denotes a heater that heats the sensing membrane to a temperature suitable for measurement, reference numeral 171f denotes a mesh cap to filter out dust in inhaled air, and reference numeral 171e filters other odor components other than 1-octen-3-ol. The filtration layer is shown.

The semiconductor gas sensor 171 is operated on the following principle. First, the sensing layer 171c is mainly made of metal oxides SnO ₂ , In ₂ O ₃ , WO ₃ , SiO ₂ , and the like. In addition, ZnO, Al ₂ O ₃ , NiO, TiO _2, and the like are added at a ratio of 5 to 15 wt% per unit weight of the main substance, and precious metals such as Pt, Pd, and Au are used as the unit of the main substance. It is added at a ratio of 0.1-1 wt% per weight. The metal oxide, which is the main material of the sensing film 171c, exhibits a characteristic that oxygen adsorption occurs when heated to a specific temperature in air. The adsorbed oxygen forms a potential barrier at the grain boundaries of the metal oxides, thereby preventing free carriers such as electrons from freely moving. In other words, it serves as an electrical resistance. However, when 1-octen-3-ol, which is a reducing gas, is contacted thereto, the adsorbed oxygen reacts with 1-octen-3-ol, resulting in a decrease in density and a change in resistance. Therefore, this change in resistance is measured by energization through the electrode 171b, and the content of 1-octen-3-ol is calculated therefrom. Of course, if a lot of 1-octen-3-ol is detected, it means that the microbial contamination is severe, and if the amount detected is small, the degree of contamination is weak.

The robot cleaner 100 having the microorganism detection unit 170 having such a configuration operates as follows.

Once the cleaning operation is started, the main body 110 travels through the cleaning space under the control of the controller 120. In addition, the suction unit 150 and the sterilization unit 160 are also cleaned and sterilized under the control of the controller 120. At this time, the sterilization operation by the sterilization unit 160 is performed in the entire cleaning space as in the prior art. Rather than unilateral sterilization, the sterilization operation is performed with selective strength corresponding to the detection signal from the microorganism detection unit 170. To this end, the gas sensor 171 of the microorganism detecting unit 170 determines the degree of containing microorganisms, that is, the content of 1-octen-3-ol, from the air entering the bypass tube 172 through the following process. .

Referring to FIG. 2, first, air from the bypass pipe 172 enters the gas sensor 171 through the mesh cap 171f. At this time, the dust in the air is filtered by the mesh cap (171f). Mesh cap (171f) is good if the mesh employs a Teflon material with a hole diameter of 2㎛ level to filter out fine dust.

In addition, the filter layer 171e inside the mesh cap 171f filters ammonia and hydrogen sulfide-based gases that may act as noise in addition to 1-octen-3-ol as a detection target. This filtration layer is not reactive with 1-octen-3-ol and may be used to react with the above-described ammonia and hydrogen sulfide-based gases. For example, activated carbon or zeolite-based materials may be used.

The gas passing through the filtration layer 171e is in contact with the sensing membrane 171c with only 1-octen-3-ol remaining. At this time, the sensing film 171c is heated to about 200 to 300 ° C. by the heater 171d, so that oxygen is adsorbed to the grain boundary. When reaction with 1-octen-3-ol occurs, the oxygen density decreases and the resistance is reduced. The value will change. The change in the resistance value is transmitted to the controller 120 as an electric signal through the electrode 171b. When the controller 120 determines that the microbial contamination is severe according to the signal, the ultraviolet lamp 161 of the sterilization unit 160 is changed. Adjust the movement speed so that you can sting in the area for a long time. In some cases, by increasing the UV light intensity can be enhanced sterilization. Of course, where 1-octen-3-ol is hardly detected, microbial contamination is low, so only basic sterilization is performed and rapid cleaning is possible.

Therefore, since the sterilization operation is continued for a longer time in a region where the microbial contamination is severe, sufficient sterilization operation is performed, and only a basic sterilization operation is performed in an area with little contamination, so that both sterilization and cleaning operations can be efficiently performed.

On the other hand, the sensing film 171c of the sensor 171 may be made by patterning and firing, for example, into a powder in which the main material, the additive material, and the catalyst are mixed. That is, when the electrode 171b and the heater 171d are patterned on the washed and dried alumina substrate 171a, and the powder mixed with the main material, the additive material, and the catalyst is patterned to fire the sensing film 171c. As described above, a sensor 171 capable of measuring resistance is made. When the mesh cap 171f in which the filtration layer 171e is embedded is placed thereon, the gas sensor 171 as shown in FIG. 2 is completed. Of course, this is an example of making the gas sensor 171, but can be made in various other ways.

In addition, the present embodiment illustrates that the sterilization unit 160 is an ultraviolet lamp 161. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a steam generator 162 is employed to perform sterilization by steam. It may be.

Since the robot cleaner according to the present invention directly measures the degree of contamination by microorganisms and performs a sterilization operation according to the measurement result, sufficient sterilization is performed in places where pollution is severe, and only basic sterilization is performed in other places. Since cleaning can be performed, both cleaning and sterilization efficiency can be improved.

As described above, although the present invention has been described by way of limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto and is intended by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of equivalents of the claims to be described.

Claims (7)

A body for automatically driving the cleaning space; A suction part for sucking dust and the like in the cleaning space into a predetermined space provided in the main body; Microbial contamination detection unit for detecting whether or not microbial contamination in the cleaning space, And a sterilization unit which sterilizes the corresponding area according to the microbial contamination measurement signal by the microorganism detection unit. The method of claim 1, The microbial contamination detection unit, Robot cleaner comprising a gas sensor for detecting the presence of microorganisms by detecting a specific odor component emitted by the microorganisms. The method of claim 2, The specific odor component is a robot cleaner, characterized in that 1-octen-3-ol component. The method of claim 2, The gas sensor, Substrate, A sensing film laminated on the substrate and reacting with the specific odor component to cause a resistance change; An electrode embedded in the sensing film and measuring a resistance change thereof; A heater for heating the sensing film to a temperature suitable for measuring resistance change; A filtration layer for filtering gas other than the specific odor component so as not to be mixed into the sensing membrane; And a semiconductor sensor having a mesh cap to prevent dust from being mixed into the sensing film. The method of claim 4, wherein The sensing film is a robot cleaner, characterized in that the metal oxide is made of at least one component selected from SnO ₂ , In ₂ O ₃ , WO ₃ , SiO ₂ as a main material. The method of claim 5, At least one component selected from ZnO, Al ₂ O ₃ , NiO, and TiO ₂ as an additive is added to the sensing film at a ratio of 5 to 15 wt% per unit weight of the main material, As the catalyst, at least one component of noble metals such as Pt, Pd and Au is added at a ratio of 0.1 to 1 wt% per unit weight of the main substance. The method of claim 1, The sterilizing unit is a robot cleaner, characterized in that it comprises at least one of an ultraviolet lamp and a steam generator.

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