KR101233158B1 - Robot cleaner having Avatar Image Displaying Unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a robot cleaner for displaying operation information of a robot cleaner through an avatar, comprising: a cleaner body which automatically runs; A display unit having an avatar display unit for displaying operation information of the robot cleaner through an avatar, the display unit being provided to the cleaner body; And it provides a robot cleaner comprising a microcomputer having a function to control the display of the avatar. According to the robot cleaner having the above configuration, since the user can easily recognize the operation information of the cleaner, the use of the cleaner becomes more convenient.

Robot cleaner, cleaner body, avatar, display unit, avatar display unit

Description

Robot cleaner having Avatar Image Displaying Unit

1 is a perspective view showing a robot cleaner according to the present invention

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the robot cleaner according to the present invention

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the robot cleaner according to the present invention

4 is a block diagram of a robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a robot vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the present invention

6A and 6B illustrate embodiments of an avatar displaying information regarding a driving mode of a robot cleaner according to the present invention.

7 is a view showing an embodiment of an avatar displaying information on overheating of a motor of a robot cleaner according to the present invention.

8 is a view showing an embodiment of an avatar displaying information on the dust collector of the robot cleaner according to the present invention;

9 is a view showing an embodiment of an avatar displaying information on a filter of a robot cleaner according to the present invention.

10 is a view showing an embodiment of an avatar displaying information on edge data of the robot cleaner according to the present invention.

11 is a view showing an embodiment of an avatar displaying information on an error of a robot vacuum cleaner according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

20: display unit 21: avatar display unit

22: operation display unit 25: audio output unit

30: microcomputer 41: sensor unit

42: operation unit 43: key input unit

51: motor 60: avatar information storage unit

100: robot cleaner 110: cleaner body

120: air suction device 130: suction unit

131: inlet 132: edge data

The present invention relates to a robot cleaner, and more particularly, to a robot cleaner for displaying information related to the operation of the robot cleaner through an avatar.

In general, the vacuum cleaner is a device that is provided inside the cleaner body to drive the air suction device for generating an air suction force, and then suctions the air containing the foreign matter from the outside, and then separates and collects the foreign matter.

Vacuum cleaners that perform the above functions are classified into manual vacuum cleaners that are directly operated by a user, and robot cleaners that perform cleaning by themselves without the user's manipulation.

Here, the robot cleaner is a device that sucks foreign substances such as dust from the floor while traveling by itself in the area to be cleaned. In other words, the robot cleaner automatically cleans a certain area.

To this end, the robot cleaner is provided with a distance sensor for detecting a distance to an obstacle such as furniture, office supplies, walls, and the like, and left and right wheels for moving the robot cleaner.

Here, the left and right wheels are configured to rotate by the left wheel motor and the right wheel motor, respectively, so that the robot cleaner performs the cleaning of the room by changing the direction by itself according to the driving of the left wheel motor and the right wheel motor.

In addition, a lower portion of the robot cleaner, the suction unit for sucking the foreign matter from the bottom is provided.

The suction unit includes a nozzle case integrally fixed to the cleaner body, a suction inlet formed at a bottom of the nozzle case, and an edge data rotatably provided at the suction port.

Here, the edge data has a function of sweeping up foreign matter such as dust accumulated on the floor to the suction port.

The conventional robot cleaner configured as described above is sold to consumers and used for a long time by consumers in the home, and various means for accurately delivering robot cleaner related information to various consumers with the sale of the robot cleaner are proposed. have.

Here, the robot cleaner-related information refers to information on how to use the cleaner, how to cope with errors, and the operation state of the cleaner.

In order to deliver the use of the cleaner or how to deal with errors among the robot cleaner-related information as described above, it is common to manufacture a method of using and repairing the cleaner in the form of a booklet (manual) in the release stage of the robot cleaner in general. .

However, the manual as described above generally does not tend to be read by the consumer except when an abnormality occurs in the robot cleaner, and is not properly stored, and thus it is not a means for providing appropriate information when necessary. There is a problem.

In addition, in the related art, the display of the current operation state according to the progress and control of the robot cleaner was also usually displayed by blinking or displaying simple information by using a character. Thus, the above-described conventional information transmission method may cause excessive concentration or effort through the five senses of the user. In other words, there was a problem that an error occurring during the operation state of the robot cleaner or the use of the robot cleaner is not properly transmitted to the user.

In particular, even though an error occurs during the operation of the robot cleaner, when the user does not recognize the problem, the internal parts of the robot cleaner may be damaged or may not be properly cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a robot cleaner that can easily recognize information related to the operation of the robot cleaner to the user.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, the cleaner body to automatically run; A display unit having an avatar display unit for displaying operation information of the robot cleaner through an avatar, the display unit being provided to the cleaner body; And it provides a robot cleaner comprising a microcomputer having a function to control the display of the avatar.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention in which the object of the present invention can be specifically realized will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present embodiment, the same name and the same reference numerals are used for the same configuration and additional description thereof will be omitted below.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a robot cleaner as an example of a vacuum cleaner having a dust collecting device according to the present invention will be described.

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a robot cleaner provided with a suction unit according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of a robot cleaner provided with a suction unit according to the present invention, and Figure 3 is Bottom perspective view of a robot cleaner provided with a suction unit according to the invention.

1 and 3, the robot cleaner 100 may include a cleaner body 110 forming an appearance, an air suction device 120 provided inside the cleaner body 110, and the air suction device 120. It is configured to include a suction unit 130 for sucking the dust of the floor by the drive of), and a dust collector 140 for collecting the foreign matter in the air sucked by the suction unit 130.

Here, the cleaner body 110 of the robot cleaner 100 has a cylindrical shape that is relatively low in height compared to the diameter, that is, a flat cylindrical shape.

In addition, the inside of the cleaner body 110 is provided with the air suction device 120, the suction unit 130, and the dust collector 140 in communication with the suction unit 130 is provided in the communication tube 141. Is connected by.

In addition, the outer circumferential surface of the cleaner body 110 is provided with a sensor (not shown) for sensing the distance to the wall or an obstacle in the room and a bumper (not shown) that buffers a shock when colliding with the cleaner body 110. Lower left and right driving wheels 150 and 160 for moving the robot cleaner 100 are respectively provided at both lower sides thereof, and a roller 170 is provided at the bottom front of the cleaner body 110.

Here, the left and right driving wheels 150 and 160 are configured to rotate by the left wheel motor 151 and the right wheel motor 161 controlled by the controller 180, respectively, and the left wheel motor 151 and the right wheel motor ( In accordance with the driving of the 161, the robot cleaner 100 performs the cleaning of the room while changing the direction by itself.

At least one auxiliary wheel 170 is provided at the bottom of the cleaner body 110 to guide the movement of the robot cleaner 100 while minimizing friction between the robot cleaner and the floor.

When the internal configuration of the robot cleaner 100 will be described in more detail, the front part of the cleaner body 110 is provided with a controller 180 in which various electrical components for controlling the driving of the robot cleaner 100 are arranged. The battery 190 is provided at the rear of the controller 180 to supply power to the air suction device 120 and the like.

The air suction device 120 for generating an air suction force is provided at the rear of the battery 190, and a dust collector mounting part 140a is formed at the rear of the air suction device 120 to provide the dust collector 140. It is detached from the rear of the cleaner body 110.

In addition, the suction unit 130 is provided below the dust collecting device 140 to suck foreign substances on the floor together with air.

Here, the air suction device 120 is installed inclined between the battery 190 and the dust collector 140, the motor is electrically connected to the battery 190 and the rotary shaft of the motor connected to the air And a fan (not shown) forcing the flow.

Next, the suction unit 130 is exposed to the lower side of the cleaner body 110 through an opening (not shown) formed in the bottom of the cleaner body 110, thereby contacting the floor of the room.

A suction port 131 is formed at the bottom of the suction unit 130 to suck foreign matter such as dust, and the edge port 132 is rotatably provided at the suction port 131.

Here, the edge data 132 is stirred, such as shaking off or separating foreign matters such as dust accumulated or buried on the floor of the room, and sweeps the dust into the suction port 131, so that the dust The suction port 131 can be sucked smoothly.

Referring to the operation of the robot cleaner according to the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

First, when a driving signal is input to the robot cleaner 100 by an operation unit 111 provided on the cleaner body 110 or a separate remote controller, the robot cleaner 100 moves itself along the floor of the room. Foreign substances such as dust accumulated on the floor are sucked through the suction unit 130.

At this time, the edge data 132 provided in the suction unit 130 rotates the foreign matter accumulated on the floor or the foreign matter adhered to the floor and is swept up to the suction port 131 by the suction port 131.

Accordingly, the foreign matter introduced into the robot cleaner through the suction unit 130 is introduced into the dust collector 140 through the communication tube 141, and is separated from the dust collector 140 to be collected. do.

In addition, air from which foreign matter such as dust is separated from the dust collecting device 140 is discharged to the outside of the cleaner body 110 through the fan.

The robot cleaner according to the present invention having the above configuration is configured to display the operation information of the cleaner to the user through an avatar.

Hereinafter, the robot cleaner which displays the operation information of the cleaner to the user through the avatar will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a robot cleaner according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a robot cleaner having improved information transfer characteristics by displaying operation information of the robot cleaner using an avatar.

As described above, the information transmission method using the avatar may emphasize entertainment elements according to current consumer trends, in addition to improving visibility, thereby increasing affinity for a product.

Here, avatar means an alter ego and incarnation, and is an animation character that replaces the role of a user in cyberspace. Or, it points to a graphic icon representing oneself in chatting on the web.

That is, the avatar may be referred to as a virtual body representing itself in a graphic-oriented virtual society. Currently, avatars are being used for cyber shopping malls, virtual education, and virtual offices as well as chatting and online games.

However, the present invention, by applying the above-described avatar to the robot cleaner, to further improve the information transfer characteristics according to the use of the robot cleaner, to make the use of the vacuum cleaner more convenient.

Here, the avatar applied to the robot cleaner according to the present invention has a form of expressing a specific operation in a form characterized in accordance with the operation information of the robot cleaner to be delivered to the user or delivering the specific information.

First, referring to FIG. 4, the robot cleaner according to the present invention has an avatar display unit 21 for displaying operation information of the robot cleaner through an avatar, and a display unit 20 provided to the cleaner body 110. And a microcomputer 30 having a function of controlling the display of the avatar.

Here, the microcomputer 30 may be configured to also control the motor 51 of the air suction device and other internal devices 52 constituting the cleaner so that the suction force of the robot cleaner is adjusted. In this case, the microcomputer 30 corresponds to performing the function of the controller 180.

In addition, the robot cleaner according to the present invention includes a sensor unit 41 for detecting air suction force, rotation of the edge data, dust amount, and residual amount of the superheated battery of the motor, and the like detected by the sensor unit 41. Information is transmitted to the microcomputer 30 and displayed to the user by the avatar on the avatar display 21.

In addition, the cleaner main body 110 is provided with a push type or a touch type operation unit 42 for inputting an operating condition of the cleaner, and a display driver 53 connected to the display unit 20. The driving signal for driving the display unit 20 is output by the control of the microcomputer 30.

In addition to the above configuration, the robot cleaner according to the present invention includes a key input unit 43 for selecting and / or releasing and / or changing an avatar displayed through the display unit 20, and various kinds of avatar image information. It is preferable that the avatar information storage unit 60 further stores and is configured.

The display unit 20 may further include an operation display unit 22 for displaying information on the operation of the robot cleaner, in addition to the avatar display unit 21 for displaying an avatar image.

The operation display unit 22 is configured to display information about the operation of the robot cleaner through at least one of letters, numbers, and lighting.

The avatar display unit 21 and the operation display unit 22 may be configured in one display panel or may be separately configured in each panel.

Here, the avatar display unit 21 may be configured as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and the operation display unit 22 may be configured as a light emitting diode (LED).

When the avatar display unit 21 and the operation display unit 22 are configured in one display panel, the avatar display area and the operation display area may be divided into the cleaner display information at the same time, or the avatar display unit and the operation display unit may be displayed in serial. It can be made to be driven. Of course, although the operation display unit 22 and the avatar display unit 21 may be operated independently of each other, the operation display unit 22 and the avatar display unit 21 may be operated in cooperation with each other to improve the information transmission power to the user.

The display unit 20 configured as described above may be changed to various colors by the user's selection. In addition, the display unit 20 may be provided on the upper surface of the cleaner main body 110, in particular, the cleaner main body 110.

More preferably, the display unit 20 may be provided on one side of the operation unit 42.

In addition, the robot cleaner according to the present invention may be provided with a voice output unit 25 to output information related to the operation of the robot cleaner as a voice.

Here, the voice output unit 25 preferably outputs operation information of the robot cleaner in connection with the movement of the avatar, but may independently output operation information of the robot cleaner.

The information output through the voice output unit 25 may be not only a description of the operation state of the human voice but also a background music suitable for the movement of the avatar.

The robot cleaner having the avatar display unit 21 according to the present invention may further include a communication interface block (not shown) to download avatar information from the outside.

Here, the communication interface block is connected to an external device 44 such as a PC, a wireless notebook or a mobile phone that can be connected to a wireless network to download avatar information and store the avatar information in the avatar information storage unit 60. .

Accordingly, the user may select an avatar having a desired shape among various kinds of avatars stored in the avatar information storage unit 60 to display predetermined cleaner operation information.

Of course, the user may manipulate the key input unit 43 so that different types of avatars display different cleaner operation information.

For example, the user may select an appropriate avatar by using the key input unit 43 so that the driving mode of the cleaner is represented by the avatar of the baby elephant and the error information of the cleaner is represented by the avatar of the baby bear. .

The avatar displaying the operation information of the cleaner as described above may have a two-dimensional shape, but it is more preferable to have a three-dimensional three-dimensional shape for improved identification.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, the microcomputer 30 constituting another embodiment of the robot cleaner according to the present invention may include the driving microcomputer 31 for controlling the operation of the cleaner and the display microcomputer 32 for controlling the display of the avatar. It is configured to include.

That is, the driving microcomputer 31 is connected to the motor 51 and the other internal device 52, and according to the cleaner driving condition input through the operation unit 42, the motor 51 and the other internal device ( 52 control the driving. In this case, the driving microcomputer 31 corresponds to the controller 180.

The display microcomputer 32 is connected to the operation unit 42 and / or the sensor unit 41 to control the display driver 53 to display operation information of the cleaner through the display unit 20. do.

Here, the display microcomputer 32 includes a first control unit 32a for controlling the avatar display unit 21 for displaying an avatar image and a second control unit 32b for controlling the operation display unit 22. It may be configured.

In this case, the display driver 53 may include a first display driver (not shown) for driving the avatar display 21 and a second display driver (not shown) for driving the operation display 22. Preferably).

The purpose of dividing the display driving unit as described above is to enhance driving control characteristics of each of the avatar display unit 21 and the operation display unit 22.

The other configuration is the same as in the above-described embodiment of the robot cleaner, the same reference numerals are used for the same configuration, and repeated description thereof is omitted.

The cleaner operation related information displayed through the display unit 20 of the robot cleaner according to the present invention having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 12.

Here, the cleaner operation information displayed through the avatar display unit 21 may be various, such as information on the use of a vacuum cleaner, an operation method, or a countermeasure in case of an error.

For example, the cleaner operation information displayed through the avatar display unit 21 may include information about how to use the robot cleaner, information about an operation mode of the robot cleaner, information about suction force of the robot cleaner, and dust collecting to collect dust. Information about the apparatus, information about overheating of the motor, and information about an agitator provided in the suction nozzle; And at least one of information about a battery and information about an error of the robot cleaner.

Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the avatar through the display unit 20 of the robot cleaner according to the present invention, the avatar of the baby elephant shape is displayed on the avatar display unit 21 to display the operation information of the cleaner.

First, referring to FIG. 6, a display unit 20 to which an avatar of a baby elephant shape displaying information about an operation mode of a vacuum cleaner is applied will be described.

Here, the operation mode of the robot cleaner refers to information related to cleaning, such as an operation stop of the robot cleaner and an operation mode during operation.

In more detail, the information about the operation mode of the vacuum cleaner includes at least one of information about an operation mode according to the suction force of the robot cleaner and a driving method of the robot cleaner.

Here, the operation mode according to the suction force of the robot cleaner is, for example, whether the robot cleaner operation mode is a quiet silent operation with low suction force, an automatic operation in which the suction force is automatically adjusted, or a strongest driving force with the maximum suction force set. Etc.

The information about the driving method of the robot cleaner is information regarding which path the robot cleaner performs cleaning while moving.

For example, an avatar that transmits information about an operation mode of the robot cleaner may be embodied in a shape in which the baby elephant-shaped avatar (hereinafter abbreviated as baby elephant) sleeps when the robot cleaner is stopped. Indicates that it is stopping.

In the silent operation mode, the baby elephant moves while moving slowly and displays a driving state in the shape of sucking air through the nose, and in the automatic driving mode, the baby elephant sucks air in the nose while riding a car. The driving state is displayed, and in the strongest driving mode, the driving state is displayed in the shape of sucking the air through the nose while the baby elephant flies with the Superman.

In addition, when the driving method of the robot cleaner is determined automatically or manually, the avatar display unit 21 displays a set traveling path and a baby elephant following the traveling path.

Of course, the operation path of the robot cleaner may be displayed on the operation display unit 22, and the avatar display unit 21 may display only the avatar of the baby elephant image indicating an operation mode according to the suction force of the robot cleaner.

As described above, the display of the information on the driving mode of the robot cleaner, the operation information input by the user through the operation unit 42, the microcomputer 30 to display the avatar of the appropriate image on the avatar display unit 21 It can be done by displaying through.

In addition, the operation display unit 22 and / or the voice output unit 25 may be operated in conjunction with the avatar display unit 21 simultaneously or sequentially.

In other words, the avatar display 21 displays the baby elephant shape of the appropriate image stored in the avatar information storage 60 under the control of the microcomputer 30 to the user according to the current driving state of the vacuum cleaner. do. At the same time or sequentially, the operation display unit 22 displays the current driving state of the robot cleaner to the user through letters, numbers or lighting.

In addition, the voice output unit 25 outputs the current driving state of the vacuum cleaner as voice.

The interaction between the avatar display unit 21, the operation display unit 22, and the voice output unit 25 as described above may be operated in conjunction with each other without being separately described in other operation information of the robot cleaner described below. Reveals.

Next, referring to FIG. 7, the avatar display unit 21 of the display unit 20 displays information regarding overheating of the motor.

The motor constituting the motor-fan assembly may be damaged or fail due to overheating when the robot cleaner is driven for a long time or when a flow path through which air flows is blocked.

Accordingly, the microcomputer 30 displays the overheating information of the motor detected through an appropriate sensor, for example, a temperature sensor, that detects the overheating of the motor 51 through the avatar display 21. It is known whether the motor 51 is overheated.

In addition, the robot cleaner according to the present invention is provided with a thermostat (Thermostat), it is preferable that the motor 51 is configured to automatically stop the driving of the motor, if a certain level of overheating.

Accordingly, when the motor 51 is overheated by a predetermined level or more, and the stop of the motor is required, the display unit 20 displays this information to the user through the avatar display unit 21.

Here, as an example of an avatar that transmits information about overheating of the motor, the avatar may be displayed according to the degree of redness of the body of the baby elephant. When the entire body of the baby elephant becomes red, the degree of overheating of the motor is dangerous. It can be expressed by shaping the baby elephant to know that it has reached.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 8, the avatar display unit 21 is configured to display information regarding a dust collecting device for collecting dust.

Examples of the information on the dust collector include information on the amount of dust stored in the dust collector and / or information on the emptying time of the dust collector.

For example, the baby elephant displays the amount of dust stored in the dust collector according to the fat level. When the baby elephant becomes fat and finally sneezes, the user knows that a predetermined amount or more of dust is stored in the dust collector.

Of course, when a predetermined amount or more of dust is stored in the dust collector, the microcomputer 30 notifies that the emptying time of the dust collector has been reached by an avatar of another image or an appropriate voice or text.

The information about the dust collector as described above, the microcomputer 30 receives the amount of dust information from a predetermined dust sensor for detecting the amount of dust inside the dust collector or the amount of dust discharged unseparated from the dust collector The avatar display unit 21 may be displayed.

Of course, since the motor 51 is overloaded when a predetermined amount or more of dust is accumulated in the dust collector, the information on the dust collector may be displayed on the avatar display unit 21 simultaneously or sequentially with information on the overheating of the motor. have.

In addition, referring to FIG. 9, an avatar display unit 21 for displaying information about a filter included in the cleaner body 110 and / or the dust collecting device 140 through an avatar of a predetermined image is illustrated.

An example of the information about the filter is that the filter is clogged with foreign matter such as dust.

In more detail, the avatar display unit 21 displays a baby elephant wearing a mask when the filter is blocked, thereby displaying to the user that the filter is blocked.

The information about the filter may be displayed according to the amount of dust detected from a dust sensor or the like installed in the filter, or may be displayed by detecting the flow rate of air.

The various cleaner operation information as described above may be shaped and displayed to the user through an avatar at a time required by the control of the microcomputer 30 or by a user's selection.

Referring to FIG. 10, the avatar display unit 21 of the robot cleaner according to the present invention displays information about the edge data.

For example, when the edge data 132 provided to the suction nozzle 130 is rotated smoothly, a baby elephant walking in a cylinder is displayed as if the circus is displayed on the avatar display 21. . When the edge data 132 does not rotate properly, the baby elephants rolled down on the cylinder are displayed on the avatar display unit 21.

Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the avatar display part 21 which displays the information regarding the error of a robot cleaner is demonstrated.

Referring to FIG. 11, when an error occurs during the operation of the robot cleaner according to the present invention, the avatar display 21 displays error information of the robot cleaner.

 Here, the error in the operation of the cleaner means that the operation of the cleaner is out of the normal state, such as the suction force of the robot cleaner is lowered to a certain level or the motor is not operated under the set condition.

The information on the overheating of the motor, the information on the dust collector, the information on the filter, and the information on the edge data are also examples of information on an error of the vacuum cleaner.

 Error information generated in the cleaner operation as described above is displayed on the avatar display unit 21 through an avatar. When an error occurs in the cleaner operation as described above, the operation display unit 22 and the audio output unit 25 are preferably configured to operate in conjunction with the avatar display unit 21.

Then, the user sees the avatar display unit 21 to check the error situation and responds appropriately.

For example, when a user presses a help button to solve an error situation, an avatar of a specific image appears to sequentially display an error solution.

In the present embodiment, when the amount of air sucked into the suction nozzle is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, the avatar display unit 21 displays a baby elephant with a twisted nose, thereby informing the user that an error has occurred in the cleaner operation. do.

Then, when the user presses the help button to solve the error state, the avatar first checks the suction nozzle 130 and the dust collector 140, which can be easily inspected, and whether the suction port of the suction nozzle is blocked. The dust amount of the dust collector and the filter or the flow path inside the dust collector are inspected for clogging by foreign matter.

Next, if there is no abnormality in the dust collector, the filter provided in the cleaner body is inspected to perform cleaning of the filter.

If the error is not solved through the above process, the user can check whether the flow path inside the cleaner body 110 is blocked by a foreign substance within a range that can be directly disassembled.

Next, in spite of taking all the actions indicated by the avatar, if the error is not solved, the service center displays a request for repair.

Although not shown in the drawing, immediately before the operation of the robot cleaner, whether the dust collector 140 is properly mounted, the edge data is caught by foreign matter, the suction nozzle 130 is not blocked by foreign matters, and the like. The avatar of the appropriate image may be displayed on the avatar display 21 so as to be confirmed.

In addition, when the robot cleaner is inexperienced, an avatar indicating a method of using the robot cleaner may be displayed on the avatar display 21.

As described above, in the robot cleaner according to the present invention, various types of information related to the cleaner operation are represented by the avatar shaped on the avatar display unit, so that the user can easily recognize the vacuum cleaner related information.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that, in addition to the embodiments described above, the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and thus, the present invention is not limited to the above detailed description, but may vary within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

The robot cleaner according to the present invention configured as described above has the following effects.

First, according to the robot cleaner according to the present invention, the avatar display unit for displaying the cleaner operation information through the avatar is provided, and thus the status display according to the progress and control of the vacuum cleaner may be recognized through the avatar which is a dynamic character. Operational information transfer is made easy.

Second, according to the robot cleaner according to the present invention, since the cleaner operation information is displayed through an avatar shaped to be suitable for the cleaner operation information, the visibility of information is increased to increase information transmission characteristics, and entertainment elements according to current consumer trends are provided. I can emphasize it.

Third, according to the robot cleaner according to the present invention, since the avatar display unit displaying the cleaner operation information through the avatar is operated in connection with the operation display unit and / or the voice output unit displaying the cleaner driving information through letters or numbers, In a short time, it is possible to check the current operation progress of the washing apparatus.

Fourth, according to the robot cleaner according to the present invention, since a new avatar can be downloaded and stored by connecting to a server using an external device, various avatars can be expressed according to a user's selection.

Fifth, according to the robot cleaner according to the present invention, the error information of the vacuum cleaner is displayed by the avatar so that the user can easily check the error of the cleaner, thereby reducing unnecessary service costs.

Claims (11)

A cleaner body that runs automatically; A display unit having an avatar display unit for displaying operation information of the robot cleaner including information on an error of the robot cleaner through an avatar, the display unit being provided to the cleaner body; And And a microcomputer having a function of controlling a display of the avatar and a function of controlling a plurality of internal devices of the robot cleaner. If an error occurs in the robot cleaner, Each of the internal devices are sequentially inspected in a predetermined order to confirm the status of the internal devices, and correspondingly, the avatars can be solved through the avatar to solve the error according to the status of the internal devices and the test results. Robot cleaner to display sequentially on the display. The method of claim 1, Operation information of the robot cleaner is: Information on how to use the robot cleaner; Information on an operation mode of the robot cleaner; Information about overheating of the motor; Information on a dust collecting device for collecting dust; Information on an agitator provided in the suction nozzle; A robot cleaner further comprising at least one of information about a battery. The method of claim 2, Information about the dust collector is: Information on the amount of dust stored in the dust collector; Robot cleaner comprising at least one of the information on the emptying time of the dust collector. The method of claim 2, Information regarding the operation mode of the robot cleaner: Information on an operation mode according to the suction force of the robot cleaner; A robot cleaner including at least one of information on a driving method of the robot cleaner. The method of claim 2, Information about the battery is: Information on the remaining amount of the battery; Robot cleaner comprising at least one of the information regarding the charging of the battery. The method of claim 2, Information regarding the error of the robot cleaner is: Robot cleaner including information on the inspection procedure of the robot cleaner when an error occurs. The method of claim 1, And a voice output unit configured to output operation information of the robot cleaner as a voice. The method of claim 1, The display unit; And a motion display unit for displaying information on the operation of the robot cleaner through at least one of letters, numbers, and lighting. 9. The method of claim 8, And a LCD panel for screen display of the avatar display unit and an LED panel for screen display of the operation display unit. The method of claim 1, And a communication interface block for connecting to an external device for downloading avatar information. The method of claim 1, And a key input unit for selecting an avatar displayed through the display unit.

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