Module type home robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020298394-A1
Application number	US-201716088057-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2017
Priority date	Feb 20, 2017
Publication date	Sep 24, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A module type home robot is provided. The module type home robot includes a device module coupling unit coupled to a device module, an input unit receiving a user input, an output unit outputting voice and images, a sensing unit sensing a user, and a control unit sensing a trigger signal, activating the device module or the output unit according to the sensed trigger signal, and controlling the module type home robot to perform an operation mapped to the sensed trigger signal. The trigger signal is a user proximity signal, a user voice signal, a user movement signal, a specific time sensing signal or an environment change sensing signal.

First claim

1 . A module-type home robot, comprising:
a main body; a device module configured to perform specific functions; a device module coupling unit on the main body and configured to couple to the device module; an input unit configured to receive a user input; an output unit configured to output voice and images; a sensing unit configured to sense a user; and a control unit configured to: receive a trigger signal; activate the device module or the output unit according to the received trigger signal to perform one of the specific functions wherein the received trigger signal is a user proximity signal, a user voice signal, a user movement signal, a specific time sensing signal or an environment change sensing signal.

2 . The home robot of claim 1 , wherein
The received trigger signal is the user proximity signal; and the control unit is further configured to raise the device module from the device module coupling unit when the user proximity signal indicates that the user is located within a predetermined distance of the home robot.

3 . The home robot of claim 2 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the output unit to output a predetermined voice message.

4 . The home robot of claim 2 , wherein the device module is further configured to control a light emitting diode (LED) to emit light when the device module is raised by at least a certain distance from the device module coupling unit.

5 . The home robot of claim 4 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the device module to rotate such that the LED faces the user.

6 . The home robot of claim 1 , wherein
the received trigger signal is the specific time sensing signal; and the control unit is further configured to activate a voice recognition operation by using the input unit and the output unit and to control the output unit to output a predetermined voice message mapped to a specific time indicated by the specific time sensing signal.

7 . The home robot of claim 6 , further comprising a communication unit configured to transmit and receive data, wherein the control unit is further configured to convert the predetermined voice message into a message for a mobile device when a voice command is not received within a predetermined time after the predetermined voice message is output and to control the communication unit to transmit the converted message to the mobile device.

8 . The home robot of claim 1 , further comprising a communication unit configured to transmit and receive data wherein:
the received trigger signal is the environment change sensing signal; the device module includes a dust sensor that senses dust concentration; and the device module transmits sensed dust concentration information to the communication unit in response to the environment change sensing signal.

9 . The home robot of claim 8 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the communication unit to communicate with a window opening/closing device to close a window when the sensed dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined level.

10 . The home robot of claim 8 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:
output the dust concentration information via a voice message when the sensed dust concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined level; and control the communication unit to communicate with a window opening/closing device to close a window in response to a received window control voice command.

11 . The home robot of claim 10 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control an air cleaner in response to a received air cleaner voice command.

12 . The home robot of claim 1 , wherein:
the device module is a camera module; the received trigger signal is the user movement signal; and the control unit is further configured to control the camera module to rotate by 360 degrees at a predetermined period, to control the camera module to photograph inside a home in which the home robot is located when the user movement signal indicates that the user is no longer in the home and to store photographed information.

13 . The home robot of claim 1 , wherein
the device module is a projector module; the trigger signal is the user voice signal; and the control unit is further configured to detect a projection region near the user and to control the projector module to rotate such that it faces the detected projection region based on a variation of magnetism when the user voice signal is a projection request.

14 . The home robot of claim 13 , wherein
the trigger signal is the user movement signal; and the control unit is further configured to simultaneously track the user and control the projector module to rotate when the user movement signal indicates user movement while the projector module is performing projection.

15 . The home robot of claim 1 , wherein the device module coupling unit includes a wireless charging module.

16 . The home robot of claim 1 , wherein the device module is replaceable with other device modules configured to perform different specific functions.

17 . The home robot of claim 1 , further comprising a memory storing application programs for performing the specific functions.

18 . The home robot of claim 2 , wherein the device module and device module coupling unit have magnetic properties to facilitate raising the device module.

19 . The home robot of claim 1 , wherein the output unit includes at least a display unit and an audio unit.

20 . The home robot of claim 1 , further comprising a communication unit configured to perform wireless communication.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Han Eunhyae
• Shin Yoonho
• Maeng Seungwoo
• Lee Sanghyuck

Classifications

• H04N23/695

  Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects · CPC title

• B25J19/023

  including video camera means · CPC title

• B25J11/00 Primary

  Manipulators not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B25J19/005

  using batteries, e.g. as a back-up power source · CPC title

• B25J9/1679

  characterised by the tasks executed · CPC title