Cleaning device having vacuum cleaner and docking station and method of controlling the same

Abstract

A cleaning device and a method therefor are provided. The cleaning device includes a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting container and a docking station to which the dust collecting container is coupled. The docking station includes a suction device configured to move air from the dust collecting container to inside of the docking station, a collector configured to collect a foreign substance that is moved together with the air by driving of the suction device, a suction flow path along which air moves inside the docking station, a flow adjusting device configured to open or close the suction flow path, and at least one processor configured to control the suction device to operate based on the dust collecting container being coupled to the docking station, and control the flow adjusting device to periodically open and close the suction flow path in a state in which the suction device operates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning device comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting container; and   a docking station to which the dust collecting container is connected,   wherein the docking station comprises:
 a sensor configured to detect whether the dust collecting container is connected to the docking station; 
 a suction device configured to move air from the dust collecting container into the docking station to supply a suction airflow to the dust collecting container; 
 a suction flow path along which the air moves inside the docking station; 
 a dust container configured to collect foreign substances that are moved together with the air by driving of the suction device; and 
 at least one processor configured to:
 control the suction device to supply the suction airflow to the dust collecting container based on the connection of the dust collecting container to the docking station being detected by the sensor, and 
 upon the separation of the dust collecting container from the docking station being detected by the sensor during operation of the suction device, control the suction device to operate for a predetermined time and then stop. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 when the separation of the dust collecting container from the docking station is not detected by the sensor during the operation of the suction device, stop the suction device after operating the suction device for a predetermined operation time.   
     
     
         3 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 periodically open and close the suction flow path while the suction device is operating.   
     
     
         4 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 close the suction flow path after the suction device stops.   
     
     
         5 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the docking station further comprises:
 an input device configured to receive an input from a user, 
   wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 stop the suction device after a first predetermined waiting time based on receiving a stop command through the input device during the operation of the suction device. 
   
     
     
         6 . The cleaning device of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 close the suction flow path after a second predetermined waiting time based on receiving the stop command through the input device during the operation of the suction device.   
     
     
         7 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the suction device comprises:
 a suction fan; and   a motor configured to rotate the suction fan,   wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 control a rotation speed of the motor while the suction device is operating. 
   
     
     
         8 . The cleaning device of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 adjust the rotation speed of the motor by adjusting a pulse width of a supply voltage supplied to the motor while the suction device is operating.   
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling a cleaning device including a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting container and a docking station to which the dust collecting container is connected, the docking station including a sensor configured to detect whether the dust collecting container is connected to the docking station, a suction device configured to move air from the dust collecting container into the docking station to supply a suction airflow to the dust collecting container, a suction flow path along which the air moves inside the docking station, and a dust container configured to collect foreign substances that are moved together with the air by driving of the suction device, the method comprising:
 controlling the suction device to supply the suction airflow to the dust collecting container based on the connection of the dust collecting container to the docking station being detected by the sensor; and   upon the separation of the dust collecting container from the docking station being detected by the sensor during operation of the suction device, controlling the suction device to operate for a predetermined time and then stop.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 when the separation of the dust collecting container from the docking station is not detected by the sensor during the operation of the suction device, stopping the suction device after operating the suction device for a predetermined operation time.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 periodically opening and closing the suction flow path while the suction device is operating.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 closing the suction flow path after the suction device stops.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 stopping the suction device after a first predetermined waiting time based on receiving a stop command through an input device of the docking station during the operation of the suction device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 closing the suction flow path after a second predetermined waiting time based on receiving the stop command through the input device during the operation of the suction device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the suction device comprises:
 a suction fan; and 
 a motor configured to rotate the suction fan, and 
   wherein the method further comprises:
 controlling a rotation speed of the motor while the suction device is operating. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the controlling of the rotation speed of the motor comprises:
 adjusting the rotation speed of the motor by adjusting a pulse width of a supply voltage supplied to the motor while the suction device is operating.