Robot vac with retractable power cord

• US 20040200505A1
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Parker, Andrew J., Taylor, Charles E., Ng, Eric, Heninger, Andrew, Blair, Eric C., Fai Lau, Shek
• Application Number:
  US10/799,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20040200505A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/26 Incorporation of winding devices for electric cables devices specially adapted for repeatedly paying-out or re-storing cables B65H75/34; arrangements of electrical cables or lines between relatively-movable parts H02G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2868 Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/42 attached to, or forming part of, mobile tools, machines or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4484 Electronic arrangements or adaptations for controlling the winding or unwinding process, e.g. with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30

Abstract

A robot cleaning system uses a robot cleaner and a unit. The unit is connected to power the robot cleaner by a power cord. The robot cleaner can move around a room while being powered by the unit. In one embodiment, the unit is connected to a power socket by another power cord.

Claims

1. A robot system comprising:

a robot cleaner including a cleaning unit, and a motion unit; and

a unit connected to the robot cleaner by an electrical cord to provide power to the robot cleaner wherein the robot cleaner cleans the room while connected to the unit and wherein the power cord is wound in as the robot cleaner gets closer to the unit.

2. The robot system of claim 1, wherein the unit is a central unit, wherein the robot cleaner moves around the central unit to clean the room.

3. The robot system of claim 1, wherein the unit is connected to a power socket by another power cord.

4. The robot system of claim 1, wherein the robot cleaner includes a payout.

5. The robot system of claim 1, wherein the central unit includes a payout.

6. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the robot cleaner prevents the power cord from completely wrapping around an object on the floor.

7. The robot cleaner of claim 6, wherein the robot cleaner keeps track of its motion to determine motion changes caused by the power cord contacting objects on the floor.

8. The robot cleaner of claim 6, wherein the robot cleaner cleans back and forth in region behind the object.

9. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the robot cleaner includes processor.

10. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein the processor controls the motion unit.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the robot cleaner includes processor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the processor controls the motion unit.

11. A method comprising:

revolving a robot cleaner about a central unit, the robot cleaner being connected to the central unit by an power cord, the robot cleaner being connected by the power cord to the central unit, wherein the robot cleaner circles the central unit to clean the room; and

winding in the power cord as the robot gets closer to the central unit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the central unit is connected to a power socket by another power cord.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the robot cleaner includes a payout.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the central unit includes a payout.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the robot cleaner prevents the power cord from completely wrapping around an object on the floor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the robot cleaner keeps track of its motion to determine motion changes caused by the power cord contacting objects on the floor.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the robot cleaner cleans back and forth in region behind the object.

20. A robot system comprising:

a robot cleaner including a cleaning unit and a motion unit; and

a unit connected to the robot cleaner by a power cord to provide power to the robot cleaner, the unit being connectable to a power socket by another power cord wherein the robot cleaner is adapted to clean a room and wherein the robot system includes a power cord payout.

21. The robot system of claim 20, wherein the payout is on the robot cleaner.

22. The robot system of claim 20, wherein the payout is on the unit.

23. The robot system of claim 20, wherein the robot cleaner circles the unit to clean the room.

24. The robot cleaner of claim 23, wherein the robot cleaner prevents the power cord from completely wrapping around an object on the floor.

25. The robot cleaner of claim 24, wherein the robot cleaner keeps track of its motion to determine motion changes caused by the power cord contacting objects on the floor.

26. The robot cleaner of claim 24, wherein the robot cleaner cleans back and forth in region behind the object.

27. The robot cleaner of claim 20, wherein the robot cleaner includes processor.

28. The robot cleaner of claim 20, wherein the processor controls the motion unit.