Robot vacuum with remote control mode

• US 20040236468A1
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• 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:
  US10/798,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236468A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/281 the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• 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 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• 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: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30

Abstract

A robot cleaner is described that cleans a room using a serpentine room clean and a serpentine localized clean. Sensors can include an object following sensor, a stairway detector and bumper sensors.

Claims

1. A method of operating a robot cleaner comprising:

using a remote control to provide an indication concerning a room state to a robot cleaner; and

in an automatic cleaning mode, using a processor on the robot cleaner to direct the robot cleaner to clean the room, the processor using the indication to set a cleaning pattern for the automatic cleaning mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the room state indication is an indication of room size.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the room state indication is an indication of room dirtiness.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is used to set an overlap in the cleaning pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatic cleaning mode includes cleaning a subgrid of predetermined dimensions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the subgrid is cleaned in a serpentine pattern.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined dimensions are set based on the indication

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control is adapted to switch the robot cleaner between a user controlled mode and the automatic cleaning mode and in the user controlled mode, commands from the remote control are used to direct the robot cleaner.

9. A robot cleaner comprising:

a cleaning unit on the robot cleaner; and

a processor adapted to receive an indication concerning a room state from a remote control, in an automatic cleaning mode, the processor is adapted to direct the robot cleaner to clean the room, the processor adapted to use the indication to set a cleaning pattern for the automatic cleaning mode.

10. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein the room state indication is an indication of room size.

11. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein the room state indication is an indication of room dirtiness.

12. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein the indication is used to set an overlap in the cleaning pattern.

13. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein the automatic cleaning mode includes cleaning a subgrid of predetermined dimensions.

14. The robot cleaner of claim 13, wherein the subgrid is cleaned in a serpentine pattern.

15. The robot cleaner of claim 13, wherein the predetermined dimensions are set based on the indication

16. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein the remote control is adapted to switch the robot cleaner between a user controlled mode and the automatic cleaning mode and in the user controlled mode, commands from the remote control are used to direct the robot cleaner.

17. A method of operating a robot cleaner comprising:

using a remote control to provide a control indication to a robot cleaner; and

using a processor on the robot cleaner to direct the robot cleaner to clean the room, the processor using the control indication to determine how to control the robot cleaner.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the control indication is a room state indication.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the room state indication is an indication of room size.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the room state indication is an indication of room dirtiness.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the control indication is a direction indication.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the control indication is used to set an overlap in the cleaning pattern.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the automatic cleaning mode includes cleaning a subgrid of predetermined dimensions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the subgrid is cleaned in a serpentine pattern.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the predetermined dimensions are set based on the indication

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the remote control is adapted to switch the robot cleaner between a user controlled mode and the automatic cleaning mode and in the user controlled mode, commands from the remote control are used to direct the robot cleaner.