Autonomous machine

• US 20060229765A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Taylor, Jonathan, Kitchin, Matthew, Aldred, Michael, Bommer, Alexander, Follows, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/545,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229765A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/00 Electric propulsion with power supply external to the vehicle electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00; in combination with batteries or fuel cells within the vehicle B60L50/53
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0227 using mechanical sensing means, e.g. for sensing treated area
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0215 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

An electric machine, such as an autonomous vacuum cleaner, is powered through a cable and includes a means or device for detecting the orientation of the cable with respect to the main body of the machine that may be in the form of a pivotable member such as pendulum, connected to a potentiometer. The potentiometer provides an output signal proportional to the position of the free end of the pendulum. Thus, the machine can detect the position of the cable and thus can avoid it or else follow it. Microswitches may also be provided to detect extreme positions of the cable.

Claims

1. An autonomous machine comprising a main body, a power cable and a device for detecting the orientation of the cable with respect to the main body.

2. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for detecting cable orientation comprises a first detecting device arranged to detect the orientation of the cable within a first predetermined range.

3. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the device for detecting cable orientation further comprises a second detecting means device arranged to detect the orientation of the cable within a second predetermined range.

4. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the first detecting device comprises a pivotable member associated with a rotary encoder.

6. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotary encoder comprises a potentiometer.

7. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second detecting means device comprises a pressure switch arranged to produce a signal when the cable pushes against it.

8. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second detecting means device comprises two pressure switches located on respective sides with respect to the cable, each switch being arranged to produce a signal when the cable pushes against it.

9. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the cable is arranged to push against the or each switch via an intermediary member.

10. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the pressure switch comprises a microswitch.

11. A vacuum cleaner comprising the autonomous machine of claim 1, 2, 3, 7 or 8.

19. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pressure switch comprises a microswitch.

20. A vacuum cleaner comprising the autonomous machine of claim 4.

22. A vacuum cleaner comprising the autonomous machine of claim 6.

23. A vacuum cleaner comprising the autonomous machine of claim 9.

24. A vacuum cleaner comprising the autonomous machine of claim 10.

5. An autonomous machine as claimed in 4, in which the pivotable member comprises a pendulum, one end portion of which is associated with the cable, the other end portion of which is associated with the rotary encoder.

18. An autonomous machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotary encoder comprises a potentiometer.

21. A vacuum cleaner comprising the autonomous machine of claim 5.

12. (canceled)

13. A method of operating an autonomous machine comprising a main body and a power cable, comprising detecting the orientation of the cable with respect to the main body.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising controlling the machine to follow its own cable.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising causing the machine to collect the cable as it follows it.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which the causing of the machine to collect its cable comprises causing the cable to be wound on a cable reel carried by the main body.

17. (canceled)