ROBOT CONFINEMENT
First Claim
1. A robot confinement system, comprising:
- a portable housing including an emitter operable to emit a first signal when a presence of a mobile robot is detected in a field of detection; and
the mobile robot, including;
a shell;
a chassis including at least two wheels;
at least one motor connected to the at least two wheels for moving the mobile robot on a surface;
a cleaner operable to clean the surface as the mobile robot moves on the surface;
a controller operable to control the at least one motor to control a movement path of the mobile robot on the surface; and
a detector operable to detect the first signal,wherein the controller is operable to change the movement path of the mobile robot in response to detection of the first signal, andwherein one of the portable housing and the mobile robot is operable to detect a second signal to detect the presence of the mobile robot in the field of detection, the second signal generated by the other of the portable housing and the mobile robot.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A robot confinement system includes a portable housing and a mobile robot. The portable housing includes an emitter operable to emit a first signal when a presence of the robot is detected in a field of detection. The robot includes a controller operable to control a movement path of the robot on a surface and a cleaner operable to clean the surface as the robot moves on the surface. The robot further includes a detector operable to detect the first signal emitted by the portable housing. The controller is operable to change the movement path of the robot in response to detection of the first signal. One of the portable housing and the robot is operable to detect a second signal generated by the other of the portable housing and the robot to detect the presence of the robot in the field of detection.
235 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A robot confinement system, comprising:
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a portable housing including an emitter operable to emit a first signal when a presence of a mobile robot is detected in a field of detection; and the mobile robot, including; a shell; a chassis including at least two wheels; at least one motor connected to the at least two wheels for moving the mobile robot on a surface; a cleaner operable to clean the surface as the mobile robot moves on the surface; a controller operable to control the at least one motor to control a movement path of the mobile robot on the surface; and a detector operable to detect the first signal, wherein the controller is operable to change the movement path of the mobile robot in response to detection of the first signal, and wherein one of the portable housing and the mobile robot is operable to detect a second signal to detect the presence of the mobile robot in the field of detection, the second signal generated by the other of the portable housing and the mobile robot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A robot confinement system, comprising:
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a portable housing including an emitter operable to emit a first signal when a presence of a mobile robot is detected in a field of detection; and a mobile robot, including; a shell; a chassis including at least two wheels; at least one motor connected to the at least two wheels for moving the mobile robot on a surface; a cleaner operable to clean the surface as the mobile robot moves on the surface; a controller operable to control the at least one motor to control a movement path of the mobile robot on the surface; and a detector operable to detect the first signal, wherein the controller is operable to change the movement path of the mobile robot in response to detection of the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for confining a mobile robot with a portable housing, the method comprising;
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moving the mobile robot along a movement path on a surface and cleaning the surface with the mobile robot; generating, with one of the portable housing and the mobile robot, a first signal; detecting, with the other of the portable housing and the mobile robot, the first signal to detect a presence of the mobile robot in a field of detection, the field of detection extending generally linearly from the portable housing; emitting, with the portable housing, a second signal when the presence of the mobile robot is detected in the field of detection; detecting, with the mobile robot, the second signal; and changing, with the mobile robot, the movement path to prevent the mobile robot from crossing the field of detection in response to detection of the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification