SELF-PROPELLED FLOOR APPARATUS AND SYSTEM HAVING A BACTERICIDAL FUNCTION

• US 20160221195A1
• Filed: 01/27/2016
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Floorbotics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Floorbotics Inc., Metapo Inc.
• Inventors: ASHWORTH, Guy Thomas Duncan
• Granted Patent: US 9,601,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/00 Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages B25J1/00 takes precedence; programme-controlled manipulators B25J9/00 ; vehicle aspects B60, B62, e.g. remote-controlled steering for motor vehicles B62D1/24; control of position of vehicles G05D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1666 Avoiding collision or forbidden zones
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A self-propelled apparatus includes: a self-propelled platform having a recessed chamber located in the bottom side, a control unit mounted in the self-propelled platform for controlling the moving path of the self-propelled platform in a predominantly grid-pattern that causes the self-propelled platform to mainly move in predominantly straight lines, a battery, one or multiple germicidal ultraviolet lights exhibiting an elongated shape and mounted in the self-propelled platform within the recessed chamber in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the germicidal ultraviolet lights is kept in parallel to the linear moving direction of the self-propelled platform, and obstacle sensors. The self-propelled apparatus utilizes a wireless module for wireless communication with an external smart device that has built therein an application software for controlling and displaying the operating status of the self-propelled apparatus.

Claims

1. A self-propelled apparatus, comprising:

a self-propelled platform comprising a recessed chamber located in a bottom side thereof;

a control unit mounted in said self-propelled platform, and adapted for controlling the moving path of said self-propelled platform in a predominantly grid-pattern that causes said self-propelled platform to mainly move in straight lines;

a battery electrically coupled to said control unit to provide the necessary working electric energy;

at least one germicidal ultraviolet light exhibiting an elongated shape and mounted in said self-propelled platform within said recessed chamber in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light is kept in parallel to the linear moving direction of said self-propelled platform, said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light being electrically coupled to said control unit and controllable by said control unit to radiate light; and

a plurality of obstacle sensors mounted in said self-propelled platform and electrically coupled to said control unit, and adapted for detecting the presence of obstacles for enabling said control unit to modify the traveling of said self-propelled platform on the basis of inputs from the said obstacle sensors.

2. The self-propelled apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the depth of said recessed chamber is larger than the thickness of said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light, said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light being completely accommodated in said recessed chamber above the elevation of said bottom side of said self-propelled platform.

3. The self-propelled apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the center of said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light is kept at a distance of approximately 2.5 cm above the floor when said self-propelled platform is placed on the floor.

4. The self-propelled apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said self-propelled platform further comprises at least one lamp holder mounted in said recessed chamber;

said germicidal ultraviolet light is detachably mounted in said at least one lamp holder.

5. The self-propelled apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light sensor mounted in said self-propelled platform and electrically coupled to said control unit for detecting the ultraviolet light emitted by said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light.

6. The self-propelled apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises a gyroscope.

7. The self-propelled apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of said germicidal ultraviolet lights is 2, and the two said germicidal ultraviolet lights are arranged in parallel.

8. The self-propelled apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a micro-fiber pad mounted at said self-propelled platform, said micro-fiber pad being kept in contact with the floor when said self-propelled platform is placed on the floor.

9. The self-propelled apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lift-off sensing unit mounted in said self-propelled platform and electrically coupled to said control unit for detecting if said self-propelled platform is picked up or turns over.

10. A self-propelled system, comprising:

a self-propelled platform comprising a recessed chamber located in a bottom side thereof;

a control unit mounted in said self-propelled platform, and adapted for controlling the moving path of said self-propelled platform in a predominantly grid-pattern that causes said self-propelled platform to mainly move in straight lines;

a battery electrically coupled to said control unit to provide the necessary working electric energy;

at least one germicidal ultraviolet light exhibiting an elongated shape and mounted in said self-propelled platform within said recessed chamber in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light is kept in parallel to the linear moving direction of said self-propelled platform, said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light being electrically coupled to said control unit and controllable by said control unit to radiate light;

a plurality of obstacle sensors mounted in said self-propelled platform and electrically coupled to said control unit, and adapted for detecting the presence of obstacles for enabling said control unit to modify the traveling of said self-propelled platform from the inputs of said obstacle sensors;

a wireless module mounted in said self-propelled platform and electrically coupled to said control unit for communication with a smart device in a wireless manner; and

an application software installed in said smart device for execution by said smart device;

wherein said self-propelled platform utilizes said wireless module to transmit data to said smart device;

said smart device executes said application software to interpret said data and displays said data in a way that a general user is able to understand, and utilizes the wireless communication relationship between said smart device and said wireless module to transmit instructions to said control unit. This wireless communication is optional and not an integral component in the autonomous operation of the self-propelled platform.

11. The self-propelled system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said data contains a moving path data;

said smart device records and displays the moving path of said self-propelled platform, and calculates the amount of floor coverage of said moving path when executing said application software.

12. The self-propelled system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the depth of said recessed chamber is larger than the thickness of said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light, said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light being completely accommodated in said recessed chamber above the elevation of said bottom side of said self-propelled platform.

13. The self-propelled system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the center of said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light is kept at a distance of approximately 2.5 cm above the floor when said self-propelled platform is placed on the floor.

14. The self-propelled system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said self-propelled platform further comprises at least one lamp holder mounted in said recessed chamber;

said germicidal ultraviolet light is detachably mounted in said at least one lamp holder.

15. The self-propelled system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a light sensor mounted in said self-propelled platform and electrically coupled to said control unit for detecting the ultraviolet light emitted by said at least one germicidal ultraviolet light.

16. The self-propelled system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said control unit comprises a gyroscope.

17. The self-propelled system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the number of said germicidal ultraviolet light is 2, and the two said germicidal ultraviolet lights are arranged in parallel.

18. The self-propelled system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a micro-fiber pad mounted at said self-propelled platform, said micro-fiber pad being kept in contact with the floor when said self-propelled platform is placed on the floor.

19. The self-propelled system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a lift-off sensing unit mounted in said self-propelled platform and electrically coupled to said control unit for detecting if said self-propelled platform is picked up or turns over.