Robotic vacuum cleaner
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for autonomous operation over an area comprising:
- a control system;
a line for manipulation by a user; and
,a directional detecting member including a sensor, said sensor coupled to said line and said control system, said sensor configured for detecting the directional movement of said line when said line is moved, and for signaling said control system with a signal corresponding to said directional movement of said line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous robot, that is for example, suitable for operations such as vacuuming and surface cleaning includes a payload configured for vacuum cleaning, a drive system including a steering system, a navigation system, and a control system for integrating operations of the aforementioned systems.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for autonomous operation over an area comprising:
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a control system; a line for manipulation by a user; and
,a directional detecting member including a sensor, said sensor coupled to said line and said control system, said sensor configured for detecting the directional movement of said line when said line is moved, and for signaling said control system with a signal corresponding to said directional movement of said line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for autonomous operation over an area comprising:
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at least one first transmitter; at least one second transmitter; at least one receiver for receiving signals originally transmitted from both of said at least one first transmitter and said at least one second transmitter; and
,said at least one first transmitter offset from said at least one second transmitter at a distance and an angle such that detection of a signal by said at least one receiver from said at least one first transmitter, absent detection of a signal from said at least one second transmitters, corresponds to detection of a door or an entryway. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for detecting the presence of an entryway comprising:
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an apparatus for autonomous operation over an area comprising; at least one first transmitter; at least one second transmitter; at least one receiver for receiving signals originally transmitted from both of said at least one first transmitter and said at least one second transmitter; and
,said at least one first transmitter offset from said at least one second transmitter at a distance and an angle such that detection of a signal by said at least one receiver from said at least one first transmitter, absent detection of a signal from said at least one second transmitter, corresponds to detection of said entryway; and
,at least one retroreflector for positioning at least proximate to said entryway. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for limiting coverage of an apparatus to a portion of an area comprising:
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an apparatus for autonomous operation over an area comprising; a drive system; and
,at least one sensor in communication with said drive system, said at least one sensor configured for detecting at least one signal for confining said apparatus to operate in a portion of said area; and
,a transmitter for sending at least one signal corresponding to at least one boundary of said portion of said area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for detecting a surface type comprising:
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providing an apparatus for moving along a surface, said apparatus comprising;
at least one rotating member configured for contacting a surface, and a motor in communication with said at least one rotating member;shutting down said motor for a predetermined time period to cease rotation of said at least one rotating member; and
,measuring a back electromotive force on said motor provided by the resistance of said surface to said rotation of said at least one rotating member. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for surface detection comprising:
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a control system; a drive system; at least one rotating member configured for contacting a surface; a motor in communication with said at least one rotating member; and
,at least one sensor in communication with said motor, said at least one sensor configured for measuring back electromotive force on said motor when rotation of said at least one rotating member is ceased, and, said at least one sensor configured for signaling said control system for restarting said motor and rotating said at least one rotating member at a speed corresponding to the measured back electromotive force on said motor. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A vacuum cleaner agitator unit comprising:
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at least one rotating member substantially cylindrical in shape and of a diameter such the fringes of carpets can not wrap around said at least one rotating member; and
,a plurality of ground contacting members extending from said at least one rotating member. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification