Brush with pressure sensor

• US 10,602,899 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2017
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ai Incorprated
• Original Assignee: Ai Incorprated
• Inventors: Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US15/791,788
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 15179, 15 211, 15 23, 15 503, 15 521, 15 532, 15 533, 15 82, 15319, 15339, 153403, 15366, 15383
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/001 Cylindrical or annular brush bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0012 with a pressure controlling device
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• 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: B08B 1/12 Brushes
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/32 using rotary cleaning members

Abstract

A rotatable brush with a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor comprises a projecting blade connected to a tactile sensor by a flexible member. The projecting blade extends along the length of the shaft and is housed among the plurality of bristles protruding radially from the shaft. The projecting blade compresses the flexible member when pressure around the brush reaches a predetermined threshold. Upon compression of the flexible member, the tactile sensor, electronically coupled with a processor or controller, is activated thereby triggering a variety of possible preprogrammed responses.

Claims

1. A brush, comprising:

a rotatable shaft with a plurality of bristles radially protruding therefrom; and

,

a pressure sensor, comprising;

at least one projecting member extending along a length of the shaft, and

a tactile sensor positioned within the shaft;

wherein the at least one projecting member comprises at least one projecting blade connected at a proximal side to the tactile sensor by at least one flexible member, a distal side of the at least one projecting blade projecting out of at least one aperture in the shaft; and

wherein the tactile sensor is actuated when more than a threshold amount of pressure is put on the at least one projecting member, causing at least one of the at least one flexible member to compress and touch the tactile sensor.

2. The brush of claim 1, wherein the tactile sensor is electronically coupled to a processor.

3. The brush of claim 1, wherein the tactile sensor is any of:

a mechanical sensor, an electronic pressure sensor, and a pressure actuated switch.

4. The brush of claim 1, wherein when the tactile sensor is actuated, a response is programmed to occur either immediately or after the tactile sensor has been actuated for a predetermined amount of time.

5. The brush of claim 4, wherein the programmed response includes any of the following, separately or in combination:

halting rotation of the brush, reversing the rotation of the brush, temporarily reversing the rotation of the brush, slowing rotation of the brush, pausing rotation of the brush, turning off the brush, activating an alert, sending a notification to a user and, displaying a notification to a user.

6. The brush of claim 1, wherein the at least one projecting blade comprises a plurality of projecting blades, in totality extending along the length of the shaft.

7. The brush of claim 6, wherein a plurality of tactile sensors are disposed along the shaft and each projecting blade is connected to a corresponding tactile sensor, each of which is actuated individually.

8. The brush of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible members comprises at least one springs.

9. A system for detecting and responding to brush entanglement comprising:

a brush with a rotatable shaft with a plurality of bristles radially protruding therefrom;

a tactile sensor positioned within the shaft; and

,

a pressure sensor comprised of at least one projecting blade positioned within an aperture in the shaft extending along a length of the shaft connected at a proximal side to the tactile sensor by a flexible member, the distal side of the projecting blade projecting out of the aperture in the shaft,

wherein more than a threshold amount of pressure on the pressure sensor causes the tactile sensor to be actuated.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the tactile sensor is electronically coupled to a processor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the tactile sensor is any of a mechanical sensor, an electronic pressure sensor, and a pressure actuated switch.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein actuation of the tactile sensor triggers, either immediately or after the tactile sensor has been actuated for a preset amount of time, any of the following responses, separately or in combination:

halting rotation of the brush, reversing the rotation of the brush, temporarily reversing the rotation of the brush, slowing rotation of the brush, pausing rotation of the brush, and turning off the brush.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the pressure sensor is comprised of a plurality of projecting blades, disposed at different positions around the shaft of the brush, each paired to a corresponding tactile sensor.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the flexible members comprises a plurality of flexible members.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the brush is disposed on a robotic vacuum.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein actuation of the tactile sensor triggers, either immediately or after the tactile sensor has been actuated for a preset amount of time, any of the following responses, separately or in combination:

turning off the robotic vacuum, activating an alert on the robotic vacuum, sending a notification to a user, displaying a notification to a user, and altering the movement or operation of the robotic vacuum.

17. A method for detecting entanglement of an object about a robotic vacuum brush comprising:

providing a brush with a rotatable shaft and bristles protruding radially therefrom on a robotic vacuum;

providing a pressure sensor comprised of at least one projecting blade extending along a length of the shaft, wherein the at least one projecting blade is connected at a proximal side to a tactile sensor disposed within the shaft by at least one flexible member, a distal side of the at least one projecting blade projecting out of at least one aperture in the shaft; and

,

detecting entanglement of an object about the brush when more than a threshold amount of pressure on the pressure sensor causes the tactile sensor to be actuated.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising;

upon detecting entanglement of an object about the brush, executing a preprogrammed response including any of the following, separately or in combination;

halting rotation of the brush, reversing the rotation of the brush, temporarily reversing the rotation of the brush, slowing rotation of the brush, pausing rotation of the brush, turning off the robotic vacuum, activating an alert on the robotic vacuum, sending a notification to a user, displaying a notification to a user, and altering the movement or operation of the robotic vacuum.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one flexible member is comprised of at least one spring.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein a plurality of projecting blades are each connected to the tactile sensor.