Robot vacuum

• US 20040244138A1
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharper Image Corporation (ThreeSixty Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Parker, Andrew J., Taylor, Charles E., Ng, Eric, Heninger, Andrew, Blair, Eric C., Fai Lau, Shek
• Application Number:
  US10/798,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20040244138A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/281 the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• 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: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• 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

A robot cleaner is described that includes a germicidal ultraviolet lamp. In one embodiment, a cleaning pad is used with the robot cleaner.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a cleaning unit on the robot cleaner, the cleaning unit including a cleaning pad;

and

a processor to control the robot cleaner to use the cleaning unit to clean a room, the cleaning pad contacting the floor to clean the floor surface.

2. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit also includes a cleaning solution dispenser.

3. The robot cleaner of claim 2, wherein the robot cleaner wipes up cleaning solution from the cleaning solution dispenser with the cleaning pad.

4. The robot cleaner of claim 2, wherein the processor determines when to dispense cleaning solution.

5. The robot cleaner of claim 2, wherein the robot cleaner detects whether the floor surface is a hard surface before dispensing the cleaning solution.

6. The robot cleaner of claim 2, wherein a user controls the dispensing the cleaning solution.

7. The robot cleaner of claim 2, wherein a user controls the dispensing the cleaning solution.

8. The robot cleaner of claim of claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit includes a positioning device to position the cleaning pad up off of the floor or down contacting the floor.

9. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the robot cleaner includes a floor type detector.

10. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein the floor type detector is an optical detector.

11. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein the floor type detector is an ultrasound detector.

12. The robot cleaner of claim 9, wherein the floor type detector is a mechanical detector.

13. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the contact pad uses static electricity to attract dust.

14. A method of operating a robot cleaner comprising:

contacting a floor with a cleaning pad of a cleaning unit on a robot cleaner; and

controlling the robot cleaner to use the cleaning unit to clean a room, the cleaning pad contacting the floor to clean the floor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the cleaning unit also includes a cleaning solution dispenser.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the robot cleaner wipes up cleaning solution from the cleaning solution dispenser with the cleaning pad.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the processor determines when to dispense cleaning solution.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the robot cleaner detects whether the floor surface is a hard surface before dispensing the cleaning solution.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a user controls the dispensing the cleaning solution.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a user controls the dispensing the cleaning solution.

21. The method of claim of claim 14, wherein the cleaning unit includes a positioning device to position the cleaning pad up off of the floor or down contacting the floor.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the robot cleaner includes a floor type detector.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the floor type detector is an optical detector.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the floor type detector is an ultrasound detector.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the floor type detector is a mechanical detector.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the contact pad uses static electricity to attract dust.

27. A robot cleaner comprising:

a cleaning unit on the robot cleaner,

a germicidal ultraviolet lamp to emit radiation upon being energized; and

a processor to control the robot cleaner to use the cleaning unit to clean a room

28. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the germicidal ultraviolet lamp is positioned to irradiate an internal cavity of the robot cleaner.

29. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the germicidal ultraviolet lamp is positioned to irradiate a floor.

30. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the cleaning unit includes an electrostatic filter.

31. The robot cleaner of claim 30, wherein the germicidal ultraviolet lamp is positioned to irradiate an airflow before the electrostatic filter.

32. The robot cleaner of claim 30, wherein the cleaning unit further includes a mechanical filter.

33. The robot cleaner of claim 32, wherein the mechanical filter is a vacuum cleaner bag.

34. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the robot cleaner is configured to preclude human viewing of radiation emitted directly from the germicidal ultraviolet lamp.

35. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the cleaning unit includes a vacuum.

36. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the cleaning unit includes a sweeper.

37. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein portions of the robot cleaner irradiated by the germicidal ultraviolet lamp are made of a UV resistant material.

38. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the UV resistant material is a UV resistant plastic material.

39. A method comprising:

controlling a robot cleaner to use a cleaning unit to clean a room; and

using a germicidal ultraviolet lamp on the robot cleaner to emit radiation.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the germicidal ultraviolet lamp is positioned to irradiate an internal cavity of the robot cleaner.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the germicidal ultraviolet lamp is positioned to irradiate a floor.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the cleaning unit includes an electrostatic filter.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the germicidal ultraviolet lamp is positioned to irradiate an airflow before the electrostatic filter.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the cleaning unit further includes a mechanical filter.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the mechanical filter is a vacuum cleaner bag.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein the robot cleaner is configured to preclude human viewing of radiation emitted directly from the germicidal ultraviolet lamp.

47. The method of claim 39, wherein the cleaning unit includes a vacuum.

48. The method of claim 39, wherein the cleaning unit includes a sweeper.

49. The method of claim 39, wherein portions of the robot cleaner irradiated by the germicidal ultraviolet lamp are made of a UV resistant material.

50. The method of claim 39, wherein the UV resistant material is a UV resistant plastic material.