Robot vacuum with floor type modes

• US 20050010331A1
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• 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: Heninger, Andrew, Fai Lau, Shek, Parker, Andrew J., Taylor, Charles E., Ng, Eric, Blair, Eric C.
• Application Number:
  US10/798,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30

Abstract

A robot cleaner is described that cleans a room using a serpentine room clean and a serpentine localized clean. Sensors can include an object following sensor, a stairway detector and bumper sensors.

Claims

1. A method of operating a robot cleaner with a processor comprising:

selecting a floor type mode, the floor type modes including a hard surface mode and a soft surface mode, operation in the soft surface mode including rotating a sweeper of the robot cleaner more than in the hard surface mode; and

cleaning with the robot cleaner in the selected floor type mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the hard surface mode the sweeper is off.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in the hard surface mode, the sweeper has a reduced speed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the soft surface mode is a carpet cleaning mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the floor type mode is done by pressing a button on the robot cleaner.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a remote unit is used to select between the floor type modes

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a floor sensor is used to select between the floor type modes.

8. A robot cleaner comprising:

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

a processor to control the robot cleaner into a selected floor type mode, the floor type modes including a hard surface mode and a soft surface mode, operation in the soft surface mode including rotating a sweeper of the robot cleaner more than in the hard surface mode

9. The robot cleaner of claim 8, wherein in the hard surface mode the sweeper is off.

10. The robot cleaner of claim 8, wherein in the hard surface mode, the sweeper has a reduced speed.

11. The robot cleaner of claim 8, wherein the soft surface mode is a carpet cleaning mode.

12. The robot cleaner of claim 8, wherein selecting the floor type mode is done by pressing a button on the robot cleaner.

13. The robot cleaner of claim 8, wherein a remote unit is used to select between the floor type modes

14. The robot cleaner of claim 8, wherein a floor sensor is used to select between the floor type modes.

15. A method of using a robot cleaner comprising:

using a robot cleaner to clean a room, the robot cleaner moving under its own control;

attaching a supplemental cleaning element to the robot cleaner; and

carrying the robot cleaner and using the supplemental cleaning element to clean an object.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the supplemental cleaning unit connects to a connection port.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the connection port is on top of the robot cleaner.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the connection port is on the bottom of the robot cleaner

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the connection port is adjacent to a vacuum inlet.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the robot cleaner cleans in a serpentine pattern under its own control.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the robot cleaner has a handle.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the handle is part of the edge of the robot cleaner.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the supplemental cleaning element is a hose attachment

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the supplemental cleaning element includes a brush.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the supplemental cleaning element includes a nozzle.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the supplemental cleaning element includes a crevice tool.

27. A robot cleaner comprising:

a cleaning unit;

a motion unit;

a processor to use the cleaning unit and motion unit to clean a room under the control of processing; and

a connection port for a supplemental cleaning element, wherein, when the supplemental cleaning element is attached, the robot cleaner can be carried to clean an object.

28. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the connection port is on top of the robot cleaner.

29. The robot cleaner of claim 28, wherein the connection port is on the bottom of the robot cleaner

30. The robot cleaner of claim 29, wherein the connection port is adjacent to a vacuum inlet.

31. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the robot cleaner cleans in a serpentine pattern under its own control.

32. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the robot cleaner has a handle.

33. The robot cleaner of claim 32, wherein the handle is part of the edge of the robot cleaner.

34. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the supplemental cleaning element is a hose attachment

35. The robot cleaner of claim 28, wherein the supplemental cleaning element includes a brush.

36. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the supplemental cleaning element includes a nozzle.

37. The robot cleaner of claim 27, wherein the supplemental cleaning element includes a crevice tool.