RFID navigational system for robotic floor treater

• US 20060293794A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Su, Dragon, Sawalski, Michael M., Yeung, Dik Man, Jaworski, Thomas, Harwig, Jeffrey L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/253
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0227 using mechanical sensing means, e.g. for sensing treated area
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0203 Cleaning or polishing vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed herein are navigational systems for automated robotic floor cleaners. RFID passive tags are positioned at specified areas of a floor to be treated so as to increase or decrease dwell time of the cleaning device adjacent the tags. An RFID interrogator on the robot learns from each tag its nature, and based thereon instructs the device to change the dwell time over specified areas. This permits areas of a carpet or other surface requiring extra or less treatment to be cleaned in an optimal manner.

Claims

1. A system for navigating an automatic cleaning device within a location, the system comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag positioned within or adjacent a selected surface area comprising a percentage of total surface area within the location; and

an automatic cleaning device including a controller for driving the automatic cleaning device within the location for a predetermined time period, the controller being in communication with a radio frequency identification unit which receives signals from the radio frequency identification tag indicating presence of the selected surface area,

wherein the controller executes a stored program to drive the automatic cleaning device within the selected surface area for a modified time period greater than or less than a reference time period calculated by multiplying the predetermined time period by the percentage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the radio frequency identification tag is positioned in the center of the selected surface area, and

the controller executes a stored program to drive the automatic cleaning device within a predetermined distance of the radio frequency identification tag for the modified time period.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the system comprises a plurality of radio frequency identification tags positioned on a perimeter of the selected surface area, and

the controller executes a stored program to drive the automatic cleaning device within the perimeter of the selected surface area for the modified time period.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the modified time period is greater than the reference time period.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the selected surface area is dirtier than a remainder of the total surface area other than the selected surface area before driving the automatic cleaning device within the location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the modified time period is less than the reference time period.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the controller executes the stored program to avoid driving the automatic cleaning device within the selected surface area.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the selected surface area is less dirty than a remainder of the total surface area other than the selected surface area before driving the automatic cleaning device within the location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the selected surface area comprises a floor covering.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the selected surface area is adjacent a wall.

11. A method for navigating an automatic cleaning device within a location, the automatic cleaning device including a controller for driving the automatic cleaning device within the location for a predetermined time period, the method comprising:

positioning a radio frequency identification tag within or adjacent a selected surface area comprising a percentage of total surface area within the location;

providing a radio frequency identification unit which receives signals from the radio frequency identification tag indicating presence of the selected surface area, the radio frequency identification unit being in communication with the controller; and

providing in the controller a stored program that drives the automatic cleaning device within the selected surface area for a modified time period greater than or less than a reference time period calculated by multiplying the predetermined time period by the percentage.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the radio frequency identification tag is positioned in the center of the selected surface area, and

the stored program drives the automatic cleaning device within a predetermined distance of the radio frequency identification tag for the modified time period.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein

a plurality of radio frequency identification tags are positioned on a perimeter of the selected surface area, and

the stored program drives the automatic cleaning device within the perimeter of the selected surface area for the modified time period.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the modified time period is greater than the reference time period.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the selected surface area is dirtier than a remainder of the total surface area other than the selected surface area before driving the automatic cleaning device within the location.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the modified time period is less than the reference time period.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the controller executes the stored program to avoid driving the automatic cleaning device within the selected surface area.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the selected surface area is less dirty than a remainder of the total surface area other than the selected surface area before driving the automatic cleaning device within the location.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the selected surface area comprises a floor covering.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the selected surface area is adjacent a wall.