Robotic vacuum cleaner

• US 8,311,674 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: F Robotics Acquisitions Ltd. (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abramson, Shai
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAMMELL, JAMES P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US12/846,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 348/36, 348/49, 348/53, 348/169, 348/211.9, 348/580, 348/E5.042, 348/E5.055, 348/E7.079, 348/E7.083, 345/426, 345/427, 345/419, 345/421, 463/31, 463/32, 382/154, 382/293, 715/738, 715/854, 715/848, 715/782, 701/211, 340/995.24, 700/245, 700/257, 700/258, 250/203.3, 250/206.01, 356/139.06, 356/141.2, 52/53, 521/79, 318/640, 343/43
• US Class Current: 700/248
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/001 Cylindrical or annular brush bodies
• 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 5/22 with rotary fans
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/30 with driven dust-loosening tools, e.g. rotating brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/34 with height adjustment of nozzles or dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0444 for conveying motion by endless flexible members, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0483 Reciprocating or oscillating tools, e.g. vibrators, agitators, beaters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0494 Height adjustment of dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/281 for fans or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/30 Vanes
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0227 using mechanical sensing means, e.g. for sensing treated area
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0244 using reflecting strips
• 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 1/0272 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

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for autonomous operation over an area comprising:

a drive system; and

at least one sensor in communication with the drive system, the at least one sensor configured for detecting at least a first signal and an adjacent second signal for controlling the drive system and confining the apparatus to operate in a location within the area,

wherein the at least one sensor is configured for detecting coded signals corresponding to each of the first signal and the second signal, and

wherein the at least one sensor is configured for detecting the first signal that is coded as an IN signal and detecting the second signal that is coded as an OUT signal, for maintaining the apparatus in the location within the area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a transmitter for transmitting the first and second signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a vacuum cleaner payload.

4. A system for confining an apparatus for autonomous operation over an area to a bounded portion of the area, the system comprising:

an apparatus for autonomous operation comprising;

a drive system; and

at least one sensor in communication with the drive system, the at least one sensor configured for detecting at least a first signal and a second signal for confining the apparatus to operate in the bounded portion of the area; and

,

a transmitter for transmitting said first and second signals adjacent to each other to define a boundary for the bounded portion of the area.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the transmitter transmits the first signal inside the bounded portion of the area, and transmits the second signal outside of the bounded portion of the area.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor is an infra red (IR) light sensor and the transmitter transmits IR light signals.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the transmitter is configured for transmitting coded signals corresponding to each of the first signal and the second signal, and the at least one sensor is configured for detecting the coded signals.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the coded signals include an IN signal defining the first signal, and, an OUT signal defining the second signal.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the apparatus additionally comprises a vacuum cleaner payload.