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System and method for controlling a cleaning apparatus

  • US 8,606,404 B1
  • Filed: 06/16/2010
  • Issued: 12/10/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for directing a cleaning apparatus on a surface to be cleaned comprising:

  • a body having a floor cleaner;

    at least one wheel rotatably coupled with the body and operably interconnected with a motor for imparting motion to the wheel, and a controller for providing a signal to the motor to control the motion of the at least one wheel;

    at least one sensor coupled with the body and operably interconnected to the controller for detecting a target projection on the surface at a distance spaced from the body;

    a signal emitting device separate from the body comprising a user interface portion configured to receive signals from a user and transmit a representation of those signals to a target projection on the surface, wherein the representation of those signals has a shape; and

    wherein the sensor on the body is configured to detect the target projection on the surface and the controller is configured to initiate at least one function to be performed by the body of the cleaning apparatus on the surface based on the detected target projection,wherein the at least one function comprises at least one driving function wherein the controller is configured to provide signals to the motor to control the motion of the at least one wheel to move the cleaning apparatus to the location of the target projection on the surface to be cleaned or a cleaning function wherein the controller is configured to operate the floor cleaner body of the cleaning apparatus to perform a cleaning operation on the surface to be cleaned at the location of the target projection on the surface and the at least one function is determined based upon a shape of the detected target projection.

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