Indicator for a robotic machine
US6774596B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/0242
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A robotic machine such as a robotic vacuum cleaner is controlled to carry out a task of cleaning a room. The machine has a plurality of sensors including infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors and light sensors through which the machine can navigate its way around a room without hitting objects or walls in its path. The machine has an indicator light which changes color depending upon the state of interaction of the various sensors with the environment, indicating the ‘mood’ of the cleaner. The indicator may include three primary color light sources which are combined within a reflective frusto-conical chamber and a translucent lens dome in order to combine the primary colors into a single colored light as viewed by a user. This makes the machine more user-friendly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.