Robotic vacuum cleaner with edge and object detection system
US7801645B2 · kind B2 · utility
149Cited by
90References
32Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 11, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/931
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A robot uses an infrared sensor including an infrared light source which produces pulses of infrared light. Optics focus reflections of the infrared light pulses from different portions of the environment of the robot to different detectors in a 2D array of detectors. The detectors produce an indication of the distance to the closest object in an associated portion of the environment. The robot can use the indications to determine features in the environment. The robot can be controlled to avoid these features.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.