Coverage robots and associated cleaning bins
US8528157B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 21, 2007 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 17, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47L2201/04
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis, a drive system configured to maneuver the robot, and a cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly includes a cleaning assembly housing and at least one driven sweeper brush. The robot includes a controller and a removable sweeper bin configured to receive debris agitated by the driven sweeper brush. The sweeper bin includes an emitter disposed on an interior surface of the bin and a receiver disposed remotely from the emitter on the interior surface of the bin and configured to receive an emitter signal. The emitter and the receiver are disposed such that a threshold level of accumulation of debris in the sweeper bin blocks the receiver from receiving emitter emissions. The robot includes a bin controller disposed in the sweeper bin and monitoring a detector signal and initiating a bin full routine upon determining a bin debris accumulation level requiring service.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.