Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
US8763199B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jul 1, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47L2201/06
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A robot includes a robot housing having a substantially arcuate forward portion and a motor drive housed by the robot housing and configured to maneuver the robot on a floor surface. At least two independently driven drive wheels are moveably attached to the robot housing and biased toward the floor surface, each of the drive wheels being moveable downwardly in response to the each of the drive wheels moving over a cliff in the floor surface. A plurality of cliff sensors are disposed adjacent a forward edge of the robot housing and spaced from each other, each cliff sensor including an emitter and a detector aimed toward the floor surface and configured to receive emitter emissions reflected off of the floor surface, each cliff sensor being responsive to a cliff in the floor surface and configured to send a signal when a cliff in the floor surface is detected. The robot also includes a wheel drop sensor in communication with each drive wheel that senses when a drive wheel moves downwardly and sends a signal indicating downward movement of the pivoted drive wheel. A controller is in communication with the cliff sensors, each of the wheel drop sensors, and the motor drive to redirect…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.