Abstract: A docking station for charging an autonomous floor cleaner includes a transmitter that can transmit a signal for detection by the robot. The docking station can include an opaque shroud for the transmitter and/or spring-loaded charging contacts. The autonomous floor cleaner can comprise a passive receiver that detects signals emitted from the docking station and a time-of-flight sensor for position/proximity sensing. The robot can selectively turn off the time-of-flight sensor when docking with or avoiding the docking station. Methods for docking, re-docking, low power charging, docking station avoidance, obstacle response during docking, and close-proximity docking are disclosed.

Abstract: A system providing a barrier for an autonomous floor cleaner includes an artificial barrier generator that radiates one or more infrared signals. An autonomous floor cleaner can be configured to detect the infrared signals, and can react by altering course. Methods for containing an autonomous floor cleaner within a user-determined boundary are disclosed.

Abstract: A system providing a barrier for an autonomous floor cleaner includes an artificial barrier generator that radiates one or more infrared signals. An autonomous floor cleaner can be configured to detect the infrared signals, and can react by altering course. Methods for containing an autonomous floor cleaner within a user-determined boundary are disclosed.

Abstract: A docking station for charging an autonomous floor cleaner includes a transmitter that can transmit a signal for detection by the robot. The docking station can include an opaque shroud for the transmitter and/or spring-loaded charging contacts. The autonomous floor cleaner can comprise a passive receiver that detects signals emitted from the docking station and a time-of-flight sensor for position/proximity sensing. The robot can selectively turn off the time-of-flight sensor when docking with or avoiding the docking station. Methods for docking, re-docking, low power charging, docking station avoidance, obstacle response during docking, and close-proximity docking are disclosed.

Abstract: A system providing a barrier for an autonomous floor cleaner includes an artificial barrier generator that radiates one or more infrared emission patterns. An autonomous floor cleaner can be configured to detect an overlapping emission pattern made of partially overlapping encoded infrared emissions. Methods for containing an autonomous floor cleaner within a user-determined boundary are disclosed.

Abstract: A system providing a barrier for an autonomous floor cleaner includes an artificial barrier generator that radiates one or more infrared emission patterns. An autonomous floor cleaner can be configured to detect an overlapping emission pattern made of partially overlapping encoded infrared emissions. Methods for containing an autonomous floor cleaner within a user-determined boundary are disclosed.

Abstract: A motor control system employed in a mechanism including displacers driven by motors, for example, a vehicle seat control system, includes motor operation parameter detection or simulation as inputs to adaptive algorithms to simplify the control system. The adaptive algorithms compensate for the interference with detection of generated or sensed pulses in previous pulse counting implementations. The seat control permits additional functions to be performed without numerous sensors, power controls and robust demands required in previous systems for controlling motors.