Patents Examined by Marc Carlson
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Patent number: 11586219Abstract: An optical beacon may include a housing, an optical emitter at least partially disposed within the housing, and an optical identifier generator optically coupled to the optical emitter. Light incident on the optical identifier generator may be shaped into at least one optical identifier. The optical identifier may be associated with an action capable of being carried out by a robotic cleaner such that detection of the optical identifier by the robotic cleaner causes the robotic cleaner to carry out the action.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: Adam Leech, Adam Khaw, Conor Richardson
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Patent number: 11576542Abstract: A robotic dust collector includes: a cover plate that closes an opening of a housing; a first hinge member connected to the cover plate and having an insertion space; an elastic member disposed in the insertion space; and a second hinge member. The second hinge member includes a shaft part that is inserted in the insertion space and supports the elastic member. The second hinge member further includes a fixture part fixed to at least a part of the housing. The second hinge member supports the first hinge member in a manner that allows the first hinge member to rotate about a rotation axis.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATIONInventors: Kentaro Koura, Hirotaka Sumiyoshi
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Patent number: 11571721Abstract: Disclosed is a drainage system for an automatic cleaning storage base of an electric mop. The automatic cleaning storage base of the electric mop comprises a casing member having a cleaning tank. The drainage system comprises a drain valve; an outlet end of the drain valve is connected to the outside of the casing member, and an inlet end of the drain valve is connected to the cleaning tank; the drain valve has a switch, and the switch is provided with a first rack; the drain valve is further provided with a duplex gear and a second rack; the duplex gear has a gear portion with a larger outer diameter to mesh with the first rack, and the duplex gear has a gear portion with a smaller outer diameter to mesh with the second rack.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: SHENZHEN JASHEN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Zhi-Chang Liu, Xiao-Ming Zhang, Jian-Xin Xi
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Patent number: 11572667Abstract: A roadway or pavement sweeper with multiple sweeping modes for the removal of debris from a swept surface may, in some embodiments, include a sweeper vehicle having a pair of side-brooms independently movable between a retracted and extended position for sweeping debris into an area therebetween and at least one material-transfer broom to sweep a portion of the debris accumulated between the side-brooms as the vehicle moves in its direction of travel. A fan-driven suction-inlet may be provided at or adjacent each side of the vehicle. The at least one material-transfer broom may rotate in a first or other direction to transfer debris for entrainment into a selected suction-inlet for transfer to a debris hopper. Other embodiments are also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Schwarze Industries, Inc.Inventors: Dale D. Glubrecht, Brian Giles, Felix W. Crunk, III, Ronald J. Schrimsher, Sean H. Howley, Jared N. Berke, John D. Madderra
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Patent number: 11571103Abstract: A turntable structure includes a cleaning turntable having one side connected with a cleaning piece; an adjusting component slidably connected with the cleaning turntable along a target direction, and located on another side of the cleaning turntable opposite to the cleaning piece, the adjusting component having a side far away from the cleaning turntable and connected with a driving mechanism of a robot to rotate the cleaning turntable, the target direction being parallel to a rotating shaft of the cleaning turntable; a pressure unit provided between the cleaning turntable and the adjusting component and for pressing against the cleaning turntable; and a first limiting structure configured to limit a sliding distance of the cleaning turntable relative to the adjusting component along the target direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2022Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Yunjing Intelligence Technology (Dongguan) Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junbin Zhang, Jibiao Huang, Weijin Lin
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Patent number: 11571104Abstract: A cleaning pad for an autonomous cleaning robot evenly wets and collects debris for cleaning operations. The pad includes a core of absorbent layers for absorbing liquid through capillary action and for distributing the liquid within the cleaning pad. The pad includes a wrap layer around the core, the wrap layer comprising a fibrous layer that is flexible and absorbent, the fibrous layer configured to absorb liquid through capillary action and transfer the liquid to the core. The pad includes one or more transition regions spanning a cleaning width of the cleaning pad, the one or more transition regions dividing the cleaning pad into at least two segments. The forward positioned segment of the pad, of the at least two segments of the pad, has a lesser thickness compared to a thickness of an aft positioned segment of the at least two segments.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventors: Marcus Williams, Lin Lung Chieh
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Patent number: 11564547Abstract: A cleaning pad includes a mounting surface disposed on a top side of the cleaning pad. The mounting surface is configured to provide a mechanical connection to an autonomous cleaning robot. The cleaning pad includes a first outer layer disposed on a bottom side of the cleaning pad, the first outer layer having a first coefficient of friction; and a second outer layer disposed on the bottom side of the cleaning pad, the second outer layer having a second coefficient of friction less than the first coefficient of friction.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2019Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: iRobot CorporationInventor: Brian Lucas
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Patent number: 11564548Abstract: Disclosed is a cleaning robot capable of simultaneously driving a driving wheel and an impeller by a single motor, including a motor output shaft, a driving wheel provided with a second rotating shaft and an impeller provided with a first rotating shaft; a connector is connected between the motor output shaft and the first rotating shaft; and a speed reducer is connected between the connector and the second rotating shaft. The cleaning robot moves forward and backward and makes a turn by the driving wheel, allows wastes to enter an internal filter element under the action of negative pressure generated by the internal impeller, and discharges the purified water or air out of the equipment. The present invention can simultaneously drive the impeller and the driving wheel by using only one motor and can enable the driving wheel and the impeller to generate different rotating speeds.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: POOLELF SMART TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Xin Cao, Weijin Li
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Patent number: 11523722Abstract: A dirtiness level determining method applied to an electronic device comprising an image sensor. The method comprises: (a) capturing a first image at a first time point according to first type of light; (b) capturing a second image at a second time point after the first time point according to the first type of light; (c) calculating a first fixed pattern according to a first difference between the first image and the second image; and (d) calculating a first dirtiness level of the image sensor according to the first fixed pattern; (e) generating a first notifying message if the first dirtiness level is higher than a dirtiness threshold.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2019Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.Inventor: Guo-Zhen Wang
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Patent number: 11523569Abstract: A concentrator nozzle attachment for a blower device is disclosed that increases the airflow velocity of the blower without sacrificing the field of the jetting air. The concentrator nozzle is formed of an outer ring with a centrally located guide surface and is placed at the exit of an air tube. As the air exits the air tube, it's forced to flow around the guide surface, thus increasing its velocity. The attachment is secured to the end of the air tube and so does not alter the outer diameter through which the air exits. In this way, air velocity is increased without reducing its effectiveness.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.Inventors: Nathan Greene, Khoa Dang Nguyen
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Patent number: 11518016Abstract: A power tool comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the power tool wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the power tool in a default mode and in a low-noise mode, wherein; the controller, is configured to control operation of the power tool in the low-noise mode on basis of predetermined settings that are selected such that the noise output from the power tool in the low-noise mode is lower than the noise output from the power tool in the default mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: HUSQVARNA ABInventor: Pierre Lanquist
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Patent number: 11517164Abstract: Provided is a cleaning system including: a robot cleaner including a dust collecting device having a dirt outlet and an outlet door configured to open and close the dirt outlet; and a station including a collecting device configured to generate a suction force to suction dirt of the duct collecting device and a lever device provided with a lever configured to be fixable to the outlet door as the outlet door is being opened to allow the collecting device and the dust collecting device to communicate with each other, and a lever driving source configured to generate power for driving the lever.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Woo Jin Na, Hakbong Lee, Bosang Kim, Sin-Ae Kim, Yong-Seok Kim, Yeonkyu Jeong
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Patent number: 11517162Abstract: A remaining water suction device having an air blowing function according to the present disclosure includes a suction and blowing integrated nozzle, a suction motor unit for providing a suction force to suction remaining water into the suction and blowing integrated nozzle, a drain tank for storing a liquid from the suction and blowing integrated nozzle, an air blowing module for supplying pressurized air to the suction and blowing integrated nozzle, and a main body with the suction and blowing integrated nozzle, the suction motor unit, the drain tank and the air blowing module mounted therein.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Jong Seok Kim, Daeyun Park, Inhyung Yang
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Patent number: 11517167Abstract: An autonomous cleaning device (1), such as a robotic vacuum (1), has an optical sensor (50) that includes: a rotary body (51) configured to rotate relative to a main body (2) about a rotational axis (CX); a light-emitting device (61) provided on the rotary body; a light-receiving device (62) provided on the rotary body; a cover (52) disposed upward of the rotary body; and legs (70) disposed around the rotary body and supporting the cover. In a cross section orthogonal to the rotational axis, at least a portion of a surface of each of the legs is inclined with respect to a virtual radial line (RL) extending in the radial direction of the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATIONInventors: Kentaro Koura, Takuro Konishi
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Patent number: 11517168Abstract: Provided is a robot cleaner using an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm and/or a machine learning algorithm in a 5G environment connected for Internet of Things (IoT). The robot cleaner includes one or more sensors, a driving wheel, a suction blower, and a controller, and the controller defines a cleaning target area, identifies a user's location and a type of the user's behavior, collects life pattern information of the user including the user's location, the type of the user's behavior, and timestamps each associated therewith during the time period of one day or more, determines a cleaning schedule of the robot cleaner based on the collected life pattern information, and controls the driving wheel and the suction blower so as to perform cleaning in accordance with the determined cleaning schedule.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Eu Gene Kim, Kwan Young Son, Hyun Seob Lee
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Patent number: 11503968Abstract: A cleaning apparatus may include at least one isolator configured to absorb mechanical vibration generated by contact between an agitator and a combining unit to reduce noise and/or vibration. The isolator may include at least one combing isolator disposed at least partially between the combing unit and the surface cleaning head. Alternatively (or in addition), the isolator may include a panel isolator disposed at least partially between a housing of the cleaning apparatus and a panel.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLCInventors: John B. Freese, Tyler S. Smith, Wenxiu Gao, Ian Liu, Nicholas Sardar
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Patent number: 11503972Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a base defining a suction chamber, a brushroll driven by a brushroll motor, a transmitter and a receiver both of which are in wireless communication with a user-controlled electronic device, and a controller in communication with the transmitter, the receiver, the brushroll sensor, and the floor sensor. The controller controls the brushroll motor. The controlling the brushroll motor includes controlling the brushroll motor to a first value or a second value based on a user selected factor.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology LimitedInventors: Patrick Truitt, Todd Zimmerman
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Patent number: 11503778Abstract: A blowing-suction machine includes a casing, a suction duct arranged at the front portion of the casing. It further includes a motor and a shredder mechanism that are arranged in the casing in order from rear to front. The front end of the shredder mechanism is connected to the rear end of the suction duct. The shredder mechanism includes blades and a cutting assembly that are arranged in order from rear to front. The blades are arranged on an output shaft of the motor. The cutting assembly is arranged at a rear end of the suction duct for shredding fallen leaves. The cutter cooperates with the secondary cutter such that fallen leaves and rigid trashes can be effectively shredded by the blowing-suction machine. Fallen leaves can be effectively separated from air via the collecting cartridge and the filtering unit, such that the amount of the collected leaves is effectively increased.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Ningbo Ruilin Machinery Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shuangqing Chen, Limeng Lu, Yanan Yang, Yunbo Yang, Jiming Tao
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Patent number: 11497369Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly basically includes a vacuum body, a first power source, an accessory, and a second power source. The first power source is configured to create flow through a suction path. The accessory is configured to be removably connected to the vacuum body. The second power source is configured to power the accessory. Each of the first and second power sources is configured to share power with the other of the first and second power sources.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: ZENITH TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Mark D Bosses
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Patent number: 11497368Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cleaning robot, controlling method thereof, and cleaning robot charging system, and more particularly, to a technology for a cleaning robot to select a charging device by taking into account whether the charging device is occupied and a distance to the charging device when the charging device is returning to the charging device for charging. The cleaning robot includes a main body; a movement module moving the main body; a communication module configured to request identification information of a charging device occupied by another cleaning robot to the other cleaning robot; and a controller configured to determine a charging device not occupied by the other cleaning robot based on the identification information of the charging device received from the other cleaning robot through the communication module, and to control the movement module to move the main body to the non-occupied charging device.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jaemyong Kim