Patents by Inventor Manuel DRUST

Manuel DRUST has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12778373
    Abstract: A floor cleaning system is provided that comprises a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning apparatus. At least one controllable display, at least one storage unit is provided with the system. Surroundings can be detected by a sensor unit and at least one cleaning path can be stored. At least one of a cleaning event and an interaction event can be stored in the cleaning path in a position-specific manner, and the cleaning path can be displayed on the at least one display unit in a manner that is associated with the at least one cleaning event and/or the at least one interaction event. Methods of operating such cleaning systems are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2026
    Assignee: ALFRED KÄRCHER SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Heiko Hönnige, Thilo Ehrentreich, Patrick Prasser, Manuel Drust, Felipe Garcia Lopez, Fabian Schurig, Gereon Hinz
  • Publication number: 20240188784
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor cleaning system comprising a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning apparatus, at least one controllable display unit, and at least one storage unit, wherein the floor cleaning apparatus comprises a running gear for traveling on a floor surface, a control unit, a sensor unit, at least one cleaning unit, and an operating unit, wherein an environment is detectable by means of the sensor unit in order to locate and/or navigate the floor cleaning apparatus, in particular during movement, wherein cleaning paths for the floor cleaning apparatus are stored in the at least one storage unit with respective information about a route and preferably the use of at least one cleaning unit, wherein a cleaning task is specifiable by a user on the operating unit by linking two or more cleaning paths to be processed successively, and the cleaning task is automatically processable by the floor cleaning apparatus, wherein at least one characteristic landmark that is detectable by means o
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Heiko HÖNNIGE, Felipe GARCIA LOPEZ, Manuel DRUST, Thilo EHRENTREICH, Fedor VLASOV, Christian HOFNER, Gereon HINZ
  • Publication number: 20240180385
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning apparatus comprising: a running gear for traveling on the floor surface; at least one cleaning device for cleaning the floor surface; a control device; and a sensor device, the control device being formed and configured to locate or navigate the floor cleaning apparatus in an environment depending on at least one signal from the sensor device, the sensor device comprising, on a front side of the floor cleaning apparatus with respect to its forward direction, a first distance measuring unit which is configured as or comprises a stereo camera system and a second distance measuring unit which is configured as or comprises a scanning unit with structured light, wherein viewing areas of the first distance measuring unit and of the second distance measuring unit are directed in the forward direction of the floor cleaning apparatus and overlap, and wherein the second distance measuring unit is located above the first distance measuring unit o
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Manuel DRUST, Fedor VLASOV, Heiko HÖNNIGE, Norman KOHLER, Christian HOFNER, Fabian SCHURIG, Gereon HINZ
  • Publication number: 20240172914
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor cleaning system comprising: a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning apparatus for cleaning a floor surface; at least one controllable display unit; and at least one storage unit, wherein the floor cleaning apparatus comprises a running gear for traveling on a floor surface, a control unit, a sensor unit, at least one cleaning unit and an operating unit, wherein surroundings can be detected by means of the sensor unit in order to locate and/or navigate the floor cleaning apparatus, in particular during movement, wherein at least one cleaning path on the floor surface can be stored or is stored in the at least one storage unit, wherein the floor cleaning apparatus is designed and configured to create a cleaning path, which can be stored in the storage unit, in a teaching mode of operation while being guided by an operator at the operating unit, and wherein at least one cleaning event relating in particular to the at least one cleaning unit, and/or at least one interact
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Heiko HÖNNIGE, Thilo EHRENTREICH, Patrick PRASSER, Manuel DRUST, Felipe GARCIA LOPEZ, Fabian SCHURIG, Gereon HINZ
  • Publication number: 20240164611
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning apparatus comprising at least one functional unit and a control unit for controlling at least one functional unit, wherein the at least one functional unit comprises a running gear for traveling on a floor surface, at least one cleaning tool for cleaning the floor surface and a sensor unit for detecting the surroundings of the floor cleaning apparatus, in particular during movement, and wherein the control unit determines that an obstacle is located on or at the floor surface depending on at least one signal of the sensor unit. In order to provide a floor cleaning apparatus of the type in question which has a higher operational reliability, in accordance with the invention: the control unit classifies the obstacles with respect to persons and objects; and the control unit controls at least one functional unit depending on the classification of a detected obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Fedor VLASOV, Manuel DRUST, Heiko HÖNNIGE, Christian WURM, Felipe GARCIA LOPEZ, Fabian SCHURIG, Gereon HINZ