Abstract: An autonomous vacuum cleaner operable to navigate about a surrounding environment to perform a surface cleaning operation without continuous human input. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle and a suction motor and a fan assembly operable to generate an airflow through the vacuum cleaner from the suction nozzle through a debris separator to a clean air exhaust. The suction motor and the fan assembly having an axis of rotation and a fan of the fan assembly rotatable about the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is orientated horizontally. The debris separator includes a cyclonic separator operable to separate debris from the airflow and the cyclonic separator includes a cylindrical wall along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separator being orientated horizontally.

Abstract: An autonomous vacuum cleaner operable to navigate about a surrounding environment to perform a surface cleaning operation without continuous human input. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle and a suction motor and a fan assembly operable to generate an airflow through the vacuum cleaner from the suction nozzle through a debris separator to a clean air exhaust. The suction motor and the fan assembly having an axis of rotation and a fan of the fan assembly rotatable about the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is orientated horizontally. The debris separator includes a cyclonic separator operable to separate debris from the airflow and the cyclonic separator includes a cylindrical wall along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separator being orientated horizontally.

Abstract: A method of controlling a handheld vacuum cleaner (10) having a fluid flow path extending from a dirty air inlet (14) to a clean air outlet (18) is provided. The method includes measuring a pressure value of an airflow through the fluid flow path, and determining whether the pressure value exceeds a predetermined threshold, which is indicative of a clog within the fluid flow path. The method further includes alerting a user of the handheld vacuum cleaner (10) when the pressure value exceeds the predetermined threshold. Alerting the user includes transmitting an alert to a personal device (418) of the user and identifying to the user a plurality of possible clog locations along the fluid flow path.

Abstract: A method of using an upright vacuum cleaner includes positioning a floor nozzle on a surface to be cleaned, measuring a first characteristic of a brushroll motor with a first sensor, and communicating the first characteristic with a controller. The method also includes comparing the first characteristic with a first threshold value stored by the controller, which is associated with determining if the floor nozzle is on a first cleaning surface or a second cleaning surface. The method further includes changing a suction motor between a first mode when feedback received by the first sensor is greater than the first threshold value, and a second mode when feedback received by the first sensor is less than the first threshold value. The method also includes operating the suction motor at a first speed while in the first mode, and at a second speed while in the second mode.

Abstract: An autonomous vacuum cleaner operable to navigate about a surrounding environment to perform a surface cleaning operation without continuous human input. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle and a suction motor and a fan assembly operable to generate an airflow through the vacuum cleaner from the suction nozzle through a debris separator to a clean air exhaust. The suction motor and the fan assembly having an axis of rotation and a fan of the fan assembly rotatable about the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is orientated horizontally. The debris separator includes a cyclonic separator operable to separate debris from the airflow and the cyclonic separator includes a cylindrical wall along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the cyclonic separator being orientated horizontally.

Abstract: An autonomous vacuum cleaner includes an outer housing and a separator assembly that is removably received by the autonomous vacuum cleaner. A portion of the separator assembly defines a portion of at least two walls of the outer housing.

Abstract: An autonomous vacuum cleaner includes an outer housing, a suction nozzle, and a suction motor and a fan assembly operable to generate an airflow through the vacuum cleaner from the suction nozzle through a debris separator to a clean air exhaust. A fan of the fan assembly is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the suction motor and the fan assembly. The debris separator includes a cyclonic separator operable to separate debris from the airflow, the cyclonic separator located within the housing and includes a cylindrical wall along a longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end, a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, a debris outlet adjacent the second end of the cylindrical wall, and a dust bin in fluid communication with the debris outlet of the cyclonic separator, where the cyclonic separator is coaxial with the motor and fan assembly.

Abstract: An autonomous vacuum cleaner includes an outer housing, a suction nozzle, and a suction motor and a fan assembly operable to generate an airflow through the vacuum cleaner from the suction nozzle through a debris separator to a clean air exhaust. A fan of the fan assembly is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the suction motor and the fan assembly. The debris separator includes a cyclonic separator operable to separate debris from the airflow, the cyclonic separator located within the housing and includes a cylindrical wall along a longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end, a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, a debris outlet adjacent the second end of the cylindrical wall, and a dust bin in fluid communication with the debris outlet of the cyclonic separator, where the cyclonic separator is coaxial with the motor and fan assembly.

Abstract: An autonomous vacuum cleaner includes an outer housing and a separator assembly that is removably received by the autonomous vacuum cleaner. A portion of the separator assembly defines a portion of at least two walls of the outer housing.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a base having a floor nozzle that defines a suction chamber, a brushroll driven by a brushroll motor, and a brushroll motor sensor configured to measure an electrical current used by the brushroll motor. The vacuum cleaner further includes a pressure sensor configured to measure an internal pressure within the vacuum cleaner, and a controller in communication with the brushroll motor sensor and the pressure sensor. The controller is operable to control an operating speed of the brushroll motor based on feedback received from the pressure sensor and the brushroll motor sensor.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) excited laser assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes defining an inter-electrode gap and a conductive termination bridge in electrical contact with both electrodes. The termination bridge mechanically supports and positions the electrodes relative to each other and provides a termination impedance for an RF voltage applied to the electrodes. A conical spiral inductor includes one or more metals windings, and one or more concentric terminals, such that the conical spiral inductor defines an inter-winding spacing sufficient to mitigate ionization of a gas medium between windings. A radio frequency (RF) feed-through assembly configured to apply an RF voltage to a pair of opposing electrodes such that a conductor is isolated from a metal sleeve position around the conductor by ion sheath discharge barrier.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) excited laser assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes defining an inter-electrode gap and a conductive termination bridge in electrical contact with both electrodes. The termination bridge mechanically supports and positions the electrodes relative to each other and provides a termination impedance for an RF voltage applied to the electrodes. A conical spiral inductor includes one or more metals windings, and one or more concentric terminals, such that the conical spiral inductor defines an inter-winding spacing sufficient to mitigate ionization of a gas medium between windings. A radio frequency (RF) feed-through assembly configured to apply an RF voltage to a pair of opposing electrodes such that a conductor is isolated from a metal sleeve position around the conductor by ion sheath discharge barrier.

Abstract: An RF excited laser assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes, and at least one inductor. The pair of opposed electrodes defines an inter-electrode gap that provides a discharge volume for laser propagation within a gas medium. The pair of opposed electrodes define one or more discharge-free regions within a laser-free region in the inter-electrode gap. The least one inductor is electrically connected to both electrodes and extends between the electrodes within the inter-electrode gap and inside of the one or more discharge-free regions within the laser-free region.

Abstract: An RF excited laser assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes, and at least one inductor. The pair of opposed electrodes defines an inter-electrode gap that provides a discharge volume for laser propagation within a gas medium. The pair of opposed electrodes define one or more discharge-free regions within a laser-free region in the inter-electrode gap. The least one inductor is electrically connected to both electrodes and extends between the electrodes within the inter-electrode gap and inside of the one or more discharge-free regions within the laser-free region.