With Automatic Control Patents (Class 15/319)
  • Patent number: 12198672
    Abstract: A voice speech device includes: a display; a selector that causes the display to display one or more candidates for a name to be provided to a target appliance (appliance), and accepts selection of one name among the one or more candidates; a receiver for receiving first state information that is sent from the target appliance and indicates a state of the target appliance; a speech sentence creator that creates a speech sentence for notifying the state of the target appliance, based on the first state information received by the receiver, the speech sentence containing the one name accepted by the selector; and a voice outputter that outputs the speech sentence by voice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ikeda, Kazuhiro Kuroyama, Satoru Matsunaga, Yoshiki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 12174635
    Abstract: An abnormality is more quickly resolved when the abnormality occurs in a storage device. An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a controller configured to control a vehicle with the storage device mounted thereon in which a user is able to deposit or pick up baggage, wherein the controller generates a route for the vehicle before an occurrence of a predetermined event so that the route passes through a deposit point of the baggage or a pick-up point of the baggage and a predetermined area including a predetermined location where the predetermined event is able to be resolved if the predetermined event related to storage of the baggage occurs in the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Inoue, Yurika Tanaka, Satoshi Komamine, Go Tanaka, Hiromitsu Fujii
  • Patent number: 12156619
    Abstract: A robotic cleaning device, along with associated systems and methods of using the same, is described. The device may include a body portion that may define a top surface, a bottom surface, and a continuous sidewall surface. An example device may further include a drive system that propels the robotic device. An example device may further include two or more bottom brushes. An example device may further include a continuous opening that extends around the sidewall surface. An example device may further include a pair of sidewall brushes that may oscillate along the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Inventor: Shirley Burns
  • Patent number: 12150609
    Abstract: A robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a travelling part for moving a body; a memory for storing travel state information of the traveling part, which is recorded while a cleaning operation is performed on the basis of a first map; and a control part for discriminately detecting a first area and a second area divided from a plurality of cleaning areas corresponding to the first map, on the basis of the stored travel state information. Moreover, the control part may generate a second map by removing one of the first area and the second area from the first map, and then control the travelling part to perform a cleaning operation in a changed cleaning mode on the basis of the generated second map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Minho Lee, Junghwan Kim
  • Patent number: 12133624
    Abstract: Disclosed is a robot cleaner. The robot cleaner of the present disclosure comprise: a gas sensor which is disposed inside the robot cleaner and senses suctioned air; and a processor which identifies contaminants on the basis of a sensing value of the gas sensor, and controls the robot cleaner so that the robot cleaner travels while avoiding the identified contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jangpyo Park, Seonghwan Kim, Yongwon Jeong
  • Patent number: 12102276
    Abstract: Provided is a self-moving cleaning device, including a shell, a water tank, a groove, and a roller assembly. A mounting part is arranged at the bottom of the shell; the water tank is detachably mounted on the mounting part; the groove is provided in the mounting part and/or the groove is provided in the water tank at a position cooperating with the mounting part; and the roller assembly is mounted on the mounting part and can extend and retract. When the water tank is mounted on the shell, the roller assembly retracts into the groove and is in a retracted state, and when the water tank is removed from the shell, the roller assembly is in an extended state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: MIDEA ROBOZONE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaogang Xuan, Shupeng Feng, Xianmin Wei, Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 12082764
    Abstract: A mobile cleaning robot can include a body, a drive wheel, and a wheel stop. The drive wheel can be connected to the body and can be operable to move the mobile cleaning robot about an environment. The wheel stop can be movable with respect to the body and the drive wheel between a stop position and a release position. The wheel stop can be engageable with the drive wheel in the stop position to limit vertical travel of the drive wheel with respect to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy R. Ohm, Erik Edward Steltz, Russell Walter Morin, Fangzheng Guo
  • Patent number: 12066831
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-moving device, where the self-moving device includes at least two non-contact obstacle detection modules, respectively located on two side of a housing in a moving direction and configured to transmit detection signals and receive reflected detection signals, to detect an obstacle in the moving direction of the self-moving device; the self-moving device further includes a control module, and the control module turns on each obstacle detection module in a time-sharing manner to transmit the detection signal and turns on each obstacle detection module in the time-sharing manner to receive the reflected detection signal, to obtain detection data; and the control module determines a location of the obstacle according to the obtained detection data, a corresponding identity of the obstacle detection module that transmits the detection signal, and a corresponding identity of the obstacle detection module that receives the detection signal, to control the self-moving device to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Positec Power Tools (Suzhou) Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Davide Dalfra, Emanuel Conti, Federico Testolin
  • Patent number: 12055318
    Abstract: It is advisable to remove harmful pathogens by filtering the air in a space using a set of filters over intakes. As the air travels through ductwork for that purpose the filters remove harmful pathogens. Harmful pathogens may include viruses or bacteria to name a few. Other pathogens may also be removed depending on the filtration media. This device is designed to be portable and caster wheels that can be locked have been placed on the air handler of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Inventor: Bernard Denson
  • Patent number: 12042108
    Abstract: A method for a robot to judge whether the robot collides with a virtual wall, and a chip and the intelligent robot. The method comprises: providing pre-judgement regions on two sides of a virtual wall, so that when entering the pre-judgement regions, the robot can judge whether the robot collides with the virtual wall by combining a current direction of the robot as well as a relationship between a straight-line distance from the robot to a reference point and a straight-line distance from the reference point to a center point of the virtual wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: AMICRO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianfeng Dai, Qinwei Lai
  • Patent number: 12036053
    Abstract: A breast imaging apparatus includes a radiation source that irradiates a breast of a subject with radiation, a radiation detector that detects the radiation transmitted through the breast to output a radiographic image, an ultraviolet light source that performs irradiation of ultraviolet light, and a controller that controls an operation of the ultraviolet light source. The controller prohibits the irradiation of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet light source in a case where a predetermined set condition is satisfied. The controller determines that the set condition is satisfied, for example, in a case where a person is shown in a captured image of a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Takata, Yoshihiro Nishi, Keiji Tsubota
  • Patent number: 12029380
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control method for automatically detecting what kind of nozzle is a nozzle mounted on a cleaner by using different starting current profiles. The cleaner may include a suction unit for suctioning dust, and various nozzles which are detachable from the suction unit. The nozzle may include a rotation cleaning unit which is accommodated in the nozzle to clean a surface to be cleaned, and a nozzle driving unit for driving the rotation cleaning unit. The nozzle may exhibit different starting current profiles depending on the number of rotations or reduction ratio of the nozzle driving unit, or whether an auxiliary control unit is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sunku Kwon, Sehwa Choe, Donghyun Lim, Chaseung Jun
  • Patent number: 12030091
    Abstract: A cleanup system for the semiconductor storage shelf is provided. A semiconductor storage shelf is provided with a plurality of stalls. The cleanup system for the semiconductor storage shelf includes a conveying device and a cleanup device. The cleanup device is configured to clean up each stall of the semiconductor storage shelf. The cleanup device is detachably connected to the conveying device. The conveying device is configured to convey the cleanup device to each stall of the semiconductor storage shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Yimo Wang
  • Patent number: 12022984
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an autonomous cleaning robot. The autonomous cleaning robot may include a main body (1), a cleaning assembly, a cleaning cloth and an obstacle-assisting wheel. The cleaning assembly is mounted on the main body (1). The cleaning assembly may include a first cleaning subassembly (2) removable and provided on the main body (1). The cleaning cloth is removable and provided on the first cleaning subassembly. The obstacle-assisting wheel is rotatably mounted on the cleaning assembly and protruding from the cleaning cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Shenzhen Rock Times Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xing Li, Song Peng, Youcheng Lu
  • Patent number: 12013371
    Abstract: A robotic cleaning appliance includes a sonic transducer and a processor coupled with a housing. The sonic transducer transmits sonic signals toward a surface within its ringdown distance and receives corresponding returned signals. Following cessation of the sonic signals, the processor samples the ringdown signal generated by the sonic transducer during an early portion before the corresponding returned signals have reflected back to the sonic transducer, and during a later portion which includes the corresponding returned signals. The processor utilizes the sampled early portion to estimate a void ringdown signal of which represents performance of the sonic transducer in absence of returned signals being received. The processor compares the estimated void ringdown signal to the later portion of the ringdown signal and generates a metric based on the comparison. The processor utilizes the metric to determine a type of the surface, out of a plurality of surface types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell H Kline, Joe Youssef
  • Patent number: 11989021
    Abstract: Provided is a method for a robotic device to autonomously overcome obstructions hindering the operational capacity of the robotic device. When a robotic device encounters an obstruction, the robotic device may enact one of a number of predetermined responses to overcome the obstruction without requiring the intervention of an outside entity to assist the robotic device with overcoming the obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Andrew Francis Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 11961285
    Abstract: A system for enabling spot cleaning includes a mobile computing device and a mobile cleaning robot. The mobile computing device includes at least one camera configured to capture images of an environment, and at least one data processor configured to (a) establish, based at least in part on first information provided by the at least one image sensor, a coordinate system in the environment, (b) determine, based at least in part on second information provided by the at least one camera, a first set of coordinates of a region at a first location, (c) determine, based at least in part on third information provided by the at least one camera, a second set of coordinates of a mobile cleaning robot at a second location, (d) send the first set of coordinates and second set of coordinates, or coordinates of the first location relative to the second location, to the mobile cleaning robot, and (e) send an instruction to the mobile cleaning robot to request the mobile cleaning robot to travel to the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Angela Bassa, Husain al-Mohssen
  • Patent number: 11950736
    Abstract: A method of operating an autonomous cleaning robot is provided. The method includes receiving, at a handheld computing device, data representing a status of a debris collection bin of the autonomous cleaning robot, the status of the bin including a bin fullness reading. The method also includes receiving, at the handheld computing device, data representing a status of a filter bag of an evacuation station, the status of the filter bag including a bag fullness reading. The method also includes presenting, on a display of the handheld computing device, a first status indicator representing the bin fullness reading, and presenting, on the display of the handheld computing device, a second status indicator representing the bag fullness reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Wesley D. Johnson, Benjamin H. Schriesheim, Qunxi Huang
  • Patent number: 11950754
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a base defining a suction chamber, a user-manipulatable handle coupled to the base, 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 and the receiver. The controller controls the brushroll motor in a default mode wherein the brushroll is configured to run at a first percent of power on a first floor surface and a second percent of power on a second floor surface. The controller receives a communication from the user-controlled electronic device via the receiver and configured to cause the controller to turn off the default mode and run the brushroll at a third percent of power at both the first floor surface and the second floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Patrick Truitt, Todd Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11944260
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including a vacuum motor configured to draw an air flow through an air flow path of the vacuum cleaner; a dirt separator having dirt, receptacle; a display screen; and a controller configured to control images displayed on the screen. The dirt receptacle has a closed configuration in which it can receive dirt separated from the air flow, and an open configuration in which dirt contained in the dirt receptacle can be emptied therefrom. The controller is configured to display video instructions on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Kristian Richard Thomas King, Nathan Lawson McLean, Andrew James Holden, Edward James Baldry
  • Patent number: 11937764
    Abstract: Provided is a cleaning device including a vacuum cleaner including a dust collector into which dirt and dust is collected, a docking station connected to the dust collector and having a long axis extending in a first direction, and the docking station includes a docking part coupled to the dust collector to remove dirt and dust collected in the dust collector, a sucking device sucking up the dirt and dust and inside air in the dust collector docked with the docking part through the docking part, and a circulation duct arranged for the air sucked up by the sucking device to be circulated to the docking part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seehyun Kim, Youngchul Ko, Higon Koo, Kisup Lee, Hyunho Lee, Seungryong Cha, Seungwoo Choi, Kihwan Kwon, Hyeoncheol Kim, Hwagyu Song, Sungcheol Lee, Hyunju Lee, Ingyu Choi
  • Patent number: 11921072
    Abstract: A contact-type detection electrode for detecting dispersible dirt and a movable electric device are provided. The contact-type detection electrode includes a support, and electrical conductors arranged on the support and being flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: GUANGDONG MIDEA WHITE HOME APPLIANCE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CENTER CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pin Yang, Guilin Xiong, Xinjian Huang, Shuyun Wu, Jiefeng Cheng
  • Patent number: 11918173
    Abstract: A dust collection guide structure (10) arranged at the bottom (11) of a shell of a dust collection mechanism comprises an air duct suction opening (12) formed in the bottom (11) of the shell and at least one groove (13) formed in the surface of the bottom (11) of the shell. One end of each of the at least one groove (13) communicates with the air duct suction opening (12) to form a dust guide air duct for guiding dust into the air duct suction opening (12), and the other end is in smooth transition connection with the edge of the bottom (11) of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG OUNITECH ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Beichen Li
  • Patent number: 11910973
    Abstract: A debris collecting base station cooperates with the cleaning robot. The cleaning robot has a debris outlet for discharging debris. The debris collecting base station includes a base, a debris collecting device, a first communication component and a microcontroller. The base has a debris intake passageway. One end of the debris intake passageway pneumatically interfaces with the debris outlet, the debris collecting device is mounted on the base and is communicated with the end of the debris intake passageway away from the debris outlet. The microcontroller is electrically connected to the first communication component and the debris collecting device, which controls the first communication component to send and receive interactive signals with the cleaning robot and controls working modes of the debris collecting base station based on the interactive signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Shenzhen Fly Rodent Dynamics Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhenhua Wen, Ruijun Yan
  • Patent number: 11903553
    Abstract: A vacuum hose has a switch that allows an operator to selectively send control signals to a transceiver to control the operation of a central vacuum unit. The switch may be located on a cuff or nozzle defining a distal end of the vacuum hose. The switch is not located on a head unit that couples to the cuff or nozzle and not located on a wall-mounted valve. The switch can be an energy harvesting switch that requires no batteries or no dedicated power source (i.e., not hardwired).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: H-P PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Darrell V. Nieschwitz, Greg A Calderone, Shawn C. Metz
  • Patent number: 11890754
    Abstract: A moving robot includes a main body which forms a space therein, a noise generating member which is disposed inside the main body and generates a noise, an inner housing and an outer housing which surround the main body, and two or voice recognition members which are disposed in the housing and are disposed to be separated from each other, and a noise recognition member which recognizes a noise. The voice recognition members are disposed on a side opposite to the noise generating member based on a central point and disposed to be separated from each other along an outer peripheral surface of the housing. Accordingly, a voice command is determined by a difference of the voice data acquired by the two voice recognition members separated from each other and noise data recognized by the noise recognition member to improve voice recognition efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byeongmin Lee, Byungdoo Yim, Haejun Park
  • Patent number: 11886186
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus includes a camera, a display that displays a display screen including a mobile robot that autonomously travels, and a control circuit. The control circuit acquires a first planned route of the mobile robot, displays, on the display, a screen having the first planned route superimposed on a camera image taken by the camera, detects a contact point on the display on which the screen is displayed, generates a second planned route of the mobile robot that travels through the contact point, and transmits the second planned route to the mobile robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuko Tsusaka, Mikiya Nakata, Hiroki Takeuchi, Tadahiro Taniguchi, Yoshinobu Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 11882985
    Abstract: A vacuuming device. The device includes a sensor connected to at least a suction head, and is configured to sense a parameter of foreign object debris (FOD) in the suction head. The device also includes a positioning sensor connected to the suction head and configured to ascertain a position of the suction head within an area in which the device is located. The device also includes a computer in communication with the sensor and the positioning sensor. The computer is programmed to classify the FOD using the parameter, and use the position of the suction head to determine a pick-up location of the FOD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Rahul C. Thakkar, Robert John Rencher, Surya Pandrangi
  • Patent number: 11882969
    Abstract: A robotic cleaner executing operations such as capturing data indicative of locations of objects in a workspace through which the robot moves; generating or updating a map of at least a part of the workspace based on at least the data; and navigating based on the map or an updated map of the workspace. The robotic cleaner may include a side brush with a main body with at least one attachment point and at least one bundle of bristles attached to the at least one attachment point of the main body, wherein the bristles are between 50 to 90 millimeters in length and positioned between 5 to 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 11874668
    Abstract: A robot vacuum cleaner is provided. The robot vacuum cleaner includes a camera, a memory configured to store an artificial intelligence model trained to identify an image from an input image and shape information corresponding to each of a plurality of objects, and a processor configured to control the electronic apparatus by being connected to the camera and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to input an image obtained by the camera to the artificial intelligence model to identify an object included in the image, obtain shape information corresponding to the identified object among the plurality of shape information stored in the memory, and set a traveling path of the robot vacuum cleaner based on the shape information and size information related to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sukhoon Song, Kyongsu Kim, Injoo Kim, Dongmin Shin, Shin Kim
  • Patent number: 11849909
    Abstract: An automatic cleaning apparatus includes: a chassis; a front housing arranged at a front end of the chassis; and a sensing device capable sensing movement of the front housing and sending a signal to a control mainboard of the automatic cleaning apparatus when the front housing touches an obstacle and moves relative to the chassis. The sensing device includes a dust blocking member and a rocker arm that triggers the sensing device to send the signal. The rocker arm has a first end rotatably arranged inside the sensing device, and a second end passing through the dust blocking member and extending out of the sensing device. A front housing reset device is arranged on the chassis and capable of biasing the front housing toward an initial position of the front housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: BEIJING SHUNZAO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongcheng Zuo, Cheng Tang, Fei Duan, Liang Zhong, Shan Gao, Tiantian Zhang
  • Patent number: 11844473
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cleaner system including: a cleaner; a cleaner station; and an imaginary plane including an imaginary suction flow path through line penetrating a suction flow path in a longitudinal direction and an imaginary suction motor axis defined by extending a rotation axis of a suction motor, in which when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, the plane penetrates at least a part of the cleaner station, such that a center of gravity of the cleaner is disposed to pass through a space for maintaining balance of the station, and as a result, it is possible to stably support the cleaner and the station while preventing the cleaner and the station from falling down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungjun Kim, Jinhyouk Shin, Ingyu Yang, Youngsoo Kim, Jungwan Ryu, Jeahyuk Wie, Dongjae Lee
  • Patent number: 11819178
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner has an airflow path from an air inlet to a clean air outlet with an air treatment member and a fan and motor assembly in the air flow path. The hand vacuum cleaner has a cleaner body and a handle having a hand grip portion. The hand vacuum cleaner also includes a plurality of batteries. A portion of the motor and fan assembly and/or a portion of a filter component can be positioned between at least some of the batteries. The batteries may be contained in a removable storage chamber. The storage chamber may be removably mounted to the hand vacuum cleaner around at least a portion of a filter and/or fan and motor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11793385
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile cleaning robot can include an outer shell and a bumper. The outer shell can include a rim extending around at least a portion of a periphery of the outer shell and can include a first feature connected to the rim. The bumper can be connected to the outer shell and can movable with respect to the outer shell when the bumper is connected to the outer shell. The bumper can include a second feature connected to the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Pastore, Pu Zhou, Eric Burbank
  • Patent number: 11737631
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, method of controlling an autonomous cleaning robot, the method comprising: navigating the autonomous cleaning robot to a docking station; sensing that the autonomous cleaning robot is navigating to the docking station; increasing a vacuum power of a vacuum assembly of the autonomous cleaning robot to reduce an amount of debris from an airflow channel proximate to an inlet of a cleaning bin disposed in the autonomous cleaning robot; and then decreasing the vacuum power of the vacuum assembly of the autonomous cleaning robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Travis James Gschrey, Eric Burbank, Oliver Lewis, Milan Modh, Sophia Wennstedt
  • Patent number: 11730332
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a surface cleaning apparatus that includes a headlight or other light source that selectively illuminates upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition. The headlight turns on to emit light when the surface cleaning apparatus us turned on, and emits light in a different color when cleaning fluid is dispensed. Methods for operating a headlight or light source are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Minh Nguyen, Nim Chung Ku, Roger Hoskens, Mike Luyckx
  • Patent number: 11662737
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for validating location of a docking station for docking a mobile robot. In an example, a mobile robot system includes a docking station and a mobile cleaning robot. The mobile cleaning robot includes a drive system to move the mobile cleaning robot about an environment including a docking area within a distance of the docking station, and a controller circuit to detect, from an image of the docking area, a presence or absence of one or more obstacles in the docking area. A notification may be generated to inform a user about the detected obstacles. The mobile device may generate a recommendation to the user to clear the docking area or reposition the docking station, or suggest one or more candidate locations for placing the docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Laura V. Herlant, Brent Hild, Ryan Schneider, Benjamin Glazer
  • Patent number: 11647880
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner to suction dust generated by a machine tool, wherein the vacuum cleaner is actuatable by an electric device in the shape of the machine tool or an energy storage module for the electric power supply of the machine tool, which has a drive motor to drive a tool holder on which a tool provided to process a workpiece is arranged or is arrangeable, wherein the vacuum cleaner has a vacuum housing with a dirt collection chamber to receive dirt separated from a suction flow and a suction unit to generate the suction flow, wherein a suction inlet is present on the vacuum housing to connect a suction hose to establish a current connection for the suction flow with the machine tool, wherein the vacuum cleaner has an external communication apparatus for a wireless control connection to a wireless communication interface of the electric device and to receive at least one control command to control, the vacuum cleaner via the control connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Festool GmbH
    Inventor: Moritz Caspar
  • Patent number: 11638510
    Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot including a drive configured to move the cleaning robot across a floor surface in an area to be cleaned and a controller. The controller is configured to receive data representing an editable mission timeline including data representing a sequence of rooms to be cleaned, navigate the cleaning robot to clean the rooms following the sequence, track operational events occurring in each of the rooms, and transmit data about time spent navigating each room included in the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin H. Schriesheim, Cory White, Brent Hild
  • Patent number: 11625040
    Abstract: A moving robot according to an aspect of the present invention includes a body configured to define an exterior, a travelling unit configured to move the body against a travelling surface of a travelling area, a storage configured to store a grid map corresponding to a travelling area and cost information of grids included in the grid map, and a controller configured to generate a movement route based on the cost information, control the travelling unit to travel according to the generated movement route, and increase a stay cost of a grid corresponding to a route that has passed during the travelling and control the storage to store the increased stay cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Minkuk Jung, Jeongwoo Ju
  • Patent number: 11607099
    Abstract: A docking station for a robotic vacuum cleaner has a pneumatic transfer mechanism that is used to direct air to the robotic vacuum cleaner to thereby transfer dirt from the robotic vacuum cleaner to a docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 11589522
    Abstract: A stand-on debris blower comprising including a main frame, a pair of front wheels, and a pair of rear wheels. The stand-on debris blower also includes an operator standing platform coupled to the main frame, a control pedestal positioned forward of and above the operator standing platform, and a power source, wherein the power source has a vertically-oriented shaft. A blower assembly is also provided, wherein the blower assembly includes a horizontally-oriented impeller configured to rotate about a vertical axis, the horizontally-oriented impeller being coupled to the vertically-oriented shaft of the power source. Additionally, the blower assembly may include a V-shaped deflector assembly configurable to block air flow to at least a first, a second, or both a first and second discharge chute in the blower assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventor: Rick A. Weihl
  • Patent number: 11590541
    Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning tool for cleaning a surface has a transducer and a horn for generating and transmitting vibrations to a surface to be cleaned. Cleaning solution can be supplied to the ultrasonic cleaning tool or the surface to be cleaned, and operation of the ultrasonic cleaning tool can agitate the surface and cleaning solution. The tool can be provided as part of a system for cleaning a surface, and the system can include an extraction cleaner or a cleaning cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Jason W. Pruiett, Jeffrey A. Scholten, Danielle Boils, JianJun Yu, Jeremy Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11589721
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning unit, comprising: a columnar body part having a rotation guide opening formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; a shaft installed to reciprocate a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction thereof in a hollow formed in the body part; a drive part that protrudes from the shaft in the radial direction thereof; a brush part that has one side installed on the outer circumferential surface of the body part along the longitudinal direction thereof and rotates on the basis of the one side as a rotation axis; and a driven part that extends from the brush part toward the drive part, passes through the rotation guide opening, and is inserted into a rotation guide groove formed in the drive part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jongho Park, Sangik Lee, Woo Hong
  • Patent number: 11583152
    Abstract: A method for operating a cleaning system with a plurality of mobile cleaning devices and a base station for the cleaning devices as well as a base station for a plurality of mobile cleaning devices are proposed, wherein the cleaning devices can be emptied by the base station and/or filled with a cleaning agent by the base station simultaneously and/or according to a prioritization. In addition, a filter apparatus for a base station is proposed which has a plurality of connection openings in order to be able to empty a plurality of cleaning devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Hackert, Uwe Kemker
  • Patent number: 11588957
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying a dirty camera in a monocular camera comprising n cameras. For each of one or more cycles, a dirty counter variable for each of the n cameras is set to 0. For each of the n cameras, an image is captured from the camera and an image metric is determined for the image, e.g. brightness and/or contrast. If the image metric is 10% greater, or 10% less, than the image metric for any of the other n?1 cameras in the monocular camera, then that camera is determined to be dirty and a corrective action is taken, such as sending an alarm to an occupant the vehicle or initiating a cleaning operation. If the dirty condition persists for a camera that has been cleaned within a threshold period of time (i.e., recently), then an alarm is sent to an operator of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11580385
    Abstract: An AI robot for cleaning in consideration of a user's action includes a camera to acquire a first image data for the user, a cleaning unit including a suction unit and a mopping unit, a driving unit configured to drive the AI robot, and a processor to determine the user's action using the first image data, determine a cleaning schedule in consideration of the user's action, and control the cleaning unit and the driving unit based on the determined cleaning schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jichan Maeng
  • Patent number: 11565413
    Abstract: A cleaning machine and a path planning method of the cleaning machine are provided. According to one embodiment of the invention, a cleaning machine for cleaning a surface is provided. The cleaning machine includes a sensing module and a control system. The sensing module senses an environment of the cleaning machine to obtain map data. The control system divides the map data into multiple blocks, and controls the cleaning machine to perform a first cleaning process and a second cleaning process in a current block of the blocks, and then controls the cleaning machine to move to a next block of the blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HOBOT TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Chi-Mou Chao
  • Patent number: 11547041
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a self-propelled robotic tool (1) and a method in a self-propelled robotic tool (1), being used to detecting lifting of the self-propelled robotic device from the ground. The method includes collecting (21) driving data (31) related to the driving of a wheel (5), collecting (23) measured inertia data from an inertial measurement unit (13), IMU, in the self-propelled robotic tool, determining (25), using an estimation function (33), a residual parameter corresponding to a differential between said measured inertia data and estimated inertia data resulting from said driving data being input to said estimation function, and determining a lifting condition based on the residual parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Stefan Grufman, Jonas Rangsjö, Fredrik Kallström
  • Patent number: 11538350
    Abstract: A service robot for guiding and describing a displayed vehicle and a method for operating the robot, may include a projector for projecting visual information related to a target vehicle; monitoring means for monitoring a state of a user; and a controller configured to: suggest, to the user, presentation of visual information in conjunction with a guide description of the target vehicle; determine, via the monitoring means, whether the user has accepted the suggestion; and upon determination that the user has accepted the suggestion, present the visual information via the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kye Yoon Kim, Ji Min Han, Ji A Lee