With Automatic Control Patents (Class 15/319)
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11524412
    Abstract: An intelligent cleaning robot is provided by the present application, to clean dust on a surface of a photovoltaic cell assembly and lower a labor cost, and a walking posture of the intelligent cleaning robot may be adjusted according to needs. The intelligent cleaning robot includes a frame, a sweeping device installed on the frame to perform sweeping operations, a first walking wheel located at one end of the frame and driven by a first motor to move, a second walking wheel located at another end of the frame and driven by a second motor to move, and a control system in signal communication with both the first motor and the second motor and configured to control the first motor and the second motor to rotate synchronously, or control the first motor and the second motor to rotate in different rotational speeds or different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sunpure Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yaobang Wang, Jiapeng Zhu, Zhisheng Jin, Lichun Zhu, Wei Li
  • Patent number: 11510538
    Abstract: In a vacuum cleaner electric blower is driven by power supplied by a secondary battery. A dust-collector is configured to catch and collect dust and dirt sucked by driving the electric blower. A detector is configured to detect a remaining amount of the secondary battery. A controller is configured to control suction force of the electric blower. In the case cleaning is finished when the remaining amount of the secondary battery detected by the detector is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the controller sets the parameter to reduce the suction force of the electric blower for the next cleaning. In the case cleaning is finished when the remaining amount of the secondary battery detected by the detector is not equal to or less than the predetermined value, the controller sets the parameter to increase the suction force of the electric blower for the next cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yutaka Kashihara
  • Patent number: 11510542
    Abstract: An exhaust motor of vacuum device comprises an electric motor comprising a motor casing and a drive shaft, and an air bucket connected to the electric motor. The air bucket defines an air inlet side and an air outlet side, at least one rotating fan driven by the drive shaft to generate a high-pressure airflow flowing from the air inlet side to the air outlet side is provided in the air bucket. The air bucket is provided with a diversion end plate forming a plurality of diversion passages, each of the diversion passages comprises an inlet and an outlet, and the inlet is located on an original output path of the high-pressure airflow. The diversion passages divert the high-pressure airflow to flow toward the motor casing, and turn the high-pressure airflow into a heat-dissipating airflow capable of exchanging heat with the motor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: X'POLE PRECISION TOOLS INC.
    Inventor: Bach Pangho Chen
  • Patent number: 11503972
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Patrick Truitt, Todd Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11484169
    Abstract: A surface treatment apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having an agitator, an agitator motor configured to cause the agitator to rotate, and a controller. The controller can be configured to determine a surface type corresponding to a surface to be cleaned and to transition the surface treatment apparatus between a first operational mode and a second operational mode based, at least in part, on the determined surface type. Determining the surface type may include measuring a plurality values corresponding to a current draw of the agitator motor over a predetermined time window at a predetermined time interval, determining an average corresponding to the measured values, comparing the average to at least a first threshold, and transitioning the surface treatment apparatus between the operational modes based, at least in part, on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Damian Howard, John White
  • Patent number: 11486071
    Abstract: A spray device and a method of using the spray device are provided. The spray device facilitates the application of a liquid such as a pretreatment liquid to an area of a fabric material. The spray device can be positioned on or adjacent portions of the fabric material and/or a substrate supporting the fabric material. The spray device can be activated to spray the pretreatment liquid and move the spray device on portions of the fabric material and/or the substrate supporting the fabric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventors: Brian A Walker, Jeff German
  • Patent number: 11471017
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Patrick Truitt, Todd Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11452424
    Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner apparatus includes: a station, an electric vacuum cleaner attachable to the station, and plural attaching detectors which can detect the electric vacuum cleaner is attached in the station. The electric vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body; a tubular part connected to the cleaner body and sucks in dust; and a primary dust container that stores dust sucked in with the tubular part. The station includes a secondary dust container that stores dust discharged from the primary dust container. The electric vacuum cleaner apparatus permits transfer of dust from the primary dust container to the secondary dust container when at least two of the plural attaching detectors have detected the attaching of the electric vacuum cleaner to the station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sato, Masatoshi Tanaka, Yukio Machida
  • Patent number: 11450118
    Abstract: A vehicle may be configured to detect an object within an interior of the vehicle using a vehicle sensor. The vehicle may further determine whether the object should be removed, based on a determined object value, such as may be determined by comparison of an object characteristic to a database of objects. Also, responsive to determining the object should be removed, the vehicle may schedule removal at an automated object-removal center. The vehicle may also wirelessly notify the object-removal center of vehicle arrival when the vehicle arrives at the object-removal center, including sending identification of the object, receiving indication from the object-removal center that the object has been removed, and confirming removal of the object by attempting to detect the object using the vehicle sensor, the confirmation occurring based on non-detection of the object by the vehicle that originally detected the object and requested removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shiqi Qiu, Fling Tseng, Johannes Geir Kristinsson, Helen Elizabeth Kourous-Harrigan
  • Patent number: 11432698
    Abstract: A control system for a robotic floor cleaning machine configured to perform a cleaning operation along a cleaning path can comprise a controller, and a plurality of sensors. The controller can be configured to control autonomous movement of the robotic floor cleaning machine along the cleaning path and autonomous performance of the cleaning operation. The plurality of sensors can be configured to sense a location of the robotic floor cleaning machine relative to surroundings of the robotic floor cleaning machine. At least two sensors from the plurality of sensors are configured to locate the robotic floor cleaning machine in overlapping areas of the surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Nilfisk A/S
    Inventors: Kipp Knutson, Stuart McDonald, Stephen Klopp, John Black, Dave Wood, Donald Joseph Legatt
  • Patent number: 11409308
    Abstract: A mobile robot according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise a main body, a moving unit configured to move the main body, a communication unit configured to communicate with a second mobile robot that emits a signal, and a controller configured to recognize a position of the another mobile robot using the signal, control the moving unit to follow a trajectory corresponding to a movement of the another mobile robot based on the recognized position, and in response to the length of trajectory to be followed by the main body deviating from the predetermined range, output a control command to cause a moving speed of the main body or the second mobile robot to change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Donghoon Kwak
  • Patent number: 11406236
    Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaning apparatus includes a station and an electric vacuum cleaner connectable/disconnectable from the station. The electric vacuum cleaner includes: a coarse-dust collecting chamber that accumulates coarse dust separated with a first separator; a filter chamber that accumulates fine dust separated with a filter; a coarse-dust waste-outlet that discharges the coarse dust from the coarse-dust collecting chamber; a fine-dust waste-outlet adjacent to the coarse-dust waste-outlet and discharges the fine dust from the filter chamber; and a waste-outlet lid that opens/closes both the coarse-dust waste-outlet and fine-dust waste-outlet together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tanaka, Satoshi Goto, Yukio Machida
  • Patent number: 11399686
    Abstract: A control system for a robotic floor cleaning machine configured to perform a cleaning operation along a cleaning path can comprise a controller, and a plurality of sensors. The controller can be configured to control autonomous movement of the robotic floor cleaning machine along the cleaning path and autonomous performance of the cleaning operation. The plurality of sensors can be configured to sense a location of the robotic floor cleaning machine relative to surroundings of the robotic floor cleaning machine. At least two sensors from the plurality of sensors are configured to locate the robotic floor cleaning machine in overlapping areas of the surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Nilfisk A/S
    Inventors: Kipp Knutson, Stuart McDonald, Stephen Klopp, John Black, Dave Wood, Donald Joseph Legatt
  • Patent number: 11394216
    Abstract: An automatic working system includes a self-moving device powered by an energy module and moving and working in a defined working area. The self-moving device includes a body, a movement module, a task execution module, a control module, and a charging system configured to store external electrical energy in the energy module to charge the energy module. The charging system includes at least two charging modes for charging the energy module. In the different charging modes, the charging system uses different charging logics and/or different charging parameters to charge the energy module. The charging system further includes a charging management module configured to manage the charging modes, to enable the charging system to use a corresponding charging mode to charge the energy module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Positec Power Tools (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiping Jiao, Baoquan Zhang, Bincai Lan, Don Zhendong Gao, Xiulian Chen, Jiang Du
  • Patent number: 11382472
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus including a vacuum cleaner and a docking station is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting chamber in which foreign substances are collected, and a docking station configured to be connected to the dust collecting chamber to remove the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber. The dust collecting chamber is configured to collect foreign substances through centrifugation, and configured to be docked to the docking station, and the docking station includes a suction device configured to suction the foreign substances and air in the dust collecting chamber docked to the docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: See Hyun Kim, In Gyu Choi, Ki Hwan Kwon, Shin Kim, Hyeon Cheol Kim, Do Kyung Lee, Hyun Ju Lee, Yun Soo Jang, Seung Ryong Cha, Jung Gyun Han
  • Patent number: 11382478
    Abstract: Cleaning robots may use floor-type-detection techniques as a trigger for autonomously altering various floor-cleaning characteristics. In some examples, a controller circuit of the robot is configured to determine a flooring type as a function of a signal from a motion sensor indicative of a change in pitch caused by the robot crossing a flooring discontinuity. In some examples, the controller circuit is configured to determine a flooring type based on a power draw signal corresponding to the cleaning head assembly of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Fabrizio Santini
  • Patent number: 11382480
    Abstract: An autonomous cleaner includes a body having a first housing formed at a front and a second housing formed at a rear of the first housing; a brush unit installed at the first housing and configured to sweep and collect dust from a floor; a dust collecting unit installed at the second housing and configured to store the dust inlet into the brush unit; a driving unit to drive the body and coupled to the second housing to be positioned at a lateral side of the dust collecting unit; and a power unit installed at the second housing and coupled to be positioned at a rear of the dust collecting unit. The miniaturization of the autonomous cleaner may be provided while at the same time the capacity of a dust collecting container and the capacity of a battery are increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hwi-Chan Jang, Tae Soo Kim, Hyun Soo Jung, Sang Hwa Choi, Sang Sik Yoon, Shin Kim, Jin Hee Kim, Yeon Kyu Jeong, Hak Bong Lee, Young Ho Ko, Kyoung Woung Kim
  • Patent number: 11363933
    Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot comprises a chassis, at least one motorized drive wheel mounted to the chassis and arranged to propel the robot across a surface, and a pair of cleaning rollers mounted to the chassis and having outer surfaces exposed on an underside of the chassis and to each other. The cleaning rollers are drivable to counter-rotate while the robot is propelled, thereby cooperating to direct raised debris upward into the robot between the rollers. A side brush is further mounted to the chassis to rotate beneath the chassis adjacent a lateral side of the chassis about an upwardly extending side brush axis, and the outer surface of a first of the cleaning rollers of the pair extends laterally beyond the outer surface of a second of the cleaning rollers of the pair and laterally beyond the side brush axis, such that the first cleaning roller defines a cleaning width spanning the side brush axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Oliver Lewis
  • Patent number: 11350808
    Abstract: The vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body including a wheel for moving and a wheel motor for driving the wheel, a suction hose connected to the cleaner body, a handle connected to the suction hose, at least one detection sensor disposed in the suction hose to detect an inclination of the suction hose, and a controller controlling the wheel motor on the basis of the inclination of the suction hose detected by the at least one detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyoungsuk Ko, Sungsuk Kang, Byungjin Kim, Sunghyuk Park, Koh Choi, Subong Hong
  • Patent number: 11337574
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system, comprising a vacuum apparatus having a vacuum apparatus housing and having at least one vacuum apparatus mains socket, the at least one vacuum apparatus mains socket being attached to the vacuum apparatus housing. According to the disclosure, the system additionally comprises a plug-in module, having a plug-in module communication unit, an electrical plug-in module mains plug unit, and a current control unit, which is designed to control an electrical current between the plug-in module and the vacuum apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Tauber, Tim Hartmann, Joachim Schadow, Hans-Joachim Vogt, Kamil Pogorzelski, Joern Stock, Philippe Van Den Bogaert, Micha Klingler, Michael Wismer, Klaus Dengler, Frederic Hain
  • Patent number: 11337572
    Abstract: An environmental control unit comprises a housing, a vacuum cleaner, a filtration unit, and a blower. The vacuum cleaner is positioned in the housing and is configured to receive a tool contaminant stream produced by at least one tool. The vacuum cleaner filters particulate matter from the tool contaminant stream, thereby producing a filtered air stream. The filtration unit is also positioned within the housing and comprises at least one filter. The blower is positioned within the housing downstream of the filtration unit. The blower is configured to create negative air pressure within the second compartment to draw an area contaminant stream from an exterior of the environmental control unit into the housing. A second blower may also be present. The blower draws the filtered air stream and the area contaminant stream through the at least one filter in the filtration unit to produce a filtered mixture stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Enviropur LLC
    Inventor: Dave Kette
  • Patent number: 11330953
    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: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Pastore, Pu Zhou, Eric Burbank
  • Patent number: 11330952
    Abstract: The present application discloses a processing station and a cleaning system. The cleaning system includes a processing station and a cleaning robot, the processing station for evacuating trash collected in the cleaning robot, and including a body formed with a sealing surface, a base located below the sealing surface and configured for supporting a trash cassette having an opening at a top, a suction mechanism and a filter, and an adjustment member connected the body with the base; the adjustment member urges the base to be vertically adjacent to the sealing surface to clamp the trash cassette between the base and the sealing surface, such that the opening edge of the trash cassette abuts against the sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen Silver Star Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Feng Zhou
  • Patent number: 11330948
    Abstract: Disclosed is a moving robot including: a travel unit configured to move a body; an image acquisition unit configured to acquire a surrounding image of the body; a sensor unit having one or more sensors configured to detect an obstacle while the body moves; a controller configured to: upon detection of an obstacle by the sensor unit, recognize an attribute of the obstacle based on an image acquired by the image acquisition unit, and control driving of the travel unit based on the attribute of the obstacle; and a sound output unit configured to: output preset sound when the recognized attribute of the obstacle indicates a movable obstacle. Accordingly, the moving robot improves stability, user convenience, driving efficiency, and cleaning efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dongki Noh, Seungmyun Baek, Seungmin Baek, Sunghun Lee
  • Patent number: 11324372
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a surface cleaning head and a brush supported by the surface cleaning head. A control circuit operates the vacuum cleaner. The control circuit includes a motor coupled to and operable to cause movement of the brush. Also disclosed is a method of controlling a motor for a brush of a vacuum cleaner. The method includes sensing an electrical parameter related to an amount of carpet load restricting the brush and determining a pulse width modulated duty cycle value based on the electrical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventor: Fai Zhao Hui Xie
  • Patent number: 11291342
    Abstract: A method for detecting entanglement of an object with a brush of a surface cleaning device includes collecting sensor readings indicative of an operational status of the brush of the surface cleaning device using at least one sensor, detecting entanglement of an object with the brush when a magnitude of the sensor readings exceeds a predetermined threshold for a predetermined amount of time using a motor controller of the brush, notifying a processor of the surface cleaning device of the detected entanglement using the motor controller, and actuating an action in response to the detected entanglement using the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 11292136
    Abstract: A mobile robot system includes a docking station and a mobile robot. The docking station includes a platform, first and second charging contacts on the platform, and first and second ramp features on the platform. The robot includes a housing, first and second drive wheels, first and second raised charging contacts on a bottom of the housing, and a cleaning module including at least one rotatable cleaning head that extends below the bottom of the housing. The robot is movable from an approach position with the robot spaced apart from a front of the platform to a docked position with the robot on the platform and the docking station charging contacts engaged with the robot charging contacts. As the robot moves from the approach position to the docked position, the robot engages the first and second ramp features and the cleaning mechanism is lifted over the docking station charging contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Vincent Wolff, Douglas Dell'Accio, Leo Torrente, William Morris, Flavia Pastore
  • Patent number: 11291341
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a debris chamber defined within the housing, a filter disposed within the debris chamber, a motor assembly including a motor and an impeller connected to the housing and operable to generate airflow through the debris chamber and filter, a voltage sensor positioned to detect an input voltage applied to the motor, a temperature sensor positioned to detect a temperature associated with the motor and a controller communicatively coupled to the voltage sensor, temperature sensor, and motor. The controller includes a processor and memory having instructions that program the processor to determine a threshold temperature based at least in part on the input voltage detected by the voltage sensor, compare the temperature associated with the motor to the threshold temperature, and output a warning that the filter is full of debris when the temperature associated with the motor exceeds the threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas L. McCue, Jason Hill
  • Patent number: 11291343
    Abstract: Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a maintenance device for the same. The robot cleaner includes a body, a traveling module for moving the body, a bottom portion disposed in front of the traveling module for sliding along a floor when the body is moved, and a collection portion disposed in front of the bottom portion, the collection portion having therein a space for collecting foreign matter on the floor. The maintenance device includes a suction port configured to be inserted into the collection portion and a suction channel for guiding the movement of the air suctioned through the suction port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jaewon Jang, Minwoo Lee, Youngkouk Song
  • Patent number: 11278174
    Abstract: A cleaner and a method for controlling the same. The cleaner includes a brush module comprising a brush configured to scatter foreign substances on a floor, and a brush motor configured to rotate the brush. The cleaner includes a suction module configured to suction the foreign substances; a sensor configured to detect a load applied to the brush; and a controller configured to control suction force of the suction module based on the load detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jea Yun So, Yeon Kyu Jeong, Sang Sik Yoon, Shin Kim
  • Patent number: 11253124
    Abstract: A cleaning unit for cleaning floors comprising a drivetrain, a main controller, a safety module, and one or more cleaning aggregates for cleaning a floor upon which the cleaning unit moves. The main controller may operate the cleaning unit in one of an autonomous mode in which cleaning unit autonomously navigates while cleaning the floor or a manual mode in which the cleaning unit is maneuverable under an applied external force while cleaning the floor. The safety module may be responsive to a plurality of safety inputs such that if a safety input indicates an unsafe condition, the safety module initiates a lockout to stop movement by the cleaning unit. In the autonomous mode, the safety module may be responsive to a first set of safety inputs and in the manual operating mode, the safety module may be responsive to a second set of safety inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Knuth, Stephen D. Herr, Stephen J. Balas, Angelo Sabatino, Marcel Graf, Andre Baertsch, Sepp Stary
  • Patent number: 11253126
    Abstract: A robot cleaner includes a main body, a moving unit for moving the main body, a cleaning module capable of being brought into contact with a floor surface at at least part of a lower surface thereof, and a module drive unit for controlling an angle of inclination of the lower surface of the cleaning module with respect to the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaewon Jang, Jeongseop Park, Sungho Yoon
  • Patent number: 11224326
    Abstract: A system for refilling, emptying and/or recharging of an autonomous floor cleaner includes a docking station adapted to be coupled with a household plumbing infrastructure. The docking station can be provided on a household appliance, which may be a toilet, a dishwasher, or another appliance coupled with the plumbing infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Buehler, Jeffrey A. Scholten, Adam Brown
  • Patent number: 11219346
    Abstract: A robot cleaner includes a cleaner main body including a first connection duct, and a cleaning module including a second connection duct detachably coupled to the first connection duct to perform a dust suction function or a mopping function. The first and second connection ducts include a first facing surface and a second facing surface, respectively. The first and second facing surfaces face each other when the cleaning module is coupled to the cleaner main body. The first and second facing surfaces are formed in an annular shape to surround flow paths of the first and second connection ducts, respectively, and the first and second facing surfaces include a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion, respectively, which are attached to each other by a magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyemin Kang, Sangik Lee
  • Patent number: 11197593
    Abstract: The invention relates to a relief valve (100) for portable, industrial dust collectors. It has actuating means (102, 104) for actuating the valve (100) between a closed position and an open position. According to the invention, the valve further includes retaining means (107) for maintaining the valve in the open position. The invention also relates to a hose device for a cleaner of a dust collector a dust collector. The hose device is arranged such that it covers the bottom of the grid means in the cleaner when the dust collector operates and falls down when the vacuum in the dust collector is released. The invention further relates to a cleaner, to a dust collector, to a grinding machine and to a method for operating a dust collector. These are in conjunction with the relief valve and/or the hose device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventor: Besim Mesinovic
  • Patent number: 11191403
    Abstract: A docking station for a robotic cleaner may include a base, a docking station dust cup removably coupled to the base, a latch actuatable between a retaining position and a release position, and a release system configured to actuate the latch between the retaining and release positions. The docking station dust cup may be removable from the base in response to a pivotal movement of the docking station dust cup relative to the base about a pivot point. The latch may be horizontally spaced apart from the pivot point, wherein, when the latch is in the retaining position, pivotal movement of the docking station dust cup is substantially prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Gill, David Harting, Hamish Thompson, Christopher Meyer-Rassow, Catriona C. A. Sutter, Isaku D. Kamada, Kai Xu, Devin Feng, Jason B. Thorne
  • Patent number: 11185203
    Abstract: A robot cleaner and a charging device capable of determining whether contact is made between charging terminals of the charging device and the robot cleaner are provided. The charging device may include a charging circuit including at least one terminal having at least a portion exposed to the outside, at least one object sensor to detect at least one identification object arranged in a robot cleaner, the at least one object sensor being arranged separately from the at least one terminal configured, and at least one processor configured to control the charging circuit to apply a voltage to the at least one terminal in response to the at least one object sensor detecting the at least one identification object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeon Kyu Jeong, Hee Suk Yoon
  • Patent number: 11177646
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator controller is described. The controller comprises switching circuitry, for selectively activating and deactivating one or more transducer circuits, and overcurrent detection circuitry, for detecting an overcurrent state in relation to one or more of the transducer circuits. The switching circuitry is responsive to the detection on an overcurrent state to selectively deactivate one or more of the transducer circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Karl Axel Pétursson, Lars Rohrmann Andersen, Jesper Holm, Henrik Møller Ravn, David Steele, Arne Gormsen
  • Patent number: 11172801
    Abstract: A cleaning system comprising a vacuum source, a current sensor, a recovery tank having a shutoff float configured to float on a surface of fluid within the recovery tank, and a controller. The vacuum source is in fluid communication with a suction inlet via first and second air paths within the recovery tank. The shutoff float is further configured to block the first air path upon the fluid within the recovery tank reaching a desired level. The controller is configured to receive, from the current sensor, a signal indicative of the current drawn by the vacuum source. The controller is further configured to determine, based on the current drawn by the vacuum source crossing a threshold, the fluid within the recovery tank has reached the desired level and control an operating element of the cleaning system upon determining the fluid within the recovery tank has reached the desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
    Inventors: Kevin Pohlman, Rafael Davila, Nicholas DeBlasio
  • Patent number: 11147424
    Abstract: A robot cleaner and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, which perform efficient cleaning by controlling a suction force or traveling route of the robot cleaner. The robot cleaner detects load applied to wheels of the robot cleaner so as to increase reliability and accuracy in floor state decision, thereby recognizing a floor state. The robot cleaner recognizes a floor state by combining load applied to wheels of the robot cleaner, load applied to brushes, and acceleration information of the robot cleaner with one another in a complementary manner, thereby increasing accuracy in floor state decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jea Yun So, Yeon Kyu Jeong, Sang Sik Yoon, Shin Kim
  • Patent number: 11141032
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan Love, Sergey Makarov, Shadi Sumrain, Patrick Truitt
  • Patent number: 11141033
    Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner including: a secondary battery; an electric blower that generates negative pressure by consuming electricity stored in the rechargeable battery; and a control unit that controls driving of the electric blower, and changes discharge current of the rechargeable battery based on the difference between terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery while the electric blower is stopped and terminal voltage of the rechargeable battery after a predetermined time has elapsed since the electric blower has been started up. The electric vacuum cleaner can continue driving of an electric blower and increase operation time even in the state that the internal resistance of a rechargeable battery is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamichi Une, Yousuke Yajima
  • Patent number: 11129511
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an actuator connected to a suction hose to rotate in left and right directions centering on a first rotation axis, or in forward and backward directions centering on a second rotation axis according to movement of the suction hose, a first displacement sensor detecting rotational displacement of the actuator in the left and right directions, and a second displacement sensor detecting rotational displacement of the actuator in the forward and backward directions, and controls activation of a plurality of driving motors according to the rotational displacement of the actuator in the left and right directions and in the forward and backward directions, which are detected by the first displacement sensor and the second displacement sensor, thereby advancing or rotating the main body in the left and right directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keon Soo Choi, Shin Kim, Dong Hyun Lee, Dong Woo Ha, Chang Hyun Lee, Ji Yeon Han
  • Patent number: 11133731
    Abstract: A printed circuit board and an electric filter. The printed circuit board is arranged to accommodate an electric circuitry on one side, and an electrically conductive material on the other side which forms a common ground point with the electric circuitry and a device contacting the conductive material. The electric filter for filtering electric signals of a DC motor includes a freewheeling diode coupled in parallel to the motor, a capacitor coupled in parallel to the motor, where a ground terminal of the capacitor is coupled to a chassis of the motor, a low pass filter including a ferrite bead and another capacitor is connected to each motor terminal (M+, M?), and a resistor-capacitor filter is coupled in parallel to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventor: Claes Kjellström
  • Patent number: 11125470
    Abstract: A self-propelled robot that self-travels on a structure having a flat surface to perform a cleaning operation, the self-propelled robot includes a robot main body (2), a controller (30) that controls movement of the moving unit in a forward direction and a rearward direction, an operation unit (12a) that is controlled by the controller, and a pair of detection units that are first and second detection units, each of which functioning to detect if there is the flat surface of the structure beneath the detection unit. Wherein, seen from a top view of the robot, the first detection unit and the second detection unit (31a, 31b, 31c, 31d) are both arranged at the front end of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MIRAIKIKAI, INC.
    Inventors: Tohru Miyake, Kazuo Morita, Hideto Matsuuchi