With Automatic Control Patents (Class 15/319)
  • Patent number: 9820626
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner head having a housing, supports extending downward from the housing to a support point, a suction opening, an agitator chamber above and in fluid communication with the suction opening, an agitator with a spindle rotatably mounted to the housing and one or more agitating devices projecting from the spindle, a cleaning member movably mounted to the housing to move to a position where it engages the agitator to remove debris from the agitator during rotation of the agitator, and a pedal connected to the housing and movable to a position to place the cleaning member in the cleaning position. The pedal has an activation surface configured to receive an activation force from an operator, and the activation surface is configured such that application of the activation force on the pedal generates a moment force to bias the agitator away from the downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Henrik Eriksson, Brian Vines
  • Patent number: 9808837
    Abstract: A wireless cleaning apparatus uses electrical energy to produce calories. Steam is generated with a view to carrying out a cleaning operation by spraying steam. The steam generator includes a water tank, a heater of the water in order to produce steam, and an extractor for the steam produced heater of the steam includes storage for calories generated, prior to the cleaning operation, by electrical connections for producing heat that can be reversibly connected to an electric power supply includes a solid body, which is traversed by at least one channel or similar, which links the water tank to the means for extracting steam, and through which the water travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ECODROP
    Inventor: Gerard Curien
  • Patent number: 9801516
    Abstract: A surface cleaning appliance having a cleaner head that includes an agitator and a motor for driving the agitator. The appliance includes a switch coupling the motor to a supply voltage, a voltage sensor for measuring the magnitude of the supply voltage, a current sensor for measuring the magnitude of current through the motor, and a controller configured to output a PWM signal for controlling the switch. The controller then adjusts the duty cycle of the PWM signal in response to changes in the supply voltage and in response to changes in the current through the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Libo Zheng, Yongji Zhou, James Douglas Chisholm, David John Hawker
  • Patent number: 9801512
    Abstract: A self-propelled, self-steering floor cleaning appliance is provided with at least one cleaning element for cleaning a floor surface, including a drive device having an undercarriage, a sensing part for sensing obstacles, at least one displaceable holding part for holding the sensing part on the floor cleaning appliance and at least one detection element for detecting a displacement of the at least one holding part and for providing a signal relating thereto. The floor cleaning appliance includes at least one accommodating part on which the at least one holding part is held so as to be displaceable in a first and a second direction of displacement, which is aligned at an angle to the first direction of displacement, and the at least one detection element is actuatable by the at least one holding part upon displacement of the holding part in the first and in the second directions of displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ALfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jacob Janzen, Jochen Engele, Marc Meisenbacher, Matthias Mack
  • Patent number: 9783942
    Abstract: A roadway sweeper (10) is provided with a pneumatic ‘lift’ cylinder (LC) connected through linkages to a gutter broom (12) and is pressurized at a operator-selected one of a plurality of air pressures to control the force the gutter broom (12) applies to the surface being swept. In a similar manner, a pneumatic ‘swing-out’ cylinder (PC) that is also pressurized at one of a plurality of operator-selected air pressures to cause the gutter broom (12) to ‘swing-out’ from a fully retracted position toward its fully extended position. A spring element (S), such as one or more helical springs, is connected in parallel with the swing-out cylinder (PC) so that the gutter broom (12) is positioned reliably and repeatedly in response to a user-selected one of many pressure states Pn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Schwarze Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward B. Stell, Dale D. Glubrecht
  • Patent number: 9785148
    Abstract: A robot cleaner having a main body, a driving unit for moving the main body, a sensing unit for sensing information related to an obstacle, and a controller for controlling the driving unit to prevent collision of the main body with the obstacle. The controller controls the driving unit to reverse the main body with respect to the obstacle so as to prevent the main body from contacting the obstacle based on a distance between the main body and the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Hyungtae Yun
  • Patent number: 9775478
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a power head, a collection drum, and a filter. The filter of the present invention is of rectangular cross section about the vertical axis, but is curved away from the power head under the blower along at least one horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventor: Douglas Schultz
  • Patent number: 9775485
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaner includes a base that is movable over a surface to be cleaned, a collection chamber associated with the base, and a rotating top mounted coupled with the base for rotation relative to the base, where the top carries at least one sweeping element for sweeping dirt on the surface to be cleaned toward the collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Scholten, Michael T. Dillane, Tyler James Imhoff, Scott M. Rose, Adam Luedke
  • Patent number: 9756997
    Abstract: A robotic vacuum cleaner includes a movable side arm. The side arm is inwardly pivotable into the inside of a housing of the robotic vacuum cleaner by a spring mechanism in the event of contact with an obstacle. The side arm is mounted on a rotary shaft so as to be pivotable and linearly displaceable along an elongate hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Carina Maoro, Markus Thamm
  • Patent number: 9739792
    Abstract: A device is described that includes a sensor portion and a chassis portion. The sensor portion includes a plurality of sensing devices. The chassis portion is connected to the sensor portion and includes a first track and a second track. The second track is positioned adjacent the first track. The first and second tracks cooperate to substantially cover an entire width of the chassis portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: RedZone Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher C. Atwood, Richard P. Juchniewicz, Eric Kratzer, Adam Slifko, Philip Jake Johns
  • Patent number: 9723962
    Abstract: A dust inflow sensing unit and a robot cleaner having the same. The dust inflow sensing unit includes a light emitting element to emit a beam having a transmission region, a light receiving element having a reception region overlapping the transmission region of the light emitting element, and a guide member to restrict the reception region of the light receiving element to a designated range until the reception region reaches the light emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Sik Yoon, Jun Pyo Hong, Hwi Chan Jang
  • Patent number: 9717385
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus, such as a vacuum cleaner, having a wireless communication and control system including two or more wireless radio frequency communication devices configured to transmit and receive control instructions and responses to control the operation of various electrical components disposed within or attached to the surface cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventor: Charles Andrew Liter
  • Patent number: 9717387
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for training and operating of robotic appliances. Robotic appliance may be operable to clean user premises. The user may train the appliance to perform cleaning operations in constrained areas. The appliance may be configured to clean other area of the premises automatically. The appliance may perform premises exploration and/or determine map of the premises. The appliance may be provided priority information associated with areas of the premises. The appliance may perform cleaning operations in order of the priority. Robotic vacuum cleaner appliance may be configured for safe cable operation wherein the controller may determine one or more potential obstructions (e.g., a cable) along operating trajectory. Upon approaching the cable, the controller may temporarily disable brushing mechanism in order to prevent cable damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Brain Corporation
    Inventors: Botond Szatmary, Vadim Polonichko
  • Patent number: 9687131
    Abstract: A self-propelled floor cleaning device includes a manually controlled or program-controlled first cleaning vehicle, which moves across a treatment path across a surface, which is to be cleaned, including a first cleaning device for carrying out a dry cleaning step. A second cleaning vehicle, including a second cleaning device for carrying out a wet cleaning step, is coupled to the first cleaning vehicle such that the second cleaning vehicle follows the first cleaning vehicle on the treatment path thereof. The second cleaning vehicle can be connected to the first cleaning vehicle via a releasable mechanical coupling. However, it can also be in operative connection with the first cleaning vehicle via only a data transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Nazli Eidmohammadi, Sabrina Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9681786
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a main body and a cyclonic separating apparatus. The separating apparatus comprises a dirt collection chamber and a baffle arrangement, and is mounted within the main body such that a first part of the dirt collection chamber is obscured and a second part of the dirt collection chamber is visible during normal use. The baffle arrangement is positioned within the dirt collection chamber such that, during use, an airflow moving within the dirt collection chamber is disrupted by the baffle arrangement causing dirt to collect preferentially in the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Joanne Katy Mitchell, Peter Graham Luetchford, Ketan Patel
  • Patent number: 9661970
    Abstract: A pressure switch configured to be disposed on a path, through which dust passes, to control a dust sensor according to whether a suction pressure is formed in the path, is provided. The pressure switch includes: a body part having a connection tube connected to the path, and an upper surface; first and second terminals configured to be electrically connected to the dust sensor, and at least a portion of which protrudes from the upper surface of the body part; and a flexible cap configured to engage the body part to define a space along with the upper surface of the body part. The flexible cap is deformed in response to a negative pressure being formed in the space, thereby electrically connecting the first and second terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-han Jeong
  • Patent number: 9665095
    Abstract: Robots or other machines may be used for retrieving errant objects from the floor of an automated warehouse. A system can include one or more reporting methods to alert a central control to the existence and location of an object on the warehouse floor. The central control can establish a safety zone around the object to avoid contact with normal warehouse traffic (e.g., standard warehouse robots). The system can route a cleanup robot to the location to retrieve the object. The system can include a cleanup pod comprising a convertible shelving unit with a robotic arm. The cleanup pod can have a similar form factor as shelving units used for storing inventory in the warehouse, thereby enabling standard warehouse robots to lift and transport the cleanup pod to retrieve an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Romano, Peter R. Wurman, Dennis Polic, Peter K. Mansfield
  • Patent number: 9629512
    Abstract: A switching mechanism for a vacuum cleaner having a vacuum generator and an agitator, comprising a vacuum generator switch, an agitator switch, and a coupler for coupling the agitator switch with the vacuum generator switch such that switching of the vacuum generator switch switches the agitator switch. The switching mechanism is configured such that, switching of at least one of the agitator switch and the vacuum generator switch uncouples the agitator switch from the vacuum generator switch. The switching mechanism is further configured such that, when the vacuum generator switch and the agitator switch are uncoupled from each other and the agitator switch is in its open state, switching of the vacuum generator switch from its closed state to its open state couples the agitator switch with the vacuum generator switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventor: Oliver James Gould
  • Patent number: 9622632
    Abstract: A cyclone dust collector includes a cyclone chamber to centrifugally separate dust by creating rotating airflow, and a ring-shaped indicator provided to the cyclone chamber to rotate due to the rotating airflow in the cyclone chamber. The indicator visualizes the rotating airflow by rotating when the rotating airflow is created. The user may easily check condition of the rotation airflow and take proper action in the case that the cleaner malfunctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Gyun Han, Joung Soo Park, Dong Won So, Jong Gook Lim, Kyong Hui Jeon
  • Patent number: 9622635
    Abstract: An autonomous floor-cleaning robot comprising a housing infrastructure including a chassis, a power subsystem; for providing the energy to power the autonomous floor-cleaning robot, a motive subsystem operative to propel the autonomous floor-cleaning robot for cleaning operations, a command and control subsystem operative to control the autonomous floor-cleaning robot to effect cleaning operations, and a self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem that includes a deck mounted in pivotal combination with the chassis, a brush assembly mounted in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to sweep up particulates during cleaning operations, a vacuum assembly disposed in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to ingest particulates during cleaning operations, and a deck adjusting subassembly mounted in combination with the motive subsystem for the brush assembly, the deck, and the chassis that is automatically operative in response to an increase in brush torque in said brush
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Jones, Newton E. Mack, David M. Nugent, Paul E. Sandin
  • Patent number: 9622637
    Abstract: A combined mop is provided, which comprises a mop rack, a handle, a mop head, a dust collector, and a steam cleaner, wherein the dust collector and the steam cleaner are respectively connected with a power supply, and are detachably disposed on the mop rack. The mop rack is provided with a channel, and the channel is communicated with the mop head and the dust collector or a steam cleaner. The dust collector and the steam cleaner are detachably disposed on the mop rack. The dust collector or the steam cleaner can be cooperatively used together with the mop rack, the handle, and the mop head, thereby improving the cleaning efficiency. Moreover, the dust collector and the steam cleaner allow the user to conveniently disassemble them from each other to separately use them, which can increase the application range of the combined mop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: PROTREND CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Chuan Hsieh, Ji-Kan Wang
  • Patent number: 9615714
    Abstract: Provided is an autonomous cleaning device that is capable of embodying various travelling motions, improving an obstacle avoidance capability, and stably travelling, the autonomous cleaning device including: a case in which an accommodation part and a hole are formed; and a wheel assembly accommodated in the accommodation part, wherein the wheel assembly includes: one wheel, of which part is exposed to an outside through the hole; a first motor that drives and travels the wheel; and a second motor that rotates the wheel so as to change a travelling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hwi Chan Jang, Won Min Lee, Sang Hwa Choi, Du Hwan Hyun
  • Patent number: 9615715
    Abstract: A robot cleaner including a cleaner body, a dust suction unit and a dust collection unit attached to the cleaner body, and a driving device to move the cleaner body, wherein the driving device includes a power generation unit to generate power, a power transmission unit to transmit the power generated by the power generation unit to a wheel such that the wheel is rotated by the power transmitted from the power transmission unit, and wherein the wheel includes a wheel member connected to the power transmission unit, and a first member and a second member attached to an outer circumference of the wheel member such that the first member and the second member contact different floor surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hwang Kim, Sungil Park
  • Patent number: 9596971
    Abstract: A robot cleaner and a control method for the same are disclosed. The robot cleaner and control method are capable of detecting malfunction of an auxiliary cleaning unit, and controlling travel of the robot cleaner in accordance with the detection result, to achieve efficient cleaning of an edge area even when there is an error in the auxiliary cleaning unit. The robot cleaner includes a plurality of auxiliary cleaning units mounted to a bottom portion of the robot cleaner such that the auxiliary cleaning units are extendable and retractable, a sensing unit to sense an extension, retraction, or rotation state of each of the auxiliary cleaning units, and a control unit to determine whether the auxiliary cleaning units operate normally, based on a sensing result of the sensing unit, and to control travel of the robot cleaner, based on a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Sik Yoon, Dong Won Kim, Jea Yun So, Seung Il Han, Jun Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 9597804
    Abstract: A cleaning robot that performs cleaning while travelling a space to be cleaned, the cleaning robot including: a travelling unit that moves the cleaning robot; a cleaning unit that cleans the space to be cleaned; an image capturing unit that captures an image viewed from the cleaning robot; a voice input unit to which a user's voice instructions are input; and a controller obtaining the user's motion instructions through the image capturing unit and determining a restricted area in which entry of the cleaning robot is prohibited and/or a focused cleaning area to be intensely cleaned by the cleaning robot based on the user's motion instructions or the user's voice instructions when the user's voice instructions are input through the voice input unit. The restricted area and the focused cleaning area may be input to the cleaning robot through the user's voice and motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Sik Yoon, Woo Ram Chung
  • Patent number: 9601007
    Abstract: A self-propelled apparatus includes: a self-propelled platform having a recessed chamber located in the bottom side, a control unit mounted in the self-propelled platform for controlling the moving path of the self-propelled platform in a predominantly grid-pattern that causes the self-propelled platform to mainly move in predominantly straight lines, a battery, one or multiple germicidal ultraviolet lights exhibiting an elongated shape and mounted in the self-propelled platform within the recessed chamber in such a manner that the longitudinal axis of the germicidal ultraviolet lights is kept in parallel to the linear moving direction of the self-propelled platform, and obstacle sensors. The self-propelled apparatus utilizes a wireless module for wireless communication with an external smart device that has built therein an application software for controlling and displaying the operating status of the self-propelled apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: FLOORBOTICS INC., METAPO INC.
    Inventor: Guy Thomas Duncan Ashworth
  • Patent number: 9591953
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided with a handle assembly drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head and comprising a multi-position brush control electrically coupled to the brush motor whereby the brush motor is operable in at least two different modes. An upright surface cleaning apparatus with a removable portable surface cleaning unit is also provided. The upright surface cleaning apparatus includes an air flow path extending from the cleaning head air outlet to the air treatment member air inlet and comprising a flexible electrified air flow conduit wherein the brush motor is electrically connected to the surface cleaning unit by a circuit that includes the flexible electrified air flow conduit, a handle assembly drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head and a brush control electrically coupled to the brush motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Jason Boyd Thorne
  • Patent number: 9585536
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a steam generation system for producing steam from liquid, a liquid distribution system for storing liquid and delivering the liquid to the steam generation system, a steam delivery system for delivering steam to a surface to be cleaned, and a vacuum collection system which can be operated concurrently with the other systems. The surface cleaning apparatus can comprise an upper housing mounted to a lower cleaning foot which is adapted to be moved across a surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Yun Pi, Gang Huang
  • Patent number: 9582000
    Abstract: A robot cleaner is accessed to a terminal through a network. A situation inside a house can be real-time checked from the outside, and the situation can be rapidly handled according to a state of the robot cleaner. The robot cleaner can patrol a predetermined region or move to a user's desired location, and can provide, to the user through the terminal, images captured on a moving path or the user's desired location. The robot cleaner can provide image information captured during the cleaning to the terminal. And, the terminal can video-record the image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Suuk Choe, Sunghun Lee, Junho Jang, Seungmin Baek, Yiebin Kim
  • Patent number: 9572468
    Abstract: A robot cleaner includes a cleaner body, a suction unit, and a cyclone unit. The cyclone unit has a first suction opening and a second suction opening for sucking air, and a first cyclone and a second cyclone for passing air therethrough, the air having dust filtered therefrom by a centrifugal force. A first guiding member and a second guiding member extend upwardly from the suction unit toward the cyclone unit with an inclination angle, the first guiding member for connection between the suction unit and the first suction opening, and the second guiding member for connection between the suction unit and the second suction opening. A dust box communicated with a dust discharge opening is provided at a front side of the cyclone unit so as to collect dust filtered by the cyclone unit. The dust box is partially or wholly accommodated between the first and second guiding members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jongsu Kim, Hwang Kim, Sungil Park
  • Patent number: 9568911
    Abstract: An automatic and dynamic maintenance scheduling system for surface cleaning machines. Based on the receipt or lack of receipt of machine usage data from the machine, the system will adjust or maintain scheduled service call dates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Paul L. Groschen, Robert J. Erko
  • Patent number: 9534899
    Abstract: Vector Field SLAM is a method for localizing a mobile robot in an unknown environment from continuous signals such as WiFi or active beacons. Disclosed is a technique for localizing a robot in relatively large and/or disparate areas. This is achieved by using and managing more signal sources for covering the larger area. One feature analyzes the complexity of Vector Field SLAM with respect to area size and number of signals and then describe an approximation that decouples the localization map in order to keep memory and run-time requirements low. A tracking method for re-localizing the robot in the areas already mapped is also disclosed. This allows to resume the robot after is has been paused or kidnapped, such as picked up and moved by a user. Embodiments of the invention can comprise commercial low-cost products including robots for the autonomous cleaning of floors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Jens-Steffen Gutmann, Philip Fong, Mario E. Munich
  • Patent number: 9532690
    Abstract: A robot cleaner capable of vacuuming foreign materials on a floor includes a main body to which a dust collector is mounted and a vacuuming unit provided at a front portion of the main body to clean a floor. The vacuuming unit is configured to move relative to the main body. If it is determined that the robot cleaner is located near a wall or an obstacle, the vacuuming unit moves to the wall or the obstacle. Since the vacuuming unit contacts the wall or the obstacle, a region of a floor near the wall or the obstacle may be cleaned. Further, a manual cleaner may be selectively connected to a channel connector of the robot cleaner so that a user may choose automatic or manual cleaning of a floor at the user's convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hwi Jang, Young Jae Park, Sin Ae Kim, Won Kuk Kim, Hyo Won Sin
  • Patent number: 9526390
    Abstract: A robot cleaner includes a main body that defines an external appearance of the robot cleaner. The robot cleaner further includes a plurality of dust sensors that are located at different positions on the main body and that are configured to sense dust that is located in a traveling route of the robot cleaner. The robot cleaner further includes a control unit that is configured to control movement and a cleaning operation of the robot cleaner based on sensing data from the plurality of dust sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sihyuk Yi, Hyukdo Kweon, Wooyeon Kim
  • Patent number: 9516984
    Abstract: A positioning system comprises a sweeper and a positioning device arranged on a ceiling. The sweeper has a lighting component for emitting light. The positioning device at least has a height measuring unit and a plurality of light-sensitive units. The positioning device measures a vertical distance between the positioning device and a floor through the height measuring unit. The positioning device receives the light emitted from the emitting light of the sweeper through the light-sensitive units, and calculates an oblique distance between the positioning device and the sweeper based on different strengths of the light respectively received from each of the plurality of light-sensitive units. Therefore, the positioning device can calculates a parallel distance between the positioning device and the sweeper based on the vertical distance and the oblique distance, and further determines a related position of the sweeper opposite to the positioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC., CAL-COMP ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu-Ta Lin, Chuan-Wang Chang, Ming-Wei Chuang
  • Patent number: 9518510
    Abstract: An apparatus including an internal combustion engine receiving air from an air particle separator is disclosed. The air particle separator has an air intake capable of receiving air and a particulate matter conveyed by the air, the particle separator being capable of filtering the particulate matter from the air to produce a clean flow and a dirty flow. The clean flow is provided to the inlet of the internal combustion engine. A bladed component is in fluid communication with the dirty flow and includes a plurality of members operable to assist the dirty flow in being conveyed from the particle separator. The bladed component rotates about an axis and has an annular construction disposed radially outward of the plurality of members configured to receive a circumferential force to cause the bladed component to rotate about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Gagne, George A. Pontones, Mark J. Blackwelder
  • Patent number: 9510717
    Abstract: A self-moving dust suction apparatus to facilitate cleaning comprises a dust suction base, a detachable dust collection unit and an airflow directing element. The dust suction base includes an air drawing mechanism to draw airflow, a housing space corresponding to the air drawing mechanism, an opening communicating with the housing space and a trigger driven mechanism. The detachable dust collection unit is held in the housing space through the opening and includes a dust suction inlet corresponding to the air drawing mechanism. The airflow directing element is disposed on the detachable dust collection unit and includes an elastic barrier plate which partially surrounds the dust suction inlet and extends towards a floor from the detachable dust collection unit to confine direction of the airflow flowing into the dust suction inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph Y. Ko
  • Patent number: 9493921
    Abstract: A broom assembly for a vehicle includes a frame, a broom core axle rotatably coupled to the frame and defining an axis around which a broom rotates when in use, an actuator coupled to the frame and positioned to raise and lower the broom core axle relative to the frame, and a controller. The controller has an output for adjusting the actuator and an input for receiving position information from a sensor. The controller is configured to use the received position information to automatically lower the broom core axle over a period of operation to account for an estimated wear of the broom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Bashar M. Amin, Mitch F. Sears, Benjamin G. Lochner, Jason M. Ollanketo, Jason R. Shively, Sean Strosahl, Kellie Watters
  • Patent number: 9492048
    Abstract: A cleaning robot system including a robot and a robot maintenance station. The robot includes a robot body, a drive system, a cleaning assembly, and a cleaning bin carried by the robot body and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly. The robot maintenance station includes a station housing configured to receive the robot for maintenance. The station housing has an evacuation passageway exposed to a top portion of the received robot. The robot maintenance station also includes an air mover in pneumatic communication with the evacuation passageway and a collection bin carried by the station housing and in pneumatic communication with the evacuation passageway. The station housing and the robot body fluidly connect the evacuation passageway to the cleaning bin of the received robot. The air mover evacuates debris held in the robot cleaning bin to the collection bin through the evacuation passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Chikyung Won, Stephen A. Hickey, Mark Steven Schnittman, Zivthan A. Dubrovsky, Selma Svendsen, Jed Lowry, David Swett, John Devlin
  • Patent number: 9492047
    Abstract: A suction cleaner (60) comprising a body (50); a compartment (42) for accommodating a dust collection bag (44); and a source of suction (32) for causing suction airflow into a bag in the compartment, wherein the source of suction is disposed at least partially beneath the compartment and communicates therewith by a passage (46) which extends from an upper region of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Jennifer Kathryn Marsden, Rowan Williams
  • Patent number: 9486923
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floor treatment robot having an autonomously movable floor treatment appliance and having a housing. The housing of the floor treatment appliance has a standing area on the top side for supporting a person. At least one load cell is provided. The load cell is suitable for measuring the weight of the person. This floor treatment robot solves the technical problem of reducing the space requirement for different domestic appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Plachetka
  • Patent number: 9462920
    Abstract: A mobile robot includes a body configured to traverse a surface and to receive debris from the surface, and a debris bin within the body. The debris bin includes a chamber to hold the debris received by the mobile robot, an exhaust port through which the debris exits the debris bin; and a door unit over the exhaust port. The door unit includes a flap configured to move, in response to air pressure at the exhaust port, between a closed position to cover the exhaust port and an open position to open a path between the chamber and the exhaust port. The door unit, including the flap in the open position and in the closed position, is within an exterior surface of the mobile robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Russell Walter Morin, Harold Boeschenstein, David Orrin Swett, Jude Royston Jonas
  • Patent number: 9457471
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot includes a robot body, a drive system, a sensor system, and a controller. The drive system supports the robot body and maneuvers the robot over a floor surface. The sensor system includes an inertial measurement unit for measuring a pose of the robot and issues a sensor signal including data having information regarding a pose of the robot. The controller communicates with the drive and sensor systems and executes a behavior system. The behavior system receives the sensor signal from the sensor system and executes a behavior. The behavior system executes an anti-stasis behavior in response to sensor signals indicating that the robot is constrained to evaluate a state of constraint. In addition, the behavior system executes an anti-tilt behavior in response to sensor signals indicating that the robot is tilted with respect to a direction of gravity to evaluate a state of tilt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Schnittman, Thomas W. Bushman
  • Patent number: 9456726
    Abstract: A cleaning system including a motor, an impeller driven by the motor, a battery receptacle, and a motor controller. The battery receptacle is configured to receive a battery pack. The battery pack includes one or more battery cells and a battery controller. The motor controller is configured to receive from the battery controller one of a first type of data and a second type of data, and operate the motor at a defined speed, the defined speed being a first speed upon receiving the first type of data, and a second speed upon receiving the second type of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Brett A. Reed, Mark Reindle, Will Sebastian
  • Patent number: 9414731
    Abstract: A self-propelled cleaner including: a movement unit configured to move a housing; a blower unit configured to generate an air current for sucking dust on a floor surface into the housing; a dust detection unit configured to detect dust contained in the air current; and a control unit configured to control the movement unit and/or the blower unit to select a cleaning mode according to a detection result of the dust detection unit, wherein the control unit is capable of changing a threshold value for selecting the cleaning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kabushiki
    Inventor: Ryohichi Soejima
  • Patent number: 9414734
    Abstract: A side brush assembly including a side arm capable of being exposed outside a main body and returning inside the main body and a side brush unit mounted to the side arm, a robot cleaner and a control method of the robot cleaner is provided. The robot cleaner includes a main body and at least one side brush assembly to increase a dust-removing area. The side brush assembly includes a side brush body, a side arm mounted to a bottom surface of the side brush body and configured to be exposed outside the main body, a side brush unit rotatably mounted to the side arm, a lever configured to rotate together with the side arm, a cam configured to rotate by receiving driving force from a driving motor, and an elastic member connecting the lever and the cam to rotate the lever by elastic force thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joo Sung Moon, Kyung Hwan Yoo, Kyoung Woun Kim, Jeong Gon Song
  • Patent number: 9414725
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a body. A dirt collection vessel and a suction generator are carried on the body. A cleaning wand is releasably held in a home position on the body. A supplemental cleaning tool is attached to the distal end of the cleaning wand when the cleaning wand is in the home position. The upright vacuum cleaner includes a first auxiliary operating mode wherein the cleaning wand and supplemental cleaning tool are removed together from the home position for use in a cleaning application and a second auxiliary operating mode wherein a cleaning wand is removed from the home position for use in the cleaning application and the supplemental cleaning tool is retained in the home position. Either auxiliary operating mode may be adopted without handling the supplemental cleaning tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Eric John Streciwilk, Joseph Blue Wofford
  • Patent number: 9402524
    Abstract: A robot cleaning device includes a debris detecting unit. The robot cleaning device includes a body, a driving unit to enable the body to travel, a drum brush unit provided at the body, to sweep up debris, using a brush and a rotating drum, a debris box to store the debris swept up by the drum brush unit, a debris detecting unit to detect whether debris has been introduced into the debris box through the drum brush unit during a cleaning operation, and a controller to determine whether debris is introduced into the debris box and whether debris has been accumulated in the debris box in a predetermined amount, based on introduction or non-introduction of debris detected by the debris detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Sik Yoon, Kang Nam Kim, Jun Hwa Lee, Hwi Chan Jang
  • Patent number: 9402520
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum cleaning apparatus having a vacuum cleaning unit and a filter bag, in which the vacuum cleaning unit has a motor-fan unit which is designed in such a way that the vacuum cleaning unit with filter bag inserted with aperture 0 generates a negative pressure between 13 kPa and 6 kPa, preferably a negative pressure of between 20 kPa and 8 kPa and particularly preferably a negative pressure between 15 kPa and 8 kPa and, with aperture 8 (40 mm), generates an air flow between 25 l/s and 49 l/s, preferably an air flow between 30 l/s and 45 l/a, and particularly preferably an air flow between 35 l/s and 45 l/s, and the filter bag is a disposable filter bag made of nonwoven material which, during the testing of the reduction in the maximum air flow with a partially filled dust container analogous to EN 60312, exhibits a reduction in the air flow of less than 15%, preferably less than 10%, particularly preferably less than 5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Eurofilters Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Sauer, Jan Schultink
  • Patent number: 9386894
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner provides a jet of high velocity air into debris resting along a floor edge. The jet of air is aimed down and to the side of the vacuum cleaner vacuum head. The jet of air dislodges the debris urging the debris into the path of the vacuum head. The jet of air is conveniently created from the vacuum cleaner exhaust, and a left or right jet may be manually selected, or automatically selected by a wall detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick Kerigan, Andrew Lord, Lynn Kerigan