U.S. patent application number 16/610581 was filed with the patent office on 2020-02-27 for robotic vacuum cleaner.
The applicant listed for this patent is TTI (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited. Invention is credited to David Khalil, James Materdo, Kevin L. Thomas, Todd Zimmerman.
Application Number | 20200060487 16/610581 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62223309 |
Filed Date | 2020-02-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200060487 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thomas; Kevin L. ; et
al. |
February 27, 2020 |
ROBOTIC VACUUM CLEANER
Abstract
A robotic vacuum cleaner is provided having a suction source, a
dirt collector, a floor sensor, a primary brush, and an auxiliary
brush. The floor sensor includes an emitter and a detector having
an intersecting region.
Inventors: |
Thomas; Kevin L.; (Indian
Trail, NC) ; Khalil; David; (College Park, MD)
; Materdo; James; (Charlotte, NC) ; Zimmerman;
Todd; (Simpsonville, SC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TTI (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited |
Macau |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
62223309 |
Appl. No.: |
16/610581 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
May 7, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2018/031348 |
371 Date: |
November 4, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62503143 |
May 8, 2017 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 2201/04 20130101;
A47L 11/4011 20130101; A47L 9/2826 20130101; A47L 9/0477 20130101;
A47L 2201/00 20130101; A47L 2201/06 20130101; A47L 11/4036
20130101; A47L 9/14 20130101; A47L 9/0466 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/04 20060101
A47L009/04; A47L 9/28 20060101 A47L009/28; A47L 9/14 20060101
A47L009/14; A47L 11/40 20060101 A47L011/40 |
Claims
1. A robotic vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction source; a dirt
collector; a floor sensor, the floor sensor including an emitter
and a detector, the emitter and detector having an intersecting
region; a primary brush; and an auxiliary brush rotatable about a
vertical axis positioned a predetermined distance from the floor
sensor, the auxiliary brush having a radial extent, wherein the
auxiliary brush is configured to not interfere with operation of
the floor sensor, and wherein the auxiliary brush is positioned
such that the radial extent of the brush does not extend into the
intersecting region.
2. A robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a radius
of the auxiliary brush is in a range from 0.8 to 1.6 times the
predetermined distance measured from the vertical axis to the floor
sensor.
3. A robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a radius
of the auxiliary brush is in a range from 1.0 to 1.5 times the
predetermined distance measured from the vertical axis to the floor
sensor.
4. A robotic vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein a radius
of the auxiliary brush is about 1.2 times the predetermined
distance measured from the vertical axis to the floor sensor.
5-11. (canceled)
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/503,143, filed May 8, 2017, the entire contents
of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to vacuum cleaner and more
particular to robotic vacuum cleaners.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a robotic vacuum
cleaner.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a bottom side view of the robotic vacuum cleaner
of FIG. 1.
[0005] FIG. 3 illustrates an auxiliary brush and floor sensor of
the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0006] FIG. 4 illustrates the auxiliary brush for the robotic
vacuum cleaner of FIG. 3 with the brush bent in response to contact
with the surface being cleaned.
[0007] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a floor sensor for the
vacuum of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an auxiliary
brush for the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an auxiliary
brush for the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an auxiliary
brush for the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an auxiliary
brush for the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an
auxiliary brush for the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an
auxiliary brush for the robotic vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.
[0014] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a robotic vacuum cleaner 10. The vacuum
cleaner 10 includes a primary brush 12 and an auxiliary brush 14.
The brushes 12 and 14 are rotated about a rotational axis to direct
debris toward a suction airstream generated by suction source
(e.g., motor and fan) that draws the debris into a dirt collector
16. The primary brush 12 rotates about a generally horizontal
rotational axis and the auxiliary brush 14 rotates about a
generally vertical axis. Air and debris are separated in the dirt
collector 16 and the debris is retained in the collector 16 and the
relatively clean airstream is discharged from the vacuum cleaner
10.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the robotic vacuum cleaner 10
further includes floor sensors 18. In one embodiment the floors
sensors 18 are infrared (IR) sensors each having an infrared
emitter 20 and an infrared detector 22. The infrared emitter 20 has
a field of emission 24 and the infrared detector 22 has a field of
view 28. The field of emission 24 and the field of view 28
intersect at an intersecting region 30. When a floor surface is in
the intersecting region 30, infrared light from the IR emitter 20
is sensed on the floor surface by the IR detector 22. When there is
no floor surface in the intersecting region 30, the IR detector 22
is used to determine the absence of a floor surface. The lack of IR
light from the emitter 20 that is being sensed by the detector 22
in the region 30 is used to make the determination that there is no
floor surface below the floor sensor 18. The presence of a floor
surface is used to control movement of the robotic vacuum 10. For
example, if there is a floor surface present, the robotic vacuum 10
will continue to automatically move along the floor surface. If
there is no floor surface present (e.g., the robotic vacuum has
reached the edge of a stair), the robotic vacuum will stop or
change direction.
[0017] As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the auxiliary brush 14 is
positioned below the floor sensor 18. However, in the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-4, the floor sensor 18 and the auxiliary brush 14 are
positioned such that ends of the brush tips 32 do not extend into
the intersecting region 30. Therefore, the position of the
auxiliary brush 14 and the floor sensor 18 allows the IR emitter 20
and IR detector 22 to properly function to sense whether a floor
surface is present because the emission and detection fields 24 and
26 pass by the ends of the brush tips 32 and the brush 14 does not
interfere with operation of the sensor 18.
[0018] A position of the intersecting region 30 depends on the
orientation of the infrared emitter 20 and detector 22 of the floor
sensor 18 relative to one another. In one embodiment, the emitter
20 and the detector 22 are orientated such that the intersecting
region 30 is formed at a position distanced away from the center of
the auxiliary brush 14. By shifting the formed intersecting region
30 away from the auxiliary brush 14, additional space is provided
below the housing of the floor sensor 18 in which to accommodate at
least a portion of the auxiliary brush 14 (e.g., brush tips 32)
below the housing of the floor sensor 18, such that a portion of
the auxiliary brush extends underneath the housing of the floor
sensor 18 without extending into the intersecting region 30
interfering with operation of the floor sensor 18. In a specific
embodiment, a portion of the auxiliary brush 14 is positioned below
the housing of the floor sensor 18 but does not extend into the
intersecting region 30.
[0019] The auxiliary brush 14 has a radial extent 17, or radius,
and is positioned a predetermined distance 15 from the housing of
the floor sensor 18. In one embodiment, the radial extent 17, or
radius of the auxiliary brush 14 is between 0.8 and 1.6 times the
distance 15 between the center of the auxiliary brush 14 and the
housing of the floor sensor 18. In another embodiment, the radius
17 of the auxiliary brush 14 is between 1.0 and 1.25 times the
distance 15 between the center of the auxiliary brush 14 and the
housing of the floor sensor 18. In yet another embodiment, the
radius 17 of the auxiliary brush 14 is approximately 1.2 times the
distance 15 between the center of the auxiliary brush 14 and the
housing of the floor sensor 18.
[0020] FIGS. 6-11 illustrate possible auxiliary brush embodiments
for use with the vacuum 10 where the interference between the
auxiliary brush and the floor sensor is minimized or avoided so
that the auxiliary brush does not interfere with operation of the
floor sensor. In the embodiments of FIGS. 6-11 portions of the
brush would pass through the intersecting region 30 of the sensor
18. However, the sensor 18 still properly operates for the reasons
discussed below.
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates an auxiliary brush 34. The brush 34
includes bristles 36 that are substantially evenly spaced 360
degrees around the perimeter of the brush 34. The bristles 36 have
different lengths such that the ends of the bristles 36 define an
outer perimeter 38 that is generally oval shaped in the illustrated
embodiment. The perimeter could have different shapes (e.g.,
elliptical) in other embodiments. The bristles 36 in region 40 have
a relatively long length, which allows these bristles 36 to reach
out and capture debris. The bristles 36 in region 42 have a
relatively short length, which allows the IR emitter 20 and IR
detector 22 to properly function to sense whether a floor surface
is present because the emission and detection fields 24 and 26 are
able to pass through region 42.
[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates an auxiliary brush 46. The brush 46
includes microfiber fingers 48. The microfiber fingers 48 are
spaced 360 degrees around the perimeter of the brush 46. In the
illustrated embodiment, the microfiber fingers 48 have generally
the same length. The microfiber fingers 48 are spaced such that
there is a gap 50 between adjacent fingers 48. The gaps 50 allows
the IR emitter 20 and IR detector 22 to properly function to sense
whether a floor surface is present because the emission and
detection fields 24 and 26 are able to pass through the gaps
50.
[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates an auxiliary brush 54. The brush 54
includes a single bunch of bristles 56 extending from a hub 58. The
single bunch of bristles 56 when rotated reaches out and capture
debris and directs the debris toward the suction airstream and dirt
collector 16. The single bunch or grouping of bristles 56 allows
the IR emitter 20 and IR detector 22 to properly function to sense
whether a floor surface is present because the emission and
detection fields 24 and 26 are able to pass through open areas to
the side of the bristle bunch 56.
[0024] FIG. 9 illustrates an auxiliary brush 60. The brush 60
includes bristles 62 that are generally evenly spaced 360 degrees
around the perimeter of the brush 60. The bristles 62 are not
attached in groups or bunches but rather as individual bristles 62
spaced around the brush 60. The spacing between adjacent bristles
62 allows the IR emitter 20 and IR detector 22 to properly function
to sense whether a floor surface is present because the emission
and detection fields 24 and 26 are able to pass between the spaced
bristles 62.
[0025] FIG. 10 illustrates an auxiliary brush 66. The brush 66
includes a pad 68 having apertures 70. The pad 68 can be formed
from microfiber, cloth, or any suitable cleaning pad material. The
apertures 70 allow the IR emitter 20 and IR detector 22 to properly
function to sense whether a floor surface is present because the
emission and detection fields 24 and 26 are able to pass through
the apertures 70.
[0026] FIG. 11 illustrates an auxiliary brush 78. The brush 78
includes a pad 80 having fingers 82. The pad 80 can be formed from
microfiber, cloth, or any suitable cleaning pad material. The
fingers 82 have generally the same length. The fingers 82 are
spaced such that there is a gap 84 between adjacent fingers 82. The
gaps 84 allows the IR emitter 20 and IR detector 22 to properly
function to sense whether a floor surface is present because the
emission and detection fields 24 and 26 are able to pass through
the gaps 84.
* * * * *