Robotic cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12004706-B2
Application number	US-202017135275-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2020
Priority date	Sep 7, 2017
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

A robotic cleaner may include a housing, a bumper, driven wheels, and a controller. The bumper can be coupled to a front of the housing. The bumper may include a plurality of projections extending from a top edge of the bumper and above a top surface of the housing. The projections may include at least one leading projection proximate a forward most portion of the bumper and at least two side projections on each respective side of the bumper. The driven wheels may be rotatably mounted to the housing. The controller may be for controlling at least the driven wheels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A robotic cleaner comprising:
a first driven wheel and a second driven wheel, each driven wheel being biased toward an extended position;
a first wheel drop sensor corresponding to the first driven wheel and a second wheel drop sensor corresponding to the second driven wheel, each wheel drop sensor being configured to detect when a corresponding driven wheel is in the extended position; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second wheel drop sensors, the controller being configured to determine that the robotic cleaner is perched on a cliff in response to only one of the first wheel drop sensor detecting that the first driven wheel is in the extended position or the second wheel drop sensor detecting that the second driven wheel is in the extended position, wherein, in response to the first wheel drop sensor detecting that the first driven wheel is in the extended position and the controller determining that the robotic cleaner is perched on the cliff, the controller is configured to:
cause:
the first driven wheel to rotate in a rearward rotation direction for a predetermined time; and
the second driven wheel to discontinue rotation while the first driven wheel rotates in the rearward rotation direction for the predetermined time; and

determine the robotic cleaner is stuck on the cliff when the predetermined time has elapsed and the first wheel drop sensor indicates the first driven wheel is in the extended position.

2. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a rotatable side brush, the rotatable side brush including a first group of bristles and a second group of bristles, the first group of bristles having a length longer than that of the second group of bristles.

3. The robotic cleaner of claim 2 further comprising a cliff sensor configured to detect a presence of a floor, wherein, during rotation of the rotatable side brush, the first group of bristles passes between the cliff sensor and the floor and the second group of bristles does not pass between the cliff sensor and the floor.

4. The robotic cleaner of claim 2 , wherein the second group of bristles is stiffer than the first group of bristles.

5. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a non-driven wheel.

6. The robotic cleaner of claim 5 , further comprising optical rotation sensors communicatively coupled to the controller and optically coupled to the non-driven wheel for sensing rotation of the non-driven wheel.

7. The robotic cleaner of claim 6 , wherein the optical rotation sensors are coupled together in an OR logic configuration.

8. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a bumper, the bumper being movable along at least two axes.

9. A robotic cleaner comprising:
a first driven wheel and a second driven wheel, each driven wheel being mounted on a respective suspension system, each suspension system configured to bias a corresponding driven wheel toward an extended position;
a first wheel drop sensor corresponding to the first driven wheel and a second wheel drop sensor corresponding to the second driven wheel, each wheel drop sensor being configured to detect when a corresponding driven wheel is in the extended position; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second wheel drop sensors, the controller being configured to determine that the robotic cleaner is perched on a cliff in response to only one of the first wheel drop sensor detecting that the first driven wheel is in the extended position or the second wheel drop sensor detecting that the second driven wheel is in the extended position, wherein, in response to the first wheel drop sensor detecting that the first drive wheel is in the extended position and the controller determining that the robotic cleaner is perched on the cliff, the controller is configured to:
cause:
the first driven wheel to alternate between rotating in a forward rotating direction and a rearward rotation direction for a predetermine time; and
the second driven wheel to discontinue rotation while the first driven wheel rotates in the forward and the rearward rotation directions for the predetermined time; and

determine the robotic cleaner is stuck on the cliff when the predetermined time has elapsed and the first wheel drop sensor indicates the first driven wheel is in the extended position.

10. The robotic cleaner of claim 9 , wherein each suspension system includes a pivoting gearbox.

11. The robotic cleaner of claim 9 further comprising a rotatable side brush, the rotatable side brush including a first group of bristles and a second group of bristles, the first group of bristles having a length longer than that of the second group of bristles.

12. The robotic cleaner of claim 11 further comprising a cliff sensor configured to detect a presence of a floor, wherein, during rotation of the rotatable side brush, the first group of bristles passes between the cliff sensor and the floor and the second group of bristles does not pass between the cliff sensor and the floor.

13. The robotic cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the second group of bristles is stiffer than the first group of bristles.

14. The robotic cleaner of claim 9 further comprising a non-driven wheel.

15. The robotic cleaner of claim 14 , further comprising optical rotation sensors communicatively coupled to the controller and optically coupled to the non-driven wheel for sensing rotation of the non-driven wheel.

16. The robotic cleaner of claim 15 , wherein the optical rotation sensors are coupled together in an OR logic configuration.

17. The robotic cleaner of claim 9 , further comprising a bumper, the bumper being movable along at least two axes.

18. The robotic cleaner of claim 17 , wherein movement of the bumper causes one or more switches to be actuated.

19. A robotic cleaner comprising:
a first driven wheel and a second driven wheel, each driven wheel being biased toward an extended position;
a first wheel drop sensor corresponding to the first driven wheel and a second wheel drop sensor corresponding to the second driven wheel, each wheel drop sensor being configured to detect when a corresponding driven wheel is in the extended position; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second wheel drop sensors, wherein, in response to the first wheel drop sensor detecting that the first driven wheel is in the extended position, the controller is configured to cause:
the first driven wheel to alternate between rotating in a forward rotation direction and a rearward rotation direction for a predetermined time; and
the second driven wheel to discontinue rotation while the first driven wheel rotates in the forward and the rearward rotation directions for the predetermined time.

20. The robotic cleaner of claim 19 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the robotic cleaner is stuck when the predetermined time has elapsed and the first wheel drop sensor indicates the first driven wheel is in the extended position.

Assignees

• Sharkninja Operating Llc

Inventors

• Liggett Melinda L
• Kamada Isaku D
• Hopke Frederick K
• Huat Gan Sin
• Fiebig Charles
• Connor Scott
• Ai Alan

Classifications

• A47L2201/00

  Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation · CPC title

• A47L9/009

  Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles · CPC title

• A47L9/2805 Primary

  Parameters or conditions being sensed · CPC title

• A47L2201/04

  Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection · CPC title

• A47L9/2852 Primary

  Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles · CPC title