Sensors and associated methods for controlling a vacuum cleaner

Details Sensors and associated methods for controlling a vacuum cleaner Sensors and associated methods for controlling a vacuum cleaner

2005-08-23

2008-09-16

Thomas, David B (Department: 3723)

Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning

Machines

With air blast or suction

C015S377000, C015S383000, C015S340100, C015S340300

Reexamination Certificate

active

07424766

ABSTRACT:
A cleaning appliance includes a housing with a brushroll and a wheel mounted thereto. A floor-type sensor is disposed within a mounting tube secured to the housing. The floor-type sensor emits sonic energy toward a surface being traversed by the cleaning appliance and receives corresponding sonic energy reflected by the surface. A comparator, electrically coupled to the floor-type sensor, compares the received reflected sonic energy to one or more associated predetermined values to determine the type of surface being traversed. A processor analyzes the results of the comparison and controls at least one of a suction fan, said wheel and said brushroll, based at least in part on the analysis.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4558215 (1985-12-01), Kaneko et al.
patent: 5109566 (1992-05-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5279672 (1994-01-01), Betker et al.
patent: 5321614 (1994-06-01), Ashworth
patent: 5341540 (1994-08-01), Soupert et al.
patent: 5377106 (1994-12-01), Drunk et al.
patent: 5542146 (1996-08-01), Hoekstra et al.
patent: 5613261 (1997-03-01), Kawakami et al.
patent: 5634237 (1997-06-01), Paranjpe
patent: 5940927 (1999-08-01), Haegermarck et al.
patent: 6076227 (2000-06-01), Eyerer et al.
patent: 6493612 (2002-12-01), Bisset et al.
patent: 6571415 (2003-06-01), Gerber et al.
patent: 6571422 (2003-06-01), Frigo et al.
patent: 6590222 (2003-07-01), Bisset et al.
patent: 6594844 (2003-07-01), Jones
patent: 6671592 (2003-12-01), Bisset et al.
patent: 1149332 (2003-08-01), None
patent: WO 00/38027 (2000-06-01), None
patent: WO 2005/077240 (2005-08-01), None
Home Appliances, Vacuum Cleaners, SG2039/D, Rev 0, Apr. 2003, Motorola, Inc. (6 pages).
The New York Times, www.nytimes.com, “It Mulches, Too? Robotic Mowers Gain in Appeal” by John R. Quain, Jul. 21, 2003 (3 pages).
H.R. Everett, Sensors for Mobile Robots, Theory and Application, Naval Command, Control and Ocean Surveillance Center, San Diego, California, A.K. Peters, Ltd. 1995, pp. 15-17 and 93-101.
Joseph L. Jones et al., Mobile Robots, Inspiration to Implementation, Second Edition, A.K. Peters, Ltd. 1999, pp. 120-134.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Sensors and associated methods for controlling a vacuum cleaner does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Sensors and associated methods for controlling a vacuum cleaner, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sensors and associated methods for controlling a vacuum cleaner will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3976076