| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090038089 | Debris Sensor for Cleaning Apparatus - A piezoelectric debris sensor and associated signal processor responsive to debris strikes enable an autonomous or non-autonomous cleaning device to detect the presence of debris and in response, to select a behavioral mode, operational condition or pattern of movement, such as spot coverage or the like. Multiple sensor channels (e.g., left and right) can be used to enable the detection or generation of differential left/right debris signals and thereby enable an autonomous device to steer in the direction of debris. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090254218 | ROBOT CONFINEMENT - A robot lawmnower includes a body, a drive system carried by the body, at least one caster wheel supporting the body, a grass cutter carried by the body, a controller in communication with the drive system, and a bump sensor in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to maneuver the robot to turn in place and to redirect the robot in response to the bump sensor sensing contact with an obstacle. The drive system is configured to maneuver the robot across a lawn and includes differentially driven right and left drive wheels positioned rearward of a transverse center axis defined by the body. The at least one caster wheel is positioned substantially forward of the right and left drive wheels, and the grass cutter is positioned at least partially forward of the right and left drive wheels and at least partially behind the at least one caster wheel. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20100049364 | Navigational Control System for a Robotic Device - An autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a chassis, a drive system disposed on the chassis and operable to enable movement of the cleaning apparatus, and a controller in communication with the drive system. The controller includes a processor operable to control the drive system to steer movement of the cleaning apparatus. The autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head system disposed on the chassis and a sensor system in communication with the controller. The sensor system includes a debris sensor for generating a debris signal, a bump sensor for generating a bump signal, and an obstacle following sensor disposed on a side of the autonomous cleaning apparatus for generating an obstacle signal. The processor executes a prioritized arbitration scheme to identify and implement one or more dominant behavioral modes based upon at least one signal received from the sensor system. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100063628 | NAVIGATIONAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A ROBOTIC DEVICE - An autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a chassis, a drive system disposed on the chassis and operable to enable movement of the cleaning apparatus, and a controller in communication with the drive system. The controller includes a processor operable to control the drive system to steer movement of the cleaning apparatus. The autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head system disposed on the chassis and a sensor system in communication with the controller. The sensor system includes a debris sensor for generating a debris signal, a bump sensor for generating a bump signal, and an obstacle following sensor disposed on a side of the autonomous cleaning apparatus for generating an obstacle signal. The processor executes a prioritized arbitration scheme to identify and implement one or more dominant behavioral modes based upon at least one signal received from the sensor system. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100115716 | Debris Sensor for Cleaning Apparatus - A piezoelectric debris sensor and associated signal processor responsive to debris strikes enable an autonomous or non-autonomous cleaning device to detect the presence of debris and in response, to select a behavioral mode, operational condition or pattern of movement, such as spot coverage or the like. Multiple sensor channels (e.g., left and right) can be used to enable the detection or generation of differential left/right debris signals and thereby enable an autonomous device to steer in the direction of debris. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20120085368 | Debris Sensor for Cleaning Apparatus - A piezoelectric debris sensor and associated signal processor responsive to debris strikes enable an autonomous or non-autonomous cleaning device to detect the presence of debris and in response, to select a behavioral mode, operational condition or pattern of movement, such as spot coverage or the like. Multiple sensor channels (e.g., left and right) can be used to enable the detection or generation of differential left/right debris signals and thereby enable an autonomous device to steer in the direction of debris. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120246862 | DEBRIS SENSOR FOR CLEANING APPARATUS - A piezoelectric debris sensor and associated signal processor responsive to debris strikes enable an autonomous or non-autonomous cleaning device to detect the presence of debris and in response, to select a behavioral mode, operational condition or pattern of movement, such as spot coverage or the like. Multiple sensor channels (e.g., left and right) can be used to enable the detection or generation of differential left/right debris signals and thereby enable an autonomous device to steer in the direction of debris. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20130211589 | NAVIGATIONAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A ROBOTIC DEVICE - An autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a chassis, a drive system disposed on the chassis and operable to enable movement of the cleaning apparatus, and a controller in communication with the drive system. The controller includes a processor operable to control the drive system to steer movement of the cleaning apparatus. The autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head system disposed on the chassis and a sensor system in communication with the controller. The sensor system includes a debris sensor for generating a debris signal, a bump sensor for generating a bump signal, and an obstacle following sensor disposed on a side of the autonomous cleaning apparatus for generating an obstacle signal. The processor executes a prioritized arbitration scheme to identify and implement one or more dominant behavioral modes based upon at least one signal received from the sensor system. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20140095008 | Lawn Care Robot - A robot lawnmower includes a body and a drive system carried by the body and configured to maneuver the robot across a lawn. The robot also includes a grass cutter and a swath edge detector, both carried by the body. The swath edge detector is configured to detect a swath edge between cut and uncut grass while the drive system maneuvers the robot across the lawn while following a detected swath edge. The swath edge detector includes a calibrator that monitors uncut grass for calibration of the swath edge detector. In some examples, the calibrator comprises a second swath edge detector. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140102061 | Lawn Care Robot - A robot lawnmower includes a body and a drive system carried by the body and configured to maneuver the robot across a lawn. The robot also includes a grass cutter and a swath edge detector, both carried by the body. The swath edge detector is configured to detect a swath edge between cut and uncut grass while the drive system maneuvers the robot across the lawn while following a detected swath edge. The swath edge detector includes a calibrator that monitors uncut grass for calibration of the swath edge detector. In some examples, the calibrator comprises a second swath edge detector. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140102062 | Lawn Care Robot - A robot lawnmower includes a body and a drive system carried by the body and configured to maneuver the robot across a lawn. The robot also includes a grass cutter and a swath edge detector, both carried by the body. The swath edge detector is configured to detect a swath edge between cut and uncut grass while the drive system maneuvers the robot across the lawn while following a detected swath edge. The swath edge detector includes a calibrator that monitors uncut grass for calibration of the swath edge detector. In some examples, the calibrator comprises a second swath edge detector. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140129028 | DEBRIS SENSOR FOR CLEANING APPARATUS - A piezoelectric debris sensor and associated signal processor responsive to debris strikes enable an autonomous or non-autonomous cleaning device to detect the presence of debris and in response, to select a behavioral mode, operational condition or pattern of movement, such as spot coverage or the like. Multiple sensor channels (e.g., left and right) can be used to enable the detection or generation of differential left/right debris signals and thereby, enable an autonomous device to steer in the direction of debris. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140289991 | NAVIGATIONAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A ROBOTIC DEVICE - An autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a chassis, a drive system disposed on the chassis and operable to enable movement of the cleaning apparatus, and a controller in communication with the drive system. The controller includes a processor operable to control the drive system to steer movement of the cleaning apparatus. The autonomous cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head system disposed on the chassis and a sensor system in communication with the controller. The sensor system includes a debris sensor for generating a debris signal, a bump sensor for generating a bump signal, and an obstacle following sensor disposed on a side of the autonomous cleaning apparatus for generating an obstacle signal. The processor executes a prioritized arbitration scheme to identify and implement one or more dominant behavioral modes based upon at least one signal received from the sensor system. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20150057800 | AUTONOMOUS ROBOT AUTO-DOCKING AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for energy management in a robotic device includes providing a base station for mating with the robotic device, determining a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage unit of the robotic device, and performing a predetermined task based at least in part on the quantity of energy stored. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robotic device to accurately dock with the base station. | 02-26-2015 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080220481 | Sample Plate Assembly and Method of Processing Biological Samples - The invention concerns a v-bottomed sample plate, a frame for sample plates and a kit and method for processing biological samples. The kit comprises a tray assembly and a plurality of sample plates designed to fit into the tray assembly. The tray assembly comprises a frame having a central plate receiving portion having a width and length, whereby said tray assembly is capable of accommodating the sample plates side by side in the plate receiving portion. Each of the sample plates contains a plurality of individual sample wells arranged in a grid, the dimension of the plate in a first direction being at maximum the width of the frame and the dimension of the plate in a second direction being at maximum half of the length of the plate receiving portion of the of the frame, and means for enabling automated handling of the plates. The invention enables more efficient biomedical processing of samples. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080254517 | Thermal Cycler With Optimized Sample Holder Geometry - The invention concerns a thermal cycler and a microtiter plate. The cycler comprises a sample holder having a first surface and a surface and means for automated, controlled heating and cooling of the sample holder. The first surface of the sample holder is designed to hold a plurality of samples arrayed in a grid having a predefined pitch. The number of samples in one dimension is an exact match of the SBS plate standards for that sample pitch and in another dimension corresponds to a fraction of the number of samples in a second dimension of an SBS microtiter standard plate. According to the invention, the sample holder is shaped such that the area of the second surface is larger than the area of the first surface. By means of the invention, the thermal ramping speeds of the cycler can be significantly increased. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20090165574 | INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION - The invention relates to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process and a thermal cycler. In the process, biological samples are held in a sample carrier having a plurality of sample spaces each having upper and lower ends and the samples are sequentially heated and cooled. The thermal cycler according to the invention comprises heat transfer means for automatic heating and cooling of the samples in the sample carrier, heatable closure means above the upper ends of the samples spaces for preventing condensation of sample vapor during the process, and adjusting means for controlling one process parameter, preferably the temperature of the heatable closure means, depending on at least one other of said process parameters. The invention helps to decrease the number of failed PCR experiments, in particular due to changes in sample volume. | 07-02-2009 |
