Samsung patents robot vacuum that adjusts suction based on floor type
This patent describes a robot vacuum that uses sensors to detect how easily its wheels move across the floor. By analyzing the relationship between motor effort and wheel speed, the robot determines if it is on a hard surface or a soft one like carpet, then automatically increases or decreases suction power to match.
In the filing’s own words
A cleaner and a method for controlling the same. The cleaner includes a brush module comprising a brush configured to scatter foreign substances on a floor, and a brush motor configured to rotate the brush. The cleaner includes a suction module configured to suction the foreign substances; a sensor configured to detect a load applied to the brush; and a controller configured to control suction force of the suction module based on the load detected by the sensor.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A robot cleaner comprising: a main body; a wheel motor configured to provide power; a wheel configured to be drivable by the power provided by the wheel motor to move the main body on a surface; a brush configured to be rotatable to scatter foreign substances on the surface as the main body moves on the surface, a suction fan configured to provide a suction force to suction the foreign substances scattered by the brush; an encoder configured to detect revolutions per minute (RPM) of the wheel motor; and a controller configured to calculate a gradient g indicating how the detected RPM changes in response to changes in a duty ratio of the wheel motor by the controller, where the gradient g=(encoder output)/(duty ratio), or ΔDiff, where ΔDiff=E−Δg, E is the encoder output, (Δg) is a gradient variation and (Δg)=g*Δw, and Δw is a weight based on linear velocity, determine whether the calculated gradient or the calculated ΔDiff is higher than, or lower than, a predetermined reference value, and produce a corresponding decision result, and perform control so that, in response to the decision result indicating that the main body moved on to a soft surface from a hard surface, the suction force provided by the suction fan increases, and in response to the decision result indicating that the main body moved on to the hard surface from the soft surface, the suction force provided by the suction fan decreases.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
- Official title
- Cleaning robot and controlling method therefor
- Patent number
- US12727725B2
- Application number
- 17571803
- Filed
- Jan 10, 2022
- Granted
- Sep 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 15
Classified under
A47L 9/2842 Human necessitiesA47L 9/0461 Human necessitiesA47L 9/28 Human necessitiesA47L 9/2826 Human necessitiesA47L 9/2852 Human necessitiesA47L 9/30 Human necessitiesMore from Samsung in Robots & automation
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.