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. The auxiliary brush includes microfiber fingers that are spaced around a perimeter of the brush, or the auxiliary brush includes a pad having apertures, the apertures allow the emitter and detector to sense whether a floor surface is present.

1 .- 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A robotic vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a suction source;   a dirt collector;   a 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 generally vertical axis positioned at a predetermined distance from the floor sensor, wherein the auxiliary brush includes microfiber fingers that are spaced around a perimeter of the brush.   
     
     
         4 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the microfiber fingers are generally the same length. 
     
     
         5 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the microfiber fingers are spaced such that there are gaps between adjacent microfiber fingers, the gaps allowing the emitter and detector to sense whether a floor surface is present. 
     
     
         6 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the emitter has an emission field and the detector has a detection field, and wherein the gaps are configured such that the emission and detection fields are able to pass through the gaps. 
     
     
         7 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the auxiliary brush has a radial extent, wherein the auxiliary brush is configured to not interfere with operation of the floor sensor, and wherein a radius of the auxiliary brush is in a range from 1.0 to 1.6 times the predetermined distance measured from the generally vertical axis to the floor sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 7 , wherein the floor sensor includes a sensor housing and wherein the radial extent of the auxiliary brush extends under the sensor housing. 
     
     
         9 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary brush is configured to clean a floor surface underneath the sensor housing. 
     
     
         10 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein a distance from the generally vertical axis of the auxiliary brush to the nearest one of the emitter and the detector is less than a radial extent of the brush. 
     
     
         11 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the emitter and detector are oriented such that the intersecting region is formed at a position distanced away from the generally vertical axis of the auxiliary brush. 
     
     
         12 . A robotic vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a suction source;   a dirt collector;   a 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 generally vertical axis positioned at a predetermined distance from the floor sensor, wherein the auxiliary brush includes a pad having apertures and wherein the apertures allow the emitter and detector to sense whether a floor surface is present.   
     
     
         13 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the pad is formed of microfiber. 
     
     
         14 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the emitter has an emission field and the detector has a detection field, and wherein the apertures are configured such that the emission and detection fields are able to pass through the apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the pad is defined by a circular perimeter, and wherein the apertures become wider in a direction moving from the generally vertical axis toward the circular perimeter. 
     
     
         16 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary brush has a radial extent, wherein the auxiliary brush is configured to not interfere with operation of the floor sensor, and wherein a radius of the auxiliary brush is in a range from 1.0 to 1.6 times the predetermined distance measured from the generally vertical axis to the floor sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 16 , wherein the floor sensor includes a sensor housing and wherein the radial extent of the auxiliary brush extends under the sensor housing. 
     
     
         18 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 17 , wherein the auxiliary brush is configured to clean a floor surface underneath the sensor housing. 
     
     
         19 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 12 , wherein a distance from the generally vertical axis of the auxiliary brush to the nearest one of the emitter and the detector is less than a radial extent of the brush. 
     
     
         20 . The robotic vacuum cleaner of  claim 19 , wherein the emitter and detector are oriented such that the intersecting region is formed at a position distanced away from the generally vertical axis of the auxiliary brush.