IP Library Granted Patent US 11,357,166
Granted Patent B2
US 11,357,166 · App. 16/360,243 · Granted Jun 14, 2022

Autonomous lawn mower and a system for navigating thereof

Inventors: Klaus Hahn (Kwai Chung, HK); Todd Brandon Rickey (Kwai Chung, HK); Benjamin Edgar Montgomery (Kwai Chung, HK)
Assignee: TECHTRONIC OUTDOOR PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
A01D34/008A01D34/54A01D34/69A01D34/84B60L50/66B60L53/62G05D1/027G05D1/0219G05D1/0225G05D1/0231G05D1/0272A01D34/74A01D34/78A01D2101/00G05D1/0242G05D1/0246G05D1/0255G05D1/0257G05D1/0278G05D2201/0208
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,357,166
App. No.
16/360,243
Granted
Jun 14, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for an autonomous lawn mower comprising a mower body having at least one motor arranged to drive a cutting blade and to propel the mower body on an operating surface via a wheel arrangement, wherein the mower body includes a navigation system arranged to assist a controller to control the operation of the mower body within a predefined operating area.

Claims (35)

1. An autonomous lawn mower comprising:

a mower body having at least one motor arranged to drive a cutting blade and to propel the mower body on an operating surface via a wheel arrangement, wherein the mower body includes a navigation system arranged to assist a controller to control the operation of the mower body within a predefined operating area;

wherein the mower body further includes a height adjustment system arranged to assist the controller to restrict the operation of the cutting blade within a predefined operating height;

wherein the height adjustment system includes one or more sensors arranged to detect the presence of the cutting blade at the predefined operating height;

wherein the height adjustment system further includes a height adjustment motor separate from the at least one motor arranged to drive the cutting blade and to propel the mower body on the operating surface via the wheel arrangement; and

wherein the height adjustment system further includes a worm shaft configured to be driven by the height adjustment motor to adjust a height of the cutting blade with respect to the operating surface.

2. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 1 , wherein the height adjustment system includes a carrier whose motion adjusts the height of the cutting blade and is arranged to communicate with the controller for terminating the motion of the carrier upon the cutting blade reaching the predefined operating height.

3. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 1 , further comprising:

a micro switch located on a blade operating motor and including an elongated portion that extends upward away from the blade operating motor;

wherein the one or more sensors include a first sensor configured to detect a presence of the elongated portion of the micro switch to determine when the height of the cutting blade has reached the predefined operating height, wherein the predefined operating height includes a maximum height with respect to the operating surface.

4. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 3 , wherein the first sensor includes at least one of a group consisting of a hall sensor and a photoelectric sensor.

5. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 3 , further comprising:

a height adjustment motor separate from the at least one motor arranged to drive the cutting blade and to propel the mower body on the operating surface via the wheel arrangement;

wherein the first sensor is located on top of the height adjustment motor.

6. An autonomous lawn mower comprising:

a mower body having at least one motor arranged to drive a cutting blade and to propel the mower body on an operating surface via a wheel arrangement, wherein the mower body includes a navigation system arranged to assist a controller to control the operation of the mower body within a predefined operating area;

a detachable docking module arranged to receive the mower body;

wherein the mower body further includes a sensor arranged to assist the controller to terminate the movement of the mower body upon the mower body being received by the detachable docking module;

wherein the detachable docking module includes a magnetic member arranged to communicate with the sensor;

wherein the mower body includes an opening within which the sensor is positioned; and

wherein the magnetic member is inserted into the opening upon the mower body being received by the detachable docking module.

7. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 6 , wherein the opening within which the sensor is positioned is on a front end of the mower body.

8. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 6 , wherein the sensor is a hall sensor.

9. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 6 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect that the mower body has been received by the detachable docking module despite an absence of power for the detachable docking module when the mower body is received by the detachable docking module.

10. An autonomous lawn mower comprising:

a mower body having at least one motor arranged to drive a cutting blade and to propel the mower body on an operating surface via a wheel arrangement, wherein the mower body includes a navigation system arranged to assist a controller to control the operation of the mower body within a predefined operating area;

wherein the mower body further includes a heat absorbing unit on the outer surface of the mower body for directing the heat generated within the mower body towards the atmosphere;

wherein the controller is attached to the heat absorbing unit; and

wherein the mower body further includes a heat conducting layer positioned between the controller and the heat absorbing unit.

11. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 10 , wherein the heat absorbing unit provides a sealing means for protecting the mower body against moisture of the atmosphere.

12. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 10 , wherein the heat absorbing unit is a heat sink.

13. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 10 , wherein the heat conducting layer is a thermal paste.

14. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 10 , wherein the controller is mounted on a printed circuit board.

15. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 14 , wherein the printed circuit board is attached to the heat absorbing unit.

16. The autonomous lawn mower of claim 10 , wherein the heat absorbing unit is provided on a lateral surface of an inner mower body of the mower body between a rear wheel and a front wheel.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYING PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059175 FRAME: 0747. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT . Recorded Apr 20, 2022
From: TECHTRONIC OUTDOOR PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
To: TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP
Reel/Frame 059916/0743 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2022
From: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
To: TECHTRONIC OUTDOOR PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 059175/0682 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Feb 17, 2022
From: TECHTRONIC OUTDOOR PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
To: TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP
Reel/Frame 059175/0747 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2020
From: HAHN, KLAUS; RICKEY, TODD BRANDON; MONTGOMERY, BENJAMIN EDGAR
To: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 052026/0707 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16312236
Related Publication 20190216014A1 · Jul 18, 2019
Cited By (15)
US 1,118,706 US 1,118,708 US 1,142,513 US 12,296,694 US 12,369,509 US 12,425,197 US 12,443,180 US 12,472,611 US 12,510,892 US 12,564,130 US 12,653,097 US 12,677,737 US 12,690,518 US 12,696,838 US 12,714,019