Granted Patent B2

US 12,635,839 · App. 17/345,654 · Granted May 26, 2026

Inventors: Chad Woodrow (Needham, MA); Brendan C. Uchendu (Boston, MA); Christopher Pinheiro (East Walpole, MA)

Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC

A47L9/2826A47L9/2889G01N21/474G01N21/55A47L2201/06G01N2021/556

Abstract

Claims (24)

1 . A combination surface type sensor comprising:

a housing including a first receptacle, a second receptacle, a third receptacle, and a fourth receptacle;

a first surface type detector disposed within the first receptacle;

a second surface type detector disposed within the fourth receptacle;

an emitter disposed within the second receptacle;

a drop-off detector disposed within the third receptacle; and

a cover extending over each of the first, second, third, and fourth receptacles, the cover including a lens that corresponds to the fourth receptacle.

2 . The combination surface type sensor of claim 1 , wherein the second and third receptacles are disposed between the first and fourth receptacle and the third receptacle is disposed between the second and fourth receptacle.

3 . The combination surface type sensor of claim 1 , wherein the lens is a planoconvex lens.

4 . The combination surface type sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first surface type detector is configured to detect diffuse light and the second surface type detector is configured to detect specular light.

5 . A robotic cleaner comprising:

a body;

a primary controller coupled to the body and being configured to cause the robotic cleaner to carry out at least one cleaning behavior;

a secondary controller coupled to the body and communicatively coupled to the primary controller, the secondary controller being configured to cause the robotic cleaner to carry out at least one hazard avoidance behavior; and

a combination surface type sensor coupled to the body, the combination surface type sensor including:

a housing including a first receptacle, a second receptacle, a third receptacle, and a fourth receptacle;

a first surface type detector disposed within the first receptacle and communicatively coupled to the primary controller;

a second surface type detector disposed within the fourth receptacle and communicatively coupled to the primary controller;

an emitter disposed within the second receptacle and communicatively coupled to the secondary controller;

a drop-off detector disposed within the third receptacle and communicatively coupled to the secondary controller; and

a cover extending over each of the first, second, third, and fourth receptacles, the cover includes a lens, and the lens corresponds to the fourth receptacle.

6 . The robotic cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the second and third receptacles are disposed between the first and fourth receptacle and the third receptacle is disposed between the second and fourth receptacle.

7 . The robotic cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the lens is a planoconvex lens.

8 . The robotic cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the first surface type detector is configured to detect diffuse light and the second surface type detector is configured to detect specular light.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (334)