IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,000,169
Granted Patent B2
US 11,000,169 · App. 16/676,811 · Granted May 11, 2021

Illuminator optic for robotic cleaner

Inventors: Catriona C. A. Sutter (Brookline, MA); Melinda L. Liggett (Watertown, MA); Isaku D. Kamada (Brighton, MA); Emily Pearce (Somerville, MA)
Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
A47L9/30G02B6/0031G02B6/0035G02B6/0058G02B6/0068G02B6/0083A47L2201/00G02B6/0091
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,000,169
App. No.
16/676,811
Granted
May 11, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robotic cleaner may include a body and an illuminator assembly. At least a portion of the illuminator assembly may be disposed within the body. The illuminator assembly may include an illuminator optic configured to emit light from an illumination surface and an illumination guide configured to direct light into the illuminator optic. The illumination guide may have a cavity. The cavity may include a reflecting surface and a directing surface, the reflecting surface being positioned opposite the directing surface.

Claims (32)

1. A robotic cleaner comprising:

a body; and

an illuminator assembly, at least a portion of the illuminator assembly being disposed within the body, the illuminator assembly comprising:

an illuminator optic having a light receiving surface and an illumination surface, the illumination surface being configured to emit light; and

an illumination guide configured to direct light into the light receiving surface of the illuminator optic, the illumination guide having a cavity and a channel optically coupling the light receiving surface to the cavity, the cavity including a reflecting surface and a directing surface, each configured to direct light toward the channel, the reflecting surface being positioned opposite the directing surface.

2. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having one or more optical emitters coupled thereto, the PCB being disposed within the body such that the one or more optical emitters are received within a respective cavity of the illumination guide.

3. The robotic cleaner of claim 2 , wherein the PCB includes a reflective portion configured to extend at least partially around at least one of the one or more optical emitters.

4. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 further comprising one or more optical emitters horizontally offset from the illuminator optic.

5. The robotic cleaner of claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of light emitted from a respective one of the one or more optical emitters is reflected from a top surface of a respective cavity.

6. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the light receiving surface of the illuminator optic extends substantially parallel to an emission axis of an optical emitter configured to emit light into the cavity.

7. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the illuminator optic is annular.

8. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the illuminator optic is configured to cause internal reflection of light passing therethrough.

9. The robotic cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the illuminator optic is configured to diffuse light passing therethrough.

10. A robotic cleaner comprising:

a body;

at least one wheel coupled to the body;

at least one drive motor configured to cause a corresponding wheel to rotate;

an illuminator assembly, at least a portion of the illuminator assembly being disposed within the body, the illuminator assembly comprising:

an illuminator optic having a light receiving surface and an illumination surface, the illumination surface being configured to emit light; and

an illumination guide configured to direct light into the illuminator optic, the illumination guide having one or more cavities and one or more channels optically coupling the light receiving surface to a respective cavity; and

a printed circuit board (PCB) having one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) coupled thereto, the PCB being disposed within the body such that the one or more LEDs are received within a respective cavity defined within the illumination guide, wherein an emission axis of a respective one of the one or more LEDs extends substantially parallel to the light receiving surface of the illuminator optic.

11. The robotic cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the PCB includes a reflective portion configured to extend at least partially around at least one of the one or more LEDs.

12. The robotic cleaner of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of light emitted from a respective one of the one or more LEDs is reflected from a top surface of a respective cavity.

13. The robotic cleaner of claim 10 , wherein each cavity includes a reflecting surface and a directing surface, the reflecting surface and the directing surface being configured to cooperate to direct light emitted by a respective LED to the light receiving surface of the illuminator optic.

14. The robotic cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the illuminator optic is annular.

15. The robotic cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the illuminator optic is configured to cause internal reflection of light passing therethrough.

16. The robotic cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the illuminator optic is configured to diffuse light passing therethrough.

17. An illuminator assembly comprising:

an illuminator optic having a light receiving surface and an illumination surface, the illumination surface being configured to emit light, wherein the illuminator optic is annular; and

an illumination guide configured to direct light into the light receiving surface of the illuminator optic, the illumination guide having a cavity configured to receive an optical emitter and a channel optically coupling the cavity to the light receiving surface, the cavity including a reflecting surface and a directing surface, the reflecting surface and the directing surface being configured to cooperate to direct light emitted by the optical emitter to the light receiving surface of the illuminator optic.

18. The illuminator assembly of claim 17 , wherein the light receiving surface of the illuminator optic extends substantially parallel to an emission axis of the optical emitter.

19. The illuminator assembly of claim 17 , wherein the illuminator optic is configured to cause internal reflection of light passing therethrough.

Assignments (2)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 20, 2023
From: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064600/0098 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2021
From: SUTTER, CATRIONA C.A.; LIGGETT, MELINDA L.; KAMADA, ISAKU D.; PEARCE, EMILY
To: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
Reel/Frame 055454/0260 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62756752 · Nov 7, 2018
Related Publication 20200138260A1 · May 7, 2020