Surface type detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Devices that move on or operate on surfaces, such as robotic cleaning appliances, face challenges in accurately determining the type of surface they are on, including distinguishing between hard and soft surfaces, which affects their operation and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of surface type detection sensors that emit sonic signals and process both primary and secondary returned signals to determine the surface type, with an acoustic interface to selectively receive secondary signals, improving discrimination between hard and soft surfaces by reducing noise and undesired reflections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If surface type detection sensors emit sonic signals and process returned signals to determine surface type, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the returned sonic signals into primary signals (direct reflection) and secondary signals (multi-path reflections) based on their arrival times. By processing these segmented signal components separately and selectively, the system achieves improved surface type detection accuracy while managing processing complexity through structured signal decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and selectively processes secondary returned signals (multi-path reflections) while filtering out primary signals and noise. This extraction of specific useful signal components from the complex returned signal mixture enables accurate surface type detection by focusing computational resources on the most discriminative signal features.
2Measurement precision
If acoustic interface selectively receives secondary signals to improve discrimination between hard and soft surfaces, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an acoustic interface as an intermediary component between the sonic signal source and the surface. This acoustic interface selectively receives and channels secondary returned signals (multi-path reflections) while attenuating primary signals and noise. The acoustic interface acts as a physical mediator that performs signal separation based on acoustic properties, improving surface type discrimination accuracy while avoiding complex electronic processing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices adjust operations based on surface type detection, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where surface type detection results are fed back to the device controller, which then automatically adjusts operational parameters such as speed and suction settings. This closed-loop feedback system enables the device to adapt its operations to different surface types, improving versatility while managing control complexity through automated parameter adjustment based on sensor input.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enhances the accuracy of surface type detection, enabling devices to adjust their operations based on the surface type, such as changing speed or suction settings, thereby improving performance and adaptability.
Implementation Method 1
A surface type detection sensor may be disposed on another portion of the robotic cleaning appliance and may be configured to emit sonic signals toward a surface being traversed by the robotic cleaning appliance and receive corresponding returned signals from the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic cleaning appliance includes a housing, surface treatment item, surface type detection sensor, and processor. The sensor emits sonic signals toward a surface being traversed and receives corresponding returned signals from the surface. The returned signals are used for surface type detection and include directly reflected primary returned signals and multi-path reflected secondary returned signals which return at a later time than the primary returned signals. The processor selects a window of time after transmission of a sonic signal such that the returned signals in the window comprise at least a portion of the secondary returned signals, wherein the window is related to round trip time-of-flight of the returned signals; processes the returned signals falling in the window to achieve a reflectivity metric; compares the reflectivity metric to a stored value; and based on the comparison, determines which surface type of a plurality of surface types has been detected.