Surface cleaning device for generating surface identifying fingerprint

Abstract

A surface cleaner is disclosed having abase moveable along a surface and an operating component configured to perform a function of the cleaner. The surface cleaner includes a sensor configured to generate a signal based on the surface and a controller in communication with the sensor and the operating component. The controller is operable to convert the signal from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate a surface fingerprint. Furthermore, the controller is operable to control the operating component based on the surface fingerprint.

1 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 a base moveable along a surface;   an operating component configured to perform a function of the surface cleaner;   a sensor configured to generate a signal based on the surface; and   a controller in communication with the sensor and the operating component,   wherein the controller is operable to convert the signal from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate a surface fingerprint,   wherein the controller is operable to control the operating component based on the surface fingerprint; and   wherein the operating component is selected from a group consisting of a suction motor operable to generate an airflow, a brushroll motor operable to drive a brushroll, an actuator operable to adjust a height of a brushroll from the surface, a pump operable to deliver a cleaning fluid, an actuator operable to control an airflow or fluid valve, and an indicator operable to indicate a parameter of the surface cleaner.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor measures a current supplied to the operating component. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the surface fingerprint is a transformation of the signal. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein the transformation is a Fourier transformation. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to match the surface fingerprint to a reference fingerprint from a reference library. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the reference fingerprint is representative of a known surface. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the reference fingerprint is representative of a known surface condition. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is operable to control operation of the operating component in a mode of operation corresponding to the reference fingerprint. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is a first sensor and the signal is a first signal, and wherein the surface cleaner further comprising a second sensor in communication with the controller, the second sensor configured to generate a second signal, wherein the controller is operable to process the first signal and the second signal to generate the surface fingerprint. 
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling a surface cleaner, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal from a sensor of the surface cleaner;   converting the signal from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate a surface fingerprint for a surface;   determining a mode of operation corresponding to the surface fingerprint; and   controlling operation of the surface cleaner based on the mode of operation, wherein controlling operation of the surface cleaner comprises controlling an operating component selected from a group consisting of a suction motor operable to generate an airflow, brushroll motor operable to drive a brushroll, an actuator operable to adjust a height of a brushroll from the surface, a pump operable to deliver a cleaning fluid, an actuator operable to control an airflow or fluid valve, and an indicator operable to indicate a parameter of the surface cleaner.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving the signal from the sensor comprises receiving the signal from an accelerometer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving the signal from the sensor comprises receiving the signal from a piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein converting the signal comprises generating a transformation of the signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein generating the transformation of the signal comprises generating a Fourier transformation of the signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor and the signal is a first signal, and wherein generating the surface fingerprint further comprises:
 receiving a second signal from a second sensor in communication with the controller; and   processing the first signal and the second signal to generate the surface fingerprint.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising matching the surface fingerprint to a reference fingerprint representing a reference surface. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein matching the surface fingerprint to the reference fingerprint further comprises matching the surface fingerprint to the reference fingerprint from a library of reference fingerprints stored on the surface cleaner. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the surface cleaner is connected to a network and matching the surface fingerprint to the reference fingerprint further comprises the surface cleaner communicating with an external library of reference fingerprints over the network. 
     
     
         23 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 an operating component configured to perform a function of the surface cleaner;   a base moveable along a surface;   an accelerometer configured to generate a signal; and   a controller in communication with the accelerometer and the operating component,   wherein the controller is operable to convert the signal from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate a surface fingerprint,   wherein the controller is operable to control the operating component based on the surface fingerprint, and   wherein the operating component is selected from a group consisting of a suction motor operable to generate an airflow, brushroll motor operable to drive a brushroll, an actuator operable to adjust a height of a brushroll from the surface, a pump operable to deliver a cleaning fluid, an actuator operable to control an airflow or fluid valve, and an indicator operable to indicate a parameter of the surface cleaner.   
     
     
         24 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 a base moveable along a surface;   an operating component configured to perform a function of the surface cleaner;   a sensor configured to generate a signal; and   a controller in communication with the sensor and the operating component,   wherein the controller is programmed to:
 receive a signal from a sensor of the surface cleaner; 
 convert the signal from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate a surface fingerprint for a surface; 
 determine a mode of operation corresponding to the surface fingerprint; and 
 control operation of the operating component based on the mode of operation, and 
   wherein the operating component is selected from a group consisting of a suction motor operable to generate an airflow, brushroll motor operable to drive a brushroll, an actuator operable to adjust a height of a brushroll from the surface, a pump operable to deliver a cleaning fluid, an actuator operable to control an airflow or fluid valve, and an indicator operable to indicate a parameter of the surface cleaner.