Robotic surface cleaner

Abstract

Robotic surface cleaners, mop accessories for robotic surface cleaners, and methods associated therewith are provided. A mop accessory includes a fluid reservoir that contains a fluid. The fluid reservoir can be in fluid communication with a vapor generator. An outlet port in fluid communication with the vapor generator can dispense vapor from the vapor generator to a floor surface. An energy source can be coupled to the mop accessory and in electrical communication with the vapor generator. The mop accessory can be removably attachable to a main body of a robotic surface cleaner at a connection interface of the robotic surface cleaner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A robotic surface cleaner comprising:
 a main body comprising:
 a vacuum inlet port in fluid communication with a suction source; 
 a first energy source coupled to the main body and in electrical communication with the suction source; and 
 a connection interface; and 
   a mop accessory removably attachable to the main body at the connection interface, the mop accessory comprising:
 a fluid reservoir; 
 a vapor generator in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; 
 an outlet port in fluid communication with the vapor generator and configured to dispense vapor from the vapor generator to a floor surface; and 
 a second energy source coupled to the mop accessory and in electrical communication with the vapor generator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The robotic surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the mop accessory is one of a plurality of removable accessories each being removably attachable at the connection interface, and wherein the robotic surface cleaner is configured to detect a type of removable accessory attached at the connection interface. 
     
     
         3 . The robotic surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the robotic surface cleaner comprises a logic device and a detector in electronic communication with the logic device, wherein the mop accessory comprises an identifier, and wherein the logic device is configured to determine an identity of the mop accessory when the identifier is within a predetermined range of the detector. 
     
     
         4 . The robotic surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the mop accessory further comprises a bumper, and wherein displacement of the bumper terminates dispensing of vapor from the outlet port. 
     
     
         5 . The robotic surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy sources are selectively operable in a share mode and an individual mode, wherein in the share mode power from at least one of the first and second energy sources is provided to the main body and the mop accessory, and wherein in the individual mode power from the first and second energy sources is provided exclusively to the main body and the mop accessory, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The robotic surface cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pump configured to provide at least some of the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the vapor generator,   wherein the vapor generator is configured to preheat the at least some of the fluid when the robotic surface cleaner is docked to a docking station, and the vapor generator is at least partially powered by the docking station.   
     
     
         7 . The robotic surface cleaner of  claim 6 , wherein power to preheat the fluid is provided entirely by the docking station. 
     
     
         8 . The robotic surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the robotic surface cleaner is at least partially controllable by a remote device operable by a user to assign cleaning zones to be associated with the mop accessory, and wherein the robotic surface cleaner is configured to activate and deactivate the mop accessory based on the assigned cleaning zones. 
     
     
         9 . The robotic surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the vapor generator is a steam generator, and wherein the outlet port is configured to dispense steam from the steam generator to the floor surface. 
     
     
         10 . The robotic surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the mop accessory comprises a mop pad, wherein a docking station associated with the robotic surface cleaner is configured to dry the mop pad while the robotic surface cleaner is docked at the docking station, and wherein drying the mop pad is performed using airflow generated at least in part by the docking station. 
     
     
         11 . A mop accessory for a robotic surface cleaner, the mop accessory comprising:
 a fluid reservoir;   a vapor generator in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir;   an outlet port in fluid communication with the vapor generator, wherein the outlet port is configured to dispense vapor from the vapor generator to a floor surface; and   an energy source coupled to the mop accessory and in electrical communication with the vapor generator,   wherein the mop accessory is removably attachable to a main body of the robotic surface cleaner at a connection interface of the robotic surface cleaner.   
     
     
         12 . The mop accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the mop accessory is one of a plurality of removable accessories each being removably attachable at the connection interface, and wherein the robotic surface cleaner is configured to detect a type of removable accessory attached at the connection interface. 
     
     
         13 . The mop accessory of  claim 11 , further comprising a bumper, wherein displacement of the bumper terminates dispensing of vapor from the outlet port. 
     
     
         14 . The mop accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the energy source of the mop accessory is a second energy source configured to be selectively operable with a first energy source of the robot surface cleaner in a share mode and an individual mode,
 wherein in the share mode power from at least one of the first and second energy sources is provided to the main body and the mop accessory, and   wherein in the individual mode power from the first and second energy sources is provided exclusively to the main body and the mop accessory, respectively.   
     
     
         15 . The mop accessory of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a pump configured to provide at least some of the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the vapor generator,   wherein the vapor generator is configured to preheat the at least some of the fluid when the robotic surface cleaner is docked to a docking station, and the vapor generator is at least partially powered by the docking station.   
     
     
         16 . The mop accessory of  claim 15 , wherein power to preheat the fluid is provided entirely by the docking station. 
     
     
         17 . The mop accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the mop accessory comprises a unique identifier recognizable by the robotic surface cleaner when the mop accessory is received at the connection interface such that the robotic surface cleaner recognizes the mop accessory when the mop accessory is attached to the main body at the connection interface. 
     
     
         18 . The mop accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the robotic surface cleaner is at least partially controllable by a remote device operable by a user to assign cleaning zones to be associated with the mop accessory, and wherein the mop accessory is activated and deactivated based on the assigned cleaning zones. 
     
     
         19 . The mop accessory of  claim 11 , wherein the vapor generator is a steam generator, and wherein the outlet port is configured to dispense steam from the steam generator to the floor surface. 
     
     
         20 . The mop accessory of  claim 11 , further comprising a mop pad, wherein a docking station associated with the robotic surface cleaner is configured to dry the mop pad while the robotic surface cleaner is docked at the docking station, and wherein drying the mop pad is performed using airflow generated at least in part by the docking station.