In general, the present disclosure is directed to a hand-held surface cleaning device that includes a relatively compact form-factor to allow users to store the same in a nearby location (e.g., in a drawer, in an associated charging dock, on a table top) for easy access to perform relatively small cleaning tasks that would otherwise require retrieving a full-size vacuum from storage. A hand-held surface cleaning device consistent with aspects of the present disclosure includes a body (or body portion) with a motor, power source and dust cup disposed therein. The body portion also functions as a handgrip to allow the hand-held surface cleaning device to be operated by one hand, for example.

The invention relates to a floor cleaning system, having a mobile floor cleaning apparatus that comprises at least one cleaning unit for cleaning a floor surface, a reservoir for receiving a cleaning liquid, a dirt receiving device for taking up dirty liquid from the floor surface, and a dirty liquid container into which the dirty liquid is transferable; and further having a docking station for the floor cleaning apparatus, which is docked thereto in a docked position; wherein the docking station has at least one supply conduit with a connection element arranged thereon, the floor cleaning apparatus having at least one liquid conduit with a connection element arranged thereon; wherein the floor cleaning apparatus comprises a rinsing device on or in the dirty liquid container; and wherein, when the floor cleaning apparatus is in the docked position, the connection elements are coupled to one another such that the reservoir is fillable with the cleaning liquid via the at least one liquid conduit and a rinsing liquid for rinsing the dirty liquid container is applicable to the rinsing device via the at least one liquid conduit.

The invention relates to a floor treatment system, comprising a mobile floor treatment apparatus and a docking station therefor, wherein the floor treatment apparatus has at least one liquid container with a container wall and a container interior, as well as at least one liquid conduit for providing a liquid for the container interior; wherein the docking station comprises a supply conduit which, in a docked position of the floor treatment apparatus on the docking station, is in fluidic connection with the at least one liquid conduit; wherein the floor treatment system comprises an opening device by way of which a wall portion of the container wall is movable, for clearing at least one container opening of the at least one liquid container, into an open position, and in the docked position of the floor treatment apparatus the liquid can exit from the container interior through the container opening.

The present invention relates to a floor treatment system, comprising a mobile floor treatment apparatus and a docking station therefor, wherein the floor treatment apparatus comprises a control device, at least one control line coupled thereto, and an electrical energy storage device for supplying energy to the floor treatment apparatus, and the docking station comprises at least one actuator and at least one control line coupled thereto; wherein, when the floor treatment apparatus is in a docked position on the docking station, the control lines are coupled to one another in contact-based manner by way of control line connection elements, wherein the floor treatment system comprises a detection device for determining whether the floor treatment apparatus is in the docked position, and wherein, if this is determined positively, at least one of the actuators of the control device is actuatable or controllable by way of the control lines. The present invention further relates to a method for operating such a floor treatment system.

A charging device of a robot cleaner is provided. The charging device of a robot cleaner according to the embodiment includes at least one cover forming an appearance of the charging device, a base which is coupled with the cover and includes a terminal unit for charging the robot cleaner, an induction signal generating unit disposed at a side of the cover or the base to transmit a return induction signal to the robot cleaner, and an induction signal guide member disposed at a side of the induction signal generating unit to enhance a docking performance of the robot cleaner by improving linearity of the induction signal. The charging device according to the embodiment can guide the path for the return of the robot cleaner and recharge the robot cleaner stably.

A charging device of a robot cleaner is provided. The charging device of a robot cleaner according to the embodiment includes at least one cover forming an appearance of the charging device, a base which is coupled with the cover and includes a terminal unit for charging the robot cleaner, an induction signal generating unit disposed at a side of the cover or the base to transmit a return induction signal to the robot cleaner, and an induction signal guide member disposed at a side of the induction signal generating unit to enhance a docking performance of the robot cleaner by improving linearity of the induction signal. The charging device according to the embodiment can guide the path for the return of the robot cleaner and recharge the robot cleaner stably.

In a first mode, a control unit controls operation of driving wheels so that a main casing is made to travel straight and, upon detection of an object by an object sensor, the main casing is changed in traveling direction and made to travel straight. In a second mode, the control unit controls the operation of the driving wheels so that the main casing travels in a curved shape along an object detected by the object sensor. When a charging device is not found by a signal reception part during traveling within a region by the first mode, the control unit is changed over to the second mode. The control unit is changed over to the first mode when it is decided a specified number of times or more that the main casing has moved to a different region by the second mode.

A surface treatment device, in particular a cleaning robot, has at least one optical device element and an evaluation unit. The optical device element is configured such that light emitted by the optical device element is at least partially reflected to an optical device element by means of the external element. During an interaction of the optical device element and the external element for the purpose of detecting a presence of smoke between the optical device element and the external element, the evaluation unit evaluates a measurement signal received by the optical device element with respect to a temporal change in signal amplitude, and triggers an alarm signal when a defined threshold value has been passed.

A method of navigating a self-propelled robotic tool comprises transmitting a wireless signal (66) along a first signal path between the robotic tool (14) and a first wireless interface of a base station (16) remote from the robotic tool (14); transmitting a wireless signal (66) along a second signal path between the robotic tool (14) and a second wireless interface of the base station (16), said second wireless interface being spatially separated from the first wireless interface by a separation distance; upon receipt, comparing the signal transmitted along the first signal path with the signal transmitted along the second signal path to obtain a propagation time difference between the signal transmitted along the first signal path and the signal transmitted along the second signal path, said propagation time difference defining a path length difference between said first and second signal paths; and calculating, based on the separation distance and the path length difference, a value representative of a bearing (?) from the base station (16) to the robotic tool (14).

An autonomous moving device wireless charging system, including an autonomous moving device and a wireless charging station, the wireless charging station includes a wireless charging transmitting end; the autonomous moving device includes: a wireless charging receiving end, the wireless charging transmitting end wirelessly transmits a charging signal to the wireless charging receiving end to transmit electric energy; a charging battery, electrically connected to the wireless charging receiving end, to receive the electric energy transmitted from the wireless charging receiving end; a wireless charging locating module, the wireless charging locating module determines whether the autonomous moving device is at a charging location; a driving module; and a control module, connected to the wireless charging locating module and driving module, when the wireless charging locating module determines that the autonomous moving device is at the charging location, controlling the driving module, to make the autonomous moving device dock at the charging location.