초록 ▼

An automatic lawn mower operable to cut about the periphery of a lawn, moving inwardly, and automatically shutting off at the conclusion of the cutting operation. A cut border is placed about the periphery of the lawn to be mowed and also about any obstacles within the area. The mower utilizes an ar

An automatic lawn mower operable to cut about the periphery of a lawn, moving inwardly, and automatically shutting off at the conclusion of the cutting operation. A cut border is placed about the periphery of the lawn to be mowed and also about any obstacles within the area. The mower utilizes an array of light sensitive resistors and a columnized light source to detect the transition between cut and uncut grass in order to track in an irregularly shaped spiral to the center of the lawn. A portion of the sensor system provides for proper guidance of the mower around the cut perimeter of any obstacles in the cutting area. The mower may utilize an array of light sensitive resistors, a columnized light source and actuated light reflectors to detect the transition between cut and uncut grass in order to track in an irregularly shaped spiral to the center of the lawn.

대표청구항 ▼

Guidance apparatus for a self-propelled mower comprising: first sensor means positioned to the side of the mower in its normal direction of travel nearest the outer boundary of a mowing area; second sensor means positioned to the side of the mower in its normal direction of travel farthest from the

Guidance apparatus for a self-propelled mower comprising: first sensor means positioned to the side of the mower in its normal direction of travel nearest the outer boundary of a mowing area; second sensor means positioned to the side of the mower in its normal direction of travel farthest from the outer boundary of a mowing area; multiple detector means within each of said first and second sensor means, said detector means including detectors positioned to monitor an assigned area of vegetation within its path, said detectors positioned in an array whose principal sensing dimension is essentially transverse to the normal direction of travel of the mower, each of said detectors including means for producing a detector output signal dependant upon the vegetation height within its path; comparator means for producing comparisons of predetermined combinations of said detector output signals and for producing comparator output signals dependent upon said comparisons, said comparator means coupled to said first and second sensor means; processing means for converting comparator output signals to control signals, said processing means coupled to said first and second sensor means, said processing means including means for providing a status indication signal of the presence of a vegetation height differential within the monitored areas of the detectors within an array, said processing means also including means for providing a location indication signal dependent upon the location of transition of vegetation heights within the monitored areas of said detectors; and control means for producing guidance signals for a self-propelled mower from the status indicatIon signal and the location indication signal of said processing means.