Prior art — US Patent 11003191

I will now search the USPTO database for patent 11003191 to identify its relevant prior art.

US Patent 11003191, titled "Pool cleaning system and method to automatically clean surfaces of a pool using images from a camera," was granted on May 11, 2021, and filed on July 2, 2020, with a priority date of July 10, 2012.

The patent describes a self-propelled pool cleaner equipped with a camera to capture images of the pool surface. A controller processes these images to determine the cleanliness of the surface and generates control signals to direct the cleaner's movement. The system also includes a portable electronic device to display a graphic representation of the pool, highlighting uncleaned portions.

Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited in US Patent 11003191:

1. US5435031A - Automatic pool cleaning apparatus

Full Citation: US5435031A.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed on July 9, 1993, and published on July 25, 1995.
Brief Description: This patent describes an automatic pool cleaning apparatus.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US5435031A generally describes an automatic pool cleaning apparatus. However, it does not appear to explicitly disclose the use of a camera to determine cleanliness characteristics or a controller that generates control signals based on camera imagery to direct the cleaner's movement, as specified in the claims of US11003191. Therefore, it might not directly anticipate claims 1, 2, or 3 of US11003191 under 35 U.S.C. § 102, which require these specific features. However, it could be relevant for obviousness arguments if combined with other references.

2. US5613261A - Cleaner

Full Citation: US5613261A.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed on April 14, 1994, and published on March 25, 1997.
Brief Description: This patent describes a cleaner.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US5435031A, without specific details on the "cleaner" and its operation, it's unlikely to directly anticipate the specific camera-based cleanliness determination and control aspects of US11003191's claims (claims 1, 2, and 3). Its relevance would more likely be in establishing general knowledge of cleaning devices.

3. US5886630A - Alarm and monitoring device for the presumption of bodies in danger in a swimming pool

Full Citation: US5886630A.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed on June 9, 1994, and published on March 23, 1999.
Brief Description: This patent describes an alarm and monitoring device for detecting bodies in a swimming pool.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this patent involves cameras and swimming pools, its purpose is for safety monitoring, not for cleaning or guiding a cleaning vehicle based on cleanliness. Therefore, it does not appear to anticipate the core elements of claims 1, 2, or 3 of US11003191, which relate to determining cleanliness and directing a cleaner.

4. US7123746B2 - Method and system for detecting an object in relation to a surface

Full Citation: US7123746B2.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed on December 21, 1999, and published on October 17, 2006.
Brief Description: This patent describes a method and system for detecting an object in relation to a surface.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent's general concept of "detecting an object in relation to a surface" using images could be broadly related to image processing. However, without specific disclosure of applying this to cleanliness characteristics of a pool surface and using it to control a self-propelled cleaner, it likely does not directly anticipate claims 1, 2, or 3 of US11003191.

5. US20040040581A1 - Method of and apparatus for controlling the operation of a suction-type pool cleaner

Full Citation: US20040040581A1.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed on February 28, 2001, and published on March 4, 2004.
Brief Description: This patent describes a method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a suction-type pool cleaner.
Potential Anticipation (33 U.S.C. § 102): This reference explicitly deals with controlling a pool cleaner. However, the description does not indicate that the control is based on camera imagery used to determine a cleanliness characteristic of the pool surface. If the control mechanism is not explicitly tied to image-based cleanliness detection, it would not anticipate claims 1, 2, or 3 of US11003191.

6. US20110049023A1 - Pool cleaning vehicle having improved logic

Full Citation: US20110049023A1.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed on August 31, 2009, and published on March 3, 2011.
Brief Description: This patent describes a pool cleaning vehicle with improved logic.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The term "improved logic" is very broad. To anticipate claims 1, 2, or 3 of US11003191, this reference would need to specifically detail how its improved logic utilizes camera imagery to determine pool surface cleanliness and subsequently directs the cleaner's movement based on that determination. Without such specifics, it serves as general prior art on pool cleaner control.

7. WO2012023676A1 - Cleaning robot and underwater sediment cleaning apparatus and method

Full Citation: WO2012023676A1.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed on August 20, 2010, and published on February 23, 2012.
Brief Description: This patent describes a cleaning robot and an underwater sediment cleaning apparatus and method.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it describes an "underwater sediment cleaning apparatus and method" and a "cleaning robot." If the document discloses the use of a camera on the robot to capture images of the cleaning surface, processing these images to determine cleanliness, and generating control signals to direct the robot's movement (including re-cleaning) based on this determination, then it could potentially anticipate all three claims of US11003191. The proximity of its publication date to US11003191's priority date (July 10, 2012) makes it a critical piece of prior art for novelty assessment under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

8. US20130152970A1 - Automatic pool cleaner for cleaning a pool with minimum power consumption and method thereof

Full Citation: US20130152970A1.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed on December 19, 2011, and published on June 20, 2013.
Brief Description: This patent describes an automatic pool cleaner focused on minimum power consumption.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this patent describes an automatic pool cleaner, its focus on power consumption optimization does not inherently disclose the camera-based cleanliness determination and control described in US11003191. Unless the "method thereof" explicitly includes these features, it would not directly anticipate claims 1, 2, or 3.

9. US20140009748A1 - Pool Cleaner with Laser Range Finder System and Method

Full Citation: US20140009748A1.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed on June 27, 2012, and published on January 9, 2014.
Brief Description: This patent describes a pool cleaner that uses a laser range finder system.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference uses a sensing system (laser range finder) to aid a pool cleaner. While it's a form of environmental sensing for cleaner control, it uses a laser range finder rather than a camera capturing imagery to determine cleanliness characteristics. Therefore, it does not directly anticipate claims 1, 2, or 3 of US11003191, which specifically rely on camera imagery for cleanliness assessment.

10. US9388595B2 - Pool cleaning system and method to automatically clean surfaces of a pool using images from a camera

Full Citation: US9388595B2.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed on July 10, 2012, and published on July 12, 2016.
Brief Description: This patent describes a pool cleaning system and method to automatically clean surfaces of a pool using images from a camera.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent has the same title and priority date (July 10, 2012) as US11003191. This strongly suggests it is a parent application or a closely related divisional/continuation patent. The text of US11003191 explicitly states, "This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/545,918, filed Jul. 10, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,388,595), the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties." As such, US9388595B2 is not prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 against US11003191 because it shares the same priority date and the content is incorporated by reference. It is considered part of the same patent family and lineage.

Most Relevant Prior Art:

Based on the descriptions, WO2012023676A1 appears to be the most relevant piece of prior art. It explicitly mentions a "cleaning robot and underwater sediment cleaning apparatus and method," which directly aligns with the core subject matter of US11003191. If WO2012023676A1 discloses the use of a camera on the robot for cleanliness detection and subsequent control of the robot's movement, it would be a strong potential anticipatory reference under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for claims 1, 2, and 3 of US11003191.

The other cited patents generally relate to pool cleaners or camera systems but do not appear to combine the specific elements of camera-based cleanliness detection and directed cleaning movement in the same manner as claimed in US11003191.