US 11262766

Here's a concise summary of US patent 11262766:

Patent Number: US11262766B2
Title: Pool cleaning system and method to automatically clean surfaces of a pool using images from a camera
Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems LLC
Inventors: Kameshwar Durvasula, William Londono Correa
Filing Date: January 7, 2021
Issue Date: March 1, 2022
Abstract: A pool cleaning system for cleaning debris from a submerged surface of a swimming pool includes a self-propelled pool cleaner having rotatably-mounted supports for supporting and guiding the cleaner on the pool surface; an electric motor for enabling the rotation of the rotatably-mounted supports on the pool surface; at least one camera to capture imagery of the pool surface; a controller, in electronic communication with the at least one camera, to determine a cleanliness characteristic of the pool surface on which the cleaner has passed based on the camera imagery and generate a control signal to direct movement of the cleaner based on the cleanliness characteristic of the pool surface, and a portable electronic device configured to present a graphic on a display, the graphic depicting the submerged surface of the pool and those portions of the surface that remain uncleaned as the cleaner traverses the pool surface.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: Describes a self-propelled pool cleaner with a body, a mechanism for moving it, a filter for debris, at least one camera mounted to the body for capturing images of the submerged pool surface, and a controller located on or in the body. This controller communicates with the camera and uses the captured images to generate control signals, directing the cleaner's movement towards or away from a specific portion of the submerged surface.
• Claim 2: Similar to Claim 1, but specifies that the at least one camera is "carried by" the vehicle body. The other elements and functions, including the controller on or in the body that uses camera images to control movement, remain consistent.
• Claim 3: Focuses on a self-propelled pool cleaner that includes a vehicle body, means for movement, a filter, and a camera positioned on, in, or carried by the body. A key distinction is that its controller, also located on or in the body, communicates with both the camera and a portable electronic device. The controller generates movement control signals based on either the captured image or information received from the portable electronic device.
• Claim 4: Presents a self-propelled pool cleaner with a vehicle body, a movement mechanism, a filter, and a camera for capturing images of the submerged surface. The controller, which is on or in the vehicle body and in communication with the camera, generates control signals based solely on the captured image to direct the cleaner's movement.
• Claim 5: Describes a self-propelled pool cleaner with a vehicle body, a movement mechanism, a filter, and, notably, a chemical dispenser carried by the vehicle body. It also includes a camera on, in, or carried by the body. The controller, also on, in, or carried by the vehicle body and in communication with the camera, generates control signals based on the captured image to direct the cleaner's movement.

Legal Status and Litigation:

The patent US11262766B2 is currently "Active" and has an anticipated expiration date of July 10, 2032. The provided patent text indicates that there are pending legal proceedings related to this patent:

• PTAB Cases (2026): IPR2026-00159 and IPR2026-00200 have been filed and are currently pending before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
• US District Court Cases (2025): Litigation has been filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:25-cv-00582) and the California Southern District Court (case 3:25-cv-01946).
• CAFC Dockets (2026): A search for specific CAFC 2026 dockets for US11262766 did not yield direct results from the provided search snippets, which primarily showed general USPTO status information and a May 2026 CAFC scheduled cases list without this specific patent number. Therefore, there is no authoritative information from the provided search results confirming specific CAFC dockets for this patent in 2026. However, appeals from the pending PTAB cases could potentially lead to CAFC dockets in the future.