Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 11880207, I will examine the "Patent Citations" section of the patent document. This section lists other patents that were cited by the examiner or by third parties during the patent's prosecution, indicating their relevance as prior art. Prior art is crucial in patent examination to determine if an invention is novel and non-obvious.

Here's an analysis of the prior art cited in US11880207:

Patent Citations for US11880207:

1. US 5,205,174 A

   • Full Citation: US 5,205,174 A, Silverman Eugene B., "Scavenger submersible visual and acoustical tank inspection system and method", Publication Date: April 27, 1993.
   • Description: This patent describes a submersible system for inspecting tanks, utilizing visual and acoustical means. It focuses on inspecting internal surfaces of fluid-filled tanks, potentially for maintenance or hazard detection.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate elements of Claim 1 and Claim 2 of US11880207, particularly regarding a submersible vehicle with a camera for visual inspection within a fluid-filled environment. The concept of capturing images and using them for monitoring within a tank relates to the core idea of using a camera to capture imagery of a pool surface or an object within a pool.

2. US 5,435,031 A

   • Full Citation: US 5,435,031 A, H-Tech, Inc., "Automatic pool cleaning apparatus", Publication Date: July 25, 1995.
   • Description: This patent describes an automatic pool cleaning apparatus. While the detailed mechanisms would need to be compared, a general automatic pool cleaner forms part of the background for US11880207.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could potentially anticipate the "self-propelled pool cleaner" and "means for moving the vehicle body" aspects of Claim 1, and the "cleaning device with one or more propulsion mechanisms" in Claim 3 (dependent on Claim 2).

3. EP 0,687,964 A1

   • Full Citation: EP 0,687,964 A1, ZELTRON S.p.A., "Programmable remote control system for a vehicle", Publication Date: December 20, 1995.
   • Description: This patent describes a programmable remote control system for a vehicle. This indicates prior art for remotely controlling automated vehicles.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is relevant to the "controller in electronic communication" and "generate a control signal to direct movement" aspects of Claim 1, and the "controller in communication with the at least one piece of equipment" and "determine a control action" aspects of Claim 2. The remote control aspect is also relevant to the broader method of monitoring and generating a control response in Claim 12.

4. US 5,613,261 A

   • Full Citation: US 5,613,261 A, Minolta Co., Ltd., "Cleaner", Publication Date: March 25, 1997.
   • Description: This patent describes a "cleaner" in a general sense. More details would be needed to assess specific overlap, but it broadly points to automated cleaning devices.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US 5,435,031 A, this patent may anticipate the general concept of a cleaning device or system, particularly as referenced in Claim 3 and Claim 19.

5. EP 0,811,432 A2

   • Full Citation: EP 0,811,432 A2, Pehrson, Jonas, "Device for cleaning of water tanks", Publication Date: December 10, 1997.
   • Description: This patent specifically describes a device for cleaning water tanks. This is directly analogous to cleaning a swimming pool.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could anticipate the core idea of a cleaning device for a water-filled container, which is central to Claim 1 and Claim 2 (specifically through the cleaning device in Claim 3 and method in Claim 19).

6. US 5,886,630 A

   • Full Citation: US 5,886,630 A, Menoud; Edouard, "Alarm and monitoring device for the presumption of bodies in danger in a swimming pool", Publication Date: March 23, 1999.
   • Description: This patent focuses on an alarm and monitoring device for detecting bodies in a swimming pool, implying the use of sensors or cameras for observation.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to the camera and monitoring aspects of US11880207. It could anticipate the use of "one or more cameras configured to capture video or images of at least a portion of a location including the swimming pool or spa" in Claim 2, and the "receiving images" and "detecting a characteristic" from images in Claim 12. The detection of "a characteristic of the target area" (e.g., presence of a person as in Claim 20) is also directly related.

7. US 7,123,746 B2

   • Full Citation: US 7,123,746 B2, Poseidon, "Method and system for detecting an object in relation to a surface", Publication Date: October 17, 2006.
   • Description: This patent describes a method and system for detecting an object in relation to a surface. This general concept is fundamental to image processing for cleaning.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could anticipate the camera's ability to "capture an image of at least a first object" in Claim 1, and the controller's function to "determine a control action based on the received visual data" in Claim 2, and "detecting a characteristic of the target area based on the images" in Claim 12.

8. US 2004/0025268 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2004/0025268 A1, Porat Joseph, "Submersible pool cleaner with integral rechargeable battery", Publication Date: February 12, 2004.
   • Description: This patent describes a submersible pool cleaner with an integral rechargeable battery. This highlights the prior existence of autonomous underwater cleaning devices.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is relevant to the "self-propelled pool cleaner" of Claim 1 and the "cleaning device with one or more propulsion mechanisms" of Claim 3.

9. WO 2004/019295 A1

   • Full Citation: WO 2004/019295 A1, Aqua Products Inc., "Pool cleaner with on-board water analysis, data recording and transmission device", Publication Date: March 04, 2004.
   • Description: This international patent application describes a pool cleaner with on-board water analysis, data recording, and transmission. This indicates prior art in collecting data and transmitting it from a pool cleaner.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is relevant to the "controller in electronic communication" and "receiving visual data" aspects of Claim 2, as well as the broader concept of "monitoring a pool system" in Claim 12, especially if the data transmission is considered a form of "control response" or input for further action.

10. US 7,362,351 B2

    • Full Citation: US 7,362,351 B2, Vision Iq, "Method, system and device for detecting an object proximate to a water/air type interface", Publication Date: April 22, 2008.
    • Description: This patent describes methods and systems for detecting objects near a water/air interface. This could be relevant to cameras positioned above the water.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent could anticipate the camera's ability to capture images, particularly if the cameras are "mounted external to the swimming pool or spa" as in Claim 4 (dependent on Claim 2), and the detection of objects as described in Claim 1 and Claim 12.

11. US 7,398,138 B2

    • Full Citation: US 7,398,138 B2, Zodiac Pool Care, Inc., "Swimming pool and spa controller systems and equipment", Publication Date: July 08, 2008.
    • Description: This patent describes general swimming pool and spa controller systems and equipment. This indicates the existence of controllers for pool systems.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to the "controller" aspect of Claim 1 and Claim 2, as well as the overall "pool system" described in Claim 2.

12. US 2011/0049023 A1

    • Full Citation: US 2011/0049023 A1, Hui Wing-Kin, "Pool cleaning vehicle having improved logic", Publication Date: March 03, 2011.
    • Description: This patent application describes a pool cleaning vehicle with improved logic, implying automated or semi-automated control.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is relevant to the "controller configured to generate...control signal to cause movement" in Claim 1, and the "controller configured to receive visual data and determine a control action" in Claim 2, particularly if the improved logic involves decision-making for cleaning.

13. US 2013/0152970 A1

    • Full Citation: US 2013/0152970 A1, Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd., "Automatic pool cleaner for cleaning a pool with minimum power consumption and method thereof", Publication Date: June 20, 2013.
    • Description: This patent application describes an automatic pool cleaner focused on power efficiency. It contributes to the general knowledge of robotic pool cleaners.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates the "self-propelled pool cleaner" of Claim 1 and the "cleaning device" of Claim 3.

14. US 2014/0009748 A1

    • Full Citation: US 2014/0009748 A1, Alexander Leonessa, "Pool Cleaner with Laser Range Finder System and Method", Publication Date: January 09, 2014.
    • Description: This patent application describes a pool cleaner utilizing a laser range finder for navigation or mapping. While using lasers instead of cameras, it highlights sensing for movement within a pool.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is relevant to the concept of sensing the pool environment to direct cleaner movement, as described in Claim 1 and the determination of "a control action" in Claim 2, even though the sensing technology differs.

It's important to note that the patent 9,388,595 B2, 9,995,051 B2, 10,338,599 B2, 10,739,785 B2, 11,003,191 B2, and 11,262,766 B2 are all part of the same patent family as US11880207, being continuations of US 13/545,918. Therefore, they are not considered prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 against US11880207, but rather related applications. They share the same priority date of July 10, 2012.