AU2014251158B2

AU2014251158B2 - Systems and methods for wirelessly communicating with automatic swimming pool cleaners

Info

Publication number: AU2014251158B2
Application number: AU2014251158A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark J. Bauckman; Phillip John Newman; Hendrikus Johannes Van Der Meijden
Original assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems LLC
Current assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems LLC
Priority date: 2013-04-08
Filing date: 2014-04-08
Publication date: 2017-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-08
Also published as: AU2014251158A1; AU2014251158A2; WO2014168918A1; US20140303810A1; EP2984257A1

Abstract

Systems and methods for communicating wirelessly with automatic pool cleaners (10) are addressed. Hydraulic cleaners, in particular, may be provided with on-board electricity-generating capabilities, processors, sensors, and transceivers for purposes of communication. Control of the cleaners may be accomplished using "smart" devices (22) capable of downloading software via, for example, the Internet.

Description

2014251158 02 May 2017

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESSLY COMMUNICATING WITH AUTOMATIC SWIMMING POOL CLEANERS 5 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/809449, filed April 8, 2013, entitled “Smart Device Communication with Swimming Pool Cleaner,” the entire contents of which are 10 incorporated herein by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to systems and methods for communicating with mobile cleaning equipment, such as automatic cleaners of swimming pools and spas, and 15 more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to employing hand-held devices in the form of “smart” telephones, tablet computers, etc. to communicate with hydraulic-type automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs), preferably with radio frequency (RF) signals employing protocols such as WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or Z-Wave (as examples).

20 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, an APC may be considered either “hydraulic” or “electric” depending on the source of energy employed to effect its movement within a pool, spa, or other water-containing vessel. “Electric” cleaners, sometimes also called “robots,” typically use electricity to power motors used to drive wheels or treads to allow the 25 cleaners to move throughout the vessel. Although on-board batteries are sometimes considered to supply electricity to the robots, more likely electricity from mains outside the vessels is conveyed via electrical cords to the robots within the vessels. “Hydraulic” cleaners, by contrast, connect to external pumps and utilize water flow caused by operation of the pumps to effect their movement within a pool or 30 spa. Some hydraulic cleaners connect to pump outlets; these devices are called “pressure-side” APCs, as pressurized water from pump outlets typically drives the cleaners. Alternatively, hydraulic cleaners may connect to inlets of pumps. These “suction-side” 1

S970298_1 (GHMatters) P10H49.AU 2014251158 02 May 2017 cleaners often include valves and supporting structure designed periodically to interrupt water flow through their bodies to the pumps. Periodic flow interruption creates a “water-hammer” effect, with the resulting energy used to move the APCs within pools. U.S. Patent No. 5,569,371 to Perling discloses an electric cleaner, or robot, 5 whose housing includes a microprocessor. An electrical cable attached to the housing conveys power and signals to the robot from a poolside “intercommunication box.” See Perling, col. 2,11. 60-64. The robot additionally may transmit ultrasonically or optically to receivers within the pool for purposes of determining its location. A wheeled caddy used to transport the robot outside of the pool contains a wireless receiver, although no 10 corresponding wireless transmitter is identified.

Detailed in European Patent Application Publication No. 1122382 of dementi is another robot capable of communicating with a “feeding source” floating within a pool. Such communication again occurs via cable, however. The floating source, by contrast, may receive wireless signals from “a radio control transmitter held by 15 an operator on an edge of the swimming pool.” See dementi, col. 2, f 0011 (numeral omitted).

International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2013/160628 of Michelon discloses another robot which as illustrated communicates, via a wired connection, to a “modification device” outside the pool. Like the feeding source of the 20 dementi application, the modification box of the Michelon application may receive “wireless request signals” from a transmitter outside the pool, with the request signals overriding control signals received at the modification box via a wired connection to a control unit.

Hydraulic APCs are typically manufactured to perform in pre-determined 25 manners due to hydraulic and mechanical principles and geometries. Some variations to improve cleaning performance may be implemented by end-users or servicers of the cleaners by, for example, physically changing parts or making mechanical adjustments to existing parts. Rarely do hydraulic APCs—whether or not in operation—provide any diagnostic or other feedback to users, however, as presently unavailable commercially is 30 any mechanism for communicating electronically with hydraulic cleaners.

Many reasons for this lack of availability exist including, for example, that hydraulic APCs conventionally have no on-board source of electrical power, no 2

807O268_1 (GHMattere) P101140.AU 2014251158 02 May 2017 processor, and no transceiver. Equally problematic are difficulties in transmitting information wirelessly through water. Existing wired robotic systems further typically utilize proprietary software neither easy nor quick to update.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such 5 reference does not constitute an admission that the prior ait forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention may resolve these issues by creating 10 systems and methods for communicating wirelessly with operating APCs. In particular, assemblies of the invention may include hydraulic APCs with on-board electricitygenerating capabilities so as to power processors, sensors, and transceivers. Control of the APCs may be accomplished or facilitated, further, using conventional “smart” devices such as (but not limited to) Internet-compatible telephones, tablets, personal computers, 15 etc. Preferably such control devices are hand-held, although this feature is not absolutely necessary. Consequently, relevant applications software (“apps”) may be updated via the Internet as appropriate or desired. In some cases, control of a particular APC may occur via remote commands sent via the Internet.

Communicating with APCs, especially hydraulic ones, allows input and 20 output data to be transferred for numerous purposes beyond controlling the cleaners within a pool or spa. As examples, signals may be sent to change (directly or indirectly) movement speed of an APC, to change navigation parameters (turning, stopping, reversing, etc.) of a cleaner, to set time schedules for various functions, and to request desired output information from a cleaner. Exemplary output signals from an APC may 25 provide information such as (but not limited to) connectivity signal presence and strength, current cleaning mode engaged, water characteristics (e.g. flow through the cleaner, temperature, pressure, chemistry), electrical information (e.g. system voltage, amperage, charging information), cleaning cycles completed or remaining in a warranty period or expected life), and failure codes. Persons skilled in the relevant art will recognize 30 additional potential purposes for communication.

Smart devices are ubiquitous in society. Prevalence of these devices allows for a wide audience to use them for communicating with APCs. Many of the 3

8970298_1 (GHMattere) P101149.AU 2014251158 02 May 2017 devices already are configured for wireless, radio frequency (RF) communications via Bluetooth or WiFi protocols (or both or others) with sufficient signal strength to allow localized communication through pool water. They also often are configured to download software apps via the Internet upon demand, facilitating periodic updating of 5 the apps. Moreover, software updates may also be downloaded to the devices and then transferred to the associated APCs for (as examples) any or all of added functionality, repairs, upgrades, or changing programmed settings of the APCs that the APCs then use autonomously thereafter. Pairing of a device and APC, for example using Bluetooth technology, additionally may occur if desired. 10 Disclosed herein is a method of communicating with an automatic cleaner operating within a swimming pool and being of the type in fluid communication, via at least a hose, with a pump of a water-recirculation system so as to effect movement of the automatic cleaner within the swimming pool, the method comprising: a. loading control software into a device configured to transmit and receive 15 signals wirelessly; b. causing the device to transmit wireless signals to a receiver on-board the operating automatic cleaner so as to change a characteristic movement of the automatic cleaner within the swimming pool; and c. allowing the device to receive wireless signals from a transmitter on-20 board the operating automatic cleaner.

One or more embodiments of the present invention may provide systems and methods for communicating electronically with APCs.

One or more embodiments of the present invention may provide systems and methods for communicating electronically with hydraulic APCs. 25 One or more embodiments of the present invention may provide systems and methods for communicating wirelessly, preferably through RF signals, to hydraulic or other APCs.

One or more embodiments of the present invention may provide systems and methods for communicating with APCs using apps of smart devices. 30 One or more embodiments of the present invention may provide systems and methods for communicating with APCs that conventionally have lacked any on-board electricity-generating mechanism. 4

89702981 (GHMatters) P1G1149.AU 2014251158 02 May 2017

Other, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art with reference to the remaining text and the drawing of this application.

5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The FIGURE is a schematicized representation of aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 10 Illustrated in the FIGURE is a water-filled swimming pool SP in which APC 10 is operating. As noted above APC 10 preferably (but not necessarily) is of the hydraulic type. Accordingly, APC 10 may be in direct or indirect fluid communication with either an inlet or an outlet of a pump of a water-recirculation system using hose 14. However, unlike conventional hydraulic cleaners, APC 10 includes an on-board power 15 source and a transceiver as well as, optionally, one or more sensors or processors. An example of such an APC is described in United States Patent Application Serial No. 14/205,408, filed March 12, 2014, entitled “Hydraulic Swimming Pool Cleaners With Electricity Generators” (the “’408 Application”).

Hose 14 itself typically terminates at a fitting 18, a skimmer, or at some 20 other terminus in or associated with pool SP. Moreover, if APC 10 is a hydraulic cleaner, it need not have any electrical cord, as electricity would not be required for its movement within pool SP. Hence, the embodiment of the invention may avoid need for any cord or hose to be positioned on deck D of pool SP while APC 10 is operating.

Also shown in the FIGURE is a human H holding device 22. Human H 25 may be an owner, user, or servicer of pool SP or any other person interested in controlling APC 10. Device 22 preferably is a smart device configured to transmit and receive RF (or other) signals wirelessly with sufficient strength to communicate with APC 10 within pool SP and with the Internet in any appropriate manner. Device 22 also preferably is hand-held for easy use around pool SP. 30 Advantageously, control software for APC 10 created by its manufacturer or a third party may be downloaded to device 22 via the Internet. Such software, in an executable form commonly called an “app,” may be used by human H such that device 22 5

8970298_1 (GHMattere) P101149.AU 2014251158 02 May 2017 transmits to and receives information from APC 10. Alternatively or additionally, controlling APC 10 may occur remotely, with control information passed via the Internet to device 22 for relay to APC 10. Similarly, information transmitted by APC 10 to device 22 may be relayed remotely for review, processing, storage, or consideration in any 5 maimer. As indicated earlier, signals may be transmitted to change (directly or indirectly) movement speed of APC 10, to change navigation parameters (turning, stopping, reversing, etc.) of APC 10, to set time schedules for various functions associated with APC 10, and to request desired output information from APC 10. Exemplary output signals from APC 10 may provide information such as (but not limited to) connectivity 10 signal presence and strength, current cleaning mode engaged, water characteristics (e.g. flow through the cleaner, temperature, pressure, chemistry), electrical information (e.g. system voltage, amperage, charging information), cleaning cycles completed or remaining in a warranty period or expected life), and failure codes.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and 15 describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For example, although much of the foregoing d escription relates to hydraulic APCs, in some cases aspects of the invention may be utilized in connection with other equipment including, but not limited to, electric 20 APCs. Moreover, “pool,” “swimming pool,” and their plurals may include within their definitions spas and other water-containing vessels used for recreational or therapeutic bathing or swimming. The entire contents of the Perling patent, the dementi and Michelon applications, and the ’408 Application are incorporated herein by this reference.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the 25 invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 30 6

S970298_1 (GHMatters) PI 01149.AU

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of communicating with an automatic cleaner operating within a swimming pool and being of the type in fluid communication, via at least a hose, with a pump of a water-recirculation system so as to effect movement of the automatic cleaner within the swimming pool, the method comprising: a. loading control software into a device configured to transmit and receive signals wirelessly; b. causing the device to transmit wireless signals to a receiver onboard the operating automatic cleaner so as to change a characteristic movement of the automatic cleaner within the swimming pool; and c. allowing the device to receive wireless signals from a transmitter on-board the operating automatic cleaner.
2. A method according to claim 1 in which loading control software into the device comprises downloading control software from a remote source via the Internet.
3. A method according to claim 2 in which the automatic cleaner lacks any electrical cord extending outside the swimming pool.
4. A method according to claim 3 in which the automatic cleaner is a hydraulic cleaner comprising an on-board electricity generation mechanism.
5. A method ac cording to any one of the preceding claims in which the device is hand-held.
6. A method according to any' one of the preceding claims in which wireless signals transmitted by the automatic cleaner to the device provide information about operation of the automatic cleaner or at least one characteristic of the water within the swimming pool.
7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising causing the device to transmit wireless signals to a location remote from the swimming pool.
8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising pairing the device and the automatic cleaner.
9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which wireless signals transmitted by the device to the automatic cleaner change a pre-programmed setting of the automatic cleaner.