Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
  • E04H4/14—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
  • E04H4/16—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for specially adapted for cleaning
  • E04H4/1654—Self-propelled cleaners

Definitions

• This invention relates to systems and methods for communicating with mobile cleaning equipment, such as automatic cleaners of swimming pools and spas, and 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).
• mobile cleaning equipment such as automatic cleaners of swimming pools and spas
• APCs hydraulic- type automatic swimming pool cleaners
• RF radio frequency
• 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 cleaners to move throughout the vessel.
• 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 connect to external pumps and utilize water flow caused by operation of the pumps to effect their movement within a pool or 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.
• hydraulic cleaners may connect to inlets of pumps.
• These "suction-side” 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, 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 corresponding wireless transmitter is identified.
• WO 2013/160628 of Michelon discloses another robot which as illustrated communicates, via a wired connection, to a "modification device" outside the pool.
• 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 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 any mechanism for communicating electronically with hydraulic cleaners.
• assemblies of the invention may include hydraulic APCs with on-board electricity-generating 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, 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.
• 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 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.
• connectivity signal presence and strength e.g., current cleaning mode engaged
• water characteristics e.g. flow through the cleaner, temperature, pressure, chemistry
• electrical information e.g. system voltage, amperage, charging information
• failure codes e.g. system voltage, amperage, charging information
• 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 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 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.
• RF radio frequency
• FIGURE is a schematicized representation of aspects of the present invention.
• FIGURE 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 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 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 invention may avoid need for any cord or hose to be positioned on deck D of pool SP while APC 10 is operating.
• Human H 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.
• 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 transmits to and receives information from APC 10.
• controlling APC 10 may occur remotely, with control information passed via the Internet to device 22 for relay to APC 10.
• information transmitted by APC 10 to device 22 may be relayed remotely for review, processing, storage, or consideration in any manner.
• 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 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.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Control Of Position, Course, Altitude, Or Attitude Of Moving Bodies (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
• Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Citations (4)

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• 2014
  • 2014-04-08 US US14/247,572 patent/US20140303810A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2014-04-08 EP EP14723249.0A patent/EP2984257A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2014-04-08 AU AU2014251158A patent/AU2014251158B2/en active Active
  • 2014-04-08 WO PCT/US2014/033278 patent/WO2014168918A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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