JP6457976B2 - Aid in cleaning the surface - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention, according to a first aspect, relates to a method for assisting a user in cleaning a surface with a vacuum cleaner, the method being performed by one or more devices. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a computer program. According to a third aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus. According to a fourth aspect, the present invention further relates to a floor cleaner. According to a fifth aspect, the present invention further relates to the use of an electronic visual aid.

  Methods for cleaning surfaces such as floor coverings are known from the prior art. For example, woven or non-woven (eg, hard stone or elastic) floor coverings can be manually cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. In addition, wet floor cleaning utensils (eg, mops) may be used.

  However, a disadvantage of such manual cleaning is that manual cleaning is relatively time consuming and may not be thoroughly cleaned. On the one hand, some areas of the surface to be cleaned can be unintentionally cleaned several times, which leads to a considerable increase in cleaning time and thus a decrease in efficiency. On the other hand, some areas may not be cleaned at all, adversely affecting the quality of the cleaning.

  From the prior art it is known to use a cleaning robot, such as a vacuum robot, so that the cleaning is no longer done by the user but by the machine autonomously. In any case, the above-mentioned problems should be partially eliminated in this way. However, such cleaning robots are generally relatively small in construction and battery powered, and are therefore generally only available with low cleaning power. Furthermore, the cleaning performed by the cleaning robot may take a relatively long time. Finally, there are surfaces that cannot be directly accessed by the cleaning robot.

  For these reasons, it may be more advantageous to choose a surface cleaning by the user, i.e. to perform a manual cleaning. However, in this case, the problems mentioned at the beginning occur, and the efficiency as well as the cleaning efficiency can be impaired.

  Starting from this background, the object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency and quality of cleaning when surface cleaning is performed by a user.

This purpose is according to the first aspect,
-Determining the location information of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof;
-Determining cleaning-related information based on the determined location information;
-Providing the determined cleaning-related information to the user via an output unit to assist in cleaning;
Achieved by a method comprising:

  According to a second aspect of the invention, the object mentioned at the outset is a computer program comprising program instructions for causing a processor to execute and / or control the method according to the first aspect when the computer program runs on a processor. Achieved by the program.

  According to a third aspect, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory with computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code. Is configured to perform and / or control the method according to at least the first aspect with at least one processor.

  It has been found that aspects of the present invention can also improve the efficiency and quality of surface cleaning by a user. The fact that the position information of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof is determined can determine, for example, where the vacuum cleaner or part thereof is located.

  Based on the determined position information, cleaning related information may then be determined. The cleaning related information may include, for example, information related to the area that is currently being cleaned. From here it can be derived, for example, which areas have already been cleaned by the user, how many times this area has already been cleaned and / or which areas have not yet been cleaned by the user. . As a further example, the cleaning related information may include, for example, information on how long the area has been cleaned or what settings of the vacuum cleaner were used to clean the area.

  Since the determined cleaning-related information is provided to the user via the output unit to assist in cleaning, the cleaning performed by the user can be affected thereby, thereby improving its efficiency and quality. In this connection, the output unit comprises a user interface for the user performing the cleaning. The output unit may be configured for, for example, acoustic, haptic (ie, for example, vibration feedback and / or sliding force feedback) and / or visual output. The cleaning performed by the affected user in this way is now detected by determining the position information of the cleaner or part thereof. In this respect, the method has a control method as a component, and as a result, the technical purpose of improving the quality and efficiency of cleaning is achieved. In one aspect, a more efficient human machine interface is thus created to achieve improved cleaning results. In particular, various aspects and embodiments thereof (e.g., the use of visual aids) can provide an understanding of human recognition and perception during cleaning in providing determined cleaning-related information to a user to assist in cleaning. Take into account the physical environment. That is, the user's perception and perception of the determined cleaning related information can be greatly improved.

  A vacuum cleaner is a manual vacuum cleaner, such as a hand-guided vacuum cleaner, especially in contrast to an autonomous cleaning robot. For example, the portion of the vacuum cleaner is a portion that represents an area that is currently being cleaned by the vacuum cleaner.

  The determination of the position information of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof can be determined, for example, continuously or for example at regular intervals so that the current actual position information can be determined and accurate cleaning related information can be obtained. Can be repeated. The location information may include, for example, the location of the cleaner or part thereof and / or the orientation or position of the cleaner or part thereof.

  The method can be performed, for example, by the vacuum cleaner itself and / or other devices than the vacuum cleaner, such as a portable computer, in particular a “wearable computer”, ie a computer worn on the body when the vacuum cleaner is used.

  According to a preferred embodiment of a different aspect of the invention, the determination of the position information of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof comprises light detection of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof.

  It has been found that a reliable optical, in particular image-based vacuum cleaner or part thereof can be detected. Furthermore, with optical sensing, not only the location of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof, but also the position or orientation can be accurately determined in a simple manner. The optical detection is performed, for example, via an optical detection unit and may be, for example, a camera, in particular a video camera. For example, detection is performed in the visible region of light. However, it may be considered that the detection is performed in the infrared region, for example. For example, detection is performed with the help of individual images (frames) of a continuous video data stream (video stream).

  However, as a further alternative or addition, the determination of the position information of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof may also include non-optical detection. For example, a radio-based determination of the position information of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof can be performed, for example, by GPS or indoor position determination, for example by trilateration. Furthermore, it can be envisaged that the determination of the position information of the cleaner or part thereof is based at least in part on a sensor, for example an acceleration sensor of the cleaner.

  According to a further preferred embodiment of the different aspects of the present invention, providing the determined cleaning-related information to the user via the output unit to assist in the cleaning is performed on the determined cleaning-related information. , Including visual output by the output unit.

  However, it is further feasible to provide the determined cleaning related information to the user via the output unit to assist in cleaning, alternatively including an acoustic output.

  In either case, it has been shown that the efficiency and quality of the cleaning can be improved by the determined cleaning-related information, in particular the visual output. For example, the determined cleaning related information may be displayed on the screen. For example, the determined cleaning-related information is projected in a manner that the user can observe.

  According to a further preferred embodiment of the different aspects of the invention, the visual output is performed on a surface that has been cleaned and / or will be cleaned.

  With visual output on surfaces that have been cleaned and / or will be cleaned, the efficiency and quality of the cleaning can be further improved. For example, it can be directly indicated on the surface whether the surface area has already been cleaned. In this way, very accurate output of cleaning related information to the user is possible. For example, a surface area can be marked. For example, the region can be marked with a color. For example, visual output on the surface can be performed by the cleaner itself, for example, by (real) projection onto the surface. For this purpose, the vacuum cleaner may comprise suitable means such as, for example, a controlled light source or projector.

  On the other hand, according to a further preferred embodiment of the different aspects of the invention, it is preferred if the visual output of the determined cleaning-related information via the output unit is a virtual output to the user. Virtual output is especially understood to mean that the determined cleaning-related information is output within an augmented reality (“Augmented Reality”) frame. For example, the determined cleaning-related information is superimposed on the user's field of view, and then the user can, for example, simultaneously observe the real and virtual superimposed information. In this way a visual output, in particular a visual output on the cleaned and / or cleaned surface, can be realized particularly easily.

  According to a further preferred embodiment of the different aspects of the invention, the determined cleaning-related information comprises information about the areas that have already been cleaned and / or will be cleaned. In this way, further improvements in cleaning quality and efficiency are achieved. On the other hand, the user may, for example, check that there are no areas that have been overlooked in the cleaning through the output of the determined cleaning-related information, which is information that includes areas that have already been cleaned and / or will be cleaned. This can improve the quality of the cleaning. In addition, the user can check, for example, that the area has been cleaned through the output of the determined cleaning related information, which is information that includes areas that have already been cleaned and / or will be cleaned. Improve cleaning efficiency. This is because it is possible to reduce or avoid unnecessary cleaning of the already cleaned area.

  For example, by providing the determined cleaning-related information to the user via the output unit to assist in cleaning, the area that has already been cleaned or has not yet been cleaned / will be cleaned is the frame of the visual output. Can be marked with, for example, color. As already explained, the marking is performed, for example, on a cleaned / or cleaned surface, for example in an augmented reality frame, and the marking on the cleaned and / or cleaned surface is virtually Overlaid.

  It is also conceivable, for example, that an area of the surface that has not yet been cleaned and therefore cleaned is marked. For example, virtual markers, e.g., dirt particles, of the area that has not yet been cleaned of the surface and will be cleaned can be displayed to the user via a virtual visual output of the determined cleaning-related information. .

According to a further preferred embodiment of the different aspects of the invention, the method comprises:
-Determining additional information related to cleaning based on detection of cleaned and / or cleaned surfaces, in particular optical detection;
-Providing the determined additional cleaning related information to the user via the output unit to assist in cleaning;
Further included.

  In this way, the quality and efficiency of cleaning can be further improved. This is because the user's cleaning behavior can be influenced through the provision of additional cleaning-related information.

  Providing the determined additional cleaning related information to the user via the output unit to assist in cleaning has already been described, for example, in connection with providing the determined cleaning related information. Can be done as follows.

  Through detection of the cleaned and / or cleaned surface, the surface quality of the surface can be recognized, for example, and the surface type or surface contamination can be recognized, for example. The detection is preferably performed via optical detection of the surface, as already described above in connection with optical detection of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof. Alternatively or additionally, the detection can be performed via further sensors, for example vacuum cleaner sensors.

  According to a further preferred embodiment of the different aspects of the invention, the additional information specific to the cleaning includes the recommended settings of the vacuum cleaner and / or the location of local dirt.

  Through providing such additional information related to cleaning to the user via an output unit to assist in cleaning, the quality and efficiency of cleaning can be further enhanced. For example, the recommended settings for the vacuum cleaner are floor-specific settings such as “soft mode” or power levels such as “1 stage” or “2 stages”. For example, providing additional information related to cleaning to the user via the output unit is done visually in the form of text. For example, additional information specific to cleaning, including the location of local dirt, is visually visible to the user, for example by markers (eg, circles) on the surface that represent local dirt, eg, rough material or spots of dirt. Provided.

  According to a further preferred embodiment of the different aspects of the invention, the one or more devices comprise electronic visual aids, in particular data glasses and / or vacuum cleaners.

  Electronic visual aids are understood to mean in particular wearable minicomputers, which can superimpose information in the user's field of view and more preferably optically sense the environment. The electronic visual aid can be worn, for example, and can be worn at least partly on the head. For example, an electronic visual aid is a data glass. For example, if a glass of data glass is used as a display surface (eg, a screen), information can be superimposed in the user's field of view through the data glass. It is also conceivable to use a contact lens as the display surface. Similarly, the retina of the user's eyes can be used as a display surface (screen). To this end, the visual aid includes, for example, an output unit that provides the user with the determined cleaning-related (additional) information to assist in cleaning. The visual aid includes, for example, an optical sensing unit for determining position information of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof, and optionally for determining additional information related to cleaning. In this way, the method can be performed only with an electronic visual aid, for example. Such visual aids have the advantage that they can be worn by the user during cleaning. Further, the visual aid may provide the determined cleaning-related (additional) information to the user in an augmented reality frame in a visually and accurate manner. Furthermore, this has the advantage, for example, that no or only slight adjustment of the cleaning unit is required.

  On the other hand, it is further conceivable that the individual steps can be performed, for example, by a vacuum cleaner. For example, the detection of the position information of the cleaner or a part thereof may alternatively or additionally be performed by a detection unit of the cleaner. Similarly, the vacuum cleaner may have a corresponding output unit that may provide the user with the determined cleaning-related (additional) information, for example by means of acoustic signals or by projection onto a surface.

  According to a further preferred embodiment of the different aspects of the invention, the vacuum cleaner is a floor cleaner, in particular a vacuum cleaner or a wet floor cleaner.

  The quality and efficiency of floor surface cleaning can be improved by use in the field of floor cleaners. The vacuum cleaner can be, for example, a floor vacuum cleaner or a hand-held vacuum cleaner. If the vacuum cleaner is a vacuum cleaner, the determination of the position information of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof may be, for example, the determination of the position information of a vacuum cleaner accessory (eg, a nozzle accessory or brush head). Good. In this way, the determination of an already cleaned surface can be simplified.

  Particularly with regard to the device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the device assists in cleaning the optical detection unit and / or the determined cleaning related information for determining the position information of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof. Therefore, it is preferable to include a visual output unit for providing to the user.

Further, particularly with respect to the exemplary embodiment of the device according to the third aspect of the invention, the device is or includes an electronic visual aid, the electronic visual aid being in particular a data It is a glass.

  Alternatively, the apparatus may further be a vacuum cleaner or a system including a vacuum cleaner and an electronic visual aid such as a data glass.

  Furthermore, reference should be made to the description of the first aspect, particularly with regard to further embodiments and advantages in the second and third aspects.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by the use of a vacuum cleaner, in particular a floor cleaner, in particular in the method according to the first aspect, the vacuum cleaner comprising at least one Including an indicating element, wherein the at least one indicating element is configured to assist in optical detection of the position of the cleaner or a portion thereof.

  Such a vacuum cleaner can improve the efficiency and quality of the cleaning because at least one provided indicator element simplifies and / or provides more detailed optical detection of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof. Because. As a result, cleaning-related information is particularly reliable.

  At least one indicator element (eg in the form of a light marker) can emit radiation in a specific wavelength or a specific wavelength region, for example in the visible and / or infrared region. Alternatively, the indicating element can be a reflector and reflects radiation of a specific wavelength or a specific wavelength region.

  Preferably, the at least one indicating element is arranged on the vacuum cleaner so that it is visible during use, in particular to the user.

  Preferably, at least two indicating elements are provided. In this way, in particular, the position or orientation of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof can be detected or simplified.

  Particularly advantageous is a system comprising a vacuum cleaner according to the fourth aspect in combination with an electronic visual aid, for example a device according to the third aspect in the form of a data glass.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the fourth aspect, the vacuum cleaner is preferably a vacuum cleaner with accessory parts, the accessory parts preferably comprising indicator elements. For example, the accessory part includes an indicator element on the top thereof.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the purpose mentioned at the outset is to provide electronic visual aids, in particular data, to assist the user in cleaning the surface with a vacuum cleaner, in particular in the manner according to the first aspect. • Achieved through the use of glasses.

  Through the use of visual aids (eg, data glasses) to assist in cleaning the surface with a vacuum cleaner, both cleaning efficiency and quality can be improved.

  Corresponding means for carrying out the method steps through preferred embodiments of the apparatus will be further disclosed by the above or below description of the method steps according to preferred embodiments of the method. Furthermore, the steps of the process will be disclosed by the disclosure of means for performing the method steps.

  According to the method of assisting the cleaning of the surface with the vacuum cleaner by the user of the present invention, the efficiency and quality of the cleaning can be improved. Furthermore, according to the computer program of the present invention, the efficiency and quality of cleaning can be improved. Furthermore, according to the apparatus of the present invention, the efficiency and quality of cleaning can be improved. Furthermore, according to the floor cleaner of the present invention, the efficiency and quality of cleaning can be improved. Furthermore, the use of the electronic visual aid of the present invention can improve the efficiency and quality of cleaning.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the user's field of view when cleaning the floor surface with a vacuum cleaner known in the prior art. FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a user's field of view when cleaning a floor surface with a vacuum cleaner, which is possible in an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, implementing an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. Fig. 4 shows individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation further illustrating a user's field of view enabled in one embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, implementing one exemplary embodiment of a method according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation further illustrating a user's field of view enabled in one embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, implementing one exemplary embodiment of a method according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation further illustrating a user's field of view enabled in one embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, implementing one exemplary embodiment of a method according to the present invention. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a vacuum cleaner according to the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of a storage medium in which a computer program according to the present invention can be stored.

  Further advantageous exemplary embodiments of the invention are disclosed below in the detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, in particular in combination with the drawings.

  First of all, FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of the field of view of user B when cleaning the floor surface 1 with a vacuum cleaner 2 as is known in the prior art. The floor surface 1 is in this case a carpeted floor. The vacuum cleaner 2 is a hand-held vacuum cleaner with an accessory 4. User B performs manual cleaning. One problem with performing cleaning is that on the one hand, multiple areas of the floor surface 1 are not cleaned, which adversely affects the quality of the cleaning. Second, multiple areas of the floor surface 1 are cleaned several times, which also adversely affects cleaning efficiency.

  Next, in FIG. 2, the floor surface 1 is cleaned, which is possible with an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention (for example the device 100 of FIG. 6), carrying out an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention. The figure display of a user's visual field when cleaning with the machine 2 is shown. The device is in this case formed as a data glass. The data glass can be superimposed on the eyes of user B by the output unit, so that it appears in the user's field of view and is superimposed on the real world. This is also called augmented reality. The determined cleaning related information is provided to the user by a data glass via an output unit to assist in cleaning. In this case, the determined cleaning-related information is virtually shown on the cleaned surface 1.

  The determined cleaning-related information includes, inter alia, information relating to areas that have already been cleaned. Information regarding which areas of surface 1 have already been cleaned is provided to user B as color-enhanced surface 5.

  How the provided information shown in FIG. 2 can be determined will be described in more detail in connection with FIGS. 3a-3k, and individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the present invention will be described. Will be shown.

  For this purpose, the data glass can optically record the field of view shown in FIG. 3a by means of an optical detection unit in the form of a video camera. The field of view visible in FIG. 3a is converted into image information 7 by the detection unit. Thus, for example, still images are recorded or individual images are extracted from the video data stream.

  The vacuum cleaner or a part thereof is specified by the image information 7. In this case, the accessory 4 of the vacuum cleaner 2 is specified by a corresponding algorithm. The identification can be based, for example, on the shape and / or color of the accessory 4. The determined position of the attachment 4 is indicated by the dotted line 6 in FIG. In this way the position information of the accessory part 4 as part of the vacuum cleaner 2 can be determined, the determination comprising optical detection of the accessory part 4 of the vacuum cleaner 2.

  In a further step, the image area of the floor surface 1 covered with the body 8 of the vacuum cleaner 2 is determined. The determined position of the body 8 of the vacuum cleaner 2 is indicated by the dotted line 10 in FIG.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 3c and 3d, the image area representing the body 8 and the accessory part 4 of the vacuum cleaner 2 is then cut out.

  The area 12 of the floor surface 1 covered with the attachment 4 is then marked, for example colored. See Figure 3e. Region 12 represents an already cleaned region of floor surface 1. Optionally, the area of the floor surface covered by the body 8 of the vacuum cleaner 2 is colored with the color of the image area adjacent to the vacuum cleaner. The image information 7 shown in FIG. 3e can first be temporarily stored.

  Next, FIG. 3 f shows a second image information 9, for example a further still image from a second still image or video data stream, similar to FIG. 3 a. The steps shown in FIGS. 3b to 3e are now repeated for the second image information 9, so that the image information 9 shown in FIG. 3g is then generated and the region 14 is now cleaned of the floor surface 1 this time. Represents a completed area.

  The first image information 7 and the second image information 9 are then aligned with each other as shown in FIG. 3h. In this connection, the area of image information that preferably includes the vacuum cleaner 2 is not used. This is because the vacuum cleaner 2 is moving with respect to the floor surface 1 and the room, so that the sets of image information can be misaligned with each other.

  Regions 12 and 14 representing the already cleaned region of the floor surface are combined to form region 16 as shown in FIG. 3i. The determination of the region 16 is an example of determination of cleaning related information including information on the already cleaned region of the surface based on the previously determined position information of the accessory part 4.

  Region 16 may be provided to the user by the data glass output unit to assist in cleaning as determined cleaning related information. See Figure 3j. If the cleaning is continued, for example, the field of view shown in FIG. In this case, the region 5 is preferably provided to the user B by omitting the image region temporarily covered by the vacuum cleaner 2 so that the field of view shown in FIG.

  FIGS. 4a to 4c respectively show further graphical representations of the user's field of view, enabled by an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, implementing an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention.

  In FIG. 4a, additional information related to the determined cleaning is visually provided to the user via a data glass output unit to assist in cleaning. In this connection, additional information relating to the determined cleaning is also virtually output on the surface 1 to be cleaned. In this case, the surface comprises on the one hand a carpet 1a and on the other hand a hard floor 1b. The additional information 20a and 20b related to the cleaning includes in this case the recommended settings of the cleaner 2 for cleaning the corresponding surface area. Additional cleaning related information is provided to the user in the form of text in each case. The information 20a and 20b is determined by a data glass camera based on optical detection of the surfaces 1a and 1b, for example.

  As a further example of additional determined cleaning-related information, the location of the local soil 22 can be displayed to the user by a position marker 24, for example as shown in FIG. 4b. The information in the form of the location marker 24 of the local stain 22 is determined by a data glass camera based on optical detection of the surface 1 or the stain 22, for example.

  FIG. 4c shows a further example of providing determined cleaning related information to the user via a data glass to assist in cleaning. In addition to the information representing the already cleaned area in the form of the area 5 shown in FIG. 3k, in FIG. 4c the surface 1 of the surface 1 has not yet been cleaned and is therefore marked further. For this reason, the virtual marker 26 has not yet been cleaned of the surface 1 and is therefore displayed to the user in the form of dirt particles in the area to be cleaned.

  FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a vacuum cleaner 2 'according to the present invention. The vacuum cleaner 2 ′ is different from the vacuum cleaner 2 in that the accessory 4 ′ of the vacuum cleaner 2 ′ has two indicating elements 30 a and 30 b on the upper part, and the indicating elements 30 a and 30 b are the same as those of the cleaner 2 ′. It is designed to assist optical detection of the position of the accessory part 4 ′. The indicator elements 30a, 30b are formed here as light markers, for example emitting light in the visible region. Information regarding the instantaneous alignment or stroke direction of the attachment 4 'can be obtained, for example, from the geometry of the pointing elements 30a, 30b and / or from space. The cleaner 2 'can advantageously be used in place of the cleaner 2 in the manner described above, simplifying the optical detection of the accessories.

  Finally, FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention or a part thereof. Device 100 is preferably a computer, for example a wearable computer such as a data glass. However, it is further conceivable that the device 100 is, for example, a smartphone. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the device 100 is a vacuum cleaner. The processor 105 of the apparatus 100 is formed as a micro controller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or field programmable gate array (FPGA), in particular a micro processor, a micro control unit. The processor 105 executes a program instruction stored in the program memory 120 and stores, for example, an intermediate result or the like in the main memory 110. For example, the program memory 120 is a non-volatile memory, such as a flash memory, a magnetic memory, an EEPROM memory (elektrisch loeschbarer program Ner-Lese-Speicher) and / or an optical memory. The main memory 110 is, for example, a volatile or non-volatile memory, such as a static RAM memory (SRAM), a dynamic RAM memory (DRAM), a ferroelectric memory (FeRAM), and / or a magnetic RAM memory (MRAM). Random access memory (RAM).

  Program memory 120 is preferably a local data carrier that is securely connected to device 100. For example, a hard drive embedded in device 100 is a data carrier that is securely connected to device 100. Alternatively, the data carrier may further be a data carrier that is detachably connectable to the apparatus 100, such as a memory stick, a removable disk or storage device, a wearable hard drive, a CD, a DVD and / or a diskette, for example. .

  Program memory 120 includes the operating system of device 100 and is at least partially uploaded into main memory 110 and implemented by processor 105 when device 100 is activated. In particular, when the device 100 is booted, at least a portion of the operating system core is uploaded into the main memory 110 and executed by the processor 105. The operating system of the device 100 is, for example, Windows, UNIX, Linux, Android, Apple iOS and / or MAC operating system.

  The operating system, for example, allows the device 100 to be used for data processing. The operating system manages operating means such as, for example, main memory 110 and program memory 120, network interface 130, input and output devices 140, and other functions that form the basis of the program, especially the program interface. And control the operation of the program.

  The processor 105 controls the network interface 130, which can be controlled, for example, by a driver that is part of the core of the operating system. The network interface 130 is, for example, a network interface card, a network module and / or a modem, and is designed to connect the data processing unit 1 to the network. The network interface 130 may, for example, receive data over the network and send data to the processor 105, and / or receive data from the processor 105 and send data over the network. . Examples of networks include a local network (LAN) such as an Ethernet network or an IEEE 802 network, a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network, a wired network, a cellular network, a telephone network, and / or the Internet.

  Further, the processor 105 can control at least one input / output device 140. The input / output device 140 includes, for example, an optical detection unit such as a camera, and obtains position information of the vacuum cleaner or a part thereof. The input / output device 140 includes, for example, an output unit, for example to assist the cleaning, to provide the user with the determined cleaning related (additional) information in the context of augmented reality. A unit for projecting information is included. Further, for example, a keyboard, mouse, microphone, touch sensitive display unit, loudspeaker, reading device / scanner and / or drive may be provided. The input / output device 140 may, for example, receive user input and send it to the processor 105 and / or receive and output information from the processor 105 to the user.

  FIG. 7 shows examples of embodiments of a storage medium capable of storing a computer program according to the present invention. The storage medium can be, for example, a magnetic, electronic, optical, and / or other type of storage medium. The storage medium may be, for example, a part of a processor (eg, processor 105 in FIG. 6), for example, a processor or a portion of the program memory (non-volatile or volatile) (such as program memory 120 in FIG. 6). obtain. Exemplary embodiments of storage media are floppy disk 700, CD-ROM or DVD 710, memory stick 720 (eg, USB stick) or memory card 730. A further exemplary embodiment of the storage medium according to the present invention is a flash memory.

  It is to be understood that the exemplary embodiments of the invention described herein and the optional features and characteristics specified in each related case are disclosed as being in combination with each other. In particular, a description of a feature covered by one form of implementation is understood to be essential or essential to the functioning of the exemplary embodiment herein, unless stated to the contrary. Should not. The order of the method steps outlined in the individual flow diagrams outlined herein is not critical, and alternative orders of process steps can be envisioned. Method steps can be implemented in a variety of ways and means, so implementation in software, hardware, or a combination of both (by program instructions) is contemplated for implementation of method steps. "Include" (German: umfassen, English: contain), "include (Germany: aufeueusen, English: comprise)", "include (Germany: beihalten, English: include)", "have" Terms such as “enthalten” do not exclude further elements or steps. The term “at least partially” means “completely” even when “partially” (teilweise, English: partially) "Is also included. The term “and / or (und / oder, and / or)” should, of course, be understood to mean that alternatives and combinations are also disclosed, and thus “A and / or B”. (Germany: A und / oder B, English: A and / or B) means “(A) or (B) or (A and B) (Germany: (A) oder (B) oder (A und B), English : (A) or (B) or (A and B)) ”. The use of the indefinite article does not exclude the plural. Each device is a function of more than one unit or device referred to in the claim. Reference numerals appearing in the claims should not be construed as limiting the means and steps employed.

Claims (21)

A method of assisting manual cleaning of a surface with a hand-guided manual vacuum cleaner by a user,
The method is performed on one or more devices, the one or more devices including a wearable electronic visual aid worn by the user during the cleaning, the method comprising:
-Determining position information of the vacuum cleaner or part thereof;
-Determining cleaning-related information about the area currently being cleaned based on the determined position information;
Providing the determined cleaning-related information to the user via an output unit to assist in the cleaning;
Including
The cleaner or be a part of the location information to the determination, the cleaner or part of including optical sensing, Methods by the wearable electronic visual aid.   Providing the determined cleaning-related information to the user via an output unit to assist in the cleaning includes visual output of the determined cleaning-related information by the output unit; The method of claim 1.   3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the visual output of the determined cleaning-related information to the user is performed by virtual output or projection onto a cleaned and / or cleaned surface.   The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the visual output by the output unit of the determined cleaning related information is a virtual output.   The determined cleaning-related information includes information about areas that have already been cleaned and / or cleaned, how long the area has been cleaned, or what settings of the vacuum cleaner have been used to clean the area. The method as described in any one of Claims 1-4. The method
-Determining additional cleaning-related information regarding the type of surface or contamination of the surface based on detection of the cleaned and / or surface to be cleaned;
Providing the acquired additional information related to the cleaning to the user via the output unit to assist in the cleaning;
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:   7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detection of the cleaned and / or cleaned surface is performed via optical detection.   The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the additional information related to the cleaning includes a recommended setting of the vacuum cleaner and / or a location of local dirt.   9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more devices comprise the vacuum cleaner.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic visual aid is a data glass.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner is a floor cleaner.   The method of claim 11, wherein the floor cleaner is a vacuum cleaner or a wet floor cleaner.   Computer program for causing a processor (105) to execute and / or control a method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 when the computer program runs on a processor (105). A computer program that contains instructions.   An apparatus (100) comprising at least one processor (105) and at least one memory (120) with computer program code, wherein the at least one memory (120) and the computer program code are 13. An apparatus configured to perform and / or control at least the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, with the at least one processor (105).   The device (100) may include an optical detection unit (140) that determines position information of the vacuum cleaner or a portion thereof and / or the user (B) to assist the cleaning with the determined cleaning related information. The apparatus of claim 14, comprising a visual output unit (140) provided to the device.   16. A device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the device (100) is or includes an electronic visual aid.   The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electronic visual aid is a data glass. A hand-guided manual vacuum cleaner (2 ') used in the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the vacuum cleaner (2') comprises at least one indicating element (30a). 30b), wherein the at least one indicating element (30a, 30b) is configured to assist in optical detection of the position of the vacuum cleaner (2 ') or a part (4') thereof , 2 ′) is a vacuum cleaner having an accessory part (4 ′), the accessory part (4 ′) comprising the at least one indicating element (30a, 30b) . 19. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the vacuum cleaner (2 ') comprises two indicating elements (30a, 30b). Use of a wearable electronic visual aid to assist a user in cleaning a surface with a vacuum cleaner worn by the user during cleaning, according to any one of claims 1-12. Use in the manner described.   21. Use in a method according to claim 20, wherein the electronic visual aid is a data glass.

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