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Pool cleaner with optical out-of-water and debris detection

  • US 10,107,000 B2
  • Filed: 02/22/2016
  • Issued: 10/23/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A robotic pool cleaner configured to be submerged in water and to clean an immersed surface of a pool, the robotic pool cleaner comprising:

  • an intake pathway, the intake pathway of the robotic pool cleaner being configured to receive water and debris as the robotic pool cleaner traverses the immersed surface of the pool;

    a processing device;

    an optical sensor operatively coupled to the processing device and positioned relative to the intake pathway, wherein the optical sensor comprises (a) a light emitter operable to output light into the intake pathway, and (b) a light detector operable to detect the light output by the light emitter subsequent to the light entering the intake pathway;

    wherein the processing device is programmed to determine whether a detectable level of debris is flowing through the intake pathway of the robotic pool cleaner based on an output of the optical sensor; and

    wherein the processing device is programmed to de-energize the light emitter to measure a contribution of ambient light in the output of the optical sensor during an ambient measurement cycle, and to energize the light emitter to measure a contribution of the light output by the light emitter and the ambient light in the output of the optical sensor during a debris measurement cycle.

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