Methods and apparatuses for switching state

• US 10,174,965 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Inventors: Wang, Yang, Fu, Qiang, Hou, Enxing
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/982,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20160258646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 700275, 700295, 700297
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/526 giving audible indications
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0425 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/06 characterised by the use of electric means G05D7/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/22 for interlocking between casing, cover, or protective shutter and mechanism for operating contacts explosion-proof cases H01H9/045; built-in fuses and interlocking mechanisms H01H9/104; by automatic release of circuit breakers H01H71/126

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for switching an operation state of a target device such as an air purifier. The method includes acquiring a state switching instruction based on an input from a micro-switch of the air moving device, switching a current state of the target device from an in-operation state to an out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction, maintaining the target device in the out-of-operation state until acquiring a predetermined wakening instruction, acquiring a predetermined wakening instruction, and switching the air moving device from the out-of-operation state to the in-operation state responsive to the acquired predetermined wakening instruction.

Claims

1. A method for switching an operational state of an air moving device, comprising:

acquiring a state switching instruction based on an input from a micro-switch of the air moving device;

switching a current state of the air moving device from an in-operation state to an out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction;

maintaining the air moving device in the out-of-operation state until acquiring a predetermined wakening instruction wherein the predetermined wakening instruction is generated when a match is determined between a user input and pre-stored information, and the out-of-operation state of the air moving device is maintained unless the predetermined wakening instruction is acquired regardless which operating instruction is received, wherein the out-of-operation state is triggered when a fan blade of the air moving device is removed;

acquiring the predetermined wakening instruction; and

switching the air moving device from the out-of-operation state to the in-operation state responsive to the acquired predetermined wakening instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the state switching instruction comprises:

receiving a trigger signal from the micro-switch on the air moving device when the micro-switch on the air moving device is triggered, and generating a state switching instruction based on the trigger signal;

or

generating a state switching instruction upon detecting that a first option on the air moving device is triggered.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the state switching instruction comprises

receiving a detection signal from a sensor on the air moving device when the sensor detects that a particular component of the air moving device is removed, and generating a state switching instruction based on the detection signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the state switching instruction comprises

receiving a state switching instruction which is sent from a control terminal of the air moving device when the control terminal of the air moving device determines that a second option in the control terminal of the air moving device is triggered.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein switching the current state from the in-operation state to the out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction comprises:

playing a particular audio file for prompting a user that the air moving device is currently in the out-of-operation state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein switching the current state from the in-operation state to the out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction comprises:

sending state information indicating that the air moving device is currently in the out-of-operation state to a server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein switching the current state from the in-operation state to the out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction comprises:

sending a state prompt message to a control terminal of the air moving device, the control terminal prompting based on the state prompt message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the predetermined wakening instruction comprises:

generating a predetermined wakening instruction upon detecting that a third option on the air moving device is triggered;

or

receiving a predetermined wakening instruction sent from a control terminal of the air moving device, the predetermined wakening instruction being generated by the control terminal based on unlocking information input by a user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the predetermined wakening instruction comprises:

receiving a predetermined wakening instruction from a control terminal of the air moving device when the control terminal of the air moving device detects that a fourth option in the control terminal of the air moving device is triggered.

10. A method for switching a state of an air moving device by a control terminal, comprising:

generating a state switching instruction upon detecting that a second option in the control terminal is triggered;

sending the state switching instruction to the air moving device, a current state of the air moving device being switched from an in-operation state to an out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction;

receiving a state prompt message sent from the air moving device;

prompting based on the state prompt message;

generating a predetermined wakening instruction upon acquiring unlocking information input by a user or upon detecting that a fourth option in the control terminal of the air moving device is triggered wherein the predetermined wakening instruction is generated when a match is determined between the user input and pre-stored information, and the out-of-operation state of the air moving device is maintained unless the predetermined wakening instruction is acquired regardless which operating instruction is received, wherein the out-of-operation state is triggered when a fan blade of the air moving device is removed; and

sending the predetermined wakening instruction to the air moving device, the air moving device switching from the out-of-operation state to the in-operation state based on the predetermined wakening instruction.

11. An apparatus for switching a state of a target device with a fan, comprising:

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to acquire a state switching instruction based on a sensor of the target device, the sensor detecting a component of the air moving device being removed;

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to switch a current state of the target device from an in-operation state to an out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction;

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to maintain the out-of-operation state until acquiring a predetermined wakening instruction wherein the predetermined wakening instruction is generated when a match is determined between a user input and pre-stored information, and the out-of-operation state of the target device is maintained unless the predetermined wakening instruction is acquired regardless which operating instruction is received, wherein the out-of-operation state is triggered when a fan blade of the air moving device is removed;

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to acquire the predetermined wakening instruction; and

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to switch the target device from the out-of-operation state to the in-operation state responsive to the acquired predetermined wakening instruction.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the module configured to acquire the state switching instruction is further configured to:

receive a trigger signal from a micro-switch on the target device when the micro-switch on the target device is triggered, and generating a state switching instruction based on the trigger signal;

or

generate a state switching instruction upon detecting that a first option on the target device is triggered.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the module configured to acquire the state switching instruction further configured to:

receive a detection signal from the sensor on the target device when the sensor detects that a particular component of the target device is removed, and generate a state switching instruction based on the signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the module configured to acquire the state switching instruction further configured to:

receive a state switching instruction from a control terminal of the target device when the control terminal of the target device detects that a second option in the control terminal of the target device is triggered.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the module configured to switch the current state from the in-operation state to the out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction is further configured to:

play a particular audio file related to the out-of-operation state.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the module configured to switch the current state from the in-operation state to the out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction is further configured to:

send state information indicating that the target device is currently in the out-of-operation state to a server.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the module configured to acquire the predetermined wakening instruction is further configured to:

generate a predetermined wakening instruction upon detecting that a third option on the target device is triggered;

or

receive a predetermined wakening instruction sent from a control terminal of the target device, the predetermined wakening instruction being generated by the control terminal based on unlocking information input by a user.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the module configured to acquire the predetermined wakening instruction is further configured to:

receive a predetermined wakening instruction from a control terminal of the target device when the control terminal of the target device detects that a fourth option in the control terminal of the target device is triggered.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the module configured to switch the current state from the in-operation state to the out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction is further configured to:

send a state prompt message to a control terminal of the target device such that the control terminal prompts based on the state prompt message.

20. A control terminal, comprising:

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to generate a state switching instruction upon detecting that a second option in the control terminal is triggered;

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to send the state switching instruction to a target device, a current state of the target device being switched from an in-operation state to an out-of-operation state based on the state switching instruction;

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to receive a state prompt message sent from the target device;

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to prompt based on the state prompt message;

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to generate a predetermined wakening instruction upon acquiring unlocking information input by a user or upon detecting that a fourth option in the control terminal of the target device is triggered wherein the predetermined wakening instruction is generated when a match is determined between the user input and pre-stored information, and the out-of-operation state of the target device is maintained unless the predetermined wakening instruction is acquired regardless which operating instruction is received, wherein the out-of-operation state is triggered when a fan blade of the air moving device is removed; and

a module having one or more processors to execute instructions that is configured to send the predetermined wakening instruction to the target device, the target device switching from the out-of-operation state to the in-operation state based on the predetermined wakening instruction.