DIRECTIONAL CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DUAL BRUSH ROBOTIC POOL CLEANERS
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the directional movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner having at least one pair of rotational support members for propelling and cleaning a surface of a pool comprising the steps of(a) accelerating the at least one pair of rotational support members of said pool cleaner from a stopped position to a first predetermined rotational rate in a first predetermined time period;
- (b) rotating the at least one pair of rotational support members at said first predetermined rotational rate for a second predetermined time period; and
(c) increasing the first rate of rotation to a second greater predetermined rotational rate, wherein said pool cleaner is propelled at a normalized rate for cleaning said pool.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the directional movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner having at least one pair of rotational support members for propelling and cleaning a surface of a pool. The method includes accelerating the at least one pair of rotational support members of the pool cleaner from a stopped position to a first predetermined rotational rate in a first predetermined time period; rotating the at least one pair of rotational support members at said first predetermined rotational rate for a second predetermined time period; and increasing the first rate of rotation to a second greater predetermined rotational rate, wherein said pool cleaner is propelled at a normalized rate for cleaning said pool.
30 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the directional movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner having at least one pair of rotational support members for propelling and cleaning a surface of a pool comprising the steps of
(a) accelerating the at least one pair of rotational support members of said pool cleaner from a stopped position to a first predetermined rotational rate in a first predetermined time period; -
(b) rotating the at least one pair of rotational support members at said first predetermined rotational rate for a second predetermined time period; and (c) increasing the first rate of rotation to a second greater predetermined rotational rate, wherein said pool cleaner is propelled at a normalized rate for cleaning said pool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of controlling the directional movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a pool cleaner having a first and second pair of dual rotational support members co-axially mounted at opposite ends of the pool cleaner for rotation on axles that are transverse to the direction of movement, the first pair of rotational support members being mounted on one side and the second pair of rotational support members mounted on the opposite side of the cleaner, the pool cleaner being propelled by the rotation of the rotational support members, said pool cleaner having at least one drive motor operatively connected to the first pair of rotational support members for synchronous drive; (b) activating the at least one drive motor to propel the pool cleaner in a first direction along a generally straight path by the synchronous rotation of the first and second pair of rotational support members; (c) rotating the first pair of rotational support members at a greater angular rotational velocity than the second pair of rotational support members, thereby pivoting the pool cleaner through a predetermined angular change in direction; (d) resuming the synchronous rotation of the second pair of dual rotational support members with the first pair of rotational support members, whereby the pool cleaner moves in a second direction along a generally straight path that is angularly displaced from the first direction; and (e) rotating said first pair of rotational support members at steps (b) and (d), (i) from a stopped position to a first predetermined rotational rate in a first predetermined time period, (ii) maintaining said first predetermined rotational rate for a second predetermined time period, and (iii) rotating said first and second pair of rotational support members at a second predetermined rotational rate which is greater than said first predetermined rotational rate. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A self-propelled robotic pool cleaner comprising:
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(a) a pool cleaner housing having a first and second pair of dual rotational support members co-axially mounted at opposite ends of the housing for rotation on axles that are transverse to the direction of movement, the first pair of rotational support members being mounted on one side and the second pair of rotational support members mounted on the opposite side of the cleaner, the pool cleaner being propelled by the rotation of the rotational support members; (b) at least one reversible drive motor operatively connected for synchronously driving the first pair of rotational support members; and (c) a controller for controlling the direction of rotation of the at least one drive motor and thereby the directional movement of the pool cleaner, said controller including memory and a processor for respectively storing and executing at least one executable cleaning pattern program to propel the pool cleaner in a generally straight path in a first direction, and a distance along said path that is greater than the midpoint between opposing walls of the pool. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification