METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING ROBOTIC POOL CLEANER

• US 20180135325A1
• Filed: 01/17/2017
• Published: 05/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2017
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd.
• Inventors: SCHLOSS, Shahar, ATTAR, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US15/407,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20180135325A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

A method for remotely operating a robotic pool cleaner may include providing a robotic pool cleaner comprising a housing: a propulsion drive configured to propel the robotic pool cleaner along a surface of a pool; a pump for drawing liquid from the pool into the housing, so as to trap dirt and debris from the surface of the pool into a filter; a controller configured to communicate with a portable communication device, and control the propulsion drive in accordance with commands received from a the portable communication device; using the portable communication device, obtaining one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool; displaying a graphical representation of the pool on a display of the portable communication device; receiving a user input from a user via an input interface of the portable communication device; translating the user input into a command; and transmitting the command to a controller of the robotic pool cleaner, for execution by the robotic pool cleaner.

Claims

1. A method for remotely operating a robotic pool cleaner, the method comprising:

providing a robotic pool cleaner comprising a housing;

a propulsion drive configured to propel robotic pool cleaner along a surface of a pool;

a pump for drawing liquid from the pool into the housing, so as to trap dirt and debris from the surface of the pool into a filter, a controller configured to communicate with a portable communication device, and control the propulsion drive in accordance with commands received from a the portable communication device;

using the portable communication device,

obtaining one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool;

displaying a graphical representation of the pool on a display of the portable communication device;

receiving a user input from a user via an input interface of the portable communication device;

translating the user input into a command; and

transmitting the command to a controller of the robotic pool cleaner, for execution by the robotic pool cleaner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool comprises receiving data transmitter from the robotic pool cleaner or receiving data input via a user input interface of the portable communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, using the portable communication device, displaying a current location of the pool cleaner in the pool on the graphical representation of the pool as displayed on the display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises indication of a desired target position in the pool for the pool cleaner to travel to.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises indication of a particular palls to be traveled by the pool cleaner.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises indication of a pattern of movement.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises indication to maintain a position of the pool cleaner within or outside an indicated zone of the pool.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is selected from the group of inputs consisting of tapping, sliding a finger, making a gesture, inputting text using a real or virtual keyboard, and providing a vocal command.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a homing instruction and wherein the command causes the pool cleaner to travel to a current location of the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining of said one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool comprises recording movement of the user around a perimeter of the pool.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a camera of the portable communication device for the user input.

12. A robotic pool cleaner comprising:

a housing;

a propulsion drive configured to propel the robotic pool cleaner along a surface of a pool;

a pump for drawing liquid from the pool into the housing, so as to trap dirt and debris from the surface of the pool into a filter; and

a controller configured to communicate with a portable communication device, and control the propulsion drive in accordance with commands received from a the portable communication device;

wherein the controller is further configured to receive, and cause the robotic pool cleaner to execute, a command from a portable communication device that has obtained one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool;

displayed a graphical representation of the pool on a display of the portable communication device;

received a user input front a user via an input interface of the portable communication device;

translated the user input into a command; and

transmitted the command to a controller of the robotic pool cleaner, for execution by the robotic pool cleaner.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium for remotely operating a robotic pool cleaner, having stored thereon instructions that when executed on a processor of will cause the processor to:

obtain one or more characteristics of a surface of a pool;

display a graphical representation of the pool on a display;

receive a user input from a user via an input interface;

translate the user input into a command; and

transmit the command via a communication channel to a controller of the robotic pool cleaner, for execution by the robotic pool cleaner.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein obtaining one or more characteristics of a surface of the pool comprises receiving data transmitter from the robotic pool cleaner or receiving data input via a user input interface of the portable communication device.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, having stored thereon instructions that when executed on a processor of will cause the processor to display a current location of the pool cleaner in the pool on the graphical representation of the pool as displayed on the display.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the user input comprises indication of a desired target position in the pool for the pool cleaner to travel to.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the user input comprises indication of a particular path to be traveled by the pool cleaner.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the user input comprises indication of a pattern of movement.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the user input comprises indication to maintain a position of the pool cleaner within or outside an indicated zone of the pool.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the user input comprises a homing instruction and wherein the command causes the pool cleaner to travel to a current location of the user.