Method and apparatus for communicating over a two-wire power cable between an external power supply and a self-propelled robotic swimming pool cleaner
First Claim
1. A pool cleaning system for cleaning a submerged surface of a pool including a robotic pool cleaner electrically connected to a remote power supply via a two-wire electric cable having first and second conductors, the system comprising:
- the robotic pool cleaner comprising;
a housing including an upper portion disposed over a base to define an interior chamber, the base including at least one water inlet and the upper portion having at least one water discharge port;
rotatably-mounted supports for supporting and guiding the cleaner on the pool surface;
a filter assembly for filtering water drawn through the at least one water inlet;
an electric motor mounted in the interior chamber and configured to move the cleaner on the pool surface; and
a pool cleaner controller electrically connected to the electric motor for controlling movement of the cleaner and receiving communication signals transmitted by the remote power supply; and
the remote power supply comprising;
a power supply controller for providing DC power to the electric motor of the cleaner over the two-wire electric cable, the power supply controller being configured to pulse the DC power at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined period of time to define the communication signals that are transmitted to the pool cleaner controller.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robotic pool cleaner includes a housing with an interior chamber. A filter within the interior chamber filters water drawn through a water inlet provided in a bottom portion of the housing. Filtered water is discharged through a discharge port provided in a upper portion of the housing. Rotatably-mounted supports attached to the housing support and guide the cleaner on the pool surface. An electric motor mounted in the chamber is configured to move the cleaner on a pool surface. A pool cleaner controller electrically connected to the electric motor controls movement of the cleaner and receives communication signals transmitted by a remote power supply over a two-wire electric cable having first and second conductors. The pool cleaner controller is configured to provide uninterrupted electric power to the electric motor while the pool cleaner controller also receives pulsed communication signal from the remote power supply over the two-wire cable.
23 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A pool cleaning system for cleaning a submerged surface of a pool including a robotic pool cleaner electrically connected to a remote power supply via a two-wire electric cable having first and second conductors, the system comprising:
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the robotic pool cleaner comprising; a housing including an upper portion disposed over a base to define an interior chamber, the base including at least one water inlet and the upper portion having at least one water discharge port; rotatably-mounted supports for supporting and guiding the cleaner on the pool surface; a filter assembly for filtering water drawn through the at least one water inlet; an electric motor mounted in the interior chamber and configured to move the cleaner on the pool surface; and a pool cleaner controller electrically connected to the electric motor for controlling movement of the cleaner and receiving communication signals transmitted by the remote power supply; and the remote power supply comprising; a power supply controller for providing DC power to the electric motor of the cleaner over the two-wire electric cable, the power supply controller being configured to pulse the DC power at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined period of time to define the communication signals that are transmitted to the pool cleaner controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A robotic pool cleaner comprising:
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a housing including an upper portion disposed over a bottom portion to define an interior chamber, the bottom portion including at least one water inlet and the upper portion having at least one water discharge port; rotatably-mounted supports supporting and guiding the cleaner on the pool surface; a filter assembly for filtering water drawn through the at least one water inlet; an electric motor mounted in the interior chamber and configured to move the cleaner on the pool surface; and a pool cleaner controller electrically connected to the electric motor for controlling movement of the cleaner and receiving communication signals transmitted by a remote power supply over a two-wire electric cable having first and second conductors, wherein the pool cleaner controller is configured to provide electric power to the electric motor while the pool cleaner controller receives pulsed communication signal from the remote power supply over the two-wire cable. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for sending pulsed signals from a remote power supply to a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner over a two-wire electric cable having first and second conductors, the method comprising:
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converting AC power to DC power at the power supply; transmitting the DC power from a power supply controller of the power supply to an electric motor and a pool cleaner controller on board the pool cleaner over the two-wire cable during normal cleaning operations; pulsing the DC power on and off from the power supply at a predetermined frequency and for a predetermined period of time to define a pulsed communication signal; providing power from the pool cleaner controller to the electric motor during a power interruption from the pulsed communication signal; and receiving the pulsed communication signal at the pool cleaner controller while providing power to the electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification