AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANER FOR CLEANING A POOL WITH MINIMUM POWER CONSUMPTION AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20130152970A1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd.
• Inventors: PORAT, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US13/719,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20130152970A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

An automatic pool cleaner, comprising a pump unit, a control unit and a sensor, the sensor configured to detect foreign objects in the pool. The control unit configured to activate the pump unit at a first power level which is less then full power when a foreign object is not detected by the sensor, and further configured to activate the pump unit at a second power level, which is greater than the first power level, in response to a signal from the sensor unit indicating the detection of a foreign object.

Claims

1. An automatic pool cleaner, comprising:

a pump unit;

a sensor unit comprising a sensor, the sensor configured to detect foreign objects; and

,

a control unit coupled to the sensor unit and the pump unit, the control unit configured to activate the pump unit at a first power level which is less then full power when a foreign object is not detected by the sensor, and further configured to activate the pump unit at a second power level, which is greater than the first power level, in response to a signal from the sensor unit indicating the detection of a foreign object.

2. The automatic pool cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is mounted so as to have a sensed region located underneath the automatic pool cleaner.

3. The automatic pool cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is mounted so as to have a sensed region located along a current anticipated motion path of the automatic pool cleaner.

4. The automatic pool cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit comprises an optical sensor.

5. The automatic pool cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the pump unit is powered by a battery.

6. The automatic pool cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the pump unit is powered by an external power source.

7. The automatic pool cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to operate the automatic pool cleaner at fixed time intervals.

8. A method for cleaning a pool with minimum power consumption comprising:

configuring an automatic pool cleaner to traverse a surface while operating one or more sensors, to detect foreign objects;

operating a pump unit of the automatic pool cleaner at a first power level, less then full power, when a foreign object is not detected; and

,

operating the pump unit at a second power level, which is greater than the first power level, when a foreign object is detected.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the automatic pool cleaner is configured to operate the pump to maintain a straight course in the face of asymmetry.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said one or more sensors are configured to provide a sensed region along a current anticipated motion path of the automatic pool cleaner.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said one or more sensors are configured to provide a sensed region located underneath the automatic pool cleaner.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said one or more sensors comprise one or more optical sensors.

13. A method for cleaning a pool with minimum power consumption comprising:

activating an automatic pool cleaner at a regular fixed time interval to traverse a surface while operating at least one sensor to detect foreign objects while employing a pump unit at a first power level, the first power level being less then full power, when a foreign object is not detected; and

,

employing the pump unit at a second power level, which is greater than the first power level, when a foreign object is detected.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to provide a sensed region along a current anticipated motion path of the automatic pool cleaner.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to provide a sensed region located underneath the automatic pool cleaner.

16. A method for cleaning a pool with minimum power consumption comprising:

activating an automatic pool cleaner for a fixed time interval to traverse a surface while operating one or more sensors to detect foreign objects;

configuring the automatic pool cleaner to determine if there is a foreign object on the surface by comparing a current image of the surface with a reference image obtained by said one or more sensors;

configuring the automatic pool cleaner to move toward the foreign object on the surface;

configuring the automatic pool cleaner to employ a pump unit at a first power level to vacuum up the foreign object; and

,

configuring the automatic pool cleaner to employ the pump unit at a second power level less then the first power level when a foreign object is not detected.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said one or more sensors comprise an optical sensor which is configured to provide a sensed region along a current anticipated motion path of the automatic pool cleaner.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said one or more sensors comprise an optical sensor which is configured to provide a sensed region located underneath the automatic pool cleaner.