POOL CLEANER SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH SCHEDULING AND SWIMMER MODES

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/677,828, filed on Jul. 31, 2024, and entitled POOL CLEANER SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH SCHEDULING AND SWIMMER MODES, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to systems and apparatuses for cleaning water-containing vessels such as swimming pools and spas and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to self-propelled pool cleaners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous self-propelled cleaning devices capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous movement within swimming pools and spas currently exist. The most common of these devices are self-propelled pool cleaners, which often are either hydraulic or robotic in type. Hydraulic cleaners vary water flow for movement, while robotic cleaners typically employ electric motors to cause motion. Hydraulic pool cleaners, furthermore, subdivide into “pressure-side” and “suction-side” cleaners, with pressure-side cleaners being fluidly connected to outputs of pumps of pool water circulation systems and suction-side cleaners being fluidly connected to inputs of such pumps.

Currently, pool cleaners perform cleaning cycles after receiving an order from a user through a button, a remote, an application, or a scheduler (set previously by the user). Traditional reliance on a user to perform cleaning cycles makes the pool susceptible to quality issues if a user forgets to initiate a cleaning cycle, lacks an understanding of proper pool maintenance and unsuitably initiates cleaning cycles, etc. Moreover, during a cleaning cycle, pool cleaners generally operate uninterrupted until the cleaning cycle is completed, but such continuous cleaning may conflict with and/or otherwise disrupt use of the pool by a user.

SUMMARY

Embodiments covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.

According to certain embodiments, A method of controlling a pool cleaner includes detecting or receiving a status or position of a pool cover and selectively controlling or sending a signal to control the pool cleaner based on the status or position of the pool cover.

According to some embodiments, a method of controlling a pool cleaner includes automatically scheduling a cleaning operation of a pool cleaner based on a detected, received, or estimated status of the pool cover.

According to various embodiments, a method of controlling a pool cleaner includes controlling or sending a signal to control the pool cleaner to dock with a charging station based on a status of a pool cover.

According to some embodiments, a method of controlling a pool cleaner includes receiving a schedule from a user and/or obtaining pool use information about use of a pool by and/or from the user, estimating or predicting a future pool use by the user based on at least one of the schedule or the obtained pool use information, and controlling navigation and/or operation of the pool cleaner based on the estimated or precited future pool use.

According to some embodiments, a method of controlling a pool cleaner includes receiving or obtaining an electricity price, comparing the electricity price to a threshold, and causing the pool cleaner to dock with a charging station when the electricity price is at or below the threshold.

According to various embodiments, a method of controlling a pool cleaner includes operating the pool cleaner within a pool or spa, receiving a swimmer mode signal from a user and/or sensing the swimmer mode signal by the pool cleaner while the pool cleaner is operating, and based on receipt of the swimmer mode signal, ceasing operation of the pool cleaner.

According to some embodiments, a method of controlling a pool cleaner includes interrupting a cleaning cycle of a pool cleaner based on a signal indicating a use or future use of the pool by a user.

According to certain embodiments, a method of controlling a pool cleaner includes operating the pool cleaner within a pool or spa, receiving a swimmer mode signal from a user while the pool cleaner is operating, the swimmer mode signal including a swimmer mode start time, and based on receipt of the swimmer mode signal, interrupting operation of the pool cleaner at the swimmer mode start time.

Various implementations described herein can include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which cannot necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The specification makes reference to the following appended figures, in which use of like reference numerals in different figures is intended to illustrate like or analogous components.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pool system according to embodiments.

FIG. 2 is another view of the pool system of FIG. 1 according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are systems and methods for automatically controlling and/or scheduling control of a pool cleaner. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may allow for the pool cleaner to remain within the pool for prolonged durations and/or for the pool cleaner to initiate operation, such as but not limited to a cleaning cycle, without receiving a cleaner order from a user. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may optimize operation based on a status of other components of a pool system, such as but not limited to a pool cover. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may provide improved control of the pool cleaner to minimize interference with use of the pool by a user, based on electricity costs, combinations thereof, and/or as otherwise desired such that the pool cleaner may operate at preferred and/or desired times. In various embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may allow for an interruption of a cleaning cycle or operation of the pool cleaner based on use or planned use by a user. Various other benefits and advantages may be realized with the systems and methods provided herein, and the aforementioned advantages should not be considered limiting.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of a pool system 10 according to various embodiments. The pool system 10 generally includes a pool or spa 12 (hereinafter “pool 12”) and one or more pieces of pool equipment 14. In some embodiments, the pool equipment 14 includes at least one pool cleaner 16. Additionally, or alternatively, the pool equipment 14 may be other equipment for the pool 12 as desired. In a non-limiting example, the pool system 10 includes a pool cover 18 as pool equipment 14, which may be utilized to selectively cover the pool 12 (or have a covered status—sec, e.g., box A in FIG. 1) or allow access to the pool 12 (or have an uncovered status—sec, e.g., box B in FIG. 1).

The pool cleaner 16 may be various types of pool cleaners with various constructions or components as desired. In certain embodiments, the pool cleaner 16 is a self-propelled pool cleaner capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous movement within the pool 12. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the pool cleaner 16 may include a body 20 which is movable within the pool 12. The pool cleaner 16 may include optional motive elements 22 for enabling movement (e.g., propelling) of the pool cleaner 16 along a surface. Non-limiting examples of motive elements 22 include, but are not limited to, wheels, rollers, feet, tracks, propellers, combinations thereof, and/or other suitable motive elements 22. The pool cleaner 16 may include additional components on or within the cleaner, such as such as a motor block, a filter, a pump, a controller, etc. The pool cleaner 16 optionally may include one or more cleaning elements (e.g., a brush assembly with one or more brushes) suitable performing a cleaning operation. In various embodiments, the pool cleaner 16 includes one or more communication modules allowing for wired or wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth, LoRa, Li-Fi, radio frequency, cellular, NFC, Wi-Fi, etc.) with external or remote devices such as external control devices, the internet, cloud services, smartphones, other user devices, etc. In some embodiments, the pool cleaner 16 may include one or more onboard batteries for storing energy. The onboard batteries may be provided at various locations on or within the pool cleaner 16 as desired. In other embodiments, a cable or cord to an external power source may be utilized to provide power to the pool cleaner 16.

In certain embodiments, the pool cleaner 16 may include a control system with one or more processing units and/or one or more memory devices on and/or associated with the pool cleaner 16. As an example, in some embodiments, the control system may be onboard the pool cleaner 16. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more (or all) of the components of the control system may be remote from the pool cleaner 16, and instructions to the pool cleaner 16 may be communicated to the pool cleaner 16 using various communication techniques as desired. The control system may be various suitable processing devices or combinations of devices including but not limited to one or more application specific integrated circuits, digital signal processors, digital signal processing devices, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units, and/or a combination thereof. The one or more memory devices may be any machine-readable medium that can be accessed by the processor, including but not limited to any type of long term, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or other storage medium, and is not to be limited to any particular type of memory or number of memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored. Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term “storage medium,” “storage” or “memory” can represent one or more memories for storing data, including read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/or other machine readable mediums for storing information. The term “machine-readable medium” includes, but is not limited to, portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels, and/or various other storage mediums capable of storing that contain or carry instruction(s) and/or data.

However, as mentioned, the pool cleaner 16 illustrated should not be considered limiting as the self-propelled pool cleaner 16 described herein may be used with other types of pool cleaners with fewer, additional, or various other combinations of features as desired, and in other embodiments the self-propelled pool cleaner 16 itself may be configured as a pool cleaner as described below. Other non-limiting examples of pool cleaners 16 may include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,316,534, 9,488,154, 8,578,538, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0303810, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the pool cleaner 16 may communicate with a user device 24 of a user 25 via various wireless communication techniques. Additionally, or alternatively, the pool cleaner 16 optionally may include an associated human machine interface (HMI) 26 with one or more features for providing information to the user 25 and/or for receiving input from a user. The HMI 26 includes various features for receiving input from and/or providing output to a user, such as but not limited to a display, a speaker, a button, a switch, a dial, a keypad, a light source, combinations thereof, and/or as otherwise desired. The information provided to the user 25 via the HMI 26 may be various information as desired. In embodiments with the HMI 26, the HMI 26 may be provided on the pool cleaner 16 itself or may be provided at a location remote from the pool cleaner 16, such as but not limited to outside of the pool 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Optionally, the pool system 10 includes a charging station 28, which may be utilized to selectively charge and/or provide a docking location for the pool cleaner 16. Various types of charging stations 28 may be utilized as desired, and the charging station 28 illustrated should not be considered limiting. As non-limiting examples, the charging station 28 may be a pool cleaner garage or a docking station 30 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Pool cleaner garages may be embedded inside of the pool wall, stairs, or floor, while a docking station 30 may not be embedded with the pool 12. Instead, a docking station 30 may be provided at various locations within the pool 12 (e.g., on a floor of the pool completely submerged, at a waterline as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, etc.) or outside the pool 12 as desired.

As mentioned, the particular combination of components illustrated in the pool system 10 should not be considered limiting, and in other embodiments, other components and/or combinations of components may be utilized as desired.

In certain embodiments, and as discussed in detail below, the pool cleaner 16 may be operable and/or controlled to operate in various modes (e.g., via the control system). In some embodiments, the pool cleaner 16 may operate in a “scheduling” mode, in which the pool cleaner 16 operates at optimal times, optionally based on user input and/or additional information. Additionally, or alternatively, the pool cleaner 16 may operate in a “swimmer” mode, in which the pool cleaner 16 may interrupt operations (optionally ceasing operations) responsive to a signal indicting a current or future use of the pool 12 by the user 25. These modes are described in greater detail below. While described separately, a pool cleaner 16 may be concurrently operated in the scheduling mode and the swimmer mode. As a non-limiting example, the pool cleaner 16 may operate in the scheduling mode and perform a cleaning operation at night but may enter the swimming mode responsive to a current use by the user 25. Moreover, in other embodiments, various other controls or operating modes may be implemented as desired. As a non-limiting example, the pool cleaner 16 may operate pursuant to one or modes as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/439,424, filed on Feb. 12, 2024, and entitled AUTOMATIC SWIMMING POOL CLEANER WITH AUTO-SCHEDULING SYSTEMS AND METHODS, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Scheduling Mode

FIG. 1 illustrates a non-limiting example of the pool cleaner 16 operating in the scheduling mode. In some embodiments, the scheduling mode optionally may allow for the pool cleaner 16 to remain in the water for prolonged durations and/or may enable operation of the pool cleaner at preferred or desired times.

In some embodiments, control of the pool cleaner 16 in the scheduling mode may be based on a status of other equipment 14. Optionally, the pool cleaner 16 in the scheduling mode may be coordinated with the other equipment 14 to be operating (or in use) or not operating (or not in use) to minimize or reduce any impact on use by the user 25 by operating pool equipment.

As a non-limiting example, the control of the pool cleaner 16 may be controlled based on the status or position of the pool cover 18. Referring to boxes A and B in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the pool cleaner 16 may be controlled to operate (e.g., perform a cleaning cycle, navigate, etc.) based on the pool cover 18 having the covered status (box A) and may be controlled to dock or otherwise not be performing an operation when the pool cover 18 has the uncovered status (box B). In these embodiments, the status or position of the pool cover 18 may be obtained or determined using various techniques or methods as desired. As non-limiting examples, the user 25 may provide the status of the pool cover 18 and/or a sensor may detect the status of the pool cover 18.

Optionally, in addition to generally coordinating operation of the pool cleaner 16 based on the status of the pool cover 18, additional controls may be provided to the pool cleaner 16 based on the status of the pool cover 18. As a non-limiting example, in addition to being controlled to operate when the pool cover 18 has the covered status, the pool cleaner 16 may further be controlled to only operate and/or navigate to minimize and/or prevent interference with the pool cover 18. As an example, the pool cleaner 16 may be controlled to navigate only along a floor of the pool 12 and/or at or below a certain depth (predefined or determined by the pool cleaner 16) so that the cleaner 16 does not engage the pool cover 18. Other additional control of the pool cleaner 16 may be implemented as desired.

Additionally, or alternatively, control of the pool cleaner 16 in the scheduling mode may be based on a schedule from the user 25 and/or based on an estimated or predicted use of the pool 12 by the user. As a non-limiting example, a user 25 may provide the pool cleaner 16 (e.g., via an application on the user device 24, the HMI 26, etc.) a schedule of times (hours, minutes, etc.), days, weeks, months, and/or other segments of time in which the user 25 wants the pool cleaner 16 docked with the charging station 28 and/or operating in the pool 12. In this example, the pool cleaner 16 may control itself in the scheduling mode to be operational and/or docked based on the schedule from the user 25. Additionally, or alternatively, the pool cleaner 16 may estimate or predict a future use by the user 25 and may control operation of the pool cleaner 16 based on the estimated or predicted future use. In some embodiments, the estimated or predicted use may be based on the schedule from the user 25 and/or may be based on use information obtained by the pool cleaner 16 (e.g., by monitoring actual use by the user 25 using one or more sensors, learning use habits by the user 25, combinations thereof, etc.). As a non-limiting example, the pool cleaner 16 may monitor use habits by the user 25 and predict a future use by the user 25 and operate accordingly, such as by waiting at the waterline to have an onboard filter emptied based on an estimated time the user 25 will be at the waterline. Various other estimated or predicted uses may be utilized as desired.

Optionally, control of the pool cleaner 16 in the scheduling mode may be based on an electricity or utility price. As a non-limiting example, the pool cleaner 16 (and/or the control system for the pool cleaner 16) may receive or obtain an electricity price (from a utility provider, from the user 25, from another source, etc.) and may cause the pool cleaner 16 to dock with the charging station 28 when the electricity price is at or below the threshold.

Various other controls in the scheduling mode may be implemented as desired, and the aforementioned examples should not be considered limiting.

Swimmer Mode

Referring to FIG. 2, control of the pool cleaner 16 in the swimmer mode may include operating the pool cleaner 16 (e.g., by performing a cleaning cycle, another cleaning operation, navigating, etc.). In certain embodiments, the pool cleaner 16 may receive a swimmer mode signal from the user 25.

The swimmer mode signal may be provided to the pool cleaner 16 using various techniques or methods as desired. As non-limiting examples, the swimmer mode signal may be wirelessly communicated to the pool cleaner 18 (e.g., from the user device 24), may be communicated to the pool cleaner 16 using the HMI 26, may be a physical contact signal (e.g., tapping, knocking, etc.), combinations thereof, and/or as otherwise desired. In various embodiments, the swimmer mode signal may provide various information to the pool cleaner 16, such as but not limited to a current use of the pool 12 by the user 25, a time of a planned future use of the pool 12 by the user 25, a duration of a current or future use of the pool 12 by the user 25, positioning information for the cleaner 16 while the pool 12 is being used (e.g., at least one of within the pool but undocked from a charging station, within the pool and docked with a charging station, out of the pool and undocked from a charging station, or out of the pool and docked with the charging station), combinations thereof, and/or as otherwise desired.

In certain embodiments, upon receipt of the swimmer mode, the pool cleaner 16 may determine a start time of the swimmer mode (e.g., immediately for an identified current use, at a future time based on a planned use, etc.), and may interrupt operations of the pool cleaner 16 at the start time. In certain embodiments, interrupting operations may include ceasing or stopping a cleaning operation by the pool cleaner 16. Optionally, in embodiments where the swimmer mode signal includes positioning information (e.g., a desired position for the pool cleaner 16 relative to the pool, a docking station, etc. during swimmer mode), the pool cleaner 16 may control itself to be positioned at the desired position within and/or relative to the pool, a docking station, combinations thereof, and/or as otherwise desired. As non-limiting examples, the desired position (or “swimmer mode position”) of the pool cleaner 16 may include one or more of within the pool but undocked from a charging station, within the pool and docked with a charging station, out of the pool and undocked from a charging station, out of the pool and docked with the charging station, at a location relative to a filter, at a location relative to an ingress or egress point of the pool, combinations thereof, and/or as otherwise desired.

In certain embodiments, in the swimmer mode, the pool cleaner 16 may maintain its interrupted status for the identified swimmer mode duration. Additionally, or alternatively, the pool cleaner 16 may maintain its interrupted status until the pool cleaner 16 receives a resume signal from the user 25 instructing the pool cleaner 16 to resume operations and/or otherwise indicating an end of the swimmer mode.

Various other controls in the swimmer mode may be implemented as desired, and the aforementioned examples should not be considered limiting.

Various other benefits and advantages may be realized with the systems, devices, and methods provided herein, and the aforementioned advantages should not be considered limiting.

Exemplary concepts or combinations of features of the invention may include:

• • A. A method of controlling a pool cleaner, the method comprising:
    • i. detecting or receiving a status or position of a pool cover; and
    • ii. selectively controlling or sending a signal to control the pool cleaner based on the status or position of the pool cover.
  • B. A method of controlling a pool cleaner comprising automatically scheduling a cleaning operation of a pool cleaner based on a detected, received, or estimated status of the pool cover.
  • C. A method of controlling a pool cleaner comprising controlling or sending a signal to control the pool cleaner to dock with a charging station based on a status of a pool cover.
  • D. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, wherein the status or position of the pool cover comprises a covered status or an uncovered status relative to a pool or spa.
  • E. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, wherein controlling or scheduling control of the pool cleaner comprises causing the pool cleaner to navigate within the pool or perform a cleaning operation in the pool when the pool cover has the covered status.
  • F. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, wherein causing the pool cleaner to navigate comprises controlling the pool cleaner to only navigate along a floor of the pool or spa while the pool cover has the covered status.
  • G. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, wherein the status or position of the pool cover is received by a user via a human machine interface or an application, and/or wherein the status or position of the pool cover is detected by a sensor.
  • H. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, wherein controlling the pool cleaner is further based on a time of day received or determined by the pool cleaner.
  • I. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, wherein controlling or scheduling control of the pool cleaner comprises causing the pool cleaner to dock with the charging station when the pool cover has the uncovered status.
  • J. A method of controlling a pool cleaner comprising:
    • i. receiving a schedule from a user and/or obtaining pool use information about use of a pool by and/or from the user;
    • ii. estimating or predicting a future pool use by the user based on at least one of the schedule or the obtained pool use information; and
    • iii. controlling navigation and/or operation of the pool cleaner based on the estimated or precited future pool use.
  • K. A method of controlling a pool cleaner, the method comprising:
    • i. receiving or obtaining an electricity price;
    • ii. comparing the electricity price to a threshold; and
    • iii. causing the pool cleaner to dock with a charging station when the electricity price is at or below the threshold.
  • L. A method of controlling a pool cleaner, the method comprising:
    • i. operating the pool cleaner within a pool or spa;
    • ii. receiving a swimmer mode signal from a user and/or sensing the swimmer mode signal by the pool cleaner while the pool cleaner is operating; and
    • iii. based on receipt of the swimmer mode signal, ceasing operation of the pool cleaner.
  • M. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, wherein receiving the swimmer mode signal comprises receiving the swimmer mode signal from a user device via wired or wireless communication, receiving the swimmer mode signal from a human machine interface, or receiving a physical contact signal on the pool cleaner.
  • N. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, further comprising:
    • i. analyzing the swimmer mode signal and determining a swimmer mode duration, wherein ceasing operation of the pool cleaner is for the swimmer mode duration.
  • O. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, wherein operating the pool cleaner comprises performing a cleaning operation within the pool or spa.
  • P. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, further comprising:
    • i. analyzing the swimmer mode signal and determining a swimmer mode position of the pool cleaner for the cleaner mode, wherein ceasing operation of the pool cleaner comprises causing the pool cleaner to position itself at the swimmer mode position.
  • Q. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, wherein the swimmer mode position comprises at least one of within the pool but undocked from a charging station, within the pool and docked with a charging station, out of the pool and undocked from a charging station, or out of the pool and docked with the charging station.
  • R. The method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements, further comprising resuming operation of the pool cleaner responsive to at least one of receipt of a resume signal from the user, the pool cleaner sensing a swimmer has exited the pool, and/or an elapsed duration of a predetermined time period.
  • S. A method of controlling a pool cleaner comprising interrupting a cleaning cycle of a pool cleaner based on a signal indicating a use or future use of the pool by a user.
  • T. A method of controlling a pool cleaner, the method comprising:
    • i. operating the pool cleaner within a pool or spa;
    • ii. receiving a swimmer mode signal from a user while the pool cleaner is operating, the swimmer mode signal including a swimmer mode start time; and
    • iii. based on receipt of the swimmer mode signal, interrupting operation of the pool cleaner at the swimmer mode start time.
  • U. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions executable by one or more processors, the plurality of instructions comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions including the method of any preceding or subsequent statement or combination of statements.

These examples are not intended to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive in any way, and the invention is not limited to these example embodiments but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of any claims ultimately drafted and issued in connection with the invention (and their equivalents). For avoidance of doubt, any combination of features not physically impossible or expressly identified as non-combinable herein may be within the scope of the invention. Further, although devices and techniques have been described for use principally with pool cleaners, persons skilled in the relevant field will recognize that the present invention conceivably could be employed in connection with other objects and in other manners. Finally, references to “pools” and “swimming pools” herein may also refer to spas or other water containing vessels used for recreation, training, or therapy and for which cleaning of debris is needed or desired.