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US 11,306,500 B2Granted
Swimming pool cleaning system with image capture device
AssigneeZodiac Pool Care Europe
InventorPhilippe Pichon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a swimming pool cleaning system comprising a cleaning apparatus (10) to be immersed in the pool, the system further comprising at least one moving image acquisition means (30) secured to a float (31) via a flexible tie (32).
Claims13
A system for cleaning a swimming pool, comprising:
- a. a cleaning device comprising:
- i. a body defining an inlet and an outlet;
- ii. wheels, disposed laterally with respect to the body, for moving the body on a submerged surface in the swimming pool;
- iii. a motor driving at least one of the wheels;
- and
- iv. a filter basket positioned in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet of the body;
- b. a float configured to remain at a waterline of the swimming pool;
- c. a camera secured to the float;
- d. a flexible tie connecting the cleaning device to at least one of the camera and the float so that, as the body moves on the submerged surface, the body tows the camera and the float at the waterline;
- e. means for detecting, utilizing images supplied by the camera and regardless of an orientation of the float, an orientation and direction of movement of the cleaning device moving on the submerged surface;
- and
- f. means for electronically controlling the motor of the cleaning device for controlling movement of the cleaning device based on the images supplied by the camera.
9 more elements
A system for cleaning a swimming pool, comprising:
- a. a cleaning device comprising:
- i. a body defining an inlet and an outlet;
- ii. wheels, disposed laterally with respect to the body, for moving the body on a submerged surface in the swimming pool;
- iii. a motor;
- iv. a filter basket positioned in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet of the body;
- and
- v. an orientation calibration feature on the body of the cleaning device;
- b. a float configured to remain at a waterline of the swimming pool;
- c. a camera secured to the float;
- d. a flexible tie connecting the cleaning device to at least one of the camera and the float so that, as the body moves on the submerged surface, the body tows the camera and the float at the waterline;
- e. means for determining, utilizing images supplied by the camera, an orientation and direction of movement of the cleaning device moving on the submerged surface based on a detection of the orientation calibration feature by the camera;
- and
- f. means for electronically controlling movement of the cleaning device based on the determined orientation and direction of movement of the cleaning device.
10 more elements
A system for cleaning a swimming pool, comprising:
- a. a cleaning device comprising:
- i. a body defining an inlet and an outlet;
- ii. wheels for moving the body on a submerged surface in the swimming pool;
- iii. a motor;
- and
- iv. a filter basket positioned in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet of the body;
- b. a float configured to float in the swimming pool;
- c. a camera secured to the float;
- d. a flexible tie connecting the cleaning device to at least one of the camera and the float so that, as the body moves on the submerged surface, the body tows the camera and the float, and the float is selectively submergible below a waterline;
- e. means for determining, utilizing images supplied by the camera, an orientation and direction of movement of the cleaning device moving on the submerged surface;
- and
- f. means for electronically controlling movement of the cleaning device based on the determined orientation and direction of movement of the cleaning device.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.