Determining characteristics of liquid-containing vessels such as swimming pools and spas and using such characteristics in operation of the vessels
AssigneeZodiac Pool Systems LLC
InventorsHendrikus Johannes van der Meijden, E. Keith McQueen, Phillip Newman, Richard E. Mills
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Augmented (virtual) reality techniques are described for assisting in determining characteristics of swimming pools and spas. Such pools and spas may, for example, be mapped at least as to their general sizes and shapes. The mapped and other information may be available for display and may be furnished to an automatic swimming pool cleaner (APC) to improve its operational efficiency in cleaning the pool.
Claims12
A method of cleaning a swimming pool comprising:
- a. causing mapping of the swimming pool by capturing images of the swimming pool;
- b. causing information relating to the mapping of the swimming pool to be communicated to an automatic swimming pool cleaner;
- and
- c. causing operation of the automatic swimming pool cleaner within the swimming pool.
A system for cleaning a swimming pool comprising:
- a. a device configured to (i) capture images, (ii) display a rendering of a swimming pool created using augmented reality and the captured images, and (iii) communicate wirelessly;
- and
- b. an automatic swimming pool cleaner configured to communicate wirelessly with the device.
A method of mapping a swimming pool comprising capturing images of the swimming pool and a reference object.
A method of forming an outline of a swimming pool comprising:
- a. marking points along an edge of the swimming pool virtually using an image-capture device;
- and
- b. supplying information relating to a depth of the swimming pool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.