Control method for reminding cat litter box to add cat litter and cat litter box

Abstract

The present application discloses a control method, device, cat litter box, and storage medium for reminding a user to add cat litter to a cat litter box. The control method includes: obtaining a first time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates a fixed angle when empty; monitoring a second time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates the fixed angle after being filled with a rated amount of cat litter; and determining whether to issue a reminder message based on the first time and the second time to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled. Compared with the existing technology, the present application can enable the cat litter box to automatically remind the user to add cat litter without increasing costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of pet products, and in particular relates to a control method and device for a cat litter box to remind people to add cat litter, a cat litter box, and a storage medium. Background Art

[0002] Cat litter is an object used by cats raised by users to bury feces and urine. It has good water absorption and is generally used together with a cat litter box. Pour an appropriate amount of cat litter into the cat litter box. When a trained cat needs to defecate, it will go into the cat litter box to defecate.

[0003] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cat litter box is shown; Figure 2 Show Figure 1 Exploded view of the cat litter box. Figure 1 and 2 As shown, a cat litter box generally consists of a rotating bucket and a base. The base is usually equipped with a weighing device to measure the weight of the entire unit. When a cat enters the rotating bucket to defecate and then exits, the change in weight is used to determine whether to activate the automatic cleaning process. This will dump the cat litter-covered excrement into the trash can at the bottom, and the amount of cat litter in the rotating bucket will decrease accordingly. As the cat enters and exits the rotating bucket more frequently, the amount of cat litter in the rotating bucket will decrease. When the amount reaches a certain level, it is no longer suitable for the cat to defecate in the rotating bucket, and cat litter needs to be added.

[0004] Since the weighing device installed at the bottom cannot measure the weight change of the rotating bucket alone (after each automatic cleaning, the excrement wrapped in cat litter is stored in the trash can at the bottom, and its weight is included in the weight of the whole machine), it is difficult for a cat litter box with only a weighing device installed on the base to obtain the weight change of the rotating bucket, and it is difficult to judge the weight change of the cat litter. When the cat litter is too low to need to be added, it cannot automatically remind the user to add cat litter.

[0005] One existing solution involves two weighing devices: one mounted on the base to measure the entire device, and another mounted on the rotating drum to measure changes in the drum's weight. If the drum's weight decreases significantly after adding cat litter, the user is prompted to add more litter. This approach requires an additional weighing device, resulting in a complex and costly design. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the embodiments of the present application provide a control method, device, cat litter box and storage medium for reminding the user to add cat litter, so that the cat litter box can automatically remind the user to add cat litter without increasing the cost.

[0007] A first embodiment of the present application provides a control method for a cat litter box to remind cat litter to be added, comprising:

[0008] Get the first time that the litter box's rotating bucket rotates to a fixed angle when empty;

[0009] monitoring a second time for the rotating barrel of the cat litter box to rotate the fixed angle after a rated amount of cat litter is loaded;

[0010] Determine whether to send a reminder message according to the first time and the second time to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled with cat litter.

[0011] The first aspect of the present application provides a control method for a cat litter box that reminds users to add cat litter. The method comprises obtaining a first time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates a fixed angle when the cat litter box is empty; monitoring a second time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates the fixed angle after being filled with a rated amount of cat litter; and determining whether to issue a reminder message based on the first time and the second time to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled with cat litter. Compared with the prior art, the present application enables the cat litter box to automatically remind the user to add cat litter without increasing costs.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present application, determining whether to issue a reminder message according to the first time and the second time includes:

[0013] comparing a time difference between the first time and the second time with a preset threshold;

[0014] According to the time difference being less than the preset threshold, it is determined to send a reminder message.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present application, determining whether to issue a reminder message according to the first time and the second time includes:

[0016] The time it takes for the litter box's rotating barrel to rotate to the fixed angle for the first time after being filled with a rated amount of cat litter is used as a reference time;

[0017] Whether to issue a reminder message is determined according to the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present application, determining whether to issue a reminder message based on the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time includes:

[0019] determining a time change rate m according to the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time;

[0020] According to the time change rate m being less than the time change rate threshold, determining to issue a reminder message;

[0021] Where m = (t - t0) / (t1 - t0);

[0022] Here, t0 represents the first time, t1 represents the reference time, and t represents the second time monitored after the reference time.

[0023] The control device for a cat litter box reminding cat litter addition according to the second aspect of the present application includes:

[0024] An acquisition module, configured to acquire the first time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates to a fixed angle in an empty state;

[0025] A monitoring module, configured to monitor a second time for the rotating barrel of the cat litter box to rotate to the fixed angle after being loaded with a rated amount of cat litter;

[0026] The determination module is used to determine whether to issue a reminder message according to the first time and the second time to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled with cat litter.

[0027] The control device for a cat litter box that reminds users to add cat litter in the second aspect of the embodiment of the present application obtains the first time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates a fixed angle when it is empty; monitors the second time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates the fixed angle after being filled with a rated amount of cat litter; and determines whether to issue a reminder message based on the first time and the second time to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled with cat litter. Compared with the existing technology, the present application can enable the cat litter box to automatically remind the user to add cat litter without increasing costs.

[0028] In some embodiments of the present application, the determining module is specifically configured to:

[0029] comparing a time difference between the first time and the second time with a preset threshold;

[0030] According to the time difference being less than the preset threshold, it is determined to send a reminder message.

[0031] In some embodiments of the present application, the determining module is specifically configured to:

[0032] The time it takes for the litter box's rotating barrel to rotate to the fixed angle for the first time after being filled with a rated amount of cat litter is used as a reference time;

[0033] Whether to issue a reminder message is determined according to the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time.

[0034] In some embodiments of the present application, the determining module is specifically configured to:

[0035] determining a time change rate m according to the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time;

[0036] According to the time change rate m being less than the time change rate threshold, determining to issue a reminder message;

[0037] Where m = (t - t0) / (t1 - t0);

[0038] Here, t0 represents the first time, t1 represents the reference time, and t represents the second time monitored after the reference time.

[0039] The cat litter box of the third embodiment of the present application includes: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor runs the computer program, it executes the control method for the cat litter box to remind the user to add cat litter according to the first embodiment.

[0040] The computer-readable storage medium of the fourth embodiment of the present application stores a computer program thereon, and the computer program can be executed by a processor to implement the control method for a cat litter box to remind people to add cat litter according to the first embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment below. The accompanying drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be considered as limiting the present application. The same reference symbols are used throughout the drawings to represent the same components. In the drawings:

[0042] Attachment Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cat litter box is shown;

[0043] Attachment Figure 2 Show Figure 1 Exploded view of the medium cat litter box;

[0044] Attachment Figure 3 A flow chart of a control method for a cat litter box to remind cat litter to be added is shown in the present application;

[0045] Attachment Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a rotary barrel structure provided by the present application is shown;

[0046] Attachment Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a control device for a cat litter box that reminds people to add cat litter is shown in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Attachment Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a cat litter box according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0048] Attachment Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a computer-readable storage medium according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0049] The purpose, features and advantages of the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with the embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0051] It should be noted that all directional indications in the embodiments of the present invention (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the various components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0052] In addition, the terms "first," "second," and so on, used in this disclosure are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referenced. Thus, a feature specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of this disclosure, "plurality" means at least two, such as two or three, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0053] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "connection" and "fixation" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "fixation" can mean fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0054] In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the fact that ordinary technicians in this field can implement it. When the combination of technical solutions is mutually contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

[0055] The present application proposes a control method, device, cat litter box and storage medium for reminding a cat litter box to add cat litter, which obtains a first time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates to a fixed angle when empty; monitors a second time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates to the fixed angle after being filled with a rated amount of cat litter; and determines whether to issue a reminder message based on the first time and the second time to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled. Compared with the existing technology, the present application can enable the cat litter box to automatically remind the user to add cat litter, and does not require changes to the existing cat litter box's electronic control solution and overall structure, thereby not increasing costs.

[0056] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] Example 1

[0058] Figure 3 This is a flow chart of a control method for a cat litter box to remind you to add cat litter, provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 As shown, the control method includes the following steps S101-S103:

[0059] Step S101: obtaining the first time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates at a fixed angle in an empty state.

[0060] Due to the changes in the material and weight of the cat litter, the motor may rotate at different angles for the same amount of time, or the motor may rotate at different angles for different periods of time due to the changes in the material and weight of the cat litter. The motor drives the rotating drum to rotate, so the present application utilizes the above principle to determine the changes in the remaining amount of cat litter in the rotating drum, and based on the remaining amount of cat litter, remind the user that the litter box needs to be refilled.

[0061] In this embodiment, the empty state of the rotary barrel refers to a state in which there is no cat litter in the rotary barrel.

[0062] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a rotary barrel structure provided by the present application is shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, this diagram shows the structure of the initial position of the bottom of the rotating barrel. The bottom of the rotating barrel refers to Figure 2 As shown in the figure, magnets A and B with opposite polarities are installed at the bottom of the rotating barrel, and a bipolar Hall element D for detecting the magnets is installed on the base. C is the entrance to the rotating barrel, and A, B and D are on the same circle with O as the center. The central angle ∠AOB corresponds to the large central angle For example

[0063] In practical application, the cat litter box can be turned at a fixed angle (the above large central angle) when the bucket is empty when it leaves the factory. ) is written into the storage device at time t0, specifically: the bipolar Hall element D detects the time difference t0 when magnets A and B with opposite polarity pass through the Hall element, that is, the rotation The angle requires the motor to rotate for a time t0. When the cat litter box is in the user's hand and powered on, the single chip microcomputer reads the time difference t0 that has been written into the storage device, that is, the first time in step S101.

[0064] Step S102: monitoring the second time for the rotating barrel of the cat litter box to rotate at the fixed angle after the rated amount of cat litter is filled.

[0065] Specifically, after the cat litter box is delivered to the user, the user usually adds a specified amount of cat litter to the cat litter box for use. Specifically, a weighing device on the base can be used to detect whether the cat litter box has been added to the specified amount. If it has not been added to the specified amount, the user can be reminded to continue adding cat litter. After the specified amount of cat litter is added to the cat litter box, the cat litter box enters the operating state. As the cat enters and exits the rotating bucket more frequently, the cat litter in the rotating bucket will become less and less. When the amount is less than a certain amount, it is no longer suitable for the cat to defecate in the rotating bucket, and cat litter needs to be added.

[0066] In the present application, the second time when the rotary drum rotates a fixed angle in the running state is monitored. The second time is also the time difference between the bipolar Hall element D detecting that the magnets A and B with opposite polarity pass through the Hall element respectively. It should be understood that after the bipolar Hall element D detects that the magnets A and B with opposite polarity pass through the Hall element respectively, it will record a second time. Therefore, the second time is recorded continuously. As the cat litter in the rotary drum becomes less and less, the rotation speed of the rotary drum changes, so the second time also changes.

[0067] Step S103: Determine whether to send a reminder message based on the first time and the second time to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled with cat litter.

[0068] In this embodiment, the first time is measured when the rotary barrel is empty, and the second time is measured when the rotary barrel is running. As the rotary barrel runs, the cat litter in the rotary barrel becomes less and less, gradually decreasing from the rated amount to the empty state, causing the rotation speed of the rotary barrel to change, and the second time also changes relative to the first time. Therefore, the remaining amount of cat litter can be determined based on the first time and the second time, and the user can be reminded that the litter box needs to be refilled based on the remaining amount of cat litter.

[0069] In some implementations of the present application, step S103 may be specifically implemented as follows:

[0070] comparing the time difference between the first time and the second time with a preset threshold;

[0071] If the time difference is less than a preset threshold, a reminder message is sent.

[0072] Specifically, assuming the barrel rotates through a fixed angle when empty The time taken is 20.39 seconds, meaning the first time t0 is 20.39 seconds. (To facilitate calculations during microcontroller operation, the time can be converted to a base unit of 100ms, 10ms, or 1ms, etc. In this embodiment, the base unit is 10ms, meaning 20.39 seconds can be converted to 2039 units of 10ms, the same below.) When the litter box leaves the factory, t0 = 2039 is written to the storage device, and a preset threshold t2 = 70 is set. This preset threshold is an empirical value.

[0073] During the operation of the cat litter box, when it is detected that the time unit taken for the rotating barrel to rotate 210° is t=2100, t-t0=2100-2039=61<70, it is determined that the remaining amount of cat litter is insufficient, and a reminder message is issued to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled.

[0074] There are many ways to send reminder information, such as sending a reminder message to the user's mobile phone, or the cat litter box itself reminding the user through sound and light information, which is not limited in this application.

[0075] This embodiment can determine that the remaining amount of cat litter is insufficient through simple and quick monitoring and calculation, so that the cat litter box automatically reminds the user to add cat litter, without increasing costs and with extremely low computing consumption.

[0076] In other implementations of the present application, step S103 may also be specifically implemented as follows:

[0077] The time it takes for the litter box's rotating barrel to rotate to the fixed angle for the first time after being filled with a rated amount of cat litter is used as a reference time;

[0078] Whether to issue a reminder message is determined according to the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time.

[0079] In this embodiment, the second time when the user first adds a rated amount of cat litter or changes the cat litter and the first time the fixed angle is rotated is used as the reference time t1, and the second time monitored after the reference time t1 is used as t. In actual application, when the user first adds a rated amount of cat litter or changes the cat litter, a weight reset process or a cat litter leveling process is generally performed, and the reference time t1 is obtained during the above process. When leveling the cat litter, during this process, the time when the rotating bucket rotates to a fixed angle ( When the weight is reset, record the action and record the time when the barrel rotates to a fixed angle ( angle) time.

[0080] Specifically, determine the time change rate m according to the first time, the reference time, and the second time detected after the reference time; determine to send a reminder message according to the time change rate m being less than the time change rate threshold.

[0081] Among them, m = (t - t0) / (t1 - t0); where t0 represents the first time, t1 represents the reference time, and t represents the second time detected after the reference time.

[0082] Specifically, assume the fixed angle rotated in the empty state of the rotating barrel takes 20.39 seconds, that is, the first time t0 is 2039. When the litter box leaves the factory, t0 = 2039 is written into the storage device, and the time change rate threshold m0 = 40% is set.

[0083] The time change rate threshold is an empirical value. Specifically, for different types of cat litter and cat litter of different weights, according to the actual test of the time for the rotating barrel of the litter box to rotate a fixed angle, the time change rate threshold m0 from loading a fixed amount of cat litter to the time when cat litter needs to be added can be obtained.

[0084] During the operation of the litter box, after the first addition of a fixed amount of cat litter or replacement of cat litter, the time unit for the rotating barrel to rotate the first 210° angle is t1 = 2195. When in use, when it is detected that the time unit t for the rotating barrel to rotate 210° angle is 2100, then the time change rate m = (t - t0) / (t1 - t0) = (2100 - 2039) / (2195 - 2039) = 39% < m0 = 40%, then it is judged that the amount of cat litter in the rotating barrel is insufficient, and cat litter needs to be replenished, and a reminder message is sent to remind the user that the litter box needs to be replenished with cat litter.

[0085] The way to send the reminder message can be various. For example, send a reminder message to the user's mobile phone, or the litter box itself reminds the user through sound and light information. This application does not make a limit on this.

[0086] In this embodiment, the time for the rotating barrel of the litter box to rotate the first fixed angle after loading a fixed amount of cat litter is used as a reference factor to judge the remaining amount of cat litter in the rotating barrel, making the judgment result more accurate.

[0087] The control method for reminding to add cat litter in the embodiment of this application obtains the first time for the rotating barrel of the litter box to rotate a fixed angle in the empty state; monitors the second time for the rotating barrel of the litter box to rotate a fixed angle after loading a fixed amount of cat litter; determines whether to send a reminder message according to the first time and the second time to remind the user that the litter box needs to be replenished with cat litter. Compared with the prior art, this application can enable the litter box to automatically remind the user to add cat litter without increasing the cost.

[0088] Embodiment 2

[0089] The present embodiment provides a control device for a cat litter box that reminds a user to add litter. The control device for a cat litter box that reminds a user to add litter corresponds to the control method for a cat litter box that reminds a user to add litter in the first embodiment. For relevant details, please refer to the description of the first embodiment. The method embodiment described below is merely illustrative.

[0090] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of a control device for a cat litter box that reminds cat litter to be added, provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 As shown, the control device 10 includes:

[0091] An acquisition module 101 is used to acquire the first time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates a fixed angle in an empty state;

[0092] A monitoring module 102 is configured to monitor a second time for the rotating bucket of the cat litter box to rotate to the fixed angle after being filled with a rated amount of cat litter;

[0093] The determination module 103 is configured to determine whether to issue a reminder message based on the first time and the second time to remind the user that the litter box needs to be refilled with cat litter.

[0094] In some embodiments of the present application, the determining module 103 is specifically configured to:

[0095] comparing a time difference between the first time and the second time with a preset threshold;

[0096] According to the time difference being less than the preset threshold, it is determined to send a reminder message.

[0097] In some embodiments of the present application, the determining module 103 is specifically configured to:

[0098] The time it takes for the litter box's rotating barrel to rotate to the fixed angle for the first time after being filled with a rated amount of cat litter is used as a reference time;

[0099] Whether to issue a reminder message is determined according to the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time.

[0100] In some embodiments of the present application, the determining module 103 is specifically configured to:

[0101] determining a time change rate m according to the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time;

[0102] According to the time change rate m being less than the time change rate threshold, determining to issue a reminder message;

[0103] Where m = (t - t0) / (t1 - t0);

[0104] Here, t0 represents the first time, t1 represents the reference time, and t represents the second time monitored after the reference time.

[0105] The control device of the present embodiment for reminding a user to add cat litter in a cat litter box obtains a first time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates a fixed angle when empty; monitors a second time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates the fixed angle after being filled with a rated amount of cat litter; and determines whether to issue a reminder message based on the first time and the second time to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled. Compared with the existing technology, the present application can enable the cat litter box to automatically remind the user to add cat litter without increasing costs.

[0106] Example 3

[0107] like Figure 6 As shown, the embodiment of the present application also provides a cat litter box 20, including: a memory 201, a processor 202 and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor 202 executes the computer program to implement the control method for the cat litter box to remind the user to add cat litter according to any embodiment of the first embodiment.

[0108] Specifically, the cat litter box may include: a processor, a memory, a bus and a communication interface, and the processor, communication interface and memory are connected via a bus; the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and when the processor runs the computer program, it executes the control method for the cat litter box to remind people to add cat litter provided in any of the aforementioned embodiments of the present application.

[0109] The memory may include high-speed random access memory (RAM) and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage. The system network element communicates with at least one other network element via at least one communication interface (which may be wired or wireless), such as the Internet, a wide area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, or the like.

[0110] The bus may be an ISA bus, a PCI bus, or an EISA bus. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. The memory is used to store a program, and the processor executes the program after receiving an execution instruction. The control method for a cat litter box to remind users to add cat litter as disclosed in any of the aforementioned embodiments of the present application can be applied to or implemented by the processor.

[0111] The processor may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by hardware integrated logic circuits in the processor or by software instructions. The above processor may be a general-purpose processor, including a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), etc.; it may also be a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. The various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be implemented or executed. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly implemented and executed by a hardware decoding processor, or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module can be located in a storage medium well-known in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method.

[0112] The cat litter box provided in the embodiment of the present application and the control method for reminding the cat litter box to add cat litter provided in the embodiment of the present application are based on the same inventive concept and have the same beneficial effects as the methods adopted, operated or implemented therein.

[0113] Example 4

[0114] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium. Figure 7 The computer-readable storage medium shown is a CD 30, on which computer-readable instructions (i.e., program products) are stored. The computer-readable instructions can be executed by a processor to implement the control method for reminding a cat litter box to add cat litter in any embodiment of Example 1.

[0115] Examples of the computer-readable storage medium may also include, but are not limited to, phase change memory (PRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), other types of random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other optical or magnetic storage media, which are not listed here one by one.

[0116] The computer-readable storage medium provided in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application and the control method for a cat litter box to remind people to add cat litter provided in the embodiment of the present application are based on the same inventive concept and have the same beneficial effects as the method adopted, run or implemented by the application program stored therein.

[0117] It should be noted that:

[0118] In the description provided herein, a large number of specific details are described. However, it is understood that the embodiments of the present application can be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods, structures, and techniques are not shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.

[0119] Similarly, it should be understood that in order to streamline the present application and aid in understanding one or more of the various inventive aspects, in the above description of the exemplary embodiments of the present application, various features of the present application are sometimes grouped together into a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof. However, this disclosed method should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed application requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the claims below, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all the features of the individual embodiments disclosed above. Accordingly, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim itself serving as a separate embodiment of the present application.

[0120] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the modules in the devices in the embodiments may be adaptively changed and arranged in one or more devices different from the embodiments. The modules or units or components in the embodiments may be combined into one module or unit or component, and in addition may be divided into multiple submodules or subunits or subcomponents. All features disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstracts and drawings) and all processes or units of any method or device disclosed herein may be combined in any combination, except that at least some of such features and / or processes or units are mutually exclusive. Unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed in this specification (including the accompanying claims, abstracts and drawings) may be replaced by an alternative feature providing the same, equivalent or similar purpose.

[0121] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that although some embodiments described herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not other features, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this application and to form different embodiments. For example, in the claims below, any of the claimed embodiments may be used in any combination.

[0122] The various component embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware, or implemented in a software module running on one or more processors, or implemented in a combination thereof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP) can be used in practice to implement some or all of the functions of some or all of the components in the creation device of the virtual machine according to an embodiment of the present application. The application can also be implemented as a part or all of the equipment or device program (for example, computer program and computer program product) for performing the method described herein. Such a program realizing the present application can be stored on a computer-readable medium, or can have the form of one or more signals. Such a signal can be downloaded from an Internet website, or provided on a carrier signal, or provided in any other form.

[0123] It should be noted that the above embodiments illustrate rather than limit the present application, and that a person skilled in the art may devise alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference symbols placed between brackets should not be construed as limiting the claims. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps not listed in the claims. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The present application may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several different elements and by means of appropriately programmed computers. In a unit claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by the same item of hardware. The use of the words first, second, and third etc. does not indicate any order. These words may be interpreted as names.

[0124] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made by using the contents of the present invention description and drawings under the concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields are included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for a cat litter box to remind people to add cat litter, characterized in that: include: Get the first time that the litter box's rotating bucket rotates to a fixed angle when empty; monitoring a second time for the rotating barrel of the cat litter box to rotate the fixed angle after a rated amount of cat litter is loaded; Determining whether to send a reminder message according to the first time and the second time to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled with cat litter includes: I. Comparing the time difference between the first time and the second time with a preset threshold; and determining to issue a reminder message based on the time difference being less than the preset threshold; II. The time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates to the fixed angle for the first time after being loaded with a rated amount of cat litter is used as a reference time; and determining whether to issue a reminder message based on the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The determining whether to issue a reminder message according to the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time includes: determining a time change rate m according to the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time; According to the time change rate m being less than the time change rate threshold, determining to issue a reminder message; Where m=(t-t0) / (t1-t0); Here, t0 represents the first time, t1 represents the reference time, and t represents the second time monitored after the reference time.

3. A control device for a cat litter box to remind people to add cat litter, characterized in that: include: An acquisition module, configured to acquire the first time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates to a fixed angle in an empty state; A monitoring module, configured to monitor a second time for the rotating barrel of the cat litter box to rotate to the fixed angle after being loaded with a rated amount of cat litter; a determination module, configured to determine whether to issue a reminder message based on the first time and the second time, so as to remind the user that the cat litter box needs to be refilled with cat litter; The determining module is specifically configured to: I. Comparing the time difference between the first time and the second time with a preset threshold; and determining to issue a reminder message based on the time difference being less than the preset threshold; II. The time when the rotating bucket of the cat litter box rotates to the fixed angle for the first time after being loaded with a rated amount of cat litter is used as a reference time; and determining whether to issue a reminder message based on the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that The determining module is specifically configured to: determining a time change rate m according to the first time, the reference time, and a second time monitored after the reference time; According to the time change rate m being less than the time change rate threshold, determining to issue a reminder message; Where m=(t-t0) / (t1-t0); Here, t0 represents the first time, t1 represents the reference time, and t represents the second time monitored after the reference time.

5. A cat litter box comprising: A memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the computer program to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 2. 6 . A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program can be executed by a processor to implement the method according to claim 1 .

Images