Cat litter basin and operation control method of cat litter basin

Abstract

The invention discloses a cat litter basin and an operation control method of the cat litter basin. The cat litter basin comprises a base; the cat litter bin is arranged on the base and used for containing cat litter and excrement and separating the cat litter from the excrement; the excrement collecting bin is connected with the cat litter bin and is used for collecting excrement separated from the cat litter bin; the system bin comprises a refrigerating system and is used for refrigerating the excrement collecting bin; the temperature sensor is arranged in the excrement collecting bin and used for collecting the temperature in the excrement collecting bin. In the first operation mode, acquiring a user-defined cleaning time interval of the excrement collecting bin; according to the cleaning time interval, the refrigeration set temperature is determined; and controlling the running state of the refrigerating system according to the refrigerating set temperature and the temperature in the bin. By the adoption of the device, the appropriate refrigeration set temperature can be set according to the cleaning time interval, refrigeration operation control over the excrement collecting bin is achieved, and bacterium breeding and peculiar smell volatilization are effectively slowed down.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of smart home technology, and in particular to a cat litter box and an operation control method of the cat litter box. Background Art

[0002] As the pet economy continues to heat up, the scale of the pet consumption market continues to expand. Pets are gradually changing their roles to family members, and the markets for pet food, supplies, and health care are entering a stage of rapid development. With the hot pursuit of emotional value consumption, especially the increase in the number of young people keeping pets, the fast-paced and involutionary urban life makes urban youth busy with work all day long, and they cannot guarantee that they have time to take care of their pets' eating, drinking, defecation, and urination every day. The emergence of smart pet devices eliminates the worries of keeping pets. Products such as smart water dispensers, smart feeders, smart cat litter boxes, and constant temperature smart pet nests have emerged one after another.

[0003] However, the inventors have found that the prior art has at least the following problems: the existing smart cat litter box can only automatically clean and collect feces. If it is not manually discarded in time, it will continue to produce odors in the home, especially in the hot summer, bacteria will breed rapidly, endangering the health of pets and pet owners. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a cat litter box and a method for controlling the operation of the cat litter box, which can set a suitable refrigeration setting temperature according to the user's cleaning interval, realize the freezing operation control of the feces collection bin, and effectively slow down the growth of bacteria and the volatilization of odor.

[0005] To achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cat litter box, comprising:

[0006] Base;

[0007] A cat litter bin, disposed on the base, for containing cat litter and excrement, and separating the cat litter and the excrement;

[0008] A feces collection bin, connected to the cat litter bin, for collecting the excrement separated from the cat litter bin;

[0009] The system bin includes a refrigeration system for refrigerating the feces collection bin;

[0010] A temperature sensor is provided in the feces collection bin and is used to collect the temperature inside the feces collection bin;

[0011] Controller for:

[0012] In a first operating mode, obtaining a user-defined time interval for cleaning the feces collection bin;

[0013] Determining a refrigeration setting temperature according to the cleaning time interval;

[0014] The operating state of the refrigeration system is controlled according to the refrigeration setting temperature and the temperature in the warehouse.

[0015] As an improvement of the above solution, the cat litter box further includes a door switch sensor, which is arranged on the door of the feces collection bin and is used to output a door opening signal when detecting the door opening action of the feces collection bin, and output a door closing signal when detecting the door closing action of the feces collection bin;

[0016] The controller is also used for:

[0017] When the door opening signal is not received within the cleaning time interval, the value of the cooling setting temperature is reduced.

[0018] As an improvement of the above solution, the cat litter box further includes a weight sensor, which is arranged at the bottom of the feces collection bin and is used to detect the weight of the feces collection bin;

[0019] The controller is also used for:

[0020] Collecting the weight of the feces collection bin in real time;

[0021] After receiving the door opening signal and the door closing signal of the feces collecting bin, determining whether the weight of the feces collecting bin changes before the door opening signal and after the door closing signal;

[0022] When the weight of the feces collecting bin does not change, the current door opening signal and door closing signal are deleted.

[0023] As an improvement of the above solution, the controller is also used for:

[0024] In the second operation mode, the refrigeration setting temperature is set to a preset initial temperature value;

[0025] Real-time acquisition of the closing duration and weight increase of the feces collection bin;

[0026] According to the correspondence between the preset door closing duration and the refrigeration setting temperature, the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current door closing duration is obtained as the first setting temperature;

[0027] According to the preset correspondence between the weight increase value and the refrigeration setting temperature, the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current weight increase value is obtained as the second setting temperature;

[0028] The cooling set temperature is updated with the minimum value of the first set temperature and the second set temperature.

[0029] As an improvement of the above scheme, in the corresponding relationship between the preset weight increase value and the refrigeration setting temperature, the larger the weight increase value is, the smaller the refrigeration setting temperature is; in the corresponding relationship between the preset door closing duration and the refrigeration setting temperature, the longer the door closing duration is, the smaller the refrigeration setting temperature is.

[0030] As an improvement of the above solution, the cat litter box further includes a door switch sensor and a weight sensor; the door switch sensor is arranged on the door of the feces collection bin, and is used to output a door opening signal when the door opening action of the feces collection bin is detected, and output a door closing signal when the door closing action of the feces collection bin is detected; the weight sensor is arranged at the bottom of the feces collection bin, and is used to detect the weight of the feces collection bin;

[0031] The real-time acquisition of the closing duration and weight increase of the feces collecting bin includes:

[0032] Calculating the duration of the door closing of the feces collection bin according to the time when the door opening signal and the door closing signal are received;

[0033] The weight increase value of the feces collecting bin is calculated according to the initial weight value of the feces collecting bin and the current weight of the feces collecting bin.

[0034] As an improvement of the above solution, controlling the operating state of the refrigeration system according to the refrigeration setting temperature and the temperature in the warehouse includes:

[0035] When the temperature in the warehouse is greater than the refrigeration start-up temperature, the refrigeration system is controlled to start running; wherein the refrigeration start-up temperature is the sum of the refrigeration set temperature and the first temperature value;

[0036] When the temperature in the warehouse is lower than the refrigeration shutdown temperature, the refrigeration system is controlled to stop running; wherein the refrigeration shutdown temperature is the difference between the refrigeration set temperature and a second temperature value.

[0037] As an improvement of the above solution, the controller is also used for:

[0038] Receiving an operation mode control instruction input by a user;

[0039] According to the operation mode control instruction, the operation mode of the cat litter box is controlled; wherein the operation mode includes the first operation mode and the second operation mode.

[0040] The embodiment of the present invention further provides an operation control method of a cat litter box, wherein the cat litter box comprises:

[0041] Base;

[0042] A cat litter bin, disposed on the base, for containing cat litter and excrement, and separating the cat litter and the excrement;

[0043] A feces collection bin, connected to the cat litter bin, for collecting the excrement separated from the cat litter bin;

[0044] The system bin includes a refrigeration system for refrigerating the feces collection bin;

[0045] A temperature sensor is provided in the feces collection bin and is used to collect the temperature inside the feces collection bin;

[0046] The method comprises:

[0047] In a first operating mode, obtaining a user-defined time interval for cleaning the feces collection bin;

[0048] Determining a refrigeration setting temperature according to the cleaning time interval;

[0049] The operating state of the refrigeration system is controlled according to the refrigeration setting temperature and the temperature in the warehouse.

[0050] As an improvement of the above solution, the method further includes:

[0051] In the second operation mode, the refrigeration setting temperature is set to a preset initial temperature value;

[0052] Real-time acquisition of the closing duration and weight increase of the feces collection bin;

[0053] According to the correspondence between the preset door closing duration and the refrigeration setting temperature, the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current door closing duration is obtained as the first setting temperature;

[0054] According to the preset correspondence between the weight increase value and the refrigeration setting temperature, the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current weight increase value is obtained as the second setting temperature;

[0055] The cooling set temperature is updated with the minimum value of the first set temperature and the second set temperature.

[0056] Compared with the prior art, the cat litter box and the operation control method of the cat litter box disclosed in the present invention can automatically screen out and collect pet feces and other excrement. And it is possible to set a suitable refrigeration setting temperature according to the cleaning time interval customized by the user, and realize the freezing operation control of the feces collection bin according to the refrigeration setting temperature. The excrement collected in the feces collection bin is frozen. The shorter the user's cleaning time interval, that is, the higher the cleaning frequency, the higher the refrigeration setting temperature, so that when the user frequently cleans, the cooling output of the compressor can be reduced to achieve energy saving effect; the longer the user's cleaning time interval, that is, the lower the cleaning frequency, the lower the refrigeration setting temperature, so that when the user fails to clean in time, it can effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria and the volatilization of odors, thereby ensuring the health of the pet.

[0057] The embodiment of the present invention effectively liberates the labor of the user, and is convenient for pet owners to use in daily life or when they are away from home on business trips. It is clean and hygienic during use, and can effectively slow down the growth of bacteria and the volatilization of odors. At the same time, it can take into account the effects of energy saving and emission reduction, and effectively improve the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a cat litter box provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a cat litter bin in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of a base in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of a feces collection bin in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a system bin in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of the connection relationship between the system bin and the feces collection bin in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a first working process of a controller in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a second working process of the controller in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a third working process of the controller in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] Fig.10 4 is a schematic diagram of the fourth working process of the controller in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0069] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0070] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0071] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0072] See also Figure 1 , is a structural schematic diagram of a cat litter box provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of the present invention provides a cat litter box 10, and the cat litter box 10 includes a base 11, a cat litter bin 12, a feces collection bin 13 and a system bin 14.

[0073] Among them, the base 11 is used to achieve a supporting effect; the cat litter bin 12 is arranged on the base 11, and the cat litter bin 12 is used to contain cat litter and excrement, and separate the cat litter and the excrement; the feces collecting bin 13 is connected to the cat litter bin 12, and is used to collect the excrement separated by the cat litter bin 12; the system bin 14 includes a refrigeration system, which is used to cool the feces collecting bin 13.

[0074] See also Figure 2, is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cat litter bin in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cat litter bin 12 is composed of a first shell 121, a drum 122, a curved screen plate 123, and a rear cover 124. The first shell 121 and the drum 122 are coaxial structures, and the curved screen plate 123 is fixed to the inner side of the drum 122. The curved screen plate 123 is a concave structure in the middle and tilts downward toward the direction of the feces collection bin 13, so that feces and other excrement can roll to the rear side during rotation. There are many round holes on the curved screen plate 123 to facilitate the falling of small particles of cat litter. The rear cover 124 is located behind the drum 122, and a sand discharge port 125 is provided on the rear cover 124. The sand discharge port 125 corresponds to the bottom of the curved screen plate 123. A sand discharge pipe 126 and an electric sand discharge door 127 are installed at the sand discharge port 125, and the electric sand discharge door 127 can be controlled to open and close by a motor. The electric sand discharge door 127 also has a heating wire to prevent the baffle from freezing and being unable to open. The rear cover is also provided with a vent 128 .

[0075] See also Figure 3 , is a schematic diagram of the structure of the base in an embodiment of the present invention. The base 11 is located at the lower part of the cat litter bin 12 and supports the cat litter bin 12. There are four feet 111 below the base. Preferably, a weight sensor 15 is embedded above the feet 111 to detect the weight of the cat litter bin, thereby reflecting the health status of the pet. The weight sensor 15 can be in the form of a pressure sensor. As the weight of the cat litter bin changes, the pressure on the surface of the pressure sensor changes, thereby causing the resistance value of the strain gauge to change, generating an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is amplified to obtain an accurate weight value.

[0076] See also Figure 4 , is a schematic diagram of the structure of the feces collecting bin in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the feces collecting bin 13 comprises a second outer shell 131, an inner liner 132, a foaming layer 133, a drawer 134 and a bin door 135. The foaming layer 133 is disposed between the second outer shell 131 and the inner liner 132, and is filled with a foaming agent for achieving heat preservation and insulation functions. The drawer 134 and the bin door 135 are integrally installed, and can be pulled out through a guide rail for dumping and cleaning, or pushed into the inner liner to achieve complete sealing of the feces collecting bin.

[0077] The coil of the evaporator 144 is also embedded in the foaming layer 133. The coil of the evaporator 144 is attached to the side of the inner liner close to the foaming agent, such as the top of the inner liner. When the refrigeration system is working, the low-temperature refrigerant flows in the coil of the evaporator 144 to cool the stool collection bin.

[0078] The feces collecting bin is also provided with a through hole 136 for installing the sand discharge pipe 126. After the cat litter box rolls to collect feces, the electric sand discharge door 127 is opened, and the feces ball slides into the drawer 134 of the feces collecting bin 13 through the electric sand discharge door 127 under the action of gravity.

[0079] Preferably, in order to accurately control the temperature of the feces collecting bin 13, a temperature sensor 16 is provided in the feces collecting bin 13 for detecting the temperature inside the feces collecting bin in real time.

[0080] Preferably, a door switch sensor 17 is provided on the door of the feces collecting bin 13 for detecting whether the user opens or closes the door.

[0081] Preferably, a weight sensor 15 is also provided at the bottom of the feces collecting bin 13 for detecting the weight of the feces collecting bin.

[0082] See also Figure 5 , is a schematic diagram of the structure of a system bin in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the system bin 14 includes a refrigeration system; the refrigeration system includes a compressor 141, a condenser 142, a throttling component 143, an evaporator 144 and a fan 145. The system bin also includes a filter 146, a water tank 147 and a third housing 148.

[0083] See also Figure 6 , is a structural diagram of the connection relationship between the system bin and the feces collecting bin in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the compressor 141, the condenser 142, the throttling component 143, and the evaporator 144 are sequentially connected to form a refrigeration cycle system. When the compressor 141 is started, the refrigerant in the condenser 142 is high, the operation of the fan 145 accelerates the heat dissipation into the air, the temperature in the evaporator 144 is low, and the coil of the evaporator 144 is in direct contact with the inner wall of the feces collecting bin 13, transferring the coldness of the refrigerant to the feces collecting bin 13, reducing the temperature of the feces collecting bin 13, thereby achieving refrigeration of the feces collecting bin.

[0084] The fan 145 is arranged on the rear cover of the system compartment 14. The fan 145 can be an axial flow fan. When the fan is running, the wind from the cat litter box passes through the vent 128 of the cat litter compartment 12, the filter 146 of the system compartment 14, and the condenser 142, and blows into the external environment. The filter 146 is installed on the outer shell of the system compartment. A water tank 147 is provided at the bottom of the filter, and pure water can be added manually. Under the action of capillary force, the filter 146 can always remain moist, adsorb dust in the air on the filter, and be removed and cleaned regularly.

[0085] By adopting the technical means of the embodiment of the present invention, the fully automatic cat litter box provided by the embodiment of the present invention can automatically screen out and collect pet feces and other excrement, and can freeze the collected pet excrement to avoid the pet excrement from being left uncleaned for a long time and causing odor and bacterial growth. The embodiment of the present invention effectively frees up the labor of users, and is convenient for pet owners to use in daily life or when they are away from home on business trips. It is clean and hygienic during use, and can effectively slow down bacterial growth and odor volatilization.

[0086] As a preferred embodiment, the cat litter box also includes a controller, which is connected to the cat litter bin 12, the feces collection bin 13, the system bin 14, the weight sensor 15, the temperature sensor 16, the door switch sensor 17 and other devices for realizing the operation control of the cat litter box.

[0087] See also Figure 7 , is a schematic diagram of a first working process of a controller in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the controller is used to implement excrement collection control, specifically comprising the following steps:

[0088] When in standby mode, the drum 122 is kept at a position where the curved screen plate 123 is placed at the highest position (recorded as the initial position 0), and the electric sand discharge door 127 at the sand discharge port 125 is closed.

[0089] When the infrared probe outside the drum 122 detects that a pet is approaching, the compressor 141 and the fan 145 are turned off, and the weight M1 of the cat litter bin at this time is recorded by the weight sensor 15 provided at the base of the cat litter bin. When the pet leaves, the weight M2 of the cat litter bin at this time is recorded.

[0090] If M2>M1, when the pet leaves for t time (t can be 1 minute), the drum 122 of the cat litter bin is rolled, causing the curved screen plate 123 to rotate in the direction of shoveling the litter. At this time, the unclumped cat litter falls to the bottom of the drum 122, and the clumped cat litter rotates with the screen plate and moves backward and downward, accumulating at the position of the electric sand discharge door. When the screen plate rotates to the position corresponding to the sand discharge port (recorded as sand discharge position 1), the motor is started to turn the electric sand discharge door 127 from closed to open, and the feces pass through the sand discharge pipe 126 and roll into the drawer 134 of the feces collection bin 13, and the electric sand discharge door 127 is closed. The reverse rotation restores the drum 122 to the initial position 0, thereby completing the screening of feces. If M2≤M1, no action is performed.

[0091] By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, infrared probes and weight sensors are used to detect the approach of pets and whether they have excreted. Through the cooperation of the drum and the curved screen plate, the pet's feces and other excrement can be automatically screened out and collected, effectively freeing up the user's labor and making it convenient for pet owners to use it in daily life or when they are away from home on business trips.

[0092] As a preferred implementation, the embodiment of the present invention improves the refrigeration control process of the feces collection bin on the basis of the above scheme. The embodiment of the present invention sets two operation modes for the refrigeration control process, and the operation modes include the first operation mode and the second operation mode; wherein the first operation mode is a user-defined mode, that is, the refrigeration setting temperature is set in a user-defined manner to realize the operation state control of the refrigeration system. The second operation mode is an adaptive mode, that is, the system automatically matches the appropriate refrigeration setting temperature to realize the operation state control of the refrigeration system.

[0093] Specifically, the controller is used to:

[0094] Receiving an operation mode control instruction input by a user;

[0095] The operation mode of the cat litter box is controlled according to the operation mode control instruction.

[0096] That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, the user can input the operation mode control instruction to the controller through the preset interactive module, which is used to instruct the controller to control the cat litter box to enter the corresponding operation mode. As an example, a button is pre-set on the cat litter box, and the cat litter box is controlled to switch to the first operation mode or the second operation mode by pressing the button; or, the cat litter box is switched to the first operation mode or the second operation mode through the control panel on the cat litter box or the bound APP, etc., which does not affect the beneficial effects achieved by the present invention.

[0097] See also Figure 8 , is a schematic diagram of a second working process of the controller in an embodiment of the present invention. In the first preferred implementation manner, the controller is used to perform steps S11 to S13:

[0098] S11. In a first operating mode, obtaining a user-defined time interval for cleaning the feces collection bin;

[0099] S12, determining a refrigeration setting temperature according to the cleaning time interval;

[0100] S13: Controlling the operating state of the refrigeration system according to the refrigeration set temperature and the temperature in the warehouse.

[0101] In the embodiment of the present invention, when the excrement collecting bin 13 needs to be refrigerated, the compressor 141 in the system bin 14 is started, the fan 145 is turned on, and the refrigeration cycle system is operated. The low-temperature refrigerant flows in the evaporator 144 to reduce the temperature in the excrement collecting bin 13 until the temperature in the excrement collecting bin 13 is lower than the refrigeration setting temperature, the compressor 141 is turned off, and the fan 145 is stopped.

[0102] When the cat litter box is in the first operation mode, the controller obtains the user-defined cleaning time interval F input by the user through buttons, control panels or APP, etc. The control program presets the appropriate internal temperature of the feces collection bin corresponding to different cleaning time intervals F as the refrigeration setting temperature T0, and the cleaning time interval F is negatively correlated with the refrigeration setting temperature T0, that is, the smaller the cleaning time interval, the higher the refrigeration setting temperature, and the larger the cleaning time interval, the lower the refrigeration setting temperature, so that the economical and energy-saving operation of the device can be achieved.

[0103] As an example, the corresponding relationship between the cleaning time interval F and the refrigeration setting temperature T0 is shown in Table 1 below:

[0104] Table 1

[0105]

[0106]

[0107] It can be understood that the values ​​in the above table are only used as examples. In actual application, the corresponding relationship between the cleaning time interval and the refrigeration setting temperature can be set according to actual conditions, which will not affect the beneficial effects achieved by the present invention.

[0108] In the specific implementation process, according to the cleaning time interval F set by the user, the corresponding refrigeration setting temperature T0 of the feces collection bin 13 is set. The temperature T inside the feces collection bin 13 is monitored in real time, and the operation state of the refrigeration system is controlled according to the refrigeration setting temperature T0 and the temperature T inside the bin.

[0109] As a preferred embodiment, the controlling the operating state of the refrigeration system according to the refrigeration setting temperature and the temperature in the warehouse includes:

[0110] When the temperature in the warehouse is greater than the refrigeration start-up temperature, the refrigeration system is controlled to start running; wherein the refrigeration start-up temperature is the sum of the refrigeration setting temperature and the first temperature value n;

[0111] When the temperature in the warehouse is lower than the refrigeration shutdown temperature, the refrigeration system is controlled to stop running; wherein the refrigeration shutdown temperature is the difference between the refrigeration set temperature and the second temperature value m.

[0112] Specifically, when the temperature T in the bin is higher than the refrigeration setting temperature T0+n°C (for example, n=1), it is determined that the feces collection bin has a refrigeration demand, the compressor 141 is started, the fan 145 is turned on, and the feces collection bin is refrigerated. When the temperature in the feces collection bin 13 is lower than the setting temperature T0-m°C (for example, m=0), the compressor 141 is turned off and the refrigeration is stopped.

[0113] By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to set a suitable refrigeration setting temperature according to the user's customized cleaning time interval, and realize the freezing operation control of the feces collection bin according to the refrigeration setting temperature, so that the excrement collected in the feces collection bin is frozen. The smaller the user's cleaning time interval, that is, the higher the cleaning frequency, the higher the refrigeration setting temperature, so that when the user frequently cleans, the cooling output of the compressor can be reduced, achieving energy saving effect; the larger the user's cleaning time interval, that is, the lower the cleaning frequency, the lower the refrigeration setting temperature, so that when the user fails to clean in time, the bacterial growth and odor volatilization can be effectively slowed down.

[0114] As a preferred embodiment, the door switch sensor 17 is arranged on the door of the feces collecting bin, and is used to output a door opening signal when the door opening action of the feces collecting bin is detected, and output a door closing signal when the door closing action of the feces collecting bin is detected.

[0115] See also Fig. 9 , is a schematic diagram of a third working process of the controller in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the controller is further configured to execute step S14:

[0116] S14: When the door opening signal is not received within the cleaning time interval, lower the value of the refrigeration setting temperature.

[0117] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the user exceeds the set cleaning time interval but fails to clean in time, that is, the timer reaches the cleaning time interval F, but detects that the door of the feces collection bin is not opened, the controller automatically lowers the value of the refrigeration setting temperature T0. Optionally, the refrigeration setting temperature T0 is controlled to automatically adjust to the next temperature level.

[0118] For example, the user sets the cleaning interval to F = 1 week, and controls the opening and closing of the refrigeration system according to T0 = -20°C. After 1 week (i.e. t>F), if no door opening action is detected, the temperature will be automatically adjusted to the next temperature level, i.e. T0 = -25°C.

[0119] As a preferred embodiment, see Fig.10 , is a schematic diagram of a fourth working process of the controller in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the controller is further configured to execute steps S15 to S17:

[0120] S15, collecting the weight of the feces collection bin in real time;

[0121] S16, after receiving the door opening signal and the door closing signal of the feces collecting bin, determining whether the weight of the feces collecting bin changes before the door opening signal and after the door closing signal;

[0122] S17. When the weight of the feces collecting bin does not change, the current door opening signal and door closing signal are deleted.

[0123] In order to prevent the user from only initiating the door opening and closing action but not cleaning the feces collection bin, causing the system to misjudge and incorrectly adjust the refrigeration setting temperature, in the embodiment of the present invention, a control method for auxiliary judgment of detecting the weight of the feces collection bin is proposed. In the embodiment of the present invention, a weight sensor is provided at the bottom of the feces collection bin 13 to detect the weight of the feces collection bin. When the door opening and closing action is detected, it is necessary to determine whether the weight of the feces collection bin after closing the door has restored the net weight M0, or whether it has changed from the weight before opening the door. If not, it is considered that the user only initiated the door opening and closing action but did not clean the feces collection bin, and the door opening and closing signal is ignored, and the system continues to execute according to the previous temperature control.

[0124] By adopting the technical means of the embodiment of the present invention, on the basis of setting the refrigeration setting temperature according to the cleaning time interval set by the user, the refrigeration setting temperature can be adjusted according to the actual usage, so as to avoid the situation that the user does not clean the feces collection bin for a long time, and the temperature control of the feces collection bin is not appropriate, resulting in the failure to achieve a good effect of inhibiting the growth of bacteria and the volatilization of odor. In addition, a mechanism for avoiding misjudgment is introduced to improve the detection accuracy of whether the user cleans the feces collection bin.

[0125] As a preferred embodiment, in the second preferred embodiment, the controller is further configured to perform steps S21 to S25:

[0126] S21. In the second operation mode, setting the refrigeration setting temperature to a preset initial temperature value;

[0127] S22, obtaining the closing duration and weight increase of the feces collecting bin in real time;

[0128] S23, according to the preset correspondence between the door closing duration and the refrigeration setting temperature, obtaining the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current door closing duration as the first setting temperature;

[0129] S24, according to the preset correspondence between the weight increase value and the refrigeration setting temperature, obtaining the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current weight increase value as the second setting temperature;

[0130] S25. Update the cooling setting temperature with the minimum value of the first setting temperature and the second setting temperature.

[0131] In the embodiment of the present invention, when the cat litter box is in the second operating mode, the controller obtains the closing duration T of the feces collection bin. off And the weight increase value △m is adaptively set to the refrigeration set temperature T0.

[0132] Preferably, the real-time acquisition of the closing duration and weight increase of the feces collecting bin includes:

[0133] Calculating the duration of the door closing of the feces collection bin according to the time when the door opening signal and the door closing signal are received;

[0134] The weight increase value of the feces collecting bin is calculated according to the initial weight value of the feces collecting bin and the current weight of the feces collecting bin.

[0135] In the embodiment of the present invention, the door closing duration T is preset. offand the refrigeration setting temperature T0, as well as the corresponding relationship between the weight increase value △m and the refrigeration setting temperature T0. In the corresponding relationship between the preset weight increase value and the refrigeration setting temperature, the larger the weight increase value is, the smaller the refrigeration setting temperature is; in the corresponding relationship between the preset door closing duration and the refrigeration setting temperature, the larger the door closing duration is, the smaller the refrigeration setting temperature is.

[0136] As an example, the weight increase value △m, the closing duration T off The corresponding relationship with the cooling set temperature T0 is shown in Table 2 below:

[0137] Table 2

[0138] Weight increase △m <![CDATA[Closing duration T off > Cooling set temperature T0 △m<250g <![CDATA[T off <Half Day]]> -5℃ 250g≤△m<500g <![CDATA[Half a day ≤ T off <1 day]]> -10℃ 500g≤△m<1000g <![CDATA[1 day ≤ T off <2 days]]> -15℃ 1000g≤△m<2000g <![CDATA[2 days ≤ T off <1 week]]> -20℃ △m≥2000g <![CDATA[T off ≥1 week]]> -25℃

[0139] It can be understood that the values ​​in the above table are only for illustration. In actual application, the corresponding relationship between the weight increase value, the door closing duration and the refrigeration setting temperature can be set according to the actual situation without affecting the beneficial effects achieved by the present invention.

[0140] In the specific implementation process, after the cat litter box is powered on, the refrigeration setting temperature T0 is first set to a preset initial temperature value, such as -5°C. As the device is used, the weight of the feces collection bin increases, and the time of closing the door is also constantly accumulated.

[0141] The weight increase of the feces collection bin is recorded as condition 1, and the duration of closing the door is T. off Recorded as condition 2. In the initial state, the temperature inside the feces collection bin is controlled at the highest level of -5°C. At this time, both condition 1 and condition 2 meet the control conditions of the highest level. As the equipment runs, when any one of the two conditions meets the control condition of the next level, the corresponding control temperature is adjusted according to the changed condition.

[0142] For example, after 1.5 days of operation, it is detected that the weight increase of the feces collection bin is △m=1200g, then the control temperature corresponding to the condition of 1000g≤△m<2000g is -20℃.

[0143] By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, the weight increase value of the feces collecting bin and the duration of door closing can be collected during the operation of the cat litter box, and the appropriate refrigeration setting temperature can be adaptively set to freeze the excrement collected in the feces collecting bin without the need for additional settings by the user. The intelligence and flexibility of the cat litter box are improved, and the growth of bacteria and the volatilization of odors can be effectively slowed down.

[0144] As a preferred embodiment, the embodiment of the present invention is implemented on the basis of the above scheme. When the cat litter is repeatedly dug and rolled, a large amount of dust will inevitably be generated. The controller is also used to realize dust removal control, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0145] When dust removal is required, the fan 145 is turned on, and the drum 122 of the cat litter bin 12 is turned on to rotate and tumble. At this time, under the action of the fan 145, the air in the cat litter bin 12 carries dust, passes through the vent 128 of the rear cover 124 of the cat litter bin, passes through the filter 146 embedded on the outer shell of the system bin 14, and is finally sucked into the external environment through the fan 145. A water tank 147 is provided at the bottom of the filter to keep the filter in a wet state. When passing through the filter 146, the dust is adhered to the filter 146 and separated from the air, thereby achieving dust removal.

[0146] Preferably, the dust removal demand may be an instruction issued regularly every day, or may be an estimated demand based on the frequency of pet defecation.

[0147] Preferably, when there is a demand for refrigeration but no demand for dust removal, the compressor 141 and the fan 145 are both turned on, which can increase the air flow in the cat litter bin and keep the cat litter dry.

[0148] By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, through the cooperation of components such as the filter screen and the water tank, the dust in the cat litter bin can be removed, the dust removal and ventilation of the cat litter bin can be achieved, the cleanliness of the cat litter bin can be ensured, and the health of the pet can be guaranteed.

[0149] As a preferred embodiment, the controller is also used to realize health data collection, which specifically includes the following steps:

[0150] When the infrared probe outside the drum 122 detects that a pet is approaching, the compressor 141 and the fan 145 are turned off to prevent the motor sound from disturbing the pet's actions. The weight M1 of the cat litter bin is detected at this time. When the pet leaves, the weight M2 of the cat litter bin is detected at this time. The defecation weight M (M = M2-M1) is recorded, and M1, M2, M, and toilet time are uploaded to the server database. The pet owner can query the above data from the server remotely to understand the health status of the pet. The remaining cat litter can also be monitored at any time and replenished in time.

[0151] By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, the health data of the pet is collected through infrared probes and weight sensors, and uploaded to the server, which is beneficial for pet owners to monitor the health status of their pets in real time and improve the user experience.

[0152] The embodiment of the present invention further provides an operation control method of a cat litter box, wherein the cat litter box comprises:

[0153] Base;

[0154] A cat litter bin, disposed on the base, for containing cat litter and excrement, and separating the cat litter and the excrement;

[0155] A feces collection bin, connected to the cat litter bin, for collecting the excrement separated from the cat litter bin;

[0156] The system bin includes a refrigeration system for refrigerating the feces collection bin;

[0157] A temperature sensor is provided in the feces collection bin and is used to collect the temperature inside the feces collection bin;

[0158] In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises steps S31 to S33:

[0159] S31, in a first operating mode, obtaining a user-defined time interval for cleaning the feces collection bin;

[0160] S32, determining a refrigeration setting temperature according to the cleaning time interval;

[0161] S33. Control the operating state of the refrigeration system according to the refrigeration set temperature and the temperature in the warehouse.

[0162] Preferably, the cat litter box also includes a door switch sensor, which is arranged on the door of the feces collection bin and is used to output a door opening signal when the door opening action of the feces collection bin is detected, and output a door closing signal when the door closing action of the feces collection bin is detected.

[0163] The method further comprises step S34:

[0164] S34: When the door opening signal is not received within the cleaning time interval, lower the value of the refrigeration setting temperature.

[0165] Preferably, the cat litter box further comprises a weight sensor, which is arranged at the bottom of the feces collection bin and is used to detect the weight of the feces collection bin;

[0166] The method further comprises steps S35 to S38:

[0167] S35, collecting the weight of the feces collection bin in real time;

[0168] S37, after receiving the door opening signal and the door closing signal of the feces collecting bin, determining whether the weight of the feces collecting bin changes before the door opening signal and after the door closing signal;

[0169] S38. When the weight of the feces collecting bin does not change, the current door opening signal and door closing signal are deleted.

[0170] In another preferred embodiment, the method further comprises steps S41 to S45:

[0171] S41, in the second operation mode, setting the refrigeration setting temperature to a preset initial temperature value;

[0172] S42, obtaining the closing duration and weight increase of the feces collecting bin in real time;

[0173] S43, according to the preset correspondence between the door closing duration and the refrigeration setting temperature, obtaining the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current door closing duration as the first setting temperature;

[0174] S44, according to the preset correspondence between the weight increase value and the refrigeration setting temperature, obtaining the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current weight increase value as the second setting temperature;

[0175] S45: Update the cooling setting temperature with the minimum value of the first setting temperature and the second setting temperature.

[0176] By adopting the technical means of the embodiments of the present invention, the fully automatic cat litter box can automatically screen out and collect pet feces and other excrement, and can set a suitable refrigeration setting temperature according to the user's customized cleaning time interval, and freeze the collected pet excrement. The shorter the user's cleaning time interval, that is, the higher the cleaning frequency, the higher the refrigeration setting temperature, so that when the user frequently cleans, the cooling output of the compressor can be reduced, achieving energy saving effect; the longer the user's cleaning time interval, that is, the lower the cleaning frequency, the lower the refrigeration setting temperature, so that when the user fails to clean in time, the bacterial growth and odor volatilization can be effectively inhibited, thereby ensuring the health of the pet. The embodiments of the present invention effectively liberate the user's labor, facilitate pet owners' daily use or use when they are away from home on business trips, and are clean and hygienic during use, can effectively slow down bacterial growth and odor volatilization, take into account the effects of energy saving and emission reduction, and effectively improve the user's experience.

[0177] It should be noted that the operation control method of a cat litter box provided in an embodiment of the present invention is the same as all the process steps executed by a controller of a cat litter box in the above embodiment, and the working principles and beneficial effects of the two correspond one to one, so they will not be repeated here.

[0178] A person skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented by instructing the relevant hardware through a computer program, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when the program is executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above-mentioned methods. The storage medium can be a disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM), etc.

[0179] The above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that a person skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present invention. These improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cat litter box, characterized in that: include: Base; A cat litter bin, disposed on the base, for containing cat litter and excrement, and separating the cat litter and the excrement; A feces collection bin, connected to the cat litter bin, for collecting the excrement separated from the cat litter bin; The system bin includes a refrigeration system for refrigerating the feces collection bin; A temperature sensor is provided in the feces collection bin and is used to collect the temperature inside the feces collection bin; Controller for: In a first operating mode, obtaining a user-defined time interval for cleaning the feces collection bin; Determining a refrigeration setting temperature according to the cleaning time interval; The operating state of the refrigeration system is controlled according to the refrigeration setting temperature and the temperature in the warehouse.

2. The cat litter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cat litter box further comprises a door switch sensor, which is arranged on the door of the feces collection bin and is used to output a door opening signal when detecting the door opening action of the feces collection bin, and output a door closing signal when detecting the door closing action of the feces collection bin; The controller is also used for: When the door opening signal is not received within the cleaning time interval, the value of the cooling setting temperature is reduced.

3. The cat litter box according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cat litter box also includes a weight sensor, which is arranged at the bottom of the feces collection bin and is used to detect the weight of the feces collection bin; The controller is also used for: Collecting the weight of the feces collection bin in real time; After receiving the door opening signal and the door closing signal of the feces collecting bin, determining whether the weight of the feces collecting bin changes before the door opening signal and after the door closing signal; When the weight of the feces collecting bin does not change, the current door opening signal and door closing signal are deleted.

4. The cat litter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller is also used for: In the second operation mode, the refrigeration setting temperature is set to a preset initial temperature value; Real-time acquisition of the closing duration and weight increase of the feces collection bin; According to the correspondence between the preset door closing duration and the refrigeration setting temperature, the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current door closing duration is obtained as the first setting temperature; According to the preset correspondence between the weight increase value and the refrigeration setting temperature, the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current weight increase value is obtained as the second setting temperature; The cooling set temperature is updated with the minimum value of the first set temperature and the second set temperature.

5. The cat litter box according to claim 4, characterized in that: In the correspondence between the preset weight increase value and the refrigeration setting temperature, the larger the weight increase value is, the smaller the refrigeration setting temperature is; in the correspondence between the preset door closing duration and the refrigeration setting temperature, the longer the door closing duration is, the smaller the refrigeration setting temperature is.

6. The cat litter box according to claim 4, characterized in that: The cat litter box further comprises a door switch sensor and a weight sensor; the door switch sensor is arranged on the door of the feces collection bin, and is used to output a door opening signal when detecting the door opening action of the feces collection bin, and output a door closing signal when detecting the door closing action of the feces collection bin; the weight sensor is arranged at the bottom of the feces collection bin, and is used to detect the weight of the feces collection bin; The real-time acquisition of the closing duration and weight increase of the feces collecting bin includes: Calculating the duration of the door closing of the feces collection bin according to the time when the door opening signal and the door closing signal are received; The weight increase value of the feces collecting bin is calculated according to the initial weight value of the feces collecting bin and the current weight of the feces collecting bin.

7. The cat litter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step of controlling the operating state of the refrigeration system according to the refrigeration setting temperature and the temperature in the warehouse includes: When the temperature in the warehouse is greater than the refrigeration start-up temperature, the refrigeration system is controlled to start running; wherein the refrigeration start-up temperature is the sum of the refrigeration set temperature and the first temperature value; When the temperature in the warehouse is lower than the refrigeration shutdown temperature, the refrigeration system is controlled to stop running; wherein the refrigeration shutdown temperature is the difference between the refrigeration set temperature and a second temperature value.

8. The cat litter box according to claim 4, characterized in that: The controller is also used for: Receiving an operation mode control instruction input by a user; According to the operation mode control instruction, the operation mode of the cat litter box is controlled; wherein the operation mode includes the first operation mode and the second operation mode.

9. A method for controlling the operation of a cat litter box, characterized in that: The cat litter box comprises: Base; A cat litter bin, disposed on the base, for containing cat litter and excrement, and separating the cat litter and the excrement; A feces collection bin, connected to the cat litter bin, for collecting the excrement separated from the cat litter bin; The system bin includes a refrigeration system for refrigerating the feces collection bin; A temperature sensor is provided in the feces collection bin and is used to collect the temperature inside the feces collection bin; The method comprises: In a first operating mode, obtaining a user-defined time interval for cleaning the feces collection bin; Determining a refrigeration setting temperature according to the cleaning time interval; The operating state of the refrigeration system is controlled according to the refrigeration setting temperature and the temperature in the warehouse.

10. The operation control method of the cat litter box according to claim 9, characterized in that: The method further comprises: In the second operation mode, the refrigeration setting temperature is set to a preset initial temperature value; Real-time acquisition of the closing duration and weight increase of the feces collection bin; According to the correspondence between the preset door closing duration and the refrigeration setting temperature, the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current door closing duration is obtained as the first setting temperature; According to the preset correspondence between the weight increase value and the refrigeration setting temperature, the refrigeration setting temperature corresponding to the current weight increase value is obtained as the second setting temperature; The cooling set temperature is updated with the minimum value of the first set temperature and the second set temperature.

Images