Intelligent cat litter basin and control method

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of pet supplies, in particular to an intelligent cat litter basin and a control method. The intelligent cat litter basin comprises a control circuit, a basin cavity, a first support, a base and supporting legs; partition plates and synchronous gears are arranged in the basin cavity; the first support is provided with a first motor and a driving gear, the base is of a hollow structure, and the basin cavity part penetrates through a hollow area of the hollow structure; the first motor can drive the basin cavity to rotate to the position where the hollow area is not shielded through meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear, so that the litter shakeout channel is opened, polluted cat litter particles screened out through the hollow-out structure reach a closestool or a squatting pot through the litter shakeout channel, and meanwhile clean cat litter particles penetrate through the hollow-out structure to stay in the storage area. The shakeout channel is composed of an opening of a basin cavity, a hollow area and an opening of a closestool or a squatting pot. Therefore, according to the intelligent cat litter basin, the polluted cat litter particles can smoothly fall into a closestool or a squatting pot through the litter shakeout channel under the action of gravity, and the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the polluted cat litter particles is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of pet products, and in particular to an intelligent cat litter box and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Smart cat litter boxes are a modern pet product designed to provide cat-raising families with a more efficient and convenient cat litter disposal solution. It is usually equipped with advanced sensors and automatic processing systems that can monitor the cat's excretion in real time, and automatically screen and store contaminated cat litter particles after the cat uses the cat litter, thereby reducing the frequency of manual cleaning by the owner. This smart device not only improves the hygiene of the cat's living environment, but also saves a lot of time and energy for the owner. However, although the existing smart cat litter boxes can effectively store contaminated cat litter particles, they cannot be thoroughly cleaned. When the stored contaminated cat litter particles accumulate to a certain extent, the owner still needs to manually clean them regularly to achieve the effect of keeping the smart cat litter box clean and hygienic. This process will inevitably bring certain troubles and inconveniences to the busy owner, especially when the cat frequently uses cat litter, the stored contaminated cat litter particles will increase rapidly, making the cleaning work more cumbersome, further increasing the burden of manual cleaning. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention proposes an intelligent cat litter box and a control method, aiming to solve the problem that the existing intelligent cat litter box cannot thoroughly clean the contaminated cat litter particles and still requires the owner to manually clean it regularly.

[0004] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an intelligent cat litter box, comprising a control circuit, a pelvic cavity, a first bracket, a base and support legs; wherein:

[0005] A partition is arranged in the pelvic cavity, and the partition is provided with a hollow structure for screening contaminated cat litter particles. The partition divides the internal space of the pelvic cavity into a storage area for retaining clean cat litter particles and a screening area for retaining contaminated cat litter particles. The outer wall of the pelvic cavity is provided with a synchronous gear;

[0006] One end of the first bracket is movably connected to the outer wall of the pelvic cavity, and the other end of the first bracket is connected to the top of the base. A first motor and a driving gear are arranged inside the first bracket. The driving gear is sleeved on the output shaft end of the first motor and meshes with the synchronous gear.

[0007] The control circuit is arranged inside the base, the control circuit is electrically connected to the first motor, the base is a hollow structure, and the pelvic cavity part is arranged through the hollow area of ​​the hollow structure;

[0008] The supporting feet are connected to the lower part of the base, and the height of the supporting feet is greater than the height of an external toilet or squatting pan;

[0009] The first motor can drive the pelvic cavity to rotate to a position where it does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear, so as to open the sand falling channel. The contaminated cat litter particles screened out through the hollow structure reach the toilet or squatting pan through the sand falling channel, and at the same time, the clean cat litter particles pass through the hollow structure and stay in the storage area; wherein, the sand falling channel is composed of the opening of the pelvic cavity, the hollow area and the opening of the toilet or squatting pan.

[0010] In a possible implementation manner, the partition board includes an integrally formed baffle and the hollow structure;

[0011] The baffle is located above the partition board, and the baffle is connected above the pelvic cavity to form the storage area;

[0012] The hollow structure is located below the partition board and is separated from the pelvic cavity. The aperture size of the hollow structure is larger than the size of the clean cat litter particles and smaller than the size of the contaminated cat litter particles.

[0013] In a possible implementation manner, the pelvic cavity is a spherical crown-shaped structure larger than a hemisphere and with an opening facing forward, the base is a hollow square structure, and the bottom of the pelvic cavity penetrates through the hollow area of the hollow square structure.

[0014] In a possible implementation manner, the intelligent cat litter box further includes four gravity sensors, and each gravity sensor is electrically connected to the control circuit. The four gravity sensors are respectively located at the four corner positions of the hollow square structure.

[0015] In a possible implementation manner, the supporting feet include four telescopic columns, and the tops of the four columns are respectively connected to the four corner positions of the hollow square structure.

[0016] In a possible implementation manner, the intelligent cat litter box further includes a first wireless communication module, a heat energy sensor and an infrared sensor. The first wireless communication module, the heat energy sensor and the infrared sensor are all electrically connected to the control circuit. The first wireless communication module is arranged inside the base. The heat energy emitting part and the heat energy receiving part of the heat energy sensor are respectively located on the left and right sides of the inner wall of the pelvic cavity and are arranged opposite to each other. The infrared emitting part and the infrared receiving part of the infrared sensor are respectively located on the left and right sides of the inner wall of the pelvic cavity and are arranged opposite to each other.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the intelligent litter box further includes a flushing component, the flushing component includes a second wireless communication module and a flushing structure, and the second wireless communication module is electrically connected to the first wireless communication module;

[0018] The flushing structure includes a second motor, a transmission gear and a rack. The transmission gear is sleeved on the output shaft end of the second motor and meshes with the gear teeth on the rack. The second motor can drive the rack to move up and down through the meshing movement of the transmission gear and the gear teeth, so as to lower or raise the water valve switch of the toilet or squatting pit located below the rack.

[0019] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a control method for an intelligent litter box, which is applied to the intelligent litter box as described in the first aspect; the intelligent litter box further includes a gravity sensor and an infrared sensor, and both the gravity sensor and the infrared sensor are electrically connected to the control circuit; wherein,

[0020] The control method includes:

[0021] Start the gravity sensor, and determine whether to start the infrared sensor according to the detection result of the gravity sensor;

[0022] When it is confirmed to start the infrared sensor, determine whether to start the first motor according to the detection result of the infrared sensor;

[0023] When it is confirmed to start the first motor, the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to rotate clockwise to a position where the hollow area is not blocked through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the intelligent litter box further includes a first wireless communication module and a flushing component, the flushing component includes a second wireless communication module and a flushing structure, the second wireless communication module is electrically connected to the first wireless communication module, and the flushing structure includes a second motor, a transmission gear and a rack. The transmission gear is sleeved on the output shaft end of the second motor and meshes with the gear teeth on the rack. The second motor can drive the rack to move up and down through the meshing movement of the transmission gear and the gear teeth; wherein,

[0025] After the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to rotate clockwise to a position where the hollow area is not blocked through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear, it further includes:

[0026] Send a control signal to the second wireless communication module through the first wireless communication module. The second wireless communication module starts the second motor according to the received control signal, so that the second motor drives the rack to move downward through the meshing movement of the transmission gear and the gear teeth, until the water valve switch of the toilet or squat toilet located below the rack drops to the flushing position.

[0027] In a possible implementation manner, after confirming the start of the first motor, before the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to rotate clockwise to a position where it does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear, it further includes: the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to rotate counterclockwise once through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear.

[0028] In a possible implementation manner, after starting the gravity sensor, it further includes: determining whether to start the first motor according to the detection result of the gravity sensor; when it is confirmed to start the first motor, the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to perform a preset rotation action through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear; wherein, the preset rotation action includes a rotation action group of a preset number of times, and each rotation action group includes a clockwise rotation once and a counterclockwise rotation once.

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: An intelligent cat litter box and a control method, comprising a control circuit, a pelvic cavity, a first bracket, a base and support feet; wherein, a partition is arranged inside the pelvic cavity, the partition is provided with a hollow structure for screening contaminated cat litter particles, and a synchronous gear is arranged on the outer wall of the pelvic cavity; a first motor and a driving gear are arranged inside the first bracket, the base is a hollow structure, and a part of the pelvic cavity penetrates through the hollow area of the hollow structure; the height of the support feet is greater than the height of an external toilet or squatting pit; the first motor can drive the pelvic cavity to rotate to a position where it does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear, so as to open the sand falling channel, and the contaminated cat litter particles screened out through the hollow structure pass through the sand falling channel to reach the toilet or squatting pit, and at the same time allow the clean cat litter particles to pass through the hollow structure and stay in the storage area; wherein, the sand falling channel is composed of the opening of the pelvic cavity, the hollow area and the opening of the toilet or squatting pit. It can be seen that through the support feet, the intelligent cat litter box can be stably placed above an external toilet or squatting pit. After starting the first motor, the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to rotate, and at the same time the partition inside the pelvic cavity also rotates accordingly. The rotating partition effectively screens the contaminated cat litter particles in the pelvic cavity, and at the same time allows the clean cat litter particles in the pelvic cavity to pass through the hollow structure and stay in the storage area. In the initial state of the intelligent cat litter box, the pelvic cavity penetrates through the hollow area of the base and blocks the toilet or squatting pit, thus blocking the sand falling channel. When the pelvic cavity rotates, its overall position rises and no longer blocks the toilet or squatting pit, thus opening the sand falling channel. This rotation action enables the contaminated cat litter particles to fall out smoothly from the opening of the pelvic cavity under the action of gravity, and pass through the hollow area of the base and the opening of the toilet or squatting pit, and finally fall into the toilet or squatting pit, achieving the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the contaminated cat litter particles from the intelligent cat litter box without the need for the owner to manually clean them regularly. This design not only improves the cleaning efficiency of the cat litter, reduces the burden on the owner, but also ensures a more comfortable and hygienic use experience for the cat. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the intelligent cat litter box provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 is a first schematic structural diagram of the pelvic cavity provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 is a second schematic structural diagram of the pelvic cavity provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 4 is Figure 3 a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in

[0034] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the partition provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 6 The first structural schematic diagram of the first bracket, the second bracket, the base and the support feet provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 7 The second structural schematic diagram of the first bracket, the second bracket, the base and the support feet provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 8 is Figure 7 the sectional view of the B-B plane in

[0038] Figure 9 The structural disassembly diagram of the base provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 10 The structural disassembly diagram of the flushing component provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 11 The structural schematic diagram of setting the intelligent cat litter box on the toilet provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] The description of the reference numerals is as follows:

[0042] 10, pelvic cavity; 11, partition board; 111, hollow structure; 112, baffle; 12, storage area; 13, screening area; 14, synchronous gear;

[0043] 20, first bracket; 21, first motor; 22, driving gear;

[0044] 30, base; 31, gravity sensor; 32, energy storage battery;

[0045] 40, support feet;

[0046] 50, second bracket;

[0047] 60, flushing component; 61, second motor; 62, transmission gear; 63, rack. Specific embodiments

[0048] Next, the solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0049] It should be noted that if there are directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...) involved in the embodiments of the present invention, the directional indications are only used to explain the relative positional relationship, movement conditions, etc. between components in a specific posture (as shown in the attached drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0050] In addition, if there are descriptions such as "first", "second", etc. involved in the embodiments of the present invention, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In addition, the technical solutions between various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of those of ordinary skill in the art to implement. When the combination of technical solutions results in contradictions or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the protection scope required by the present invention.

[0051] Please refer to Figures 1-11 As shown, the present invention provides an intelligent cat litter box, which includes a control circuit, a pelvic cavity 10, a first bracket 20, a base 30, and support feet 40; wherein,

[0052] A partition 11 is arranged inside the pelvic cavity 10. The partition 11 is provided with a hollow structure 111 for screening contaminated cat litter particles. The partition 11 divides the internal space of the pelvic cavity 10 into a storage area 12 for staying clean cat litter particles and a screening area 13 for staying contaminated cat litter particles. A synchronous gear 14 is arranged on the outer wall of the pelvic cavity 10;

[0053] One end of the first bracket 20 is movably connected to the outer wall of the pelvic cavity 10, and the other end of the first bracket 20 is connected above the base 30. A first motor 21 and a driving gear 22 are arranged inside the first bracket 20. The driving gear 22 is sleeved on the output shaft end of the first motor 21 and meshes with the synchronous gear 14;

[0054] The control circuit is arranged inside the base 30. The control circuit is electrically connected to the first motor 21. The base 30 is a hollow structure, and a part of the pelvic cavity 10 penetrates through the hollow area of the hollow structure;

[0055] The support feet 40 are connected below the base 30, and the height of the support feet 40 is greater than the height of an external toilet or squatting pit;

[0056] The first motor 21 can drive the pelvic cavity 10 to rotate to a position where it does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the driving gear 22 and the synchronous gear 14, so as to open the sand falling channel. The contaminated cat litter particles screened by the hollow structure 111 reach the toilet or squatting pan through the sand falling channel, and at the same time, the clean cat litter particles pass through the hollow structure 111 and stay in the storage area 12; wherein, the sand falling channel is composed of the opening of the pelvic cavity 10, the hollow area, and the opening of the toilet or squatting pan.

[0057] Specifically, this intelligent cat litter box allows users to directly place it on the toilet or squatting pan when needed, without additional installation steps, and can be used immediately. When not in use, users can also easily move the intelligent cat litter box away from the toilet or squatting pan, thus saving space. This is particularly important for those living in small apartments or families with limited space, as users can flexibly adjust the position of the intelligent cat litter box according to their needs. In addition, the height of the support feet 40 is greater than the height of the external toilet or squatting pan, which can ensure that the intelligent cat litter box is effectively docked with the toilet or squatting pan during use. At the same time, the base 30 adopts a hollow structure, and part of the pelvic cavity 10 is inserted into the hollow area of this hollow structure. This design not only reduces the overall weight of the product but also makes the intelligent cat litter box more stable during use, and users don't have to worry about tilting or instability problems.

[0058] Compared with the prior art, the intelligent cat litter box proposed in this embodiment can be stably placed above the external toilet or squatting pan through the support feet 40. After starting the first motor 21, the first motor 21 drives the pelvic cavity 10 to rotate, and at the same time, the partition 11 in the pelvic cavity 10 also rotates accordingly. The rotating partition 11 effectively screens the contaminated cat litter particles in the pelvic cavity 10, and at the same time allows the clean cat litter particles in the pelvic cavity 10 to pass through the hollow structure 111 and stay in the storage area 12. In the initial state of the intelligent cat litter box, the pelvic cavity 10 is inserted into the hollow area of the base 30 and blocks the toilet or squatting pan, thus blocking the sand falling channel. When the pelvic cavity 10 rotates, its overall position rises and no longer blocks the toilet or squatting pan, thus opening the sand falling channel. This rotation action enables the contaminated cat litter particles to fall out smoothly from the opening of the pelvic cavity 10 under the action of gravity, and pass through the hollow area of the base 30 and the opening of the toilet or squatting pan, and finally fall into the toilet or squatting pan, achieving the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the contaminated cat litter particles from the intelligent cat litter box without the need for the owner to manually clean them regularly. This design not only improves the cleaning efficiency of the cat litter, reduces the burden on the owner, but also ensures a more comfortable and hygienic use experience for the cat.

[0059] In some embodiments of the present application, the partition 11 includes a baffle 112 and the hollow structure 111 formed integrally.

[0060] The baffle 112 is located above the partition 11, and the baffle 112 is connected above the pelvic cavity 10 to form the storage area 12;

[0061] The hollow structure 111 is located below the partition 11 and is separated from the pelvic cavity 10. The aperture size of the hollow structure 111 is larger than the size of clean cat litter particles and smaller than the size of contaminated cat litter particles.

[0062] Specifically, please refer to Figures 2-5 As shown, the baffle 112 is a whole continuous structure and is connected above the partition 11. The baffle 112 and the inner wall above the pelvic cavity 10 enclose to form a storage area 12 with an opening. The hollow structure 111 is separated from the pelvic cavity 10, that is, there are gaps between the edge of the hollow structure 111 and the inner wall of the pelvic cavity 10. The opening of the storage area 12 is communicated with this gap. The width of this gap is larger than the width of clean cat litter particles and smaller than the width of contaminated cat litter particles. This design enables the clean cat litter particles to quickly fall back to the initial position of the pelvic cavity 10 through the gap between the two when the first motor 21 drives the pelvic cavity 10 to rotate and return to the initial state of the hollow area penetrating through the base 30 for the next use. Compared with directly allowing the clean cat litter particles to reset through the hollow structure 111, adopting this separated reset method not only improves the reset efficiency of the clean cat litter particles, but also speeds up the reset speed, effectively avoiding the phenomenon of clean cat litter particles staying or blocking that may occur due to directly resetting through the hollow structure 111. In addition, this design can also effectively reduce the waste of cat litter, ensure that the number of clean cat litter particles in the pelvic cavity 10 remains at the optimal level each time it is used, and thus improve the utilization rate and service life of the cat litter. It should be noted that users usually place cat litter at the bottom of the pelvic cavity 10. That is, the initial position of the clean cat litter particles is at the bottom of the pelvic cavity 10. Because the volume of clean cat litter particles will increase after contacting with liquid. Therefore, the aperture size of the hollow structure 111 is set to be larger than the size of clean cat litter particles and smaller than the size of contaminated cat litter particles. Then, when the pelvic cavity 10 rotates, the synchronously rotating hollow structure 111 will scoop up the cat litter at the bottom of the pelvic cavity 10 and screen out the contaminated cat litter particles.

[0063] In some embodiments of the present application, the intelligent cat litter box further includes a second bracket 50. The second bracket 50 has the same shape as the first bracket 20 and the two are respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the pelvic cavity 10. One end of the second bracket 50 is movably connected to the outer wall of the pelvic cavity 10, and the other end of the second bracket 50 is connected above the base 30.

[0064] Specifically, please refer to Figures 6-8As shown, the first bracket 20 and the second bracket 50 have the same shape and are respectively located on the left and right sides of the pelvic cavity 10, forming a symmetrical structure. This symmetrical design can effectively disperse the weight of the pelvic cavity 10, ensuring that the intelligent cat litter box always maintains balance during use and preventing the pelvic cavity 10 from tilting or becoming unstable. In addition, the two brackets can evenly bear the force generated during the rotation of the pelvic cavity 10, reducing the shaking caused by rotation, thereby ensuring the smoothness and stability of the rotation process. It should be noted that both the first bracket 20 and the second bracket 50 can float up and down by 1-2 millimeters relative to the base 30, so that the gravity sensor 31 provided on the base 30 can more effectively sense the gravity change and improve the detection accuracy. Moreover, the outer shells of the first bracket 20 and the second bracket 50 are both composed of an upper shell and a lower shell, and the upper shell and the lower shell are detachably connected, facilitating the maintenance of the internal components of the first bracket 20 and the second bracket 50.

[0065] In some embodiments of the present application, the pelvic cavity 10 is a spherical crown-shaped structure larger than a hemisphere and with an opening facing forward, and the base 30 is a hollow square structure. The bottom of the pelvic cavity 10 penetrates through the hollow area of the hollow square structure.

[0066] Specifically, the design of the pelvic cavity 10 with an opening facing forward makes it more convenient for the cat to enter and exit the pelvic cavity 10. At the same time, the spherical crown-shaped structure larger than a hemisphere can effectively reduce the splashing of cat litter during the use of the intelligent cat litter box by the cat, preventing it from scattering outside and thus keeping the environment clean. And cats usually like to move in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. The spherical crown-shaped structure provides a relatively safe and comfortable environment, making the cat more relaxed when using it. The square base 30 provides a stable support for the pelvic cavity 10, ensuring that the pelvic cavity 10 will not tilt or shake during use, enhancing the overall stability. In addition, the spherical crown-shaped and square designs also show a unique aesthetic feeling visually, which can improve the beauty of the overall home.

[0067] In some embodiments of the present application, the intelligent cat litter box further includes four gravity sensors 31. Each gravity sensor 31 is electrically connected to the control circuit, and the four gravity sensors 31 are respectively located at the four corner positions of the hollow square structure.

[0068] Specifically, please refer to Figure 9 As shown, the four gravity sensors 31 are respectively located at the four corners of the hollow square structure, and can more evenly monitor the gravity change of the entire pelvic cavity 10. This evenly distributed design can accurately detect whether the cat is in the pelvic cavity 10. When the cat enters or leaves the pelvic cavity 10, the gravity sensor 31 will sense the gravity change, thereby judging the position state of the cat. This function can help the intelligent cat litter box automatically start the program of cleaning the cat litter after the cat uses the cat litter, thereby improving the automation level of the product.

[0069] In some embodiments of the present application, the support feet 40 include four telescopic columns, and the tops of the four columns are respectively connected to the four corners of the hollow square structure.

[0070] Specifically, different cats will have different usage habits and preferences. Especially for older or disabled cats, the telescopic support feet 40 can be adjusted in height according to the needs of the cats to provide a more comfortable usage height, encouraging the cats to be more willing to use the intelligent litter box. Moreover, the telescopic support feet 40 can be adjusted according to the heights of different sanitary facilities, enabling the intelligent litter box to be stably placed on the toilet or squatting pit. This flexibility ensures that the product can adapt to various home environments and meet the needs of different users. By adjusting the height of each column, it can also ensure that the intelligent litter box remains stable on uneven or inclined surfaces. This stability is crucial for the cat's usage experience, effectively preventing the pelvic cavity 10 from tilting or shaking and ensuring the cat's sense of security when using. In addition, the support design of the four columns can further enhance the anti-overturning ability of the intelligent litter box. Especially when the cat enters and exits the pelvic cavity 10, it can effectively prevent tilting or overturning caused by sudden movements and avoid deformation or damage caused by excessive local stress. In addition, setting the four columns at the four corners of the hollow square structure can effectively reduce the overall center of gravity and improve the stability of the product. Moreover, the overall appearance of the intelligent litter box with this design is more tidy and beautiful, avoiding the clutter of the support structure and enhancing the visual appeal of the product.

[0071] In some embodiments of the present application, the intelligent litter box further includes four universal wheels, and the universal wheels and the columns correspond one by one and are detachably connected by threads therebetween.

[0072] Specifically, the addition of the universal wheels makes the movement of the intelligent litter box very convenient. Users do not need to carry or lift the litter box, and only need to give a gentle push to complete the position adjustment of the intelligent litter box, greatly improving the usage experience of the product. The design of the universal wheels enables users to easily push the intelligent litter box in front of the toilet or squatting pit, facilitating the cat to quickly reach the appropriate position when needed and enhancing the cat's usage experience. When the intelligent litter box is not needed, users can easily push it aside to avoid occupying the space around the toilet or squatting pit.

[0073] In some embodiments of the present application, the intelligent cat litter box further includes a first wireless communication module, a thermal energy sensor, and an infrared sensor. The first wireless communication module, the thermal energy sensor, and the infrared sensor are all electrically connected to the control circuit. The first wireless communication module is disposed inside the base 30. The thermal energy emitting part and the thermal energy receiving part of the thermal energy sensor are respectively located on the left and right sides of the inner wall of the pelvic cavity 10 and are oppositely arranged. The infrared emitting part and the infrared receiving part of the infrared sensor are respectively located on the left and right sides of the inner wall of the pelvic cavity 10 and are oppositely arranged.

[0074] Specifically, the infrared sensor can monitor the behavior of the cat entering and leaving the pelvic cavity 10 in real time. When the cat approaches or enters the pelvic cavity 10, the infrared sensor will immediately sense this action. This function can provide data support for the subsequent intelligent control of the intelligent cat litter box. The control circuit is respectively connected to the infrared sensor and the first wireless communication module, and can transmit the control signal converted from the cat behavior information detected by the infrared sensor, enabling the modules receiving these control signals to start or stop the corresponding functions, such as the cleaning program for contaminated cat litter particles of the intelligent cat litter box, adjusting the working mode, etc., to ensure that the intelligent cat litter box can make intelligent responses according to the usage situation of the cat. By combining the infrared sensor with the first wireless communication module, the intelligent cat litter box can achieve more efficient intelligent management.

[0075] Specifically, the thermal energy sensor can monitor the temperature change inside the pelvic cavity 10 in real time to help determine whether the cat enters the pelvic cavity 10. Adding a thermal energy sensor inside the pelvic cavity 10 can further make up for the detection blind spot of the infrared sensor, thereby improving the overall detection accuracy and reliability. Moreover, if the infrared sensor fails, the thermal energy sensor can still continue to work; vice versa. This dual detection mechanism ensures that the activities of the cat inside the pelvic cavity 10 can be effectively monitored under any circumstances, enhancing the response ability and sensitivity of the intelligent cat litter box. In addition, the infrared sensor and the thermal energy sensor can be directly disposed inside the pelvic cavity 10, or can be oppositely arranged on the first bracket 20 and the second bracket 50, and the detection light can be introduced into the inside of the pelvic cavity 10 by opening holes in the pelvic cavity 10. The specific setting method can be determined according to the actual application requirements, the monitoring accuracy requirements, and the structural design of the pelvic cavity 10 to ensure that both the infrared sensor and the thermal energy sensor can effectively capture the activity information of the cat and improve the overall monitoring performance and reliability.

[0076] In some embodiments of the present application, the intelligent cat litter box further includes a flushing assembly 60. The flushing assembly 60 includes a second wireless communication module and a flushing structure. The second wireless communication module is electrically connected to the first wireless communication module;

[0077] The flushing structure includes a second motor 61, a transmission gear 62 and a rack 63. The transmission gear 62 is sleeved on the output shaft end of the second motor 61 and meshes with the gear teeth on the rack 63. The second motor 61 can drive the rack 63 to move up and down through the meshing movement between the transmission gear 62 and the gear teeth, so as to lower or raise the water valve switch of the toilet or squatting pan located below the rack 63.

[0078] Specifically, please refer to Figure 10 As shown, the second wireless communication module is electrically connected to the first wireless communication module, which means that data transmission and communication can be carried out between these two modules through wireless signals. For example, when the cat finishes using the intelligent cat litter box, the second wireless communication module receives the control signal sent by the first wireless communication module, and then starts the second motor 61 to drive the transmission gear 62 and the rack 63 to move. The up and down movement of the rack 63 directly acts on the water valve switch of the toilet or squatting pan located below it. By controlling the amplitude of the up and down movement of the rack 63, the opening or closing of the water valve switch can be achieved, thus completing the automatic flushing function and thoroughly cleaning the polluted cat litter particles falling into the toilet or squatting pan. Further, the flushing assembly 60 can also be equipped with an infrared sensor. When the user waves their hand in front of the infrared sensor, the flushing assembly 60 can be immediately started to perform the flushing action. This design is particularly applicable to the situation where the owner finds that the polluted cat litter particles are not flushed clean and needs to perform secondary flushing, providing a more convenient user experience.

[0079] In some embodiments of the present application, the intelligent cat litter box further includes a storage battery 32, and the storage battery 32 is arranged inside the base 30 and electrically connected to the control circuit.

[0080] Specifically, the storage battery 32, as the power source of the intelligent cat litter box, can provide necessary power support for various parts such as the control circuit, the wireless communication module, the infrared sensor, the gravity sensor 31 and the flushing assembly 60 to ensure the normal operation of the intelligent cat litter box in various working states. The storage battery 32 is preferably a 18650-type battery. The 18650-type battery is a common lithium-ion battery with a diameter of 18 mm and a length of 65 mm. The 18650-type battery has a high energy density, can provide a longer usage time, and has the characteristics of being rechargeable and suitable for multiple charge and discharge cycles.

[0081] Please refer to Figure 11As shown in the figure, for the intelligent cat litter box provided in this embodiment, the main body (including the control circuit, the pelvic cavity 10, the first bracket 20, the base 30, and the support feet 40) is placed on the toilet or squatting pit, and the flushing component 60 is placed on the water tank of the toilet or squatting pit and is set facing the water valve switch. When a cat enters the pelvic cavity 10, the gravity sensor 31 in the base 30 will sense the weight change and activate the infrared sensor to further confirm whether there is a cat excretion behavior. When it is confirmed that there is such a behavior, after the infrared sensor senses that the cat has left, the first motor 21 will be activated to drive the pelvic cavity 10 to rotate. The rotation of the pelvic cavity 10 can block the contaminated cat litter particles (including the agglomerated and clumped cat litter) outside the partition 11 (the clean cat litter particles enter the storage area 12 through the hollow structure 111) and pour them into the toilet or squatting pit through the sand falling channel. Subsequently, the flushing component 60 is activated, and the second motor 61 drives the rack 63 to move upward to press the water valve switch to perform the flushing action. In summary, this intelligent cat litter box can realize the function of discharging the contaminated cat litter particles combined with cat urine and feces into the toilet or squatting pit and automatically flushing the toilet.

[0082] The following is an embodiment of the control method for the intelligent cat litter box provided by the present invention. The embodiment of the control method for the intelligent cat litter box belongs to the same concept as the above-mentioned embodiment of the intelligent cat litter box. For the details not described in detail in the embodiment of the control method for the intelligent cat litter box, reference can be made to the above-mentioned embodiment of the intelligent cat litter box.

[0083] The present invention proposes a control method for an intelligent cat litter box, which is applied to the intelligent cat litter box as described above; the intelligent cat litter box further includes a gravity sensor 31 and an infrared sensor, and both the gravity sensor 31 and the infrared sensor are electrically connected to the control circuit; wherein,

[0084] The control method includes:

[0085] Step S100: Activate the gravity sensor 31, and determine whether to activate the infrared sensor according to the detection result of the gravity sensor 31;

[0086] Step S200: When it is confirmed that the infrared sensor is activated, determine whether to activate the first motor 21 according to the detection result of the infrared sensor;

[0087] Step S300: When it is confirmed that the first motor 21 is activated, the first motor 21 drives the pelvic cavity 10 to rotate clockwise to a position that does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the driving gear 22 and the synchronous gear 14.

[0088] Specifically, when the detection result of the gravity sensor 31 indicates an increase in weight by the weight of a cat based on the initial pelvic weight (the initial pelvic weight includes the weight of the pelvic cavity 10 itself and the weight of the cat litter within the pelvic cavity 10), the infrared sensor is activated; when the infrared sensor detects that the cat within the pelvic cavity 10 has left, the first motor 21 is activated. After the first motor 21 is activated, it will control the pelvic cavity 10 to rotate clockwise to open the sand discharge channel, allowing the contaminated cat litter particles screened by the hollow structure 111 to reach the toilet or squat toilet through the sand discharge channel, while allowing the clean cat litter particles to pass through the hollow structure 111 and stay in the storage area 12. Of course, a thermal energy sensor can also be added to the pelvic cavity 10, and the control circuit can determine whether to activate the first motor 21 based on the detection result of the thermal energy sensor. In addition, the control circuit can also comprehensively analyze the detection results of the infrared sensor and the thermal energy sensor to more accurately determine whether to activate the first motor 21. This comprehensive judgment mechanism can improve the intelligent level of the intelligent cat litter box and ensure reasonable responses in different situations.

[0089] The control method of the intelligent cat litter box proposed in this embodiment combines the gravity sensor 31, the infrared sensor, and the first motor 21 to achieve automatic and thorough cleaning of the contaminated cat litter particles, significantly improving the intelligent level of the product.

[0090] In some embodiments of the present application, the intelligent cat litter box further includes a first wireless communication module and a flushing assembly 60. The flushing assembly 60 includes a second wireless communication module and a flushing structure. The second wireless communication module is electrically connected to the first wireless communication module. The flushing structure includes a second motor 61, a transmission gear 62, and a rack 63. The transmission gear 62 is sleeved on the output shaft end of the second motor 61 and meshes with the gear teeth on the rack 63. The second motor 61 can drive the rack 63 to move up and down through the meshing movement of the transmission gear 62 and the gear teeth; among them,

[0091] After the first motor 21 drives the pelvic cavity 10 to rotate clockwise to a position where it does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the driving gear 22 and the synchronous gear 14, it further includes:

[0092] Step S400: Send a control signal to the second wireless communication module through the first wireless communication module. The second wireless communication module activates the second motor 61 according to the received control signal, so that the second motor 61 drives the rack 63 to move downward through the meshing movement of the transmission gear 62 and the gear teeth until the water valve switch of the toilet or squat toilet located below the rack 63 drops to the flushing position.

[0093] Specifically, when the first wireless communication module sends a control signal to the second wireless communication module, it means that the contaminated cat litter particles have successfully entered the toilet or squatting pan. At this time, the second motor 61 can be started to drive the transmission gear 62 and the rack 63 to move. The rack 63 directly acts on the water valve switch of the toilet or squatting pan located below it to open the water valve switch and complete the automatic flushing function. In addition, in order to ensure the thoroughness of cleaning and the efficiency of flushing, a delay mechanism can be set, for example, a delay of 10 - 15 seconds. This set delay duration is designed to ensure that the contaminated cat litter particles completely sink to the bottom of the toilet or squatting pan, thus avoiding residues during the flushing process. At the same time, such a delay mechanism also helps to improve the flushing effect, ensure that all contaminated cat litter particles can be washed away smoothly, and further enhance the cleaning ability and user experience of the intelligent cat litter box.

[0094] The control method of the intelligent cat litter box proposed in this embodiment can not only automatically and thoroughly clean the contaminated cat litter particles, but also has an automatic flushing function. It can wash away the contaminated cat litter particles in the toilet or squatting pan and ensure that each flushing reaches the best effect, thereby further improving the intelligence level of the product.

[0095] In some embodiments of the present application, after the first motor 21 is confirmed to be started, before the first motor 21 drives the pelvic cavity 10 to rotate clockwise to a position that does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the drive gear 22 and the synchronous gear 14, it further includes:

[0096] Step S500: The first motor 21 drives the pelvic cavity 10 to perform a counterclockwise rotation through the meshing movement of the drive gear 22 and the synchronous gear 14.

[0097] Specifically, for the problem that some contaminated cat litter particles may not be completely wrapped by the cat litter after the cat excretes, the control method of the intelligent cat litter box proposed in this embodiment designs a counterclockwise rotation function of the pelvic cavity 10. By controlling the pelvic cavity 10 to perform a counterclockwise rotation, these contaminated cat litter particles can be more thoroughly wrapped by the cat litter to form lumps. This lumping effect not only helps to improve the efficiency of subsequent screening of contaminated cat litter particles, but also ensures that the contaminated cat litter particles are easier to clean, thereby enhancing the overall cleaning effect.

[0098] In some embodiments of the present application, after the gravity sensor 31 is started, it further includes:

[0099] Step S600: Determine whether to start the first motor 21 according to the detection result of the gravity sensor 31; when it is confirmed to start the first motor 21, the first motor 21 drives the pelvic cavity 10 to perform a preset rotation action through the meshing movement of the drive gear 22 and the synchronous gear 14.

[0100] Among them, the preset rotation action includes a rotation action group with a preset number of times, and each rotation action group includes one clockwise rotation and one counterclockwise rotation.

[0101] Specifically, when the detection result of the gravity sensor 31 is that the weight of a certain amount of cat litter is added on the basis of the initial pelvic weight (at this time, there is no cat litter or only a small amount of cat litter in the pelvic cavity 10), the first motor 21 is started. After the first motor 21 is started, it will control the pelvic cavity 10 to rotate for a preset number of rotation action groups. For example, let the pelvic cavity 10 rotate for three rotation action groups.

[0102] For the problem that the cat litter may not be flattened when the user adds cat litter, the control method of the intelligent cat litter box proposed in this embodiment designs a function of rotating and vibrating the pelvic cavity 10 back and forth to achieve the effect of automatically smoothing the cat litter. By rotating and vibrating the pelvic cavity 10 back and forth, the cat litter can be more evenly distributed at the bottom of the pelvic cavity 10, forming a flat surface, thereby providing a more comfortable excretion environment for the cat.

[0103] It should be noted that 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 those skilled in the art can implement it. When the combination of technical solutions conflicts with each other or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

[0104] The above are only partial or preferred embodiments of the present invention. Whether in terms of text or drawings, the scope of protection of the present invention cannot be limited thereby. Any equivalent structural transformation made by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present invention under the overall concept of the present invention, or directly / indirectly applied to other related technical fields, is included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A smart cat litter box, characterized in that: It includes a control circuit, a pelvic cavity, a first bracket, a base and a supporting foot; wherein, A partition is arranged in the pelvic cavity, and the partition is provided with a hollow structure for screening contaminated cat litter particles. The partition divides the internal space of the pelvic cavity into a storage area for retaining clean cat litter particles and a screening area for retaining contaminated cat litter particles. The outer wall of the pelvic cavity is provided with a synchronous gear; One end of the first bracket is movably connected to the outer wall of the pelvic cavity, and the other end of the first bracket is connected to the top of the base. A first motor and a driving gear are arranged inside the first bracket. The driving gear is sleeved on the output shaft end of the first motor and meshes with the synchronous gear. The control circuit is arranged inside the base, the control circuit is electrically connected to the first motor, the base is a hollow structure, and the pelvic cavity part is arranged through the hollow area of ​​the hollow structure; The support foot is connected to the bottom of the base, and the height of the support foot is greater than the height of the external toilet or squatting pit; The first motor can drive the pelvic cavity to rotate to a position that does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear, so as to open the sand falling channel, and the polluted cat litter particles screened out by the hollow structure pass through the sand falling channel to reach the toilet or squat pit, while allowing the clean cat litter particles to pass through the hollow structure and stay in the storage area; wherein the sand falling channel is composed of the opening of the pelvic cavity, the hollow area and the opening of the toilet or squat pit.

2. The intelligent cat litter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The partition includes an integrally formed baffle and the hollow structure; The baffle is located above the partition, and the baffle is connected to the top of the basin to form the storage area; The hollow structure is located below the partition and is separated from the pelvic cavity. The aperture size of the hollow structure is larger than the size of clean cat litter particles and smaller than the size of contaminated cat litter particles.

3. The intelligent cat litter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pelvic cavity is a spherical cap-shaped structure that is larger than a hemisphere and has an opening facing forward, the base is a hollow square structure, and the bottom of the pelvic cavity is arranged in a hollow area of ​​the hollow square structure.

4. The intelligent cat litter box according to claim 3, characterized in that: The smart cat litter box also includes four gravity sensors, each of which is electrically connected to the control circuit, and the four gravity sensors are respectively located at the four corners of the hollow square structure.

5. The intelligent cat litter box according to claim 3, characterized in that: The supporting legs include four retractable columns, and the top ends of the four columns are respectively connected to the four corners of the hollow square structure.

6. The intelligent cat litter box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The smart cat litter box also includes a first wireless communication module, a thermal energy sensor and an infrared sensor. The first wireless communication module, the thermal energy sensor and the infrared sensor are all electrically connected to the control circuit. The first wireless communication module is arranged inside the base. The thermal energy emitting part and the thermal energy receiving part of the thermal energy sensor are respectively located on the left and right sides of the inner wall of the pelvic cavity and are arranged opposite to each other. The infrared emitting part and the infrared receiving part of the infrared sensor are respectively located on the left and right sides of the inner wall of the pelvic cavity and are arranged opposite to each other.

7. The intelligent cat litter box according to claim 6, characterized in that: The smart cat litter box also includes a flushing assembly, the flushing assembly includes a second wireless communication module and a flushing structure, and the second wireless communication module is electrically connected to the first wireless communication module; The flushing structure includes a second motor, a transmission gear and a rack. The transmission gear is sleeved on the output shaft end of the second motor and meshes with the gear teeth on the rack. The second motor can drive the rack to move up and down through the meshing movement of the transmission gear and the gear teeth, so as to allow the water valve switch of the toilet or squat pit located below the rack to descend or rise.

8. A method for controlling an intelligent cat litter box, characterized in that: The smart cat litter box according to any one of claims 1 to 7; the smart cat litter box further comprises a gravity sensor and an infrared sensor, and both the gravity sensor and the infrared sensor are electrically connected to the control circuit; wherein, The control method comprises: Starting the gravity sensor, and determining whether to start the infrared sensor according to the detection result of the gravity sensor; When it is confirmed that the infrared sensor is activated, determining whether to activate the first motor according to the detection result of the infrared sensor; When it is confirmed that the first motor is started, the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to rotate clockwise to a position that does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear.

9. The control method of a smart cat litter box according to claim 8, characterized in that: The smart cat litter box also includes a first wireless communication module and a flushing assembly, the flushing assembly includes a second wireless communication module and a flushing structure, the second wireless communication module is electrically connected to the first wireless communication module, the flushing structure includes a second motor, a transmission gear and a rack, the transmission gear is sleeved on the output shaft end of the second motor and meshes with the gear teeth on the rack, the second motor can drive the rack to move up and down through the meshing movement of the transmission gear and the gear teeth; wherein, After the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to rotate clockwise to a position that does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear, the method further includes: A control signal is sent to the second wireless communication module through the first wireless communication module, and the second wireless communication module starts the second motor according to the received control signal, so that the second motor drives the rack to move downward through the meshing movement of the transmission gear and the gear teeth until the water valve switch of the toilet or squat toilet located under the rack drops to the flushing position.

10. The control method of the intelligent cat litter box according to claim 8, characterized in that: After the confirmation of starting the first motor, the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to rotate clockwise to a position that does not block the hollow area through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear, and further includes: the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to rotate counterclockwise once through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear; After starting the gravity sensor, it also includes: determining whether to start the first motor based on the detection result of the gravity sensor; when it is confirmed that the first motor is started, the first motor drives the pelvic cavity to perform a preset rotation action through the meshing movement of the driving gear and the synchronous gear; wherein the preset rotation action includes a rotation action group of a preset number of times, and each rotation action group includes one clockwise rotation and one counterclockwise rotation.

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