Methods for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on base stations, surface cleaning equipment and base stations

Abstract

This disclosure provides a method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station, the surface cleaning device itself, and the base station. The method for maintaining the surface cleaning device on a base station includes: acquiring operational status, including the docking status between the surface cleaning device and the base station; receiving environmental data, wherein the environmental data includes wide-area environmental data and / or local environmental data of the location of the base station; determining the type of wet cleaning environmental factor in response to the environmental data; generating a maintenance decision based on the type of wet cleaning environmental factor; and performing maintenance on the wet cleaning module based on the maintenance decision.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station, the surface cleaning equipment, and the base station. Background Technology

[0002] This section provides only background information relevant to this disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.

[0003] Surface cleaning equipment is suitable for cleaning hard floor surfaces, such as tile, hardwood floors, and soft carpet surfaces.

[0004] When cleaning a surface, the cleaning liquid is first delivered to the wet cleaning module, and then applied to the surface. When the wet cleaning module moves relative to the surface, the surface is cleaned.

[0005] After the surface cleaning equipment finishes cleaning the surface, its wet cleaning module contains a large amount of cleaning liquid. If the cleaning liquid is not removed in time, the wet cleaning module will produce an odor, affecting the user experience.

[0006] In existing technologies, the self-cleaning and drying of wet cleaning modules are generally accomplished through the self-cleaning operation of surface cleaning equipment. Moreover, in most existing surface cleaning equipment, the self-cleaning operation is carried out manually by the user, who also controls the self-cleaning and drying process. This self-cleaning method is cumbersome for the user and requires constant attention and adjustment of the self-cleaning operation, resulting in low efficiency.

[0007] In addition, some high-end surface cleaning devices in the existing technology provide functions such as mode switching and status viewing, but these surface cleaning devices usually do not support comprehensive intelligent control.

[0008] Furthermore, some surface cleaning devices may have built-in humidity sensors that can automatically adjust the drying function based on the data detected by the sensor to improve drying effect and energy efficiency. However, this drying function cannot be customized to individual needs, resulting in a poor user experience for smart home devices. Summary of the Invention

[0009] This disclosure provides a method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station, the surface cleaning equipment, and the base station.

[0010] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station is provided. The base station includes a base station controller and a base station communication device. The base station communication device is used to communicate with the outside world. The base station controller is used to execute maintenance actions on the base station based on maintenance decisions. The surface cleaning device is configured to perform maintenance on the base station. The surface cleaning device includes a surface cleaning device communication device, a surface cleaning device controller, and a wet cleaning module. The surface cleaning device communication device is used to communicate with the outside world. The surface cleaning device controller is used to execute maintenance actions on the base station based on maintenance decisions. The wet cleaning module is used to perform wet cleaning on the surface to be cleaned. The method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station includes: The working status is obtained, including the docking status between the surface cleaning equipment and the base station; Receive environmental data, wherein the environmental data includes wide-area environmental data and / or local environmental data of the location of the base station; In response to the environmental data, determine the type of environmental factor for wet cleaning; and Maintenance decisions are generated based on the type of environmental factors in wet cleaning; and the wet cleaning module is maintained according to the maintenance decisions.

[0011] A method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the maintenance decision includes activating the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning device and / or adjusting the drying parameters of the base station on the wet cleaning module.

[0012] A method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the drying parameters include drying temperature and / or drying time.

[0013] A method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the environmental data is received by at least one of the surface cleaning device and the base station.

[0014] A method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the wide-area environmental data includes real-time acquired meteorological data, the real-time acquired meteorological data including at least the temperature and humidity of the location of the base station.

[0015] A method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein wide-area environmental data is acquired from a mobile terminal and received by at least one of the surface cleaning device communication device and the base station communication device.

[0016] A method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the wide-area environmental data includes at least meteorological information of the location of the base station.

[0017] A method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the local environment data includes real-time detected environmental data, which is obtained at least by sensors located on the surface cleaning device or the base station.

[0018] A method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the sensor includes a temperature sensor and / or a humidity sensor.

[0019] A method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the real-time detected environmental data is obtained by detection equipment located around the location of the base station.

[0020] A method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the detection equipment around the location of the base station includes Internet of Things (IoT) devices having temperature and / or humidity detection functions.

[0021] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station determines whether the power consumption of the surface cleaning device meets a threshold when the wet cleaning environmental factor type meets a predetermined type.

[0022] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station, wherein the wet cleaning environmental factor type includes a combination of a first characteristic and a second characteristic, wherein the first characteristic includes one of high temperature, normal temperature, and low temperature, and the second characteristic includes one of humidity and dryness.

[0023] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station generates a maintenance decision after determining that the power of the surface cleaning device meets a threshold.

[0024] A method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the maintenance decision is generated by one of a surface cleaning device controller and a base station controller.

[0025] A method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the maintenance decision is jointly performed by the surface cleaning device and the base station.

[0026] A method for maintaining a surface cleaning device on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the wide-area environmental data includes future predicted meteorological data, which includes at least meteorological data when the surface cleaning device performs future maintenance operations on the base station.

[0027] A method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the type of environmental factors for wet cleaning is determined at least by temperature and humidity from future predicted meteorological data.

[0028] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station may be used to send maintenance decisions to a mobile terminal.

[0029] A method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the maintenance decision is confirmed and executed by a user via a mobile terminal.

[0030] A method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the maintenance decision is modified or terminated by a user via a mobile terminal, and then the modified maintenance decision is executed or the maintenance decision is canceled.

[0031] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a surface cleaning apparatus is provided, comprising: Suction motor; The recovery storage section is fluidly connected to the suction motor; Distributor pump; Clean liquid storage section fluidly connected to the distribution pump; The suction motor control circuit is configured to control the operation of the suction motor during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; The distribution pump control circuit is configured to control the operation of the distribution pump during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; Communication equipment used to communicate with the outside world and to receive environmental data from the outside world; The controller is configured to determine the type of wet cleaning environmental factors based on environmental data; generate maintenance decisions based on the type of wet cleaning environmental factors; and control the suction motor control circuit and the distribution pump control circuit to execute the maintenance decisions based on the maintenance decisions.

[0032] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a base station is provided, comprising: The main body is configured for docking a surface cleaning device; the main body has a maintenance area, which is a recessed area formed on the main body; the maintenance area is used to place the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning device and to perform maintenance decisions on the wet cleaning module within the maintenance area; The blower is fluidly connected to the maintenance area; The heater is thermally connected to the maintenance area; The blower control circuit is configured to control the operation of the blower during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; The heater control circuit is configured to control the operation of the heater during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; Communication equipment used to communicate with the outside world and to receive environmental data from the outside world; The controller is configured to determine the type of wet cleaning environmental factor based on environmental data; generate a maintenance decision based on the type of wet cleaning environmental factor; and control the blower control circuit and the heater control circuit to execute the maintenance decision based on the maintenance decision.

[0033] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a base station is provided, comprising: The main body is configured for docking a surface cleaning device; the main body has a maintenance area, which is a recessed area formed on the main body; the maintenance area is used to place the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning device and to perform maintenance decisions on the wet cleaning module within the maintenance area; The blower is fluidly connected to the maintenance area; The heater is thermally connected to the maintenance area; The blower control circuit is configured to control the operation of the blower during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; The heater control circuit is configured to control the operation of the heater during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; Communication equipment for communicating with the outside world and receiving maintenance decisions from surface cleaning equipment; A controller is configured to receive maintenance decisions and, based on the maintenance decisions, control a blower control circuit and a heater control circuit to execute the maintenance decisions, wherein the maintenance decisions are related to environmental data of the location of the base station. Attached Figure Description

[0034] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. These drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a surface cleaning system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 2 This is a hardware device block diagram of a base station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 3This is a flowchart of a method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] The specific labels in the attached figures are as follows: 100 Surface Cleaning System 110 access point 120 server 130 Remote control equipment 140 Database 150 wireless communication links 200 Environment 210 Surface Cleaning Equipment 220 base stations. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0040] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features described in this disclosure can be combined with each other. The technical solutions of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0041] Unless otherwise stated, the exemplary implementations / embodiments shown are to be understood as providing exemplary features of various details that provide ways in which the technical concepts of this disclosure can be implemented in practice. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, the features of various implementations / embodiments may be additionally combined, separated, interchanged and / or rearranged without departing from the technical concepts of this disclosure.

[0042] The use of crosshairs and / or shading in the accompanying drawings is generally used to clarify the boundaries between adjacent components. Thus, unless otherwise stated, the presence or absence of crosshairs or shading does not convey or indicate any preference or requirement for the specific material, material properties, dimensions, proportions, commonalities between the illustrated components, or any other characteristics, properties, etc., of the components. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the dimensions and relative dimensions of components may be exaggerated for clarity and / or descriptive purposes. When exemplary embodiments can be implemented differently, a specific process sequence may be performed in a different order than that described. For example, two consecutively described processes may be performed substantially simultaneously or in the reverse order of their description. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same components.

[0043] When a component is referred to as being "on" or "above" another component, "connected to," or "joined to" another component, the component may be directly on, directly connected to, or directly joined to the other component, or there may be intermediate components. However, when a component is referred to as being "directly on" another component, "directly connected to," or "directly joined to" another component, there are no intermediate components. Therefore, the term "connection" can refer to a physical connection, an electrical connection, etc., and may or may not have intermediate components.

[0044] For descriptive purposes, this disclosure may use spatial relative terms such as “below,” “under,” “below,” “down,” “above,” “above,” “higher,” and “side (e.g., in a “sidewall”)” to describe the relationship between one component and another component as shown in the accompanying drawings. In addition to the orientations depicted in the drawings, the spatial relative terms are also intended to encompass different orientations of the device during use, operation, and / or manufacture. For example, if the device in the drawings is flipped, a component described as “below” or “under” another component or feature would subsequently be positioned “above” said other component or feature. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both “above” and “below” orientations. Furthermore, the device may be otherwise positioned (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), thus interpreting the spatial relative descriptive terms used herein accordingly.

[0045] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well. Furthermore, when the terms “comprising” and / or “including” and variations thereof are used in this specification, it indicates the presence of the stated features, integrals, steps, operations, parts, components, and / or groups thereof, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, parts, components, and / or groups thereof. It should also be noted that, as used herein, the terms “substantially,” “about,” and other similar terms are used as approximate terms rather than as terms of degree, thus explaining the inherent biases in measurements, calculated values, and / or provided values ​​that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0046] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a surface cleaning system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] like Figure 1As shown, the surface cleaning system of this disclosure may include a surface cleaning device 210 and a base station 220 for docking the surface cleaning device 210. When the surface cleaning device 210 leaves the base station 220, it is capable of performing cleaning operations on the surface to be cleaned. When the surface cleaning device 210 is docked at the base station 220, it is capable of charging, self-cleaning (maintenance), and / or adding cleaning fluid on the base station 220. Those skilled in the art will understand that the surface cleaning device 210 docking at the base station 220 may include the surface cleaning device 210 automatically operating and docking at the base station 220, or the user moving the surface cleaning device 210 to the base station 220 and placing it on the base station 220.

[0048] Although Figure 1 The surface cleaning device 210 shown is a floor scrubber; however, those skilled in the art should understand that this disclosure does not limit the type of surface cleaning device 210. Specifically, the surface cleaning device 210 of this disclosure can refer to various types of household cleaning devices, including autonomous devices configured to provide some semi-autonomous or autonomous capabilities. Examples of household cleaning devices include: floor scrubbers, vacuum cleaners with mopping functions, robotic vacuum cleaners with scrubbing functions, window cleaning robots, robotic vacuum cleaners, and robotic vacuum and mop combos.

[0049] The surface cleaning device 210 disclosed herein can be constructed similarly to the surface cleaning device 210 disclosed in CN114376464A. Specifically, the surface cleaning device 210 of this disclosure may include components such as a suction motor, a recovery storage unit, a cleaning liquid storage unit, and a dispensing pump. The suction motor provides negative pressure during operation and acts as a suction source. The recovery storage unit is connected to the suction source, thereby applying the negative pressure generated by the suction source to the recovery storage unit. Thus, when the surface cleaning device is cleaning a surface to be cleaned, the dirt and cleaning liquid generated after cleaning are suctioned and stored in the recovery storage unit. Additionally, when the surface cleaning device is being maintained, the dirt and cleaning liquid generated during the self-cleaning process can also be suctioned and stored in the recovery storage unit. Specifically, the suction motor needs to be operational when the surface cleaning device 210 is cleaning a surface to be cleaned. In addition, when the surface cleaning device 210 performs self-cleaning, the suction motor also needs to be in operation to draw the cleaning liquid used during the self-cleaning of the surface cleaning device 210 into the recycling storage section.

[0050] The cleaning liquid storage unit can store cleaning liquid, which can be supplied to the wet cleaning module via a distribution pump. Specifically, the cleaning liquid needs to be supplied to the wet cleaning module when the surface cleaning device 210 cleans the surface to be cleaned, and when the surface cleaning device 210 performs self-cleaning.

[0051] The surface cleaning device 210 of this disclosure may further include components such as a surface cleaning device communication device, a surface cleaning device controller, a suction motor control circuit, a distribution pump control circuit, a cleaning drive motor, and a cleaning drive motor control circuit. Specifically, the communication device of the surface cleaning device 210 can be a WiFi module, which can be a high-performance WiFi module. Therefore, the surface cleaning device 210 of this disclosure can stably connect to the base station 220 or stably connect to a mobile terminal, thus avoiding problems such as unstable connection or response delay, reducing operation delays and failures caused by poor signal, and improving the user experience.

[0052] The surface cleaning equipment controller is used to execute maintenance actions on the base station 220 based on maintenance decisions. Specifically, when the surface cleaning equipment 210 executes the maintenance action corresponding to the maintenance decision, it can control the suction motor to rotate at a preset speed and direction via the suction motor control circuit; it can also control the distribution pump to operate via the distribution pump control circuit to provide a preset volume of cleaning liquid to the wet cleaning module; and it can also control the cleaning drive motor to rotate at a preset speed and direction via the cleaning drive motor control circuit, thereby enabling the wet cleaning module to efficiently complete the self-cleaning operation.

[0053] Specifically, the suction motor control circuit of this disclosure is configured to control the operation of the suction motor during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning device 210; the distribution pump control circuit is configured to control the operation of the distribution pump during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning device 210; and the cleaning drive motor control circuit is configured to control the operation of the cleaning drive motor during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning device 210.

[0054] Since the structure of the surface cleaning device 210 disclosed herein may be similar to that in the prior art, this disclosure will not elaborate on each one and will not provide a detailed description of its structure.

[0055] The surface cleaning device 210 of this disclosure is used to communicate with the outside world and to receive environmental data from the outside world. Specifically, the surface cleaning device 210 is capable of communicating with a mobile terminal and receiving the environmental data from the mobile terminal. In addition, the surface cleaning device 210 of this disclosure can also communicate with a base station 220 and receive the environmental data from the base station 220.

[0056] The surface cleaning equipment controller is configured to determine the type of wet cleaning environmental factor based on environmental data; and selectively generate maintenance decisions based on the type of wet environmental factor; simultaneously, the surface cleaning equipment controller is also used to execute the maintenance decisions, and control the suction motor control circuit, the distribution pump control circuit, and the cleaning drive motor control circuit to execute the maintenance decisions.

[0057] On the other hand, when the maintenance decision is not generated by the surface cleaning device 210, the surface cleaning device controller can also be configured to receive the maintenance decision and execute the maintenance decision by controlling the suction motor control circuit, the distribution pump control circuit, and the cleaning drive motor control circuit according to the maintenance decision.

[0058] The structure of the base station 220 disclosed herein may be similar to that of the base station 220 disclosed in CN220967238U. Specifically, the base station 220 of this disclosure may include components such as a main body, a blower, a heater, a blower control circuit, and a heater control circuit.

[0059] The main body is configured to house the surface cleaning device 210, i.e., for the surface cleaning device 210 to dock. A maintenance area can be formed on the main body; specifically, the maintenance area can be a recessed area formed on the main body. When the surface cleaning device 210 is docked on the base station 220, the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning device 210 can be at least partially located within the maintenance area, and maintenance decisions for the wet cleaning module can be performed within the maintenance area. The blower is configured to be fluidly connected to the maintenance area, so that the airflow generated by the blower can flow through the maintenance area, thereby drying the wet cleaning module within the maintenance area. The heater is thermally connected to the maintenance area, thereby providing heat to the maintenance area to dry the wet cleaning module within the maintenance area. Of course, the heater of this disclosure can also heat the airflow generated by the blower, so that the blower can provide hot air outwards.

[0060] The blower control circuit is configured to control the operation of the blower during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment 210; the heater control circuit is configured to control the operation of the heater during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment 210.

[0061] Furthermore, the base station 220 of this disclosure may also include a base station communication device and a base station controller; the base station communication device may be a WiFi module, and the WiFi module may be a high-performance WiFi module. Thus, the base station 220 of this disclosure can stably connect to the surface cleaning device 210 or stably connect to the mobile terminal, thereby avoiding problems such as unstable connection or response delay, reducing operation delays and failures caused by poor signal, and improving the user experience.

[0062] The base station controller disclosed herein is configured to execute maintenance actions of base station 220 based on maintenance decisions. Specifically, when base station 220 executes the maintenance action corresponding to the maintenance decision, it can control the speed of the blower through a blower control circuit to provide a preset flow rate of air to the maintenance area; preferably, the blower can provide hot air to the maintenance area. Additionally, base station 220 can also control the operation of the heater through a heater control circuit to maintain a preset temperature within the maintenance area.

[0063] Specifically, the blower control circuit of this disclosure is configured to control the operation of the blower during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment 210. The heater control circuit of this disclosure is configured to control the operation of the heater during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment 210.

[0064] Since the structure of the base station 220 disclosed herein may be similar to that in the prior art, this disclosure will not elaborate on each one and will not provide a detailed description of its structure.

[0065] The base station communication device disclosed herein is used to communicate with the outside world and to receive environmental data from the outside world. Specifically, the base station 220 is capable of communicating with a mobile terminal and receiving the environmental data from the mobile terminal. In addition, the base station 220 of this disclosure can also communicate with a surface cleaning device 210 and receive the environmental data from the surface cleaning device 210.

[0066] The base station controller is configured to determine the type of wet cleaning environmental factor based on environmental data; and selectively generate maintenance decisions based on the type of wet environmental factor; at the same time, the base station controller is also used to execute the maintenance decision and control the blower control circuit and heater control circuit to execute the maintenance decision.

[0067] On the other hand, when the maintenance decision is not generated by the base station 220, the base station controller can also be configured to receive the maintenance decision and execute the maintenance decision by controlling the blower control circuit and the heater control circuit according to the maintenance decision.

[0068] In this disclosure, the surface cleaning device 210 can be configured to identify the degree of dirtiness on the ground and the usage time of the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning device 210 within a cleaning cycle. Some examples of identifying the degree of dirtiness and the usage time of the wet cleaning module can be based on sensor information. After the surface cleaning device 210 determines that the wet cleaning module needs maintenance, it can pause operation and record the current working position of the surface cleaning device 210. The base station 220 of the surface cleaning device 210 can be configured with a system capable of performing self-cleaning and hot drying cycles, which can begin performing the corresponding cleaning and maintenance operations when the surface cleaning device 210 is housed and supported on the base station 220.

[0069] In some implementations, various mechanisms and algorithms can be employed to determine the maintenance mode of the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning device 210 to adapt to the current operating conditions. The current operating conditions can be defined by the user and / or identified by the surface cleaning device 210 using environmentally relevant occupancy data, such as the area and geographical location of areas already cleaned in the home, and records of dirt levels on cleaned floors. Automatic maintenance mode selection through mechanisms and algorithms allows the corresponding maintenance mode to be invoked on the base station 220 to maintain the surface cleaning device 210, thus reducing downtime or waiting time.

[0070] like Figure 1 In some implementations, the surface cleaning system 100 may further include an access point 110, a server 120, a remote control device 130, a database 140, and a wireless communication link 150. The server 120 may include a data server, a cloud server, a server associated with an automation service provider, a proxy server, a mail server, a network server, an application server, a database server, a communication server, a home server, a mobile server, or any combination thereof. For example, the surface cleaning device 210 may upload data (such as notifications) to an application hosted on the server 120 to publish data related to autonomous functions performed by the surface cleaning device 210. For example, a user may view the data published by the surface cleaning device 210 through an application running on the remote control device 130 to view the functions performed by the surface cleaning device 210. The server 120 may also transmit various information to the surface cleaning device 210, such as location information, motion control commands, and other information, instructions, or commands related to the autonomous operation of the surface cleaning device 210.

[0071] Database 140 can store data, which may include location information, control commands, consumable information (such as wet cleaning module information, filter information), water level information, dirt information, battery information, and other operational information, instructions, or commands related to the maintenance operations of surface cleaning equipment 210 (e.g., self-cleaning cycle duration, heat drying duration, charging power of base station 220 during surface cleaning device maintenance, etc.). Surface cleaning equipment 210 can retrieve the stored data from database 140 via access point 110.

[0072] In some cases, the surface cleaning device 210 can also communicate directly with another device (e.g., using point-to-point (P2P) or device-to-device (D2D) protocols), such as smartphones, Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi devices, mobile stations, user stations, mobile clients, etc.

[0073] The wireless communication link 150 shown in the surface cleaning system 100 may include uplink (UL) transmission from the surface cleaning device 210 to the access point 110 or server 120, and / or downlink (DL) transmission from the access point 110 or server 120 to the surface cleaning device 210. Downlink transmission may also be referred to as forward link transmission, and uplink transmission may also be referred to as reverse link transmission. The wireless communication link 150 can transmit bidirectional and / or unidirectional communication. The wireless communication link 150 may include one or more connections, including but not limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, point-to-point, LAN, wireless local area network (WLAN), Ethernet, fiber optic, and / or other connection types associated with the wireless communication system.

[0074] In some examples, environment 200 may be part of a structure, such as a residential or commercial building. For example, environment 200 may be a home, particularly a room, including one or more different floor materials and objects throughout the room. Surface cleaning device 210 may be configured to perform cleaning functions within the scope of the home. For example, surface cleaning device 210 may perform a semi-autonomous (or autonomous) process for collecting surface dirt particles within the aforementioned geographical boundaries under the manual control of a user, including: during operation, a cleaning fluid is supplied from a cleaning liquid storage unit to a dispensing pump, and from the outlet of at least one dispensing pump to a wet cleaning module. The fluid flowing onto the wet cleaning module causes the surface to be cleaned, such as a bare floor surface, to be wetted or dampened via the fluid indirectly delivered through the wet cleaning module. A recovery storage unit may operate simultaneously with the dampened wet cleaning module. More specifically, during operation of the recovery storage unit, fluid carrying debris is drawn in through a nozzle and drawn into the recovery storage unit downstream of the nozzle. In the recovery storage unit, debris and wastewater are substantially separated from the working air. The airflow is then discharged from the surface cleaning device 210 via the suction source.

[0075] Typically, in conventional environments, the cleaning efficiency of the surface cleaning device 210 decreases after a cleaning cycle or within a cleaning cycle because the increasing dirt on the wet cleaning module exceeds the dirt automatically removed by the surface cleaning device 210 during cleaning. At this point, the collection process needs to be paused, and maintenance of the wet cleaning module needs to be performed at the base station 220. Maintenance of the base station 220 typically includes self-cleaning and thermal drying, especially thermal drying, which requires a long time interval. Therefore, this limits the number of areas the surface cleaning device 210 can operate in environment 200, or causes unnecessary delays due to sudden ground soiling events requiring cleaning. As described herein, an efficient maintenance mechanism for the surface cleaning device 210 can be configured on the base station 220, thereby eliminating the limitations and delays associated with manual intervention.

[0076] Figure 2 This is a hardware device block diagram of a base station 220 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0077] like Figure 2 As shown, the base station 220 of this disclosure may further include components such as an AC / DC module, a temperature sensor (NTC), a MOS, and an LDO. Each of these components can communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0078] The AC / DC module can accept alternating current from sources such as household power outlets. This current is converted into direct current by the AC / DC module, and this direct current can be used to power other components of the base station 220 (such as a blower and heater) and to charge the rechargeable battery of the surface cleaning device 210. The heater may include a front heating element and a rear heating element.

[0079] The base station controller can be a general-purpose processor, DSP, CPU, microcontroller, ASIC, FPGA, programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic component, discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof. The base station controller can be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in memory to cause the base station 220 to perform various functions (e.g., support for self-cleaning cycles or thermal drying cycles).

[0080] Base station 220 also includes one or more sensors configured to perform periodic or continuous automatic measurements related to autonomous functions. The sensors may include optocouplers, silicon controlled rectifiers, NTCs, etc., and may be able to sense multiple parameters (e.g., temperature, current, voltage).

[0081] In one example, the base station controller includes an autonomous management module that can be configured to identify the current state of base station 220 based on received instruction data and to execute self-cleaning and thermal drying cycles based on the identified state. For example, when surface cleaning device 210 is not located at base station 220, the AC / DC module should disable current supply to the heater. Furthermore, during the self-cleaning cycle, high-power execution phases (e.g., the suction source of the surface cleaning device operates at high power, and the wet cleaning module of surface cleaning device 210 operates at a high speed on base station 220) and low-power execution phases (e.g., the suction source of surface cleaning device 210 stops operating, and the wet cleaning module of surface cleaning device 210 operates at a low speed on base station 220) are identified to selectively charge the rechargeable battery of surface cleaning device 210 during the low-power phase of the self-cleaning cycle.

[0082] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of a method for maintaining a surface cleaning device 210 on a base station 220 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0083] like Figure 3 As shown, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning device 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein can be executed in the aforementioned surface cleaning system. The method for maintaining the surface cleaning device 210 on the base station 220 includes: S1100, acquiring operational status, including the docking status of the surface cleaning device 210 and the base station 220; S1200, receiving environmental data, including wide-area environmental data and / or local environmental data of the location of the base station 220; S1300, determining the wet cleaning environmental factor type in response to the environmental data; and S1400, generating a maintenance decision based on the wet cleaning environmental factor type; and performing maintenance on the wet cleaning module according to the maintenance decision.

[0084] In other words, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning device 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein can automatically generate maintenance decisions based on environmental data, and can maintain the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning device 210 based on these maintenance decisions, solving the problems in the prior art, improving the drying effect and reducing energy consumption. At the same time, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning device 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein achieves comprehensive intelligent control of the surface cleaning device 210, improving the user experience.

[0085] In this disclosure, when the obtained working status is that the surface cleaning equipment has been docked at the base station, S1200 to S1400 can continue to be executed; when the obtained working status is that the surface cleaning equipment has not been docked at the base station, the working status is continuously obtained until the surface cleaning equipment has been docked at the base station, and then S1200 to S1400 are executed again.

[0086] Specifically, existing surface cleaning devices 210 require constant monitoring and adjustment by the user during self-cleaning, resulting in low efficiency. However, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning device 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein allows for scheduled maintenance. Specifically, the user can open an app installed on a mobile terminal and access the control interface of the surface cleaning device 210, setting the maintenance operation to manual mode. The user can then set the start time and duration of the maintenance operation. The duration can be set to multiple levels, such as 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes. Alternatively, the duration can be a specific value set by the user. Upon reaching the start time, the system checks whether the surface cleaning device 210 is docked at the base station 220 via a contact switch on the base station 220. If the surface cleaning device 210 is not docked at the base station 220, the maintenance operation is cancelled. When the surface cleaning device 210 is docked at the base station 220, it wakes up both the base station 220 and the surface cleaning device 210, and begins maintenance work (self-cleaning and / or drying). When the maintenance work reaches its duration, the maintenance work stops, and the maintenance work of the surface cleaning device 210 is completed.

[0087] On the other hand, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning device 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein can also operate in automatic mode. Specifically, the user can open the APP installed on the mobile terminal and open the control interface of the surface cleaning device 210, setting the maintenance operation of the surface cleaning device 210 to automatic mode. Then, the user can set the start time of the maintenance operation. When the start time of the maintenance operation is reached, the system determines whether the surface cleaning device 210 is docked on the base station 220 by means of a contact switch on the base station 220 or the surface cleaning device 210. If the surface cleaning device 210 is not docked on the base station 220, the maintenance operation of the surface cleaning device 210 is canceled. When the surface cleaning device 210 is docked on the base station 220, the base station 220 and the surface cleaning device 210 are woken up, and the maintenance operation (self-cleaning and / or drying) begins. When the maintenance operation begins, steps S1100 to S1400 described above can be executed; or, if the working status has been obtained, steps S1200 to S1400 described above can be executed.

[0088] Therefore, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning equipment 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein solves the problem in the prior art that floor scrubbers lack intelligent control methods, and users cannot remotely schedule and manage cleaning and drying tasks. Specifically, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning equipment 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein achieves remote intelligent control through access to a mobile terminal's App, enabling users to conveniently set and manage the working tasks of the surface cleaning equipment 210, thus improving the user experience.

[0089] Furthermore, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning equipment 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein has both a manual mode and an automatic mode, which accordingly can meet the diverse needs of users. In other words, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning equipment 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein provides two operating modes: automatic and manual, to meet the needs of different users. The automatic mode achieves intelligent adjustment through big data analysis, while the manual mode allows users to schedule and control the process according to their individual needs.

[0090] In one specific embodiment, maintenance decisions include activating the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning device 210 and / or adjusting the drying parameters of the wet cleaning module by the base station 220. That is, the maintenance decisions of this disclosure can be executed simultaneously and / or synchronously by the base station 220 and the surface cleaning device 210. Thus, maintenance of the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning device 210 is achieved through the integration of maintenance actions by the base station 220 and maintenance actions performed on the base station 220 by the surface cleaning device 210.

[0091] In this disclosure, the drying parameters include drying temperature and / or drying time. Therefore, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning equipment 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein can change the drying temperature and / or drying time based on environmental conditions, solving the problem that the drying function of existing floor scrubbers is usually in a fixed mode and cannot be adjusted according to environmental conditions, which may lead to unsatisfactory drying results or wasted energy. Thus, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning equipment 210 on the base station 220 disclosed herein, by introducing weather information based on mobile phone big data and linking with other environmental monitoring devices, automatically adjusts the drying mode (drying parameters), optimizes drying efficiency and energy consumption according to real-time environmental conditions, improves drying effect and reduces energy consumption.

[0092] In a preferred embodiment, environmental data is received by at least one of the surface cleaning device 210 and the base station 220. Specifically, the wide-area environmental data of this disclosure includes real-time acquired meteorological data, which includes at least the temperature and humidity at the location of the base station 220. For example, this wide-area environmental data is acquired from a mobile terminal and received via at least one of the surface cleaning device communication device and the base station communication device. In another embodiment, the wide-area environmental data includes at least meteorological information at the location of the base station 220, wherein the meteorological information may be weather forecast information.

[0093] The local environmental data includes real-time detected environmental data, which is obtained at least through sensors located on the surface cleaning device 210 or the base station 220. Specifically, the sensors include temperature sensors and / or humidity sensors. That is, the local environmental data mainly includes the temperature and humidity near the base station 220. Accordingly, the drying parameters can be adjusted based on the temperature and humidity near the base station 220, i.e., the self-cleaning time and drying time can be automatically optimized based on real-time data, so that the drying parameters can be set reasonably, improving the efficiency of the wet cleaning module maintenance operation of the surface cleaning device 210 and saving energy.

[0094] In another embodiment, real-time environmental data is obtained through detection devices located around the site of base station 220. Thus, the method of maintaining surface cleaning equipment 210 on base station 220 disclosed herein can be linked with other detection devices to automatically adjust the drying mode, optimize drying efficiency and energy consumption based on real-time environmental conditions, improve drying effect, and reduce energy consumption.

[0095] Specifically, the detection equipment around the location of base station 220 includes IoT devices with temperature and / or humidity detection functions. Furthermore, when both wide-area environmental data and local environmental data provide temperature and humidity information, the method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station in this disclosure generates a wet cleaning environmental factor type based on the local environmental data.

[0096] When the wet cleaning environmental factor type meets the predetermined type, it is determined whether the power consumption of the surface cleaning device 210 meets the threshold. The wet cleaning environmental factor type includes a combination of a first characteristic and a second characteristic. The first characteristic includes one of the following: high temperature (temperature greater than 25°C), normal temperature (temperature less than or equal to 25°C and greater than or equal to 20°C), or low temperature (temperature less than 20°C). The second characteristic includes one of the following: humid (relative humidity greater than or equal to 30%) or dry (relative humidity less than 30%). In other words, when the environmental data includes both temperature and humidity, the wet cleaning environmental factor type is considered to meet the predetermined type. Alternatively, if temperature or humidity is missing from the environmental data, the environmental data needs to be re-detected and obtained until both temperature and humidity are included in the environmental data.

[0097] Simultaneously, when the environmental factor type of wet cleaning meets the predetermined type, it is necessary to determine whether the power level of the surface cleaning device 210 meets the threshold. That is, in this disclosure, the base station 220 is connected to mains power during operation and does not include components such as rechargeable batteries, therefore, power level determination is not required. The surface cleaning device 210 is not connected to mains power during operation or self-cleaning; instead, it is powered by its rechargeable battery. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the power level of the surface cleaning device 210 to prevent it from shutting down due to insufficient power during maintenance.

[0098] In one specific embodiment, the power threshold can be set to 20% of the battery capacity; correspondingly, if the power of the surface cleaning device 210 is greater than or equal to 20%, a maintenance decision can be generated directly. If the power of the surface cleaning device 210 is less than 20%, the surface cleaning device 210 needs to be charged, and maintenance decisions can only be generated after the power of the surface cleaning device 210 is greater than or equal to 20%.

[0099] In this disclosure, the maintenance decision is generated by either the surface cleaning device controller or the base station controller. Alternatively, the maintenance decision can be generated by a mobile terminal and sent to the surface cleaning device 210 and the base station 220. Furthermore, once one of the surface cleaning device 210 or the base station 220 generates the maintenance decision, it sends the decision to the other, ensuring that the maintenance decision exists in both devices, allowing it to be jointly executed by both.

[0100] Since the method for maintaining the surface cleaning device 210 on base station 220 disclosed herein may involve scheduled maintenance decisions, for example, if a user schedules self-cleaning and drying to begin at 3 PM, then temperature and humidity data for 3 PM are needed to determine the power and time for starting self-cleaning and drying at 3 PM. Therefore, in the method for maintaining the surface cleaning device 210 on base station 220 disclosed herein, the wide-area environmental data includes future predicted meteorological data, which at least includes meteorological data when the surface cleaning device 210 will perform future maintenance actions on base station 220. More specifically, the type of wet cleaning environmental factors is determined at least by the temperature and humidity from the future predicted meteorological data.

[0101] In this disclosure, when the maintenance decision is not generated by the mobile terminal, the method for maintaining the surface cleaning device 210 on the base station 220 further includes sending the maintenance decision to the mobile terminal. That is, the maintenance decision generated by the surface cleaning device 210 or the base station 220 can be sent to the mobile terminal so that the user can know the subsequent working process of the surface cleaning device 210 and the base station 220 on the mobile terminal.

[0102] Furthermore, the maintenance decisions disclosed herein are confirmed and executed by the user via a mobile terminal, thereby enabling the acquisition of more accurate drying parameters with user participation. Specifically, the user modifies or terminates the maintenance decision via the mobile terminal, and then executes the modified maintenance decision or cancels the maintenance decision.

[0103] The method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station disclosed herein allows users to operate and monitor the equipment anytime and anywhere via a mobile terminal APP, including viewing equipment status, adjusting settings, and starting or stopping cleaning and drying tasks.

[0104] Moreover, existing floor scrubbers have low integration with smart home platforms, and their user interfaces are complex or inconvenient to operate. The mobile terminal APP disclosed in this invention can achieve seamless integration with the surface cleaning system, providing a simple and intuitive user interface. Users can easily set up and manage cleaning and drying tasks, and view the equipment status and progress in real time, thus improving the user experience.

[0105] Therefore, the method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on base stations disclosed herein can establish a brand's positioning in the high-end market and enhance its brand image through advanced intelligent technology and user-friendly functions; the superior user experience and intelligent functions will help spread word-of-mouth and user recommendations, further expanding market influence.

[0106] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment / mode," "some embodiments / modes," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment / mode or example is included in at least one embodiment / mode or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment / mode or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments / modes or examples. Furthermore, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments / modes or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments / modes or examples.

[0107] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0108] Those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments are merely for illustrating the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art can make other changes or modifications based on the above disclosure, and these changes or modifications still fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station, the base station including a base station controller and a base station communication device; the base station communication device being used for communicating with the outside world; The base station controller is used to execute base station maintenance actions based on maintenance decisions; the surface cleaning device is configured to perform maintenance on the base station; the surface cleaning device includes a surface cleaning device communication device, a surface cleaning device controller, and a wet cleaning module, wherein the surface cleaning device communication device is used to communicate with the outside world, the surface cleaning device controller is used to execute maintenance actions on the base station based on maintenance decisions, and the wet cleaning module is used to perform wet cleaning on the surface to be cleaned; characterized in that... The method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station includes: The working status is obtained, including the docking status between the surface cleaning equipment and the base station; Receive environmental data, wherein the environmental data includes wide-area environmental data and / or local environmental data of the location of the base station; In response to the environmental data, determine the type of environmental factor for wet cleaning; and Maintenance decisions are generated based on the type of environmental factors in wet cleaning; and the wet cleaning module is maintained according to the maintenance decisions.

2. The method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The maintenance decision includes activating the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning equipment and / or adjusting the drying parameters of the wet cleaning module by the base station.

3. The method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drying parameters include drying temperature and / or drying time.

4. The method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The environmental data is received by at least one of the surface cleaning equipment and the base station.

5. The method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wide-area environmental data includes real-time meteorological data, which includes at least the temperature and humidity of the base station's location.

6. The method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wide-area environmental data is acquired from the mobile terminal and received via at least one of the surface cleaning equipment communication device and the base station communication device.

7. The method for maintaining surface cleaning equipment on a base station according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The wide-area environmental data includes at least meteorological information about the location of the base station; Optionally, the local environment data includes real-time detected environmental data, which is obtained at least by sensors located on the surface cleaning device or the base station; Optionally, the sensor includes a temperature sensor and / or a humidity sensor; Optionally, the real-time environmental data is obtained through detection equipment located around the base station location; Optionally, the detection equipment around the location of the base station includes Internet of Things (IoT) devices with temperature and / or humidity detection functions; Optionally, when the environmental factor type of wet cleaning meets a predetermined type, it is determined whether the power consumption of the surface cleaning equipment meets a threshold. Optionally, the wet cleaning environmental factor type includes: a combination of a first feature and a second feature, wherein the first feature includes one of high temperature, normal temperature, and low temperature, and the second feature includes one of humidity and dryness; Optionally, a maintenance decision is generated after determining that the power consumption of the surface cleaning equipment meets the threshold. Optionally, the maintenance decision is generated by either the surface cleaning equipment controller or the base station controller; Optionally, the maintenance decision is jointly performed by the surface cleaning equipment and the base station; Optionally, the wide-area environmental data includes future predicted meteorological data, which includes at least meteorological data when the surface cleaning equipment performs maintenance operations on the base station in the future; Optionally, the type of environmental factor for wet cleaning is determined at least by temperature and humidity from future predicted meteorological data; Optionally, the maintenance decision may be sent to a mobile terminal; Optionally, the maintenance decision is executed after being confirmed by the user via a mobile terminal; Optionally, the maintenance decision may be modified or terminated by the user via a mobile terminal, and then the modified maintenance decision may be executed or the maintenance decision may be canceled.

8. A surface cleaning device, characterized in that, include: Suction motor; The recovery storage section is fluidly connected to the suction motor; Distribution pump; Clean liquid storage section fluidly connected to the distribution pump; The suction motor control circuit is configured to control the operation of the suction motor during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; The distribution pump control circuit is configured to control the operation of the distribution pump during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; Communication equipment used to communicate with the outside world and to receive environmental data from the outside world; The controller is configured to determine the type of wet cleaning environmental factors based on environmental data; generate maintenance decisions based on the type of wet cleaning environmental factors; and control the suction motor control circuit and the distribution pump control circuit to execute the maintenance decisions based on the maintenance decisions.

9. A base station, characterized in that, include: The main body is configured for docking of surface cleaning equipment; The main body has a maintenance area, which is a recessed area formed on the main body; the maintenance area is used to place the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning equipment, and to perform maintenance decisions on the wet cleaning module within the maintenance area; The blower is fluidly connected to the maintenance area; The heater is thermally connected to the maintenance area; The blower control circuit is configured to control the operation of the blower during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; The heater control circuit is configured to control the operation of the heater during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; Communication equipment used to communicate with the outside world and to receive environmental data from the outside world; The controller is configured to determine the type of wet cleaning environmental factor based on environmental data; generate a maintenance decision based on the type of wet cleaning environmental factor; and control the blower control circuit and the heater control circuit to execute the maintenance decision based on the maintenance decision.

10. A base station, characterized in that, include: The main body is configured for docking of surface cleaning equipment; The main body has a maintenance area, which is a recessed area formed on the main body; the maintenance area is used to place the wet cleaning module of the surface cleaning equipment, and to perform maintenance decisions on the wet cleaning module within the maintenance area; The blower is fluidly connected to the maintenance area; The heater is thermally connected to the maintenance area; The blower control circuit is configured to control the operation of the blower during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; The heater control circuit is configured to control the operation of the heater during the maintenance cycle of the surface cleaning equipment; Communication equipment for communicating with the outside world and receiving maintenance decisions from surface cleaning equipment; A controller is configured to receive maintenance decisions and, based on the maintenance decisions, control a blower control circuit and a heater control circuit to execute the maintenance decisions, wherein the maintenance decisions are related to environmental data of the location of the base station.

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