Steam mop

Abstract

A steam mop is provided. The present disclosure provides a steam cleaner having a controllable heating element, a system, an apparatus, and a computer-implemented method for operating a heating element in a steam mop. The steam cleaner includes: a battery for providing battery power; a fluid reservoir for containing a liquid; at least a heating element in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; one or more temperature sensors coupled to the at least one heating element; and a controller in communication with the one or more temperature sensors and the at least one heating element, the controller configured to operate in a cordless mode to control the at least one heating element based at least in part on temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors. Controlling and energizing the at least one heating element in a first high power mode and a second low power mode using battery power; wherein the high power mode provides a greater amount of power to the at least one heating element than the low power mode.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 460,552, filed April 19, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to heating components for electric steam cleaners, and more particularly to thick film boilers optimized for use with corded or cordless steam mops. Background Art

[0004] Boiler or hot water tank systems are plagued by basic thermal heating elements (e.g., resistive) that provide intentional heating processes in various settings. For example, some resistance-based heating elements occupy a relatively large amount of space within the tank or boiler. These resistance-based heating elements also have limitations in the time required to raise the temperature to the desired temperature for a specific application. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome these technical challenges, embodiments described herein utilize thick film boiler systems to improve efficiency and user outcomes in applications requiring the use of hot water and / or steam.

[0006] Thus, in one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a steam mop comprising: a battery for providing battery power; a fluid reservoir for holding a liquid; at least a heating element, the at least heating element being in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; one or more temperature sensors coupled to the at least one heating element; and a controller in communication with the one or more temperature sensors and the at least one heating element, the controller being configured to operate in a cordless mode to control and energize the at least one heating element in a first high power mode and a second low power mode using battery power based at least in part on temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors; wherein the high power mode provides a greater amount of power to the at least one heating element than the low power mode.

[0007] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a steam mop comprising: a battery for providing battery power; a fluid reservoir for holding a liquid; at least one heating element in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; one or more temperature sensors coupled to the at least one heating element; a sprayer in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the sprayer configured to generate mist; and a controller in communication with the one or more temperature sensors and the at least one heating element, the controller being configured to operate in a cordless mode to control and energize the at least one heating element in a first high power mode and a second low power mode using battery power based at least in part on temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors; wherein the high power mode provides a greater amount of power to the at least one heating element than the low power mode, the controller further being configured to control and energize the sprayer using battery power to generate mist.

[0008] In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a steam mop comprising: a main body portion comprising: a battery for providing battery power; a fluid reservoir for holding a liquid; and a controller; and a steam head portion comprising: at least one heating element, the at least one heating element being in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; one or more temperature sensors, the one or more temperature sensors being coupled to the at least one heating element; and a sprayer, the sprayer being in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the sprayer being configured to generate mist; wherein the controller communicates with the one or more temperature sensors and the at least one heating element, the controller being configured to operate in a cordless mode to control and energize the at least one heating element in a first high power mode and a second low power mode using battery power based at least in part on temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors; wherein the high power mode provides a greater amount of power to the at least one heating element than the low power mode; the controller is further configured to control and energize the sprayer using battery power to generate mist. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Features and advantages of various embodiments of the claimed subject matter will become apparent as the following detailed description proceeds, and when reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts, and in which:

[0010] Figure 1 shows a cleaning device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0011] Figures 2A to 2G Various embodiments of thick film heating elements according to several embodiments of the present disclosure are shown;

[0012] Figures 3A to 3C Various views of a cylindrical (tubular) thick film heater are shown according to several embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0013] Figure 4 shows an exploded view of components of a thick film boiler according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Various views of a cylindrical thick film heater with an NTC temperature control resistor are shown according to several embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0015] Figure 6A and Figure 6B A steam mop according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0016] Figure 7A and Figure 7B An ultrasonic nebulizer according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0017] Figure 8 shows a flow 800 of operations according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0018] Figure 9 A block diagram of a computing device including a cleaning apparatus for a thick film boiler system is shown, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] While the following detailed description will be made with reference to exemplary embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Figure 1An example of a cleaning device 100 consistent with the present disclosure is shown overall. The cleaning device 100 may include, but is not limited to, a steam cleaner and / or mop, a robotic steam mop, a vacuum cleaner including a steam mop, and the like. The cleaning device 100 may include a body 102 and a steam nozzle (also referred to as a steam head) 104. The steam nozzle 104 may be configured to distribute steam to a surface to be cleaned (e.g., a floor 110), for example, via a steam pad 105. The steam head 104 may also include an agitator assembly (not shown), which is generally configured to scrub and loosen dirt and debris on the surface to be cleaned 110. Optionally, the cleaning device 100 may include a handle 106 and a hinge and / or connector 108. The handle 106 may be configured to allow a user to maneuver the cleaning device 100 on the surface to be cleaned 110. The handle 106 may optionally include one or more user controls 112 (such as, but not limited to, one or more buttons, switches, displays, and the like), which are configured to allow a user to control one or more functions of the cleaning device 100. The connector 108 can be configured to allow the steam nozzle 104 to move relative to the body 102 and / or the handle 106. For example, the connector 108 can include a universal joint or the like.

[0021] The cleaning device 100 may include one or more fluid reservoirs 116. The fluid reservoir 116 may be configured to hold a certain amount of liquid, such as, but not limited to, water, a cleaning agent, and / or a disinfectant. In at least one embodiment, the cleaning device 100 may include a first fluid reservoir configured to hold a certain amount of water and a second (or more) fluid reservoir configured to hold a certain amount of a cleaning agent or disinfectant.

[0022] The fluid reservoir 116 may include one or more fluid inlets 118 and one or more fluid outlets 120 for receiving and storing fluid within the fluid reservoir 116. The fluid outlets 120 may be fluidly coupled to one or more thick film heating elements 122, for example, as shown by liquid flow path 121. As explained herein, the thick film heating element 122 may be configured to heat the fluid from the fluid reservoir 116 to produce a gaseous fluid (e.g., steam), as generally shown by gas flow path 123. It should be understood that the gas flow path 123 may include only gas (e.g., only steam) or may include both gas (e.g., steam) and liquid (e.g., liquid water). The steam may then flow from the thick film heating element 122 to the steam nozzle 104 and, optionally, through one or more steam pads 105. Optionally, one or more controllable flow regulators 124 may be disposed between the fluid outlets 120 and the thick film heating element 122. The controllable flow regulators 124 may include one or more controllable valves and / or pumps (mechanical or electric). In some examples, liquid may be gravity fed from the fluid reservoir 116 to the thick film heating element 122 .

[0023] In at least one example, the one or more fluid reservoirs 116 can be fluidly coupled to (e.g., selectively fluidly coupled to) one or more of the thick film heating elements 122. Alternatively, as an example, a first fluid reservoir (e.g., a water reservoir) can be fluidly coupled to (e.g., selectively fluidly coupled to) one or more of the thick film heating elements 122, and a second fluid reservoir (e.g., a cleaning agent or disinfectant) can be fluidly coupled to one or more separate dispensing outlets (e.g., but not limited to, a nozzle, etc.) configured to dispense the cleaning agent or disinfectant separately from the gas flow path 123.

[0024] The cleaning device 100 may also include a controller circuit 126 that is generally configured to control the operation of the thick film heating element 122 and / or the flow regulator 124, as described below. For example, the controller 126 may adjust the flow rate of the pump and / or the position of the adjustable valve to adjust the amount of liquid provided to the thick film heating element 122. That is, the controller 126 is also configured to control the controllable valve to deliver a selected amount of liquid from the fluid reservoir 116 to the at least one heating element.

[0025] The controller 126 can also regulate the power provided to the thick film heating elements 122. For example, the controller 126 can switch between a DC power source 128 (e.g., one or more rechargeable batteries) and / or an AC power source 130. The controller 126 can be configured to selectively provide power to one or more specific thick film heating elements 122 based on the power source being used. For example, when operating on a DC power source, the controller 126 can provide power to low-power thick film heating elements 122, thereby extending the battery life of the DC power source. Alternatively, when operating on an AC power source, the controller 126 can provide power to high-power thick film heating elements 122 (and optionally low-power thick film heating elements 122) to provide maximum steam output.

[0026] The controller 126 can regulate the power provided to the thick film heating elements 122 based at least in part on the output of one or more temperature sensors 132 coupled to the one or more thick film heating elements 122. In some embodiments, additional sensors can be used, such as motion sensors, water level sensors, floor type sensors, dirt detection sensors, etc., which can be located within the cleaning device 100 or anywhere on the cleaning device (such as, but not limited to, within the fluid reservoir 116, the handle 106, the body 102, and / or the steam nozzle 104).

[0027] The one or more thick film heating elements 122 may be configured to provide a desired power density (e.g., up to 50 W / cm 2) and / or desired operating temperature (e.g., approximately 350°C). Thick film heating element 122 can also be configured for direct liquid heating or contact heating of flat surfaces, has an electrical strength of up to several kW, is mechanically stable, and is composed of a self-supporting steel substrate. Furthermore, thick film heating element 122 can be applied to holes, screws, nuts, welds, or any other flat shape for simple applications; and does not absorb moisture. Examples of one or more thick film heating elements 122 are described in more detail below.

[0028] One or more of the temperature sensors 132 may include a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor. As is well known, an NTC resistor generally changes resistance depending on temperature. The NTC resistor may be embedded within one or more of the thick film heating elements 122. For example, the NTC resistor may include an NTC thermistor integrated within the thick film heating element 122. Furthermore, the NTC thermistor may be configured to improve the time it takes for the thick film boiler system to transition between a first mode (e.g., a high power mode) and a second mode (e.g., a low power mode).

[0029] In one embodiment, the one or more temperature sensors 132 may include a first thermostat 132A configured to operate at a first temperature and a second thermostat 132B configured to operate at a second temperature. For example, the first thermostat 132A may be configured to detect the temperature of the liquid at (or near) the thick film heating element 122 and transmit data corresponding to the detected temperature to the controller 126. Furthermore, the first thermostat 132A may be configured to operate (i.e., close the power circuit) when the liquid temperature is less than a first maximum temperature. Similarly, the second thermostat 132B may be configured to detect the temperature of the liquid at (or near) the thick film heating element 122 and transmit data corresponding to the detected temperature to the controller 126. The second thermostat 132B may be configured to operate (i.e., close the power circuit) when the liquid temperature is less than the first maximum temperature and / or greater than the first maximum temperature. For example, by using less battery power and processing resources when the liquid temperature does not exceed a temperature threshold, the cleaning device 100 may experience improved efficiency due to adjusting when the one or more temperature sensors operate. That is, one or more temperature sensors 132 (at least one temperature sensor) provide temperature data of the heated liquid to the controller 126 .

[0030] In one embodiment, the first temperature may correspond to a first maximum temperature that is 50% less than a second maximum temperature that may correspond to the second temperature.

[0031] In one embodiment, one or more thick film heating elements 122 may include a two-dimensional composite layer including at least a substrate layer as a base layer, a heater track layer located on top of the substrate layer, and / or an enamel protective layer located on top of the heater track layer.

[0032] Figures 2A to 2G Various embodiments of thick film heating elements 200 are shown according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] In one embodiment, the thick film heating element 200 (eg, one or more thick film heating elements 122) may include a flat circular thick film heating element 210 ( Figure 2A )、semicircular thick film element 220 ( Figure 2B ), rounded square thick film heating element 230 ( Figure 2C ), square thick film heating element 240 ( Figure 2D ), rectangular thick film heating element 250 ( Figure 2E ) and tubular thick film heating elements 260, 270 ( Figure 2F and Figure 2G ). Figures 2A to 2E The thick film heating element can be used to heat liquids indirectly, for example, Figures 2A to 2E The thick film heating element may be placed on or near a separate fluid container (not shown) in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir 116, and / or Figures 2A to 2E A thick film heating element may be placed on or near the fluid reservoir 116 to provide heating of the liquid. Figure 2F and Figure 2G In an example, the tubular thick film heating element 260 / 270 may receive a liquid to be directly heated within the tubular structure. In one embodiment, the thick film heating element 200 may be configured to provide a heat dissipation of up to 50 W / cm 2 The thick film heating element 200 offers high performance with high power density capabilities. Furthermore, it can be configured to withstand and tolerate high operating temperatures of up to 350°C. Furthermore, the thick film heating element 200 can be configured for direct liquid heating or contact heating of flat surfaces, boasting an electrical strength of up to several kW, is mechanically stable, and consists of a self-supporting steel base plate. Furthermore, the thick film heating element 200 can be applied to simple applications such as holes, screws, nuts, welds, and any flat shape, and can be configured to reduce moisture absorption.

[0034] Figures 3A to 3C Various views of a cylindrical (tubular) thick film boiler (ie, a cylindrical thick film heater) 300 are shown, according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] In one embodiment, the cylindrical thick film heater 300 may include an inlet 310 (e.g., a receiving inlet) configured to receive a liquid and an outlet 312 (e.g., a dispensing outlet) configured to distribute the liquid throughout the body of the cylindrical thick film heater 300. For example, the inlet 310 may receive the liquid from a reservoir or tank in fluid communication with the cylindrical thick film heater 300. Additionally, for example, the outlet 312 may be configured to distribute the liquid from the cylindrical thick film heater 300 to a surface cleaning module (e.g., the surface cleaning module 104) that may be in fluid communication with the outlet 312.

[0036] In an embodiment, the cylindrical thick film heater 300 may include an electrical port 320 for connecting wire leads to receive electrical energy from a power source. Furthermore, the cylindrical thick film heater 300 may include a valve member 340, the rear end of which is disposed within the opening of the first end of the spring member 350, wherein the front end of the valve member is received within the interior portion of the inlet 310. For example, the interior portion of the inlet may be disposed at the inlet portion of a spiral water channel within the body of the cylindrical thick film heater 300, wherein the valve member may be configured to prevent backflow of water through the spiral water channel.

[0037] In one embodiment, the cylindrical thick film heater 300 can be configured to have dimensions suitable for the application in which it is used. For example, the cylindrical thick film heater 300 can have a first length 370 of 111 mm and a first diameter of 13 mm, suitable for a handheld cleaning appliance (e.g., a steam mop). In addition, for example, the cylindrical thick film heater 300 can have a second length 374 of 89 mm (excluding the portion of the inlet 310 and outlet 312 extending beyond the body) and a second diameter 376 of 5.5 mm (corresponding to the opening of the inlet 310 and / or outlet 312). Further, for example, the cylindrical thick film heater 300 can have a third length 378 of 85 mm (excluding the portion of the corresponding cover for the inlet 310 and outlet 312).

[0038] Figure 4 An exploded view of the components of a thick film boiler according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0039] In an embodiment, the thick film boiler 400 may include an inlet cover 410 configured to be disposed within an opening at a first end of the housing 402 (e.g., an exterior portion of the body), and an outlet cover 412 configured to be disposed within an opening at a second end of the housing 402. Furthermore, the thick film boiler 400 may include wires (e.g., conductive leads 420) attached to terminals electrically connected to the thick film member 430, the wires configured to provide electrical energy to generate heat at the thick film member 430. Furthermore, the thick film boiler 400 may include a core having a spiral water channel 440, the core configured to be disposed within the body of the thick film boiler 400 and extending through the length of the body. Furthermore, the thick film boiler 400 may include a spring 442 (e.g., spring member 350), the rear end of the spring disposed within an opening at a first end of a valve 442 (e.g., valve member 340).

[0040] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Various views of a cylindrical thick film boiler (ie, cylindrical thick film heater) 500 with an NTC temperature control resistor are shown, according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0041] In an embodiment, the cylindrical thick film heater 500 may include an NTC temperature control 510 component positioned at one end of the body of the cylindrical thick film heater 500 and electrically connected to the cylindrical thick film heater 500. For example, the NTC temperature control 510 component may be a thermistor configured to provide feedback to a controller that regulates the cylindrical thick film heater 500 to two or more different temperatures. For example, switching the cylindrical thick film heater 500 between two or more different operating temperatures may include reducing the time between switching between the first mode and the second mode, and / or increasing the rate of change of temperature when switching between the first mode and the second mode.

[0042] Figure 6A A steam mop 600 is shown consistent with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] The steam mop 600 can be a cordless steam mop (e.g., configured to be powered by one or more batteries), a corded steam mop (e.g., configured to be powered by an AC power source such as an electrical outlet), or a combination of corded and cordless steam mops. The steam mop 600 can include a handle 610 having a bottom portion connected to an upper portion of a body 612, wherein the body 612 can include one or more liquid reservoirs (e.g., a cold water tank, a detergent tank, and / or a liquid container) 620. The one or more liquid reservoirs 620 can be in fluid communication with one or more pumps 630. Furthermore, the steam mop 600 can include a mop module (also referred to as a steam nozzle or steam head) 614 hingedly coupled to the body 612, wherein the mop module 614 can include a sprayer 640 in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir 620. Furthermore, the mop module 614 can include a boiler 650 in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir 620 and configured to generate steam from a liquid supplied by the sprayer 640. For example, boiler 650 may include a thick film heating element configured to generate heat to increase the temperature of liquid from the atomizer and distribute the heated liquid to a surface or the surrounding environment as steam 644. However, it should be understood that boiler 650 may include any boiler known to those skilled in the art.

[0044] In an embodiment, a sprayer (also referred to herein as a nebulizer) 640 may be configured to distribute at least some of the generated mist 646 into the environment. The sprayer 640 may include any known atomizer, such as, but not limited to, a piezoelectric atomizer, configured to combine air and a fluid (e.g., water, a cleaning agent, and / or a disinfectant) to generate a mist comprising droplets of the fluid suspended in air. Optionally, at least some of the mist 646 may contact one or more chemical components 642. For example, at least some of the mist 646 may flow through and / or around at least a portion of the chemical components 642. At least some of the chemical components 642 may combine with the mist 646 and ultimately be distributed into the environment. For example, at least some of the mist 646 may entrain some of the chemical components 642, such that the chemical components 642 are discharged together with the mist 646 from the steam mop 600. The mist 646 and the chemical components 642 may be distributed into the air surrounding the steam mop 600 and / or onto the surface to be cleaned. Chemical components 642 may include, but are not limited to, aromatic compounds and / or antimicrobial agents (e.g., but not limited to, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and / or antiprotozoal agents). Alternatively (or additionally), sprayer 640 may be configured to distribute mist 646 at least in part through or on one or more steam pads (e.g., steam pad 105) coupled to mop module 614.

[0045] The sprayer 640 can be configured to receive liquid (e.g., water and / or detergent) before the liquid is heated by the boiler 650. For example, the sprayer 640 and the boiler 650 can be fluidly coupled to the one or more liquid reservoirs 620 via one or more pumps 630 and / or one or more valves 615. The one or more pumps 630 and / or one or more valves 615 can be controlled by a controller (e.g., the controller 126, Figure 1 ) is selectively adjusted to adjust the flow rate to the sprayer 640 and / or boiler 650.

[0046] For example, the sprayer 640 may be fluidly coupled to a single pump 630 that provides liquid to both the sprayer 640 and the boiler 650, as shown in FIG. Figure 6A Alternatively (or additionally), the sprayer 640 and the boiler 650 can be fluidly coupled to the liquid reservoir 620 via one or more controllable valves 615. In at least one example, the pump 630 can be eliminated, and the liquid supply to the sprayer 640 and / or boiler 650 can be gravity fed via the valve 615.

[0047] Figure 6B A steam mop 600' is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 6B In an embodiment, the flow of liquid from the liquid reservoir 620 to the sprayer 640 can be provided separately and independently from the flow of liquid from the liquid reservoir 620 to the boiler 650. For example, the steam mop 600' can include a first pump and a second pump configured to separately and independently provide liquid from one or more liquid reservoirs 620 to the sprayer 640 and the boiler 650, respectively. Alternatively, the steam mop 600' can include a first pump configured to provide liquid from one or more liquid reservoirs 620 to the boiler 650, while the liquid can be gravity-fed from the one or more liquid reservoirs to the sprayer 640. In yet another example, the steam mop 600' can include a first pump configured to provide liquid from one or more liquid reservoirs 620 to the sprayer 640, while the liquid can be gravity-fed from the one or more liquid reservoirs 620 to the boiler 650. Alternatively, liquid may be gravity fed from one or more liquid reservoirs 620 to boiler 650 , and liquid may be separately gravity fed from one or more liquid reservoirs 620 to sprayers 640 .

[0048] In any case, providing liquid to the sprayer 640 before being heated by the boiler 650 can improve the overall efficiency of the steam mop 600' because the mist 646 is produced without consuming energy used by the boiler 650. This can be particularly useful in battery-powered (cordless) steam mops 600 / 600'.

[0049] Any of the steam mops described herein may also include one or more motion sensors configured to detect movement of the steam mop. For example, the motion sensors may be coupled to the handle 610, the body 612, and / or the mop module 614. The steam mops 600 and 600' may include a controller (e.g., a controller) that communicates with the one or more sensors. Figure 1 Controller 126 shown), wherein one or more sensors can be configured to transmit motion data to the controller. Upon receiving the motion data, the controller can be configured to determine when the steam mop 600 / 600' is moving and, in response to determining that the steam mop 600 / 600' is not moving, switch from an active mode (e.g., when power is supplied to the boiler 650 and / or the sprayer 640) to an inactive mode (e.g., when power is not supplied to the boiler 650 and / or the sprayer 640).

[0050] As will be appreciated, the controller 126 is configured to determine whether the steam mop is connected to a main AC power source (corded), or if no AC power source is present, in which case the mop operates in a cordless (battery-powered) mode. In the cordless mode, the controller 126 can control the boiler 650 and the sprayer 640 to operate in a variety of operating modes. In a first operating mode, the controller 126 can provide a reduced amount of power (e.g., 50% of full power) to the boiler 650. In this first operating mode, power to the sprayer 640 can be omitted to extend battery life. The steam mop 600 / 600' can operate in a second operating mode in which the amount of power provided to the boiler 650 is greater than the amount of power provided to the boiler 650 in the first operating mode. For example, the first operating mode can be referred to as a low-power mode, while the second operating mode can be referred to as a high-power mode.

[0051] The steam mop 600 may also include a third operating mode. In the third operating mode, the steam mop 600 may provide power to both the boiler 650 and the sprayer 640. In at least one example, the amount of power provided to the boiler 650 in the third operating mode is greater than the amount of power provided to the boiler 650 in the first operating mode. Alternatively (or additionally), the amount of power provided to the boiler 650 in the third operating mode may be less than the amount of power provided to the boiler 650 in the first operating mode. The third operating mode may optionally include a low power mode and a high power mode. In the low power mode, the amount of power provided to the boiler 650 and / or the sprayer 640 is less than the amount of power provided to the boiler 650 and / or the sprayer 640 in the high power mode.

[0052] If the controller 126 determines that AC power is present, the controller 126 may control the boiler 650 and the sprayer 640 to operate in a first operating mode providing full power to the boiler 650 and a second operating mode providing full power to the boiler 650 and the sprayer 640. It should be understood that any of the steam mops described herein may be configured for battery-only operation, in which the AC power is used only to charge a rechargeable battery associated with the steam mop (via, for example, a wall-mountable docking station). In such a configuration, the stick mop may be configured to operate in low-power (longer run time) and high-power (faster steam generation) modes, as described above. Additionally, such a steam mop configuration may include a sprayer (as described herein) that may be user-selectable to operate in low-power mode and / or high-power mode. Alternatively, the battery may include one or more disposable batteries, and in such embodiments, the steam mop may be configured to operate solely on the disposable batteries without being connected to an AC power source.

[0053] As used herein, "low power" and "low power mode" refer to operating conditions that are generally designed to provide extended operating time based on available battery power, total battery power capacity, etc. "High power" and "high power mode" refer to operating conditions in which an increased amount of power is delivered to the heating element compared to "low power mode." High power mode can, for example, enable a user to obtain steam more quickly than in low power mode and / or increase steam production compared to low power mode.

[0054] exist Figure 6B In an embodiment, sprayer 640 can be in fluid communication with fluid reservoir 620 via fluid communication path 670. As shown, fluid communication path 670 can bypass pump 630 so that sprayer 640 can be gravity-fed. Boiler 650 can be in fluid communication with fluid reservoir 620 via fluid communication path 672. Fluid communication path 672 can bypass sprayer 640.

[0055] Figure 7A and Figure 7B An ultrasonic nebulizer 700 is shown according to several embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0056] In an embodiment, the ultrasonic nebulizer 700 can be a piezoelectric evaporator and can include an upper portion 702 attached to a lower portion 704, forming a cavity between the upper portion 702 and the lower portion 704, wherein the cavity can be configured to be in fluid communication with a water source or supply via an inlet 710 and to discharge the supplied water through an outlet 712. For example, when a liquid (e.g., water) is provided through the inlet 710 and enters the cavity, the ultrasonic nebulizer 700 can be configured to generate a mist vapor 714 through an opening in the upper portion 702, wherein the mist vapor 714 can be discharged into the adjacent environment.

[0057] In an embodiment, water can be distributed by various methods. For example, water can be heated / boiled by a boiler and distributed by a mop module. As another example, unheated water can be distributed by an ultrasonic sprayer 700, as described above.

[0058] Figure 8 A flow 800 illustrating operations according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 8 The operations depicted in the embodiment relate to the operation of a controller (e.g., controller 126) of the steam mop. The operation of this embodiment includes determining whether an AC power source is present 802. If an AC power source is not present, the controller will cause the steam mop to operate in a cordless mode. In the cordless mode, the operation of this embodiment includes determining whether a high power mode or a low power mode is selected 804. If the low power mode is selected, the controller controls the heating element to heat the liquid to a first temperature to generate steam 806. If the high power mode is selected, the controller controls the heating element to heat the liquid to a first temperature to generate steam 808. In either (or both) the low power mode and / or the high power mode, the operation according to this embodiment may also include determining whether a sprayer operation is selected 810.

[0059] If there is AC power (802), the controller will cause the steam mop to operate in corded mode. In corded mode, the operation of this embodiment includes controlling the heating element to heat the liquid to generate steam 812, for example, using all available power to heat the liquid as quickly as possible. In corded mode, the operation according to this embodiment may also include determining whether to select the sprayer operation 814. As described above, some specific embodiments of the steam mop described herein may be used only in battery-powered mode (i.e., cordless). In such a specific implementation, operation 802 may be modified to determine whether the steam mop is connected to AC to charge the rechargeable battery associated with the steam mop, and operations 812 and 814 may be omitted. Of course, in other embodiments, the steam mop may be configured to operate only on disposable batteries, in which case operations 802, 812, and 814 may be omitted.

[0060] The steam mops described herein may also include one or more user-selectable switches to allow a user to switch between the various modes described herein (eg, low power mode / high power mode) and to turn the sprayer on / off.

[0061] Figure 9 A block diagram of a computing device 900 (eg, controller 126 ) of a cleaning apparatus 100 is shown, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0062] The computing device 900 includes a communications fabric 902 that provides communications between cache 916, memory 906, persistent storage 908, a communications unit 910, and an input / output (I / O) interface 912. The communications fabric 902 can be implemented using any architecture designed to transfer data and / or control information between processors (such as microprocessors, communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheral devices, and any other hardware components within the system. For example, the communications fabric 902 can be implemented using one or more buses or crossbar switches.

[0063] Memory 906 and persistent storage 908 are computer-readable storage media. In this embodiment, memory 906 comprises random access memory (RAM). Generally, memory 906 may comprise any suitable volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. Cache 916 is a fast memory that enhances the performance of computer processor 904 by storing recently accessed data from memory 906 and data near accessed data.

[0064] Programs may be stored in persistent storage 908 and memory 906 for execution and / or access by one or more of the corresponding computer processors 904 via cache 916. In an embodiment, persistent storage 908 may include a magnetic hard drive. As an alternative to or in addition to a magnetic hard drive, persistent storage 908 may include a solid-state hard drive, a semiconductor memory device, a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any other computer-readable storage medium capable of storing program instructions or digital information.

[0065] The media used by persistent storage 908 may also be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage 908. Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, and smart cards, which are inserted into a drive to transfer to another computer-readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage 908.

[0066] In these examples, communications unit 910 provides for communications with other data processing systems or devices. In these examples, communications unit 910 includes one or more network interface cards. Communications unit 910 can provide for communications using either or both physical and wireless communication links. Programs as described herein can be downloaded to persistent storage 908 via communications unit 910.

[0067] The I / O interface 912 allows for input and output of data to and from other devices that may be connected to the controller 140. For example, the I / O interface 912 may provide a connection to an external device 918, such as a surface cleaning module (e.g., a mop module), a surface module, a keyboard, a keypad, a touch screen, and / or some other suitable input device. The external device 918 may also include a portable computer-readable storage medium, such as a thumb drive, a portable optical or magnetic disk, and a memory card. Software and data 914 for practicing the embodiments of the present disclosure may be stored on such a portable computer-readable storage medium and may be loaded into the permanent memory 908 via the I / O interface 912. The I / O interface 912 is also connected to a display 920.

[0068] Display 920 provides a mechanism for displaying data to a user and may be, for example, a computer monitor.

[0069] The software and data 914 described herein are identified based on the application in which the software and data are implemented in a specific embodiment of the present invention. However, it should be understood that any specific program terminology used herein is used for convenience only, and thus the present invention should not be limited to use only in any specific application identified and / or implied by such terminology.

[0070] The programs described herein are identified based on the applications in which they are implemented in specific embodiments of the present invention. However, it should be understood that any specific program terminology herein is used merely for convenience, and thus the present invention should not be limited to use in any specific application identified and / or implied by such terminology.

[0071] The present disclosure may be a computer system, a computer-implemented method, and / or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer-readable storage medium (or medium) having computer-readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to perform various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0072] A computer-readable storage medium can be any tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. A computer-readable storage medium can be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of computer-readable storage media includes the following: a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanical encoding device (such as a punched card or a raised structure in a groove on which instructions are recorded), and any suitable combination of the foregoing. As used herein, a computer-readable storage medium should not be interpreted as a transient signal itself, such as a radio wave or other freely propagating electromagnetic wave, an electromagnetic wave propagated through a waveguide or other transmission medium (such as a light pulse through a fiber optic cable), or an electrical signal transmitted by a wire.

[0073] The computer-readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded from a computer-readable storage medium to a corresponding computing / processing device, or downloaded to an external computer or external storage device via a network (e.g., the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and / or a wireless network). The network can include copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmissions, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers, and / or edge servers. The network adapter card or network interface in each computing / processing device receives the computer-readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer-readable program instructions to be stored in a computer-readable storage medium within the corresponding computing / processing device.

[0074] The computer-readable program instructions for performing the operations of the present disclosure may be assembly instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​(such as Smalltalk, C++, etc.) and conventional programming languages ​​(such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages). The computer-readable program instructions may be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer as a stand-alone software package, partially on the user's computer, partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter case, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuits including, for example, programmable logic circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or programmable logic arrays (PLAs) can execute computer-readable program instructions by utilizing state information of computer-readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuits so as to perform various aspects of the present disclosure. Various aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of computer-implemented methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that each box of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams and the combination of boxes in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams can be implemented by computer-readable program instructions.

[0075] These computer-readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, such that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device create a component for implementing the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart and / or block diagram. These computer-readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct the computer, programmable data processing device, and / or other apparatus to operate in a particular manner, such that the computer-readable storage medium having the instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture that includes instructions for implementing various aspects of the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0076] Computer-readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing device, or other apparatus to cause a series of operating steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable device, or other apparatus, thereby producing a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer, other programmable device, or other apparatus implement the functions / actions specified in one or more boxes of the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0077] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the possible architectures, functions and operations of the systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each box in the flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment or part of an instruction of an instruction, which includes one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative embodiments, the functions marked in the box may not occur in the order marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, two boxes shown in succession may actually be executed substantially simultaneously, or the boxes may sometimes be executed in the opposite order, depending on the functions involved. It will also be noted that each box in the block diagram and / or flowchart illustration and the combination of boxes in the block diagram and / or flowchart illustration can be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system that performs a specified function or action or performs a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0078] The description of various embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for illustrative purposes, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The terminology used herein is selected to best explain the principles of the embodiments, practical applications, or technical improvements to technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0079] As used in this application and the claims, a list of items joined by the term "and / or" may mean any combination of the listed items. For example, the phrase "A, B, and / or C" may mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; As used in this application and the claims, a list of items joined by the term "at least one" may mean any combination of the listed items. For example, the phrase "at least one of A, B, or C" may mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B, and C.

[0080] The terms and expressions employed herein are used as terms of description and not limitation, and when such terms and expressions are used, it is not intended to exclude any equivalents of the features shown and described (or portions thereof), and it should be recognized that various modifications may be made within the scope of the claims. Therefore, the claims are intended to cover all such equivalents. Various features, aspects, and embodiments have been described herein. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, features, aspects, and embodiments are susceptible to combination with one another and to variations and modifications. Therefore, the present disclosure should be deemed to cover such combinations, variations, and modifications.

[0081] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that the particular features, structures, or characteristics described in combination with the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

Claims

1. A steam mop, characterized in that The steam mop comprises: a battery for providing battery power; a fluid reservoir for containing a liquid; at least one heating element in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; one or more temperature sensors coupled to at least one heating element; and a controller in communication with the one or more temperature sensors and the at least one heating element, the controller being configured to operate in a cordless mode to control and energize the at least one heating element in a first high-power mode and a second low-power mode using battery power based at least in part on temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors; wherein the high-power mode provides a greater amount of power to the at least one heating element than the low-power mode.

2. The steam mop of claim 1, wherein the one or more temperature sensors include a first thermostat configured to operate at a first temperature and a second thermostat configured to operate at a second temperature.

3. The steam mop of claim 2, wherein the first temperature corresponds to a temperature of the second operating mode, and the second temperature corresponds to a temperature of the first operating mode; wherein the first temperature is 50% lower than the second temperature.

4. The steam mop of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises at least one of: a thick film heating element comprising a two-dimensional composite layer and including at least a substrate layer as a base layer, a heater track layer on top of the substrate layer, and an enamel protective layer on top of the heater track layer; and / or a cylindrical thick film heater.

5. The steam mop of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether AC power is available or whether only battery power is available; if the AC power is available, the controller is configured to operate in the corded mode to: control and energize the at least one thick film heater to heat the liquid to a selected temperature to generate steam, and wherein the at least one temperature sensor provides temperature data of the heated liquid to the controller; and if only battery power is available, the controller is configured to operate in the cordless mode.

6. The steam mop of claim 5, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery, and wherein the controller is configured to charge the rechargeable battery based on determining whether the AC power source is connected.

7. The steam mop of claim 1, wherein the steam mop further comprises a sprayer in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the sprayer being configured to generate a mist.

8. The steam mop of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to control operation of the sprayer in a corded operating mode and a cordless operating mode.

9. The steam mop of claim 7, wherein the at least one heating element is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a first fluid communication path; and wherein the sprayer is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a second fluid communication path.

10. The steam mop of claim 7, wherein the sprayer is a piezoelectric sprayer.

11. The steam mop of claim 1 , wherein the steam mop further comprises a controllable valve disposed between the at least one heating element and the fluid reservoir; wherein the controller is further configured to control the controllable valve to deliver a selected amount of liquid from the fluid reservoir to the at least one heating element.

12. The steam mop of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises water, a detergent and / or a disinfectant.

13. The steam mop of claim 1, wherein the steam mop further comprises a steam head comprising a steam pad in fluid communication with the steam output of the at least one heating element.

14. A steam mop, characterized in that The steam mop comprises: a battery for providing battery power; a fluid reservoir for containing a liquid; at least one heating element in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; one or more temperature sensors coupled to the at least one heating element; a nebulizer in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the nebulizer configured to generate a mist; and a controller in communication with the one or more temperature sensors and the at least one heating element, the controller being configured to operate in a cordless mode to control and energize the at least one heating element in a first high-power mode and a second low-power mode using battery power based at least in part on temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors; wherein the high-power mode provides a greater amount of power to the at least one heating element than the low-power mode; and the controller being further configured to control and energize the sprayer using battery power to generate mist.

15. The steam mop of claim 14, wherein the one or more temperature sensors include a first thermostat configured to operate at a first temperature and a second thermostat configured to operate at a second temperature.

16. The steam mop of claim 15, wherein the first temperature corresponds to a temperature for the second operating mode, and the second temperature corresponds to a temperature for the first operating mode; wherein the first temperature is 50% lower than the second temperature.

17. The steam mop of claim 14 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises at least one of: a thick film heating element comprising a two-dimensional composite layer and including at least a substrate layer as a base layer, a heater track layer on top of the substrate layer, and an enamel protective layer on top of the heater track layer; and / or a cylindrical thick film heater.

18. The steam mop of claim 14 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether AC power is available or whether only battery power is available; if the AC power is available, the controller is configured to operate in the corded mode to: control and energize the at least one thick film heater to heat the liquid to a selected temperature to generate steam, and wherein the at least one temperature sensor provides temperature data of the heated liquid to the controller; and if only battery power is available, the controller is configured to operate in the cordless mode.

19. The steam mop of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to control the sprayer in a corded operating mode and energize the sprayer to generate mist.

20. The steam mop of claim 18, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery, and wherein the controller is configured to charge the rechargeable battery based on determining whether the AC power source is connected.

21. The steam mop of claim 14, wherein the at least one heating element is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a first fluid communication path; and wherein the sprayer is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a second fluid communication path.

22. The steam mop of claim 14, wherein the sprayer is a piezoelectric sprayer.

23. The steam mop of claim 14, wherein the steam mop further comprises a controllable valve disposed between the at least one heating element and the fluid reservoir; wherein the controller is further configured to control the controllable valve to deliver a selected amount of liquid from the fluid reservoir to the at least one heating element.

24. The steam mop of claim 14, wherein the liquid comprises water, a cleaning agent, and / or a disinfectant.

25. The steam mop of claim 14, wherein the steam mop further comprises a steam head comprising a steam pad in fluid communication with the steam output of the at least one heating element.

26. A steam mop, characterized in that The steam mop comprises: The main body part includes: a battery for providing battery power; a fluid reservoir for containing a liquid; Controller; and A steam head portion, comprising: at least one heating element in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; one or more temperature sensors coupled to at least one heating element; and a sprayer in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the sprayer configured to generate a mist; wherein the controller is in communication with the one or more temperature sensors and the at least one heating element, the controller being configured to operate in a cordless mode to control and energize the at least one heating element in a first high power mode and a second low power mode using battery power based at least in part on temperature data received from the one or more temperature sensors; wherein the high power mode provides a greater amount of power to the at least one heating element than the low power mode; and Wherein the controller is further configured to control the sprayer using battery power and energize the sprayer to generate mist.

27. The steam mop of claim 26, wherein the one or more temperature sensors include a first thermostat configured to operate at a first temperature and a second thermostat configured to operate at a second temperature.

28. The steam mop of claim 27, wherein the first temperature corresponds to a temperature for the second operating mode, and the second temperature corresponds to a temperature for the first operating mode; wherein the first temperature is 50% lower than the second temperature.

29. The steam mop of claim 26 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises at least one of: a thick film heating element comprising a two-dimensional composite layer and including at least a substrate layer as a base layer, a heater track layer on top of the substrate layer, and an enamel protective layer on top of the heater track layer; and / or a cylindrical thick film heater.

30. The steam mop of claim 26 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether AC power is available or whether only battery power is available; if the AC power is available, the controller is configured to operate in the corded mode to: control and energize the at least one thick film heater to heat the liquid to a selected temperature to generate steam, and wherein the at least one temperature sensor provides temperature data of the heated liquid to the controller; and if only battery power is available, the controller is configured to operate in the cordless mode.

31. The steam mop of claim 30, wherein the controller is further configured to control the sprayer in a corded mode of operation and energize the sprayer to generate mist.

32. The steam mop of claim 30, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery, and wherein the controller is configured to charge the rechargeable battery based on determining whether the AC power source is connected.

33. The steam mop of claim 26, wherein the at least one heating element is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a first fluid communication path; and wherein the sprayer is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a second fluid communication path.

34. The steam mop of claim 26, wherein the sprayer is a piezoelectric sprayer.

35. The steam mop of claim 26, wherein the steam mop further comprises a controllable valve disposed between the at least one heating element and the fluid reservoir; wherein the controller is further configured to control the controllable valve to deliver a selected amount of liquid from the fluid reservoir to the at least one heating element.

36. The steam mop of claim 26, wherein the liquid comprises water, a cleaning agent, and / or a disinfectant.

37. The steam mop of claim 26, wherein the steam head further comprises a steam pad in fluid communication with the steam output of the at least one heating element.

38. The steam mop of claim 26, wherein the steam head further comprises an agitator assembly configured to scrub and loosen dirt and debris on the surface to be cleaned.

39. The steam mop of claim 26, wherein the steam mop further comprises at least one user-selectable switch to enable the controller to operate the at least one heating element and the sprayer in the low power mode and the high power mode.

40. The steam mop of claim 26, wherein: The steam mop further includes at least one motion sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one motion sensor being configured to detect motion of the steam mop; wherein the controller is further configured to interrupt power to the boiler if the motion sensor detects that the steam mop is stationary.

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