Pool Cleaner Accelerometer Signaling Beyond Underwater RF Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in wirelessly communicating with autonomous underwater equipment, such as automatic swimming pool cleaners, due to difficulties in transmitting radio frequency signals through water.
Innovation Solution
The method involves creating recognizable vibrations or tilts that can be detected by an accelerometer on the automatic swimming pool cleaner, allowing for communication and operation instructions to be conveyed, either externally or internally within the pool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless radio frequency communication is used to communicate with the underwater cleaner, then communication convenience is improved, but signal transmission reliability deteriorates due to water blocking RF signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate relay device (controller box) positioned outside the pool that receives wireless RF commands and transmits them to the cleaner through the pool wall cable. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by allowing convenient wireless operation while ensuring reliable signal transmission through the water barrier via the cable-connected relay system.
2Reliability
If an intermediate relay control box is used to transmit signals through cable, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller box is positioned outside the pool and automatically receives wireless commands and relays them through the existing cable infrastructure to the cleaner. The system performs its relay function autonomously without requiring additional manual intervention or complex coordination, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the increase in operational complexity.
3Reliability
If vibrations or tilts are used for communication instead of wireless RF signals, then signal transmission reliability through water is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to physical interaction requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two communication approaches: wireless RF communication for convenient remote operation and vibration/tilt sensing for reliable underwater signal transmission. The cleaner's accelerometer detects both wireless commands (transmitted through water as vibrations) and physical tilts, combining the advantages of both methods to achieve reliable communication while maintaining operational convenience.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables effective wireless communication with submerged automatic swimming pool cleaners, allowing for remote operation and feedback, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional wireless communication methods through water.
Implementation Method 1
creating a vibration recognizable by an accelerometer of the automatic swimming pool cleaner
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and methods for wirelessly communicating with equipment such as, but not necessarily limited to, automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs) are detailed. An accelerometer or other sensor on-board an APC may recognize such communications. In some cases, varying operation of a motor or other feedback generator of the APC may provide sonic or other feedback in response to the communications.