Pool Cleaner Obstacle Sensing for Automatic Direction Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Swimming pool cleaners often struggle to efficiently navigate around pool walls and obstacles due to their inability to automatically detect and change direction, leading to reduced cleaning efficiency and prolonged movement against walls.
Innovation Solution
An obstacle touching detecting device equipped with a sensor module and trigger unit, allowing the cleaner to automatically detect obstacles and change direction, comprising a magnetic or optical component that triggers a Hall sensor or photoelectric sensor to control the cleaner's motor operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If time-based control is used for cleaner turning, then the control system is simple, but the cleaning efficiency is low due to prolonged movement against walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical time-based control system with an optical sensing system. Photoelectric sensors detect wall proximity and generate signals that automatically trigger direction changes, eliminating the need for time-based control delays and enabling immediate response to obstacles, thereby significantly improving cleaning efficiency without requiring complex control logic
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaner is equipped with photoelectric sensors that enable it to autonomously detect walls and obstacles, automatically generate turning signals, and independently change direction without external intervention or complex centralized control, achieving self-service navigation that improves efficiency while maintaining simple control architecture
2Reliability
If the cleaner waits for time-based control to reverse, then the control logic is simple, but the cleaner struggles against walls for long periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical time-based control with an optical detection system using photoelectric sensors. These sensors accurately detect wall proximity by sensing light changes, generating reliable obstacle detection signals that immediately trigger direction changes, eliminating the need to wait for time-based control cycles and ensuring accurate obstacle recognition without complex sensor arrays
Solution Approach 2:
The photoelectric sensor acts as an intermediary between the cleaner's movement and the control system. It converts optical information from the environment (light reflections from walls) into electrical signals that the control system can process, providing accurate and reliable obstacle detection while keeping the overall system architecture simple through this single intermediary component
3Ease of operation
If no obstacle detection is used, then the device structure is simple, but the cleaner cannot automatically change direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for complex mechanical obstacle detection mechanisms (such as bumpers or tactile sensors) with an optical detection system. Photoelectric sensors mounted on the cleaner's housing detect walls through light reflection changes, enabling automatic direction changing through electrical signal processing rather than mechanical contact, achieving ease of operation with minimal structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaner uses photoelectric sensors to autonomously detect its environment and automatically generate direction change commands without requiring external control or complex mechanical structures. The system serves itself by converting optical information into navigation decisions, achieving automatic direction changing while maintaining simple device structure through self-service operation
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
Enables the cleaner to detect obstacles and change direction independently, enhancing cleaning efficiency and flexibility, reducing time-based control inefficiencies, and is suitable for battery-powered cleaners with rapid and accurate responses.
Implementation Method 1
The resistance plate is configured to move toward the direction opposite to the moving direction under the resistance of the water
Implementation Method 2
The sensor detecting module is electrically connectable to the controller module. The trigger unit device cooperates with the sensor detecting module to trigger the sensor detecting module to generate a detection signal
Implementation Method 3
The sensor detecting module is electrically connectable to the controller module. The trigger unit device cooperates with the sensor detecting module to trigger the sensor detecting module to generate a detection signal
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides an obstacle touching detecting device for a swimming pool cleaner, which includes a main functional portion of the cleaner. The main functional portion of the cleaner includes a cleaner main body, a controller module, and a power-driven actuating device. The controller module and the power-driven actuating device are connected to the cleaner main body. The obstacle touching detecting device of the swimming pool cleaner further comprises a sensor obstacle touching detecting device. The sensor obstacle touching detecting device includes a trigger unit and a sensor detecting module. The trigger unit is connected to the cleaner main body. The sensor detecting module is electrically connected to the controller module. The controller module is electrically connected to the power-driven actuating device. The trigger unit works collaboratively with the sensor detecting module to trigger the sensor detecting module to generate a detection signal. The present invention has the following feats: with the sensor obstacle touching detecting device, an automatic detection is performed when the cleaner touches the wall, and the cleaner is controlled to change the direction automatically, so that the cleaner can automatically change the direction when meeting the wall or other obstacles. The structure is simple and compact, and the swimming pool can be cleaned independently and efficiently.