Automatic pool cleaner for cleaning a pool with minimum power consumption and method thereof

Abstract

An automatic pool cleaner, comprising a pump unit, a control unit and a sensor, the sensor configured to detect foreign objects in the pool. The control unit configured to activate the pump unit at a first power level which is less then full power when a foreign object is not detected by the sensor, and further configured to activate the pump unit at a second power level, which is greater than the first power level, in response to a signal from the sensor unit indicating the detection of a foreign object.

1 . An automatic pool cleaner, comprising:
 a pump unit;   a sensor unit comprising a sensor, the sensor configured to detect foreign objects; and,   a control unit coupled to the sensor unit and the pump unit, the control unit configured to activate the pump unit at a first power level which is less then full power when a foreign object is not detected by the sensor, and further configured to activate the pump unit at a second power level, which is greater than the first power level, in response to a signal from the sensor unit indicating the detection of a foreign object.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic pool cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is mounted so as to have a sensed region located underneath the automatic pool cleaner. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic pool cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is mounted so as to have a sensed region located along a current anticipated motion path of the automatic pool cleaner. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic pool cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit comprises an optical sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic pool cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump unit is powered by a battery. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic pool cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump unit is powered by an external power source. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic pool cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to operate the automatic pool cleaner at fixed time intervals. 
     
     
         8 . A method for cleaning a pool with minimum power consumption comprising:
 configuring an automatic pool cleaner to traverse a surface while operating one or more sensors, to detect foreign objects;   operating a pump unit of the automatic pool cleaner at a first power level, less then full power, when a foreign object is not detected; and,   operating the pump unit at a second power level, which is greater than the first power level, when a foreign object is detected.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the automatic pool cleaner is configured to operate the pump to maintain a straight course in the face of asymmetry. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said one or more sensors are configured to provide a sensed region along a current anticipated motion path of the automatic pool cleaner. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said one or more sensors are configured to provide a sensed region located underneath the automatic pool cleaner. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said one or more sensors comprise one or more optical sensors. 
     
     
         13 . A method for cleaning a pool with minimum power consumption comprising:
 activating an automatic pool cleaner at a regular fixed time interval to traverse a surface while operating at least one sensor to detect foreign objects while employing a pump unit at a first power level, the first power level being less then full power, when a foreign object is not detected; and,   employing the pump unit at a second power level, which is greater than the first power level, when a foreign object is detected.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one sensor is configured to provide a sensed region along a current anticipated motion path of the automatic pool cleaner. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one sensor is configured to provide a sensed region located underneath the automatic pool cleaner. 
     
     
         16 . A method for cleaning a pool with minimum power consumption comprising:
 activating an automatic pool cleaner for a fixed time interval to traverse a surface while operating one or more sensors to detect foreign objects;   configuring the automatic pool cleaner to determine if there is a foreign object on the surface by comparing a current image of the surface with a reference image obtained by said one or more sensors;   configuring the automatic pool cleaner to move toward the foreign object on the surface;   configuring the automatic pool cleaner to employ a pump unit at a first power level to vacuum up the foreign object; and,   configuring the automatic pool cleaner to employ the pump unit at a second power level less then the first power level when a foreign object is not detected.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said one or more sensors comprise an optical sensor which is configured to provide a sensed region along a current anticipated motion path of the automatic pool cleaner. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said one or more sensors comprise an optical sensor which is configured to provide a sensed region located underneath the automatic pool cleaner.