Steam Cleaner With Controllable Heating Element

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and computer-implemented methods for operating a heating element in a steam mop. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a battery to provide battery power; a fluid reservoir for holding liquid; at least 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 is 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 on, at least in part, 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steam mop comprising:
 a battery to provide battery power;   a fluid reservoir for holding liquid;   at least 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 is 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 on, at least in part, 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 includes 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 approximately 50% less 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 including a 2-dimensional composite layer and comprises 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 thick film tubular boiler heating element. 
     
     
         5 . The steam mop of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine if AC power is available or if only battery power is available; if AC power is available, the controller is configured to operate in a corded mode to: control and energize the at least one thick film heating to heat the liquid to selected temperature to produce 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 1 , further comprising a mister in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the mister is configured to generate a mist. 
     
     
         7 . The steam mop of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to control operation of the mister in the corded and cordless operating modes. 
     
     
         8 . The steam mop of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one heating element is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a first fluid communication path; and wherein the mister is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a second fluid communication path. 
     
     
         9 . The steam mop of  claim 6 , wherein the mister is a piezoelectric mister. 
     
     
         10 . The steam mop of  claim 1 , further comprising 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. 
     
     
         11 . The steam mop of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid includes water, cleaning, and/or disinfection agents. 
     
     
         12 . The steam mop of  claim 1 , further comprising a steam head including a steam pad in fluid communication with a steam output of the at least one heating element. 
     
     
         13 . A steam mop comprising:
 a battery to provide battery power;   a fluid reservoir for holding 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 mister in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the mister is 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 is 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 on, at least in part, 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 mister to generate mist using battery power.   
     
     
         14 . The steam mop of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors includes a first thermostat configured to operate at a first temperature and a second thermostat configured to operate at a second temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The steam mop of  claim 14 , 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 approximately 50% less than the second temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The steam mop of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises at least one of: a thick film heating element including a 2-dimensional composite layer and comprises 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 thick film tubular boiler heating element. 
     
     
         17 . The steam mop of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to determine if AC power is available or if only battery power is available; if AC power is available, the controller is configured to operate in a corded mode to: control and energize the at least one thick film heating to heat the liquid to selected temperature to produce 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. 
     
     
         18 . The steam mop of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to control and energize the mister in the corded operating mode to generate mist. 
     
     
         19 . The steam mop of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one heating element is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a first fluid communication path; and wherein the mister is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a second fluid communication path. 
     
     
         20 . The steam mop of  claim 13 , wherein the mister is a piezoelectric mister. 
     
     
         21 . The steam mop of  claim 13 , further comprising 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. 
     
     
         22 . The steam mop of  claim 13 , wherein the liquid includes water, cleaning, and/or disinfection agents. 
     
     
         23 . The steam mop of  claim 13 , further comprising a steam head including a steam pad in fluid communication with a steam output of the at least one heating element. 
     
     
         24 . A steam mop comprising:
 a body portion that includes:
 a battery to provide battery power; 
 a fluid reservoir for holding liquid; and 
 a controller; and 
   a steam head portion that includes:
 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; and 
 a mister in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the mister is 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 is 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 on, at least in part, 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 mister to generate mist using battery power. 
   
     
     
         25 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors includes a first thermostat configured to operate at a first temperature and a second thermostat configured to operate at a second temperature. 
     
     
         26 . The steam mop of  claim 25 , 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 approximately 50% less than the second temperature. 
     
     
         27 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one heating element comprises at least one of: a thick film heating element including a 2-dimensional composite layer and comprises 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 thick film tubular boiler heating element. 
     
     
         28 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , wherein the controller is configured to determine if AC power is available or if only battery power is available; if AC power is available, the controller is configured to operate in a corded mode to: control and energize the at least one thick film heating to heat the liquid to selected temperature to produce 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. 
     
     
         29 . The steam mop of  claim 28 , wherein the controller is further configured to control and energize the mister in the corded operating mode to generate mist. 
     
     
         30 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one heating element is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a first fluid communication path; and wherein the mister is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via a second fluid communication path. 
     
     
         31 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , wherein the mister is a piezoelectric mister. 
     
     
         32 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , further comprising 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. 
     
     
         33 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , wherein the liquid includes water, cleaning, and/or disinfection agents. 
     
     
         34 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , wherein the steam head further comprising a steam pad in fluid communication with a steam output of the at least one heating element. 
     
     
         35 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , wherein the steam head further comprising an agitator assembly configured to scrub and loosen dirt and debris on a surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         36 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , further comprising at least one user-selectable switch to enable the controller to operate the at least one heating element in the low power mode and the high power mode, and the mister. 
     
     
         37 . The steam mop of  claim 24 , further comprising at least one motion sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one motion sensor is configured to detect motion of the body and steam head; wherein the controller is further configured to discontinue power to the at least one heating element if the motion sensor detects that the body and steam head are stationary. 
     
     
         38 . The steam mop of  claim 5 , wherein the battery comprises a rechargeable battery and wherein the controller is configured to recharge the rechargeable battery based on the determination if AC power is present. 
     
     
         39 . The steam mop of  claim 17 , wherein the battery comprises a rechargeable battery and wherein the controller is configured to recharge the rechargeable battery based on the determination if AC power is present. 
     
     
         40 . The steam mop of  claim 28 , wherein the battery comprises a rechargeable battery and wherein the controller is configured to recharge the rechargeable battery based on the determination if AC power is present.