METHOD FOR OPERATING A CLEANING DEVICE AS WELL AS CLEANING DEVICE

Abstract

A method for operating a cleaning device includes selecting a cleaning activity to be performed by the cleaning device via a communications interface of the cleaning device or of an external terminal, implementing at least one device setting or application of the cleaning device for performing the cleaning activity, and performing the cleaning activity with the implemented device setting and/or device application. An instruction for steps to be chronologically implemented by the user, which contain a device setting and/or device application, is transmitted to the user as a function of the selected cleaning activity. A control and evaluation unit monitors the actual implementation of the device setting and/or device application corresponding to the step to be currently implemented, and transmits a note to the user when the device setting and/or device application actually implemented deviates from a predefined reference for the device setting and/or device application to be implemented.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for performing a cleaning activity, comprising: a cleaning element configured for operating a cleaning activity selected from the group consisting of: upholstery cleaning, mattress cleaning, carpet cleaning, vehicle interior cleaning, overhead cleaning, spot removal, wet cleaning, moist cleaning, dry cleaning, carpeted floor cleaning, hard floor cleaning, and cleaning with the application of cleaning agent, a communications interface for receiving a selection by a user about the cleaning activity to be performed, and for receiving a plurality of device settings or device applications for performing the cleaning activity, at least one detection device for detecting a current amount of a device parameter characteristic for the device setting or device application, a storage device, in which a reference amount or reference range for the device setting or device application is stored, a control and evaluation unit in the form of a processor, which is configured to transmit to the user, by way of the communications interface, an instruction corresponding to the cleaning activity to be performed, with a plurality of steps to be implemented by a user in chronological sequence, which incorporate the device setting or device application, wherein the steps of the instruction to be implemented in chronological sequence are output separately in time, so that the user is only notified about the device setting or device application of the step of the instruction to be implemented next, receive the current amount for the detected device parameter from the detection device, and determine an actual device setting or device application corresponding to the step to be currently implemented based upon the current amount for the device parameter, and compare it with a predefined reference amount or reference range, output a note via the communications interface that the actual device setting or device application deviates from the reference amount or reference range, and delay the output of a next step of the instruction until the actual device setting or device application of the chronologically preceding step matches the predefined reference, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to prevent or stop the performance of the cleaning activity until the actual device setting or device application matches the predefined reference.

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the communications interface has at least one of the following: a display, an operating device with a plurality of actuating elements.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one detection device is selected from the group consisting of: a contact sensor, which detects a connection of an accessory to the cleaning device, a power meter configured for detecting a power consumption of an electrical consumer of the cleaning device, an acceleration sensor configured for detecting a back-and-forth movement of the cleaning device over a surface to be cleaned, a velocity sensor, a speed sensor, a force sensor, a pressure sensor, a voltage sensor, a current sensor, a code scanner, a fill level sensor, a flow sensor, and a temperature sensor.

4. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device has a display, which shows a plurality of selectable cleaning activities and the steps of the instruction for the selected cleaning activity.

5. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device stores information about steps of the instruction to be performed within the framework of the cleaning activity.

6. The cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein device parameters allocated to the steps are stored, which the cleaning device must have at the time the respective step of the instruction is being performed.

7. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the device setting is selected from the group consisting of: power of an electrical consumer of the cleaning device, a dispensing quantity of a liquid application unit, a dispensing quantity of a cleaning agent application unit, a speed of a floor processing element that processes a surface, a vibration frequency of a floor processing element that processes a surface, a setting of a sealing element of a flow channel, and a flow cross section of a flow channel.

8. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the device application is selected from the group consisting of: connecting the cleaning device with an accessory, connecting the cleaning device with a suction nozzle, connecting the cleaning device with a cleaning brush, connecting the cleaning device with a wiping element, applying a liquid to a surface to be cleaned, moving the cleaning device over a surface to be cleaned, performing the cleaning activity over a specific timespan.

9. A method for operating a cleaning device, comprising: selecting by a user a cleaning activity to be performed by means of the cleaning device via a communications interface of the cleaning device or a communications interface of an external terminal having a communications link with the cleaning device, implementing by the user at least one device setting of the cleaning device or at least one device application of the cleaning device for performing the cleaning activity, and performing the cleaning activity with the implemented device setting or device application, wherein an instruction for a plurality of steps to be implemented by the user in chronological sequence, which contain a device setting or device application, is transmitted to the user via the communications interface as a function of the selected cleaning activity, and wherein a control and evaluation unit of the cleaning device or of the external terminal monitors the actual implementation of the device setting or device application corresponding to the step to be currently implemented, and transmits a note to the user when the device setting or device application actually implemented by the user deviates from a predefined reference for the device setting or device application to be implemented, and wherein the control and evaluation unit prevents or stops the performance of the cleaning activity until the actual device setting or device application matches the predefined reference.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of cleaning activities selectable by the user or the instruction for the selected cleaning activity is shown on a display of the cleaning device or external terminal.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein a detection device of the cleaning device measures a current amount of a device parameter of the cleaning device that is characteristic for the device setting or device application, and communicates it to the control and evaluation unit.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the control and evaluation unit accesses a storage device, in which a reference amount or reference range of the device parameter defined for the device setting or device application is stored, wherein the control and evaluation unit compares the measured amount of the device parameter with the stored reference amount or reference range.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the steps to be implemented in chronological sequence are communicated to the user separately in time, so that the user is only notified about the device setting or device application of the step of the instruction to be implemented next.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein a step of the instruction to be implemented later is only communicated to the user if the device setting or device application of the chronologically preceding step implemented by the user matches the predefined reference for this chronologically preceding step.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning activity is selected from the group consisting of: upholstery cleaning, mattress cleaning, carpet cleaning, vehicle interior cleaning, overhead cleaning, spot removal, wet cleaning, moist cleaning, dry cleaning, carpeted floor cleaning, hard floor cleaning, and cleaning with the application of cleaning agents.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the device setting is selected from the group consisting of: power of an electrical consumer of the cleaning device, dispensing quantity of a liquid application unit or cleaning agent application unit, speed or vibration frequency of a floor processing element that processes a surface, setting of a sealing element of a flow channel, and flow cross section of a flow channel.

17. The method according to claim 9, wherein the device application is selected from the group consisting of: connecting the cleaning device with an accessory, a suction nozzle, cleaning brush or wiping element, applying a liquid to a surface to be cleaned, moving the cleaning device over the surface to be cleaned, implementing the cleaning activity over a specific timespan.

18. A cleaning device with a communications interface, wherein the cleaning device is designed for implementing a method according to claim 9.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0022] In the drawings,

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a user with a cleaning device according to the invention and an external terminal;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows the external terminal with an indicated selection of cleaning activities;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a displayed first step of an instruction for a selected cleaning activity;

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a displayed second step of the instruction;

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a displayed third step of the instruction; and

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a display of an error message on the external terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a user with a system comprised of a cleaning device 1 and an external terminal 4. The cleaning device 1 is here exemplarily designed as a cleaning device 1 manually guided by a user, for example specifically a suction cleaning device. However, the invention can likewise also find application in other kinds of cleaning devices 1. The cleaning device 1 serves to clean various surfaces, for example which can be hard floors, carpeted floors, mattresses, upholstery, overhead surfaces, vehicle interiors or others. The cleaning device 1 has a base device 14 and an accessory 13 detachably connected with the base device 14. For example, the accessory 13 is here a suction nozzle with a floor processing element 12 rotatable around an essentially horizontal axis. In addition, the cleaning device 1 can also be connected with other types of accessories 13, for example with a wiping accessory, an upholstery brush, narrow suction nozzles for cleaning the interior of vehicles, or others. For example, a blower, a blower motor, and a dust chamber are arranged in the base device 14 (not shown here). Facing away from the accessory 13, the base device 14 further has a handle 16 with a grip 17, with which a user can guide the cleaning device 1 over a surface to be cleaned in a common back-and-forth movement. The handle 16 advantageously has a telescoping design, so that the user can adjust its length to their body size in order to comfortably handle the cleaning device 1. The grip 17 has an operating device 18, for example with a plurality of actuating elements (not shown in detail), e.g., which can be designed as pushbuttons. Alternatively, the operating device 18 can also have other types of actuating elements, for example slide switches, rotary switches, toggle switches or even a touchscreen. For example, by actuating the operating device 18, the user can set a blower level of the blower or a speed of the floor processing element 12, so as to process a surface as best as possible. The operating device 18 thus serves as a communications interface 2, via which the user can directly communicate with a control and evaluation unit 10 of the cleaning device 1, for example specifically transmit requirements to the latter.

[0030] For example, the external terminal 4 is here designed as a mobile phone. Alternatively, however, the external terminal 4 can also be a different, preferably mobile, external terminal 4. In particular, it can be provided that a tablet computer, a laptop, or the like be used as the terminal 4. The external terminal 4 preferably has a conventional display 11, which is especially preferably designed as a touchscreen. The user can then both receive information and make entries via this display 11, so that the display 11 simultaneously serves as a communications interface 3 of the external terminal 4. The external terminal 4 has a communications link with the cleaning device 1. To this end, the cleaning device 1 and the external terminal 4 have communications modules (not further shown), for example WLAN modules, Bluetooth modules or others. According to one embodiment, the communications modules of the cleaning device 1 and external terminal 4 can be integrated into a home network of the user. Alternatively, however, a direct communication can take place, in particular based on BLUETOOTH® or ZIGBEE®. In addition, an application is installed on the external terminal 4 and cleaning device 1 for implementing the method according to the invention. In addition, a server (not shown) can also be integrated into the communications network, for example which can contain information about cleaning activities 5 of the cleaning device 1, for example information about steps 9 to be implemented within the framework of a cleaning activity 5. Device parameters allocated to these steps 9 can also be stored, which the cleaning device 1 must have at the time the respective step 9 is being implemented. The data can be centrally stored in the server, and thus be retrieved by other devices of the home network, to also include in particular the cleaning device 1 and external terminal 4. Alternatively, however, it is preferred that the data be stored at least in a local storage of the cleaning device 1. In particular, the storage of the cleaning device 1 has information about a plurality of stored cleaning activities 5, which the cleaning device 1 can perform. At least one device setting 6 and/or at least one device application 7 to be implemented by the user themselves is stored for each cleaning activity 5. In addition, the storage of the cleaning device 1 or central server has an instruction 8 for performing the cleaning activity 5. This instruction 8 can be shown to the user on the communications interface 2 of the cleaning device 1 and/or communications interface 3 of the external terminal 4. The instruction 8 can be present in the form of a text and/or image and/or video and/or audio, and contain a plurality of steps 9 to be implemented in chronological sequence by the user. This will be explained later with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0031] The cleaning device 1 further has one or preferably several detection devices (not shown in greater detail), which can measure a device parameter of the cleaning device 1. For example, a device parameter can be a voltage, current, speed, frequency, temperature, liquid flow, fill level, energy consumption of an electrical consumer, or the like. The device parameters are those which are caused by a device setting 6 and/or device application 7 by the user, for example by a device setting 6, such as a power of a drive motor for the floor processing element 12 or for a suction blower of the cleaning device 1 selected by the user via the operating device 18 of the cleaning device 1. The detection device can further also detect a device parameter caused by a device application 7, for example that the user has connected the cleaning device with a specific accessory 13. To this end, for example, the detection device can have a code scanner, which can read a code of an accessory 13 correctly connected with the base device 14. For example, a device application 7 can also be a movement of the cleaning device 1 over a surface to be cleaned, wherein the movement is detected by means of a movement sensor, or the like.

[0032] Within the framework of the exemplary embodiment presented here, the invention now functions in such a way that the user initially selects one of several selectable cleaning activities 5 which they would like to perform by means of the cleaning device 1 via the communications interface 3 of the external terminal 4, i.e., by touching the display 11. According to FIG. 2, examples of selectable cleaning activities 5 include upholstery cleaning, mattress cleaning, carpet cleaning and hard floor cleaning. Of course, other cleaning activities 5 can be selected as well, this in particular in conjunction with an accessory 13 suitable for this purpose. In addition, possible cleaning activities 5 also include a vehicle interior cleaning, overhead cleaning, spot removal, wet cleaning, moist cleaning, dry cleaning, or cleaning with the application of cleaning agents. There can also be combinations of these cleaning activities 5, for example a moist carpeted floor cleaning, spot removal with the application of cleaning agent, or others. For example, the user would here select the cleaning activity 5 “upholstery”, whereupon the external terminal 4 transmits information about the cleaning activity 5 to be performed to the control and evaluation unit 10 of the cleaning device 1. For example, by actuating the actuating surface “upholstery” shown on FIG. 2, the user can start an instruction 8 that guides them step-by-step through device settings 6 and/or device applications 7 to be implemented, which serve to optimally perform the selected cleaning activity 5. The instruction 8 contains a plurality of steps 9, which here for example are shown in greater detail on FIGS. 3 to 5. For example, the instruction 8 can be stored in a local storage of the cleaning device 1 or on a server, with which the external terminal 4 and/or cleaning device 1 has a communications link. In addition, it is basically also possible for the instruction 8 to be locally stored in the external terminal 4. For example, a computing device of the external terminal 4 here retrieves the instruction 8 belonging to the cleaning activity 5 “upholstery” from a web server that has a communications link with the external terminal 4. As shown on FIG. 3, the user is subsequently shown a first step 9 “Step 1” to be implemented by the user on a cleaning device 1. “Step 1” involves having the user connect an upholstery brush as the accessory 13 to the base device 14 of the cleaning device 1. In the sense of the invention, this is a device application 7 to be implemented by the user. While this step 9 is shown on the display 11 of the external terminal 4, a detection device of the cleaning device 1 detects whether the user is actually implementing the step 9. In order to monitor the connection of the upholstery brush to the base device 14, the cleaning device 1 has a contact sensor and/or code scanner as the detection device, for example. The contact sensor can detect a contact between an accessory 13 and the base device 14. The code scanner can further determine whether the connected accessory 13 is also the expected accessory “upholstery brush”. The base device 14 of the cleaning device 1 can preferably be connected with different accessories 13 for performing various cleaning activities 5. Accordingly, each accessory 13 has a code that clearly identifies the accessory 13. The detection signal of the detection device can subsequently be evaluated either by the separate control and evaluation unit 10 of the cleaning device 1, or be relayed to the external terminal 4 unprocessed. In the last mentioned case, the computing device of the external terminal 4 handles the evaluation of the detection signal of the detection device. The control and evaluation unit 10 of the cleaning device 1 or the computing device of the external terminal 4 accesses a storage device, in which a reference amount characteristic for the device application 7 “Connect upholstery brush” is stored. This reference amount can here be the code of the accessory 13 “Upholstery brush”, for example. If the detection device then reads out a code that corresponds to the stored reference amount, step 9 of the instruction 8 is viewed as correctly implemented. The instruction 8 thereupon continues to a next step 9. This next “Step 2” is shown on FIG. 4, and contains the prompt “Select blower level 1”. The user of the cleaning device 1 is thus prompted to implement a device setting 6 on the cleaning device 1. For example, the device setting 6 can here be implemented by means of the operating device 18 of the base device 14. For example, the operating device 18 can have three operating elements for 3 different blower levels, which are labeled “Blower level 1”, “Blower level 2” and “Blower level 3”. The user subsequently actuates the operating element of the operating device 18 that corresponds to “Blower level 1”. For example, a detection device of the cleaning device 1 can then detect the device parameter “Power of the blower motor”, and compare it with a reference amount or reference range defined for “Step 2”. If the values match, the user has properly implemented the prescribed device setting 6, and the instruction 8 shown on the external terminal 4 continues to the next step 9, specifically “Step 3”.

[0033] As illustrated on FIG. 5, the next step 3 of the instruction 8 has the user moving the cleaning device 1 over the surface to be cleaned, specifically in a sequence of back-and-forth movements. As a consequence, the display 11 of the external terminal 4 shows the user that they have to implement the device application 7 “Move device back and forth on surface”. For example, the device application 7 “Back-and-forth movement” is characterized by an acceleration, speed and/or change in location of the cleaning device 1 in the environment, which can be detected by a corresponding detection device. The control and evaluation unit 10 then once again accesses the allocated storage device, in which a reference amount or reference range for this device parameter is stored, for example an amount for an acceleration or speed. In order to also provide a certain deviation margin, a reference range can further be defined, containing a plurality of reference amounts that are still construed as specified. If the control and evaluation unit 10 then determines that the amount measured for the device parameter, i.e., the amount measured for the acceleration or speed, lies within this reference range, the step 9 “Move device back and forth on surface” is evaluated as having been properly implemented. As a consequence, the instruction 8 is completely implemented, and the cleaning activity has ended. The user can once again be notified about this.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows an alternative progression while performing the cleaning activity 5. Proceeding from FIG. 4, for example, the user has here implemented a device setting 6 that does not correspond to the device setting 6 required in step 9 according to the instruction 8. For example, the user has here concretely selected “Blower level 2” instead of “Blower level 1”. Accordingly, the control and evaluation unit 10 of the cleaning device 1 recognizes that the device parameter does not correspond to the reference amount or reference range defined for the device setting 6 “Select blower level 1”. For example, the device parameter is here the power of the blower motor. Alternatively, other device parameters can be measured for verification purposes, for example a speed of a motor shaft of the electric motor driving the blower. The control and evaluation unit 10 thus detects the deviation, and transmits the notification 15 “Application stopped, select blower level 1” to the user. In addition, for example, the blower of the cleaning device 1 can at the same time be stopped completely, until the user sets the device setting 6 as prescribed. The instruction 8 for the cleaning activity 5 does not continue to a chronologically ensuing step 9 if the user has not implemented the device setting 6 as prescribed. The instruction 8 itself can be modularly structured in such a way that a subsequent displayed step 9 is influenced by the implementation of the step 9 to be performed beforehand. Each step 9 of the instruction 8 that provides for an interaction between the user and the cleaning device 1 or an accessory 13 branches into a plurality of alternative subsequent steps 9, wherein the step 9 then actually shown on the display 11 depends on the evaluation result of the data evaluated by the control and evaluation device 10. As a consequence, prior to any continuation of the instruction 8, a decision is made based upon the concrete situation as to which subsequent step 9 to present to the user. As explained previously, given a detected misapplication of the cleaning device 1, the instruction 8 is kept in a step 9 until such time as the evaluation of measured device parameters shows that the preconditions for continuing the instruction 8 are present. Within the current step 9, the user is thus referred to a required corrective measure, i.e., the still to be implemented device setting 6, until it has been correctly implemented.

[0035] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

REFERENCE LIST

[0036] 1 Cleaning device [0037] 2 Communications interface [0038] 3 Communications interface [0039] 4 External terminal [0040] 5 Cleaning activity [0041] 6 Device setting [0042] 7 Device application [0043] 8 Instruction [0044] 9 Step [0045] 10 Control and evaluation unit [0046] 11 Display [0047] 12 Floor processing element [0048] 13 Accessory [0049] 14 Base device [0050] 15 Notification [0051] 16 Handle [0052] 17 Grip [0053] 18 Operating device