Directional control method for dual brush robotic pool cleaners
View Patent ↗A method for accurately controlling the directional and turning movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner while cleaning a pool includes the steps of propelling the pool cleaner in a first direction along a generally straight path from a first sidewall toward an opposing sidewall of the pool, wherein said pool cleaner is propelled to a position in the pool corresponding to a distance greater than the midpoint between the first sidewall and the opposing sidewall and before contacting the opposing sidewall of the pool; stopping the pool cleaner at the position and pivoting the pool cleaner to a predetermined angular change in direction; and reversing direction and resuming propulsion of the pool cleaner, wherein the pool cleaner moves in a second direction along a generally straight path that is angularly displaced from the first direction.
1. A method of controlling the directional movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner while cleaning a pool comprising the steps of:
(a) propelling the pool cleaner in a first direction along a generally straight path away from a first sidewall toward an opposing sidewall of the pool, wherein said pool cleaner is propelled to a turning point in the pool that is at a distance greater than the midpoint between the first sidewall and the opposing sidewall and displaced from the opposing sidewall of the pool;
(b) stopping the pool cleaner at the turning point and radially pivoting the pool cleaner at a first angle with respect to the first direction to cause a predetermined angular change in direction; and
(c) resuming the propulsion of the pool cleaner in a reverse direction to return to the first sidewall in a second direction along a generally straight path that is angularly displaced from the first direction.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) through (c) in one of either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction around the pool.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of propelling said pool cleaner up a sidewall of said pool while traversing in at least one of the first and second directions.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of manually controlling the distance the pool cleaner moves past the midpoint between the opposing sidewalls.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said step of manually controlling the distance the pool cleaner moves comprises receiving a signal from a user-actuated switch.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said step of manually increasing the distance the pool cleaner moves comprises initiating a series of activation signals that incrementally increase the distance the pool cleaner moves past said midpoint between the opposing sidewalls.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said propelling the pool cleaner a distance greater than the midpoint between opposing sidewalls of the pool comprises the step of setting a first predetermined time that the pool cleaner is propelled in the first direction.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of manually setting a second predetermined time that the pool cleaner is propelled in the first direction.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second predetermined time is incrementally added to a value associated with the first predetermined time.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
(d) stopping the pool cleaner at the first sidewall and radially pivoting the pool cleaner to effect a predetermined angular change such that a longitudinal axis of the cleaner is positioned normal to the first sidewall; and
(e) repeating steps (a) through (d).
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said stopping step includes radially pivoting the pool cleaner at the first angle in a clockwise direction with respect to the first direction.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said stopping step includes radially pivoting the pool cleaner at the first angle in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the first direction.