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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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 .