Sensors and associated methods for controlling a vacuum cleaner
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner, including:
- a housing;
a height adjust mechanism disposed on the housing;
a height adjust motor, disposed within said housing, that controls a height of the height adjust mechanism;
a position element mounted to said housing;
a sensor processor, mounted to said housing, in communication with the position element to provide a signal that relates to a position of the height adjust mechanism based at least in part upon data received from the position element;
a controller processor, mounted to said housing, in communication with the sensor processor for selectively controlling a height of the height adjust mechanism relative to a subjacent surface on which the vacuum cleaner is positioned; and
a height adjust mechanism height motor controller in communication with the controller processor, for driving the height adjust motor to locate the height adjust mechanism in an appropriate position relative to the subjacent surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a height adjust mechanism disposed on the housing and a height adjust motor, disposed within said housing that controls a height of the height adjust mechanism. A position element is mounted to said housing. A sensor processor, mounted to said housing, is in communication with the position element to provide a signal that relates to a position of the height adjust mechanism based at least in part upon data received from the position element. A controller processor, mounted to said housing, is in communication with the sensor processor for selectively controlling a height of the height adjust mechanism relative to a subjacent surface on which the vacuum cleaner is positioned. A height adjust mechanism height motor controller is in communication with the controller processor, for driving the height adjust motor to locate the height adjust mechanism in an appropriate position relative to the subjacent surface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vacuum cleaner, including:
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a housing;
a height adjust mechanism disposed on the housing;
a height adjust motor, disposed within said housing, that controls a height of the height adjust mechanism;
a position element mounted to said housing;
a sensor processor, mounted to said housing, in communication with the position element to provide a signal that relates to a position of the height adjust mechanism based at least in part upon data received from the position element;
a controller processor, mounted to said housing, in communication with the sensor processor for selectively controlling a height of the height adjust mechanism relative to a subjacent surface on which the vacuum cleaner is positioned; and
a height adjust mechanism height motor controller in communication with the controller processor, for driving the height adjust motor to locate the height adjust mechanism in an appropriate position relative to the subjacent surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling a vacuum cleaner, the method including the steps of:
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monitoring a height adjust motor feedback signal relating to operation of a corresponding height adjust mechanism motor associated with the vacuum cleaner;
comparing the feedback signal to a predetermined threshold; and
removing power from the height adjust motor and disabling operation of the height adjust motor when the feedback signal is less than the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A vacuum cleaner, comprising:
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a height adjust mechanism base including a suction inlet;
an upright housing pivotally mounted on said height adjust mechanism base;
a suction source disposed in one of said height adjust mechanism base and said housing, said suction source being in fluid communication with said suction inlet;
a floor sensor mounted to one of said height adjust mechanism base and said housing;
a sensor processor, mounted to one of said height adjust mechanism base and said housing, communicating with said floor sensor to provide a signal that relates to a position of said suction inlet in relation to a subjacent surface on which the vacuum cleaner is located;
a height adjust mechanism mounted to said height adjust mechanism base, said sensor processor communicating with said mechanism, wherein an output of said sensor processor controls an operation thereof; and
a manual control located on one of said height adjust mechanism base and said housing for overriding said sensor processor and manually activating said mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification