Vacuum Cleaner Sensor
First Claim
1. A sensor assembly for a vacuum cleaner, the sensor assembly comprising:
- a vacuum cleaner housing;
a dirt separator chamber having a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, an emitter window, and a receiver window;
an emitter mounted on the housing and positioned to emit electromagnetic energy through the emitter window; and
a receiver mounted on the housing and positioned to receive electromagnetic energy through the receiver window;
wherein the dirt separator chamber is removable from the housing, and at least one of the emitter window and the receiver window forms a projection into the dirt separator chamber during operation of the vacuum cleaner.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner having an inlet nozzle for conveying air and dust to a dirt separator chamber via a dirty air inlet passage is provided. The dirt separator chamber has a chamber opening, an emitter window, and a receiver window. The emitter window and the receiver window may be substantially transparent. An emitter is positioned so that it emits light or another electromagnetic energy into the separator chamber via the emitter window. A receiver is positioned so that it receives light or another electromagnetic energy from the separator chamber via the receiver window. The emitter window and the receiver window each form a projection into the separator chamber during operation of the vacuum cleaner. Airflow creates a cyclone in the dirt separator chamber, and the projections increase the air velocity over the projections, cleaning the emitter window and the receiver window of dust.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A sensor assembly for a vacuum cleaner, the sensor assembly comprising:
-
a vacuum cleaner housing; a dirt separator chamber having a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, an emitter window, and a receiver window; an emitter mounted on the housing and positioned to emit electromagnetic energy through the emitter window; and a receiver mounted on the housing and positioned to receive electromagnetic energy through the receiver window; wherein the dirt separator chamber is removable from the housing, and at least one of the emitter window and the receiver window forms a projection into the dirt separator chamber during operation of the vacuum cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A sensor assembly for a vacuum cleaner, the sensor assembly comprising:
-
a vacuum cleaner housing; a dirt separator chamber having a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, an emitter window, and a receiver window, the dirt separator chamber being adapted to contain a generally cyclonic air flow; an emitter mounted on the housing and positioned to emit electromagnetic energy through the emitter window; and a receiver mounted on the housing and positioned to receive electromagnetic energy through the receiver window; wherein at least one of the emitter window and the receiver window forms a projection into the dirt separator chamber during operation of the vacuum cleaner, and wherein the velocity of the generally cyclonic air flow increases by at least about 10% at a location adjacent the projection. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A sensor assembly for a vacuum cleaner, the sensor assembly comprising:
-
a vacuum cleaner housing; a dirt separator chamber having a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, an emitter window, and a receiver window, the dirt separator chamber being adapted to contain a generally cyclonic air flow; an emitter mounted on the housing and positioned to emit electromagnetic energy through the emitter window; and a receiver mounted on the housing and positioned to receive electromagnetic energy through the receiver window; wherein at least one of the emitter window and the receiver window forms a projection into the dirt separator chamber during operation of the vacuum cleaner, and wherein the boundary layer of the generally cyclonic air flow decreases by about 20% at a location adjacent the projection. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification