METHOD FOR EVALUATING A PARTICLE SIGNAL AND SUCTION NOZZLE FOR A VACUUM CLEANER

• US 20100318232A1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Miele & CIE KG (The Miele Group)
• Original Assignee: Miele & CIE KG (The Miele Group)
• Inventors: Wolf, Cornelius, Tiekoetter, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US12/808,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318232A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/281 the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A method for evaluating a particle signal with an evaluation unit associated with a control device includes generating a particle signal by a sensor within a flow element, the particular sensor being dependent on a number of particles in a two-phase flow generated when cleaning a surface by a suction device connected to the flow control element. The method further includes determining in the evaluation unit from the particle signal a control signal for further controlling an actuator controlled by the control device. A speed of movement of the flow element over the surface is taken into account in the determination of the control signal.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating a particle signal by an evaluation unit associated with a control device, the method comprising:

generating the particle signal by a sensor within a flow element the particle signal being dependent on a number of particles in a two-phase flow generated when cleaning a surface by a suction device connected to the flow element (202), and

determining in the evaluation unit, from the particle signal, a control signal for further controlling an actuator controlled by the control device,

wherein in addition to the particle signal, a speed of movement of the flow element over the surface is taken into account in the determination of the control signal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising measuring, at a suction mouth part disposed upstream of the flow element, the speed of movement of the flow element.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the speed of movement of the flow control element is determined from the revolutions of at least one wheel disposed on the suction mouth part.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a piezoelectric sensor configured to generate signal pulses that are dependent on a kinetic energy of the particles.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit takes a type of the surface into account in the determination of the control signal.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising activating a display device with the control device so as to display a cleaning status of the surface.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising controlling, by the control device, a suction power of the suction device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising controlling, by the control device, an intensity of a device for mechanical floor treatment disposed upstream of the flow element.

10. The method as recited claim 1, further comprising utilizing the speed of movement of the flow element over the surface for driving a further display device so as to display an optimum speed of movement for the flow element.

6. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the type of the surface is determined by an ultrasonic transducer.

11. A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner, comprising a sensor disposed within a flow element and configured to determine a particle signal dependent on a number of particles in a two-phase flow generated when cleaning a surface, and

a device configured to determine a speed of movement of the suction nozzle over a surface to be cleaned.