Vacuum cleaner with device for adjusting sensitivity of dust sensor

• US 5,136,750 A
• Filed: 06/28/1991
• Issued: 08/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Toshiichiro, Takashima, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COOLEY, CHARLES E
• Application Number:
  US07/724,489
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 356/338, 356/342, 356/343, 356/439
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2815 using optical detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner with a dust sensor comprising a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element for receiving light emitted from the light-emitting element. The dust sensor is provided in a suction passage between a suction nozzle and a dust collector of the vacuum cleaner for detecting dust in air drawn through the suction nozzle to generate a current corresponding to the detection result. A manual switch decreases sensitivity to dust detection while a rotatable member cleans a carpet. This prevents variations in dust detection from influencing operation of the rotatable cleaning member.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner with a rotatable cleaning member driven by a motor and housed in a suction nozzle which contacts an object to be cleaned, the motor being turned on upon closing of a first switch, the vacuum cleaner comprising:

dust sensor means for detecting dust in air drawn through the suction nozzle;

shortable resistance means connected to the dust sensor means for adjusting the dust detection sensitivity of said dust sensor means;

means for coupling the resistance means to the first switch for decreasing the sensor sensitivity upon closing of the first switch; and

means connected to the output of the sensor means for indicating the presence of intake dust.

2. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dust sensor means comprises a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element for producing a signal corresponding to the intensity of the light emitted from said light-emitting element, said light-emitting element and said light-receiving element are provided in a suction passage provided between said suction nozzle and dust collecting means of said cleaner.

3. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resistance means comprises:

a resistor; and

a second switch connected across the resistor;

wherein the coupling means closes the second switch upon closing of the first switch thereby shorting the resistor and decreasing the sensor means sensitivity simultaneously with an operation of the rotatable member.