Vacuum cleaner with a microprocessor-based dirt detection circuit
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner having an operational status indicator arrangement, the vacuum cleaner having a motor fan assembly for generating an airstream originating at a suction nozzle for removing dirt particles from a surface, a dirt particle filtering and collecting arrangement, and at least one conduit fluidly connecting the motor fan assembly, the suction nozzle and the dirt filtering and collecting arrangement, the operational status indicator arrangement comprising:
- at least one sensor for detecting an operational status of the vacuum cleaner;
a microprocessor for receiving an input signal from said at least one sensor, comparing said input signal over a plurality of pre-determined time intervals to a threshold value, wherein said microprocessor has a pair of counters with corresponding maximum and minimum values, with said first counter initially set to a maximum first counter value, and said second counter initially set to maximum second counter value, wherein said second counter is decremented each time said input signal exceeds said threshold value and a flag is set when said second counter reaches said minimum second counter value and said first counter is again set to said first counter maximum value when said second counter is decremented a successive number of times equal to the maximum second counter value; and
at least one indicator carried by said vacuum cleaner for indicating an operational status of said vacuum cleaner;
wherein said at least one indicator indicates the operational status when said flag is set.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum cleaner for providing visual operational status indicators includes a vacuum cleaner having internal components that are indicative of the cleaner'"'"'s performance. Sensors are coupled to at least one of the internal components to be monitored. A microprocessor receives input from the sensors, analyzes the input, and generates an output signal. Visual indicators are carried by the vacuum cleaner and receive the output signals to display the operational status of the vacuum.
173 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A vacuum cleaner having an operational status indicator arrangement, the vacuum cleaner having a motor fan assembly for generating an airstream originating at a suction nozzle for removing dirt particles from a surface, a dirt particle filtering and collecting arrangement, and at least one conduit fluidly connecting the motor fan assembly, the suction nozzle and the dirt filtering and collecting arrangement, the operational status indicator arrangement comprising:
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at least one sensor for detecting an operational status of the vacuum cleaner;
a microprocessor for receiving an input signal from said at least one sensor, comparing said input signal over a plurality of pre-determined time intervals to a threshold value, wherein said microprocessor has a pair of counters with corresponding maximum and minimum values, with said first counter initially set to a maximum first counter value, and said second counter initially set to maximum second counter value, wherein said second counter is decremented each time said input signal exceeds said threshold value and a flag is set when said second counter reaches said minimum second counter value and said first counter is again set to said first counter maximum value when said second counter is decremented a successive number of times equal to the maximum second counter value; and
at least one indicator carried by said vacuum cleaner for indicating an operational status of said vacuum cleaner;
wherein said at least one indicator indicates the operational status when said flag is set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vacuum cleaner having an operational status indicator system, the vacuum cleaner having a motor fan assembly for generating an airstream originating at a suction nozzle for removing dirt particles from a surface, a dirt particle filtering and collecting arrangement, and at least one conduit fluidly connecting the motor fan assembly, the suction nozzle and the dirt filtering and collecting arrangement, the operational status indicator system comprising:
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at least one sensor for detecting an operational status of the vacuum cleaner;
a microprocessor for receiving an input signal from said at least one sensor, comparing said input signal over a plurality of pre-determined time intervals to a threshold value, wherein said microprocessor has a counter with corresponding maximum and minimum values, with said counter initially set to a minimum counter value, wherein said counter is incremented each time said input signal exceeds said threshold value and a flag is set when said counter reaches said maximum counter value; and
at least one indicator carried by said vacuum cleaner for indicating an operational status of said vacuum cleaner;
wherein said at least one indicator indicates the operational status when said flag is set. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A cleaner having an operational indicator system, comprising:
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a suction nozzle;
a motor fan assembly for generating an airstream originating at the suction nozzle for removing dirt from a surface;
a conduit fluidly connected at one end to said motor fan assembly;
a bag fluidly connected to said conduit for collecting the dirt removed by said suction nozzle;
at least one sensor associated with said bag to monitor the amount of dirt therein, said at least one sensor generating an input signal;
a microprocessor for receiving at least one input signal from said at least one sensor, comparing said input signal to a threshold value, said microprocessor including a counter having a maximum value and a minimum value; and
an indicator;
wherein said counter is initially set at said minimum value and incremented each time said at least one input signal exceeds said threshold value and said indicator indicates an operational status of said cleaner when said counter attains said maximum value. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A floor care appliance having an operational status indicator system, the floor care appliance having a motor fan assembly for generating an airstream originating at a suction nozzle for removing dirt particles from a surface, a dirt particle filtering and collecting arrangement, and at least one conduit fluidly connecting the motor fan assembly, the suction nozzle and the dirt filtering and collecting arrangement, the operational status indicator system comprising:
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at least one sensor for detecting an operational status of the vacuum cleaner;
a microprocessor for receiving at least one input signal from said at least one sensor, comparing said at least one input signal to a threshold value, wherein said microprocessor has at least one counter having a minimum and maximum counter value, wherein said at least one counter is decremented each time said at least one input signal exceeds said threshold value and a flag is set when said at least one counter reaches said minimum counter value; and
at least one indicator carried by said floor care appliance for indicating an operational status of said floor care appliance;
wherein said at least one indicator indicates an operational status of said floor care appliance when said flag is set.
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28. A floor care appliance having an operational status indicator system, the floor care appliance having a motor fan assembly for generating an airstream originating at a suction nozzle for removing dirt particles from a surface, a dirt particle filtering and collecting arrangement, and at least one conduit fluidly connecting the motor fan assembly, the suction nozzle and the dirt filtering and collecting arrangement, the operational status indicator system comprising:
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at least one sensor for detecting an operational status of the vacuum cleaner;
a microprocessor for receiving at least one input signal from said at least one sensor, comparing said at least one input signal to a threshold value, and generating an output based upon the number of times said at least one input signal exceeds or falls below said threshold value; and
at least one indicator carried by said floor care appliance for indicating an operational status of said floor care appliance;
wherein said at least one indicator indicates an operational status of said floor care appliance based upon said output signal.
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29. A method of indicating the presence of dirt being picked up by a vacuum source, said method including the steps of:
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creating an airflow with the vacuum source, said airflow travels through an airflow path;
providing a microphone within said air flow path, said microphone detects the presence of dirt within said air flow path and generates an AC audio signal;
converting said AC audio signal to a mean DC value using a diode pump circuit;
transmitting said mean DC value to a microprocessor;
comparing said mean DC value to a threshold level; and
illuminating a visual indicator when said mean DC value exceeds said threshold level.
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Specification