Sensors and associated methods for controlling a vacuum cleaner
First Claim
1. A vacuum cleaner (10), including:
- a housing;
a suction airflow sensor (94), disposed within said housing, for detecting a condition associated with a suction airflow path mounted to the housing;
a sensor processor (90), disposed within said housing, in communication with the suction airflow sensor for evaluating the detected condition, determining whether a responsive action is required, and, when required, initiating a suitable predetermined control procedure in response to the detected condition;
a floor type sensor (97), disposed within said housing, in operative communication with the sensor processor for emitting sonic energy toward a floor being traversed by the vacuum cleaner and detecting sonic energy reflected by the floor, wherein the sensor processor interprets the detected sonic energy to identify a floor type, and initiates a predetermined control procedure based on the type of floor being traversed;
a vacuum source (36, 38), disposed within said housing, for creating the suction airflow path to provide a vacuuming function for collection of dust and dirt particles; and
a controller processor (74), disposed within said housing, in communication with the sensor processor for selectively controlling the vacuum source, based at least in part upon information received from the sensor processor;
wherein the suction airflow sensor includes a differential pressure sensor for detecting a difference between a first pressure associated with the suction airflow path and a second pressure associated with ambient air near the vacuum cleaner.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Several methods of controlling a vacuum cleaner (10) using various types of sensors (94, 96, 97, 98) are provided. One method is based on a differential pressure between a suction airflow path and ambient air and includes: detecting the differential pressure, comparing the detected differential pressure to a predetermined threshold, and, when the detected differential pressure is less than the predetermined threshold, initiating a predetermined control procedure. A status indicator (164) is updated based on the detected differential pressure. Another method is based on a level of electrical current flowing through a brush motor (100). Still another method is based on a type or condition of the floor being traversed. Yet another method is based on a distance to a surface of a floor over which the vacuum cleaner is advancing. In another aspect of the invention, a vacuum cleaner is provided. In various combinations, the vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum source (36, 38), a brush motor (100), a drive motor (104), a controller processor (74), a sensor processor (90), an overcurrent sensor (98), a suction airflow sensor (94), a floor type sensor (97), and a floor distance sensor (96).
144 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vacuum cleaner (10), including:
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a housing; a suction airflow sensor (94), disposed within said housing, for detecting a condition associated with a suction airflow path mounted to the housing; a sensor processor (90), disposed within said housing, in communication with the suction airflow sensor for evaluating the detected condition, determining whether a responsive action is required, and, when required, initiating a suitable predetermined control procedure in response to the detected condition; a floor type sensor (97), disposed within said housing, in operative communication with the sensor processor for emitting sonic energy toward a floor being traversed by the vacuum cleaner and detecting sonic energy reflected by the floor, wherein the sensor processor interprets the detected sonic energy to identify a floor type, and initiates a predetermined control procedure based on the type of floor being traversed; a vacuum source (36, 38), disposed within said housing, for creating the suction airflow path to provide a vacuuming function for collection of dust and dirt particles; and a controller processor (74), disposed within said housing, in communication with the sensor processor for selectively controlling the vacuum source, based at least in part upon information received from the sensor processor; wherein the suction airflow sensor includes a differential pressure sensor for detecting a difference between a first pressure associated with the suction airflow path and a second pressure associated with ambient air near the vacuum cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vacuum cleaner (10), including:
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a housing; a vacuum source (36, 38), disposed within said housing, for creating a suction airflow to provide a vacuuming function for collection of dust and dirt particles; a floor distance sensor (96), disposed within said housing, in operative communication with a sensor processor for emitting light energy toward a surface of a floor toward which the vacuum cleaner is advancing and detecting light energy reflected by the floor; and a drive motor (104), disposed within said housing, in operative communication with a controller processor to selectively operate a drive wheel (50) to propel the vacuum cleaner; wherein the sensor processor compares the detected light energy to a predetermined threshold and, when the detected light energy is less than the predetermined threshold, stops the drive motor.
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Specification