Air moving appliance with on-board diagnostics

• US 9,763,551 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2014
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited (Beeswax Holdings UK Limited)
• Inventors: Murchie, Russell Scott, Vanderstegen-Drake, Mark Stamford
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/256,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20140312813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 31840003, 31840008, 31840011, 31840018, 318432
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/12 Dry filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 6/34 Modelling or simulation for control purposes

Abstract

An air moving appliance comprising an electric motor coupled to a fan, a control system for controlling the motor, the control system including monitoring means configured to monitor a motor load parameter; memory means configured to store a predetermined reference motor load parameter value; compensating means that determines a compensated reference motor load parameter value based on the predetermined reference motor load parameter value and a set of ambient environment input conditions; comparison means configured to compare the motor load parameter and the compensated reference motor load parameter value and trigger an operational event based on the result of the comparison. The invention also relates to a method of controlling an air moving appliance.

Claims

1. An air moving appliance comprising:

an electric motor coupled to a fan,

a control system for controlling the electric motor

the control system including;

a monitoring element that monitors a motor load parameter;

a memory that stores a predetermined reference motor load parameter value;

a compensating element that determines a compensated reference motor load parameter value based on the predetermined reference motor load parameter value and a set of ambient environment input conditions;

a comparing element that compares the motor load parameter and the compensated reference motor load parameter value and trigger an operational event dependent upon the result of the comparison.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the compensating element includes a pressure sensor to measure the ambient pressure of the environment of the appliance.

3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor is integrated on an electronics module within the appliance.

4. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the compensating element includes a pressure sensor located in an airflow passage of the appliance.

5. The appliance of claim 4, wherein the pressure sensor is located immediately upstream of the fan.

6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the compensating element includes a temperature sensor.

7. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the compensating element calculates the compensated reference motor load parameter value to correct for the air density in the environment of the appliance.

8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the compensating element calculates the compensated reference motor load parameter value when the appliance is turned on.

9. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the compensating element calculates the compensated reference motor load parameter value at repeated intervals.

10. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reference motor load parameter value is calibrated to the motor installed within the appliance.

11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the compensated reference motor load parameter value represents a motor running condition that is indicative of a blockage within the airflow pathways of the appliance.

12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the comparison element triggers an operational event when the monitored motor load parameter value of the motor exceeds the compensated reference motor load parameter value.

13. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the operational event includes deactivation of the motor.

14. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a vacuum cleaner.

15. The appliance of claim 14, wherein the vacuum cleaner is a robotic vacuum cleaner having a drive element, and the operational event includes deactivation of the drive element and de-activation of the suction fan motor.

16. The appliance of claim 14, wherein the vacuum cleaner is a robotic vacuum having a drive element, and the operational event includes deactivation of the suction fan motor for a pre-set period of time whilst the drive element continues to drive the robotic vacuum cleaner.

17. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the memory stores a second reference motor load parameter value.

18. The appliance of claim 17, wherein the second reference motor load parameter value represents a condition that is indicative of the appliance being switched on without an associated filter or separating system installed in the airflow path of the appliance.

19. The appliance of claim 17, wherein the second reference motor load parameter value is compensated for ambient conditions of the appliance vacuum cleaner.

20. A method for controlling an air moving appliance, the method comprising:

at the air moving appliance comprising an electric motor coupled to a fan and a control system for controlling the electric motor;

monitoring a motor load parameter of the motor;

storing a predetermined reference motor load parameter value;

calculating a compensated reference motor load parameter value based on the predetermined reference motor load parameter value and a set of ambient environment input conditions;

comparing the monitored motor load parameter value of the motor and the compensated reference motor load parameter value;

performing an operational event dependent upon the result of the comparison.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein compensated reference motor load parameter value is calculated to correct for the air density in the ambient environment of the appliance.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the compensated reference motor load parameter value is calculated at a time the appliance is turned on.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the compensated reference motor load parameter value is calculated at repeated intervals.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined reference motor load parameter value is calibrated to the specific motor installed within the appliance.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the compensated reference motor load parameter value represents a motor running condition that is indicative of a blockage within the airflow pathways of the appliance.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the comparing element triggers an operational event when the monitored motor load parameter value exceeds the compensated reference motor load parameter value.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the operational event includes deactivation of the motor.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the operational event includes reactivation of the motor after a preset time period.

29. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program product, which when executed by an air moving appliance with one or more processors, cause the appliance to perform:

monitoring a motor load parameter of the motor;

storing a predetermined reference motor load parameter value;

calculating a compensated reference motor load parameter value based on the predetermined reference motor load parameter value and a set of ambient environment input conditions;

comparing the monitored motor load parameter value of the motor and the compensated reference motor load parameter value;

performing an operational event dependent upon the result of the comparison.