Vacuum Electronic Switch Detection System

• US 20110016655A1
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beers, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,266,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0095 Suction cleaners or attachments adapted to collect dust or waste from power tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• 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: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• 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 vacuum electronic switch detection system allows multiple user selectable vacuum modes to be chosen with only one micro-controller input available for performing the multiple selectable modes. The switch detection system provides multiple voltage ratio control signals indicative of multiple switch position possibilities.

Claims

1. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum source disposed in said housing;

a vacuum filter disposed in said housing upstream of said vacuum source;

a filter cleaning device including a filter cleaning motor drivingly connected to a filter cleaning mechanism;

a multi-position switch mounted to said housing, said multi-position switch having at least three switch positions and including a first micro-switch and a second switch which provide different activation states depending upon the position of the multi-position switch;

a power source in communication with said first and second micro-switches via a ratio circuit providing differing ratio signal outputs depending upon differing activation states of said first and second micro-switches; and

a controller connected to said ratio circuit and providing multiple control signals for activating said vacuum source and said filter cleaning device based upon input from said ratio circuit.

2. The vacuum according to claim 1, wherein said ratio circuit provides at least three different ratio signals indicative of at least three different activation states of said first and second micro-switches.

3. The vacuum according to claim 2, wherein said controller deactivates said vacuum source and said filter cleaning device responsive to a first ratio signal, said controller activates said vacuum source and deactivates said filter cleaning device responsive to a second ratio signal, and said controller activates said vacuum source and activates an automatic filter cleaning mode responsive to a third ratio signal.

4. A vacuum comprising:

a housing;

a vacuum source disposed in said housing;

a vacuum filter disposed in said housing upstream of said vacuum source;

a filter cleaning device including a filter cleaning motor drivingly connected to a filter cleaning mechanism;

an on-board power outlet mounted to said housing and including a power tool sense circuit for sensing the operation of a power tool plugged into said on-board power outlet;

a multi-position switch mounted to said housing, said multi-position switch having at least four switch positions and including a first micro-switch and a second switch which provide different activation states depending upon the position of the multi-position switch;

a power source in communication with said first and second micro-switches via a ratio circuit providing differing ratio signal outputs depending upon differing activation states of said first and second micro-switches; and

a controller connected to said ratio circuit and providing multiple control signals for activating said vacuum source and said filter cleaning device based upon input from said ratio circuit and said power tool sense circuit.

5. The vacuum according to claim 4, wherein said ratio circuit provides at least four different ratio signals indicative of 1) both said first and second micro-switches being open, 2) said first micro-switch being closed and said second micro-switch being open, 3) said first micro-switch being open and said second micro-switch being closed, and 4) both said first and second micro-switches being closed.

6. The vacuum according to claim 5, wherein said controller deactivates said vacuum source and said filter cleaning device responsive to a first ratio signal, said controller activates said vacuum source and deactivates said filter cleaning device responsive to a second ratio signal, said controller activates said vacuum source and activates an automatic filter cleaning mode responsive to a third ratio signal, and said controller activates said vacuum source in response to a detected operation of a power tool by said power tool sense circuit in response to a fourth ratio signal.