Intelligent suction device capable of automatically adapting the suction force according to the conditions of the surface, particularly for vacuum cleaners and the like

• US 6,105,202 A
• Filed: 01/25/1999
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Grasso, Giuseppe, Presti, Matteo Lo, Sortino, Gianfranco
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/236,786
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 15/319, 15/339, 706/52, 706/900
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2826 the condition of the floor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0275 using fuzzy logic only
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/2066 using controlling means acting on the pressure source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/90 Fuzzy logic

Abstract

An intelligent suction device, particularly for vacuum cleaners and the like, includes a fuzzy-logic controller for controlling the motor of a fan or turbine. The suction pressure is detected by at least one pressure sensor which feeds back its measurement, in a closed loop, to the controller.

Claims

1. An intelligent suction device comprising:

a motor and a fan connected thereto for generating a suction airflow;

at least one pressure sensor which senses pressure generated by the suction airflow; and

a fuzzy-logic controller which determines at least one derivative of sensed pressure from said at least one pressure sensor and controls said motor responsive thereto.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said fuzzy-logic controller implements a first expert system using fuzzy logic for control of motor speed in a working condition.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first expert system uses pressure detected by said at least one pressure sensor as an input and an output is desired motor speed.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first expert system detects pressure variations sensed by said at least one pressure sensor to determine a desired motor speed.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said fuzzy-logic controller implements a second expert system using fuzzy logic to control said motor to one of a standby condition and a working condition.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said second expert system uses a first derivative and a second derivative of the at least one derivative of pressure sensed by said at least one pressure sensor and an output is one of the standby and working conditions.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein a desired motor speed is characterized by using singletons.

8. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a triac connected to said fuzzy-logic controller and said motor for controlling a speed of said motor.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one pressure sensor comprises a piezoresistive pressure sensor.

10. An intelligent suction device comprising:

a motor and a fan connected thereto for generating a suction airflow;

at least one pressure sensor which senses pressure generated by the suction airflow; and

a fuzzy-logic controller implementing at least a first expert system using fuzzy logic for control of motor speed, said fuzzy-logic controller determining at least one derivative of sensed pressure from said at least one pressure sensor and controlling said motor responsive thereto.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said first expert system uses pressure detected by said at least one pressure sensor as an input and a desired motor speed is an output.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein said first expert system detects pressure variations sensed by said at least one pressure sensor to determine a desired motor speed.

13. A device according to claim 10, wherein said fuzzy-logic controller further implements a second expert system using fuzzy logic to control said motor to one of a standby condition and a working condition.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said second expert system uses a first derivative and a second derivative of the at least one derivative of pressure sensed by said at least one pressure sensor and an output is one of the standby and working conditions.

15. A device according to claim 10, wherein a desired motor speed is characterized by using singletons.

16. A device according to claim 10, further comprising a triac connected to said fuzzy-logic controller and said motor for controlling a speed of said motor.

17. A device according to claim 10, wherein said at least one pressure sensor comprises a piezoresistive pressure sensor.

18. An intelligent suction device comprising:

a motor and a fan connected thereto for generating a suction airflow;

at least one pressure sensor which senses pressure generated by the suction airflow; and

a fuzzy-logic controller for controlling said motor responsive to said at least one pressure sensor by implementing an expert system using fuzzy logic to control said motor to one of a standby condition and a working condition based upon at least one derivative of pressure sensed by said at least one pressure sensor.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein said expert system uses a first derivative and a second derivative of the at least one derivative of pressure sensed by said at least one pressure sensor and an output is one of the standby and working conditions.

20. A device according to claim 18, wherein said at least one pressure sensor comprises a piezoresistive pressure sensor.