Automatic vacuum cleaner and charger system and method

Abstract

A system for dust collection and charging includes a vacuum cleaner, a battery of the vacuum cleaner, a circuit for controlling the vacuum cleaner, a sensor connected to the circuit for detecting motion, and a carriage for charging the battery when the vacuum cleaner is connected to the carriage. The vacuum cleaner is movable from the carriage and is operated by the battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to cleaning systems for use in home and commercial environments, and more particularly to a sensor robot vacuum cleaner and a charging station, wherein the sensor robot vacuum cleaner can be charged from the charging station and moved in the environment to clean swept debris. Background Art

[0002] The swept garbage is usually pushed into a dustpan, and the dustpan is emptied in a trash can. Some devices, such as the automatic electric vacuum cleaner of US Patent No. 7,357,872, provide efficiency and comfort in sucking the swept garbage. The automatic electric vacuum cleaner includes a sensor that detects movement near the entrance of the vacuum cleaner. When the sensor detects movement near the entrance, the vacuum cleaner opens and pulls the swept garbage near the entrance.

[0003] Automatic electric vacuum cleaners are usually placed in a relatively static position. They are operated by electricity, which is provided from an electrical socket to which the electric wire of the vacuum cleaner is connected. Although automatic electric vacuum cleaners provide comfort in use, when it is necessary to place the vacuum cleaner in some place, it can be cumbersome to find an electrical socket for the electric wire connection.

[0004] Some portable handheld vacuum cleaners include batteries and are rechargeable. This allows the portable handheld vacuum cleaner to be used in locations far from any electrical outlet and without an electrical cord attached. These portable handheld vacuum cleaners typically do not have a sufficiently powerful vacuum cleaner motor for use in wider areas where the vacuum cleaner is not directly operated over the particles to be vacuumed. In addition, these portable handheld vacuum cleaners are primarily operated via an on / off button or the like, and in any case have no sensed motion for operation. Furthermore, the use of these portable handheld vacuum cleaners typically requires the user to contort the body to position the vacuum cleaner over the trash.

[0005] It is therefore a significant advantage and advance in the prior art to provide a sensor robot vacuum cleaner that is battery operated and charged in a charging cradle. It is also a significant advantage and advance to move and displace such a sensor robot vacuum cleaner away from the charging cradle. It is further a significant advantage and advance to provide a sufficiently powerful vacuum cleaner motor in a battery operated configuration that is operated by sensor detection of motion. Summary of the invention

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention include a system for vacuuming and charging. The system includes a vacuum cleaner, a battery for the vacuum cleaner, a circuit for controlling the vacuum cleaner, a sensor connected to the circuit for detecting motion, and a bracket for charging the battery when the vacuum cleaner is connected to the bracket. The vacuum cleaner is removable from the bracket and is operated by the battery.

[0007] Another embodiment of the invention is a method for vacuuming and charging. The method includes vacuuming with a vacuum cleaner in response to movement detected by a sensor, and charging a battery of the vacuum cleaner via a cradle. The vacuum cleaner is removable from the cradle and is operated by the battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which:

[0009] Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a system for vacuuming and charging a battery for vacuuming according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 2 shows a top rear perspective view of a system for vacuuming and charging a battery for vacuuming according to certain embodiments of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 3 A top front perspective view of a bracket showing a system for vacuuming and charging a battery for vacuuming according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 4 A circuit for vacuuming according to some embodiments of the present invention is shown;

[0013] Figure 5 a table showing operating conditions for vacuuming according to some embodiments of the present invention; and

[0014] Figure 6 A table showing the circuitry of a system according to some embodiments of the present invention is used to illustrate the operating states of vacuuming. Specific embodiments

[0015] Reference Figure 1 , the system 100 comprises a housing 101. The housing 101 forms or is connected to a cleaner air inlet 102 and a cleaner air outlet 104. A cleaner unit (not shown) contained in the housing 101 is communicatively connected between the inlet 102 and the outlet 104.

[0016] The vacuum cleaner unit is driven by a battery (not shown) contained in or connected to the housing 101. The battery is rechargeable via a cradle 105. The cradle 105 is communicatively connected to an AC power outlet, such as 110V or 220V or other, via a cord 107 that may also include a converter 109. The housing 101 includes adapted features for features of the cradle 105, such as in a base 110 of the housing 101. The housing 101 is physically and communicatively connectable to the cradle 105 to charge the battery contained in the housing 101 for driving the vacuum cleaner unit.

[0017] The system 100 also includes a sensor 106. The sensor 106 is positioned near the inlet 102 and is contained by or connected to the housing 101. The sensor 106 is communicatively connected to the vacuum unit (via circuitry described below). The sensor 106 detects any movement near the sensor 106, such as trash or debris, and / or the sweeping of these. When movement is detected by the sensor 106, the vacuum unit can be turned on to vacuum trash into the housing 101, and can be automatically turned off according to certain non-exclusive embodiments, such as cycled off or otherwise implemented.

[0018] The housing 101 includes a trash can 112 or an access panel to the trash can 112. The applicable trash can 112 or access panel can be opened through a recess 114, and the trash can 112 can be manually tilted relative to the housing 101. Trash sucked by the system 100 is deposited in the trash can 112. When the trash can 112 is full, it can be removed from the housing 101 and emptied.

[0019] For a non-exclusive example, the bracket 105 may include a contact element 116 and a guide 118. A base 110 is formed on the rear side of the housing 101, which has adapted features for the bracket 105 so that when the base 110 is connected to the bracket, the inlet 102 is positioned on or near the floor or surface below. This allows the inlet 102 to operate for vacuuming when the housing 101 is connected to the bracket 105 for charging a battery (not shown) contained in or connected to the housing 101. The battery drives the vacuum cleaner unit when turned on.

[0020] For a non-exclusive example, the base 110 includes a mating contact element (not shown in detail) and a mating guide receiver (not shown in detail). The guide 118 and the mating guide receiver are connected to hold the base 110 of the housing 101 to the bracket 105 in a manner that the housing 101 is removable from the bracket 105. When the base 110 is held to the bracket 105, the contact element 116 and the mating contact element are communicatively connected for charging the battery of the housing 101 communicatively connected to the vacuum cleaner unit.

[0021] Combination Figure 1 refer to Figure 2 , system 200 (e.g., system 100) includes a control panel 202 connected to or included in housing 101. Housing 101 also includes a rear handle 204, and for a non-exclusive example, the recess in housing 101 is sufficient for hand gripping. For a non-exclusive example, control panel 202 may include a power button, an automatic button, a manual button, a full trash can indicator light, and a charging light.

[0022] Combination Figure 1-2 refer to Figure 3 , the system 300 includes a cradle 105. The cradle 105 may include a rear portion 302 perpendicular to a bottom portion 304. The bottom portion 304 may include, contain, or be formed to contain and display features for contact elements 116 and extended guides 118. The wires 107 (partially shown) are communicatively connected to the contact elements 116 of the cradle 105. For a non-exclusive example, the guides 118 may include a click feature 306 for engaging the base 110 of the housing 101 when the housing 101 is placed in the cradle 105, and for releasing the base 110 from the cradle 105 when the housing 101 is grasped by the rear handle 204 and lifted from the cradle 105.

[0023] In operation, the system 100, 200, 300 sucks the debris swept near the entrance of the housing. When the base of the housing is connected to the bracket, the bracket charges the battery of the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner operation can be turned on by a button on the control panel or a button near the entrance. If the control panel setting is set to automatic and motion is detected by the sensor, the vacuum cleaner can also be automatically triggered to turn on. According to an embodiment, the vacuum cleaner can be cycled off or otherwise automatically turned off. When the battery is charged, the vacuum cleaner can be moved from the bracket and operated for vacuuming. In order to suck areas including environments without easily accessible power outlets, the vacuum cleaner can therefore be moved around the environment and away from the bracket.

[0024] refer to Figure 4 , the system 400 of the vacuum cleaner includes a circuit 402. The circuit 402 includes a controller 404. The controller 404 is communicatively connected to a start button 406 to turn on the power of the system 400. A mode switch 408 is also communicatively connected to the controller 404. For non-exclusive examples, the mode switch 408 can be one or more buttons to set the operation of the system 400 in an automatic mode, a manual mode, or other modes according to an embodiment. The controller 404 is also communicatively connected to a sensor 410. For non-exclusive examples, the sensor 410 detects movement near a sensing element (e.g., a motion sensor, an infrared sensor, or other sensor). A motor control 412 is communicatively connected to the controller 404. The motor control 412 operates a vacuum cleaner motor 414 that is communicatively connected to the motor control 412.

[0025] Combination Figure 4 refer to Figure 5, various states of the logical operation of the controller 404 are shown in the table. In practice, the controller 404, the mode switch 408 and the sensor 410 command the operation of the motor control 412 based on the input of the start button 406 to physically control the vacuum cleaner motor 414 to turn on or off. As listed in the table, if or when (i) the mode is set to on by manual input of a human user; or (ii) when the mode is set to "automatic" by manual input of a human user, the sensor is set to on by detecting an event (e.g., movement near the vacuum cleaner inlet), the vacuum cleaner motor 414 is "on". In other states, the vacuum cleaner motor 414 is controlled to be turned off (e.g., no power is provided) by the logic of the controller 404 and its operation of the motor 414 by the motor controller 412. For non-exclusive examples, the controller 404 and / or the motor controller 412 can provide a cycle closing timing or other automatic closing implementation.

[0026] refer to Figure 6 , a system 600 for charging and vacuuming includes a cradle circuit 602. When a battery driving the vacuum cleaner is connected to a charging cradle, the cradle circuit 602 is communicatively connected to a battery protection circuit 604. The battery protection circuit 604 is communicatively connected to a power circuit 606 in the vacuum cleaner. The power circuit 606 is communicatively connected to a controller circuit 608 in the vacuum cleaner. The controller circuit 608 is communicatively connected to a sensor circuit 610 in the vacuum cleaner. An interface circuit 612 of the vacuum cleaner is communicatively connected to the controller circuit 608.

[0027] There may be additional, different, or other output devices, input devices, controllers, power supplies, and other devices, as well as additional, different, or other circuits and connections.

[0028] It should be understood that there may be a wide range of variations in the foregoing embodiments. There may be various arrangements of the bracket and charging element of the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner unit may also be any type of vacuum cleaner device and may include all possible vacuum cleaner technologies. Non-exclusive embodiments include unified features and component selections of the system. For example, the vacuum cleaner may be contained in a single housing, components or all corresponding elements and units may be detachable, such as for cleaning, maintenance and others. Although the housing of the unit is shown as being stand-alone, bracketable and removable from the bracket, the vacuum cleaner and bracket may be integrated into or integrated with other devices or systems. Vacuum operation may also vary. Although certain operations and operating elements are disclosed, many other steps, operations, processes and methods, as well as other and similar elements, may be implemented in the system.

[0029] In the above, the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications, substitutions, deletions and additions may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the description and the accompanying drawings are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive, and all such modifications, substitutions, deletions and additions are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Any benefits, advantages or solutions to problems described above with respect to specific embodiments, as well as devices, connections, steps and elements that may cause any benefits, advantages or solutions to occur or become more apparent, should not be interpreted as key, essential or basic features or elements.

Claims

1. A system, comprising: Vacuum cleaner; A battery for the vacuum cleaner; A circuit for controlling the vacuum cleaner; a sensor connected to the circuit for detecting motion; as well as a cradle for charging the battery when the vacuum cleaner is connected to the cradle; Wherein the vacuum cleaner is removable from the bracket and is operable by the battery.

2. A method comprising: suctioning dust by a vacuum cleaner in response to the movement detected by the sensor; as well as charging the battery of the vacuum cleaner via the bracket; Wherein the vacuum cleaner is removable from the bracket and is operated by the battery.

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