Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaner that can perform cleaning depending on a cleaning style of a user, and a vacuum cleaning system including the vacuum cleaner.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner 1 comprises cleaning means 2 and setting means 3. The cleaning means 2 cleans dust by using a secondary battery 21 as a driving source. The setting means 3 can change supply power of the secondary battery 21 on the basis of cleaning style information obtained from an operation condition of the cleaning means 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention is an electric vacuum cleaner that uses a secondary battery as a driving source to clean dust. Machine Regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] A user of the vacuum cleaner selects a required cleaning mode from strong, medium, weak, etc. depending on the degree and type of dirt on the part to be cleaned, such as a floor, and performs cleaning.

[0003] In the case of a vacuum cleaner that uses a secondary battery as a power source, the operating time is limited. Since there is a trade-off between cleaning performance and the operating time of the secondary battery, a user usually cleans so that the cleaning is completed within the operating time, and then charges the secondary battery after cleaning is completed in preparation for the next cleaning.

[0004] Since each user has a different cleaning style, such as the environment in which the user cleans and the frequency of cleaning, it is desirable to be able to adjust operation according to the user's cleaning style. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-32173 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an electric vacuum cleaner that can clean according to the user's cleaning style. Machine The aim is to provide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The vacuum cleaner of the embodiment includes a cleaning unit and a setting unit. The cleaning unit cleans dust using a secondary battery as a driving source. The setting unit includes: By usercleaning means Using Cleaning time As a piece of information include Past multiple times Cleaning device operation status Aggregation of obtained from A cleaning method that shows the usual cleaning method of a user who Based on the style information, the power supply from the secondary batteries can be automatically set so that the total power supply from the secondary batteries within a predetermined time does not exceed a predetermined upper limit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the electric vacuum cleaner. [Diagram 3] 4A is a flowchart showing control for storing the operation time of the electric vacuum cleaner, and FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing control for changing the power supply of the secondary battery of the electric vacuum cleaner. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing control of a vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a vacuum cleaner according to a third embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the electric vacuum cleaner. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a suggested cleaning style using the vacuum cleaner. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a vacuum cleaner according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 9] 4 is a flowchart showing the control of the electric vacuum cleaner. [Figure 10] FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing one display example of suggested cleaning styles using the vacuum cleaner, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing another display example of suggested cleaning styles using the vacuum cleaner. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of calculation of the power supply from a secondary battery in the vacuum cleaner of the fifth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a cleaning system including a vacuum cleaner according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 13]4 is a table showing an example of user attribute information accumulated in a server of the electric cleaning system. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display of default values ​​of the cleaning style of the electric cleaning system. [Figure 15] 13A is an explanatory diagram showing one example of how the default values ​​of the cleaning style of the cleaning system of the seventh embodiment are displayed, and FIG. 13B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of how the default values ​​of the cleaning style of the cleaning system of the same embodiment are displayed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] 1 and 2, the reference numeral 1 denotes a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner 1 is provided with a cleaning means 2.

[0011] In this embodiment, the cleaning means 2 will be described as an example of a stick type in which the user holds the grip portion 20 and moves it back and forth to perform cleaning operations. However, the cleaning means 2 is not limited to this, and may be a floor-traveling type, a canister type, an upright type, a handheld type, an autonomous traveling robot cleaner, or the like.

[0012] The cleaning means 2 includes a secondary battery 21 which is a power source serving as a driving source. The secondary battery 21 is electrically connected to a charging terminal and can be charged via a wired or wireless charging device such as a charging stand.

[0013] The cleaning means 2 also includes a cleaning unit 22 that is driven by power supplied from the secondary battery 21. The cleaning unit 22 is driven to clean dust on a surface to be cleaned, such as a floor. As an example, an electric blower having a motor is used for the cleaning unit 22. However, the cleaning unit 22 may be a driven motor and a rotating cleaning body that is rotated by the motor to scoop up dust from the surface to be cleaned, or may have both an electric blower, a motor, and a rotating cleaning body.

[0014] Furthermore, the cleaning means 2 includes a dust collecting section 23 that accumulates the dust cleaned by the cleaning section 22. In this embodiment, the dust collecting section 23 sucks in dust together with the air by the negative pressure generated by driving the cleaning section 22. In the illustrated example, the dust collecting section 23 separates and accumulates dust from the dust-containing air sucked in by the cleaning section 22. That is, in the illustrated example, the dust collecting section 23 has a function of a dust separating section. The dust separating section may be, for example, a cyclone separating section that separates dust by centrifugal separation, or a filter or the like. A removable dust collecting cup is preferably used as the dust collecting section 23, but a dust collecting bag that also functions as the dust separating section may also be used.

[0015] The cleaning means 2 also includes a control unit 25. The control unit 25 is, for example, a microcomputer to which a CPU as a central processing unit, a RAM as a temporary storage device, an EEPROM and a ROM as storage devices, an input / output interface, and the like are connected via a bus. The control unit 25 has a function of a cleaning control unit that sets the current, rotation speed, and other driving of the cleaning unit 22, for example, by controlling the time or amount of current supplied from the secondary battery 21 to the cleaning unit 22. The function of the cleaning control unit is, for example, to increase the current, rotation speed, and other driving of the cleaning unit 22 in response to a temperature rise of the secondary battery 21. In this embodiment, the control unit 25 is electrically connected to a setting operation unit 26. The setting operation unit 26 is a part where the user sets the operation of the cleaning unit 22. For example, operation modes such as a strong mode, a medium mode, and a weak mode can be set as the operation of the cleaning unit 22. The setting operation unit 26 may be located at any position, but in the illustrated example, the setting operation unit 26 is located on the grip unit 20.

[0016] The cleaning means 2 also includes a storage unit 27 that stores predetermined programs, parameters, settings, etc. It is preferable that the storage unit 27 is non-volatile. The data stored in the storage unit 27 may be numerical values ​​themselves, or may be values ​​having a predetermined relationship with the numerical values, such as parameters for calculating the numerical values ​​by a predetermined formula or program.

[0017] Furthermore, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a setting means 3 capable of changing the power supplied from the secondary battery 21 to the cleaning means 2 based on cleaning style information obtained from the operating status of the cleaning means 2. The power supplied from the secondary battery 21 to the cleaning means 2 is, for example, the discharge current of the secondary battery 21. The setting means 3 includes an operating status detection means 30 that detects the operating status of the cleaning means 2, a calculation means 31 that calculates an optimum supply power from the secondary battery 21 to the cleaning unit 22, and a power change means 32 that changes the power supplied from the secondary battery 21 to the cleaning unit 22 to the optimum supply power calculated by the calculation means 31. The operating status of the cleaning means 2 detected by the operating status detection means 30 is stored in an operating status storage means 33 that is a memory. The operating status storage means 33 may be configured as a part of the storage unit 27.

[0018] Here, the "operating status" refers to the cleaning time using the cleaning means 2 and / or the power consumption by the cleaning means 2 during the cleaning time using the cleaning means 2. The cleaning style information refers to the cleaning time used by the user of the vacuum cleaner 1 using the cleaning means 2 and / or the power consumption by the cleaning means 2 or the cleaning unit 22 during the cleaning time using the cleaning means 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, the operating status detection means 30 is a timer that detects the cleaning time and / or a power detection means that detects the power consumption by the cleaning means 2 or the cleaning unit 22 during the cleaning time.

[0019] Moreover, "cleaning time" refers to the total operating time of the cleaning means 2 from the time the secondary battery 21 is released from its charged state to the time it is recharged. In other words, if the cleaning means 2 is stopped during the period from the time the secondary battery 21 is released from its charged state to the time it is recharged, the time during which the cleaning means 2 is stopped is not counted as "cleaning time".

[0020] Moreover, the term "power consumption" refers to the total power consumption during the operation time of the cleaning means 2 from when the secondary battery 21 is released from the charged state to when it is recharged again.

[0021] That is, in this embodiment, the cleaning time and power consumption are stored in the operating status storage means 33 as one cycle from when the secondary battery 21 is released from its charged state to when it is charged again.

[0022] The charging state of the secondary battery 21 refers to a state in which the cleaning means 2 is attached to a charging device or a state in which charging has started by the charging device. Therefore, the charging state of the secondary battery 21 is released when the cleaning means 2 is removed from the charging device or when charging by the charging device ends. Whether or not the secondary battery 21 is in a charging state can be determined by progress detection means 4, which is a charging state detection means. As an example, the progress detection means 4 includes a detection unit and a determination unit that determines whether or not the secondary battery 21 is in a charging state based on detection by the detection unit.

[0023] In this embodiment, the detection unit is, for example, an attachment detection unit that detects whether or not the cleaning means 2 is attached to a charging device, or a charging detection unit that detects whether or not the secondary battery 21 is being charged by the charging device. The detection unit may be a mechanical switch, a sensor, or a detection circuit that detects the completion of charging that is provided in the charging device or the control unit 25. The determination unit may be provided in the control unit 25, or may be provided separately from the control unit 25.

[0024] The calculation means 31 calculates the optimum supply power of the secondary battery 21 so that the total amount of power supplied from the secondary battery 21 to the cleaning means 2 within a predetermined time does not exceed a predetermined upper limit. The optimum supply power calculated by the calculation means 31 is the maximum supply power that the secondary battery 21 can provide even if the cleaning means 2 is operated continuously for at least a predetermined time.

[0025] The "predetermined time" may be any time, but is preferably a time set based on the "operating conditions", and in this embodiment, is the average cleaning time taken by the user.

[0026] The "predetermined upper limit value" is a value that is set according to the capacity of the secondary battery 21. Preferably, the "predetermined upper limit value" is a value that is smaller than the maximum supplyable power, rated power, or battery capacity of the secondary battery 21. In other words, it is preferable to calculate the optimal supply power so that even if the cleaning means 2 is operated for a predetermined time with the optimal supply power calculated by the calculation means 31, the cleaning means 2 can be operated for a short time thereafter.

[0027] The setting means 3 may be provided at any position in the vacuum cleaner 1, but for example, the operating status detection means 30, the calculation means 31, and the power change means 32 are provided in the control unit 25 of the cleaning unit 2. Preferably, at least the power change means 32 is shared with the cleaning control unit. In other words, it is preferable that the power change means 32 utilizes a function that is provided in advance in the cleaning control unit, that is, a function of setting the current, rotation speed, and other driving of the cleaning unit 22 by controlling the time or amount of current supplied from the secondary battery 21 to the cleaning unit 22, or a function of increasing the current, rotation speed, and other driving of the cleaning unit 22 in response to a temperature rise in the secondary battery 21. The operating status storage means 33 may be provided in the storage unit 27.

[0028] The operating mode in which the power supply to the secondary battery 21 is changed by the setting means 3 may be a dedicated mode such as an automatic mode or a random mode, or the power supply to the secondary battery 21 may be changed in a normal operating mode such as a strong mode, a medium mode, or a weak mode.

[0029] Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

[0030] When cleaning is started, control unit 25 generates and outputs a signal to drive cleaning unit 22, thereby driving cleaning unit 22. In this embodiment, a signal generated by the user operating setting operation unit 26 is received by control unit 25, and in response to the received signal, control unit 25 generates a signal to drive cleaning unit 22. When cleaning unit 22 is driven, operating status detection means 30 starts measuring the operating status, i.e., the operating time and / or the power consumption of cleaning unit 2.

[0031] The driven cleaning unit 22 moves dust from the part to be cleaned to the dust collecting unit 23. The dust moved by the cleaning unit 22 is accumulated in the dust collecting unit 23.

[0032] When cleaning is to be finished, control unit 25 generates and outputs a signal to stop cleaning unit 22, thereby stopping cleaning unit 22. In this embodiment, a signal generated by the user operating setting operation unit 26 is received by control unit 25, and control unit 25 generates a signal to stop cleaning unit 22 in response to this received signal.

[0033] The driving condition detection means 30 ends the measurement of the driving condition when the cleaning unit 22 stops. The driving condition measured by the driving condition detection means 30 is stored in the driving condition storage means 33.

[0034] At this time, in this embodiment, the operating time and / or power consumption are accumulated and stored by the operating condition storage means 33 during the period from when the secondary battery 21 is released from the charging state to when it is charged again.

[0035] The calculation means 31 calculates the optimum supply power of the secondary battery 21 so that the sum of the power supplied from the secondary battery 21 to the cleaning means 2 does not exceed a prescribed upper limit within a prescribed time based on the operating conditions stored in the operating condition storage means 33. Preferably, the calculation means 31 calculates the optimum supply power so that the sum of the power supplied from the secondary battery 21 to the cleaning means 2 does not exceed a prescribed upper limit within a prescribed time based on a plurality of operating conditions stored in the operating condition storage means 33. The power changing means 32 changes and sets the supply power from the secondary battery 21 to the cleaning unit 22 to the optimum supply power calculated by the calculation means 31.

[0036] The control of the vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0037] First, as shown in FIG. 3(a), in step S1, the operation of the cleaning means 2 is started, and the operation status detection means 30 starts measuring the operation status.

[0038] Next, in step S2, when the operation of the cleaning means 2 is stopped, measurement of the operating condition by the operating condition detection means 30 is terminated.

[0039] Furthermore, in step S3, the driving condition detected by the driving condition detection means 30 is added to the driving condition storage means 33 as a temporary value and stored.

[0040] In step S4, the progress detection means 4 determines whether the cleaning means 2 has entered a charging state.

[0041] If it is determined in step S4 that the cleaning means 2 is not in a charging state, that is, if the answer is NO in step S4, the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the cleaning means 2 is in a charging state, that is, if the answer is YES in step S4, then in step S5, the temporary value is stored in the operating status storage means 33 as the cleaning time, the temporary value is reset, and the process ends.

[0042] 3(b), when setting the optimal supply power of the secondary battery 21, in step S6 the calculation means 31 calculates the optimal supply power of the secondary battery 21, and in step S7 the power change means 32 sets the supply power of the secondary battery 21 to the optimal supply power calculated in step S6, and ends the process. Note that the optimal supply power set by the power change means 32 may be changed every time a predetermined number of cleaning times have elapsed, or may be changed in response to an instruction from the user.

[0043] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the power supply from the secondary battery 21 can be changed based on cleaning style information obtained from the operating status of the cleaning means 2, thereby enabling cleaning according to the user's cleaning style.

[0044] For example, by including the cleaning time of the cleaning means 2 as the operating status, it is possible to obtain information about how long the user usually spends cleaning.

[0045] Furthermore, by including the power consumption during cleaning time by the cleaning means 2 as the operating status, it is possible to obtain information on how long the user usually cleans and at what power the cleaning means 2 is used.

[0046] Therefore, the user's cleaning style can be obtained with high accuracy from these operating conditions.

[0047] By making it possible for the setting means 3 to change the power supply of the secondary battery 21 so that the total power supply of the secondary battery 21 within a predetermined time does not exceed a predetermined upper limit, it becomes possible for the user to perform cleaning for at least a predetermined time when using the cleaning means 2 with the supply power set by the setting means 3. This makes it possible for the user to perform cleaning without worrying about the limit on the operating time of the secondary battery 21.

[0048] For example, by using the average value of the cleaning time of the operating status of the cleaning means 2 as the "predetermined time" for the setting means 3 to set the supply power of the secondary battery 21, the supply power of the secondary battery 21 can be set so as not to exceed the limit of the operating time allowed by the secondary battery 21 when the user uses the cleaning means 2 normally.

[0049] In addition, the total operating time from when the secondary battery 21 is released from its charged state to when it is charged again is regarded as the cleaning time, and the power supplied to the secondary battery 21 is changed by the setting means 3 based on this cleaning time or the power consumption within this cleaning time. Even if the cleaning means 2 is stopped before the secondary battery 21 is charged again, i.e., even if cleaning is performed repeatedly by the cleaning means 2 before charging, the total operating time can be calculated as the time for one cleaning.

[0050] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Note that the same configurations and operations as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0051] In this embodiment, the "cleaning time" refers to the total operation time for one day from a specific timing.

[0052] Therefore, "power consumption" refers to the total power consumption within a day's operation time from a specific timing.

[0053] That is, in this embodiment, the cleaning time and power consumption are stored in the operating status storage means 33 as one cleaning session for one day from a predetermined timing.

[0054] The predetermined timing may be a preset time or any timing specified by the user. For example, it may be 24 hours from 0:00 AM to 12:00 PM (in this case, the "predetermined timing" is 0:00 AM), or a counting method of one day that matches the user's lifestyle, such as 24 hours from 8:00 AM to 8:00 AM the next day (in this case, the "predetermined timing" is 8:00 AM). In addition, a day here is not limited to 24 hours, and may be a time period from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, when the user usually performs cleaning. When the user specifies the timing, any timing input means may be used. As the timing input means, the setting operation unit 26 may be used, or other dedicated or shared buttons or keys provided on the cleaning means 2 may be used, or other devices capable of communicating with the cleaning means 2 may be used.

[0055] Whether or not one day has passed since the predetermined timing is determined by the elapsed time detection means 4. As the detection section of the elapsed time detection means 4, for example, a timer that starts measuring time from the predetermined timing is used. Furthermore, the determination section determines whether or not one day, i.e., 24 hours, has passed since the predetermined timing by the detection section.

[0056] The setting means 3 is capable of changing the power supply from the secondary battery 21 based on cleaning style information obtained from the operating conditions of the cleaning means 2.

[0057] Control of the vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 4. The same processes as those in the first embodiment are given the same step numbers and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0058] After step S3, in place of step S4, in step S8, the progress detection means 4 judges whether or not one day has passed since the predetermined timing.

[0059] If it is determined in step S8 that one day has not passed, i.e., if the answer is NO in step S8, the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that one day has passed, i.e., if the answer is YES in step S8, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0060] In this way, by setting the cleaning time as the total operating time for one day from a specified timing and changing the supply power of the secondary battery 21 by the setting means 3 based on this cleaning time or the power consumption within this cleaning time, even if a user cleans multiple times with the cleaning means 2 and charges the secondary battery 21 multiple times during the day, the supply power of the secondary battery 21 can be set by the setting means 3 so that the same amount of cleaning can be achieved with a single charge of the secondary battery 21.

[0061] In each embodiment, the setting means 3 may be capable of changing the power supply from the secondary battery 21 based on a value obtained by dividing the cleaning time by an arbitrary number. The value by which the cleaning time is divided may be preset at an arbitrary value, but is preferably an arbitrary value designated by the user. When the user designates a value, any value input means may be used. As the value input means, the setting operation unit 26 may be used, or other dedicated or dual-purpose buttons, keys, etc. provided on the cleaning means 2 may be used, or other devices capable of communicating with the cleaning means 2 may be used.

[0062] In this way, for example, when the user sets the number of times he / she wants to clean with the cleaning means 2 in one day by the value input means, the setting means 3 sets the supply power of the secondary battery 21 based on a value obtained by dividing the cleaning time by the number of times, that is, appropriate for one cleaning in the case of cleaning multiple times. Therefore, it is possible to set the supply power of the secondary battery 21 appropriate for the case where the user wants to clean and charge at high power multiple times in one day.

[0063] (Third embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. Note that the same configurations and operations as those of the respective embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the vacuum cleaner 1 is capable of displaying cleaning style information on the display means 5. The display means 5 may be provided in the cleaning means 2 or may be fixed to the cleaning means 2, but in this embodiment, it is an external device separate from the cleaning means 2. As an example, the display means 5 is a terminal such as a smartphone on which a predetermined program is installed. However, the display means 5 may be a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a notebook PC, a desktop PC, or the like.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cleaning means 2 includes a communication unit 28. The communication unit 28 enables the cleaning means 2 to transmit and receive predetermined signals and information to and from the display means 5. In other words, the communication unit 28 has a function as a transmitter that transmits signals and information, and a function as a receiver that receives signals and information.

[0066] The display means 5 includes a display unit 50 which is a display target. In this embodiment, the display unit 50 is a display such as a liquid crystal display.

[0067] The display means 5 also includes a control unit 51 .

[0068] The control unit 51 has a main control unit 510. The main control unit 510 is, for example, a microcomputer to which a CPU as a central processing unit, a RAM as a temporary storage device, an EEPROM and a ROM as storage devices, an input / output interface, and the like are connected via a bus.

[0069] Furthermore, the control unit 51 has a display control unit 511. The display control unit 511 controls the display of the display unit 50.

[0070] Moreover, the display means 5 includes a storage unit 52. The storage unit 52 stores predetermined programs, parameters, settings, etc., similar to the storage unit 27 of the cleaning means 2. The storage unit 52 is preferably non-volatile.

[0071] Furthermore, the display means 5 includes a communication unit 53. The communication unit 53 is capable of transmitting and receiving predetermined signals and information to and from the communication unit 28 of the cleaning means 2 via wireless communication. The interface of the communication unit 28 and the communication unit 53 is not particularly limited, and for example, known technologies such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and NFC (Near Field Communication) can be applied. The communication unit 28 and the communication unit 53 may be connected by wire. The interface in this case is also not particularly limited, and for example, known technologies such as USB can be applied.

[0072] The display means 5 is driven by a power source such as a secondary battery, but when the display means 5 is connected to the cleaning means 2 by wire or when the display means 5 is fixed to the cleaning means 2, it may be powered by the secondary battery 21 of the cleaning means 2.

[0073] FIG. 7 shows an example of a display on the display unit 50. In this example, the cleaning style information shows the date when the user performed cleaning and the cleaning time and power consumption at that time. For example, the display control unit 511 may cause the display unit 50 to display all of the cleaning time and power consumption stored in the storage unit or the storage unit, or may cause the display unit 50 to display the cleaning time and power consumption for an arbitrary period or a predetermined number of times in response to a user's operation. The display mode on the display unit 50 is arbitrary, but for example, when there are many cleaning times and power consumptions that can be displayed on the display unit 50, the display control unit 511 may control the display unit 50 to display a predetermined number of times at a time and switch the display screen in response to a user's input operation, or when the display unit 50 is a touch panel, it may control the display unit 50 to continuously scroll in response to a swipe operation, etc.

[0074] In this way, by displaying the cleaning style information of the user by display control unit 511, the user can determine the desired power supply from secondary battery 21 by referring to the display.

[0075] (Fourth embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 10. Note that the same configurations and operations as those of the respective embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0076] In this embodiment, cleaning style information displayed by display control unit 511 includes information suggesting a cleaning style to the user.

[0077] Furthermore, the display control unit 511 has a mode (suggested power mode) for asking the user whether or not it is necessary to set the power supply to the secondary battery 21 by the setting means 3, based on the cleaning style information.

[0078] The vacuum cleaner 1 includes an input unit. The input unit may be provided in the cleaning means 2, for example, in the setting operation unit 26, but in this embodiment, the display unit 50 of the display means 5 is made a touch panel display or the like, so that the display unit 50 has the function of the input unit. That is, the user can input, through the input unit, whether or not the power supply of the secondary battery 21 by the setting unit 3 needs to be changed and / or the degree of adjustment when the power supply of the secondary battery 21 is changed, while referring to cleaning style information including information suggesting a cleaning style displayed on the display unit 50 by the display control unit 511.

[0079] Therefore, the display control unit 511 of this embodiment is capable of performing a process of passing input information input from the display unit 50 to the main control unit 510.

[0080] The setting means 3 can change the power supply from the secondary battery 21 in response to an input from the input unit based on the cleaning style information.

[0081] The control of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 9. The same processes as those in each embodiment are given the same step numbers and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0082] After step S6, in step S10, the display control unit 511 causes the display unit 50 to display a proposal for setting the optimum supply power calculated by the calculation means 31. In this embodiment, since the calculation means 31 is provided in the cleaning means 2, a signal or parameter indicating the optimum supply power calculated by the calculation means 31 in response to a request signal from the display control unit 511 is transmitted and received via the communication units 28, 53 and received by the display control unit 511, and causes the display unit 50 to display a proposal for setting the optimum supply power in response to the signal or parameter received by the display control unit 511.

[0083] Next, in step S11, the setting determination unit determines whether or not the supply power of the secondary battery 21 is set by the input of the input unit. In this embodiment, the setting determination unit is provided in the display control unit 511, but is not limited thereto, and may be provided in the control unit 51 or the like separately from the display control unit 511.

[0084] If it is determined in step S11 that the supply power is not set, that is, if the answer is NO in step S11, the setting means 3 maintains the supply power of the secondary battery 21 and ends the process. That is, in this embodiment, no signal or parameter for changing the supply power of the secondary battery 21 is transmitted from the display means 5 to the cleaning means 2.

[0085] Furthermore, in step S11, when it is determined that the supply power is set, that is, when the result of step S11 is YES, in step S12, the adjustment determination unit determines whether or not the supply power is adjusted in response to the input of the input unit. In this embodiment, the adjustment determination unit is provided in the display control unit 511, but is not limited thereto, and may be provided in the control unit 51 or the like separately from the display control unit 511. Furthermore, the adjustment determination unit and the setting determination unit may be the same determination unit.

[0086] If it is determined in step S12 that the supply power is not to be adjusted, that is, if the answer is NO in step S12, then in step S13 the setting means 3 sets the proposed optimum supply power, and the process ends.

[0087] 10(a) shows an example of a display on the display unit 50 in response to steps S11 to S13. This example is a proposal screen that proposes to the user a cleaning style, i.e., a setting of the operating power of the cleaning means 2, i.e., the power supplied to the secondary battery 21, for example, in a case where the user's normal cleaning style is mainly strong operation. When the user refers to the display on the display unit 50 and selects via the input unit that he or she wishes to set the power supplied to the secondary battery 21, a signal or parameter generated by the selection is generated by the display control unit 511, and the signal or parameter is passed to the setting means 3 by communication via the communication units 53, 28. The setting means 3 changes the power supplied to the secondary battery 21 in response to the received signal or parameter.

[0088] Also, in step S12, if it is determined that the supply power is adjusted, that is, in the case of YES in step S12, in step S14, the setting means 3 sets the supply power of the secondary battery 21 to the adjusted supply power, and ends the process. Another display example of the display unit 50 according to steps S11, S12, and S14 is shown in FIG. 10(b). This example is a proposal screen that proposes the setting of the power of the cleaning means 2, that is, the supply power of the secondary battery 21, as a cleaning style to the user, for example, in a case where the user's normal cleaning style is mainly strong operation, and the user is allowed to adjust the operation. That is, the display control unit 511 displays, as an example, an object OB1 such as a slider for setting the operation adjustment, and an object OB2 such as a button for instructing the setting, on the display unit 50. The user can adjust the supply power of the secondary battery 21 to be stronger or weaker than the proposed optimal supply power by sliding the object OB1 on the display unit 50. In the default display, the slider is set to the "recommended" position. Then, when a user referring to the display slides object OB1 to a desired position on display unit 50 and presses object OB2, a signal or parameter corresponding to the slide position of object OB1 is generated by display control unit 511, and the signal or parameter is passed to setting means 3 through communication between communication units 53, 28. The setting means 3 changes the power supply of secondary battery 21 according to the received signal or parameter.

[0089] In this way, by including a cleaning style suggestion to the user in the cleaning style information displayed by the display control unit 511, the user who refers to the display can set the supply power of the secondary battery 21 according to the suggested cleaning style as necessary, making it possible to clean according to the user's cleaning style.

[0090] Furthermore, by making the setting means 3 capable of changing the power supply of the secondary battery 21 in response to input from the input unit based on cleaning style information, the user can decide of his or her own will whether or not to change the power supply of the secondary battery 21 via the input unit.

[0091] Furthermore, by making the setting means 3 capable of adjusting the power supply of the secondary battery 21 in response to input to the input section, the user can set the power supply of the secondary battery 21 to his / her preference for the proposed cleaning style in accordance with the size of the cleaning area, etc.

[0092] Furthermore, by providing the display unit 50, which displays the cleaning style information, with an input unit function, the user can easily change the power supply of the secondary battery 21 using the display unit 50 while referring to the display on the display unit 50.

[0093] In the third and fourth embodiments, the setting means 3 may be disposed in the display means 5.

[0094] Fifth embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Note that the same configurations and operations as those of the respective embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0095] In this embodiment, the setting means 3 can change the supply power of the secondary battery 21 based on a normal distribution function so that the sum of the supply power of the secondary battery 21 within a predetermined time does not exceed a predetermined upper limit. For example, the sum of the average and 3σ (σ is standard deviation) is calculated from the cleaning times of multiple cleanings performed by the cleaning means 2, and the predetermined upper limit of the secondary battery 21 is divided by this sum to set the supply power of the secondary battery 21. Fig. 11 shows an example of calculating a discharge current as the supply power of the secondary battery 21 from the cleaning times of five cleanings and the battery capacity, which is the predetermined upper limit of the secondary battery 21.

[0096] According to this embodiment, when a user uses the cleaning means 2 with the supply power set by the setting means 3, the possibility of the secondary battery 21 running out of power can be further reduced even if the user cleans without worrying about the limit on the operating time of the secondary battery 21.

[0097] Sixth embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 14. Note that the same configurations and operations as those of the respective embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0098] The vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment constitutes a vacuum cleaning system S together with a server 7 connected to a network 6.

[0099] The network 6 is an external network such as the Internet. The network 6 can be connected to the vacuum cleaner 1 by wire or wirelessly via a relay means such as a home gateway. In this embodiment, the network 6 can be wirelessly connected to at least one of the communication unit 28 of the cleaning means 2 and the communication unit 53 of the display means 5. The server 7 is connected to the network 6 and can transmit and receive data via the network 6, as well as accumulate and output data.

[0100] In the electric cleaning system S according to the present embodiment, information transmitted by the communication unit 28 or the communication unit 53 of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be accumulated in the server 7.

[0101] The server 7 has a communication unit 70, a control unit 71, and a storage unit 72. The communication unit 70 transmits and receives information, signals, and parameters via the network 6. The control unit 71 controls the entire server 7. The control unit 71 is, for example, a microcomputer to which a CPU as a central processing unit, a RAM as a temporary storage device, an EEPROM and a ROM as storage devices, an input / output interface, and the like are connected via a bus.

[0102] The storage unit 72 accumulates cleaning style information by the cleaning means 2 of the vacuum cleaner 1. The cleaning style information accumulated in the storage unit 72 may be output from the cleaning means 2 of the vacuum cleaner 1 at a predetermined timing, or may be output via the display means 5. The predetermined timing may be, for example, when one cleaning by the cleaning means 2 of the vacuum cleaner 1 is completed, or when the user performs a predetermined operation. In addition, these pieces of information may be directly transmitted from the communication unit 28 to the communication unit 70 of the server 7 via the network 6, or information transmitted from the communication unit 28 may be transmitted to the display means 5 and temporarily stored in the storage unit 52, and may be transmitted from the communication unit 53 of the display means 5 to the communication unit 70 of the server 7 via the network 6 in accordance with a user's input from a predetermined input screen displayed on the display unit 50, or the like.

[0103] Furthermore, user attribute information may be further accumulated in the storage unit 72. Preferably, the user attribute information is stored in the storage unit 72 in association with the cleaning style information of the user.

[0104] The user attribute information may be set arbitrarily, and may be, for example, information such as the type of family the user lives with, whether they have children, whether they have pets, gender, age, employment status, marital status, and type of residence. Information on the type of residence may include, for example, the shape of the cleaning area, the type of floor surface to be cleaned in the cleaning area, and the residential area. The user attribute information stored in the memory unit 72 may be of one type or multiple types per user.

[0105] The user's attribute information may be input by the user via the display means 5, or when the user's attribute information is stored in the memory unit 27 of the cleaning means 2 or the memory unit 52 of the display means 5, at least a part of the information may be used. Preferably, the user can input the user's attribute information from a predetermined information setting screen displayed on the display unit 50.

[0106] Fig. 13 shows an example of user attribute information accumulated in the storage unit 72 of the server 7. In the example shown in Fig. 13, in the storage unit 72, user attribute information is accumulated as a data table for each user, and cleaning style information is accumulated for each user.

[0107] In addition, when accumulating user attribute information from the display means 5 to the memory unit 72 of the server 7, it is preferable to output a display to the user to confirm whether or not it is OK to accumulate the attribute information in the server 7 before transmitting the information from the communication unit 53.

[0108] In addition, the electric cleaning system S includes a default value display control unit that enables values ​​obtained from the cleaning style information accumulated in the server 7 to be displayed as default values.

[0109] The default value display control unit causes a value obtained from the cleaning style information accumulated in the storage unit 72 of the server 7 to be displayed as a default value so that the user can view it on the display unit 50 of the display means 5. The value obtained from the cleaning style information accumulated in the storage unit 72 of the server 7 refers to the average value, the most frequent value, or the like of the cleaning style information of other users accumulated in the storage unit 72 of the server 7. For example, the value obtained from the cleaning style information is the cleaning time, or a value related to the power supply of the secondary battery 21 set by the setting unit 3. This value may be calculated and output by the control unit 71, or may be calculated and obtained by the main control unit 510 of the display means 5 that receives the value output from the communication unit 70 of the server 7 via the communication unit 53.

[0110] Preferably, the default value displayed by the default value display control unit is a value obtained by taking into account the attribute information of the user accumulated in the storage unit 72 of the server 7. In other words, when the user inputs attribute information, the value may be a value accumulated in the storage unit 72 of the server 7 by another user having the same or similar attribute information as the attribute information of the user input by the user, among the values ​​indicating the cleaning style information accumulated in the storage unit 72 of the server 7, or when there are a plurality of other users having the same or similar information, the value may be an average value or a mode value of the cleaning style information of the other users. This value may be calculated and output by the control unit 71, or may be calculated and obtained by the main control unit 510 of the display means 5 that receives the value output from the communication unit 70 of the server 7 via the communication unit 53.

[0111] That is, the default value display control section has a mode (diagnosis mode) for displaying default values ​​of cleaning style information of a user who is the same as or similar to the input user based on the input user attribute information.

[0112] In this embodiment, the function of the default value display control unit is provided in the display control unit 511, but is not limited to this, and may be provided in the display means 5 or the cleaning means 2 separately from the display control unit 511.

[0113] The output of the value from the server 7 may be performed automatically when the attribute information is accumulated by the user, or may be performed in response to the user inputting a separate operation such as reading.

[0114] Furthermore, the information accumulated in the storage unit 72 of the server 7 is not limited to one group per user, and multiple groups may be accumulated per user. In that case, by accumulating the accumulated date and the like in the storage unit 72 of the server 7 in association with each other, previously set values ​​and information may be selectively output from the server 7.

[0115] 14 shows an example of a display on the display unit 50. This example shows the power of the cleaning means 2, i.e., the power supplied by the secondary battery 21, as a default value obtained from cleaning style information of another user having similar or identical attribute information to the user, and shows a case where the default value is 80% of the maximum power supply.

[0116] In this way, by collecting dust information from the vacuum cleaner 1 in the server 7, information on the user's cleaning style can be obtained and used effectively.

[0117] Furthermore, by making it possible to display values ​​obtained from cleaning style information accumulated in server 7 as default values, it is possible to know the cleaning styles of other users via the default values.

[0118] Furthermore, by making it possible to accumulate user attribute information in the server 7 in relation to the cleaning style information, it is possible to obtain information for each attribute of a plurality of users.

[0119] In addition, by making it possible to display values ​​obtained from the cleaning style information accumulated in server 7 while taking into account the user's attribute information as default values, the user can learn the cleaning styles of other users who have attribute information that is the same as or similar to the user's own attribute information.

[0120] In particular, by including information regarding the user's cleaning area in the user's attribute information, it is possible to know the cleaning style of other users with the same or similar attribute information who clean the same or similar cleaning area.

[0121] For example, when a user uses the cleaning means 2 for the first time, the user can input attribute information and refer to the displayed default values ​​to know the cleaning style that is expected to suit the user.

[0122] In the sixth embodiment, the setting means 3 is not an essential component.

[0123] Seventh embodiment Next, a seventh embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Note that the same configurations and operations as those of the respective embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0124] In addition to the features of the fifth embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 1 of this embodiment allows the user to change the power supply from the secondary battery 21 based on a value obtained from cleaning style information accumulated in the server 7.

[0125] Based on the default value displayed by the default value display control unit, the user can change the power supply of the secondary battery 21 by using the setting means 3. That is, in a mode (diagnosis mode) in which the default values ​​of cleaning style information of a user who is the same as or similar to the user are displayed based on the inputted attribute information of the user, the default value display control unit is configured to ask the user whether or not to set the power supply of the secondary battery 21 to the default value by the setting means 3.

[0126] In this embodiment, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a setting input unit. The setting input unit may be provided in the cleaning means 2, for example, in the setting operation unit 26, but in this embodiment, the display unit 50 of the display means 5 is made a touch panel display or the like, so that the display unit 50 has the function of the setting input unit. That is, the user can input, through the setting input unit, whether or not the power supply to the secondary battery 21 by the setting means 3 needs to be changed and / or the degree of adjustment when the power supply to the secondary battery 21 is changed, while referring to the default value displayed on the display unit 50 by the display control unit 511.

[0127] Therefore, the display control unit 511 of this embodiment is capable of performing a process of passing input information input from the display unit 50 to the main control unit 510.

[0128] The setting means 3 can change the power supply from the secondary battery 21 in response to an input from a setting input unit based on a default value.

[0129] 15(a) shows an example of a display on the display unit 50. This example shows the power of the cleaning means 2, i.e., the power supplied by the secondary battery 21, as a default value obtained from cleaning style information of another user having similar or identical attribute information to the user, and shows a case where the default value is 80% of the maximum power supply, and is a proposal screen proposing setting to the default value. When the user refers to the display on the display unit 50 and selects a desired setting of the power supplied by the secondary battery 21 through the setting input unit, a signal or parameter generated by the selection is generated by the display control unit 511, and the signal or parameter is passed to the setting means 3 by communication via the communication units 53, 28. The setting means 3 changes the power supplied by the secondary battery 21 according to the received signal or parameter.

[0130] FIG. 15(b) shows another display example of the display unit 50. This example shows the power of the cleaning means 2, that is, the power supplied by the secondary battery 21, as a default value obtained from cleaning style information of another user having similar or identical attribute information to the user, and shows a case where the default value is 80% of the maximum supply power, and is a proposal screen that proposes the user to set or adjust to the default value. That is, the display control unit 511 displays, as an example, an object OB3 such as a slider for setting the adjustment and an object OB4 such as a button for instructing the setting on the display unit 50. The user can adjust the power supplied by the secondary battery 21 to be stronger or weaker than the displayed default value by sliding the object OB3 on the display unit 50. In the default display, the slider is set to the "recommended" position. Then, when a user referring to the display slides object OB3 and presses object OB4 on display unit 50, a signal or parameter corresponding to the slide position of object OB3 is generated by display control unit 511, and the signal or parameter is passed to setting means 3 through communication between communication units 53, 28. The setting means 3 changes the power supply of secondary battery 21 according to the received signal or parameter.

[0131] In this way, by making it possible for the setting means 3 to change the power supply to the secondary battery 21 in response to input from the setting input unit based on the default value displayed by the display control unit 511, the user can decide of his or her own will, via the setting input unit, whether or not to change the power supply to the secondary battery 21 in response to the default value.

[0132] In addition, since the default value displayed by the display control unit 511 is a value obtained by taking into account the user's attribute information, by setting a change in the power supply of the secondary battery 21 using the setting input unit based on that value, the user can easily achieve a cleaning style similar to that of other users who have attribute information that is the same as or similar to the user's own attribute information.

[0133] In particular, when a user uses the cleaning means 2 for the first time, the user can use the cleaning means 2 in a cleaning style that is expected to suit the user from the very start by inputting attribute information and changing the power supply of the secondary battery 21 with reference to the displayed default values.

[0134] Furthermore, the setting means 3 can adjust the power supply of the secondary battery 21 in response to input to the setting input section, so that the user can set the power supply of the secondary battery 21 to his / her preference depending on the size of the cleaning area, etc., relative to the displayed default value.

[0135] In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the display examples of the display unit 50 are merely examples, and the display manner, display contents, and GUI displayed on each screen are not particularly limited to these forms.

[0136] Furthermore, the display control unit 511 is configured to display each display on the display unit 50, but this is not limited to the above, and each display may be displayed on a display target that does not have a display function, such as a wall or floor.

[0137] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples, and it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to these embodiments. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0138] 1. Vacuum cleaner 2 Cleaning means 3 Setting methods 7 Server 21 Secondary battery 28 Communications Department 511 Display control having the function of a default value display control unit Department

Claims

1. a cleaning means for cleaning dust using a secondary battery as a driving source; a setting means for automatically setting the power supply of the secondary battery so that the total power supply of the secondary battery within a predetermined time does not exceed a predetermined upper limit value, based on cleaning style information indicating the user's usual cleaning style obtained by tallying up multiple past operating conditions of the cleaning means, the cleaning style information including, as one piece of information, the cleaning time spent by the user using the cleaning means; A vacuum cleaner comprising:

2. a display control unit that displays the cleaning style information 2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1.

3. The operating status includes power consumption during a cleaning time by the cleaning means.

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The setting means is capable of changing the power supply from the secondary battery based on a time obtained by dividing the cleaning time by an arbitrary value.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a first insulating layer.

5. The predetermined time is the average value of the cleaning time.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a first insulating layer.

6. The cleaning time is the total operation time from when the secondary battery is released from a charged state to when it is recharged.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a first insulating layer.

7. The cleaning time is the total operation time for one day from a predetermined timing.

7. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a first insulating layer.

8. A communication unit that receives information from a server that collects the cleaning style information.

8. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises a first insulating layer.

9. A default value display control unit is provided for displaying a value obtained from the cleaning style information accumulated in the server as a default value.

9. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 8.

10. The default value display control unit is capable of displaying a value obtained from the cleaning style information accumulated in the server as a default value by taking into consideration user attribute information accumulated in the server in relation to the cleaning style information.

10. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 9.

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