Battery-Powered Floor Cleaner with Adaptive Low Power Mode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery-powered floor cleaners have a fixed operating duration based on battery charge, lacking adaptive operation modes to extend usage time when battery capacity is low.

Innovation Solution

A controller monitors battery capacity and adjusts the floor cleaner's operation by switching between normal and low power modes, prioritizing functions and reducing power consumption when the battery is low, and interrupting operation when depleted, using a sensor to measure voltage, current, or power characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the floor cleaner operates in normal mode with full power, then cleaning performance is maintained, but battery capacity is depleted faster

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidoperational time

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The floor cleaner dynamically adjusts its operating mode based on real-time battery capacity monitoring. The controller switches between normal mode and low power mode depending on battery status, making the system adaptable rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by allowing full power when battery is sufficient and reducing power when battery is low, optimizing both performance and duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (power consumption level) based on battery capacity thresholds. When battery capacity drops below a threshold, the controller transitions from normal operation parameters to low power operation parameters, thereby extending operational duration while maintaining acceptable cleaning functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the floor cleaner operates without mode switching, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to battery status is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidadaptive operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The controller continuously monitors battery capacity and uses this feedback to determine appropriate operating modes. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to changing battery status automatically, providing versatility without requiring complex manual intervention or overly complicated control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The floor cleaner autonomously manages its own power consumption by automatically switching between operating modes based on battery status. The system serves itself by making intelligent decisions about power allocation without user intervention, achieving adaptability through self-monitoring and self-adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20230270305A1Floor cleaner with a low power mode

Publication Date: 2023.08.31 TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECH LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a battery powered floor cleaner (10). The floor cleaner (10) is operable in various modes based on the capacity of a battery pack (22), such as a normal power mode (40) and a low power mode (42).