Lights for surface cleaning devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface cleaning devices struggle to effectively illuminate debris on various colored surfaces due to the limitations of their light sources, which may not adequately highlight dirt and debris on surfaces with different colors.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a blue light source with a wavelength range of 400 nm to 494 nm, specifically designed to enhance visibility of debris on surfaces with colors opposite to blue, such as yellow, orange, and tan, by using a convex lens to disperse the light and locate the light source laterally of the agitator for optimal illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional light source is used to illuminate the surface, then the device can illuminate the surface, but the light may not effectively highlight debris on surfaces with different colors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color contrast principles by selecting blue light (400-494 nm) that creates maximum contrast against commonly stained surface colors such as yellow, orange, and tan. This color selection strategy ensures debris visibility across multiple surface color variations without requiring multiple light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the light source to specifically use blue light in the 400-494 nm range. This parameter optimization targets the human eye's sensitivity while maximizing contrast against typical floor stains and debris colors, resolving the contradiction between illumination effectiveness and surface color adaptability.
2Illumination intensity
If the light source is positioned centrally above the cleaning path, then illumination is provided, but the light does not optimally illuminate the debris ahead of the cleaning path
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is positioned forward of the cleaning path to illuminate debris before the cleaning mechanism reaches it. This preliminary illumination allows users to detect and anticipate debris locations, improving operational effectiveness by enabling proactive navigation around or toward debris.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the light positioning from a vertical arrangement (above the cleaning path) to a lateral arrangement (to the side and forward). This dimensional repositioning optimizes the illumination geometry to highlight debris in the user's field of view while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The blue light effectively illuminates debris on surfaces with contrasting colors, improving the user's ability to clean by enhancing visibility of debris, particularly on hardwood floors and surfaces with common debris colors like bread crumbs and hair.
Implementation Method 1
The light is at the cleaning head and is configured to emit blue light through the lens to illuminate the surface to be cleaned and to illuminate debris on the surface. The blue light can have a wavelength in a range of 400 nm to 494 nm.
Implementation Method 2
by using a convex lens to disperse the light and locate the light source laterally of the agitator for optimal illumination
Data Source
AI summary
Various illustrative surface cleaning devices and methods of using surface cleaning devices are provided. In an exemplary implementation, a surface cleaning device includes a light source configured to illuminate a surface being cleaned by the surface cleaning device to help show debris on the surface for cleaning. The light source is configured to emit blue light.