Cleaner and control method therefor

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaners require significant user effort to move due to high friction and weight, leading to user fatigue, especially when navigating surfaces with high friction or carrying a heavy load.

Innovation Solution

A cleaner with a handle-mounted input unit and rotatable wheels driven by a motor, allowing users to input signals without changing hand position, enabling auxiliary force assistance for movement through controlled clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cleaner is designed to be movable by user force only, then the structure remains simple, but the user experiences fatigue when moving the cleaner on high friction surfaces or with heavy load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of moving the cleanerVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical user-driven movement system with an electromechanical system. A motor is integrated into the wheel assembly to provide powered assistance for moving the cleaner body, substituting manual mechanical effort with electric motor-driven motion. This resolves the contradiction by reducing user effort (improving ease of operation) while accepting the added complexity of the motor system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a sensor as an intermediary between the user and the motor system. The sensor detects user input signals (such as pressure or position changes) and translates them into motor control commands. This intermediary mechanism allows the user to operate the cleaner with minimal effort while the motor provides the necessary propulsion force, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the input unit requires the user to change hand position, then the control mechanism remains simple, but the user convenience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidinput mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service input mechanism where the user's natural hand movements or pressure changes on the handle automatically generate control signals. The sensor detects these unintentional or minimal movements and converts them into motor control commands, allowing the user to operate the cleaner without deliberate hand position changes. This resolves the contradiction by improving user convenience while incorporating sensor-based detection complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical control mechanisms (such as buttons or switches requiring deliberate actuation) with a sensor-based detection system. The sensor detects subtle changes in handle pressure or position and automatically generates control signals, substituting complex mechanical control interfaces with electronic sensing. This improves user convenience by eliminating the need for deliberate hand position changes while accepting the complexity of the sensor system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Reduces user effort required for moving the cleaner by utilizing rotational force, allowing for easier and more convenient operation without changing hand position, thus minimizing fatigue.

Implementation Method 1

a motor connected to the one or more wheels and providing a rotational force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a sensor sensing vertical rotation is provided in the lever

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPosition sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP3323338B1Cleaner and control method therefor
Publication Date: 2022.10.19 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3323338B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3323338B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3323338B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a cleaner comprising a cleaner body, a handle provided in the cleaner body, an input unit provided in the handle to receive a signal input by a user, one or more wheels rotatably provided in a lower portion of the cleaner body to move the cleaner body, a motor connected to the one or more wheels and providing a rotational force, and a control unit rotating the motor in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction by applying a voltage to the motor according to the signal input to the input unit, wherein the input unit is arranged in a range of portions where the user holds the handle to input a signal even without changing the location of the hand holding the handle, and the input unit comprises a lever bendably connected to the cleaner body and being rotatable with respect to the cleaner body in up-and-down and right-and-left, in other words, vertical and horizontal directions at the same time, and a sensor sensing vertical rotation is provided in the lever.