Particle-Size Detection for Targeted Robotic Vacuum Cleaning

Solution Overview

Problem

Current robotic vacuum cleaners face challenges in efficiently targeting dirty areas within a room, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and increased device size due to the need to cover the entire area, as they lack objective sensing methods to determine where cleaning is actually needed.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that measure the difference between PM2.5 and PM10 particle levels to assess the cleanliness of indoor areas, using particle detectors and a control circuit to determine if the PM10 level exceeds PM2.5 by a threshold, triggering cleaning operations only where necessary, thereby guiding robotic vacuum cleaners or air purifiers to focus on dirty zones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If robotic vacuum cleaners cover the entire area to ensure cleaning coverage, then cleaning completeness is improved, but energy consumption increases and device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning completenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of dust levels in different areas before initiating cleaning operations. By measuring particle concentrations (PM2.5 and PM10) in advance, the robotic vacuum cleaner can identify dirty zones beforehand and navigate directly to them, avoiding unnecessary cleaning in already clean areas. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by maintaining cleaning completeness while reducing energy consumption through targeted cleaning routes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors dust levels using particle detectors and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust cleaning behavior. The robotic vacuum cleaner receives real-time feedback about dust concentration in different zones and modifies its cleaning path and intensity accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures cleaning completeness is maintained while optimizing energy consumption by focusing resources only where dust levels exceed thresholds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If robotic vacuum cleaners cover the entire area to ensure cleaning coverage, then cleaning completeness is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning completenessVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of dust levels in different areas before initiating cleaning operations. By measuring particle concentrations (PM2.5 and PM10) in advance, the robotic vacuum cleaner can identify dirty zones beforehand and navigate directly to them, avoiding unnecessary cleaning in already clean areas. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by maintaining cleaning completeness while reducing energy consumption through targeted cleaning routes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors dust levels using particle detectors and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust cleaning behavior. The robotic vacuum cleaner receives real-time feedback about dust concentration in different zones and modifies its cleaning path and intensity accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures cleaning completeness is maintained while optimizing energy consumption by focusing resources only where dust levels exceed thresholds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If multiple particle size measurements are performed to assess cleanliness, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleanliness assessment accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system is segmented into specialized sensors for different particle size ranges (PM2.5 for fine particles and PM10 for coarse particles). Each sensor is optimized for its specific size range, allowing the system to achieve high measurement precision for cleanliness assessment. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by improving measurement accuracy while managing device complexity through modular, specialized components rather than a single complex sensor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This approach minimizes unnecessary cleaning cycles, reduces energy consumption, and decreases device size by allowing automated cleaning devices to target specific dirty areas, optimizing energy use and reducing battery size and device dimensions while enhancing accessibility.

Implementation Method 1

a particle counter for measuring a first amount of particles of a first size, and a second amount of particles of a second size smaller than the first size

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS10827893B2Dust processing

Publication Date: 2020.11.10 VERSUNI HLDG BV

AI summary

A method of dust processing comprises measuring (PC1) a first amount of particles of a first size (e.g. PM10), and measuring (PC2) a second amount of particles of a second size (e.g. PM2.5) smaller than the first size. In accordance with the invention, it is determined (Δ) whether the first amount exceeds the second amount by a predefined threshold. If so, a robotic vacuum cleaner (RVC) may be prompted to start cleaning a room.