Remote Control for Suction Device Synchronization with Power Tools

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suction devices, such as vacuum cleaners, struggle to synchronize their operation with hand-held power tools effectively, lacking a reliable and user-friendly remote control for turning on and off based on the power tool's status.

Innovation Solution

A remote control system that includes a radio receiver to receive signals from a communication device on the suction hose or power tool, processes these signals to determine the power tool's status, and transmits control signals to the suction device to automatically or manually adjust its operation, allowing manual override.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a suction device is automatically activated based on radio signal from a communication device, then the synchronization between power tool operation and suction device operation is improved, but the user loses manual control over the suction device operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization efficiencyVSAvoidmanual control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A remote control device is introduced as an intermediary between the communication device and the suction device. The remote control receives the second radio signal from the communication device, processes it to determine power tool status, and transmits a first radio signal to the suction device. This intermediary structure enables both automatic synchronization through signal processing and manual override capability through user input interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If the remote control processes radio signals to determine power tool status, then the automation level is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic control levelVSAvoidremote control structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control device performs multiple functions: it receives radio signals from the communication device, processes these signals to determine power tool operational status, transmits control signals to the suction device, and accepts manual user input. This multi-functional design consolidates various operations into a single device, achieving high automation without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the remote control acts as an intermediate processing unit for radio signals, then the signal compatibility and range are improved, but the response time may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal compatibilityVSAvoidsignal processing delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control is designed to process radio signals in real-time as they are received, maintaining a ready state for immediate signal transmission to the suction device. The signal processing operations are performed continuously or near-continuously, minimizing any potential delay introduced by the intermediate processing step while ensuring proper signal compatibility and format conversion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4342351B1Remote control for controlling an operation status of a suction device
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 VALENTINI GUIDO
  • EP4342351B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4342351B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4342351B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention refers to a remote control (50) for controlling an operation status of a suction device (2). The remote control (50) comprises a radio transmitter (88) for transmitting a first radio signal (30) to the suction device (2) for turning on or off the suction device (2). It is suggested that the remote control (50) further comprises a radio receiver (90) for receiving a second radio signal (54) from a communication device (32) located at a second end (16) of a suction hose (12), which is connected to a suction opening (10) of the suction device (2) with its first end (14) and to an air outlet (18) of a hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool (20) with its opposite second end (16). The communication device (32) detects a current operation status of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool (20) and emits the second radio signal (54) indicative of the current operation status of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool (20). The remote control (50) derives from the received second radio signal (54) the current operation status of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool (20) and transmits a respective first radio signal (30) in order to automatically turn on or off the suction device (2) depending on the derived current operation status of the hand-held electric or pneumatic power tool (20).