Smart nozzle and a surface cleaning device implementing same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable vacuum cleaners face limited battery life due to high power consumption by brushrolls, especially when cleaning thick carpets, and existing solutions either omit brushrolls or require user input to activate them, leading to inefficient cleaning and battery drain.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle control circuitry integrated into a removable nozzle housing that detects cleaning operations through sensors, autonomously activating and adjusting brushroll speed and orientation based on floor type without user input, using separate power supplies to reduce overall power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If brushrolls are activated during cleaning operations, then cleaning performance is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle control circuitry autonomously detects cleaning operations through sensors and automatically activates/deactivates the brushroll motor without user input. The system monitors sensor data to detect when the surface cleaning device is being used, and in response, energizes or de-energizes the brushroll motor accordingly, allowing the system to serve itself
Solution Approach 2:
The brushroll motor operation is made dynamic and adaptive rather than static. The nozzle control circuitry continuously monitors sensor data and adjusts the brushroll motor state (energized/de-energized) based on detected cleaning operations and floor type, optimizing performance while managing power consumption
2Productivity
If brushrolls are continuously activated, then cleaning performance on various surfaces is improved, but battery life is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous operation, the brushroll motor is activated periodically based on detected cleaning operations. The nozzle control circuitry monitors sensor data and energizes the brushroll motor only during detected cleaning operations, de-energizing it during non-use periods, creating a periodic on-demand operation pattern that extends battery life
3Use of energy by moving object
If user input is required to activate brushrolls, then power consumption is reduced, but ease of operation decreases and cleaning efficiency is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for user input by implementing self-service operation. The nozzle control circuitry autonomously detects cleaning operations through sensors and automatically controls the brushroll motor, performing the activation/deactivation function itself without requiring user intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor feedback to automatically control brushroll operation. The nozzle control circuitry receives sensor data indicating cleaning operations and uses this feedback to automatically energize or de-energize the brushroll motor, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual usage conditions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
In general, the present disclosure is directed to nozzle control circuitry for use in surface cleaning devices that preferably reduces overall power consumption of a surface cleaning device by detecting the start of a cleaning operation by a user before energizing one or more components such as an agitator. The nozzle control circuitry can detect a cleaning operation based on data output from one or more sensors (also referred to herein as operation sensors). For example, the nozzle control circuitry can communicate with at least one of a motion sensor such as an accelerometer, an orientation sensor such as gyroscope, and/or an air pressure sensor operatively coupled within a dirty air inlet to detect the presence of generated suction.