Vacuum Cleaner Motion Sensing for Tool and Setting Recommendations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often use sub-optimal tools and settings for vacuum cleaners, leading to inefficient cleaning and battery performance, as existing vacuum cleaners lack feedback mechanisms to optimize cleaning activities.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner equipped with sensors to detect motion and orientation, a human-computer interface, and a controller to provide recommendations based on cleaning activities, optimizing tool usage and settings through visual or audible feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If vacuum cleaners provide multiple tools and settings for different cleaning scenarios, then cleaning versatility is improved, but users may use sub-optimal tools and settings leading to reduced cleaning efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning versatilityVSAvoidcleaning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to detect cleaning activity type and provides feedback to the user through the HCI about optimal tool and setting selections. This feedback loop guides users to choose the correct tools and settings, resolving the contradiction between providing versatile options and ensuring optimal usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum cleaner automatically detects the cleaning activity type through sensors and determines the optimal configuration, reducing reliance on user knowledge. The system serves itself by identifying when sub-optimal settings are used and prompting users to adjust, making the versatile system self-correcting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If vacuum cleaners lack feedback mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning performance optimization is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where sensors detect cleaning parameters and the controller provides recommendations through the HCI. This feedback system enables performance optimization without excessive complexity by focusing on key detection and guidance functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with electronic sensing and digital feedback. Instead of requiring physical intervention and trial-and-error, the electronic system automatically detects conditions and guides users through digital recommendations, achieving optimization with manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If users operate vacuum cleaners without guidance, then ease of operation is improved, but battery performance and cleaning effectiveness are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidbattery performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains ease of operation by not requiring users to manually adjust settings, while simultaneously providing feedback about optimal configurations. The automatic detection combined with guidance recommendations allows users to operate the device easily while achieving energy-efficient performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum cleaner monitors its own operation and automatically identifies when sub-optimal settings are used, then prompts users to adjust. This self-service approach maintains operational simplicity while ensuring energy-efficient performance through automated monitoring and guidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enhances cleaning efficiency and battery performance by providing real-time feedback to users on optimal tool selection and techniques, improving user learning and cleaning effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor configured to generate sensor signals based on sensed motion and orientation of the vacuum cleaner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMotion sensing: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

a sensor configured to generate sensor signals based on sensed motion and orientation of the vacuum cleaner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOrientation sensing: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 3

a controller configured to: process the generated sensor signals to determine a type of cleaning activity being performed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSignal processing: Image Processing

Implementation Method 4

the HCI comprises a visual display unit and the recommendation comprises a visual recommendation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVisual display: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 5

the HCI comprises an audio output device and the recommendation comprises an audible recommendation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAudio output: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12484751B2Vacuum cleaner

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 DYSON TECH LTD

AI summary

A vacuum cleaner includes: a sensor configured to generate sensor signals based on sensed motion and orientation of the vacuum cleaner; a human-computer interface, HCI; and a controller configured to: process the generated sensor signals to determine a type of cleaning activity being performed by a user using the vacuum cleaner; and control the HCI to provide a recommendation to the user of the vacuum cleaner in dependence on the determined type of cleaning activity.