Vacuum Cleaner Surface-Type Detection for Adaptive Motor Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum cleaners struggle to accurately identify different floor surface types, particularly varying carpet types, leading to sub-optimal vacuum motor power usage and inefficient cleaning performance.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum cleaner equipped with sensors, including an inertial measurement unit and agitator sensors, processes sensor signals to determine the type of surface being cleaned, allowing the controller to adjust vacuum motor power accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fixed parameter surface type sensing is used, then the vacuum cleaner can identify basic surface types, but it cannot accurately distinguish between different carpet types or adapt to new surface types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the surface type identification task into multiple independent sensor components: an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for motion and orientation detection, and a diagnostic sensor for cleaner head parameters. Each sensor segment contributes specific data that, when combined, enables precise differentiation between various carpet types and hard floors without requiring a single complex sensing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges data from multiple sensor sources (IMU and diagnostic sensor) to create a comprehensive surface profile. The controller processes signals from both sensors simultaneously, combining motion/orientation data with cleaner head parameters to achieve accurate surface type identification that neither sensor could achieve alone.
2Productivity
If vacuum motor power is increased for carpet cleaning, then cleaning performance on carpets improves, but battery runtime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of vacuum motor power based on real-time surface type identification. The controller continuously monitors sensor signals, determines the current surface type, and adjusts motor power accordingly - using higher power only when carpets are detected and lower power on hard floors. This dynamic adaptation maximizes cleaning performance on carpets while preserving battery runtime through reduced power consumption on suitable surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the vacuum motor based on identified surface characteristics. The controller modifies motor power levels as a variable parameter in response to detected surface types, transitioning between power states to optimize the balance between cleaning effectiveness and energy consumption throughout the cleaning operation.
3Duration of action of moving object
If vacuum motor power is reduced to extend battery runtime, then battery runtime increases, but cleaning performance on carpets deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts motor power based on real-time surface detection, ensuring adequate power is available when needed for carpet cleaning while extending runtime during hard floor cleaning. This eliminates the need to maintain a fixed low power setting that would compromise carpet cleaning effectiveness.
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
Enables accurate differentiation between various surface types, optimizing cleaning performance and battery runtime by adjusting power based on surface type, including distinguishing between hard floors and different types of carpet.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor configured to generate first sensor signals based on sensed motion and orientation of the vacuum cleaner
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum motor
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum cleaner includes: a vacuum motor; a first sensor configured to generate first sensor signals based on sensed motion and orientation of the vacuum cleaner; a cleaner head comprising an agitator; one or more diagnostic sensors configured to generate second sensor signals based on sensed parameters of the cleaner head; and a controller configured to: process the generated first and second sensor signals to determine a type of surface on which the vacuum cleaner is being operated; and control the power of the vacuum motor in dependence on the determined type of surface.