Vacuum Cleaner Height Sensing for Multi-Surface Cleaning Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaners, both robotic and manual, face challenges in optimizing the height adjustment mechanism to effectively clean various surfaces, leading to potential issues such as getting stuck or failing to reach certain areas due to inadequate height adjustment.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum cleaner system that includes a height adjust mechanism controlled by a sensor processor and a controller processor, which uses feedback from sensors like floor distance and type sensors to adjust the height of the cleaning head relative to the surface, ensuring optimal cleaning performance and avoiding hazards like stairs or uneven surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the height adjust mechanism is made manually operable, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning performance on various surfaces is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual height adjustmentVSAvoidcleaning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The height adjust mechanism transitions from a static manual adjustment system to a dynamic automated system that continuously adapts the cleaning head height based on real-time sensor feedback about surface conditions, enabling the vacuum to automatically optimize its cleaning performance across varying terrains

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A sensor processor receives input from floor distance sensors and floor type sensors, processes this information, and sends control signals to the height adjust mechanism to automatically adjust the cleaning head height, creating a closed-loop feedback system that optimizes cleaning performance without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the height adjust mechanism is made automated with sensors, then the cleaning performance on various surfaces is optimized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidautomated height adjustment system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor processor serves multiple functions: it receives signals from both floor distance sensors and floor type sensors, processes this combined information, and controls the height adjust mechanism, reducing the need for separate dedicated control components for each sensing function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The floor distance sensing and floor type sensing functions are integrated into a unified control system where the sensor processor handles both input types and coordinates the height adjustment response, consolidating what could be separate control circuits into a single multi-functional processor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If the cleaning head height is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the vacuum cleaner gets stuck or fails to reach certain areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixed height structureVSAvoidcleaning coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning head height transitions from a fixed static position to a dynamically adjustable position that automatically adapts to different floor conditions, ensuring reliable cleaning contact across varied terrains without requiring multiple fixed height settings or manual adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If the vacuum cleaner does not have height adjustment capability, then the device is simple, but it cannot clean various surfaces effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveno height adjustment mechanismVSAvoidsurface compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cleaner incorporates a dynamically adjustable height mechanism that automatically adapts to different surface types and floor conditions, enabling effective cleaning across diverse terrains without requiring multiple specialized devices or manual reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Floor type sensors and floor distance sensors provide feedback about the cleaning surface conditions to the sensor processor, which automatically adjusts the cleaning head height to optimize contact with the surface, enabling versatile cleaning performance across different floor types without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS7599758B2Sensors and associated methods for controlling a vacuum cleaner

Publication Date: 2009.10.06 ROYAL APPLIANCE MFG CO

AI summary

A vacuum cleaner includes a housing, a height adjust mechanism disposed on the housing and a height adjust motor, disposed within said housing that controls a height of the height adjust mechanism. A position element is mounted to said housing. A sensor processor, mounted to said housing, is in communication with the position element to provide a signal that relates to a position of the height adjust mechanism based at least in part upon data received from the position element. A controller processor, mounted to said housing, is in communication with the sensor processor for selectively controlling a height of the height adjust mechanism relative to a subjacent surface on which the vacuum cleaner is positioned. A height adjust mechanism height motor controller is in communication with the controller processor, for driving the height adjust motor to locate the height adjust mechanism in an appropriate position relative to the subjacent surface.