Vacuum Cleaner Infrared Sensor with Adjustable Drop Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infrared sensors in vacuum cleaners face limitations in detection range and sensitivity, particularly on dark or poorly reflective surfaces, leading to inaccurate distance measurements and increased risk of falling due to inadequate adjustment capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An improved infrared sensor structure with a slide screen mechanism allows manual adjustment of the detection range by controlling the receiving area of the infrared ray, enhancing sensitivity and accuracy on varying ground conditions, and enabling cost-effective mass production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the infrared ray radiation power is reduced to shorten detection distance, then energy consumption is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates on dark or poorly reflective surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable screen that can dynamically adjust the receiving area of the infrared sensor based on ground conditions. When the ground is dark or has poor reflection, the screen moves to increase the receiving area, allowing the sensor to capture more reflected infrared energy without increasing radiation power, thus maintaining measurement accuracy while keeping energy consumption low.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the receiving area by moving the screen to different positions. This allows the system to adapt the infrared sensor's light collection capability to match the reflectivity characteristics of the ground surface, enabling accurate distance measurement at low energy consumption levels across varying ground conditions.
2Device complexity
If the infrared sensor has a fixed receiving area, then device complexity is reduced, but detection sensitivity deteriorates on varying ground conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable screen mechanism that can adjust the receiving area dynamically based on ground reflectivity conditions. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the simple infrared sensor structure to achieve high detection sensitivity on varying ground surfaces, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and detection reliability.
3Area of stationary object
If the detection range is increased to cover larger areas, then coverage is improved, but detection sensitivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality adjustment by using a movable screen to concentrate the infrared sensor's receiving area on the specific region of interest (the ground surface being measured). Rather than distributing detection capability across a wide area, the screen focuses the detection resources locally on the critical measurement zone, maintaining high detection sensitivity while achieving adequate coverage for drop detection.
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
The solution effectively prevents vacuum cleaners from falling by accurately measuring drop heights and adjusting detection sensitivity based on ground conditions, ensuring optimal performance on both bright and dark surfaces while reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared transmitter 201 to emit an infrared ray 10
Implementation Method 2
another infrared ray 14 receives the reflection
Implementation Method 3
A slide screen 28 is disposed on the infrared sensor unit 20 to accurately measure the drop height
Data Source
AI summary
An infrared sensor at lower production cost for optimal massive production includes an infrared sensor unit disposed to the bottom of an automatic vacuum cleaner to measure the level of the ground to prevent the vacuum cleaner from turning overdue to any drop height created on the ground; a slide screen being disposed on the infrared sensor unit; and a small gateway to control the area for receiving energy of the infrared ray to precisely measure the drop height of the ground for the vacuum cleaner to automatically take turn whenever the drop height is detected to prevent a possible falling over.