Surface treatment apparatus rotational speed indicator user interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of surface treatment apparatuses, such as vacuum cleaners, face challenges in determining the rotational speed of suction and agitator motors without looking away from the cleaning surface, and existing solutions often result in distracting flickering displays due to rapid changes in debris detection.
Innovation Solution
A user interface that indicates rotational speed through a light bar or LEDs, where the speed of the suction and agitator motors, which change more slowly, is used to control the display, providing simultaneous audio and visual feedback and avoiding flickering by adjusting the motor speeds based on debris detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a display is used to indicate rotational speed based on rapid debris detection, then measurement precision is improved, but the display causes distracting flickering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (the light bar display) that translates rapid debris detection signals into a stable visual indicator. The display uses a fixed number of LEDs that represent rotational speed ranges, acting as a mediator between the fast-changing sensor data and the user's visual perception, thereby eliminating flickering while preserving measurement information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic sampling of rotational speed data and updates the display at controlled intervals rather than continuously responding to every sensor fluctuation. This periodic update mechanism smooths out rapid changes in debris detection, preventing flickering while maintaining accurate speed indication over time.
2Productivity
If users monitor rotational speed continuously, then productivity is improved, but users must look away from the cleaning surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the speed indication from a traditional display requiring visual attention to a tactile dimension through vibration feedback. The vibration motor provides haptic cues about rotational speed that users can perceive through touch or auditory sensation, freeing their visual attention to remain focused on the cleaning surface while still monitoring performance.
3Productivity
If motor speed is increased to improve cleaning performance, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts motor speed based on real-time debris detection rather than operating at constant high speed. The controller modulates power to the motor according to actual cleaning needs, increasing speed when debris is detected and reducing it when surfaces are clean, thereby optimizing the balance between cleaning performance and energy consumption.
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 provides a non-distracting and intuitive way for users to monitor motor speeds and debris collection, ensuring effective cleaning operations by synchronizing visual and audio cues with motor speed changes.
Implementation Method 1
A user interface that indicates rotational speed through a light bar or LEDs
Implementation Method 2
a suction motor configured to cause debris to be drawn from a surface to be treated into the dust cup
Implementation Method 3
an agitator motor configured to rotate the agitator
Data Source
AI summary
A surface treatment apparatus may include a surface cleaning head having an agitator, an agitator motor configured to cause the agitator to rotate, a suction motor configured to cause debris to be drawn from a surface to be treated, a debris sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an amount of debris in a dirty air path, a user interface (UI), and a controller. The controller can be configured to receive the signal indicative of the amount of the debris in the dirty air path, adjust a rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor, and adjust the UI based on the rotation speed of at least one of the suction motor or the agitator motor.