Vacuum Cleaner Ring Display for Visible Suction Power Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum cleaners do not effectively communicate the set suction power to the user, making it difficult to determine the current suction power during operation.

Innovation Solution

A ring-shaped display field with controllable lamps that vary their switching frequency based on the suction motor's power state, using a microcontroller to symbolize suction power through rotational speed and additional sensors for color-coded operating parameter display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a display of operating states using light sources is implemented, then operating states can be visualized, but the set suction power is not sufficiently recognizable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication of suction powerVSAvoiddisplay configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses different colors of light sources (e.g., red, yellow, green LEDs) to represent different suction power levels. This allows the vacuum cleaner to communicate suction power information intuitively through color coding, making the set suction power immediately recognizable to users without complex displays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic illumination patterns where light sources are switched on and off in sequences. By varying the frequency and pattern of these periodic light signals, the system can encode different suction power levels, making the information both visible and distinguishable through temporal patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of information

If multiple operating parameters are displayed using additional sensors and color settings, then comprehensive information is provided, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating parameter communicationVSAvoidsensor and control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a single ring-shaped display structure that serves multiple functions: displaying suction power levels, indicating operating states (such as filter status, battery level), and providing user feedback. This multi-functional display reduces the need for separate indicator components for each parameter, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining comprehensive information communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Provides a clear visual signal for the user to assess suction power and other operating parameters, ensuring proper usage and enhancing user interaction with the vacuum cleaner.

Implementation Method 1

a display of operating states or operating settings by means of lamps, such as LEDs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP2386238B1Vacuum cleaner with an output-controlled suction engine
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 STEIN & CO GMBH
  • EP2386238B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The vacuum cleaner has a set of lights e.g. LEDs, for displaying operating conditions and/or operating adjustments of the vacuum cleaner in a transparent display panel (1), where the panel is formed as an annular part. An electrical control unit (4) successively controls the lights in the form of a circulating light. The control unit varies switching frequencies of the lights depending on adjusted power of a performance-controlled suction motor (5), where each switching frequency is assigned to a power state of the suction motor.