EP1343406B1 - Procede de commande pour un aspirateur - Google Patents

Procede de commande pour un aspirateur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1343406B1
EP1343406B1 EP00990164A EP00990164A EP1343406B1 EP 1343406 B1 EP1343406 B1 EP 1343406B1 EP 00990164 A EP00990164 A EP 00990164A EP 00990164 A EP00990164 A EP 00990164A EP 1343406 B1 EP1343406 B1 EP 1343406B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
value
dust
dref
values
delta
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00990164A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1343406A1 (fr
Inventor
Banu Sulamaci
Bülent EFEC K
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Arcelik AS
Original Assignee
Arcelik AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Arcelik AS filed Critical Arcelik AS
Publication of EP1343406A1 publication Critical patent/EP1343406A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1343406B1 publication Critical patent/EP1343406B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2857—User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2805—Parameters or conditions being sensed
    • A47L9/281—Parameters or conditions being sensed the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust
    • A47L9/2815—Parameters or conditions being sensed the amount or condition of incoming dirt or dust using optical detectors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2836—Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means characterised by the parts which are controlled
    • A47L9/2842—Suction motors or blowers

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method used in vacuum cleaners to determine the dirtiness of the place to be cleaned and of the dust sensor components.
  • dust sensors formed of optic components namely light emitting and light receiving components are placed on the dust passageway of a vacuum cleaner.
  • Light emitting device is emitting an infrared light beam or the like and light receiving device is receiving the light emitted by the light emitting device.
  • These devices are arranged in a predetermined position on the air passageway.
  • These light emitting and light receiving devices are placed across each other at fixed positions so that the change in light intensity indicates the amount of dust passing through the suction path. When these devices are covered with dust, the light received is decreased so the performance of the dust sensing means is degraded.
  • the amount of dust passing through the passageway can be determined when the vacuum cleaner is at its on stage according to the light received by the receiver.
  • the light intensity received by the receiver decreases as the amount of dust passing through the passageway increases. This property is used to increase the motor power as the dust is sensed. Although this is an efficient way of determining dust, as the dust is sucked through the passageway, it covers the surface of the sensors decreasing the amount of light received although there is no dust passing.
  • a "sensitivity correction means" is described to solve this problem.
  • the aim of the method described in this patent is to increase the amount of light emitted by the emitter proportional to the reduction of light caused by the adhering of particles on the sensors.
  • the problem with this method is that, if the amount of light emitted is increased when the window members on the sensors are soiled, after a certain period it reaches a limit value, i.e. the emitted light can no longer be increased. In this case the window members on the sensors have to be cleaned manually. The user is informed that soiling of the window members is increased so much that a correction in the intensity of light emitted by the light emitting device reaches its limit value.
  • the object of the present invention is to sense whether the place that is being cleaned is dusty or not.
  • Another object of this invention is to determine whether the components of the dust sensor are soiled or not.
  • a vacuum cleaner (1) comprises a motor (6) to drive a fan (9) that provides the suction, a detection means (8) to detect the dust, and an indication means (5) either comprising LED's or LCD's to indicate to the user that the dust sensor components are dirty and a control means (7) that controls the motor (6).
  • Detection means (8) comprises a dust sensor (2) placed on the dust passageway to detect the dust passing through and comprising two components namely a light emitter (3) which is preferably a light emitting diode and a light receiver (4) which is preferably a phototransistor to detect dust passing through the dust passageway, a resistor R1 (10) for determining the current to be introduced into the light emitter (3), and a detection circuit (11) to measure the light received by the light receiver (4) in terms of voltage or current depending on its arrangement.
  • a light emitter (3) which is preferably a light emitting diode
  • a light receiver (4) which is preferably a phototransistor to detect dust passing through the dust passageway
  • a resistor R1 (10) for determining the current to be introduced into the light emitter (3)
  • a detection circuit (11) to measure the light received by the light receiver (4) in terms of voltage or current depending on its arrangement.
  • the supply voltage (Vx) on the light emitting side of the detection means (8), the resistor R1 (10) is chosen such that the current that is applied to the light emitter (3) is always maximum and it is not changed during the operation of the vacuum cleaner (1) so that the intensity of the emitted light is kept constant during the operation of the vacuum cleaner (1).
  • the maximum current is applied to the light emitter (3) of the dust sensor (2) (101). This current does not change during the operation of the vacuum cleaner (1).
  • the output from the light receiver (5) is measured for predetermined intervals of time. Each time interval defines a cycle.
  • the intensity of the light received by the light receiver (4) fluctuates. It decreases at the moment when the dust passes between the light emitter (3) and the light receiver (4) and it increases at the moment when no dust passes between the light emitter (3) and the light receiver (4).
  • a probable light intensity versus time graph is shown in Figure 3.
  • the light intensity can be measured in terms of voltage or in terms of current and the measured voltage or current can increase or decrease with the dust passing through the dust passageway i.e. voltage or current measurement is proportional or inversely proportional to the intensity of light received by the light receiver (4).
  • the local maximum values max 1 (n), max 2 (n), ... max i (n) and local minimum values min 1 (n), min 2 (n).... min 1 (n) of the light intensity are found and stored (102).
  • the mean value of the local maximum values (max(n)) and the mean value of the local minimum values (min(n)) of the output data are computed and stored for the cycle n, in the memory of the control means (7). (103).
  • the difference (Delta(n)) between the mean value of the local maximum values (max(n)) and the mean value of the local minimum values (min(n)) is calculated (104).
  • the difference (Delta(n)) is then compared with a predetermined reference difference value (Dref(n)) (106).
  • the reference difference value (Dref(n)) depends on the mean value of the local minimum values (min(n)).
  • a different reference difference value Dref(n) is kept in the memory of the control means (7). While cleaning the surface, if the surface is dirty and/or if the dust is adhering on the dust sensor (2) components, the mean value of the local minimum values of the light intensity, (min(n)) will decrease, and the fluctuations in the received light intensity will decrease as well.
  • Dref(n) is chosen as a small value to provide the adaptation to the detection conditions and to be able to detect the presence of dust with a smaller Delta(n) value.
  • the reference difference value (Dref(n)) can also be chosen as a constant value.
  • the mean value of the local minimum values (min(n)) is compared with a predetermined minimum allowed light intensity value (Dmin), that is a constant value determined experimentally and stored in the memory unit (108).
  • the decision is that there is no dust in the drawn air i.e. "the place is not dusty” and it is decided to keep the motor (6) power constant (109).
  • the cycle n+1 starts.
  • the mean value of the local minimum values of the light intensity (min(n)) for the cycle n is smaller than the predetermined minimum allowed light intensity value Dmin and it is started to count the number of consequent cycles where the following conditions occur(110); the difference values (Delta) are smaller than the reference difference values (Dref) and mean values of the local mimimum values (min) are smaller than the predetermined minimum allowed light intensity value (Dmin), i.e the differences (Delta(n), Delta(n+1),....Delta(n+c)) are smaller than the reference difference values (Dref(n), Dref(n+1), ...... Dref(n+c)) respectively and each mean values of the local minimum values (min(n), min(n+1) ).

Claims (6)

  1. Une méthode de contrôle pour un aspirateur (1) comprenant un moteur (6) entraínant un ventilateur (9) assurant l'aspiration, des moyens de détection (8) comprenant un détecteur de poussière (2) placé sur le passage de poussière présentant un émetteur de lumière (3), un récepteur de lumière (4) et un circuit de détection (11) pour détecter la poussière traversant le passage de poussière, des moyens de contrôle (7) qui contrôlent le moteur (6) et des moyens indicateurs (5) comprenant une LED ou une LCD pour indiquer à l'utilisateur que les composants du détecteur de poussière (2) sont sales, caractérisée en ce que la méthode comprend les étapes consistant à : mettre en marche l'aspirateur (1) et à appliquer le courant maximum à l'émetteur de lumière (3) et à observer l'intensité lumineuse frappant le récepteur de lumière (4) pendant une période de temps prédéterminée qui définit un cycle n (101), à définir et à stocker les valeurs maximales locales (max1(n)...maxi(n)) et les valeurs minimales locales (min1(n)...mini(n)) de l'intensité lumineuse au cours du cycle n (102) puis calculer la valeur moyenne des valeurs maximales locales (max(n)) et la valeur moyenne des valeurs minimales locales (min(n)) (103), calculer la différence (Delta(n)) entre la valeur moyenne des valeurs maximales locales (max(n)) et la valeur moyenne des valeurs minimales locales (min(n)) (104), en tirer une valeur de différence de référence correspondante (Dref(n)) qui est maintenue dans la mémoire des moyens de contrôle (7) (105), comparer la valeur de la différence (Delta(n)) avec une valeur de différence de référence prédéterminée (Dref(n)) (106) si la différence (Delta(n)) est supérieure à la valeur de différence de référence prédéterminée (Dref(n)), décider que l'emplacement est poussiéreux (107) et augmenter l'alimentation au moteur (6) en conséquence et si la valeur de la différence (Delta(n)) est plus petite que la valeur de référence prédéterminée (Dref(n)), déterminer si l'emplacement est propre ou si les composants du détecteur de poussière sont sales.
  2. Une méthode de contrôle pour un aspirateur (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que, en vue d'assurer une adaptation aux conditions de détection, la valeur de différence de référence prédéterminée (Dref(n)) dépend de la valeur moyenne des valeurs minimales locales (min(n)) de façon telle que la valeur de différence de référence Dref diminue tandis que la valeur moyenne des valeurs minimales locales (min) diminue en vue d'obtenir une valeur de différence de référence plus petite (Dref(n)) quand les fluctuations sont plus petites en raison d'une poussière continue ou en raison de l'adhérence de poussière sur les composants du détecteur de poussière (2).
  3. Une méthode de contrôle pour un aspirateur (1) selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que, si la valeur de différence (Delta(n)) est plus petite que la valeur de différence de référence prédéterminée (Dref(n)) pendant la période de temps prédéterminée, la méthode comporte au surplus les étapes consistant à comparer la valeur moyenne des valeurs minimales locales (min(n)) avec une valeur prédéterminée constante de l'intensité de la lumière minimale autorisée (Dmin) (108), décider à partir de « l'absence de poussière dans l'air aspiré » si la valeur moyenne des valeurs minimales locales (min(n)) de l'intensité lumineuse est supérieure à la valeur constante prédéterminée (Dmin) (109) et maintenir constante l'alimentation au moteur (4).
  4. Une méthode de contrôle pour un aspirateur (1) selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que si la valeur moyenne des valeurs minimales locales (min(n)) est plus petite que la valeur constante prédéterminée de l'intensité lumineuse minimale autorisée (Dmin), la méthode comprend au surplus les étapes consistant à compter le nombre de cycles consécutifs dans lesquels les conditions suivantes se rencontrent (110) : les valeurs de différence (Delta) sont trouvées plus petites que les valeurs de différence de référence (Dref) et les valeurs moyennes des valeurs minimales locales (min) sont trouvées plus petites que la valeur (Dmin) c'est-à-dire si les valeurs de différence (Delta(n), Delta(n+1), ...Delta(n+c)) sont plus petites que les valeurs de différence de référence (Dref(n), Dref(n+1)...(Dref(n+c)) respectivement et chacune des valeurs moyennes des valeurs minimales locales (min(n), min(n+1)...min(n+c)) sont plus petites que les valeurs minimales prédéterminées autorisées de l'intensité lumineuse (Dmin) et alors si les conditions ci-dessus existent pendant c cycles consécutifs, décider que « les composants du détecteur de poussière, l'émetteur de lumière (3) et le récepteur de lumière (4) sont sales » et avertir l'utilisateur de la saleté du détecteur de poussière (2) au moyen des moyens d'indication (3).
  5. Une méthode de contrôle pour un aspirateur (1) selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que la sortie du récepteur de lumière (4) est mesurée en tension ou en intensité et le circuit de détection (11) est agencé de manière telle que la valeur mesurée de tension est (directement ou inversement) proportionnelle à l'intensité lumineuse.
  6. Un aspirateur utilisant une méthode de contrôle selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5.
EP00990164A 2000-12-22 2000-12-22 Procede de commande pour un aspirateur Expired - Lifetime EP1343406B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/TR2000/000067 WO2002051297A1 (fr) 2000-12-22 2000-12-22 Procede de commande pour un aspirateur

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1343406A1 EP1343406A1 (fr) 2003-09-17
EP1343406B1 true EP1343406B1 (fr) 2004-08-04

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EP00990164A Expired - Lifetime EP1343406B1 (fr) 2000-12-22 2000-12-22 Procede de commande pour un aspirateur

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EP (1) EP1343406B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE272353T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60012800T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2225296T3 (fr)
TR (1) TR200300969T1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2002051297A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102012100052B4 (de) * 2012-01-04 2016-09-22 Miele & Cie. Kg Staubsauger mit einer Staubflussanzeigevorrichtung
KR102379628B1 (ko) * 2015-06-08 2022-03-29 삼성전자주식회사 공기조화기 및 이를 이용한 먼지농도 표시방법
KR20210029583A (ko) * 2019-09-06 2021-03-16 삼성전자주식회사 청소기 및 청소기의 제어 방법
CN113984717A (zh) * 2021-09-22 2022-01-28 深圳拓邦股份有限公司 一种物体表面脏污程度检测装置及清洁设备

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3803824A1 (de) * 1988-02-09 1989-08-17 Gerhard Kurz Einbauvorrichtung fuer sensoren und geber
JPH03186243A (ja) * 1989-12-15 1991-08-14 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd アップライト型電気掃除機
JP2956235B2 (ja) * 1991-03-04 1999-10-04 松下電器産業株式会社 電気掃除機の塵埃検知装置
JPH04343829A (ja) * 1991-05-21 1992-11-30 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 電気掃除機
US6023814A (en) * 1997-09-15 2000-02-15 Imamura; Nobuo Vacuum cleaner

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1343406A1 (fr) 2003-09-17
WO2002051297A1 (fr) 2002-07-04
ATE272353T1 (de) 2004-08-15
DE60012800T2 (de) 2005-09-01
ES2225296T3 (es) 2005-03-16
TR200300969T1 (tr) 2005-11-21
DE60012800D1 (de) 2004-09-09

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