GB2288115A

GB2288115A - Vacuum cleaner with visual indication of standby mode

Info

Publication number: GB2288115A
Application number: GB9506579A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jan Hendrik Dekker
Original assignee: Philips Electronics NV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Priority date: 1994-04-06
Filing date: 1995-03-30
Publication date: 1995-10-11
Also published as: GB9506579D0; FR2718340A3; DE29504662U1; FR2718340B3

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner which has operational functions including a standby mode comprises driving means for sequentially activating visual indicators 26 when in the standby mode in order to obtain a moving light effect. The indicators 26 form part of a display 16 and may comprise liquid crystal or light emitting diode displays in a linear array or be arranged in curved or circular shapes. The operational functions can be activated by actuation means 14 on the handle 8 and/or the motor housing 2. The display 16 also serves to indicate the status of the operational functions and may be on the handle 8 and/or the motor housing 2. <IMAGE>

Description

Vacuum cleaner The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having operational functions including a standby mode, of which operational functions at least a first group can be activated by actuation means, and having a display with visual indicators for indicating a status of at least a second group of operational functions.

Such a vacuum cleaner is known from United States Patent No. 4,654,924.

The actuation means enable the user to activate and, if required, control a number of operational functions. Such functions may include the selection or control of the suction motor power, the selection of a so-called "boost" mode of the suction motor, starting and stopping a drive motor for a brush in the suction nozzle, and switching the entire vacuum cleaner to standby. The standby mode is to be understood to mean a mode of operation in which the suction motor and any electrically driven accessories are switched off but in which certain parts still receive operating voltage from the a.c. mains. By means of visual indicators the display indicates the status of not only those operational functions which can be activated by the user but also of other functions which rather have the nature of warning signals relating to the correct operation of the vacuum cleaner.

During an interruption of his/her activities the user will set the vacuum cleaner to the standby mode and he/she may also decide to remove the plug from the mains socket for example to preclude inadvertent switching-on by children. When the user resumes activities it may occur that he/she attempts in vain to turn on the vacuum cleaner by means of the on/standby switch(es) before realising that the plug should first be reinserted into the mains socket. This is inconvenient, particularly in the case of vacuum cleaners having long power cords, which enable operation in more than one floor of a house without plugging into another mains socket.

It is an object of the invention to provide a vacuum cleaner which largely precludes this problem. To this end, according to the invention a vacuum cleaner of the kind defined in the opening paragraph is characterised in that the vacuum cleaner comprises driving means for sequentially activating the visual indicators at least in part in the standby mode in order to obtain a moving light effect.

In the standby mode, as already stated, certain parts remain energised.

Thus, it is still possible to drive the display. By driving the individual visual indicators of the display in an appropriate sequence to obtain a moving light effect the standby status of the vacuum cleaner is indicated in a visually conspicuous manner, which can even be observed from a distance. The user, who knows that the vacuum cleaner must be in the standby mode before it can be switched on, will therefore be informed immediately and very clearly whether the vacuum cleaner is in the standby mode by means of the moving light effect of the display. The moving light effect thus precludes annoyance of the user, because the absence of the light effect is an indication that he/she first has to insert the plug into the mains socket. The moving light effect is also a safety feature because after having turned off the vacuum cleaner the user is reminded very manifestly that the vacuum cleaner is still in the standby mode and may be turned on again by children when left unattended. Another advantage is that a separate standby indicator on the display may be dispensed with. As a result, the display can be smaller, which is important if the display is mounted in the handle of the vacuum-cleaner hose, and yet provides a clearly visible standby signalling.

The moving light effect can be realised in various manners in conformity with the design and lavout of the display and by choice of an appropriate sequence of activating the visual indicators. The visual indicators may be arranged in a linear array, for example as a row of lamps or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Such a shape is very suitable for a vacuum cleaner uhose suction-motor power is controlled in steps by means of push-buttons or continuously by means of a slide control. A circular shape is very suitable if instead of push-buttons a rotary switch and instead of a slide control a rotary control is chosen. An curved line shape is very suitable in the case of a controlled suction motor with non-linear steps. the power being visualised as a graph on the display. Furthermore. it is to be noted that in principle any type of display, i.e. not only a motor-power display with a plurality of individually drivable visual indicators can be used in order to obtain the moving light effect. The display can be equipped with lamps or LEDs. which may be mounted in push-buttons. a liquid-crvstal display (LCD), or any other visual indication means producing a similar visual effect.

Depending on the type and construction of the vacuum cleaner the display can be accommodated in the handle of a suction tube which can be coupled to the motor housing of the vacuum cleaner via a hose. However, it can also be mounted on the motor housing itself.

For the activation of the visual indicators simple vacuum cleaner types may be characterised in that the driving means comprise: a circulating shift register having bit cells operationally coupled to the visual indicators, and means for setting one of the bit cells to a value inverse to the other bit cells. Advantageously, vacuum cleaners of a more sophisticated type may be characterised in that the driving means comprise: a microprocessor having an input for receiving a standby signal, having outputs for supplying activation signals to the visual indicators, and programmed to change the values of the activation signals sequentially in the standby mode.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a display and actuation means for use in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the light effect of the display in the standby mode of a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 shows a display and actuation means for use in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 shows a display and actuation means for use in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 shows a display and actuation means for use in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 shows a display for use in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention; Figure 8 shows a display for use in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention; Figure 9 shows an electrical block diagram of a driver circuit for driving a display for use in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention: and Figure 10 shows an electrical block diagram of a display driver for use in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention.

In these Figure like elements bear the same reference symbols.

Figure 1 shows a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention. A motor housing 2 is coupled to a suction tube 6 via a hose 4, which suction tube has a handle 8. The motor housing 2 accommodates a suction motor 10 and an electronic circuit 12 for controlling various operational functions of the vacuum cleaner, such as for example control of the motor power of the suction motor 10. The electronic circuit 12 is coupled to actuation means 14, such as buttons, keys, switches and the like, which may be arranged on the handle 8 and/or on the motor housing 2. With the actuation means 14 the various operational functions of the vacuum cleaner can be activated, selected or controlled. This includes, for example. the selection or control of the power of the suction motor 10, the selection of a so-called "boost" mode of the suction motor 10, starting and stopping a drive motor for a brush in the suction nozzle (not shown in Figure 1 ) and switching on and setting the entire vacuum cleaner to standby. The standby mode is to be understood to mean a mode of operation in which the suction motor 10 and any electrically driven accessories are switched off but in which certain parts, particularly the electronic circuit 12, still receive operating voltage from the a.c.

mains.

The vacuum cleaner further has a display 16, which is built into the handle 8 andfor the motor housing 2. By means of visual indicators the display 16 indicates the status of not only those operational functions which can be activated by the user but also of other operational functions which rather have the nature of warning signals relating to the correct operation of the vacuum cleaner. These warning signals may include warning signals for a full dust bag. a clogged hose or suction tube, a motor which is too warm, and the like.

Figure 2is a diarammatic representation of a first example of the actuation means 14 and the display 16. which are accommodated in a housing in the handle 8. The actuation means l comprise push-buttons. By means of a first pushbutton 18 the vacuum cleaner can be set to the standby mode. With a second push-button 20 the power of the suction motor 10 is increased, with a third push-button 22 the power is reduced, and with a fourth push-button 24 the power is boosted temporarily in the "boost" mode. The display comprises a row of visual indicators 26.1-26.8, of which some or all are used to indicate the instantaneous motor power. However, some of the indicators may also serve to show warning signals or something else. The display 16 may be an LCD or a row of LEDs or lamps, which are driven in a certain way. If the vacuum cleaner is now set to the standby mode with the first push-button 18 the individual indicators 26 are driven in turn to obtain a moving light effect as illustrated in Figure 3 which shows the sequential state of the indicators in the single row 26.1 to 26.8. The sequential driving is such that the illuminated indicator each time moves one position to the right and after the right-most indicator 26.8 the extreme left indicator 26.1 will light up again. This results in a moving light effect. Obviously, other sequences are possible in order to obtain a moving light effect, for example the direction of movement may be reversed. Further variants are: (1) causing more than one indicator to light up at the same time and, conversely, (2) causing one or more indicators to be extinguished (moving gap).

Figure 4 shows a second example of the actuation means 14 and the display 16. In the present case the actuation means 14 comprise push-button switches push-button switch 28 functions as a standby switch. By means of the other push-button switches 30.1-30.5 the motor power can be set to 300. 600, 900 and 1200 W and to the "boost" mode. The selected power is indicated by means of a lamp or LED built into the relevant switch, as shown in Figure 4. Obviously, the lamps may also be separate from the push-button switches.

Figure 5 shows a variant with slide control 32 for control of the motor power and lamps for indicating the power setting. Figure 6 shows a variant with a rotary knob 34 for actuating a rotary switch or a rotary potentiometer to control the motor power. If desired. the rotary knob 34 may have an additional push-button movement for the standby function. Figure 7 shows a variant of a display 16 where the indicators 26 are arranged along a curved line for a graphically more exact or better presentation of the instantaneous power of the suction motor 10. Figure 8 shows a display 16 with a bar chart presentation. In all the examples shown the individual elements of the indicators 26 are driven in standby mode as described with reference to Figure 2.

Figure 9 shows an electrical block diagram of a driver circuit for the indicators 26. The position of a rotary switch 38 is read out via a selector 36. In the standby mode the bit cells 40.1-40.5 of a circulating shift register 42 are read out. When the standby mode begins the bit cells 40.1-40.5 are loaded with a given bit pattern, for example 10000, in response to a load signal LD supplied by a standby switch 44, which also supplies a switch-over signal SW to the selector 36. Subsequently, the contents of the shift register 42 is circulated with a clock pulse CL.

Figure 10 shows a block diagram for which the display is driven by means of a microprocessor 46, having a data input 48 which receives a standby signal from a standby switch 50. The microprocessor 46 has outputs 52 for driving the display 16 and is programmed in such a way that the indicators 26 of the display 16 produce the desired moving light effect in the standby mode. A microprocessor is advantageous particularly in those cases in which the microprocessor also controls the motor 10 and controls and monitors further operational functions of the vacuum cleaner.

It will be obvious that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. Many variants are possible as regards the drive of the display 16 and the type of the display 16 in order to obtain a moving light effect in the standby mode.

Claims

Claims:

1. A vacuum cleaner having operational functions including a standby mode, of which operational functions at least a first group can be activated by actuation means (14), and having a display (16) with visual indicators (26) for indicating a status of at least a second group of operational functions, characterised in that the vacuum cleaner comprises driving means (36-42; 46) for sequentially activating the visual indicators (26) at least in part in the standby mode in order to obtain a moving light effect.

2. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the driving means comprise: a circulating shift register (42) having bit cells (40) operationally coupled to the visual indicators (26), and means for setting one of the bit cells (40.1) to a value inverse to the other bit cells (40.2-40.5).

3. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the driving means comprise: a microprocessor (46) having an input (48) for receiving a standby signal, having outputs (52) for supplying activation signals to the visual indicators (26), and programmed to change the values of the activation signals sequentially in the standby mode.

4. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the visual indicators (26) are arranged in a linear array.

5. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the visual indicators (26) are arranged in a circular shape.

6. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the visual indicators (26) are arranged in a curved shape.

7. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterised in that the visual indicators (26) provide an indication of the power consumed by a suction motor (10) of the vacuum cleaner.

8. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterised in that the display (16) is a liquid-crsstal display or a light-emitting-diode display.

9. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterised in that the display (16) is mounted on a handle (8) of a suction tube (6) which can be coupled to a motor housing (2) of the vacuum cleaner via a hose (4).

10. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in Claim 1, 2 3, 4 5 6, 7 or 8, characterised in that the display (16) is mounted on a motor housing (2) of the vacuum cleaner.

11. A vacuum cleaner substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.