JP2017192438A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform calibration of a dust sensor before starting a suction motor without giving a user a feeling of discomfort due to delay in response.SOLUTION: A vacuum cleaner includes an electric blower that generates an air flow for sucking and removing dust, a start/stop button that receives a start operation of the electric blower, a tubular suction passage through which the air flow passes, a dust sensor installed in the suction passage for detecting dust passing together with the air flow, and a control part that starts the electric blower based on the operation received by the start/stop button, controls the suction strength of the electric blower based on the detection of the dust sensor while the electric blower is operated, and stores a dust-free level at which dust does not pass through the dust sensor when the electric blower is stopped. In response to the operation that the start/stop button is pushed when the electric blower is stopped, the control part causes the dust sensor to detect and store the dust-free level, and in response to the operation that the pushed start/stop button is released, the control part starts the electric blower.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a function of detecting dust passing through a suction path.

Some vacuum cleaners have a sensor (hereinafter referred to as a dust sensor) for determining dust to be sucked.
By using the dust sensor, for example, when it is determined that the amount of dust is large, the output of the suction motor is increased, and when it is determined that the amount of dust is small, the output of the suction motor is maintained or decreased. Efficient operation.
The dust sensor generally uses a pair of light elements, such as a light emitting element and a light receiving element (such as an LED and a photosensor). An example of a place where the dust sensor is installed is an inner wall portion of a pipe (suction duct) through which sucked dust passes (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
The dust sensor needs to be calibrated after an appropriate period. This is because dust adheres to the dust sensor as the usage time elapses, and the light emission amount on the light emitting element side and the light reception amount on the light receiving element side gradually decrease or change. Calibration is a process of adjusting the output of the dust sensor, detecting the output in a state where the dust does not pass through the place where the dust sensor is installed, and storing or updating it as a dust-free level. Thereafter, the degree of dust is determined based on this dust-free level.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-28847 JP 2013-223629 A

However, if calibration of the dust sensor is performed before the operation of the suction motor is started, a calibration period must be ensured before the operation starts. Then, after the user performs an operation to start the operation of the vacuum cleaner, a response delay occurs only during the calibration period from when the suction motor is activated. If the response delay becomes so great as to make the user feel uncomfortable, the quality of the product will be evaluated low.
Particularly in recent years, power saving is important. For this reason, there are many configurations in which the power source of the microcomputer that controls the operation of the suction motor and the dust sensor is shut off when a certain period of time elapses without operation in a stopped state. In that case, power is supplied to the microcomputer and the dust sensor when an operation for starting operation is performed. Such a configuration is common in a vacuum cleaner using a battery as a power source.
In that case, the following period is required from the start of operation to the start of calibration. That is, it is a period from when the operation is performed until the microcomputer is turned on, and from when the power is turned on until the microcomputer starts executing the process. The microcomputer first performs so-called initialization processing such as initial setting of the work memory and output signal after the start of processing execution. This initialization process period is further required. That is, the delay elements from the operation start operation to the suction motor activation include not only calibration but also a microcomputer power-on period, a period from the power-on to the start of processing, and an initialization process period.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a vacuum cleaner that performs calibration of a dust sensor before starting a suction motor without giving a user a sense of incongruity due to a response delay. To do.

  The present invention provides an electric blower that generates an air flow for removing dust by suction, a start / stop button that receives an activation operation of the electric blower, a tubular suction passage through which the air flow passes, and the suction passage. And a dust sensor for detecting dust passing through, and starting the electric blower based on an operation received by the start / stop button, controlling suction strength of the electric blower based on detection of the dust sensor, and A control unit that stores a dust-free level at which dust does not pass through the dust sensor when the blower is stopped, and the control unit responds to an operation of pressing the start / stop button when the electric blower is stopped. The sensor detects and stores the dust-free level, and activates the electric blower in response to an operation of releasing the activated stop button. To provide a vapor vacuum cleaner.

  In the electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, the control unit completes a calibration process for causing the dust sensor to detect and store the dust-free level in response to an operation of pressing the start / stop button when the electric blower is stopped. Since the electric blower is activated in response to the operation of releasing the start / stop button, the dust sensor calibration is performed before the suction motor is activated without making the user aware of the response delay of the electric blower activation. it can.

It is a right view which shows Embodiment 1 of the vacuum cleaner of this invention. It is a top view of the electric vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 1. It is a front view of the electric vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 1. It is a rear view of the vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 1. It is the II sectional view taken on the line in FIG. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the attachment / detachment mechanism of the dust cup unit in the electric vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the internal structure of the vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the self-supporting state of the vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the attitude | position in the cleaning operation | work of the suction inlet shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the attitude | position of the self-supporting state of the suction inlet shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which expanded the part of the attitude | position detection switch and connection part shown to FIG. 10A. It is explanatory drawing which expanded the part of the attitude | position detection switch and connection part shown to FIG. 10B. It is a circuit diagram which shows the operation circuit of the vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the microcomputer in response to an operation of a start / stop button in the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the following description is an illustration in all the points, Comprising: It should not be interpreted as limiting this invention.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a right side view showing an aspect (Embodiment 1) of the electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electric vacuum cleaner of Embodiment 1, and FIG. It is a front view of a machine. 4 is a rear view of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a dust cup unit attaching / detaching mechanism in the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the internal structure of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.

  The vacuum cleaner 1 includes a vacuum cleaner body 10 including an electric blower 41, a dust cup unit 20 and a battery 30 that are detachably attached to the vacuum cleaner body 10, and a vacuum cleaner body 10 and a dust cup unit 20, respectively. A first lock mechanism 51 and a second lock mechanism 52 are provided. In this electric vacuum cleaner 1, the vacuum cleaner body 10 from which the dust cup unit 20 is removed has a substantially pistol shape.

The vacuum cleaner main body 10 includes a dust cup holding part 12 that is long in the front-rear direction for holding the dust cup unit 20, a battery mounting part 13 for detachably mounting the battery 30, a handle 14 provided at the rear part, and a handle 14. The operation unit 15 includes a start / stop button 15a and a suction force switching button 15b provided. Further, the operation unit 15 includes a display lamp (not shown) that indicates the remaining amount of the battery 30 and the operation state of the electric vacuum cleaner 1.
The dust cup holding part 12, the battery mounting part 13 and the handle 14 are formed by the housing 11. In the present specification, the front, rear, left, right, up and down directions refer to the front end of the dust cup holding portion 12 in the vacuum cleaner 1 in a state where the handle 14 is held and the dust cup holding portion 12 is held along the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the handle 14 is the rear side, and points in the vertical and horizontal directions toward the front (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

  Inside the housing 11 are an electric blower 41 (see FIG. 5), the start / stop button 15a, a suction force switching button 15b (see FIGS. 4 and 8), a circuit board 42 (see FIG. 5), and positive and negative terminals of the battery 30. The terminal part 43 (refer FIG. 8) etc. which can be electrically contacted with the child | child is accommodated.

The dust cup holding part 12 has a pipe part 12a extending in the front-rear direction for allowing airflow to pass through the interior, and a hanging wall part 12b provided downward from the rear end part of the pipe part 12a (see FIG. 7). Further, in the pipe portion 12a, a front opening-like intake port 12a ₁ is provided at the front end portion thereof, and a lower opening-like first connection hole portion 12a ₂ is provided in the lower rear portion (see FIG. 7). . The pipe line from the inlet 12a ₁ of the pipe part 12a to the first connection hole part 12a ₂ constitutes the suction path of the cleaner body 10.
The pipe portion 12a in the vicinity of the intake port 12a _1, the dust sensor 100 is disposed.

  The dust sensor includes a dust light emitting substrate 101a and a dust light receiving substrate 101b arranged to face the inner wall of the pipe portion 12a. An LED is mounted on the dust light emitting substrate 101a, and a phototransistor mounted on the dust receiving substrate 101b facing the LED receives light from the LED. FIG. 5 shows a dust sensor 100 as a hole where the LED is slightly exposed on the inner wall of the pipe portion 12a. An LED is arranged on the back side of the hole shown in FIG. 5, and a phototransistor (not shown) is arranged facing the front side. If there is a lot of dust that passes through the pipe portion 12a and flows into the dust cup 21, the light from the LED is blocked by the dust, so that the light reaching the phototransistor becomes weak.

The hanging wall portion 12b is provided with a grid-like second connection hole portion 12b ₁ (see FIG. 7) that opens forward, and an exhaust port 12b ₂ (see FIGS. 1 and 8) on the right side surface of the housing 11. Is provided. The exhaust port 12b ₂ is covered with a mesh and a filter provided inside thereof.
A U-shaped hook hooking member 16 that can be hooked on a hook attached to an indoor wall or the like is provided at the lower portion of the housing 11.

A brush member 17 when the vacuum cleaner 1 is used as a handy type is attached to the front end portion of the pipe portion 12a in a foldable manner.
The vacuum cleaner 1 includes an elongated nozzle body, an extension pipe, a suction port body, and the like as accessories. The floor surface can be cleaned by attaching the suction port body 62 to the cleaner body 10 via the extension pipe 61.
When the user has to move away from the place to be temporarily cleaned during cleaning, the vacuum cleaner 1 can be made independent with the extension pipe 61 and the suction port body 62 attached to the cleaner body 10.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a self-supporting state of the electric vacuum cleaner according to the first embodiment.
10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing the case where the suction port body 62 shown in FIG. 9 takes a posture during a cleaning operation and a posture in a self-supporting state, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the suction port body 62 includes a suction port body 62a and a joint portion 62c, and the tip of the joint portion 62c on the side in contact with the suction port body 62a has a spherical connection portion 62b. Have The suction port main body 62a is provided with a rotation stopping mechanism that receives the connecting portion and restricts the movable range of the joint portion 62c. By this rotation stop mechanism, the connecting portion 62b rises from the rear to the rotation stop position. Thereby, in the self-supporting state of the vacuum cleaner 1, the line connecting the center point of the handle 14 and the position of the rotation stop is inclined forward at an angle of about 80 ° slightly smaller than 90 ° with respect to the horizontal surface in front of the floor surface. To do. As a result, the extension pipe 61 is maintained in a self-supporting state in which it is slightly inclined toward the suction port body 62a than in the vertical state.

In the suction port body 62, the power brush 62d, the self-running roller 62e, and the lifting detection switch 65 are exposed on the bottom surface facing the floor surface. The power brush 62d is disposed at the suction port and is driven and rotated by a power brush motor 63 described later, and sweeps up dust on the floor surface to the suction port. The self-propelled roller 62e is driven and rotated by a self-propelled motor 64, which will be described later, so that the suction port body 62 can move on the floor surface with a light force.
In the state where the suction port body 62 is lifted from the floor surface, the lifting detection switch 65 projects the tip of the actuator from the bottom surface of the suction port body 62a as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. In this state, the lifting detection switch 65 is turned off, and the power supply to the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 is cut off. When the suction port body 62a is placed on the floor surface, the tip of the actuator is immersed in the suction port body 62a, and the lifting detection switch 65 is turned on. A power supply path to the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 is connected to the cleaner body 10. In addition to the lifting detection switch 65, there is a switch circuit in the cleaner body 10 for turning on and off the power supply to the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 (see FIG. 12 described later).

As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the posture detection switch 66 is disposed in the suction inlet main body 62a that receives the connecting portion 62b.
FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are explanatory diagrams in which the portions of the posture detection switch 66 and the connecting portion 62b shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are enlarged. The connecting portion 62b is formed with a protrusion for pushing the lever 66a of the posture detection switch 66. As shown in FIG. 11A, in a state where the axial direction of the joint portion 62c is inclined rearward from the direction perpendicular to the floor surface, the lever 66a of the posture detection switch 66 is not pushed in and the switch is released. In this state, the power supply path to the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 is connected to the cleaner body 10 via the lifting detection switch 65.
As shown in FIG. 11B, when the joint portion 62c falls to the suction port body 62a and takes a self-supporting posture, the lever 66a is pushed in and the switch is switched. The power supply path to the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 is blocked from the cleaner body 10. That is, the power brush motor 63 and the self-propelled motor 64 are stopped when taking the self-supporting posture.

  Moreover, the 1st lock mechanism 51 and the 2nd lock mechanism 52 with which the cleaner main body 10 is provided are two places of the one end part of the dust cup unit 20 and the other end part on the opposite side to the dust cup holding part 12 of the cleaner body 10. It has the function to fix detachably.

An electric blower 41 and a circuit board 42 are accommodated behind the hanging wall portion 12b of the dust cup holding portion 12 (see FIG. 5), and the battery is located above the electric blower 41 and on an extension line of the pipe portion 12a of the dust cup holding portion 12. A mounting portion 13 is provided (see the figure).
The dust cup unit 20 includes a filter unit F and the dust cup 21 having an opening for detachably mounting the filter unit F (see FIG. 7). The dust cup 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a bottom wall 21a and a peripheral wall 21b, and an opening (not shown) on the opposite side of the low wall 21a in the axial direction is an opening. in the vicinity of the inlet 21d (see FIG. 8) is provided which communicates with the first connecting hole 12a _2.
The first lock mechanism 51, the first engagement recess 11d ₄ provided in the vertical wall portion 12b of the dust cup holding portion 12, the first locking of the locking member 24c, which is provided slidably in the dust cup unit 20 by pawl 24c ₁ is inserted, a mechanism for locking one end of the dust cup unit 20.
The second lock mechanism 52, the second engagement recess 21f ₁ provided in the dust cup 21, by second engagement claw 52a provided in the dust cup holding portion 12 is inserted, the dust cup unit This is a mechanism that locks the other end of 20.

The filter unit F is airtightly fitted to the opening of the dust cup 21 and has a first filter portion 22 located at the axial center of the dust cup 21 and a second filter portion 23 having a pleated filter body 23a inside. And a cup cover 24. The first filter portion 22 includes a cylindrical mesh filter 22b, an inner cylindrical body 22c that supports the mesh filter 22b, and a cylindrical support that is connected to one end of the inner cylindrical body 22c and contacts the low wall 21a of the dust cup 21. Part 22d.
The battery mounting portion 13 includes a battery storage recess 13a for storing the battery 30, a battery cover 13b provided in the battery storage recess 13a so as to be openable and closable, and a positive / negative terminal of the battery 30 provided at the back of the battery storage recess 13a. And the terminal portion 43 that can be electrically contacted.

<Operation of vacuum cleaner>
When cleaning the room using the electric vacuum cleaner 1, the start / stop button 15 a of the operation unit 15 is pressed and then released (that is, released). In response to this operation, the electric blower 41 is activated. When the electric blower 41 is operated, as shown by a thick line arrow in FIG. 5, an air flow including dust passes through the inside of the pipe portion 12a of the cleaner body 10 and flows into the dust cup 21 from the inlet 21d. The air containing dust that has flowed into the dust cup 21 swirls within the dust cup 21. Accordingly, dust having a large mass is centrifuged and brought to the bottom wall 21 a of the dust cup 21.

As shown in FIG. 5, the air from which large dust has been centrifuged passes through the mesh filter 22 b of the first filter portion 22 and escapes to the second filter portion 23. Dust larger than the mesh of the mesh filter 22b remains in the dust cup 21. Dust that is smaller than the mesh of the mesh filter 22 b is captured by the filter body 23 a of the second filter portion 23. Airflow in a state that does not substantially contain dust passes through the filter body 23a flows into the electric blower 41 is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 12b ₂ through the electric blower 41.

<Operation circuit of vacuum cleaner>
FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing an example of an operation circuit of the electric vacuum cleaner according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the operation circuit of the vacuum cleaner 1 is based on the circuit board 42 in the vacuum cleaner body 10, the power in the dust sensor board 101, the key board 102, the LED board 103, and the suction port body 62. The brush substrate 104 is distributed and mounted.
The circuit board 42 is disposed in the cleaner body 10. A microcomputer 110 corresponding to the control unit according to the present invention is mounted on the circuit board 42.

In FIG. 12, for convenience of reference, some circuit elements are prefixed with the letters Q for the transistor, R for the resistor, SW for the tact switch, and LED for the light emitting diode, followed by the element-specific number. ing.
The microcomputer 110 executes calibration of the dust sensor 100 and controls the suction strength of the electric blower 41 based on the detection of dust by the dust sensor 100.

The inner wall of the inlet 12a near the _first pipe portion 12a, and the dust emission substrate 101a and the dust receiving substrate 101b are disposed so as to face. Both are referred to as a dust sensor substrate 101.
The key substrate 102 and the LED substrate 103 are disposed in the operation unit 15. The two tact switches SW104 and SW102 mounted on the key board 102 in FIG. 12 correspond to the start / stop button 15a and the suction force switching button 15b, respectively.
In FIG. 12, a terminal portion 43 that is electrically connected to the battery 30 is provided at the left end of the circuit board 42. The L1 terminal is a connection terminal that receives the voltage output B + (rated is 20.5 V) from the battery 30. The L2 terminal is a connection terminal for grounding (GND).

The output voltage B + of the battery 30 supplied from the L1 and L2 terminals is supplied to the electric blower 41 via Q4 which is a transistor as a switch. The on / off state of Q4 is controlled by a “suction drive” signal output from the microcomputer 110. In this embodiment, the electric blower 41 is a DC brushless motor. In this embodiment, the “suction drive” signal for driving the electric blower 41 is a pulse-like signal, and the speed of the electric blower 41, that is, the suction force can be changed by changing its on-duty ratio. .
The output voltage B + from the battery 30 is also supplied to the key board 102. Furthermore, the output voltage is supplied as an input of the stabilized power supply circuit 111 that outputs a 5V power supply through the latch circuit 106.

The latch circuit 106 is a circuit that turns on and off the 5 V stabilized power supply. The 5V power source is a power source that operates the microcomputer 110, the driver circuit 112, the dust detection circuit 114, the amplification circuit 113, the LED 501 on the dust sensor substrate, the Q601 of the phototransistor, and the like. The voltage value of 5V is only an example.
Further, the output voltage B + of the battery 30 is supplied to the power brush substrate 104 in the suction port body 62 to rotate the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 of the suction port body 62. However, the supply of the voltage B + to the power brush motor 63 and the free-running motor 64 is turned on and off by the transistor Q10 driven by the “PB drive signal” output from the microcomputer 110.

  The microcomputer 110 recognizes that the start / stop button 15a (SW104) or the suction force switching button 15b (SW102) has been pressed due to a change in the level of the “KEY1” signal. The voltage level of the “KEY1” signal when one of the buttons is pressed is determined by the voltage dividing ratio of the resistors R102, R107, and R52. The level of the “KEY1” signal differs depending on which button is pressed. When determining the level of the “KEY1” signal, the microcomputer 110 refers to the level of the “KEY2” signal connected to the same power source as a reference.

  In response to the operations received by the start / stop button 15a and the suction force switching button 15b, the microcomputer 110 controls the operation of each part of the vacuum cleaner 1. For example, Q4 of the transistor is turned on and off by the “suction drive” signal output from the microcomputer 110, and the electric blower 41 is started and stopped. Further, the LED 201, LED 202, and LED 203 of the LED substrate 103 are turned on and off by the signals of the LEDs 1 to 3.

The current flowing through the power brush substrate 104 flows through the current detection resistor R58, and a voltage proportional to the magnitude of the current is generated across the resistor. The amplifier circuit 113 amplifies the voltage and provides a “PB current detection” signal to the microcomputer 110. The microcomputer 110 monitors the level of the “PB current detection” signal.
When the suction port body 62 is lifted from the floor surface by the user, the lifting detection switch 65 (corresponding to SW301 in FIG. 12) provided on the lower surface of the suction port body 62 is turned off and the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 are turned on. The current to is interrupted in a circuit. When the posture detection switch 66 (corresponding to SW302 in FIG. 12) detects a self-supporting posture, the circuit switches from the current path to the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 to the current path to R304. Then, a steady current flows through R58 of the current detection resistor. The resistance value of R304 is set such that a current value different from that when the power brush motor 63 and the free-running motor 64 are operating and stopped (that is, the current value is zero) is obtained.

By monitoring the level of the PB current detection signal, the microcomputer 110 recognizes whether the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 are operating, stopped, or whether the suction port body 62 is in a self-supporting posture or lifted. .
Table 1 below shows the states of the electric blower 41, the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 according to the states of the lifting detection switch 65 and the posture detection switch 66, and the level of the “PB current detection” signal. .
If the microcomputer 110 determines that the level of the “PB current detection” signal is a steady current flowing through R304, the microcomputer 110 stops the electric blower 41 as being in a self-supporting posture state. When it is determined that the level of the “PB current detection” signal is in operation or stop of the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 (except when the start / stop button 15a is pressed during operation and a stop instruction is received). The electric blower 41 is operated.

As shown in Table 1, even if the suction port body 62 is lifted from the floor, the lifting detection switch 65 is turned off, and the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 are stopped, the microcomputer 110 is an electric blower. 41 is operated.
For example, consider a case where the user removes the suction port body 62 and uses the brush member 17 as a handy type vacuum cleaner. When the suction port body 62 is removed, the signal level of “PB current detection” becomes zero as in the case where the lifting detection switch 65 is turned off. Although the microcomputer 110 does not directly recognize that the suction port body 62 has been removed, the microcomputer 110 can be used as an electric vacuum cleaner because it operates the electric blower 41 even when the current value is zero.

Thus, even if there is no wiring for the microcomputer 110 to recognize the state of the lifting detection switch 65 and the posture detection switch 66 or the attachment / detachment state of the suction port body 62, the electric blower 41 operates appropriately according to the situation. And stop. According to this embodiment, the wiring connecting the cleaner body 10 and the suction port body 62 is only two power lines that drive the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 in common. The connection mechanism from the vacuum cleaner main body 10 through the extension pipe to the suction port body 62 can be configured simply because no wiring of switches is required.
That is, if the suction port body 62 is mounted and not in a self-supporting posture, and if it is not in the lifted state, the electric blower 41 operates (see the fourth row of Table 1). When the suction port body 62 is removed, the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 are not connected. Therefore, no current flows through the current detection resistor R58 (zero current). The state of zero current is equal to the state of the bottom row in Table 1 (lifted state and tilted posture). The microcomputer 110 does not recognize that the suction port body 62 has been removed, but operates the electric blower 41 based on the fact that the level of the “PB current detection” signal is zero current.
As described above, even with a simple configuration including only two power supply lines, the microcomputer 110 operates the electric blower 41 according to the lifting detection and the posture detection as long as the suction port body 62 is attached. Since the electric blower 41 is operated when the suction port body 62 is removed and the suction port body 62 is removed, the electric blower can be used regardless of whether the suction port body 62 is attached or detached.

  In this embodiment, the posture detection switch 66 switches the current path when the direction in which the extension pipe 61 extends in the front-rear direction of the suction port body 62 forms an angle of 85 ° ± 5 ° with respect to the horizontal surface of the front floor surface. Switch to the R304 side. The microcomputer 110 recognizes that the level of the “PB current detection” signal is in a range corresponding to the state, and determines that the posture is an independent posture.

Further, the microcomputer 110 outputs a “DUST_LED” signal, and turns on and off the light emission of the LED 501 of the dust light emitting substrate 101 a via the dust LED driving circuit 115.
The light from the LED 501 reaches the phototransistor Q601 of the dust light receiving substrate 101b disposed on the opposing inner wall of the pipe portion 12a. Q601 outputs “DUST_DETECT” signals of different levels depending on whether there is a lot of dust and the light reaching Q601 is weak, and when there is little dust and the light reaching Q601 is strong. The microcomputer 110 recognizes the amount of dust according to the level of the “DUST_VCHECK” signal. Note that the user may be able to change the threshold setting for determining the amount of dust. For example, when the amount of dust is small, set the sensitivity to detect dust low, and when the amount of dust is large, set the sensitivity to detect dust high. The sensitivity can be changed arbitrarily.
The microcomputer 110 controls the suction force of the electric blower 41 according to the amount of dust.

  The microcomputer 110 stores the “DUST_VCHECK” signal level in the dustless state where the dust does not pass through the dust sensor 100 before the electric blower 41 is activated (dustless level). And it is set as a standard for judging the amount of dust after the electric blower 41 is started.

  Next, circuit operation when the power is turned off from the power-on state will be described. The power-off is started when the operating microcomputer 110 outputs a “POW_OFF” signal. For example, the microcomputer 110 outputs a “POW_OFF” signal when there is no operation for a predetermined period after the start / stop button 15 a is pressed to stop the electric blower 41. Alternatively, a “POW_OFF” signal is output when there is no operation for a predetermined period after the posture detection switch 66 has become a self-supporting posture.

When the “POW_OFF” signal is output from the microcomputer 110 in one shot, the latch circuit that turns on the switching transistor Q1 is turned off using this signal as a trigger. When Q1 is turned off, the battery output voltage B supplied to the IC2 is cut off and is not supplied to the stabilized power supply circuit 111. As a result, the 5V power supply is turned off.
Next, the circuit operation when transitioning from the power-off state to the power-on state will be described. In the power-off state, the 5V power supply is cut off and the microcomputer 110 is not operating. However, the output voltage B + from the battery 30 is supplied to the key substrate 102.

When either the start / stop button 15a (SW104) or the attractive force switching button 15b (SW102) is pressed, a latch-on signal is input to the latch circuit 106 via the turned-on switch (SW signal shown in FIG. 12). . With this as a trigger, the latch circuit 106 is turned on, and Q1, which has been turned off, is turned on. When Q1 is turned on, a voltage is supplied to the stabilized power supply circuit 111, and the 5V power supply rises.
When the 5V power supply rises, the 5V voltage is supplied to the VDD terminal, which is the power supply of the microcomputer 110, and C16 connected to the RESET terminal is charged via R50, and the reset is eventually released. In this way, the processing of the microcomputer 110 is started.

  When the 5V power supply is turned on, power is supplied to the driver circuit 112, the dust detection circuit 114, the amplification circuit 113, the LED 501 on the dust sensor substrate, the Q601 of the phototransistor, and the like, and the respective circuits operate. As a result, the microcomputer 110 can detect the user's operation of the start / stop button 15a and the suction force switching button 15b, and can turn on and off the LEDs 201 to 203 according to the operation. Further, the operation of the electric blower 41 can be controlled. Furthermore, the dust sensor 100 is calibrated so that dust can be detected during cleaning. Furthermore, the level of the “PB current detection” signal can be read to detect whether the power brush motor 63 and the self-running motor 64 are operating or stopped, and whether the suction port body 62 is in a self-supporting posture. Become.

When a predetermined period (for example, 3 minutes) has passed without any operation after the start / stop button 15a is pressed and the electric blower 41 is stopped, the microcomputer 110 outputs a “POW_OFF” signal and supplies 5V power Turn off. Further, even when the period has passed without any operation after the suction port body 62 is in a self-supporting posture in the power-on state, the “POW_OFF” signal is output to turn off the 5V power supply. As a result, the power of the battery 30 consumed to operate the microcomputer 110 and other circuits during standby is reduced.
Latch circuit 106 and stabilized power supply circuit 111 constitute a power supply unit according to the present invention.

<Control related to operation of start / stop button and calibration of dust sensor>
A process executed by the microcomputer 110 in response to an operation in which the start / stop button 15a or the suction force switching button 15b is pressed, particularly a calibration process for the dust sensor 100 will be described.
In this embodiment, the microcomputer 110 performs calibration of the dust sensor 100 before the electric blower 41 is started after the start / stop button 15a or the suction force switching button 15b is pressed. To compensate for the influence of dust on the surface of the light emitting portion of the LED 501 of the dust sensor 100 and the surface of the light receiving portion of the Q601 of the phototransistor as the usage time elapses, and the amount of light received by the Q601 changes in a dustless state. It is. The microcomputer 110 stores the level of the “DUST_VCHECK” signal when the electric blower 41 is stopped and no dust passes through the dust sensor 100 as a dust-free level, or updates the already stored dust-free level. Thereafter, until the next calibration is updated, the amount of dust is determined based on the dust-free level stored here.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the microcomputer 110 in response to the operation of the start / stop button 15a or the suction force switching button 15b in this embodiment.
If, for example, the start / stop button 15a is pressed while the 5V power supply of the vacuum cleaner 1 is off, the 5V power supply rises as described above, and the power is supplied to the VDD terminal of the microcomputer 110 and the reset is released. The microcomputer 110 starts executing the process. As shown in FIG. 13, when the microcomputer 110 starts executing the processing, first, so-called initialization processing such as initial setting of a work memory area and an output signal is performed (step S11). Thereafter, the level of the “KEY1” signal is determined to check whether the start / stop button 15a has been pressed (step S12).
The microcomputer 110 retains the determination without determining that the button has been pressed until the start / stop button 15a continues to be pressed beyond a predetermined first period. Conversely, until the start / stop button 15a continues to be released beyond a predetermined second period, the determination is retained without being determined as being released. When either the first period or the second period has elapsed, the state of the start / stop button 15a is determined. This is to prevent erroneous determination due to chattering.

If it is determined that the start / stop button 15a is not pressed (No in step S12), the process waits until it is pressed. FIG. 13 shows only processing related to the operation of the start / stop button 15a. Actually, the determination of the suction force switching button 15b and other processes are executed simultaneously in parallel by multitasking.
If it is determined that the start / stop button 15a has been pressed (Yes in step S12), the microcomputer 110 determines whether or not the electric blower 41 is in a stopped state (step S13). In this embodiment, the electric blower 41 is turned on or off every time the start / stop button 15a is pressed. Therefore, if the electric blower 41 is currently operating (No in step S13), the “suction drive” signal is turned off to stop the electric blower 41 and the process ends (step S14).

On the other hand, if the electric blower 41 is currently stopped (Yes in step S13), the microcomputer 110 first starts calibration of the dust sensor 100 before starting the electric blower 41 (step S15). That is, the “DUST_LED” signal is turned on to light the LED 501. As a procedure for the subsequent calibration, after the predetermined period has passed and the light emission amount of the LED is stabilized, the level of the “DUST_VCHECK” signal is sampled a plurality of times.
When the LED 501 is turned on in step S15, the microcomputer 110 checks whether or not the pressed start / stop button 15a has been released (step S16), and waits while continuing calibration until it is released (No in step S16). ). In addition, the state determination of the start / stop button 15a in step S16 is determined after waiting for either the first period or the second period to pass in the same manner as in step S12.

When the start / stop button 15a is released (Yes in step S16), the microcomputer 110 confirms whether the calibration is completed at this point (step S17). If calibration has not been completed (No in step S17), calibration is continued (step S18), and the routine returns to step S17 and waits for completion of calibration.
In this embodiment, the time required for calibration is at most about 150 milliseconds. On the other hand, the operation from when the start / stop button 15a is pressed to when it is released varies depending on the user's situation and habit, but is normally 100 to 300 milliseconds. In many cases, calibration is complete at this point. However, a process of waiting for the completion of calibration is performed as a precaution.

When the calibration is completed (Yes in step S17), the microcomputer 110 turns on the “suction drive” signal and activates the electric blower 41 (step S19). Thereafter, the routine returns to step S12 and waits until the next operation of the start / stop button 15a is performed.
The above is the procedure of the process related to the operation of the start / stop button.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the calibration of the dust sensor 100 is started before the electric blower 41 is started after the 5V power supply is turned on by pressing the start / stop button 15a and the microcomputer 110 is started. However, the essence of the present invention does not depend on such a power supply configuration.
For example, there may be a configuration in which a power switch is provided separately from the start / stop button 15a, and the microcomputer 110 operates when the power switch is turned on. The start button and the stop button may have different button configurations. Furthermore, the microcomputer 110 may be configured to operate using an AC power source instead of the battery 30 and the AC plug is connected to a commercial AC power source.
Regardless of the power supply configuration, the control unit calibrates the dust sensor in response to an operation of pressing the start / stop button 15a when the electric blower is stopped. Then, the electric blower is activated in response to the operation of releasing the activated stop button 15a.
That is, the same processing as in the case where the start / stop button 15a is pressed in the power-on state in the first embodiment is performed.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, it has been described that the dust sensor 100 is calibrated to store the dust-free level.
In this embodiment, when the dust-free level obtained by executing calibration is not within a predetermined range, the user is notified instead of recording the dust-free level. For example, the notification is performed by blinking any LED on the LED board 103.
The case where the dust-free level is not in a predetermined range is assumed to be a state where, for example, a dust sensor 100 is clogged with foreign matter such as tissue paper. Alternatively, it is assumed that the dust LED drive circuit or the LED 501 fails, or the phototransistor Q601 or the dust detection circuit 114 fails.

As mentioned above,
(I) The electric vacuum cleaner according to the present invention includes an electric blower that generates an air flow for removing dust suction, an activation stop button that receives an activation operation of the electric blower, a tubular suction path through which the air flow passes, and the suction A dust sensor that detects dust passing through the airflow, and the electric blower is activated based on an operation received by the start / stop button, and the suction force of the electric blower is determined based on the detection of the dust sensor. And a control unit that stores a dust-free level at which dust does not pass through the dust sensor when the electric blower is stopped, and the control unit has the start / stop button pressed when the electric blower is stopped In response to the operation, the dust sensor detects and stores the dust-free level, and in response to the operation of releasing the start / stop button that has been pressed, A dynamic blower is activated.
In the present invention, the dust sensor detects dust passing through the suction path. A specific mode thereof is, for example, an optical sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit facing each other with the suction path interposed therebetween. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, a configuration using a reflective optical sensor and a reflective plate may be used.
Moreover, a control part is a microcomputer which controls operation | movement of a vacuum cleaner, for example.

Furthermore, the preferable aspect of this invention is demonstrated.
(Ii) The vacuum cleaner according to the present invention further includes a power supply unit that includes a battery and that operates by supplying power to the electric blower, the dust sensor, and the control unit in response to an operation of the start / stop button. The power supply unit is operated by supplying power to the dust sensor and the control unit when the start / stop button is pressed when the power is off, and the control unit is activated when the power supply is started and the operation is started. You may memorize | store a dust level and may start the said electric blower in response to cancellation | release of the said start stop button after that.
In this way, the power supply unit operates by supplying power to the dust sensor and the control unit when the start / stop button is pressed when the power is turned off, and the control unit starts operating when power is supplied. Then, the dust level of the dust sensor is stored to complete the calibration process, and the electric blower is activated in response to the operation in which the start / stop button is released, so that the user does not feel uncomfortable due to a response delay. The dust sensor calibration can be performed before starting the suction motor by operating the control unit.

  (Iii) The dust sensor may detect dust passing by an optical sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion facing each other across the suction path.

(Iv) The control unit recognizes that the start / stop button has been pressed when the start / stop button is continuously pressed beyond a predetermined first period, and the start / stop button that has been pressed is You may recognize that the said start stop button was cancelled | released when it continues cancelling | releasing exceeding the defined 2nd period.
In this way, chattering in the case where the start / stop button is operated by the determination of the first and second periods can be removed, and the user's operation can be surely responded. Further, including the first and second periods for preventing chattering, the dust sensor can be calibrated before starting the suction motor without giving the user a sense of incongruity due to response delay.

(V) The control unit may notify the user when the dust-free level is not within a predetermined range.
In this way, the control unit causes the dust sensor to detect the dust-free level in response to an operation of pressing the start / stop button when the electric blower is stopped, and executes the calibration process. When the dust-free level is not within a predetermined range, it can be determined that the dust sensor is abnormal or the suction path is blocked, and a user can be notified to take action.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention include combinations of any of the plurality of embodiments described above.
In addition to the embodiments described above, there can be various modifications of the present invention. These modifications should not be construed as not belonging to the scope of the present invention. The present invention should include the meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims and all modifications within the scope.

1: electric vacuum cleaner, 10: cleaner body, 11: housing, 11d _4: first engagement recess, 12: dust cup holder, 12a: pipe portion, 12a _1: inlet, 12a _2: first connection Hole 12b: hanging wall 12b ₁ second connection hole 12b ₂ exhaust port 13b battery mounting part 13a battery storage recess 13b battery cover 14 handle 15 15a: start / stop button, 15b: suction force switching button, 16: hook member, 17: brush member, 20: dust cup unit, 21: dust cup, 21a: bottom wall, 21b: peripheral wall, 21d: inflow port, 21f ₁ : second locking recess, 22: first filter part, 22b: mesh filter, 22c: inner cylinder, 22d: cylindrical support part, 23: second filter part, 23a: the filter body, 24: Cup cover, 24c: locking member, 24c _1: first locking claw, 30: Battery, 41: electric blower, 42: circuit board, 43: terminal portion 51: first locking mechanism 52: Second locking mechanism 52a: Second locking claw 61: Extension pipe 62: Suction port body 62a: Suction port body 62b: Connection portion 62c: Joint portion 62d: Power brush 62e: Self-propelled roller, 63: Power brush motor, 64: Self-propelled motor, 65: Lifting detection switch, 66: Attitude detection switch 100: Dust sensor, 101: Dust sensor substrate, 101a: Dust light emitting substrate, 101b: Dust light receiving substrate 102: Key board 103: LED board 104: Power brush board 106: Latch circuit 110: Microcomputer , 111: stabilized power supply circuit, 112: driver circuit, 113: amplifier, 114: dust detection circuit, 115: Dust LED drive circuit F: Filter Unit

Claims (5)

An electric blower that generates an airflow for removing and sucking dust;
A start / stop button for accepting a start operation of the electric blower;
A tubular suction path through which the airflow passes;
A dust sensor that is disposed in the suction path and detects dust passing through the airflow;
The electric blower is started based on an operation received by the start / stop button, the suction strength of the electric blower is controlled based on the detection of the dust sensor, and the dust passes through the dust sensor when the electric blower is stopped. And a control unit that stores the dust-free level
The control unit causes the dust sensor to detect and store the dust-free level in response to an operation of pressing the start / stop button when the electric blower is stopped, and the start / stop button that has been pressed is released. A vacuum cleaner that activates the electric blower in response to the operation. A power supply unit that includes a battery and supplies power to the electric blower, the dust sensor, and the control unit in response to an operation of the start / stop button;
The power supply unit is operated by supplying power to the dust sensor and the control unit when the start / stop button is pressed when the power is off,
The electricity according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stores a dust-free level of the dust sensor when power is supplied and starts operation, and then activates the electric blower in response to release of the activation stop button. Vacuum cleaner.   The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dust sensor detects dust passing by an optical sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion facing each other across the suction path.   The control unit recognizes that the start / stop button has been pressed when the start / stop button continues to be pressed beyond a predetermined first period, and the start / stop button that has been pressed is determined in advance. The vacuum cleaner as described in any one of Claims 1-3 which recognizes that the said start stop button is cancelled | released when it cancels | releases exceeding 2nd period.   The said control part is a vacuum cleaner as described in any one of Claims 1-4 which notifies a user, when the said dust-free level is not in the predetermined range.