JP2021029729A - Vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vacuum cleaner that can be operated for a predetermined time.SOLUTION: The vacuum cleaner comprises: an electric blower including a fan arranged to suck air into the vacuum cleaner, and a first motor for rotating the fan; a battery arranged to supply power to the first motor; and a control section arranged to control the vacuum cleaner. The control section adjusts power to be supplied from the battery to the first motor based on a battery residual amount or a battery voltage of the battery, so as to adjust an operable time of the vacuum cleaner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner.

A battery-powered vacuum cleaner is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, in this vacuum cleaner, the suction force of the vacuum cleaner can be increased by the operator pressing a switch on the operation unit.
Further, in a vacuum cleaner using a battery as a power source, there is a trade-off relationship between suction power and operable time. Therefore, if the operator increases the suction force, the operating time of the vacuum cleaner becomes shorter.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-23305

When the suction force of the vacuum cleaner changes due to operation by an operator or detection by a sensor, the operable time of the vacuum cleaner changes. For this reason, the battery may run out and cleaning may not be possible before the scheduled cleaning of the cleaning range is completed.
The present invention provides a vacuum cleaner made in view of such circumstances.

The present invention includes an electric blower having a fan provided to suck air into an electric vacuum cleaner and a first motor for rotating the fan, a battery provided to supply power to the first motor, and the above. The control unit includes a control unit provided to control the electric vacuum cleaner, and the control unit adjusts the power supplied from the battery to the first motor based on the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery to control the electricity. Provided is an electric vacuum cleaner characterized in that it is provided to adjust the operating time of the vacuum cleaner.

According to the present invention, the vacuum cleaner can be operated for a predetermined time.

It is a schematic perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electric structure of the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a control flowchart of the vacuum cleaner of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows typically the change of the electric power supplied from a battery to a 1st motor. It is a figure which shows an example of the display of an external device.

The electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention is provided so as to supply electric power to an electric blower having a fan provided so as to suck air into the electric vacuum cleaner and a first motor for rotating the fan, and a first motor. The control unit includes a battery and a control unit provided to control the vacuum cleaner, and the control unit adjusts the power supplied from the battery to the first motor based on the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery. This is characterized in that it is provided so as to adjust the operable time of the electric vacuum cleaner.

The control unit is preferably provided so as to calculate the power consumption of the electric vacuum cleaner based on the change in the remaining battery level of the battery or the change in the battery voltage of the battery, and the electric vacuum cleaner can be operated for a predetermined time. It is preferable that the electric power supplied from the battery to the first motor is adjusted based on the power consumption of the electric vacuum cleaner, the remaining battery level of the battery, or the battery voltage. As a result, the operable time of the vacuum cleaner can be adjusted, and the vacuum cleaner can be operated for a predetermined time.
The control unit may be provided so as to adjust the power supplied from the battery to the first motor based on the power consumption of the electric blower and the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the electric blower so that the vacuum cleaner can operate for a predetermined time. preferable. As a result, the operable time of the vacuum cleaner can be adjusted, and the vacuum cleaner can be operated for a predetermined time.

The control unit preferably includes a detection circuit provided to detect the current or power supplied from the battery to the first motor, and calculates the power consumption of the electric blower based on the output of the detection circuit. It is preferable to be provided. This makes it possible to calculate the power consumption of the electric blower more accurately.
The electric vacuum cleaner of the present invention preferably includes a rotary brush and a second motor for rotating the rotary brush, and the control unit consumes power of the electric blower and the second motor so that the electric vacuum cleaner can operate for a predetermined time. It is preferable that the electric power supplied from the battery to the first motor or the second motor is adjusted based on the power consumption of the battery, the remaining battery level of the battery, or the battery voltage. As a result, even when the vacuum cleaner has a power brush (rotary brush), the operable time of the vacuum cleaner can be adjusted, and the vacuum cleaner can be operated for a predetermined time.

The vacuum cleaner of the present invention preferably includes a communication unit provided so as to be able to communicate with an external device, and the control unit determines the predetermined time based on information input from the external device via the communication unit. It is preferable to be provided. This allows the operator to set the desired operating time.
The control unit is preferably provided so as to transmit the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery to an external device via the communication unit. This makes it possible to set the operating time according to the remaining battery level of the battery by using an external device.
The vacuum cleaner of the present invention preferably includes a notification unit, and the control unit is preferably provided so as to notify the operator of the remaining operable time during operation of the vacuum cleaner via the notification unit. This allows the operator to know the remaining runnable time.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to a plurality of embodiments. The configurations shown in the drawings and the following description are examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to those shown in the drawings and the following description.

1st Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the vacuum cleaner of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the vacuum cleaner.
The electric vacuum cleaner 50 of the present embodiment has an electric blower 4 having a fan 2 provided so as to suck air into the electric vacuum cleaner 50 and a first motor 3 for rotating the fan 2, and electric power to the first motor 3. A battery 12 provided to supply the battery 12 and a first control unit 8 provided to control the vacuum cleaner 50 are provided, and the first control unit 8 determines the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery 12. Based on this, the electric vacuum cleaner 50 is provided so as to adjust the operable time by adjusting the electric power supplied from the battery 12 to the first motor 3.
Further, the vacuum cleaner 50 can include a dust collecting unit 11, a rotating brush 17, a first communication unit 20, a notification unit 23, an operation unit 32, or a dust detection sensor 30.

The vacuum cleaner 50 of the present embodiment may be a stick type, a canister type, or a self-propelled vacuum cleaner.
Further, the dust collection method may be a paper pack type, a cyclone type, or a filter type. Further, the vacuum cleaner 50 of the present embodiment is a cordless vacuum cleaner using the battery 12 as a drive power source.

The electric blower 4 is a member that takes in and exhausts air, and includes a fan 2 and a first motor 3 that rotates the fan 2. Further, the electric blower 4 can be arranged on the downstream side of the wind flow of the dust collecting unit 11. A control board provided with a drive circuit for an electric blower or the like may be attached to the electric blower 4. The first motor 3 may be a motor having a carbon brush or a brushless motor. The control board attached to the electric blower 4 may include a first detection circuit 5 provided to detect a current or electric power supplied from the battery 12 to the first motor 3.

In the vacuum cleaner 50, by rotating the fan 2 of the electric blower 4, the outside air can be sucked into the vacuum cleaner 50 together with dust from the suction port to clean the floor surface and the like. The air sucked into the vacuum cleaner 50 from the suction port flows through the air flow path and flows into the dust collecting unit 11, and the dust sucked together with the air is collected inside the dust collecting part 11 to remove the dust in the air. Is done. The air after passing through the dust collecting unit 11 is discharged from the exhaust port.
The suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50 is adjusted by adjusting the electric power or current supplied from the battery 12 to the first motor 3 of the electric blower 4 by the first adjusting unit 37 of the first control unit 8 to adjust the rotation speed of the fan 2. Can be controlled by
When the vacuum cleaner 50 has the second motor 18 and the rotary brush 17, the second adjusting unit 38 of the first control unit 8 adjusts the electric power or current supplied from the battery 12 to the second motor 18. The number of rotations of the rotating brush 17 can be adjusted.

When the dust collecting method of the vacuum cleaner 50 is a paper pack type, the dust collecting unit 11 is a paper pack. Further, when the dust collecting method of the electric vacuum cleaner 50 is a cyclone type, the dust collecting unit 11 is a cyclone dust collector. When the dust collecting method of the vacuum cleaner 50 is a filter method, the dust collecting unit 11 can have a filter and a dust cup.

The battery 12 is a drive power source for the vacuum cleaner 50. The type of the battery 12 is not particularly limited as long as it is a rechargeable secondary battery, and examples thereof include a lithium ion battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, and a nickel cadmium battery. A control board including a battery monitoring circuit or the like may be attached to the battery 12.
Further, the battery 12 is connected to the first control unit 8 by a power line, and power is supplied from the battery 12 to the first motor 3 of the electric blower 4 and the like via the first control unit 8.

The battery 12 may be a removable battery provided so that the operator can remove the battery 12 from the vacuum cleaner 50. In this case, the battery 12 can be provided so that it can be charged by removing the battery 12 from the vacuum cleaner 50 and attaching it to a charging device provided with a charging circuit. Further, the battery 12 can be provided so that it can be attached to the vacuum cleaner 50 after being fully charged by using the charging device.

The battery 12 may be a built-in battery provided so that the operator cannot remove the battery 12 from the vacuum cleaner 50. In this case, the vacuum cleaner 50 can be provided so that it can be electrically connected to a charging device provided with a charging circuit. Further, the charging circuit may be provided by the first control unit 8.

The rotary brush 17 is a brush that rotates when cleaning the floor surface or the like while moving the suction port body 16. The rotating rotating brush 17 can scrape out dust such as the floor surface, and the scraped dust can be sucked from the suction port. Therefore, dust such as the floor surface can be firmly removed. The rotary brush 17 may be a power brush that is rotated by the second motor 18, or a turbine brush that is rotated by the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50.
When the rotating brush 17 is a power brush, the first control unit 8 can be provided so as to detect that the carpet is being cleaned based on the magnitude or change of the load torque of the second motor 18.
The first control unit 8 can increase the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50 when it detects that the carpet is being cleaned. As a result, dust at the root of the pile can be efficiently removed.

The dust detection sensor 30 is a sensor provided to detect dust passing through an air flow path between the suction port and the dust collection unit 11. The dust detection sensor 30 is controlled by the first control unit 8. The dust detection sensor 30 can have, for example, a light emitting unit and a photoelectric conversion unit. Further, the light emitting unit and the photoelectric conversion unit are arranged so as to face each other with the air flow path through which the air and dust sucked into the vacuum cleaner 50 pass, and the photoelectric conversion unit receives the light emitted by the light emitting unit. It can be provided as follows.
The first control unit 8 can increase the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50 when the dust detection sensor 30 detects a large amount of dust. As a result, the suction force can be changed according to the amount of dust to be sucked.

The operation unit 32 is a part provided so that the operator can perform operations such as turning on / off the vacuum cleaner 50 and selecting / changing the operation mode. The operation unit 32 may include, for example, an operation mode selection button, a switch button, and the like. The vacuum cleaner 50 can have, for example, a strong operation mode, a weak operation mode, an automatic operation mode, a power mode, and the like, and the operation unit 32 is provided so that the operator can switch the operation mode. Further, the operation unit 32 may be a part for operating the vacuum cleaner 50 by using an external device 21 such as a smartphone.
The power mode is a mode in which the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50 is temporarily increased. When the operator wants to temporarily increase the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50, the operator presses the button on the operation unit 32 to temporarily (for example, 5 seconds) put the vacuum cleaner 50 into the power mode.

The notification unit 23 is a part for notifying the operator of information about the vacuum cleaner 50. The notification unit 23 can be provided to notify the operator, for example, that the battery 12 needs to be charged or replaced, and that the dust accumulated in the dust collecting unit 11 needs to be removed. The notification unit 23 is, for example, a lamp (for example, an LED), a display unit, a speaker, or the like. Further, the notification unit 23 may be a part for notifying the operator of information about the vacuum cleaner 50 by using an external device 21 such as a smartphone.

The first communication unit 20 is a part that performs data communication with the external device 21. The first communication unit 20 may be provided so as to be able to perform wireless communication with the external device 21, or may be provided so as to be able to perform wired communication with the external device 21. The external device 21 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, or a mobile phone.
The communication method of the first communication unit 20 is, for example, short-range wireless communication, wired LAN method, wireless LAN method, Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or LPWA. Further, the first communication unit 20 may be provided so that it can be connected to the external device 21 with a USB cable, a LAN cable, or the like, or may be provided so that data communication can be performed with the external device 21 using this cable. ..

The first control unit 8 is a part that controls the vacuum cleaner 50, and includes, for example, a calculation unit, a first storage unit 36, a first adjustment unit 37, a second adjustment unit 38, and the like. The first control unit 8 can include, for example, a microprocessor having a calculation unit, a first storage unit 36, a timer, an input / output port, and the like. The calculation unit is, for example, a CPU, GPU, FPGA, or the like. The first storage unit 36 can include a ROM such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and a flash memory (nonvolatile memory), and a RAM such as FeRAM, SRAM, and DRAM.
The first control unit 8 may be composed of a plurality of control boards. These plurality of control boards can be connected by a signal line or a power line. The first control unit 8 includes, for example, a control board having a drive circuit for an electric blower and a first detection circuit 5, a control board having a drive circuit for a rotating brush, a control board having a charging circuit, and a coulomb counter. It consists of a control board, a microcontroller, and so on. Further, these circuits and the like may be mounted on the same control board.

Control software for controlling the vacuum cleaner 50 is installed in the first storage unit 36 of the first control unit 8. The control software can include firmware for controlling the electric blower 4, the second motor 18, the battery 12, and the like. The firmware can also be regarded as a part of the electric blower 4, the second motor 18, the battery 12, and the like.

The first control unit 8 may have a first adjustment unit 37 provided to adjust the electric power or current supplied from the battery 12 to the first motor 3 of the electric blower 4. The first adjusting unit 37 is, for example, a part of a drive circuit for an electric blower. The first adjusting unit 37 can include a PWM circuit having a transistor. The power supplied from the battery 12 to the first motor 3 can be adjusted by adjusting the cycle or duty ratio in which the transistor is repeatedly turned on and off.

The first control unit 8 can include a first detection circuit 5 provided to detect a current or electric power supplied from the battery 12 to the first motor 3. Further, the first control unit 8 can be provided so as to calculate the power consumption of the electric blower 4 based on the output of the first detection circuit 5. For example, the power consumption can be calculated based on the amount of current calculated based on the output of the first detection circuit 5 and the supply voltage.

The first control unit 8 may have a second adjustment unit 38 provided to adjust the electric power or current supplied from the battery 12 to the second motor 18 that rotates the rotary brush 17. The second adjusting unit 38 can include a PWM circuit having a transistor. The electric power supplied from the battery 12 to the second motor 18 can be adjusted by adjusting the cycle of repeating the on / off of the transistor or the duty ratio.

The first control unit 8 can include a second detection circuit 6 provided to detect the current or electric power supplied from the battery 12 to the second motor 18. Further, the first control unit 8 can be provided so as to calculate the power consumption of the second motor 18 based on the output of the second detection circuit 6. For example, the power consumption can be calculated based on the amount of current calculated based on the output of the second detection circuit 6 and the supply voltage.

The first control unit 8 can include a voltage detection circuit provided to detect the battery voltage of the battery 12. Further, the first control unit 8 can calculate the remaining battery level of the battery 12 based on the output of the voltage detection circuit.

When the vacuum cleaner 50 is operated using the battery 12 as a power source, electric power is supplied from the battery 12 to the electric blower 4 and the like, and the remaining battery level of the battery 12 gradually decreases. When the remaining battery level drops to the shutdown level (the battery voltage reaches the shutdown voltage), the vacuum cleaner 50 shuts down and needs to charge the battery 12 or replace the battery 12. This is notified to the operator via the notification unit 23.

The battery voltage of the battery 12 gradually decreases as the remaining battery level of the battery 12 decreases. Therefore, by detecting the battery voltage of the battery 12 using the voltage detection circuit, the first control unit 8 can calculate the remaining battery level of the battery 12. Further, the first control unit 8 can calculate the amount of electric power that the battery 12 can supply to the electric blower 4 and the like based on the battery voltage of the battery 12 or the remaining battery level.

The first control unit 8 can include a coulomb counter provided to measure the current flowing into the battery 12 and the current flowing out of the battery 12 by using the coulomb counting method. Further, the first control unit 8 can be provided so that the remaining battery level of the battery 12 can be calculated based on the output of the coulomb counter.

The operable time of the vacuum cleaner 50 using the battery 12 as a power source can be calculated from the amount of energy (Wh) that can be taken out from the battery 12 and the power consumption (Wh) of the vacuum cleaner 50. When the vacuum cleaner 50 is operated in a single operation mode (for example, a strong operation mode, a weak operation mode, or an automatic operation mode), the power consumption becomes an electric energy corresponding to the operation mode. Therefore, when the vacuum cleaner 50 is operated in a single operation mode, the operable time of the vacuum cleaner 50 can be calculated from the battery capacity of the battery 12, the remaining battery capacity (or the battery voltage), the power consumption, and the like. it can.
Further, the power of the vacuum cleaner 50 for operating the vacuum cleaner 50 for a predetermined operating time is calculated from the amount of energy (Wh) that can be taken out from the battery 12 and the operating time of the vacuum cleaner 50. Is possible.

When the operator operates the operation unit 32 and the vacuum cleaner 50 is in the power mode, when the dust detection sensor 30 detects a large amount of dust and increases the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50, the first control unit The power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50 may be larger than the power consumption in the operation mode, such as when the 8 detects the rug and increases the suction power of the vacuum cleaner 50. In this case, since the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50 is increased, the operable time is also shortened.
As described above, when the operable time is shortened, the cleaning range planned by the operator may not be cleaned.
Further, when the filter of the dust collecting unit 11 becomes dirty, the power consumption of the electric blower 4 becomes small, and the operable time of the electric vacuum cleaner 50 becomes long.

The first control unit 8 supplies power to be supplied from the battery 12 to the first motor 3 based on the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50 and the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery 12 so that the vacuum cleaner 50 can operate for a predetermined time. Provided to adjust. Such adjustment of the supplied power is performed during the operation of the vacuum cleaner 50. As a result, it is possible to prevent the operation time set at the start of operation from being shortened, and it is possible to prevent the operator from being unable to clean the planned cleaning range. Further, even when the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50 is increased by the operation by the operator or the detection by the sensor, the vacuum cleaner 50 can be operated for a predetermined time. This will be described with reference to a flowchart.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of the vacuum cleaner 50, and FIG. 4 is a graph schematically showing a change over time in the power supplied to the first motor 3 of the electric blower 4.
First, the operator presses the button on the operation unit 32 to select the operation mode, and starts the operation of the vacuum cleaner 50.
In step S1, the first control unit 8 can operate the electric vacuum cleaner 50 from the power consumption of the electric vacuum cleaner 50 when operating in the selected operation mode, the battery capacity of the battery 12, and the remaining battery level (or battery voltage). The time is calculated, and the calculated operable time is set as the operating time (target operating time). The first control unit 8 controls the vacuum cleaner 50 so that the vacuum cleaner 50 can be operated during the set operation time.

After starting the operation in the selected operation mode (step S2), the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50 is calculated (step S3).
For example, the amount of change in the remaining battery level of the battery 12 or the amount of change in the battery voltage is calculated based on the output of the voltage detection circuit or the output of the coulomb counter, and the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50 is calculated based on this amount of change.
Further, for example, the power consumption of the electric blower 4 is calculated based on the output of the first detection circuit 5, and the power consumption of the second motor 18 is calculated based on the output of the second detection circuit 6. The power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50 is calculated by adding the power consumption of the first control unit 8 and the like to these power consumptions.

In step S4, the electric vacuum cleaner 50 can operate the remaining operational time based on the remaining operational time, the power consumption of the electric vacuum cleaner 50, the battery capacity of the battery 12, the remaining battery capacity (or the battery voltage), and the like. In addition, the first adjusting unit 37 is used to adjust the electric power supplied to the first motor 3 of the electric blower 4. Further, the electric power supplied to the second motor 18 may be adjusted by using the second adjusting unit 38. After that, the vacuum cleaner 50 is operated with the adjusted power supply (step S5).

In step S6, it is determined whether or not the operator has pressed the power mode button of the operation unit 32. When the power mode button is pressed, the first control unit 8 temporarily increases the power supplied to the electric blower 4 by using the first adjustment unit 37, and temporarily increases the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50. Increase (first power mode) (steps S7 and S8). The time for operating in the first power mode can be, for example, 5 seconds. In the first power mode, the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50 is large, so that the rate of decrease in the remaining battery level of the battery 12 is large. Therefore, the remaining battery level of the battery 12 after the end of the first power mode is smaller than the assumed remaining battery level.

When the operation in the first power mode is finished, steps S2 to S4 are performed again, and the power supplied to the first motor 3 of the electric blower 4 is adjusted by using the first adjusting unit 37. The power supply after adjustment is smaller than the power supply before adjustment. This makes it possible to operate the vacuum cleaner 50 for the operation time set at the start of operation even when the first power mode is used. For example, the electric power supplied to the first motor 3 changes as shown in the graph shown in FIG. In step S2 after step S8, the vacuum cleaner 50 is operated with the power supply adjusted in step S4 already performed before returning to step S2.
Such a flow is repeated for each operation in the first power mode.

In step S9, the first control unit 8 determines whether or not the carpet is being cleaned based on the magnitude or change of the load torque of the second motor 18. When cleaning the carpet, the first control unit 8 uses the first adjustment unit 37 to increase the electric power supplied to the electric blower 4 and increase the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50 (second power mode). .. Further, the first control unit 8 increases the electric power supplied to the second motor 18 by using the second adjustment unit 38, and increases the torque of the rotary brush 17 (second power mode) (steps S10 and S11).
In the second power mode, the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50 is large, so that the rate of decrease in the remaining battery level of the battery 12 is large. Therefore, the remaining battery level of the battery 12 after the end of the second power mode is smaller than the assumed remaining battery level.

When the operation in the second power mode is finished, steps S2 to S4 are performed again, and the power supplied to the first motor 3 of the electric blower 4 is adjusted by using the first adjusting unit 37. The power supply after adjustment is smaller than the power supply before adjustment. This makes it possible to operate the vacuum cleaner 50 for the operation time set at the start of operation even when the second power mode is used. For example, the electric power supplied to the first motor 3 changes as shown in the graph shown in FIG. In step S2 after step S11, the vacuum cleaner 50 is operated with the power supply adjusted in step S4 already performed before returning to step S2.
Such a flow is repeated every time a carpet is detected.

In step S12, the first control unit 8 determines whether or not the vacuum cleaner 50 is sucking a large amount of dust based on the output of the dust detection sensor 30. When sucking a large amount of dust, the first control unit 8 increases the electric power supplied to the electric blower 4 by using the first adjusting unit 37, and increases the suction force of the vacuum cleaner 50 (third power). Mode) (steps S13, S14).
In the third power mode, the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50 is large, so that the rate of decrease in the remaining battery level of the battery 12 is large. Therefore, the remaining battery level of the battery 12 after the end of the third power mode is smaller than the assumed remaining battery level.

When the operation in the third power mode is finished, steps S2 to S4 are performed again, and the power supplied to the first motor 3 of the electric blower 4 is adjusted by using the first adjusting unit 37. The power supply after adjustment is smaller than the power supply before adjustment. This makes it possible to operate the vacuum cleaner 50 for the operation time set at the start of operation even when the third power mode is used. In step S2 after step S14, the vacuum cleaner 50 is operated with the power supply adjusted in step S4 already performed before returning to step S2.
Such a flow is repeated every time a large amount of dust is detected.

In step S15, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the power supply was adjusted in step S4. The predetermined time can be, for example, 20 seconds. When the predetermined time has elapsed, steps S2 to S4 are performed again, and the power supplied to the first motor 3 of the electric blower 4 is adjusted by using the first adjusting unit 37. This makes it possible to finely adjust the electric power supplied to the first motor 3. In step S2 after step S15, the vacuum cleaner 50 is operated with the power supply adjusted in step S4 already performed before returning to step S2.

In step S16, it is determined whether or not the operation mode (weak operation mode, strong operation mode, automatic operation mode, etc.) has been changed by the operator operating the operation unit 32. When the operation mode is changed, the process returns to step S1 and the operation time is set again.

In step S17, the first control unit 8 determines whether or not the remaining battery level of the battery 12 has dropped to the operation end level. If the remaining battery level has not reached the operation end level, the process returns to step S5 and the operation of the vacuum cleaner 50 is continued. When the remaining battery level reaches the operation end level, the operation of the vacuum cleaner 50 is terminated, and the notification unit 23 is used to notify the operator that the battery 12 needs to be charged or replaced.

The first control unit 8 of the second embodiment is provided so as to notify the operator of the remaining operable time during the operation of the vacuum cleaner 50 via the notification unit 23. If the operation of the vacuum cleaner 50 is continued after the operation time is set in step S1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the operable time decreases with the passage of time. The operator is notified of the remaining operating time that is decreasing via the notification unit 23.

For example, when the notification unit 23 has a lamp (for example, an LED), the operator can be notified of the remaining operable time by using lighting, blinking, extinguishing, or the like of the lamp. When the notification unit 23 has a number display unit, the first control unit 8 can be provided so as to notify the operator of the remaining operable time using the number display unit. Further, when the notification unit 23 has a speaker, the first control unit 8 can be provided so as to notify the operator of the remaining operable time by voice.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. In addition, the description of the first embodiment also applies to the second embodiment as long as there is no contradiction.

Third Embodiment In step S1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the first control unit 8 sets the operation time based on the operation mode selected by the operator, but in the third embodiment, the first control unit 8 sets the operation time. , The operation time is set by using the external device 21 that can communicate with the vacuum cleaner 50 (first control unit 8) via the first communication unit 20.
The external device 21 is a device including a display unit 43 and an input unit 44. The external device 21 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, or a mobile phone. When the external device 21 includes a touch panel display, the touch panel display becomes the display unit 43 and the input unit 44. Further, the external device 21 includes a second control unit 41, a second storage unit 42, a second communication unit 45, and the like.

A method of setting the operation time using the external device 21 in step S1 will be described.
The first control unit 8 of the vacuum cleaner 50 transmits the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery 12 to the second control unit 41 of the external device 21 via the first communication unit 20 and the second communication unit 45. Further, the first control unit 8 may transmit information regarding the battery capacity of the battery 12 and the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50 to the second control unit 41. Further, the second storage unit 42 of the external device 21 may store information regarding the battery capacity of the battery 12 and the power consumption of the vacuum cleaner 50.

The second control unit 41 of the external device 21 can operate the electric vacuum cleaner 50 based on the information on the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery 12, the battery capacity of the battery 12, and the power consumption of the electric vacuum cleaner 50. Calculate the power of the vacuum cleaner 50 corresponding to the time. Then, the second control unit 41 causes the display unit 43 to display the adjustment bar 46 as shown in FIG. The display unit 43 of the external device 21 shown in FIG. 5 is a touch panel display having the functions of the display unit 43 and the input unit 44.

The shortest operable time and the maximum power can be calculated by using the lower of the output upper limit value of the first motor 3 and the output upper limit value of the battery 12.
The maximum operable time and the minimum power can be calculated using the minimum rotation speed of the first motor 3. Further, when the dust collector 11 is provided with a cyclone dust collector, the maximum operable time and the minimum power can be calculated based on the minimum output that the cyclone dust collector can perform cyclone separation.

The operator moves the adjustment knob of the adjustment bar 46 to adjust to the desired operating time and power. Further, the second control unit 41 changes the operation time and power displayed on the display unit 43 according to the position of the adjustment knob. Further, the operating time and power may be adjusted by the operator inputting a numerical value of the operating time or power.
After adjusting the operation time and power, the operator presses the transmission button displayed on the display unit 43 (input unit 44). When the transmission button is pressed, the second control unit 41 transmits the adjusted operation time to the first control unit 8 via the first communication unit 20 and the second communication unit 45. The first control unit 8 sets the received operating time as the operating time of the vacuum cleaner 50.
The flow after step S2 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In addition, the second control unit 41 can display the remaining operable time (for example, countdown) on the display unit 43 while the vacuum cleaner 50 is in operation. This allows the operator to know the remaining runnable time.
Other configurations are the same as in the first or second embodiment. In addition, the description of the first or second embodiment also applies to the third embodiment as long as there is no contradiction.

2: Fan 3: 1st motor 4: Electric blower 5: 1st detection circuit 6: 2nd detection circuit 8: Control unit 11: Dust collector 12: Battery 16: Suction port 17: Rotating brush 18: 2nd motor 20: Communication unit 21: External device 23: Notification unit 25: Extension tube 30: Dust detection sensor 32: Operation unit 33: Grip unit 36: Storage unit 37: First adjustment unit 38: Second adjustment unit 41: Control unit 42 : Storage unit 43: Display unit 44: Input unit 45: Communication unit 46: Adjustment bar 50: Electric vacuum cleaner

Claims (8)

An electric blower having a fan provided to suck air into the vacuum cleaner and a first motor for rotating the fan, a battery provided to supply electric power to the first motor, and the vacuum cleaner. It is equipped with a control unit provided for control.
The control unit is characterized in that the operating time of the vacuum cleaner is adjusted by adjusting the electric power supplied from the battery to the first motor based on the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery. An electric vacuum cleaner. The control unit is provided so as to calculate the power consumption of the electric vacuum cleaner based on a change in the remaining battery level of the battery or a change in the battery voltage of the battery, and the electric vacuum cleaner can be operated for a predetermined time. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the electric power supplied from the battery to the first motor is adjusted based on the power consumption of the electric vacuum cleaner and the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery. The control unit adjusts the power supplied from the battery to the first motor based on the power consumption of the electric blower and the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery so that the vacuum cleaner can operate for a predetermined time. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2 provided. The control unit includes a detection circuit provided to detect the current or power supplied from the battery to the first motor, and calculates the power consumption of the electric blower based on the output of the detection circuit. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 3 provided. A rotary brush and a second motor for rotating the rotary brush are further provided.
The control unit uses the battery to the first motor or the first motor based on the power consumption of the electric blower, the power consumption of the second motor, the remaining battery level of the battery, or the battery voltage so that the vacuum cleaner can operate for a predetermined time. 2. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is provided so as to adjust the power supplied to the motor. It also has a communication unit that can communicate with external devices.
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the control unit is provided so as to determine the predetermined time based on information input from the external device via the communication unit. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is provided so as to transmit the remaining battery level or the battery voltage of the battery to the external device via the communication unit. Equipped with a notification unit
The vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control unit is provided to notify the operator of the remaining operable time during operation of the vacuum cleaner via the notification unit.