JPH04193245A - Cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To discriminate a cleaning state automatically and enable control to be performed according to a using state by detrecting the cleaning state with signal from an infrared ray detecting means, and by contriving a suction motor to be controlled. CONSTITUTION:A local operating section 6 is provided with an infrared ray detecting means 7 consisting of a focal current type infrared ray element for detecting infrared ray to be radiated from a human body, and the like, and an amplifying means 8 consisting of an operating amplifier for amplifying signal from the infrared ray detecting means 7, and the like, and in a main body 9, a motor controlling means 11 for controlling a suction motor 10 to come to rotational frequency according to cleaning state by signal from the amplifying means 8 is set. In other words, it is detected whether there is relative movement or not between a cleaner and a user, by the infrared ray detecting means for detecting the infrared ray to be radiated from the human body, and if there is the movement, it is discriminated that cleaning work is under execution. As a result, it is automatically detected whether cleaning is under execution or not, and control can be contrived according to a using state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with an energy-saving configuration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The structure of a conventional vacuum cleaner will be explained with reference to FIG. In the figure, 1 is a suction nozzle that sucks dust from the cleaning surface;
2 is the main body, 3 is a suction motor that generates the suction pressure of the suction nozzle 1, 4 is a control means for controlling this suction motor, 5 is a hand switch operated by the user, and the signal of this hand switch is the control means. Connected to 4.

With the above configuration, the user can judge the floor surface and use the hand switch 5.
Cleaning was done by adjusting the amount of suction according to the type and condition of the floor surface.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the vacuum cleaner with the above configuration, even when the user moves from room to room during cleaning or when moving furniture etc. in the room, the settings can be made using the hand switch. It was operating under the suction amount conditions. Finally, there was a problem in that the vacuum cleaner was consuming unnecessary power even when the suction nozzle was not in use.

The present invention aims to solve the problems of the various conventional configurations, and provides a vacuum cleaner that can automatically detect whether cleaning is in progress and control it according to the usage status. The primary purpose is to In connection with the first object, a second object is to provide a vacuum cleaner that can automatically detect the cleaning speed and control the suction force according to the cleaning speed. It is something. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner that can automatically detect whether cleaning is in progress, detect whether there is dirt on the cleaning surface, and control the suction force depending on the presence or absence of dirt. This is the third purpose.

Means for Solving the Problems A first means of the present invention for achieving the first object is an infrared detection means for detecting infrared rays emitted from a human body;
The vacuum cleaner has a motor control means that detects the cleaning state based on the signal from the infrared detection means and controls the suction motor.

The second means of the present invention for achieving the second object includes an infrared detection means for detecting infrared rays emitted from a human body, and a speed detection means for detecting the cleaning speed based on a signal from the infrared detection means. and a motor control means for controlling a suction motor to a suction force corresponding to the cleaning speed based on a signal from the speed detection means.

Furthermore, a third means of the present invention for achieving the third object includes: an infrared detection means for detecting infrared rays emitted from a human body; a dirt detection means for detecting inhaled dirt; The vacuum cleaner has a motor control means for controlling a suction motor to a suction force according to a cleaning state based on a signal from an infrared detection means.

Function The first means of the present invention is that the infrared detection means that detects infrared rays emitted from the human body detects whether or not there is a relative movement between the vacuum cleaner and the user, and detects whether or not there is a relative movement between the vacuum cleaner and the user. If so, it is determined that cleaning work is in progress, and the suction motor built into the main body is controlled. Further, in the second means of the present invention, the speed detection means detects the relative movement speed between the vacuum cleaner and the user as the cleaning speed based on the signal from the infrared detection means, and According to the signal, the motor control means controls the suction motor to a suction force corresponding to the cleaning speed. Furthermore, in a third means of the present invention, as in the first means of the present invention, the infrared detecting means detects whether there is a relative movement between the vacuum cleaner and the user, and the dust detecting means further includes a dust detecting means. It detects whether there is any dust being sucked in. In other words, it determines whether cleaning work is in progress and also determines whether there is any dirt, and controls the suction motor built into the main body to a suction force that corresponds to the cleaning state.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, examples of the first means of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show the configuration of the embodiment, and Figure 3 shows the configuration of the embodiment.
The figure is a diagram explaining the operation of this embodiment. The configuration of this embodiment will be explained based on FIGS. 1 and 2. The hand operation unit 6 includes an infrared detection means 7 made of a pyroelectric infrared element or the like that detects infrared rays emitted from the human body, and an amplification means 8 made of an operational amplifier or the like that amplifies the signal from the infrared detection means 7. ing. Also provided in the main body 9 are a suction motor 10 that generates suction force, and a motor control means 11 that controls the suction motor 10 to a rotational speed according to the cleaning state based on a signal from the amplification means 8. There is.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. When the power is turned on, the infrared detection means 7 detects infrared rays from the user. The signal output from this infrared detecting means 7 will be explained using FIG. 3. During the period (a) when cleaning is not being performed, the relative position between the user and the hand-held operation unit 6 is stable in a stopped state. Therefore, the output of the infrared detection means 7 is stable. Also, during the cleaning period (b),
Since the user holds the hand-held operating section 6 and moves the hand-held operating section 6 back and forth, the relative position between the two changes with a certain rhythm. Therefore, the output of the infrared detecting means 7 has an AC component synchronized with this relative movement. This embodiment utilizes the fact that the output waveform of the infrared detecting means 7 is different between the stopped state and the moving state. In other words, when cleaning is being performed and the hand-held operation unit 6 is moving, the infrared detection means 7 outputs a signal having the above-mentioned alternating current component. The amplification means 8 receives and amplifies this signal, and sends this amplified signal to the motor control means 11. The motor control means 11 receives the signal from the amplification means 8, and controls the suction motor 10 to increase its rotational speed if the signal contains an alternating current component. Further, if no alternating current component is included, the rotation speed of the suction motor 10 is controlled to be lowered.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the suction motor 10 of the main body can be automatically adjusted according to the usage condition, contributing to energy saving and improving usability. In this embodiment, the suction motor 10 of the main body is adjusted by the signal from the infrared detection means 7, but a rotating brush provided on the suction nozzle may also be controlled.

Next, an embodiment of the second means of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 4. In this embodiment, a speed detection means 12 for detecting the cleaning speed based on the signal from the amplification means 8 is added to the structure of the embodiment of the first means of the present invention shown above. This speed detection means 12 receives the signal from the amplification means 8 by F.
It consists of an F-V converting means 13 which performs -V conversion, and a speed determining means 14 comprising a comparator or the like which determines the cleaning speed based on the signal from the F-V converting means 13.

The other configurations are the same as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 above, so their explanation will be omitted. Note that the speed detection means 12 may be of any type as long as it can detect the cleaning speed, and is not limited to the configuration of this embodiment.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. The signal from the amplifying means 8 is an alternating current component with a period synchronized with the reciprocating motion of the hand-held operating section 6. The F-V conversion means 13 converts the frequency of this AC component into voltage. That is, the faster the cleaning speed, the higher the converted voltage, and the slower the cleaning speed, the lower the converted voltage. Speed determination means 1 consisting of a comparator etc.
4 determines the cleaning speed step by step and sends a signal to the motor control means 11 according to the cleaning speed.

The motor control means 11 controls the rotational speed of the suction motor 10 according to the signal from the speed determination means 14 . That is, when the cleaning speed is fast, the rotation speed of the suction motor 10 is increased, and when the cleaning speed is slow, the rotation speed of the suction motor 10 is controlled to be decreased.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the suction motor 10 of the main body can be automatically adjusted according to the cleaning speed. In this embodiment, the suction motor 10 of the main body is adjusted by the signal from the infrared detection means 7, but a rotating brush provided on the suction nozzle may also be controlled.

Next, an embodiment of the third means of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 5. In this embodiment, a dust detection means 16 for detecting dust sucked in from the suction nozzle 15 is provided in the hand-operated part 6 in addition to the structure of the first embodiment shown above. The dust detection means 16 includes a light emitting means 17 made of an infrared light emitting element or the like, a light receiving means 18 made of a light receiving element facing the light emitting means 17 and receiving light emitted from the light emitting means 17, and this light receiving means. It is comprised of a dust determining means 19 which determines whether there is dust based on a signal sent from 18. The other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment of the first means shown above, so the explanation will be omitted. Note that the dust detection means 16 may be of any type as long as it can detect dust, and is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. Light emitting means 17
The generated light is received by the light receiving means 18. When there is no dust, the amount of light received by the light receiving means 18 is constant, and this signal is sent to the dust determining means 19. In addition, the light emitting means 17
If dust enters between the light receiving means 18 and the light receiving means 18, the amount of light received by the light receiving means will decrease. Therefore, in this case, the dust determining means 19 uses a signal of a lower voltage than the signal indicating the dust-free state.
will be sent to. The dust determining means 19 receives the signal from the light receiving means 18 and determines the presence or absence of dust based on the level of this signal voltage. 8, the dust detection means 16 detects whether there is dust being sucked into the suction nozzle 15, and sends this signal to the motor control means 11. In response to this signal, the motor control means 11 controls the rotation speed of the suction motor 1o to increase while dust is present, and to decrease the rotation speed of the suction motor 1o when no dust is present. .

In other words, in this embodiment, even when cleaning a corner of a room and the movement of the hand control unit 6 is small, if there is dust, the cleaning can be performed using stronger suction pressure, and when the dust disappears, the suction motor By lowering the rotation speed of the engine, unnecessary power consumption can be prevented.

In this embodiment as well, the signal from the dust detection means 16 is used to control the suction motor 10 of the main body 9.
A rotating brush provided on the suction nozzle may also be controlled.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the first means of the present invention includes an infrared detection means for detecting infrared rays emitted from the human body, and a cleaning state detected by the signal from the infrared detection means. By using a vacuum cleaner having a motor I11 control means for controlling the motor, the cleaning state is automatically determined, and when cleaning is in progress, the suction pressure is increased,
When cleaning is not in progress, control can be performed to lower the suction pressure, making it possible to achieve an energy-saving configuration with high efficiency without impairing cleaning performance.

Further, according to the second means of the present invention, there is provided an infrared detection means for detecting infrared rays emitted from a human body, a speed detection means for detecting a cleaning speed based on a signal from the infrared detection means, and this speed detection means. By using a vacuum cleaner equipped with a motor control means that controls the suction motor to a suction force according to the cleaning speed based on a signal from the Control can be performed to increase the suction pressure and lower the suction pressure if the cleaning speed is slow. In other words, it is possible to adjust the suction pressure according to the cleaning speed, resulting in an energy-saving configuration and high efficiency.

Furthermore, according to the third means of the present invention, there is provided an infrared detection means for detecting infrared rays emitted from a human body, a dirt detection means for detecting inhaled dirt, and a signal from the dirt detection means and the infrared detection means. By using a vacuum cleaner equipped with a motor control means that controls the suction motor according to the suction force according to the cleaning state, it is possible to automatically detect whether or not cleaning is in progress, and to ensure that there is no dust on the cleaning surface. It is possible to control the suction force according to the presence or absence of dust by detecting the presence of dust.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vacuum cleaner showing an embodiment of the first means of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the vacuum cleaner, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of a vacuum cleaner showing an embodiment of the second means of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an implementation of the third means of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of a vacuum cleaner showing an example, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional vacuum cleaner. 7... Infrared detection means, 10... Suction motor, 11... Motor control means, 12... Speed detection means, 16... Dust detection means. Name of agent: Patent attorney Haruaki Ogata, 2nd person, 1st
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Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A vacuum cleaner having an infrared detection means for detecting infrared rays emitted from a human body, and a motor control means for detecting a cleaning state based on a signal from the infrared detection means and controlling a suction motor. (2) An infrared detection means for detecting infrared rays emitted from the human body, a speed detection means for detecting the cleaning speed based on the signal from the infrared detection means, and a speed detection means for detecting the cleaning speed based on the signal from the speed detection means. A vacuum cleaner having a motor control means for controlling a suction motor according to the suction force. (3) an infrared detection means for detecting infrared rays emitted from a human body; a dust detection means for detecting inhaled dust;
A vacuum cleaner comprising the dust detection means and a motor control means for controlling the suction motor to a suction force according to the cleaning state based on the signal from the infrared detection means.