KR970011917B1 - Cleaner and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

In the middle of a main body(1) of a cleaner is a suction motor(3) to suck dust or external substance and on the front of the suction motor a collection chamber(9) embedded with a dust collecting bag(7) that collects dust or external material sucked is placed. In addition, in the lower part of the suction motor an electric code(15) connected to the power cable is equipped. In the outer part(1), a suction pipe(17) member is installed to suck up dust or external material.

Description

Vacuum cleaner and control method

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2 is a mounting structure diagram of the main components applied to the present invention,

3 is a control block diagram of an apparatus for detecting a cleaning performance state of a cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view showing the intensity of light that changes according to the refraction principle of light applied to the present invention,

5 is a flowchart showing a cleaning operation state detection control operation procedure of the cleaner according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

1: main body 3: suction motor

9: dust collection room 15: power cord

17 pipe member 19 brush

21: connection hose 23: handle

25: power switch 27: control panel

30: illuminance detection means 31: light sensor

32: light emitting portion 33: light receiving portion

35 refracting portion 36 case member

37: base member 38: refractive member

39: water 40: air

45: DC power supply means 50: control means

55: suction motor drive means

The present invention relates to a cleaner and a control method thereof for controlling power applied to the cleaner by detecting whether the cleaner is actually used or not during cleaning.

In general, when the cleaner is operated by a user operating a power switch provided in a handle, power is applied to the suction motor, and the suction motor starts to be driven.

The suction motor is driven, and foreign substances such as dust on the bottom surface to be cleaned are introduced through the suction port formed on the bottom of the brush by the vacuum suction input of the suction motor, and the dust introduced through the suction port is connected to the pipe member. It is collected in the dust collecting bag formed in the dust chamber through the connecting hose.

At this time, the user cleans while moving the position brush to be cleaned, and when the cleaning is finished, the power applied to the suction motor is cut off by operating the power switch to stop the suction motor.

However, in such a conventional vacuum cleaner, the suction motor continues to run unless the power switch is turned off even if the user leaves the vacuum cleaner without turning off the power switch due to a telephone call or a kitchen work or visit of a hand nip while using the vacuum cleaner. Therefore, not only unnecessary waste of power is severe, there is a problem that the risk of fire due to overheating of the suction motor is inherent, and the life of the device is shortened.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to detect the change in the illumination according to the refraction of the light during operation of the cleaner whether the actual use of the cleaner (hereinafter referred to as whether to perform cleaning) ), And when not in use for a certain period of time, it cuts off the power applied to the cleaner to prevent unnecessary waste of power and noise, and also prevents fire from overheating the suction motor and extends the life of the device. The present invention provides a cleaner and a control method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, the cleaner according to the present invention is a cleaner for driving a suction motor to perform cleaning, and the illumination intensity sensing means for detecting the intensity of light that changes during the operation of the cleaner to detect whether or not the cleaning is performed. And, the control means for controlling the overall operation of the cleaner and the control means for determining whether to perform the cleaning of the cleaner by receiving the intensity of light detected by the illuminance sensing means, and to perform the cleaning under the control of the control means Characterized in that the suction motor drive means for controlling the driving of the suction motor.

In addition, the control method of the cleaner according to the present invention includes a cleaning step of driving a suction motor to perform cleaning, an illumination intensity sensing step of sensing the intensity of light that changes during the cleaning operation in the cleaning step, and the illumination intensity sensing step The illuminance change determination step for determining whether the light intensity is changed to determine whether the cleaner is cleaned according to the light intensity detected by the light source, and if the light intensity determined by the illuminance change determination step does not change, the cleaner is not in use. When the time counter step of judging the non-use time of the cleaner and the non-use time of the cleaner counted in the time town step has passed a predetermined time, the power applied to the suction motor is cut off to stop the suction motor. Characterized in that the power off step.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a vacuum cleaner, and a suction motor 3 for generating a suction force to suck dust or foreign matter is mounted at the inner center of the main body 1. .

In addition, a front side of the suction motor 3 is formed with a folding chamber (9) in which a dust collecting bag (7), which collects dust or foreign matters sucked into a suction port (not shown), is built in the body (1). A wheel 11 supporting the rear end load of the main body 1 is rotatably installed on the rear end bottom surface.

In addition, a lower side of the suction motor 3 is equipped with a power cord 15 wound around a power cable 13 which is drawn out or drawn in when the main body 1 moves, and dust is placed outside the main body 1. Or a pipe member 17 that serves as a passage so that the foreign matter is forced suction is mounted.

In addition, a brush 19 having a suction surface is installed below the pipe member 17 to collect dust or foreign matter on the floor, and the brush 19 is disposed between the pipe member 17 and the main body 1. The connecting hose 21 is connected to the pipe member 17 and the main body 1 so as to be collected in the dust collecting bag 7 such as dust sucked through the suction port formed at the rear side of the).

In addition, in the drawing, a handle 23 connecting the pipe member 17 and the connection hose 21 is provided with an operation unit 27 having a power switch 25 for controlling the power of the vacuum cleaner on / off. have.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the handle 23 includes an optical sensor 31 for detecting the intensity of light that changes when the cleaner is operated, and an intensity of light detected by the optical sensor 31. The illumination intensity sensing means 30 which consists of the refraction part 35 which refracts light so that it may change is attached.

The light sensor 31 of the illuminance detecting means 30 has a light emitting unit 32 for emitting infrared light to detect whether or not cleaning is performed when the cleaner is operated, and the light generated by the light emitting unit 32 is It consists of a light receiving portion 33 for receiving the intensity of light that is changed by the refracting portion (35).

In addition, the refracting part 35 of the illuminance detecting means 30 refracts the light generated by the light emitting part 32 of the optical sensor 31 to receive the light received by the light receiving part 33 of the optical sensor 31. Located between the light emitting portion 32 and the light receiving portion 33 of the optical sensor 31 so as to change the intensity of the light, the refraction portion 35 at the light emitting portion 32 of the optical sensor 31 A hemispherical case member 36 made of a transparent material to easily pass the generated light, and a base member 37 made of a convex lens so that the light generated from the light emitting part 32 is focused and proceeds straight to the light receiving part 33. And a refracting member 38 filled with air 40 and water 39 so as to deflect light traveling straight by the base member 37.

On the other hand, the base member 37 is fixed to the case member 36, the refractive member 38 is an internal space formed by the adhesion of the base member 37 and the case member 36, the density of air and water The principle of refraction of light by the difference is applied.

A block diagram for controlling power according to whether or not the cleaner configured as described above is performed will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the DC power supply means 45 converts the power supply voltage of the commercial AC power input from the AC power input terminal 41 into a predetermined DC voltage necessary for driving the cleaner.

And, the control means 50 is applied to the DC voltage supplied from the DC power supply means 45 to initialize the cleaner, as well as cleaning the cleaner in accordance with the intensity of light detected by the illuminance detection means 30 As a microcomputer for controlling the overall operation of the cleaner by determining whether or not it is performed, the control means 50 has a built-in timer for counting a change in intensity of light detected by the illuminance detecting means 30.

In addition, the suction motor driving unit 55 receives the power supply voltage of the commercial AC power input from the AC power input terminal 41 so that the main body 1 is cleaned under the control of the sound control unit 50. Drive control of the suction motor (3) to generate. Hereinafter, the operational effects of the cleaner and the control method configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a cleaning execution state detection control operation procedure of the cleaner according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, S denotes a step.

First, when the user withdraws the power cord 15 from the main body 1 and connects it to an outlet not shown, and then turns on the power switch 25 provided in the handle 23, the DC power supply means 45 The power supply voltage of the commercial AC power input from the power input terminal 41 is converted into a predetermined DC voltage necessary for driving the cleaner and output to the driving means and the control means 50.

Therefore, in step S1, the DC voltage output from the DC power supply means 45 is inputted from the control means 50 to initialize the cleaner, and the control means 50 drives the suction motor 3 to proceed to step S2. The control signal is output to the suction motor driving means 55.

Accordingly, the suction motor driving means 55 receives the power supply voltage of the commercial AC power input from the AC power input terminal 41 and drives the suction motor 3 under the control of the control means 50.

When the suction motor 3 is driven, foreign substances such as dust on the bottom surface to be cleaned are introduced through a suction port (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the brush 19 by the vacuum suction input of the suction motor 3, The dust and the like introduced through the suction port are collected in the dust host bag 7 formed in the dust collecting chamber 9 through the pipe member 17 and the connection hose 21, and the cleaning is performed.

At this time, the user is cleaning by moving the brush 19 to the position to be cleaned while pushing or pulling the handle 23, the handle 23 is moved as the handle 23 is pushed or pulled to change the light The intensity is detected by the illumination sensing means 30 attached to the handle 23.

In detail, a certain amount of infrared light generated by the light emitting part 32 of the optical sensor 31 passes straight through the base member 37 of the refracting part 35, and the base member 37 is moved. The light that passes straight through passes through the water 39 of the refracting member 38 and reaches the water surface, which is the interface between the water 39 and the air 40, by the "refraction principle of light" due to the density difference between the air and the water. It is refracted to pass through the air 40 while changing the direction of light.

The light passing through the air 40 of the fracture member 38 reaches the light receiving portion 33 of the optical sensor 31 through the case member 36 and is generated from the light emitting portion 32 in the light receiving portion 33. The intensity (A2) of the light passing through the refractive member 38 is detected.

The intensity of light that varies according to the "principle of light refraction" caused by the difference in density between air and water will be described with reference to FIG.

The relationship between the incident angle θ1 and the refractive angle θ2

sin θ1 = n · sin θ2 (n; refractive index of water to air)... … … … … … … … … … (One)

When the intensity of light traveling in the water 39 is A1, and the intensity of light reaching the light receiving portion 33 through the air 40 is A,

A2 = A1 cos (θ-θ2)... … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … (2)

Therefore, during the cleaning of the cleaner, the water 39 in the refraction member 38 fluctuates or tilts as the movement of the handle 23 causes the water surface to shake or tilt so that the incident angle θ1 and the refractive angle θ2 change, so that the light receiver 33 detects the light. The intensity A2 of light to be changed also changes according to the above expression (2).

On the other hand, the handle 23 does not move when the user leaves the vacuum cleaner without turning off the power switch 25 due to a telephone call or a kitchen work or visit of a hand nip while using the vacuum cleaner (hereinafter referred to as non-use). Since the water 39 in the refraction member 38 does not fluctuate so that the water surface is in equilibrium, the incident angle θ1 and the refraction angle θ2 do not change, and the intensity A2 of the light detected by the light receiver 33 is also kept constant.

In conclusion, when the intensity A2 of the light detected by the light receiver 33 is changed, the handle 23 is in a moving state. Thus, when the cleaning is in use and the intensity of light A2 does not change, the handle 23 moves. Because it is not stopped, it can be inferred that the cleaner is 'not in use'.

Accordingly, in step S4, the intensity A2 of the light detected by the light receiving unit 33 of the illuminance detecting means 30 is input from the control means 50 to determine whether the pulse level according to the intensity of the light is changed, If the intensity does not change (NO), the process proceeds to step S5 and the control means 50 determines that the cleaner is in an unused state and starts counting the non-use time in which the cleaner is not moving by the built-in timer.

Therefore, in step S6, it is determined whether the non-use time of the cleaner counter counted by the control means 50 has passed for a predetermined time (optimal time, which is determined to have been left unattended by the user when the cleaner is used, about 5 minutes). When the predetermined time has elapsed (YES), the user judges that the user has left the power switch 25 without turning off the cleaner when the cleaner is in use, and proceeds to step S7, whereby the control means 50 stops the suction motor 3. Outputs a control signal to the suction motor driving means (55).

Accordingly, the suction motor driving means 55 cuts off the power applied to the suction motor 3 from the AC power input terminal 41 under the control of the control means 50 to stop the driving of the suction motor 3. End the operation.

On the other hand, when the determination result in the step S4, if the light intensity is changed (YES), go to step S11, the control means 50 determines that the cleaner is in use, resets the time previously counted by the timer, In step S12, the suction motor drive means 55 returns to the step S3 while performing the cleaning by continuously driving the suction motor 3 under the control of the control means 50, and repeats the operation of step S3 or less.

As a result of the determination in step S6, when the non-use time of the vacuum cleaner countered by the control means 50 has not passed a predetermined time (NO), the process returns to the step S12 and repeats the operation of step S12 or less. Perform.

On the other hand, in one embodiment of the present invention has been described with an example of attaching the roughness detection means for detecting whether the cleaning performed during cleaning to the handle with the most movement during the cleaning operation, the present invention is not limited to this, but during the cleaning operation Of course, the same object and effect as those of the present invention can be achieved by attaching to a part having a movement (for example, a pipe member, a suction port, etc.).

According to the apparatus for detecting the actual use state of the cleaner and the control method thereof according to the present invention as described above, by detecting the change in illuminance according to the refraction of the light during the operation of the cleaner to determine whether to perform the cleaning of the cleaner, a predetermined time When not in use, it can cut off the power applied to the cleaner to prevent unnecessary power waste and noise generation, and it also has an excellent effect of preventing fire from overheating of the suction motor and extending the life of the device. .

Claims (9)

A cleaner for driving and cleaning a suction motor, comprising: an illuminance detecting means for detecting an intensity of light that is changed during operation of the cleaner to detect whether or not the cleaner is cleaned; and the light detected by the illuminance detecting means Control means for determining whether to perform the cleaning of the cleaner by receiving the strength and at the same time as the suction motor driving means for controlling the driving of the suction motor to perform the cleaning under the control of the control means; Cleaner, characterized in that made. According to claim 1, wherein the illuminance detecting means is composed of an optical sensor for detecting the intensity of the light that changes during the operation of the cleaner and a refracting portion for refracting the light to change the intensity of the light detected by the optical sensor Vacuum cleaner characterized in that. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the illuminance detecting means is attached to a handle of the cleaner. The cleaner of claim 1, wherein the control unit detects whether the intensity of light detected by the illuminance detecting unit is changed to determine whether to perform the cleaning of the cleaner. The light sensor of claim 2, wherein the light sensor comprises a light emitting part emitting infrared light, and a light receiving part receiving the intensity of light that is changed while the light generated by the light emitting part is refracted by the refraction part. Cleaner. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the refraction unit is attached between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit to refract light generated by the light emitting unit of the optical sensor to change the intensity of light received by the light receiving unit of the optical sensor. . The light emitting device of claim 2, wherein the refraction part includes a case member in which light generated by the light emitting part of the optical sensor is congested, a base member which focuses the light generated by the light emitting part and proceeds straight to the light receiving part, and the base member. And a refracting member for refracting straight light. A cleaning step for cleaning by driving the suction motor, an illuminance detection step for detecting the intensity of light that changes when the cleaning step is performed in the cleaning step, and cleaning of the cleaner according to the intensity of light detected by the illuminance detection step The illuminance change determination step for determining whether the light intensity changes to determine whether to perform or not, and if the light intensity determined in the illuminance change determination step does not change, it is determined that the cleaner is not in use and counts the non-use time of the cleaner. The vacuum cleaner comprises a time counter step and a power cut-off step of stopping the power supply to the suction motor when the non-use time of the vacuum cleaner counter counted in the time town step has elapsed. Control method. The cleaner according to claim 8, wherein when the intensity of light determined in the intensity change determination step changes, the cleaner determines that the cleaner is in use and drives the suction motor to perform cleaning while resetting the counter time. Control method.