Cleaning apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a cleaning apparatus, such as a battery-powered vacuum cleaner, that has a body and a cleaning wand. The apparatus operates in a multiple power mode, uses a wireless system to allow an operator interface to be provided on the cleaning wand and/or uses a motion detector on the cleaning wand to operate the cleaning apparatus in an intelligent manner. In cases where the cleaning apparatus is a battery-powered apparatus, the use of a multiple power mode, wireless system and/or a motion detector helps to extend the life of a battery.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A battery-operated cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a battery, a power management system and a motor, wherein the battery supplies battery power to the motor when electrically connected to the motor, wherein the power management system selectively electrically connects and disconnects the battery and the motor;   an operator interface permitting an operator of the cleaning apparatus to select a power mode of operation, wherein the power mode of operation includes two or more power modes, wherein the two or more power modes includes a first power mode and a second power mode, wherein the second power mode is a higher power mode than the first power mode;   wherein the power management system electrically connects and disconnects the battery and the motor based on the operator's selected power mode of operation, wherein in the first power mode, the power management system electrically connects the battery and the motor using a first duty cycle and wherein in the second power mode, the power management system electrically connects the battery and the motor using a second duty cycle, wherein the second duty cycle is higher than the first duty cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The battery-operated cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power management system is a battery management system comprising a central processing unit and power electronics, wherein the central processing unit instructs the power electronics to electrically connect and disconnect the battery and the motor. 
     
     
         3 . The battery-operated cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more power modes includes an off mode, wherein when the operator selects the off mode, the power management system disconnects the battery from the motor. 
     
     
         4 . The battery-operated cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power management system further comprises a timer system, wherein the timer system includes a first power mode timer that regulates a time period the motor operates in the first power mode and a second power mode timer that regulates a time period the motor operates in the second power mode, wherein when the operator selects the first power mode, the power management system resets the first power mode timer and operates in the first power mode, and wherein when the operator selects the second power mode, the power management system resets the second power mode timer and operates in the second power mode. 
     
     
         5 . The battery-operated cleaning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein when the first power mode timer expires, the power management system disconnects the battery from the motor and wherein when the second power mode timer expires, the power management system operates the motor in the first power mode. 
     
     
         6 . The battery-operated cleaning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the timer system further comprises a second power mode wait timer that regulates a time period the motor must wait before operating in a subsequent second power mode. 
     
     
         7 . The battery-operated cleaning apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 (a) when the operator selects the first power mode, the power management system resets the first power mode timer and operates in the first power mode;   (b) when the operator selects the second power mode and the second power mode wait timer has expired, the power management system resets the second power mode timer, resets the second power mode wait timer and operates the in the second power mode; and   (c) when the operator selects the second power mode and the second power mode wait timer has not expired, the power management system continues to operate in the first power mode until the second power mode wait timer expires.   
     
     
         8 . The battery-operated cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is a vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         9 . The battery-operated cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a body and a cleaning wand, wherein the body and the cleaning wand are joined together by a movable, flexible member, wherein the body includes the motor, the power management system and a wireless receiver, wherein the cleaning wand includes the operator interface and a wireless transmitter, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits a signal indicative of the operator's selected power mode of operation to the wireless receiver, wherein the wireless receiver sends the signal to the power management system and wherein the power management system uses the signal to operate the motor in the operator's selected power mode of operation. 
     
     
         10 . The battery-operated cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a cleaning wand, wherein the cleaning wand comprises a motion detector that detects motion of the cleaning wand, wherein the motion detector selects a first power mode when the operator moves the cleaning wand and selects a second power mode when the operator moves the cleaning wand at a threshold movement criteria. 
     
     
         11 . A cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a body comprising a motor, a power management system and a wireless receiver;   a cleaning wand comprising an operator interface and a wireless transmitter; and   a flexible member that joins the body to the cleaning wand and moves during cleaning;   wherein the operator interface permits an operator to select a power mode of operation or a function activation; and   wherein the wireless transmitter transmits a signal indicative of the operator's selected power mode or function activation to the wireless receiver, wherein the wireless receiver sends the signal to the power management system and, wherein the power management system uses the signal to control operation of the motor or machine.   
     
     
         12 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the operator interface includes a switch. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless transmitter and the switch are combined as an energy harvesting switch. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is a battery-powered apparatus, and, wherein the body further comprises a battery, wherein the battery supplies battery power to the motor when electrically connected to the motor, wherein the power management system electrically connects and disconnects the battery and the motor based on the operator's selected power mode of operation. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the operator's selected power mode of operation is selected from two or more power modes, wherein the two or more power modes includes a first power mode and a second power mode, wherein in the first power mode, the power management system electrically connects the battery and the motor using a first duty cycle and, wherein in the second power mode, the power management system electrically connects the battery and the motor using a second duty cycle, wherein the second duty cycle is higher than the first duty cycle. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning wand further comprises a motion detector that detects the operator's selected power mode of operation, wherein the motion detector sends a signal indicative of the operator's selected power mode of operation to the wireless transmitter, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the signal to the wireless receiver, wherein the wireless receiver sends the signal to the power management system, and, wherein the power management system uses the signal to control operation of the motor. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the operator's selected power mode of operation is selected from two or more power modes, wherein the two or more power modes includes a first power mode and a second power mode, wherein the second power mode is a higher power mode than the first power mode, wherein the motion detector detects the operator's selected first power mode when the operator moves the cleaning wand at a first threshold movement criteria and, wherein the motion detector detects the operator's selected second power mode when the operator moves the cleaning wand at a second threshold movement criteria. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the two or more power modes includes an off mode, wherein the motion detector detects the operator's selected off mode when the operator allows the cleaning wand to remain idle for a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         19 . A cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a body and a cleaning wand;   wherein the body includes a motor and a power management system;   wherein the cleaning wand comprises a motion detector that detects an operator's desired power mode of operation when the operator moves the cleaning wand at a threshold movement criteria; and   wherein the motion detector sends a signal indicative of the operator's selected power mode of operation to the power management system and wherein the power management system uses the signal to control operation of the motor.   
     
     
         20 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the operator's desired mode of operation is selected from two or more power modes, wherein the two or power modes includes a first power mode and a second power mode, wherein the second power mode is a higher power mode than the first power mode, wherein the motion detector detects a first desired power mode when the operator moves the cleaning wand at a first threshold movement criteria and, wherein the motion detector detects a desired second power mode when the operator moves the cleaning wand at a second threshold movement criteria. 
     
     
         21 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the two or more power modes includes an off mode, wherein the motion detector detects a desired off mode when the cleaning wand remains idle for a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         22 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the threshold movement criteria is a threshold movement speed. 
     
     
         23 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the motion detector is a sensor wheel and the threshold movement criteria is a threshold revolutions per second. 
     
     
         24 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the body further comprises a wireless receiver and the cleaning wand further comprises a wireless transmitter, wherein the motion detector sends a signal indicative of the operator's desired power mode of operation to the wireless transmitter, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the signal to the wireless receiver, wherein the wireless receiver sends the signal to the power management system, and, wherein the power management system uses the signal to control operation of the motor. 
     
     
         25 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is a battery-powered cleaning apparatus, and, wherein the body further comprises a battery, wherein the battery supplies battery power to the motor when electrically connected to the motor, wherein the power management system electrically connects and disconnects the battery and the motor based on the operator's desired power mode of operation. 
     
     
         26 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the operator's desired mode of operation is selected from two or more power modes, wherein the two or power modes includes a first power mode and a second power mode, wherein the second power mode is a higher power mode than the first power mode, wherein in the first power mode, the power management system electrically connects the battery and the motor using a first duty cycle and in the second power mode, the power management system electrically connects the battery and the motor using a second duty cycle, wherein the second duty cycle is higher than the first duty cycle. 
     
     
         27 . A cleaning apparatus, comprising:
 a body comprising a motor, a power management system and a wireless receiver;   an operator interface and a wireless transmitter;   wherein the operator interface permits an operator to select a power mode of operation or a function activation; and   wherein the wireless transmitter transmits a signal indicative of the operator's selected power mode or function activation to the wireless receiver, wherein the wireless receiver sends the signal to the power management system and, wherein the power management system uses the signal to control operation of the motor or machine.