Vacuum cleaner and method for controlling brush device of vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A vacuum cleaner and method includes identifying a reference load value corresponding to a current suction power mode from among a plurality of reference load values corresponding to a plurality of suction power modes. Based on a load value of the brush device obtained through a load detection sensor of the vacuum cleaner main body exceeding the identified reference load value, transmitting, to the brush device, a signal to set revolutions per minute (RPM) of a drum of the brush device to a first value. Based on the load value of the brush device obtained through the load detection sensor being less than or equal to the identified reference load value, transmitting, to the brush device, a signal to set the RPM of the drum of the brush device to a second value that is less than the first value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum cleaner comprising a vacuum cleaner main body and a brush device connected to the vacuum cleaner main body, the vacuum cleaner comprising:
 a load detection sensor configured to detect a load of the brush device connected to the vacuum cleaner main body;   at least one processor; and   memory storing instructions for processing and controlling the at least one processor,   wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to:
 identify a reference load value corresponding to a current suction power mode from among a plurality of reference load values corresponding to a plurality of suction power modes; 
 based on a load value of the brush device obtained through the load detection sensor exceeding the identified reference load value, transmit a signal to the brush device to set revolutions per minute (RPM) of a drum of the brush device to a first value; and 
 based on the load value of the brush device obtained through the load detection sensor being less than or equal to the identified reference load value, transmit, to the brush device, a signal to set the RPM of the drum of the brush device to a second value that is less than the first value setting. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the brush device comprises an identification resistor indicating a type of the brush device and the identification resistor is positioned between power lines and a signal line within the brush device, and
 wherein a voltage value input to an input port of the at least one processor decreases as a value of the identification resistor increases.   
     
     
         3 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to:
 identify the type of the brush device including the identification resistor that corresponds to the voltage value input to the input port through the signal line; and   based on the identified type of the brush device being a multi-brush that is used for both of a hard floor and a carpet, identify the reference load value corresponding to the current suction power mode from among the plurality of reference load values.   
     
     
         4 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to:
 based on the load value of the brush device obtained through the load detection sensor exceeding the identified reference load value, identify a state of a surface to be cleaned as the carpet; and   based on the load value of the brush device obtained through the load detection sensor being less than or equal to the identified reference load value, identify the state of the surface to be cleaned as the hard floor.   
     
     
         5 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to:
 transmit, to the brush device through the signal line that is different from the power lines through which power is supplied from a battery, a signal to set to the RPM of the drum of the brush device to the first value or the second value; and   receive, from the brush device through the signal line, a signal indicating a current RPM of the drum.   
     
     
         6 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the reference load value increases as strength of suction power of the current suction power mode increases. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to:
 receive, from the brush device through the signal line, a data signal indicating the type of the brush device.   
     
     
         8 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first value is between 3000 RPM and 4000 RPM, and
 wherein the second value is between 1000 RPM and 2500 RPM.   
     
     
         9 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to,
 based on the load value of the brush device obtained through the load detection sensor being greater than or equal to a high load reference value for a certain period, adjust a suction power mode of the vacuum cleaner main body to a suction power mode that is one step lower than the current suction power mode.   
     
     
         10 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to:
 based on the load value of the brush device being greater than or equal to the high load reference value for a first period, identify whether the current suction power mode is a minimum suction power mode;   based on the current suction power mode not being the minimum suction power mode, adjust the suction power mode of the vacuum cleaner main body to a second suction power mode that is one step lower than a first suction power mode that is the current suction power mode; and   based on the current suction power mode being the minimum suction power mode, cut off power supply from a battery to the brush device.   
     
     
         11 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to:
 control an output interface to output a notification message requesting a check of a state of the brush device.   
     
     
         12 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to,
 based on the load value of the brush device obtained in the second suction power mode being less than the high load reference value for a second period, change the second suction power mode back to a first suction power mode.   
     
     
         13 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to,
 based on the load value of the brush device obtained in the second suction power mode being greater than or equal to the high load reference value for the first period, adjust the suction power mode of the vacuum cleaner main body to a third suction power mode that is one step lower than the second suction power mode.   
     
     
         14 . The vacuum cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vacuum cleaner to:
 identify the type of the brush device; and   select the high load reference value corresponding to the type of the brush device.   
     
     
         15 . A method of controlling, by a vacuum cleaner, a brush device, the vacuum cleaner including a vacuum cleaner main body and the brush device connected to the vacuum cleaner main body, the method comprising:
 identifying a reference load value corresponding to a current suction power mode from among a plurality of reference load values corresponding to a plurality of suction power modes;   based on a load value of the brush device obtained through a load detection sensor of the vacuum cleaner main body exceeding the identified reference load value, transmitting, to the brush device, a signal to set revolutions per minute (RPM) of a drum of the brush device to a first value; and   based on the load value of the brush device obtained through the load detection sensor being less than or equal to the identified reference load value, transmitting, to the brush device, a signal to set the RPM of the drum of the brush device to a second value that is less than the first value.