METHOD FOR INFLUENCING THE DEVICE-TYPICAL SOUND EMISSION OF A CLEANING DEVICE

Abstract

A method for influencing the device-typical sound emission of a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device has a device housing and a cleaning mechanism for carrying out a cleaning activity on a surface to be cleaned, wherein the cleaning device emits device-typical sound while carrying out the cleaning activity, and wherein the device-typical sound is detected and analyzed with respect to at least one sound frequency contained therein. In order to adapt the soundscape of the cleaning device in such a way that a user can ascertain a proper functionality of the cleaning device, a displaceable section assigned to a flow channel of the cleaning device is displaced relative to the flow channel and/or the device housing in dependence on the analysis result until a characteristic sound frequency for the cleaning activity emitted by the cleaning mechanism has a defined amplitude.

Claims

1. A method for changing a sound spectrum of a sound emitted by a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device comprises a cleaning mechanism for cleaning a surface, a detection device with a sensor for detecting the sound emitted during the cleaning activity, a computing device in the form of a processor for generating and analyzing the sound spectrum of the detected sound, a device housing with a flow channel, a section of the flow channel that can be displaced relative to the device housing, a motor-driven displacement device for displacing the displaceable section, a control unit in the form of a processor for controlling the displacement device, and a memory, in which a nominal amplitude of at least one sound frequency contained in the sound spectrum is stored, wherein the method comprises the following steps: carrying out with the cleaning device a cleaning activity on a surface to be cleaned, emitting device-typical sound by the cleaning device, detecting the emitted sound by means of the detection device, generating and analyzing the sound spectrum of the detected sound by means of the computing device, wherein the analysis includes, with respect to at least one sound frequency contained in the sound spectrum, a comparison of an actual amplitude of the detected sound frequency with a nominal amplitude of the sound frequency stored in a memory, and automatically controlling the displacement device with the control unit to displace the displaceable section in dependence on the analysis result until the actual amplitude of the detected sound frequency corresponds to the stored nominal amplitude of the sound frequency.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting by a user a reference spectrum with a plurality of sound frequencies and nominal amplitudes assigned to the sound frequencies to the memory of the cleaning device by means of a data communication interface of the cleaning device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting by a user information to the effect whether a current sound of the cleaning device is perceived as agreeable or objectionable to the computing device by means of a data communication interface of the cleaning device, wherein the amplitudes of the sound frequencies contained in a frequency spectrum perceived as agreeable are stored in the memory as nominal amplitudes and used by the computing device for the comparison with current actual amplitudes in future analyses.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein sound frequencies contained in the sound are continuously detected, compared and influenced by displacing the displaceable section during the operation of the cleaning device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a nominal amplitude of a sound portion is stored in the memory in association with a certain parameter of the cleaning device or a certain parameter of the surroundings, wherein the computing device accesses upon a subsequent occurrence of the stored parameter the nominal amplitude of the sound frequency stored for the current parameter for the comparison of the actual amplitude of the sound frequency contained in the sound spectrum.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a position of the displaceable section to be adjusted by means of the displacement device is stored in the memory in association with a certain parameter of the cleaning device or a certain parameter of the surroundings, wherein the control unit accesses upon the subsequent occurrence of the stored parameter the stored position to be adjusted for the current parameter for the control of the displacement device.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the parameter is at least one of the following: operating mode of the cleaning device, rotational speed of a fan motor of the cleaning device, flow speed within the flow channel of the cleaning device, pumping power of a liquid pump of the cleaning device, power setting of the cleaning device, floor type of the surface to be cleaned, accessory connected to the cleaning device, suction nozzle connected to the cleaning device, wiping element connected to the cleaning device.

8. A method for influencing a device-typical sound emission of a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device has a device housing and a cleaning mechanism for carrying out a cleaning activity on a surface to be cleaned, wherein the cleaning device emits the device-typical sound while carrying out the cleaning activity, wherein the method comprises detecting an analyzing the device-typical sound with respect to at least one sound frequency contained therein, and displacing a displaceable section assigned to a flow channel of the cleaning device relative to the flow channel or the device housing in dependence on the analysis result until a characteristic sound frequency for the cleaning activity emitted by the cleaning mechanism has a defined amplitude.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein a flexible section of the flow channel or a deflection element that can be displaced into the flow channel is displaced.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the displaceable section is displaced until the amplitude of the characteristic sound frequency reaches a maximum.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the amplitude of the characteristic sound frequency for the cleaning activity is adjusted in dependence on an operating mode of the cleaning device, a power setting of the cleaning device, a floor type of the surface to be cleaned or an accessory connected to the cleaning device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the accessory is a suction nozzle that is separably connected to the cleaning device or a wiping element that is separably connected to the cleaning device.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein different positions of the displaceable section to be adjusted for different operating modes, for different power settings of the cleaning device or for different accessories connectable to the cleaning device are predefined by the manufacturer and stored in a memory of the cleaning device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein a control and evaluation unit of the cleaning device accesses the stored positions, determines a position to be adjusted in dependence on an operating mode adjusted by a user, a power setting adjusted by a user or an accessory connected to the cleaning device and transmits a control command to an actuator assigned to the displaceable section in order to displace the section into the position to be adjusted.

15. The method according to claim 8, further comprising manually transmitting by a user of the cleaning device a control command for displacing the section to a control and evaluation unit of the cleaning device.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the user transmits the control command by actuating a selector switch for selecting an operating mode or a power setting of the cleaning device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0021] In the drawings,

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a cleaning device according to a first embodiment;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a cleaning device according to a second embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a flow channel of a cleaning device with a displaceable section according to a first embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a flow channel of a cleaning device with a displaceable section according to a second embodiment;

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a flow channel of a cleaning device with a displaceable section according to a third embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 6 shows an external terminal for communicating with the inventive cleaning device; and

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a system with a cleaning device and an external terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an inventive cleaning device 1, which in this case is designed in the form of a vacuum cleaning device, namely a conventional household vacuum cleaner. The cleaning device 1 has a base unit 14 and an accessory 19 that is separably connected to the base unit. In this example, the accessory 19 is a suction nozzle with a suction mouth 27 and a cleaning mechanism 2 assigned to the suction mouth 27. The cleaning mechanism 2 is in this case designed in the form of a cleaning brush that rotates about an essentially horizontal axis. The base unit 14 has a device housing 7 with a shaft 21 and a handle 22, by means of which a user can operate the cleaning device 1. The user usually moves the cleaning device 1 over a surface to be cleaned in the form of forward and backward movements while carrying out a cleaning activity. The handle 22 of the cleaning device 1 has a switch 23 that enables the user to adjust, for example, different operating modes and/or power settings of the cleaning device 1, e.g. power settings of a fan 8. A flow channel 11 and a fan 8 are arranged within the device housing 7 of the cleaning device 1, wherein said fan can draw material to be vacuumed up from a surface to be cleaned into a vacuumed material chamber 28 of the base unit 14. The flow channel 11 connects an inlet opening 9 to an outlet opening 10, which are respectively formed in the device housing 7. The inlet opening 9 of the base unit 14 can be connected to a corresponding accessory 19, wherein the suction mouth 27 of the accessory 19 can be acted upon with a vacuum by means of the fan 8 of the base unit 14. The flow channel 11 of the cleaning device 1 is divided into a suction air region 12 and a clean air region 13, which are separated by the fan 8. The suction air region 12 is located on the suction side of the fan 8 and connects the inlet opening 9 to the fan 8 whereas the clean air region 13 is arranged on the output side of the fan 8 and fluidically connects the fan 8 to the outlet opening 10 of the flow channel 11.

[0030] The cleaning device 1 furthermore is equipped with a communication interface 20 for communicating with an external terminal 26 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The manufacturer of the cleaning device or a user can communicate with a control and evaluation unit 4 of the cleaning device 1 by means of the external terminal 26. The communication interface 20 preferably is a wireless communication interface 20 such as a Bluetooth interface or a WLAN interface or the like.

[0031] In addition, a displaceable section 6 is assigned to the flow channel 11 of the cleaning device 1 and can be respectively displaced relative to the flow channel 11 or the device housing 7 of the cleaning device 1. The flow channel 11 and the assigned displaceable section 6 may be designed in different ways as described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows another potential embodiment of an inventive cleaning device 1. This cleaning device 1 is realized in the form of a wet-cleaning device. This cleaning device 1 likewise has a base unit 14 that may also comprise, for example, devices for a vacuum cleaning process, e.g., like the cleaning device 1 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. According to FIG. 2, the base unit 14 is connected to an accessory 19 in the form of a wiping accessory. The wiping accessory has a wet-cleaning element 15, in this example a wiping plate that oscillates parallel to a surface to be cleaned and carries a (not-shown) cleaning cloth. The accessory 19 furthermore has a liquid application device 16, which in this example comprises a liquid container 24, a pump 25 and a flow channel 11 with a plurality of outlet openings 10. Liquid can be pumped from the liquid container 24 into the flow channel 11 and to the outlet openings 10 by means of the pump 25 such that liquid, particularly water or a cleaning liquid, is respectively transported from the liquid container 24 to the wet-cleaning element 15 or on the surface to be cleaned.

[0033] FIGS. 3 to 5 show different exemplary embodiments of the invention that can be used in a cleaning device 1 according to FIG. 1 and/or in a cleaning device 1 according to FIG. 2. A displaceable section 6, which in this example can be displaced by means of a displacement device 5, is respectively assigned to the flow channel 11 of the base unit 14 or the flow channel 11 of the accessory 19. The displacement device 5 can be optionally eliminated if a displacement of the section 6 is carried out manually, particularly by the manufacturer of the cleaning device 1.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment, in which the displaceable section 6 is a deflection element 17 arranged within the flow channel 11. The deflection element 17 can be displaced from a position, in which it abuts on an inner wall of the flow channel 11, into a position, in which it is pivoted away from the inner wall, by means of an actuator 18 of the displacement device 5. The displaceable section 6 may be assigned, for example, to the suction air region 12 of the flow channel 11 of the cleaning device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 in order to serve as a deflector plate of sorts within the suction air region 12, wherein said deflector plate provokes an increased number of collisions with the vacuumed material particles drawn into the flow channel 11. For example, the actuator 18 assigned to the section 6 is a servomotor that causes the pivoting movement of the section 6. When the section 6 is displaced into the flow channel 11, crackling noises generated by the particles, e.g. crumbs, impacting on the section 6 can be generated in an amplified manner. In this way, the user can better perceive the crackling noises and is informed of the fact that the cleaning device 1 currently vacuums up larger particles, e.g. crumbs on a kitchen floor, and therefore properly fulfills its function.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the inventive method, the manufacturer of the cleaning device 1 may during the manufacture of the cleaning device 1 displace the displaceable section 6 into a position relative to the flow channel 11, which is particularly advantageous for a normal operating mode of the cleaning device 1 and especially leads to a desired adaptation of the soundscape of the cleaning device 1. The manufacturer may initially carry out a frequency analysis of the sound emitted by the cleaning device 1 in order to adapt the soundscape, e.g. to amplify a characteristic sound portion or to minimize an annoying resonant mode. For this purpose, a recording of the soundscape can be produced by means of a detection device, particularly a microphone. The signals measured by the detection device can be subsequently analyzed by a computing device. In this respect, a frequency spectrum of the sound generated by the cleaning device 1 particularly is generated and analyzed with respect to device-typical sound frequencies. For example, the device-typical sound frequencies may be frequencies, which are known to be generated when certain types of vacuumed material flow through the flow channel 11 or in certain operating modes and/or power settings of the cleaning device 1. If the computing device determines characteristic sound frequencies within the frequency spectrum, these sound frequencies can be compared with a predefined amplitude. In case the actual amplitude exceeds or falls short of the predefined amplitude, the section 6 can be displaced relative to the flow channel 11 or the device housing 7 in such a way that the amplitude of the respective sound frequency is changed in a desired direction, namely either increased or decreased depending on whether the manufacturer of the cleaning device 1 wants to amplify or minimize this sound frequency. In order to displace the section 6, the manufacturer can utilize the exemplary displacement device 5 with the actuator 18 illustrated in FIG. 3 in order to automatically displace the section 6. It is alternatively also possible that the manufacturer manually takes hold of and displaces the section 6 in order to achieve the same result. In this context, the automatic displacement is preferred, particularly if a section 6 is located in the flow channel 11. For example, the manufacturer of the cleaning device 1 can activate the displacement device 5 until the displaceable section 6, e.g. the deflection element 17 according to FIG. 3, reaches a position, in which the respective sound frequency has a desired amplitude. This is achieved by reducing a flow cross section of the flow channel 11 by means of a pivoting movement of the deflection element 17 such that the vacuumed material particles flowing through the flow channel 11 impact on the deflection element 17 more frequently and in the process generate crackling noises, which subsequently can be clearly perceived by the user of the cleaning device 1 and therefore indicate that the cleaning device 1 operates properly.

[0036] The section of the flow channel 11 illustrated in FIG. 3 may alternatively also be a section of the clean air region 13 of the cleaning device 1. Sound portions generated by the fan 8 itself are also carried along with the clean air in the clean air region 13 arranged on the output side of the fan 8. Such sound portions are generated by the movements of the fan blades of the fan 8, wherein the sound frequency of the sound generated by the fan 8 is defined by the number of fan blades, as well as the rotational frequency of the rotary shaft of the fan 8. This so-called blade pass frequency can be determined within the sound spectrum. The electric motor driving the fan 8 also generates characteristic sound frequencies that appear in the sound spectrum. The air flow flowing to the outlet opening 10 ultimately also generates characteristic sound frequencies that can be influenced with the displacement of the section 6 assigned to the flow channel 11. In order to absorb the blade pass frequency within the emission spectrum, for example, the displaceable section 6/the deflection element 17 can be displaced into the flow channel 11 until the amplitude of the characteristic sound frequency lies below a defined reference amplitude. In another instance, in which a noise formation should take place, for example, with the aid of the air flow within the flow channel 11, the deflection element 17 may form a displaceable the air separation edge that provokes a stall of the clean air flowing past and thereby generates a noise that gives the perceivable sound a different noise impression.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment, in which the displaceable section 6 is a channel section of the flow channel 11 itself. The flow channel 11 is designed in a flexible manner, e.g. folded like an accordion, in the region of the displaceable section 6 and can be displaced out of its original position, for example, due to counterpressure of the displacement device 5. The original straight shape of the flow channel 11 is illustrated with broken lines in the figure. The continuous lines illustrate the shape of the flow channel 11 after the displacement of the displaceable section 6. According to this figure, the thusly produced curvature of the flow path within the flow channel 11 leads to an increased collision of vacuumed material particles with the inner wall of the flow channel 11. The collision noise is thereby amplified and can be better perceived by the user. The user is informed of the fact that vacuumed material currently is actually drawn into the cleaning device 1 and that the cleaning device 1 therefore properly fulfills its function or actually vacuums up crumbs.

[0038] The displaceable sections 6 of FIGS. 3 and 4 function correspondingly in the wet-cleaning device 1 illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0039] With respect to the wet-cleaning device illustrated in FIG. 2, in particular, FIG. 5 shows a flow channel 11 of variable size, wherein the width of said flow channel can be increased or decreased by displacing a section 6 of the flow channel wall (see arrow). In this way, the liquid flowing through the flow channel 11 respectively generates other sound frequencies or other sound frequencies are amplified or absorbed such that the perceivable overall noise likewise changes. For example, pumping noises generated by the pump 25 can thereby be reduced or a liquid transport to the wet-cleaning element 15 can be acoustically accentuated.

[0040] In addition to the functionality of the inventive displaceable section 6, the soundscape of the cleaning device 1 can also be changed by an activation of a driving motor or, for example, the pump 25. The change of the operation of the motor or the pump 25 makes it possible to generate certain sound frequencies, which in interaction with the inventive sound modification allow an improvement of the device sound. For example, the rotational frequency of a rotary shaft can also be adapted in order to influence the device sound in an agreeable manner. Furthermore, so-called sound synthesis methods may also be supplemented in order to admix individual or multiple synthetically generated sounds to the noise spectrum of the cleaning device 1.

[0041] The sound frequencies emitted by the cleaning device 1 are influenced, in principle, by a current operating mode or operating point of the cleaning device 1 or its components. This includes, for example, a current rotational speed of a driving motor of the fan 8 or the pump 25. The soundscape of the cleaning device 1 is also influenced by the use of a certain accessory 19 or by the type of surface to be cleaned, on which the cleaning device 1 is operated. It is therefore advisable that the displaceable section 6 also can be actively displaced after the manufacture of the cleaning device 1 in dependence on a current operating mode or operating point of the cleaning device 1. In this overall context, it may be particularly advantageous that the user can select a certain noise characteristic of the cleaning device 1 by means of an external terminal 26 illustrated in FIG. 6. It is alternatively also possible that a displacement of the displaceable section 6 is already caused directly by an actuation of the switch 23 of the cleaning device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. According to FIG. 6, different variations are available in case the user wants to select a certain soundscape independently of the current operating mode of the cleaning device 1. In this example, the user can select from soundscapes that are designated as “whisper-quiet”, “competent” and “powerful.” This makes it possible to optimally comply with the personal perception of each individual user of the cleaning device 1. When the user actuates one of multiple buttons 3 displayed on the external terminal 26, information on the desired soundscape to be adjusted is transmitted from the external terminal 26 to the control and evaluation unit 4 of the cleaning device 1 via the communication interface 20 of the cleaning device 1. The control and evaluation unit 4 subsequently controls the actuator 18 assigned to the displaceable section 6 in such a way that it displaces the section 6 into a certain position required for the selected soundscape. An example of a communication between the external terminal 26 and the cleaning device 1 resulting from a selection by a user is illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0042] The position of the displaceable section 6 to be adjusted for the selected soundscape may be stored in a (not-shown) memory of the cleaning device 1. The control and evaluation unit 4 of the cleaning device 1 retrieves the specified position and correspondingly controls the displaceable section 6 until the position to be adjusted is reached.

[0043] According to the invention, the user may similarly use the switch 23 of the cleaning device 1 arranged on the handle 22 of the cleaning device 1 for selecting a certain operating mode, e.g. an operating mode with a defined power setting of the fan 8. A characteristic frequency spectrum corresponding to the respective operating mode may be stored in the memory, wherein this characteristic frequency spectrum can be adjusted with a certain position of the displaceable section 6 or certain positions of multiple displaceable sections 6. The control and evaluation unit 4 of the cleaning device 1 can subsequently transmit a control command to the displacement device 5 in order to adjust the position of the section 6 in accordance with the operating mode selected by the user.

[0044] Although not illustrated in the figures, the flow channel 11 may comprise multiple displaceable sections 6 that as a whole are suitable for influencing the soundscape in various ways. It is also possible to provide displaceable sections 6 that are not assigned to the flow channel 11 of the cleaning device 1, but rather to other components of the cleaning device 1 that emit, amplify or reduce certain sound frequencies. All in all, the overall noise of the cleaning device 1 can thereby be advantageously adapted.

[0045] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Symbols 1 Cleaning device 2 Cleaning mechanism 3 Button 4 Control and evaluation unit 5 Displacement device 6 Section 7 Device housing 8 Fan 9 Inlet opening 10 Outlet opening 11 Flow channel 12 Suction air region 13 Clean air region 14 Base unit 15 Wet-cleaning element 16 Liquid application device 17 Deflection element 18 Actuator 19 Accessory 20 Communication interface 21 Shaft 22 Handle 23 Switch 24 Liquid container 25 Pump 26 External terminal 27 Suction mouth 28 Vacuumed material chamber