US 11,944,248 B2
Surface cleaning device with automated control
Kevin Terry, Charlotte, NC (US); Patrick Diana, Davidson, NC (US); and Douglas M. Rukavina, Concord, NC (US)
Assigned to TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, Tortola (VG)
Filed by TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED, Tortola (VG)
Filed on Jun. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/839,084.
Application 17/839,084 is a continuation of application No. 16/688,262, filed on Nov. 19, 2019, granted, now 11,382,477.
Application 16/688,262 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/220,757, filed on Dec. 14, 2018, granted, now 11,395,571.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/769,348, filed on Nov. 19, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/607,099, filed on Dec. 18, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0304534 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. A47L 11/40 (2006.01); A47L 5/36 (2006.01); A47L 7/00 (2006.01); A47L 9/28 (2006.01); A47L 11/30 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 11/4011 (2013.01) [A47L 5/365 (2013.01); A47L 7/0009 (2013.01); A47L 7/0023 (2013.01); A47L 9/2805 (2013.01); A47L 9/2842 (2013.01); A47L 9/2847 (2013.01); A47L 11/302 (2013.01); A47L 11/4016 (2013.01); A47L 11/4044 (2013.01); A47L 11/4072 (2013.01); A47L 11/4083 (2013.01); A47L 11/4088 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surface cleaner comprising:
a base moveable along a surface;
a suction motor operable to generate an airflow;
a suction nozzle in fluid communication with the suction motor, the suction motor configured to generate the airflow through the suction nozzle;
an accelerometer configured to generate an accelerometer signal as a first signal based on user-initiated movement of the base along the surface in a forward direction and as a second signal based on user-initiated movement of the base along the surface in a rearward direction; and
a controller in communication with the accelerometer and the suction motor operable to control the suction motor based on the accelerometer signal;
wherein the controller is configured to change a power to the suction motor to a forward power level based on the first signal during operation of the surface cleaner and to a rearward power level based on the second signal during operation of the surface cleaner, wherein the forward power level of the suction motor is less than the rearward power level of the suction motor.