US5608944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum cleaner with dirt detection
Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd
•
Filing: 1995-06-05
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Granted: 1997-03-11
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Expires: 2015-06-05
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure describes a vacuum cleaner having a dirt sensor circuit usable with an audio detector. The circuit provides amplification of the audio signal, a pulse stretcher, sensitivity selection of a non linear characteristic and visual signal means to indicate high or low levels of dirt concentration.
Inventors
- 👤 Evan A. Gordon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:03
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L9/00; A47L9/28; A47L9/2894; A47L9/2805; A47L9/281; A47L9/2857
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A vacuum cleaner having a dirt detecting circuit including: a) an upper fill tube; b) a microphone mounted outside said fill tube but closely adjacent thereto; c) a dirt detecting circuit electrically connected to said microphone; d) said dirt collecting circuit including a switchable integrator circuit portion for providing sensitivity selection for said dirt detector circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A vacuum cleaner having a dirt detecting circuit including: a) an upper fill tube; b) a microphone mounted outside said fill tube but closely adjacent thereto; c) a dirt detecting circuit electrically connected to said microphone; d) said dirt collecting circuit including a switchable integrator circuit portion for providing sensitivity selection for said dirt detector circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The vacuum cleaner of claim 1 wherein: said dirt detecting circuit includes: a) an amplifier filter circuit section; b) a pulse stretcher circuit section; and c) said switchable integrator circuit portion also including a switch whereby the selectivity of the said dirt detecting circuit may be altered.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dirt detecting circuit of claim 1 wherein: a) said integrator circuit includes at least one comparator circuit section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The dirt detecting circuit of claim 3 wherein: a) said comparator circuit section is a schmitt trigger comparator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dirt detecting circuit of claim 1 wherein: a) said integrator circuit includes more than one comparator circuit section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The dirt detecting circuit of claim 5 wherein: a) said switch switches between at least two of said comparator circuit sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The dirt detecting circuit of claim 1 wherein: a) said integrator circuit section provides at least a pair of time variables for said dirt detecting circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vacuum cleaner according to claim 7 wherein: a) said dirt detector circuit is mounted in a console top cap for said vacuum cleaner.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-10 | 2000-09-09 | 2001-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-10 | 2004-09-09 | 2005-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-10 | 2008-09-09 | 2009-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |