Triggerless surface cleaning device with automated control

Abstract

A surface cleaner is provided. The surface cleaner comprises: an operating component configured to perform a function of the surface cleaner; a base moveable along a surface; an accelerometer configured to generate a signal; and a controller in communication with the accelerometer and the operating component, wherein the controller is operable to control the operating component based on the signal, and wherein the operating component is selected from a group consisting of a suction motor operable to generate an airflow, a brushroll motor operable to drive a brushroll, an actuator operable to adjust a height of a brushroll from the surface, a pump operable to deliver a cleaning fluid, an actuator operable to control an airflow or fluid valve, and an indicator operable to indicate a parameter of the surface cleaner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaner comprising:
 a base moveable along a surface;   a suction source operable to generate an airflow;   an encoder operable to generate a signal in response to user-initiated movement of the base along the surface, wherein the signal is indicative of movement in a forward direction or movement in a rearward direction; and   a controller operatively connected to the encoder and the suction source, the controller being configured to change a power level to the suction source to a forward power level or a rearward power level based on the signal during operation of the surface cleaner and independent of user interaction with the surface cleaner other than the user-initiated movement, wherein the forward power level is less than the rearward power level.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to decrease the airflow in response to the signal indicating no movement of the base. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , comprising a handle configured to be gripped by a user during a cleaning operation. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , comprising a fluid valve, wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid valve based on the signal. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaner of  claim 4 , comprising an actuator for controlling the fluid valve, wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid valve using the actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , comprising a brush assembly and an actuator operable to adjust a height of the brush assembly from the surface, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator based on the signal. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , comprising a brush and a motor for driving the brush, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor based on the signal. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaner of  claim 1 , comprising a liquid distribution system to deliver solution to the surface, wherein the controller is configured to operate, in response to the signal, the liquid distribution system in a distributing mode during the movement of the base and in a non-distributing mode during the movement of the base. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the signal is indicative of speed of movement of the base, and wherein the controller is configured to, while operating the liquid distribution system in the distributing mode, control the liquid distribution system to increase or decrease delivery of the solution to the surface in response to a respective increase or decrease of the speed of the movement of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the liquid distribution system in the distributing mode in response to the signal indicating movement of the base in the forward direction. 
     
     
         11 . A cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a base moveable along a surface;   a suction source structured to generate an airflow;   a sensor operable to generate a signal in response to user-initiated movement of the base along the surface, wherein the signal is indicative of one or more attributes selected from a group consisting of movement in a first direction, movement in a second direction, and speed of movement; and   a controller operatively connected to the sensor and the suction source, the controller being configured to change a functional parameter of the suction source to a first direction functional parameter or a second direction functional parameter based on the signal during operation of the surface cleaner and independent of user interaction with the surface cleaner other than the user-initiated movement, wherein the first direction functional parameter is less than the second direction functional parameter.   
     
     
         12 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to decrease the airflow in response to the signal indicating no movement of the base. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising a handle configured to be gripped by a user during a cleaning operation. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising a fluid valve, wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid valve based on the signal. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 14 , comprising an actuator for controlling the fluid valve, wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid valve using the actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising a brush assembly and an actuator operable to adjust a height of the brush assembly from the surface, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator based on the signal. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising a brush and a motor for driving the brush, wherein the controller is configured to control the motor based on the signal. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising a liquid distribution system to deliver solution to the surface, wherein the controller is configured to operate, in response to the signal, the liquid distribution system in a distributing mode during the movement of the base and in a non-distributing mode during the movement of the base. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to, while operating the liquid distribution system in the distributing mode, control the liquid distribution system to increase or decrease delivery of the solution to the surface in response to a respective increase or decrease of the speed of the base. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the liquid distribution system in the distributing mode in response to the signal indicating movement of the base in the first direction.