Cordless surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A surface cleaning apparatus includes a battery powering one or more electric components. The surface cleaning apparatus can have a power conversation mode that is executed by a controller. The surface cleaning apparatus can be provided with a sensing unit configured to detect inactivity of the surface cleaning apparatus and the controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensing unit to execute the power conservation mode based on the signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a housing adapted for movement over a surface to be cleaned and supporting a cleaning system selected from a vacuum cleaning system, a fluid delivery system, a recovery system, or a combination thereof;   a handle coupled with the housing and adapted to be gripped by a user to move the housing over the surface to be cleaned;   at least one electrical component in the housing;   a battery configured to supply power to the at least one electrical component;   a sensing unit configured to detect inactivity of the surface cleaning apparatus by sensing user interaction with the surface cleaning apparatus, the sensing unit comprising at least one sensor configured to detect physical touch of the handle by the user; and   a controller configured to:
 receive, from the sensing unit, a signal indicative of inactivity of the surface cleaning apparatus; 
 transition the surface cleaning apparatus from an active mode to an inactive mode based on the signal; 
 monitor an elapsed time of inactivity; and 
 execute a power conservation mode based on a first elapsed time of inactivity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect when the user is gripping the handle. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a capacitive sensor configured to detect when the user is gripping the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a capacitive sensor, and a trigger microswitch. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a user interface located on the handle, wherein the user interface includes at least one input control comprising one of a button, a trigger, a toggle, a key, and a switch, wherein the sensing unit is configured to detect the user pressing the at least one input control. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to turn off the surface cleaning apparatus in the power conservation mode. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to turn off the surface cleaning apparatus based on a second elapsed time of inactivity. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein transitioning the surface cleaning apparatus from the active mode to the inactive mode includes starting a counter to track the elapsed time of inactivity. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical component comprises at least one of:
 an agitator motor coupled with an agitator configured to agitate the surface to be cleaned; and   a suction source in fluid communication with a suction inlet, the suction source comprising a vacuum motor.   
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in the active mode, the battery supplies power to at least the vacuum motor. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein, when the surface cleaning apparatus is in the active mode, the battery supplies power to the vacuum motor and the agitator motor. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the vacuum motor operates at a first power level in the active mode and is turned off in the power conservation mode; and   the agitator motor operates at >0 RPM in the active mode and at 0 RPM in the inactive mode and the power conservation mode.   
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises:
 a cleaning head having the suction inlet and the agitator; and   an upright assembly pivotally connected to the cleaning head;   wherein the handle is coupled with the upright assembly; and   wherein the upright assembly comprises the vacuum motor, the battery, and the controller.   
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the upright assembly comprises a detachable main unit comprising the vacuum motor, the battery, and the controller. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising the fluid delivery system, the fluid delivery system including a pump, the battery configured to supply power to the pump, wherein the pump is on in the active mode and the pump is off in at least the power conservation mode. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a headlight, the battery configured to supply power to the headlight, wherein the headlight is illuminated in a first state in the active mode and the headlight is turned off in at least the power conservation mode. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a user interface, wherein the battery supplies power to the user interface in the active mode and in the inactive mode. 
     
     
         18 . A surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a housing adapted for movement over a surface to be cleaned and supporting a cleaning system selected from a vacuum cleaning system, a fluid delivery system, a recovery system, or a combination thereof;   a handle coupled with the housing and adapted to be gripped by a user to move the housing over the surface to be cleaned;   at least one electrical component in the housing;   a battery configured to supply power to the at least one electrical component;   a sensor configured to detect physical touch on the handle by the user; and   a controller configured to:
 receive, from the sensor, a signal indicative of a lack of physical touch on the handle by the user; 
 transition the surface cleaning apparatus from an active mode to an inactive mode based on the signal; 
 monitor an elapsed time of inactivity; and 
 execute a power conservation mode based on a predetermined elapsed time of inactivity. 
   
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the at least one electrical component comprises at least one of:
 an agitator motor coupled with an agitator configured to agitate the surface to be cleaned; and 
 a suction source in fluid communication with a suction inlet, the suction source comprising a vacuum motor; 
   the vacuum motor operates at a first power level in the active mode and is turned off in the power conservation mode; and   the agitator motor operates at >0 RPM in the active mode and at 0 RPM in the inactive mode and the power conservation mode.   
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the at least one electrical component comprises a headlight and a user interface;   the headlight is illuminated in a first state in the active mode and the headlight is turned off in the power conservation mode; and   the battery supplies power to the user interface in the active mode and in the inactive mode.