# US 11,992,168 B2 · Cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,168 B2 - Document ID: US11992168B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/960,963 - Filed: 2019-01-09 - Published: 2020-10-29 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-09 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Jongchan Lee; Geunbae Hwang; Goondong Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992168B2 ## CPC - A47L 5/26: with driven dust-loosening tools - A47L 9/0081: {Means for exhaust-air diffusion; Means for sound or vibration damping} - A47L 9/22: Mountings for motor fan assemblies - A47L 9/2836: {characterised by the parts which are controlled} - A47L 9/2884: {Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation} - G10K 11/161: {in systems with fluid flow (G10K11/162 takes precedence; gas flow silencers or exhaust apparatus for machines or engines in general or for internal combustion engine F01N, noise absorbers in pipes or pipe systems F16L55/02; noise absorption in air conditioning and ventilation F24F13/24; silencing exhaust or propulsion jets in aircraft B64D33/06)} - G10K 11/17857: {Geometric disposition, e.g. placement of microphones} - G10K 11/17883: {the reference signal being derived from a machine operating condition, e.g. engine RPM or vehicle speed} - G10K 2210/105: Appliances, e.g. washing machines or dishwashers - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract To achieve the objects described above, the cleaner according to some embodiments of the present disclosure includes a main body forming an airflow path through which air is sucked and exhausted; a dust separation unit disposed in the airflow path and configured to separate dust from air; a fan module disposed in the airflow path and configured to move the air in the airflow path; and a noise control module including a speaker and a detection unit detecting noise or vibration, and configured to cause an output of the speaker to be reduced a level of the noise of at least one frequency range of 1500 Hz or less the noise generated when the fan module is operated, based on the detection signal of the detection unit. wherein the main body includes an exhaust outlet through which air in the airflow path is exhausted and a sound outlet through which the sound of the speaker is exhausted, wherein the exhaust outlet and the sound outlet look the same direction relative to the main body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaner comprising: a main body forming an airflow path through which air is sucked and exhausted; a dust separation unit disposed in the air flow path and separating dust from the air; a fan module disposed in the airflow path and moving the air in the airflow; and a noise control module including a speaker and a detection unit for detecting noise or vibration and configured to control an output of the speaker to reduce a level of the noise of at least one frequency range of the noise generated when the fan module is operated, based on a detection signal of the detection unit, wherein the main body includes an exhaust outlet through which the air in the airflow path is exhausted and a sound outlet through which the sound of the speaker is exhausted, wherein the exhaust outlet and the sound outlet face the same direction relative to the main body, wherein the sound outlet is disposed at a center portion through which a predetermined axis passes, wherein the exhaust outlet is disposed in at least part of a surrounding area disposed to surround the axis, wherein the exhaust outlet extends along a circumferential direction or is arranged along the circumferential direction by being divided into a plurality of exhaust outlet segments, in the surrounding area which extends above a central angle of 180 degrees along the circumferential direction about the axis, and wherein the sound outlet is disposed in an opposite direction to a centrifugal direction of the surrounding area relative to the axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sound outlet is provided separately from the exhaust outlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a handle mounted on a rear surface of the main body, wherein the exhaust outlet and the sound outlet are formed on a top surface of the main body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the fan module includes: an impeller pushing air; and a suction motor rotating the impeller, and wherein the detection unit is configured to detect frequency of noise or vibration of the suction motor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the speaker is disposed in the opposite direction to the centrifugal direction of the surrounding area relative to the axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sound outlet is spaced apart from the surrounding area in the opposite direction to the centrifugal direction and disposed in a predetermined center area through which the axis passes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes a plurality of exhaust guides for dividing the exhaust outlet into the plurality of exhaust outlet segments. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the fan module includes an impeller pushing the air by rotating about the axis, and a suction motor rotating the impeller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the noise control module is configured to shift in phase a signal of at least one frequency range of 1500 Hz or less of signals detected by the detection unit, cause the speaker to output the phase shifted signal, and cause the noise of the at least one frequency range of 1500 Hz or less of the noise emitted from the exhaust outlet to be offset. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the detection unit is disposed on a downstream portion of the fan module and on an upstream portion of the exhaust outlet, in the airflow path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the noise control module includes a low pass filter passing a low frequency signal of signals detected by the detection unit, relative to a preset value of 1500 Hz or less. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a microphone detecting noise, and wherein the noise control module is configured to receive a signal detected by the microphone by a feedback path and control an output of the speaker. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the microphone is disposed outside the exhaust outlet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the microphone is disposed between the exhaust outlet and the sound outlet. ### Claim 15 A cleaner comprising: a main body forming an airflow path through which air is sucked and exhausted; a dust separation unit disposed in the air flow path and separating dust from the air; a fan module disposed in the airflow path and causing the air to flow; and a noise control module including a speaker and a detection unit for detecting noise or vibration, and configured to control an output of the speaker to reduce a level of the noise of at least one frequency range of noises generated when the fan module is operated, based on a detection signal of the detection unit, wherein the main body includes an exhaust outlet through which the air in the airflow path is exhausted and a sound outlet through which the sound of the speaker is exhausted, wherein the exhaust outlet is disposed on one surface of the main body and the sound outlet is disposed on the one surface of the main body on which the exhaust outlet is disposed, wherein the sound outlet is disposed at a center portion through which a predetermined axis passes, wherein the exhaust outlet is disposed in at least part of a surrounding area disposed to surround the axis, wherein the exhaust outlet extends along a circumferential direction or is arranged along the circumferential direction by being divided into multiple parts, in the surrounding area which extends above a central angle of 180 degrees along the circumferential direction about the axis, and wherein the sound outlet is disposed in an opposite direction to a centrifugal direction of the surrounding area relative to the axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the sound outlet is provided separately from the exhaust outlet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the fan module includes an impeller pushing air, and a suction motor rotating the impeller, and wherein the detection unit is configured to detect frequency of noise or vibration of the suction motor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The cleaner according to claim 15, wherein the speaker is disposed in the opposite direction to the centrifugal direction of the surrounding area relative to the axis.