# US 11,998,163 B2 · Vacuum cleaner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,163 B2 - Document ID: US11998163B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/440,215 - Filed: 2020-03-19 - Published: 2022-05-12 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-20 - Assignees: Dyson Technology Limited - Applicants: Dyson Technology Limited - Inventors: Daniel James Brook; Steven Hunter; Andrew Peter Sinclair; Stefan Keir - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998163B2 ## CPC - A47L 9/2884: {Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation} - A47L 5/225: {Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners} - A47L 5/24: Hand-supported suction cleaners - A47L 9/28: Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means - A47L 9/2842: {Suction motors or blowers} - A47L 9/2857: {User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays} - A47L 9/2868: {Arrangements for power supply of vacuum cleaners or the accessories thereof} - H02J 7/63: against overdischarge - H02J 7/731: {specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence)} - H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements - 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) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum motor configured to draw air through the vacuum cleaner; a battery configured to supply electricity to the vacuum motor; and a control system configured to control the supply of electricity from the battery to the vacuum motor. The control system is configured to switch the vacuum cleaner between a first power mode in which electricity is delivered from the battery to the vacuum motor at a first power level, and at least a second power mode in which electricity is delivered from the battery to the vacuum motor at a second power level which is lower than the first power level. The control system is configured to monitor the extent of operation of the vacuum cleaner in the different power modes, and to provide an alert if usage of the vacuum cleaner in the first power mode exceeds a threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vacuum cleaner comprising: a vacuum motor configured to draw air through the vacuum cleaner; a battery configured to supply electricity to the vacuum motor; and a control system configured to control the supply of electricity from the battery to the vacuum motor, wherein: the control system is configured to switch the vacuum cleaner between a first power mode in which electricity is delivered from the battery to the vacuum motor at a first power level, and at least a second power mode in which electricity is delivered from the battery to the vacuum motor at a second power level which is lower than the first power level; and the control system is configured to monitor the duration of operation of the vacuum cleaner in the different power modes, and to provide an alert if the duration of operation of the vacuum cleaner in the first power mode, as a percentage of a total time during which electricity has been delivered to the vacuum motor at any power level, exceeds a percentage threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to switch the vacuum cleaner between the first power mode, the second power mode, and a third power mode in which electricity is delivered from the battery to the vacuum motor at a third power level which is lower than the first and second power levels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the threshold percentage is at least 30. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the threshold percentage is no more than 70%. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to calculate said percentage as a rolling figure based on a continually-updated record of usage, said record of usage being a log of which power mode electricity was delivered to the motor in, over a predetermined period of time during which electricity was being delivered to the vacuum motor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined period is at least 5 minutes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined period is no more than 30 minutes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to provide the alert only when electricity is not being delivered to the vacuum motor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to provide the alert only when the control system is in the first power mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to provide the alert continuously while a certain set of conditions is satisfied. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the alert provided by the control system takes the form of a visual indication. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the visual indication is displayed on a screen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vacuum cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the visual indication is animated.