IP Library › Granted Patent US 12660971
Granted Patent B2
US 12660971 · App. 18/587,516 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

System and method for controlling a motor at a constant rotations per minute (RPM)

Inventor: Kevin Terry (Charlotte, NC)
Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
A47L9/2842A47L9/2831A47L9/2884A47L9/2894
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12660971
App. No.
18/587,516
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cleaning system including a motor configured to provide rotational energy, a current sensor configured to sense current provided to the motor, and a controller having an electronic processor. The controller is configured to receive, from the current sensor, a current signal indicative of the current provided to the motor, filter the current signal to produce a filtered current signal, and control the motor based on the filtered current signal.

Claims (41)

1 . A cleaning system comprising:

a brush;

a motor configured to provide rotational energy to the brush;

a current sensor configured to sense current provided to the motor; and

a controller having an electronic processor, the controller configured to

receive, from the current sensor, a current signal indicative of the current provided to the motor,

filter the current signal to produce a filtered current signal, and

control the motor based on the filtered current signal,

wherein the controller controls the motor to operate at a first substantially constant rotations per minute when the current signal is less than a predetermined current threshold, and to operate at a second substantially constant rotations per minute when the current signal is greater than the predetermined current threshold.

2 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the motor further based on a gain value.

3 . The cleaning system of claim 2 , wherein the gain value is a predetermined value.

4 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the motor based on a first gain value when the current signal is less than the predetermined current threshold, and a second gain value when the current signal is greater than the predetermined current threshold.

5 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the motor further based on the current compared to an unladen current.

6 . The cleaning system of claim 5 , wherein the unladen current is a predetermined value.

7 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the motor to operate a substantially constant rotations per minute (RPM).

8 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the motor via a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal.

9 . The cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a battery configured to supply power to the motor.

10 . The cleaning system of claim 9 , wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery pack.

11 . The cleaning system of claim 9 , wherein the controller controls the motor independent of a voltage of the battery.

12 . A method of controlling a cleaning system including a motor configured to provide rotational energy to a brush, the method comprising:

sensing, via a current sensor, a current provided to the motor;

receiving, via a controller, a current signal indicative of the current from the current sensor;

filtering, via the controller, the current signal to produce a filtered current signal;

controlling, via the controller, the motor based on the filtered current signal; and

operating the motor to rotate the brush at a first substantially constant rotations per minute when the current signal is less than a predetermined current threshold, and operating the motor to rotate the brush at a second substantially constant rotations per minute when the current signal is greater than the predetermined current threshold.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the motor is further controlled based on a gain value.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the gain value is a predetermined value.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising controlling the motor based on a first gain value when the current signal is less than the predetermined current threshold, and a second gain value when the current signal is greater than the predetermined current threshold.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the motor is further controlled based on the current compared to an unladen current.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the unladen current is a predetermined value.

18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the motor is operated at a substantially constant rotations per minute (RPM).

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the motor operated with a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal.

20 . A cleaning system comprising:

a brush;

a motor configured to provide rotational energy to the brush;

a current sensor configured to sense current provided to the motor; and

a controller having an electronic processor, the controller configured to

receive, from the current sensor, a current signal indicative of the current provided to the motor,

filter the current signal to produce a filtered current signal, and

control the motor based on the filtered current signal,

wherein the controller controls the motor based on a first gain value when the current signal is less than a predetermined current threshold, and a second gain value when the current signal is greater than the predetermined current threshold.