U.S. Philips Corporation

Raimond Visser

Michiel A Schallig

Johannes At Driessen

A vacuum cleaner comprises a suction unit (23) which is drivable by means of a first electric motor (25). A suction attachment (7) of the vacuum cleaner comprises a rotatable brush (41) which is drivable by means of a second electric motor (45). The vacuum cleaner comprises a control unit (29) by means of which an electric current through the first motor (25) can be controlled. In accordance with the invention, the control unit (29) controls the current through the first motor (25) as a function of a mode of operation of the brush (41), which mode can be selected by a user of the vacuum cleaner. In this way, the suction power of the suction unit (23) is adapted to the mode of operation of the brush (41), thereby improving a relationship between cleaning performance, ease of use, current consumption and noise production of the vacuum cleaner. In a special embodiment of a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention the control unit (29) controls an air pressure and an air flow in the suction attachment (7) in such a manner that the air pressure does not decrease below a first limit value (H.sub.MIN), the air flow does not exceed a second limit value (Q.sub.MAX), and at least one of the limit values (H.sub.MIN, Q.sub.MAX) is substantially reached.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Raimond Visser