Optoelectronic dust sensor and air conditioning equipment in which such optoelectronic dust sensor is installed

• US 20040188598A1
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kawai, Noboru
• Granted Patent: US 7,038,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/222.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/53 within a flowing fluid, e.g. smoke

Abstract

At an optoelectronic dust sensor, opening(s) is/are formed at front panel(s) of main body housing(s), and passage hole(s) is/are formed at back panel(s) of main body housing(s). Provided between such back panel passage hole(s) and front panel opening(s) is/are dust passage route(s) permitting passage of dust and/or smoke. Passage hole(s) is/are for introducing dust and/or smoke to dust passage route(s). Opening(s), being for discharging dust and/or smoke from dust passage route(s), is/are sufficiently larger than passage hole(s).

Claims

1. An optoelectronic dust sensor comprising:

one or more light-emitting units irradiating one or more dust passage routes with light;

one or more light-receiving units receiving light reflected from dust passing through at least one of the dust passage route or routes;

one or more main body housings at least partially enclosing the optoelectronic dust sensor;

one or more passage holes, provided at at least one of the main body housing or housings, for permitting introduction of dust from the exterior to at least one of the dust passage route or routes; and

one or more openings, provided at at least one of the main body housing or housings, for permitting discharge of dust from at least one of the dust passage route or routes to the exterior;

wherein presence, absence, and/or concentration of dust is detected based on received-light output from at least one of the light-receiving unit or units; and

at least one of the opening or openings is larger than at least one of the passage hole or holes.

2. An optoelectronic dust sensor according to claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the opening or openings is provided with at least one removably installed cover.

3. An optoelectronic dust sensor according to claim 2 wherein:

at least one of the cover or covers is disposed so as to be removed by at least one distance from at least one optical path from at least one of the light-emitting unit or units, through dust in at least one of the dust passage route or routes, to at least one of the light-receiving unit or units.

4. An optoelectronic dust sensor according to claim 1 further comprising:

one or more detection report means for detecting and reporting one or more large amounts of dust accumulated at the interior of at least one of the main body housing or housings of the optoelectronic dust sensor.

5. Air conditioning equipment wherein, when one or more optoelectronic dust sensors according to claim 1 is or are disposed near one or more air inlets of the air conditioning equipment, at least one of the opening or openings of at least one of the optoelectronic sensor or sensors is directed toward the inside of the air conditioning equipment, and at least one of the passage hole or holes of at least one of the optoelectronic sensor or sensors is directed toward the outside of the air conditioning equipment.

6. Air conditioning equipment wherein, when one or more optoelectronic dust sensors according to claim 2 is or are disposed near one or more air inlets of the air conditioning equipment, at least one of the opening or openings of at least one of the optoelectronic sensor or sensors is directed toward the inside of the air conditioning equipment, and at least one of the passage hole or holes of at least one of the optoelectronic sensor or sensors is directed toward the outside of the air conditioning equipment.

7. Air conditioning equipment wherein, when one or more optoelectronic dust sensors according to claim 3 is or are disposed near one or more air inlets of the air conditioning equipment, at least one of the opening or openings of at least one of the optoelectronic sensor or sensors is directed toward the inside of the air conditioning equipment, and at least one of the passage hole or holes of at least one of the optoelectronic sensor or sensors is directed toward the outside of the air conditioning equipment.

8. Air conditioning equipment wherein, when one or more optoelectronic dust sensors according to claim 4 is or are disposed near one or more air inlets of the air conditioning equipment, at least one of the opening or openings of at least one of the optoelectronic sensor or sensors is directed toward the inside of the air conditioning equipment, and at least one of the passage hole or holes of at least one of the optoelectronic sensor or sensors is directed toward the outside of the air conditioning equipment.