ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND FILTERING UNIT

• US 20070207721A1
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chien Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Inventors: Chang, Chong Min
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/184
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20181 Filters; Louvers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 Thermal management, e.g. fan control

Abstract

A filtering unit for receiving an electronic device. The filtering unit includes a housing, a filter, a fan, a detector, and a controller. The housing includes an inlet. The filter is disposed at the inlet of the housing. The fan is disposed in the housing. The detector detects the number of particles in the filter. The controller is coupled to the fan and the detector. When the number of the particles in the filter exceeds a threshold value, the detector outputs a signal to the controller to change the rotating direction of the fan.

Claims

1. A filtering unit for receiving an electronic device, comprising:

a housing comprising an inlet;

a first filter disposed at the inlet of the housing;

a first fan disposed in the housing;

a first detector detecting the number of particles in the first filter; and

a controller coupled to the first fan and the first detector, wherein when the number of the particles in the first filter exceeds a threshold value, the first detector outputs a signal to the controller to change the rotating direction of the first fan.

2. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first filter comprises a first side and a second side, and the first detector comprises:

a light emitter, disposed adjacent to the first side of the first filter, emitting light; and

a receiver, disposed adjacent to the second side of the first filter, receiving the light from the light emitter.

3. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the light emitter is a light emitting diode, and the receiver is an optical switch.

4. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first filter comprises a first side and a second side, and the first detector comprises:

a light emitter, disposed adjacent to the first side of the first filter, emitting light;

a reflector disposed adjacent to the second side of the first filter, wherein the light is emitted onto the reflector; and

a receiver, disposed adjacent to the first side of the first filter, receiving the light from the reflector.

5. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a vibrator disposed on the first filter to be coupled to the controller, wherein when the number of the particles in the first filter exceeds the threshold value, the controller actuates the vibrator to remove the particles in the first filter.

6. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rotating member coupled to the controller, wherein when the number of the particles in the first filter exceeds the threshold value, the controller actuates the rotating member to rotate and strike the first filter to remove the particles in the first filter.

7. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing further comprises an exit, and the filtering unit further comprises a second filter disposed at the exit of the housing.

8. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

a second fan disposed in the housing and coupled to the controller; and

a second detector, coupled to the controller, detecting the number of the particles in the second filter, wherein when the number of the particles in the second filter exceeds the threshold value, the second detector outputs a signal to the controller to stop the first fan and the second fan.

9. A filtering unit for receiving an electronic device, comprising:

a housing comprising an inlet;

a first filter disposed at the inlet of the housing;

a cleaning device disposed at the housing;

a first detector detecting the number of particles in the first filter; and

a controller coupled to the cleaning device and the first detector, wherein when the number of the particles in the first filter exceeds a threshold value, the first detector outputs a signal to the controller to actuate the cleaning device so that the particles in the first filter are removed by the cleaning device.

10. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first filter comprises a first side and a second side, and the first detector comprises:

a light emitter, disposed adjacent to the first side of the first filter, emitting light; and

a receiver, disposed adjacent to the second side of the first filter, receiving the light from the light emitter.

11. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the light emitter is a light emitting diode, and the receiver is an optical switch.

12. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first filter comprises a first side and a second side, and the first detector comprises:

a light emitter, disposed adjacent to the first side of the first filter, emitting light;

a reflector disposed adjacent to the second side of the first filter, wherein the light is emitted onto the reflector; and

a receiver, disposed adjacent to the first side of the first filter, receiving the light from the reflector.

13. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cleaning device is a vibrator.

14. The filtering unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cleaning device is a rotating member that rotates and strikes the first filter when the controller actuates the rotating member.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a housing comprising an inlet;

a first filter disposed at the inlet of the housing;

a first fan disposed in the housing;

a first detector detecting the number of particles in the first filter; and

a circuit board comprising a controller coupled to the first fan and the first detector, wherein when the number of the particles in the first filter exceeds a threshold value, the first detector outputs a signal to the controller to change the rotating direction of the first fan.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first filter comprises a first side and a second side, and the first detector comprises:

a light emitter, disposed adjacent to the first side of the first filter, emitting light; and

a receiver, disposed adjacent to the second side of the first filter, receiving the light from the light emitter.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first filter comprises a first side and a second side, and the first detector comprises:

a light emitter, disposed adjacent to the first side of the first filter, emitting light;

a reflector disposed adjacent to the second side of the first filter, wherein the light is emitted onto the reflector; and

a receiver, disposed adjacent to the first side of the first filter, receiving the light from the reflector.

18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a vibrator disposed on the first filter to be coupled to the controller, wherein when the number of the particles in the first filter exceeds the threshold value, the controller actuates the vibrator to remove the particles in the first filter.

19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a rotating member coupled to the controller, wherein when the number of the particles in the first filter exceeds the threshold value, the controller actuates the rotating member to rotate and strike the first filter to remove the particles in the first filter.

20. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the housing further comprises an exit, and the electronic device further comprises a second filter disposed at the exit of the housing.

21. The electronic device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

a second fan disposed in the housing and coupled to the controller; and

a second detector, coupled to the controller, detecting the number of the particles in the second filter, wherein when the number of the particles in the second filter exceeds the threshold value, the second detector outputs a signal to the controller to stop the first fan and the second fan.

22. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the electronic device is a projector.