Air Purifier with Intelligent Sensors and Intellectual Airflow

• US 20150306533A1
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Inventors: Matlin, Tai Hoon K., Applegate, Shawn Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,737,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/448 by temperature measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/46 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/66 Sleep mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/00 Control inputs relating to system states
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 using dry filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/158 using active carbon
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/22 using UV light
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/30 by ionisation

Abstract

An air purifying device includes an air purifier mechanism, a controller, and a sensing device configured to detect one or more conditions in a predetermined area proximate the air purifying device. The controller is configured to receive an input to select one of the predetermined operational settings to govern the operation of the air purifier mechanism. The air purifier mechanism is configured to operate in at least one of a plurality of modes of operation in each of its predetermined operational setting. The controller is configured to change modes of operation of the air purifier mechanism from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to its sensing device detecting a change in said one or more conditions in the predetermined area and based on the selected predetermined operational setting.

Claims

1. An air purifying system comprising:

a plurality of air purifiers each having a controller and a sensing device, wherein each sensing device is configured to detect one or more conditions in a predetermined area proximate its respective air purifier;

each of the plurality of air purifiers being configured to operate in at least one of a plurality of modes of operation;

the controller being configured to change modes of operation of its air purifier from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to its sensing device detecting a change in said one or more conditions in the predetermined area;

each of said air purifiers comprising one or more communication devices coupled to the controller thereof for establishing communication between the controllers of said air purifiers;

each of said controllers being further configured to transmit a control signal to each other controller via said communication device in response to its sensing device detecting said change, wherein each controller is further configured to change to said second mode of operation in response to receiving said control signal.

2. The air purifying system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes one or more of a motion sensing device, a light sensing device, a laser sensing device, a temperature sensing device, an audio sensing device, a radiation sensing device, an Infrared (IR) beam sensing device, and a proximity sensing device that is configured to detect one or more conditions in the predetermined area proximate its respective air purifier.

3. The air purifying system of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions include motion, light (visible or non-visible), radiation, temperature, acceleration, Radio Frequency (RF) signals, sound waves, and Infrared (IR) signals in the predetermined area.

4. The air purifying system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes of operation include a high performance mode, a quite mode and a power-off mode.

5. The air purifying system of claim 1, wherein the first mode of operation includes a high performance mode

6. The air purifying system of claim 1, wherein the second mode of operation includes a quite mode.

7. The air purifying system of claim 1, wherein the second mode of operation includes a power-off mode.

8. The air purifying system of claim 1, further comprising a built-in power supply and a power rail that is configured to power a modular powered filter component or a modular powered purifying component.

9. The air purifying system of claim 1, each air purifier is configured to be mounted on a surface of a targeted zone.

10. The air purifying system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of air purifiers are disposed in a targeted zone, and wherein the targeted zone is a closed or a semi-closed defined space.

11. The air purifying system of claim 1, each air purifier has a housing that is configured to receive two air purifier sub-units.

12. The air purifying system of claim 11, wherein each air purifier sub-unit has a motor, a fan and an air flow channel, and wherein each air flow channel is configured to receive different types of filtering media and/or purifying components so as to specifically target particular matter a user desires to filter.

13. An air purifying device comprising:

an air purifier mechanism received in a housing, the housing providing an air flow path between an air inlet configured to receive ambient air and an air outlet configured to deliver purifier air;

the air purifier mechanism includes an air purifying system, a fan and a drive mechanism, the air purifying system is disposed in the air flow path and is configured to remove contaminants present in the ambient air passing through the housing, the drive mechanism is configured to drive a fan at variable speeds so as to move the air through the air flow path between the air inlet and air outlet;

a controller having a plurality of predetermined operational settings to govern operation of the air purifier mechanism, the controller being configured to receive an input to select one of the predetermined operational settings to govern the operation of the air purifier mechanism; and

a sensing device, the sensing device being configured to monitor one or more conditions in a predetermined area proximate the air purifying device so as to detect presence or movement of an object in the predetermined area;

wherein the air purifier mechanism is configured to operate in at least one of a plurality of modes of operation in each of its predetermined operational setting;

wherein the controller is configured to change modes of operation of the air purifier mechanism from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to its sensing device detecting the presence or movement of the object in the predetermined area and based on the selected predetermined operational setting.

14. The air purifying device of claim 13, wherein the predetermined operational settings may include one of a normal operation, a quiet operation, or a plasma operation to govern the operation of the air purifier mechanism

15. The air purifying device of claim 13, wherein the air purifying system includes one or more air filtering components and/or one or more air purifying components.

16. The air purifying device of claim 15, wherein the sensing device is configured to detect type of air filtering components and/or air purifying components in the air purifying system.

17. The air purifying device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to change modes of operation of the air purifier mechanism from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation in response to detected type of air filtering components and/or air purifying components in the air purifying system.

18. The air purifying device of claim 13, wherein the sensing device includes one or more of a motion sensing device, a light sensing device, a laser sensing device, a temperature sensing device, an audio sensing device, a radiation sensing device, an Infrared (IR) beam sensing device, and a proximity sensing device that is configured to detect one or more conditions in the predetermined area proximate its respective air purifying device.

19. The air purifying device of claim 13, wherein the one or more conditions include motion, light (visible or non-visible), radiation, temperature, acceleration, Radio Frequency (RF) signals, sound waves, and Infrared (IR) signals in the predetermined area.

20. The air purifying device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of modes of operation include a high performance mode, a quite mode and a power-off mode.

21. The air purifying device of claim 13, wherein the first mode of operation includes a high performance mode

22. The air purifying device of claim 13, wherein the second mode of operation includes a quite mode.

23. The air purifying device of claim 13, wherein the second mode of operation includes a power-off mode.

24. The air purifying device of claim 13, further comprising a built-in power supply and a power rail that is configured to power a modular powered filter component or a modular powered purifying component.

25. The air purifying device of claim 13, wherein the air purifying device is configured to be mounted on a surface of a targeted zone.

26. The air purifying device of claim 13, wherein the air purifying device has a housing that is configured to receive two air purifier sub-units.

27. The air purifying device of claim 26, wherein each air purifier sub-unit has a motor, a fan and an air flow channel, and wherein each air flow channel is configured to receive different types of filtering media and/or purifying components so as to specifically target particular matter a user desires to filter.