Electronic device and filtering unit
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A filtering unit, comprising:
- a housing comprising an inlet and an exit;
a first filter disposed at the inlet of the housing;
a second filter disposed at the exit of the housing;
a first fan disposed in the housing;
a second fan disposed in the housing;
a first detector configured to detect the presence of particles in the first filter;
a second detector configured to detect the presence of particles in the second filter; and
a controller coupled to the first and second fans and to the first and second detectors, wherein when the first detector detects that a predetermined volume of particles is present in the first filter the first detector outputs a signal to the controller to change the rotating direction of at least one of the first and second fans, and wherein when the second detector detects that a predetermined volume of particles is present in the second filter the second detector outputs a signal to the controller to change the rotating direction of at least one of the first and second fans.
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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.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A filtering unit, comprising:
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a housing comprising an inlet and an exit; a first filter disposed at the inlet of the housing; a second filter disposed at the exit of the housing; a first fan disposed in the housing; a second fan disposed in the housing; a first detector configured to detect the presence of particles in the first filter; a second detector configured to detect the presence of particles in the second filter; and a controller coupled to the first and second fans and to the first and second detectors, wherein when the first detector detects that a predetermined volume of particles is present in the first filter the first detector outputs a signal to the controller to change the rotating direction of at least one of the first and second fans, and wherein when the second detector detects that a predetermined volume of particles is present in the second filter the second detector outputs a signal to the controller to change the rotating direction of at least one of the first and second fans. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A filtering unit, comprising:
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a housing comprising an air inlet; an air filter positioned at the air inlet, wherein the air filter comprises a first side and a second side; a fan positioned in the housing and configured to rotate alternatively in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction being opposite the second direction; a vibration device positioned at the air inlet; a detector configured to detect a presence of particles in the filter, wherein the detector comprises a light emitter positioned adjacent to the first side of the air filter and a receiver positioned adjacent to the second side of the air filter, the air filter being configured to receive light from the light emitter; and a controller coupled to the vibration device and the detector, wherein when a volume of particles in the filter exceeds a threshold value the detector outputs a signal to the controller to instruct the fan to change a rotation direction from the first direction to the second direction, and to actuate the vibration device to shake particles out of the filter;
wherein the air filter extends continuously across the light emitted from the light emitter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet; a first filter disposed at the inlet of the housing; a second filter disposed at the outlet of the housing; a first fan disposed in the housing; a second fan disposed in the housing; a first detector configured to detect particles in the first filter; a second detector configured to detect particles in the second filter; and a circuit board comprising a controller coupled to the first and the second detectors, the first and second detectors being configured to output a signal to the controller to stop rotation of at least one of the first or the second fan after the first or the second detector detects a predetermined quantity of particles in at least one of the first or second filters. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A filtering unit, comprising:
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a housing comprising an air inlet; an air filter positioned at the air inlet and extending in a plane; a fan positioned in the housing, the fan being configured to rotate in a first direction about a rotational axis to draw air into the inlet in a direction generally transverse to the plane, and in a second direction about the rotational axis to force air from the air inlet, wherein the rotational axis is generally transverse to the plane; a rotation device positioned at the air inlet; a detector configured to detect a presence of particles in the filter by receiving light from a light emitter; and a controller coupled to the rotation device, the fan, and the detector, wherein when a predetermined volume of particles in the filter exceeds a threshold value, the detector outputs a signal to the controller to instruct the controller to alternate the direction of the fan and to actuate the rotation device to strike the filter at a first location of the filter to remove particles from at least a second location of the filter, and wherein the light from the light emitter passes through the air filter in a direction generally transverse to the plane. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A filtering unit, comprising:
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an air filter positioned near an air inlet, the air filter extending in a plane; a fan configured to rotate in a first direction about a rotational axis to draw air into the inlet and in a second direction about the rotational axis to force air from the air inlet, wherein the rotational axis is generally transverse to the plane; a rotation device positioned at the air inlet; a detector configured to detect a presence of particles in the filter by receiving light from a light emitter, the light emitter being configured to emit light in a direction generally parallel to the rotational axis through the air filter; and a controller coupled to the rotation device, the fan, and the detector, wherein when a predetermined volume of particles in the filter exceeds a threshold value, the detector outputs a signal to the controller to instruct the controller to alternate the direction of the fan and to actuate the rotation device to strike the filter at a first location of the filter to remove particles from at least a second location of the filter. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification