Air shower device, building, and system for reducing hay fever

• US 7,887,614 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Osamu, Arai, Yasuyuki, Yamazaki, Shunpei
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US12/000,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 553/852, 554/72, 554/73, 55D/IG.34, 964/22, 964/24, 963/97, 964/17, 964/21, 454/187
• US Class Current: 55/385.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/442 by measuring the concentration of particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/46 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/34 Indicator and controllers

Abstract

An air shower device which prevents allergenic substances which cause hay fever from being brought into a living space, in which a person resides or carries out an activity, by an outside body. The air shower device includes a suction unit, which takes in outside air; an air blower unit having an air blower which blows air which has been taken in, at a specific air-flow rate and a filter which cleans by removing dust, including pollen, from air which is blown; and a dust collecting unit which collects dust, including pollen, from exhaust of an air shower room which includes the air blower unit. Further, the air shower device includes an air-flow rate control unit which controls the amount of air blown by an air blower according to an amount of pollen dispersed in the outside air.

Claims

1. An air shower device comprising:

an air flow rate control unit for controlling a specific air flow rate in accordance with an amount of dust dispersed in outside air;

a suction unit for taking in air;

an air blower unit comprising an air blower for blowing the taken in air to a space through a plurality of shower nozzles at the specific air flow rate and a filter for removing dust from the taken in air;

an exhaust unit for exhausting air from the space; and

a dust collecting unit for collecting dust from the air which is exhausted,

wherein the air flow rate control unit is connected to an administrative server via a communication network, and

wherein the administrative server includes information provided by a weather information provider.

2. The air shower device according to claim 1, wherein the dust removed by the filter includes an allergenic substance.

3. The air shower device according to claim 1, wherein the dust removed by the filter includes pollen.

4. The air shower device according to claim 1, wherein the dust removed by the filter includes cedar pollen.

5. A building comprising:

an entrance of a living space;

an air shower device which is installed in the entrance, the air shower device including;

a suction unit for taking in air;

an air blower unit comprising an air blower for blowing the taken in air to a space through a plurality of shower nozzles at a specific air flow rate and a filter for removing dust from the taken in air;

an exhaust unit for exhausting air from the space; and

a dust collecting unit for collecting dust from the air which is exhausted,

wherein the air shower device is assembled using the suction unit, the air blower unit, the exhaust unit and the dust collecting unit,

wherein the air shower device is removable,

wherein the air shower device is connected to an administrative server via a communication network, and

wherein the administrative server includes information provided by a weather information provider.

6. The building according to claim 5, wherein the air shower device is installed in the entrance, and wherein an outside body inevitably passes through the entrance.

7. The building according to claim 5, wherein the dust removed by the filter includes an allergenic substance.

8. The building according to claim 5, wherein the dust removed by the filter includes pollen.

9. The building according to claim 5, wherein the dust removed by the filter includes cedar pollen.

10. A building comprising:

an entrance hall provided between an outside door and an inside door;

an air shower device which is installed in the entrance hall, the air shower device including;

a suction unit for taking in air;

an air blower unit comprising an air blower for blowing the taken in air to a space through a plurality of shower nozzles at a specific air flow rate and a filter for removing dust from the taken in air;

an exhaust unit for exhausting air from the space; and

a dust collecting unit for collecting dust from the air which is exhausted,

wherein the air shower device is assembled using the suction unit, the air blower unit, the exhaust unit and the dust collecting unit,

wherein the air shower device is removable,

wherein the air shower device is connected to an administrative server via a communication network, and

wherein the administrative server includes information provided by a weather information provider.

11. The building according to claim 10, wherein the air shower device is installed in the entrance hall, and wherein an outside body inevitably passes through the entrance hall.

12. The building according to claim 10, wherein the dust removed by the filter includes an allergenic substance.

13. The building according to claim 10, wherein the dust removed by the filter includes pollen.

14. The building according to claim 10, wherein the dust removed by the filter includes cedar pollen.

15. A system for reducing hay fever that prevents allergenic substances from being brought into a living space by an outside body, comprising:

an air shower device including an air blower unit and an exhaust unit; and

an administrative server for obtaining pollen dispersal information from a weather information provider and determining an optimum operating condition for the air shower device,

wherein the air shower device is installed in an entrance of the living space;

wherein the outside body inevitably passes through the entrance; and

wherein the administrative server controls a specific air flow rate in accordance with an amount of pollen dispersed in outside air.

16. The system for reducing hay fever that prevents allergenic substances from being brought into a living space by an outside body according to claim 15, wherein the pollen dispersal information includes local pollen information and information about pollen concerning a wide area.

17. A system for reducing hay fever that prevents allergenic substances from being brought into a living space by an outside body, comprising the steps of:

providing information on a pollen dispersal season to a client;

installing an air shower device in an entrance of a living space designated by the client in response to a request by the client;

obtaining information on pollen dispersal concerning a wide area from a weather information provider;

obtaining local pollen dispersal information from a pollen sensor provided in a place where the air shower device is installed;

determining an optimum operating condition for the air shower device by comparing the information on pollen dispersal concerning a wide area with the local pollen dispersal information;

providing the optimum operating condition for the air shower device to the client; and

removing the air shower device in response to a request by the client.