System and method of monitoring an electronic discharge device in an air purification system

• US 9,792,804 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2017
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steril-Aire, LLC
• Original Assignee: Steril-Aire
• Inventors: Zhang, Kanghong, Culbert, Robert M., Scheir, Robert, Mueller, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US15/452,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20170243460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 3406911, 95 52, 95 65, 95149, 95214, 95234
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/245 Testing of gas discharge tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/44 Testing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system of remotely monitoring an operational status of electronic discharge devices in an air purification system senses emitted radiation at a location proximate the air purification system, alone or in combination with a determination of an amount of time remaining in an operational lifetime of the electronic discharge device, or an amount of power delivered to at least one of the electronic discharge devices. A determination of the operational status of at least one of the electronic discharge devices is made based on at least emitted radiation, and the status information is transmitted to a remote monitoring unit that receives the status information and displays an indicator of operational status. In one embodiment, the operational status of a UV-C germicidal lamp may be monitored using optically sensitive devices located within a purification system.

Claims

1. A method of retrofitting an air purification system having a plurality of electronic discharge devices, comprising:

installing a first current sensing loop to a first array of said plurality of electronic discharge devices;

installing a second current sensing loop to a second array of said plurality of electronic discharge devices;

performing a balance adjustment on a sensing circuit connected to said first and second current sensing loops,

wherein said balance adjustment includes modifying an adjustable component of said sensing circuit such that said sensing circuit indicates that one or more electrical properties of said first and second array are balanced.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to performing said balance adjustment, powering on said first and second arrays.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said balance adjustment includes modifying the value of an adjustable impedance of said sensing circuit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a balance readjustment,

wherein said balance readjustment includes modifying the value of an adjustable impedance of said sensing circuit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a balancing window.

6. An apparatus for remotely monitoring an operational status of a plurality of electronic discharge devices in an air purification system, comprising;

a sensing stage having at least one adjustable impedance element and configured to measure a first electrical property of a first array of said plurality of electronic discharge devices and a second electrical property of a second array of said plurality of electronic discharge devices;

an imbalance detection stage configured to generate an operational status signal indicative of whether a difference between said first and second electrical properties exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

an indicator,

wherein said indicator is configured to provide an indication of said operational status based at least in part on said operational status signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein, said first electrical property and said second electrical property are current and said sensing stage includes one or more current sensing loops.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said indicator includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said indicator is configured to transmit an indication of said operational status to a location remote from said plurality of electronic discharge devices.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a power detection stage configured to generate a power signal indicative of whether one or more of said plurality of electronic discharge devices is receiving electrical power,

wherein said indicator is further configured to provide an indication of said operational status based at least hi part on said power signal.