Multifunctional radio frequency systems and methods for UV sterilization, air purification, and defrost operations

• US 10,648,728 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2017
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Piel, Pierre Marie Jean, Mongin, Lionel, Hart, Paul Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Bauer, Cassey D
• Application Number:
  US15/721,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20190101325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/11 Apparatus for controlling air treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/20 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/22 Ionisation
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/042 Air treating means within refrigerated spaces air conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 21/006 with electronic control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/041 by purification
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0417 using an UV-lamp
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/06 Sensors detecting the presence of a product
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/00 Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps arc lamps with consumable electrodes H05B; electroluminescent lamps H05B
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/56 Modifications of input or output impedances, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/387 A circuit being added at the output of an amplifier to adapt the output impedance of the amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/411 the output amplifying stage of an amplifier comprising two power stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/21 with semiconductor devices only H03F3/245 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/50 for monitoring or control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/62 Apparatus for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/4652 using inductive coupling means, e.g. coils
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/466 using capacitive coupling means, e.g. electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 2242/20 : Power circuits

Abstract

Example systems have a defrost system that can receive a first RF signal at a first frequency to defrost a load. An air treatment device can receive a second RF signal at a second frequency and perform an air treatment process. An RF signal source has a power output, and a switching arrangement selectively electrically connects the defrost system and the first air treatment device to the power output of the RF signal source. A controller can electrically connect one of the defrost system and the first air treatment device to the power output of the RF signal source. When the defrost system is electrically connected, the RF signal source outputs the first RF signal at the first frequency, and when the first air treatment device is electrically connected, the RF signal source outputs the second RF signal at the second frequency.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a housing including a first cavity configured to contain a load;

a defroster having a first electrode at least partially disposed in the first cavity, the defroster being configured to receive a first radio frequency (RF) signal at a first frequency to defrost the load within the first cavity;

a first air treatment device in fluid communication with the housing, the first air treatment device being configured to receive a second RF signal at a second frequency, and to perform an air treatment process in response to the second RF signal;

an RF signal source having a power output for outputting RF signals;

a switching arrangement configured to selectively electrically connect the defroster the first air treatment device to the power output of the RF signal source; and

a controller configured to;

cause the switching arrangement to electrically connect one of the defroster and the first air treatment device to the power output of the RF signal source,

when the defroster is electrically connected to the power output of the RF signal source, cause the RF signal source to output the first RF signal at the first frequency,

when the first air treatment device is electrically connected to the power output of the RF signal source, cause the RF signal source to output the second RF signal at the second frequency.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second air treatment device in fluid communication with the housing, the second air treatment device being configured to receive a third RF signal at a third frequency, and to perform an air treatment process in response to the third RF signal, and wherein the controller is further configured to cause the switching arrangement to electrically connect the second air treatment device to the power output of the RF signal source.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first and second air treatment devices are selected from a plasma generator and an ultraviolet source.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to cause the switching arrangement to electrically connect the first air treatment device, and the second air treatment device to the power output of the RF signal source according to a predetermined schedule.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a variable impedance network having a first terminal coupled to the switching arrangement and a second terminal coupled to the defroster.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an impedance of the variable impedance network to match an impedance of the RF signal source to an impedance of the defroster.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to transmit a control signal to the controller in response to a user input and wherein the controller is configured to cause the switching arrangement to electrically connect one of the defroster and the first air treatment device to the power output of the RF power source in response to the control signal.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an air purification chamber in fluid communication with the housing and wherein the first air treatment device is disposed within the air purification chamber.

9. The appliance of claim 8, further comprising a fan disposed within the air purification chamber, the fan being connected to the controller and the controller being configured to activate the fan when the second RF signal at the second frequency is supplied to the first air treatment device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first air treatment device is a plasma generator.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

an ultraviolet source in fluid communication with the housing, the ultraviolet source being configured to receive a third RF signal at a third frequency, and to perform an air treatment process in response to the third RF signal, and wherein the controller is further configured to cause the switching arrangement to electrically connect the ultraviolet source to the power output of the RF signal source.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

an ultraviolet source in fluid communication with the housing, the ultraviolet source being configured to receive a third RF signal at a third frequency, and to perform an air treatment process in response to the third RF signal, and wherein the controller is further configured to cause the switching arrangement to electrically connect the ultraviolet source to the power output of the RF signal source.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first air treatment device is an ultraviolet source.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a plasma generator in fluid communication with the housing, the plasma generator being configured to receive a third RF signal at a third frequency, and to perform an air treatment process in response to the third RF signal, and wherein the controller is further configured to cause the switching arrangement to electrically connect the plasma generator to the power output of the RF signal source.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a plasma generator in fluid communication with the housing, the plasma generator being configured to receive a third RF signal at a third frequency, and to perform an air treatment process in response to the third RF signal, and wherein the controller is further configured to cause the switching arrangement to electrically connect the plasma generator to the power output of the RF signal source.

16. A system comprising:

a housing including a first cavity configured to contain a load;

a defroster at least partially disposed in the first cavity, the defroster being configured to receive a first radio frequency (RF) signal at a first frequency to defrost the load within the first cavity;

a plasma generator in fluid communication with the housing, the plasma generator being configured to receive a second RF signal at a second frequency, and to perform an air treatment process in response to the second RF signal;

an RF signal source having a power output for outputting RF signals;

a switching arrangement configured to selectively electrically connect the defroster and the plasma generator to the power output of the RF signal source; and

a controller configured to;

cause the switching arrangement to electrically connect one of the defroster and the plasma generator to the power output of the RF signal source,

when the defroster is electrically connected to the power output of the RF signal source, cause the RF signal source to output the first RF signal at the first frequency,

when the plasma generator is electrically connected to the power output of the RF signal source, cause the RF signal source to output the second RF signal at the second frequency.

17. A system comprising:

a housing including a first cavity configured to contain a load;

a defroster at least partially disposed in the first cavity, the defroster being configured to receive a first radio frequency (RF) signal at a first frequency to defrost the load within the first cavity;

an ultraviolet source in fluid communication with the housing, the ultraviolet source being configured to receive a second RF signal at a second frequency, and to perform an air treatment process in response to the second RF signal;

an RF signal source having a power output for outputting RF signals;

a switching arrangement configured to selectively electrically connect the defroster and the ultraviolet source to the power output of the RF signal source; and

a controller configured to;

cause the switching arrangement to electrically connect one of the defroster and the ultraviolet source to the power output of the RF signal source,

when the defroster is electrically connected to the power output of the RF signal source, cause the RF signal source to output the first RF signal at the first frequency,

when the ultraviolet source is electrically connected to the power output of the RF signal source, cause the RF signal source to output the second RF signal at the second frequency.