Method and system for moving air purifier

• US 20060137521A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Sung, Young-hun, Kwon, Soon-joo, Kim, Jay-Woo
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/003 including coalescing means for the separation of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0038 with means for influencing the odor, e.g. deodorizing substances
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/46 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/03 Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A method and system for purifying air while moving. The system for purifying air includes an air purification unit inhaling and purifying the air, a moving unit moving the system, and an object sensing unit sensing a wall existing at a side of the system in a direction in which the moving unit moves, wherein the moving unit moves while keeping a distance within a predetermined range from the wall sensed by the object sensing unit.

Claims

1. A system for purifying air, comprising:

an air purification unit inhaling and purifying the air;

a moving unit moving the system; and

an object sensing unit sensing a wall existing at a side of the system in a direction in which the moving unit moves,

wherein the moving unit moves while keeping a distance within a predetermined range from the wall sensed by the object sensing unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the moving unit comprises:

a driver receiving a dynamic force from a power supply and adjusting a moving direction;

a traveler receiving the dynamic force from the driver and moving in the moving direction set by the driver; and

a moving distance calculator calculating a distance that the moving unit has moved via the traveler.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the object sensing unit comprises:

an obstacle sensor sensing an obstacle existing in the direction in which the moving unit moves; and

a wall sensor sensing a wall existing at a side of the system in the direction in which the moving unit moves, and

the moving unit which moves to avoid the obstacle sensed by the obstacle sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the object sensing unit comprises a collision sensor sensing a collision with an object, and the moving unit moves in a direction different from a direction in which the collision occurred when the collision sensor sense the collision.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the object sensing unit comprises a fall sensor sensing the evenness of a floor, and the moving unit moves in a direction different from a direction in which declination is sensed by the fall sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the air purification unit comprises:

an inhaler inhaling the air;

a contaminant remover removing contaminants from the inhaled air; and

a discharger discharging the air from which the contaminants have been removed.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the inhaler is disposed in the direction in which the moving unit moves along the wall, and the discharger is disposed in a direction opposite to the direction in which the moving unit moves along the wall.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the air purification unit further comprises an anion emitter emitting anions.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an air sensing unit sensing components existing in the air,

wherein the air sensing unit comprises:

a volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor sensing a VOC;

a dust sensor sensing the amount of dust in the air;

an odor sensor sensing the amount of a substance causing an odor; and

an anion sensor sensing the amount of anions existing in the air.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the moving unit determines a moving direction according to components sensed by the air sensing unit.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a charger charging the system with electricity and a portable power supply unit.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display unit displaying a state of the system and an input unit allowing a user to select a function of the system.

13. A method of purifying air while moving, comprising;

sensing a wall using an air purification system;

approaching in a direction in which the wall is sensed; and

moving along the wall while keeping a distance within a predetermined range from the wall.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, before sensing the wall:

determining whether the air purification system has been in contact with an object; and

moving a sufficient distance for the air purification system to turn when it is determined that the air purification system has been in contact with the object.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the approaching in a direction in which the wall is sensed comprises:

sensing an obstacle existing in a direction in which the air purification system is traveling;

moving in a direction different from a direction in which the obstacle is sensed; and

sensing the wall.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the approaching in a direction in which the wall is sensed comprises:

sensing an obstacle existing in a direction in which the air purification system is traveling;

moving in a direction different from a direction in which the obstacle is sensed;

calculating the direction and distance of that is moved; and

approaching the wall according to the calculated direction and distance.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving comprises:

sensing an obstacle existing in a direction in which the air purification system moves;

moving in a direction different from a direction in which the obstacle is sensed; and

sensing the wall.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving comprises:

sensing an obstacle existing in a direction in which the air purification system moves;

moving in a direction different from a direction in which the obstacle is sensed;

calculating the direction and distance that is moved; and

moving along the wall keeping a distance within the predetermined range from the wall according to the calculated direction and distance.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the moving comprises:

sensing whether the air purification system collides with an object;

moving in a direction different from a direction in which the air purification system collides with the object; and

sensing the wall.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising purifying the air.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the purifying of the air comprises:

inhaling the air using the air purification system;

removing contaminants from the inhaled air; and

discharging the air from which the contaminants have been removed.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the purifying of the air comprises emitting anions so that the anions combine with contaminants in the air.

23. A method of purifying air while moving, comprising;

obtaining features of a contaminant in air around an air purification system;

setting a moving direction according to the features of the contaminant; and

moving in the moving direction.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the obtaining of the features comprises obtaining a concentration difference in the contaminant.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the obtaining of the features comprises identifying components of the contaminant.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising, before the obtaining of the features:

determining whether the air purification system has been in contact with an object; and

moving a sufficient distance for the air purification system to turn when it is determined that the air purification system has been in contact with the object.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the obtaining of the features comprises:

sensing the air using an air sensing unit included in the air purification system;

detecting components of the contaminants included in the sensed air; and

classifying the contaminants based on the detected components.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the moving comprises:

sensing an obstacle existing in a direction in which the air purification system moves;

moving in a direction different from a direction in which the obstacle is sensed;

obtaining features of a contaminant at a position to which the air purification system has moved; and

moving according to the features of the contaminant.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the moving comprises:

sensing an obstacle existing in a direction in which the air purification system moves;

moving in a direction different from a direction in which the obstacle is sensed;

calculating the direction and distance that has been moved; and

moving according to the calculated direction and distance.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the moving comprises:

sensing whether the air purification system collides with an object;

moving in a direction different from a direction in which the air purification system has collidedd with the object;

obtaining features of a contaminant at a position to which the air purification system has moved; and

moving according to the features of the contaminant.

31. The method of claim 23, further comprising purifying the air.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the purifying of the air comprises:

inhaling the air using the air purification system;

removing contaminants from the inhaled air; and

discharging the air from which the contaminants have been removed.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the purifying of the air comprises emitting anions so that the anions combine with contaminants in the air.