Self-cleaning household appliance

Abstract

A domestic appliance is provided comprising an air inlet, an air outlet with at least one nozzle, and a compressor configured to compress incoming air received at the air inlet and to expel the compressed air through the at least one nozzle. The domestic appliance further comprises at least one light source for emitting light in the violet part of the visible spectrum, the at least one light source being arranged to illuminate the at least one nozzle for decontaminating the nozzle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance with a compressor for blowing air through an outlet including at least one nozzle. Background Technology

[0002] Examples of such household appliances include cooling fans, air purifiers, and hair dryers. They draw air from the environment through an inlet and use a compressor to forcefully expel the air through nozzles or multiple nozzles. Depending on the application, the air may be filtered, cooled, heated, humidified, dried, or otherwise treated as it flows between the inlet and outlet. The nozzles direct the exhausted air directly to the user or into the user's living room or environment.

[0003] The problem with these types of household appliances is that the air drawn in from the inlet comes from an environment that may contain various contaminants. Larger dirt and dust particles can be filtered out, but smaller contaminants, such as bacteria and other microorganisms, can also be inhaled. Such microbial contaminants may be blown directly at the user or accumulate and grow elsewhere, such as around the nozzle, inside the filter, or within the appliance's ductwork. Contamination can also occur due to direct contact with the nozzle, such as with hair dryers or wearable devices. Different people using the same appliance further increases the health and safety risks associated with this contamination.

[0004] Cleaning household appliances is often done with a damp cloth, which can lead to more, not less, microbial contamination. Therefore, it is necessary to find better ways to protect vacuum cleaner users from harmful microorganisms when cleaning their homes and offices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, a household appliance is provided, comprising an air inlet, an air outlet having at least one nozzle, and a compressor configured to compress incoming air received at the air inlet and discharge compressed air through the at least one nozzle. The household appliance also includes at least one light source for emitting light in the violet portion of the visible spectrum, the at least one light source being arranged to illuminate the at least one nozzle for removing contaminants from the nozzle. The household appliance may be, for example, a fan, an air purifier, a hair dryer, or a wearable device.

[0006] The violet portion of the visible spectrum is generally defined as spanning approximately 380 to 450 nm. Therefore, the light used can, for example, have a wavelength of approximately 405 nm. Light at these wavelengths is known to be very effective at killing any microorganisms that may accumulate on the illuminated surface. While such light is known for use in lamps in hospital clean rooms and in stand-alone curing lamps for 3D printer resins and nail polish, it has not yet been used in household appliances that generate airflow or for cleaning contaminated parts of such devices. The use of violet visible light in this particular implementation offers many advantages not found in ultraviolet or near-ultraviolet light. For example, low-energy visible light does not damage the material of the surface it illuminates. This is particularly advantageous because most household appliances are at least partially made of plastics that are easily damaged by ultraviolet light. Another important advantage of violet visible light is that no direct line of sight is required between the light source and the surface or part to be cleaned. Indirect irradiation with violet visible light also helps remove microbial contaminants.

[0007] It is important to note that emitting light in the violet portion of the visible spectrum as part of the decontamination process means that the emitted light includes a significant portion of that electromagnetic spectrum, and that the intensity of this significant portion is sufficient to have a useful antibacterial and decontamination effect. The emitted light does not need to be limited to the violet portion of the visible spectrum. Light from other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum can also be emitted, provided that there is sufficient light intensity in that portion of the spectrum (preferably at or around a wavelength of 405 nm) to achieve a decontamination effect. Furthermore, it should be noted that the intensity of the emitted light can vary over time as part of the decontamination process. This variation can be gradual and continuous, or it can be in the form of a light pulse pattern. If pulsed light is used, the frequency, duration, and intensity of the pulse can be constant or variable.

[0008] In a simple embodiment, at least one light source can be activated when the household appliance is connected to an external power source. However, if the emitted light is visible to the user, time-controlled operation of at least one light source may be preferred. For battery-powered devices, a strategy of always being on may not be optimal. The household appliance may therefore include a controller operatively coupled to at least one light source and configured to time-control the at least one light source. The controller may, for example, be configured to activate at least one light source in response to the activation of a decontamination button. This allows the user to start and stop the decontamination process at will. However, to ensure that the device decontaminates periodically, some form of automatic or semi-automatic control is preferred.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the controller is operatively coupled to the compressor and configured to activate at least one light source during the decontamination period, the beginning of the decontamination period, and / or its duration, depending on the compressor's on / off state. While the use of violet visible light has been found to be an effective method for eliminating microbial contaminants, it is a time-consuming process. When using, for example, a low-intensity 405nm LED light, it may require 30 minutes to several hours of illumination to remove most microorganisms. During use, critical components (nozzles, filters, etc.) may become contaminated faster than the light source can prevent. Decontamination during use may therefore not be very useful or energy-efficient. However, the decontamination procedure can be initiated when the compressor is off. A short delay can be built in to ensure that the device is actually not in use, rather than just being off for a very short period of time.

[0010] If the household appliance is battery-powered, at least one light source can be activated when the appliance is connected to a battery charger. This prevents the appliance's battery pack from being depleted through a decontamination process, rendering it unable to perform its primary functions. The activation and deactivation of at least one light source can further depend on the battery's state of charge; for example, the light source may be activated only when connected to a battery charger or still charging to at least 50% of its full capacity. Charging the battery pack can be done simply by connecting a power cord to the charger circuitry. Alternatively, the battery may be charged when the appliance or the battery containing a portion thereof is placed in a docking station provided for this purpose.

[0011] Household appliances may include light guides arranged to direct emitted light from at least one light source to at least one nozzle. This can be particularly useful in household appliances with multiple nozzles. For example, a transparent or translucent plastic optical fiber or light guide can direct light emitted from a central light source to a nozzle located at a distance, thus avoiding the need for a separate light source for each nozzle. Light guides can further help illuminate other internal parts of household appliances that may be susceptible to microbial contamination.

[0012] Optionally, the household appliance also includes a filter for filtering incoming air, with at least one light source arranged to illuminate the filter. The filter can be located upstream or downstream of the compressor. Like a nozzle, the filter can be directly illuminated by the light source or illuminated through a light guide.

[0013] According to a further aspect, a docking station can be provided for a household appliance, the appliance including an outlet with at least one nozzle. The docking station includes a docking chamber for receiving and holding at least a portion of the household appliance, and a docking sensor for providing a docking signal when the household appliance is held in the docking chamber. The docking station also includes at least one light source for emitting light in the violet portion of the visible spectrum, the at least one light source being arranged to illuminate at least one nozzle by emitting light when the household appliance is held in the docking chamber. A docking station controller is operatively coupled to the docking sensor and the at least one light source, and operates to receive the docking signal and, in response to the docking signal, perform a decontamination procedure, the decontamination procedure including illuminating at least one nozzle with the at least one light source for decontamination thereon.

[0014] Docking stations are typically provided for small, portable household appliances (such as hair dryers and small table fans). Battery-powered household appliances require charging after a period of use. While batteries can be charged simply by plugging in a power cord, docking stations can add additional functionality. When the device is not in use, the docking station provides a safe and convenient way to store it, possibly along with accessories intended only for selected operating modes. The docking station may include control electronics for managing the charging process and informing the user of the charging progress. According to this aspect of the invention, the docking station is further capable of decontaminating at least one nozzle or other part of the household appliance. The advantage of partially decontaminating the household appliance during docking is that the decontamination does not use any battery power that would otherwise be used for the main function of the device.

[0015] The time required to completely remove contamination from contaminated parts is typically the same as the time required to charge the battery. When using, for example, a low-intensity 405nm LED light, it may take 30 minutes to several hours of illumination to remove most microorganisms. Therefore, this decontamination process can be performed when the appliance is not in operation. Furthermore, by integrating the light source into the docking station and decontaminating components when the appliance is docked, it ensures that the decontamination process does not deplete the battery. Another advantage is that this functionality can be easily added to existing appliances by simply replacing or upgrading the docking station, without replacing the entire device.

[0016] A docking station can be designed to receive household appliances as complete units or detachable parts of devices requiring decontamination or charging. The docking station may include multiple docking compartments for receiving different parts and accessories of the devices. For example, a docking station may include a docking compartment for a hair dryer, which charges and decontaminates the hair dryer when its presence is detected. A second docking compartment may be provided for receiving accessories including nozzles. A light source for the nozzles of lighting accessories may be turned on when charging begins and / or when the placement of an accessory is detected. In another example, the docking station is configured to receive the filter unit of an air purifier. A light source is turned on when the presence of the filter unit is detected. Such a docking station can be used to decontaminate the filter units of multiple air purifiers owned by the same user.

[0017] In one embodiment, the docking station further includes a communication unit operatively coupled to the docking station controller to enable communication between the docking station controller and the appliance controller of the household appliance. This communication unit may, for example, be used to receive information from various sensors of the household appliance or to receive specific instructions from the appliance's controller. Furthermore, the communication unit may send similar sensor signals and / or instructions to the household appliance's controller.

[0018] According to another aspect, a combination of a docking station and a household appliance as described above is provided. As previously mentioned, the light source and its control can be located in the docking station, the household appliance, or a combination of both. Preferably, both the docking station and the household appliance include a communication unit for enabling communication between the docking station controller and the appliance controller of the household appliance. The household appliance may include a light guide arranged to direct emitted light from at least one light source of the docking station to at least one nozzle of the household appliance. Similarly, a filter of the household appliance for filtering incoming air can be directly illuminated by the light source of the docking station or illuminated via the light guide. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020] Figure 1 Two fans according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown.

[0021] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 The cross-section of one of the fans.

[0022] Figure 3 A perspective view of the hair dryer according to the present invention is shown.

[0023] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 Front view of a section of the hair dryer.

[0024] Figure 5A wearable air purifier according to the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 6 It shows Figure 5 The nozzle of the wearable air purifier.

[0026] Figure 7 It shows Figure 5 The cross-section of the speaker assembly of a wearable air purifier.

[0027] Figure 8 It shows Figure 7 An exploded view of some components of a speaker assembly.

[0028] Figure 9 It shows the use of with Figures 5 to 8 A docking station used in conjunction with wearable air purifiers. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Figure 1 Two fans 100 and 200 are shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 The cross-section of one of the fans 100. Air 1 enters the fans 100 and 200 through air inlets 110 and 210 in the base of the fans 100 and 200. The air inlets 110 and 210 in these fans 100 and 200 are formed of perforated metal plates, but other types of air inlets can be used similarly. Inside the base, a compressor 130 is provided for compressing the incoming air 1 and blowing the air towards and out through nozzles 120 and 220. Figure 1 In the fan 100 on the right, the nozzle 120 is positioned between the inner core 121 and the outer casing 122 of the largely spherical output unit located at the top of the base. Figure 1 In the fan 200 on the left, nozzle 220 is disposed on the annular end surface of the annular output unit 221 located at the top of the base. The fans 100 and 200 in this example are equipped with a filter 140 for purifying the incoming air 1 before it is released through the nozzle 110. Therefore, these fans 100 and 200 are also referred to as air purifiers 100 and 200.

[0030] Air purifiers 100 and 200 also include multiple light sources 50 and 60 for emitting light in the violet portion of the visible spectrum. For example, the light sources could be LEDs 50 and 60 with a wavelength of 405 nm. The violet portion of the visible spectrum is generally defined as spanning approximately 380 to 450 nm. Therefore, the light used can, for example, have a wavelength of approximately 405 nm. Light at these wavelengths is known to be very effective at killing any microorganisms that may accumulate on the illuminated surface. The use of violet visible light in this particular embodiment offers many advantages not found in ultraviolet or near-ultraviolet light. For example, low-energy visible light does not damage the material of the surface it illuminates. This is particularly advantageous because most household appliances (such as air purifiers 100 and 200) are at least partially made of plastics that are easily damaged by ultraviolet light. Another important advantage of violet visible light is that no direct line of sight is required between the light source and the surface or part to be cleaned. Indirect irradiation with violet visible light also helps remove microbial contaminants.

[0031] At least some of the nozzle cleaning LEDs 50 are arranged to illuminate the nozzles 120 and 220 of the air purifiers 100 and 200 for removing contaminants. This prevents the accumulation of microbial contaminants in and around the nozzles 120 and 220, and prevents such contaminants from being dispersed into the air along with the exhaust air 2. Filter cleaning LEDs 60 are arranged to illuminate the filter 140. Additional LEDs may be provided elsewhere along the air path through the devices 100 and 200 to ensure that microbial contaminants are picked up along the way by the air drawn in and exhausted from the air purifiers 100 and 200. For example, duct cleaning LEDs 80 are positioned near the end of the air path to illuminate most of the end portion of the air path. Because this portion of the air path is close to the external environment of the air purifiers 100 and 200, and close to parts of the device that may be touched by the user (possibly with a bacteria-laden cloth), it has a higher risk of harboring microbial contaminants. The area is illuminated by the LED80 air duct cleaning system, which can eliminate contaminants before they have a chance to grow and be picked up by the outflowing air 2 discharged from the nozzle 120.

[0032] It is important to note that emitting light in the violet portion of the visible spectrum as part of the decontamination process means that the emitted light includes a significant portion of that electromagnetic spectrum, and that the intensity of this significant portion is sufficient to have a useful antibacterial and decontamination effect. The emitted light does not need to be limited to the violet portion of the visible spectrum. Light from other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum can also be emitted, provided that there is sufficient light intensity in that portion of the spectrum (preferably at or around a wavelength of 405 nm) to achieve a decontamination effect. Furthermore, it should be noted that the intensity of the emitted light can vary over time as part of the decontamination process. This variation can be gradual and continuous, or it can be in the form of a light pulse pattern. If pulsed light is used, the frequency, duration, and intensity of the pulse can be constant or variable.

[0033] In a simplified embodiment, LEDs 50, 60, and 80 can be activated when the air purifiers 100 and 200 are connected to an external power source. This can help achieve optimal pollution removal when LEDs 60 and 80 only illuminate the internal parts of the devices 100 and 200, and the light they emit is not visible from the outside. However, if the emitted light is visible to the user, time-controlled operation of at least one light source may be preferred. For battery-powered devices, a strategy of always being on may not be optimal. The air purifier may therefore include a controller 180, operatively coupled to and configured to time-control the LEDs 50, 60, and 80. Although Figure 2 The controller 180 in the air purifier 100 is located on a printed circuit board provided inside the base of the air purifier 100, and at least some of its control functions can be remotely located on a computer connected to the air purifier 100 via a local area network or wide area network. The controller 180 may, for example, be configured to activate LEDs 50, 60, and 80 in response to the activation of the removal button. The removal button may be a physical button provided on the device 100, or it may be a software representation of a button in a graphical user interface provided for controlling and monitoring the operation of the air purifier 100. Regardless of whether the button is implemented in hardware or software, it can be provided via remote control or operated via a mobile application or an internet website. The removal button allows the user to start and stop the removal process at will. However, to ensure that the device 100 removes pollution regularly, some form of automatic or semi-automatic control is preferred.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, controller 180 is operatively coupled to compressor 130 and configured to activate LEDs 50, 60, and 80 during the decontamination period, the start of the decontamination period, and / or its duration, depending on the on / off state of compressor 130. While the use of violet visible light has been found to be an effective method for eliminating microbial contaminants, it is a time-consuming process. When using, for example, low-intensity 405nm LEDs, it may take 30 minutes to several hours of illumination to remove most microorganisms. During use, critical components (nozzles 120, 220, filter 140…) may become contaminated faster than LEDs 50, 60, and 80 can prevent. Decontamination during use may therefore not be very useful or energy-efficient. However, the decontamination program can be initiated when the compressor is off. A short delay can be built in to ensure that air purifiers 100 and 200 are actually not in use, and not just turned off for a very short period of time.

[0035] If the air purifier 100 is battery-powered, LEDs 50, 60, and 80 can be activated when the air purifier 100 or 200 is connected to a battery charger. This prevents the battery pack from being depleted during the pollution removal process, thus preventing it from performing its primary functions of purifying and exhausting air. The activation and deactivation of LEDs 50, 60, and 80 can further depend on the battery's state of charge; for example, LEDs 50, 60, and 80 may be activated only when connected to a battery charger or while still charging to at least 50% of their full capacity. Charging the battery pack can be done simply by connecting the power cord to the charger circuitry. Alternatively, the battery may be charged when the air purifier 100 or 200, or the battery containing a portion thereof, is placed in a docking station provided for this purpose.

[0036] Air purifiers 100 and 200 may include light guides arranged to direct light emitted from LEDs 50, 60, and 80 to at least one nozzle 120 or 220, or any other part to which contaminants are to be removed. This can be particularly useful in air purifiers 100 and 200 with multiple nozzles 120 and 220. For example, a transparent or translucent plastic optical fiber or light guide can direct light emitted from a central light source to a nozzle 120 or 220 located at a distance, thus avoiding the need for a separate light source for each nozzle 120 or 220. The light guide can further help illuminate other internal parts of the household appliance that may be susceptible to microbial contamination. For example, a large portion of the inner wall of the air duct between the compressor 130 and the nozzle 120 can be configured as a light guide, thereby reducing the risk of microbial growth inside the device 100 or 200.

[0037] The use of light sources that emit the violet portion of the visible spectrum is also useful in other household appliances that use compressors to compress incoming air and then expel the compressed air through one or more nozzles. An example of such a household appliance is... Figure 3 and 4 The hair dryer 300 shown and Figures 5 to 9 The wearable air purifier 400 shown is shown.

[0038] Figure 3 and 4 Perspective and front views of a hair dryer 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown respectively. The hair dryer 300 includes a compressor disposed inside a handle or stem 305. When the compressor is running, incoming air 1 is drawn into the interior through an air inlet 310 disposed at the lower end of the handle 305. The compressor then compresses the air and discharges it through an annular nozzle 320 at the end of a cylindrical head 321 of the hair dryer 300. The nozzle 320 may be provided as a single annular narrow opening or as a plurality of smaller nozzles mounted in a circular configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the nozzle 320 may have a non-annular shape. The hair dryer 300 may be powered by a power cord 307 and / or by a battery embedded in the handle 305 or head 321 of the device.

[0039] Nozzle cleaning LEDs 50, which emit light in the violet portion of the visible spectrum, are positioned near the nozzle 320 to remove contaminants from the nozzle after use. LEDs 50 can also emit light during use to remove contaminants. However, since the hair dryer 300 is typically used only for a few minutes each day, it is important to use LEDs 50 after use as well. Similarly, filter cleaning LEDs 60, which emit light in the violet portion of the visible spectrum, are positioned near the air inlet 310 and / or installed downstream of the air inlet 302, near the filter unit inside the handle 305. These LEDs 60 ensure that the air inlet and filter are illuminated with violet light, minimizing microbial contaminants in those areas. Additional surface cleaning LEDs 70 may be positioned on the handle 305 and / or below the head 321 to illuminate parts of the hair dryer that the user may touch.

[0040] Preferably, the operation of LEDs 50, 60, and 70 is controlled by a controller that may be located inside the handle portion 305. For example, when the power cord 307 is connected to an external power source, LEDs 50, 60, and 70 immediately turn on. LEDs 50, 60, and 70 may turn off after a set time (e.g., 30, 45, or 60 minutes). Preferably, the hair dryer 300 powered by the power cord 307 includes a battery that can power LEDs 50, 60, and 70 when the power cord is unplugged. This battery, which powers only the LEDs and possibly the electronic controller and graphical user interface, can be smaller and lighter than a battery used to power the compressor.

[0041] It should be noted that the above refers to... Figure 1 and 2The same applies to all aspects of the pollution removal process of air purifiers 100 and 200. Figure 3 and 4 The hair dryer 300 may include, for example, an internal light guide, the optional battery of which can be charged using a docking station. Furthermore, the LEDs 50, 60, and 70 of the hair dryer can be controlled using the same and similar control methods described above.

[0042] Figure 5 A wearable air purifier 400 according to the present invention is shown. Figure 6 It shows Figure 5 The wearable air purifier 400 has nozzle 420. Figure 7 It shows Figure 5 The cross-section of the speaker assembly 470 of the wearable air purifier 400. Figure 8 It shows Figure 7 An exploded view of some components of the air purification unit of the speaker assembly 470.

[0043] The wearable air purifier 400 is configured to be worn on a user's head like a set of traditional headphones. The wearable air purifier 400 includes two substantially identical cylindrical speaker assemblies 470 joined together by an arc-shaped headband 427. The speaker assembly 470 includes an internal speaker unit 472 and an external compact air purification unit 471. It should be noted that the speaker unit 472 is not essential to this invention. The speaker unit 472 includes a speaker and speaker electronics. A Bluetooth or other type of wireless communication transmitter / receiver may be provided for wireless communication with an audio playback device. The speaker unit 472 and the air purification unit 471 may share a battery pack and some control electronics.

[0044] Air purification unit 471 includes compressor 430 for drawing in air 1 through an annular inlet 410 on the outer surface of speaker assembly 470. The incoming air 1 is filtered by filter 440 near the inlet 410 of air purification unit 471. Compressor 430 compresses the incoming air 1, which is then discharged from speaker assembly 470 through connector 425 to the respective speaker assembly via an arc-shaped nozzle 421. The nozzle 421 has multiple nozzles 420 or outlets 420 through which purified air is discharged from device 400. Because the nozzles 420 are located directly in front of the user's mouth during use, the user can inhale fresh, purified air. Optionally, the nozzle can be disconnected or pivoted open when only speaker unit 472 is used and air purification unit 471 is not used.

[0045] Similar to the aforementioned household appliances 100, 200, and 300, the wearable air purifier 400 includes various LEDs 50, 60, 70, and 80 that emit light in the violet portion of the visible spectrum to remove contaminants from key parts of the device 400. For example, one or more LEDs 50 are positioned at or near the nozzle 420 to address microbial contaminants that may accumulate there. In particular, if the same nozzle 421 is used by different users, it is important to minimize any microbial contaminants around the nozzle 420. This is even more important for the wearable air purifier 400 than for the household appliances discussed above, since the user breathes through the nozzle 420. These LEDs can be positioned, for example, between the nozzles 420, around a group of nozzles 420, or behind the nozzles 420, inside the nozzle 421.

[0046] Surface cleaning LEDs 70 can be added to illuminate the portions of the mouthpiece 421 that do not include the nozzle 420. When a user wears the wearable air purifier 400, the light from these additional LEDs 70 illuminates their surroundings. When the wearable air purifier 400 is not in use, the light from these additional LEDs 70 is unobstructed by the wearer's face and can illuminate a larger portion of the mouthpiece 421. If pivoted open, LEDs 50, 70 in the mouthpiece 421 can illuminate the top of the curved headband 427. Similarly, additional LEDs 70 for removing contaminants from the outer surfaces of the wearable air purifier can be located inside the speaker assembly 470. While these LEDs may be less useful when the user wears the device 400, they can remove contaminants from surfaces that come into direct contact with the user, such as when the battery is charging.

[0047] Figure 7 cross section and Figure 8 The exploded view illustrates how a filter cleaning LED 60 can be provided for illumination and thus for removing contaminants from the filter 440 disposed between the air inlet 410 and the air passage leading to the compressor 430. This filter cleaning LED 60 can be disposed on the filter-facing surfaces at the top and bottom 450, 460 of the filter assembly including the filter 440. Additional air passage cleaning LEDs 80 can be disposed at various locations within the air passage leading to and from the compressor 430. Although not shown, such air passage cleaning LEDs can also be disposed inside the nozzle 421.

[0048] It should be noted that the above refers to... Figures 1 to 4 All aspects of the pollution removal process of the air purifiers 100, 200 and hair dryer 300 are equally applicable. Figures 5 to 8The wearable air purifier 400 may include, for example, an internal light guide, the battery of which can be charged using a docking station. Furthermore, the LEDs 50, 60, and 70 of the wearable air purifier 400 can be controlled using the same and similar control methods described above.

[0049] Figure 9 It shows the use of with Figures 5 to 8 The docking station 500 is used in conjunction with wearable air purifiers. However, it should be noted that the same or similar docking station 500 can also be used with other household appliances and / or parts of household appliances. For example, the nozzle part or attachment of a hair dryer 300 can remove pollutants inside the docking station 500.

[0050] Docking station 500 includes a docking chamber 510 for receiving and holding wearable air purifier 400. Docking chamber 510 may include a docking sensor 511 for providing a docking signal when wearable air purifier 400 is held in docking chamber 510. For example, docking sensor 511 may be a simple contact sensor or a light sensor. Docking station 500 also includes a plurality of LEDs 90 for emitting light in the violet portion of the visible spectrum. The LEDs are arranged to substantially illuminate all sides of wearable air purifier 400, but at least the nozzle portion 420 is illuminated when device 400 is held in docking chamber 510. Docking station controller 512 is operatively coupled to docking sensor 511 and LEDs 90 and operates to receive docking signals and, in response to docking signals, executes a decontamination procedure. The decontamination procedure includes using LEDs 90 to illuminate the portion to be cleaned.

[0051] Docking station 500 can be powered by an external power source (e.g., wall socket 95) via power cord 96. Preferably, docking station 500 is equipped not only for decontamination of household appliances 100, 200, 300, 400 or parts thereof, but also for charging battery-powered devices. The time required to completely decontaminate a contaminated part is typically the same as the time required to charge the battery. When using, for example, a low-intensity 405nm LED light, it may take 30 minutes to several hours of illumination to remove most microorganisms. By integrating charging and decontamination functions into a single docking station 500, it is ensured that the decontamination process does not deplete the battery.

[0052] Docking station 500 can be designed to receive any household appliance as a complete unit or only detachable parts of a device that needs to be decontaminated or charged. Docking station 500 may include multiple docking compartments 510 for receiving different parts and accessories of the device. For example, docking station 500 may include a docking compartment for a hair dryer, which charges and decontaminates the hair dryer when its presence is detected. A second docking compartment may be provided for receiving accessories including nozzles. When charging begins and / or when the placement of an accessory is detected, a light source 90 for illuminating the nozzles and other parts of the accessory may be turned on. In another example, docking station 500 is configured to receive, for example, a filter unit of an air purifier (wearable air purifier 400 or non-wearable air purifier 100, 200). When the presence of the filter unit is detected, the light source 90 is turned on. Such docking station 500 can be used to decontaminate filter units of multiple air purifiers 100, 200, 400 owned by the same user.

[0053] In one embodiment, docking station 500 further includes a communication unit operatively coupled to docking station controller 512, enabling communication between docking station controller 512 and appliance controller of the household appliance. This communication unit may, for example, be used to receive information from various sensors of the household appliance, or to receive specific instructions from the appliance's controller. Furthermore, the communication unit may send similar sensor signals and / or instructions to the household appliance's controller.

[0054] The invention has been described above with respect to many different embodiments. It should be noted that the invention is equally applicable to other types of household appliances. Furthermore, features used in and described with reference to specific embodiments may be combined with other embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A household appliance, comprising: - Air intake, - Air outlet, with at least one nozzle. - A compressor configured to compress incoming air received at the inlet and discharge compressed air through the at least one nozzle, and - At least one light source for emitting light in the violet portion of the visible spectrum, said at least one light source being arranged to illuminate said at least one nozzle for removing contaminants from said nozzle; A controller, operatively coupled to the at least one light source and configured to perform time control on the at least one light source; The controller is operatively coupled to the compressor and configured to activate the at least one light source during a decontamination period, the start of the decontamination period, and / or the duration of the decontamination period, depending on the compressor's on / off state.

2. The household appliance according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit light with a wavelength of approximately 405 nm.

3. The household appliance of claim 1 further includes a pollution removal button, the pollution removal button being operatively coupled to the controller, the controller being configured to activate the at least one light source in response to activation of the pollution removal button.

4. The household appliance of claim 1, wherein the household appliance is powered by a battery, and wherein the at least one light source is activated when the household appliance is connected to a battery charger.

5. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a light guide arranged to direct emitted light from the at least one light source to the at least one nozzle.

6. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 5 further includes a filter for filtering incoming air, and the at least one light source is arranged to illuminate the filter.

7. The household appliance of claim 6 further includes a light guide arranged to direct emitted light from the at least one light source to the filter.

8. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the household appliance is a fan, an air purifier, a hair dryer, or a wearable device.

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