Air purification system in a room and air purifiers

Abstract

Air purification system for a room, - with at least two air purifiers (100, 200), wherein each air purifier (100, 200) is configured to generate an airflow through at least one air filter (14) and wherein at least one of the at least two air purifiers (100, 200) has a control unit (126), characterized in that - that adjustment means (18,218) for adjusting the outflow direction (20,220) of the airflow of at least one of the air purifiers (100,200) are available, - that positioning means (150) are available to determine the spatial position of the air purifiers (100, 200) and - that the control unit (126) transmits control signals to the at least one air purifier (200) to adjust the outflow direction (220) of the airflow of the at least one air purifier (200) depending on the spatial position of the at least two air purifiers (100,200).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system for air purification in a room, comprising at least two air purifiers, each air purifier being configured to generate an airflow through at least one air filter, and wherein at least one of the at least two air purifiers has a control unit. The invention also relates to an air purifier, particularly for use in the aforementioned system, comprising a housing, an air inlet and an air outlet, a fan arranged in the housing for generating an airflow, and an air filter arranged in the airflow, wherein adjustment means are provided for adjusting the direction of the airflow.

[0002] Current air purifier technology is designed for standalone use. The larger the room to be cleaned, the larger the air purifier should be to remove all pollutants from the air within a reasonable timeframe. The so-called CADR value serves as a measure of this. CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate and is a performance metric for air purifiers intended to facilitate comparison between different models. It is expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM) and describes how much air is cleaned of particles between 0.09 µm and 11.0 µm in size within one minute. This performance metric is based on a room size of 28.5 m². 3 standardized.

[0003] The cleaning process is carried out using individual air purifiers, each operating independently of any other air purifiers in the room. The air purifiers do not work together and do not utilize any synergistic effects to optimally clean the room air.

[0004] An air purifier is known, for example, from EP 3 211 343 A1, wherein a housing contains two stacked air filter units and a unit for adjusting and rotating the outflow direction of the second, upper filter unit. The known air purifier is further equipped for a WiFi connection. DE 10 2013 110 631 A1 discloses an air purifier with a filter element, a control device, and guide vanes, wherein the guide vanes can be individually adjusted to direct the expelled air. Further relevant prior art is disclosed in DE 10 2015 111 034 A1.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention is based on the technical problem of improving air purification in a room when using at least two air purifiers.

[0006] The aforementioned technical problem is solved according to the invention by providing adjustment means for adjusting the outflow direction of the airflow from at least one of the air purifiers, by providing position determination means for determining the spatial position of the air purifiers, and by transmitting control signals to the at least one air purifier for adjusting the outflow direction of the airflow of the at least one air purifier depending on the spatial position of the at least two air purifiers.

[0007] This allows multiple air purifiers to work together, enabling automatic adjustment of the airflow directions to the room's layout and the number of active air purifiers. As a result, the airflow within the room is optimized by the control unit and corresponding actuators of the adjustment devices, based on the transmitted control signals.

[0008] This advantageously achieves an optimized and adaptive cleaning result for the user by energy-efficiently amplifying existing airflows and avoiding short-circuit flows.

[0009] The adjustment means for directing the airflow from at least one of the air purifiers may include at least one adjustable air outlet opening and / or adjustable louvers arranged in the outlet opening to adjust the airflow direction. These outlet openings and / or the louvers are adjustable in their positions by means of electrically driven actuators such as electric motors.

[0010] The aforementioned positioning devices for determining the spatial position of the air purifiers can employ various techniques.

[0011] In an initial configuration of the positioning system, the signal strength of a wireless technology, such as Bluetooth, is determined from a base station, which can be a separate component or integrated into one of the air purifiers. Each air purifier has a receiver module to receive the radio waves, and their signal strength is measured. The measured signal strength is then transmitted to the base station, allowing the distance of each air purifier to be calculated. Furthermore, the distances between at least two air purifiers are determined, particularly through bidirectional communication between them, enabling the determination of their spatial position. Thus, at least triangulation is implemented for position determination.

[0012] A second design for the positioning devices involves using a camera and computer-aided image processing to determine the arrangement of the air purifiers in the room, for example relative to the base station.

[0013] A third configuration of the positioning device uses a laser scanner to scan the room in which the air purifiers are positioned. For improved visibility, the air purifiers can be easily identified by a suitable marker. The laser scanner can be designed similarly to that of a robotic vacuum cleaner, such as the Vorwerk VR200.

[0014] A fourth embodiment of the positioning device features an echo sounder in which acoustic signals are emitted and the distance from the sound source, preferably located in the base station, is determined by measuring the time-of-flight differences. The echo sounder can be designed similarly to that of a hi-fi system. Here, too, it is preferred that the distances between the individual air purifiers are determined in order to establish their spatial positions via triangulation.

[0015] In a fifth embodiment of the positioning device, each air purifier is equipped with an accelerometer that determines movement in the room from a starting position that is the same for all air purifiers. The individual positions in the room are determined relative to the starting position, preferably relative to the base station, and transmitted to the base station or the control unit via wireless communication.

[0016] A sixth embodiment of the positioning device includes input means for manual user input. For example, the input means can have a display on which the room's floor plan can be entered or displayed, and on which the user can mark the positions of the individual air purifiers. The input means are preferably located on the base station or the control unit.

[0017] The spatial arrangement of at least two air purifiers, determined using one of the previously described methods, is evaluated in the control unit, and the air purifier settings are calculated. Subsequently, the control signals are transmitted to the individual air purifiers via a communication interface, preferably a wireless one. Commonly used technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared, or other radio technologies are suitable for this purpose.

[0018] After the transmission of the control signals, the settings within the air purifiers are made by the adjustment devices by changing the direction of the airflow through the air outlet of each of the air purifiers using the available adjustment devices and actuators.

[0019] The air purifiers can be equipped with servo motors featuring angle sensing to adjust the air outlet direction. Alternatively, manual user input devices can be provided, preferably on each air purifier, to operate the corresponding actuators.

[0020] Furthermore, the control unit can transmit control signals to at least one air purifier to adjust the airflow direction of that air purifier, depending on the number of at least two air purifiers. Thus, not only the spatial arrangement of the existing air purifiers, but also their number, is used to configure the system.

[0021] A further advantageous embodiment of the described system is enhanced by the inclusion of a second adjustment mechanism for directing the airflow direction into the at least one air purifier. This allows not only the spatial position of the air purifiers but also the prevailing airflow direction within the room to be considered, thereby increasing efficiency. For example, the control unit can calculate or estimate the airflow using the room's geometry and the positions of the air purifiers within that room, and then adjust the air inlet opening accordingly using the second adjustment mechanism and appropriate control signals.

[0022] Advantageously, detection means are also provided for recording the direction of airflow in the area of ​​at least one of the air purifiers. In this way, each air purifier can independently detect the direction of airflow and react to the current conditions of the airflow spreading in the room. The detection means can include a plurality of circumferentially arranged air pressure sensors, the signals of which are evaluated by evaluation means arranged in the air purifier or by transmission to the base station or the control unit.

[0023] By generating control signals in the air purifier or in the control unit, the optimal setting of the inflow direction can then be determined for each air purifier in the system, and the air inlet can be aligned by means of actuators or electromechanical means.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment of the described system, third adjustment means are provided for setting the flow rate of the at least one air purifier, and the control unit transmits control signals to the at least one air purifier for setting the flow rate of that air purifier. In this way, the control unit can individually determine and adjust the airflow rate at each air purifier. This further optimizes air circulation within the room. For example, the flow rate can be reduced relative to an average flow rate when the distance to the nearest air purifier is small in the direction of airflow, and increased when the distance is large.

[0025] Furthermore, a second detection device can be provided for detecting at least one additional airflow-generating device, so that the control unit transmits control signals to the at least one air purifier for adjusting its operation depending on the detected device. This design is based on the understanding that other devices such as air conditioners, fans, open windows, exhaust systems, or similar can influence the airflow in the room. Thus, the position of the at least one airflow-generating device can be taken into account to optimize the room air distribution. To detect the at least one airflow-generating device, its position and, if applicable, its flow rate and direction can be measured.In particular, these devices are integrated into the system via wireless communication, and the control device can directly receive operating data from the other devices.

[0026] The technical problem outlined above is also solved by an air purifier, which is particularly suitable for use in a previously described system. The air purifier comprises a housing, an air inlet and an air outlet, a fan arranged in the housing for generating an airflow, and an air filter arranged in the airflow. Adjustment means are provided for setting the direction of the airflow. The air purifier is characterized in that it includes receiving means for receiving control signals from a control unit. These control signals depend on the spatial position of at least one air purifier, and the adjustment means set the direction of the airflow based on the received control signals.

[0027] Preferably, second adjusting means are provided for adjusting the direction of the airflow into the air purifiers, and the second adjusting means adjust the direction of the airflow depending on received control signals.

[0028] Furthermore, detection devices may be provided to detect the direction of airflow.

[0029] Preferably, third adjusting means are provided for adjusting the flow rate of the at least one air purifier, and the third adjusting means adjust the flow rate of the at least one air purifier depending on received control signals.

[0030] The features and advantages of these air purifier designs have been explained in the previous description of the system, to which reference is made here.

[0031] The invention will now be explained using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows... Fig. 1a An exemplary embodiment of an air purifier in a sectional view, Fig. 1b the air purifier from Fig. 1a in a perspective view, Fig. 2a a first embodiment of a system with two air purifiers when determining a spatial position, Fig. 2b the system of Fig. 2a when transmitting control signals, Fig. 3 another embodiment of a system with two air purifiers and Fig. 4 Another embodiment of a system with two air purifiers.

[0032] In the following description of the various embodiments according to the invention, components and elements with the same function and mode of operation are provided with the same reference numerals, even if the components and elements may differ in their dimensions or shape in the various embodiments.

[0033] Fig. Figure 1a shows an embodiment of an air purifier 2 in a sectional view. The air purifier 2 has a housing 4, an air inlet 6 and an air outlet 8, a blower 10 arranged in the housing 4 for generating an airflow 12 and an air filter 14 arranged in the airflow 12.

[0034] The housing 4 is formed in three sections. A first, upper section I and a second, lower section II each have a grille 16 on their outer circumference. A third, middle section III connects the first, upper section I to the second, lower section II. The grille 16 of the first, upper section I forms the air inlet 6, while the grille 16 of the second, lower section forms the air outlet 8. Air can flow through the connection via the third, middle section III. Thus, air flowing into the first, upper section I through the third, middle section III can flow through to the second, lower section II and finally exit the housing 4 through the air outlet 8 of the second, lower section II.

[0035] In Fig. 1a The blower 10 is arranged in the first, upper section I. The blower 10 generates an airflow 12 through the three sections of the air purifier 2. The air filter 14 is arranged in the third, middle section III of the housing 4, so that the airflow 12 is filtered and cleaned as it passes through the third, middle section III.

[0036] The air purifier 2 is depicted here such that air flows in through the first, upper section I and out through the second, lower section II, so that the airflow 12 circulates from top to bottom. If the direction of rotation of the fan 10 is reversed, the airflow 12 can then flow in through the second, lower section II and out through the first, upper section I. In this case, the airflow 12 circulates from bottom to top. In the second variant, the aforementioned air inlet 6 becomes the air outlet and the aforementioned air outlet 8 becomes the air inlet.

[0037] The flow rate of the airflow 12 depends on the number of rotations of the blower 10 per unit of time.

[0038] Adjustment means 18 for adjusting the outflow direction 20 of the airflow 12 are provided, which are designed here as adjustable louvers and are arranged in the second, lower section II. The louvers 18 are arranged in the airflow 12 such that an orientation of the louvers 18 at an angle to the horizontal influences the airflow 12. Correspondingly, the orientation of the louvers 18 influences the direction of the outflow of the airflow 12.

[0039] Adjustment means 22 for adjusting the inflow direction 24 of the airflow 12 are also provided, which, similar to the adjustment means 18 for adjusting the outflow direction 20 of the airflow 12, are designed as adjustable louvers. These are arranged between the air inlet 6 and the blower 10 in the first, upper section I of the housing 4. The orientation of the louvers 22 at an angle to the horizontal influences the direction in which the airflow 12 enters the air purifier 2.

[0040] The orientation of the louvers 18 for adjusting the outflow direction 20 of the airflow 12 and the louvers 22 for adjusting the inflow direction 24 of the airflow 12, as well as the direction of rotation and the number of rotations per unit of time of the blower 10, are controlled by a control unit 26, which is arranged in the housing 4. In the air purifier 2 of the Fig. 1a the control unit 26 is arranged in the first, upper section I of the housing 4.

[0041] The air purifier 2 in Fig. 1a also includes receiving means 28, which are intended for receiving control signals from a control unit. The control unit is the control unit of another air purifier, which provides the control signals using wireless technology. For air purifier 2 of the Fig. 1a the receiving means 28 are intended for reception via Bluetooth.

[0042] The control signals correspond to control commands such as switching on and off, as well as control parameters regarding the airflow to be generated 12. These parameters in turn correspond to setpoints for a flow rate, an inflow direction 24 and an outflow direction 20, as well as a time duration for the operation of the air purifier 2.

[0043] The control unit 26 of the air purifier 2 is configured to evaluate the control signals and to adjust the adjustment means 18 for setting the outflow direction 20 according to the result of the evaluation. Thus, the adjustment means 18 for setting the outflow direction 20 is adjusted depending on the received control signals.

[0044] The control unit 26 of the air purifier 2 is located in the Fig. 1a is also designed to adjust the adjusting means 22 for setting the inflow direction 24 of the airflow 12 depending on the received control signals. Thus, the control direction 28 causes the lamellae 22 between the air inlet 6 and the blower 10 to be aligned at an angle to the horizontal which depends on the received control signals.

[0045] Furthermore, the air purifier 2 has sensing means 30, which are provided for sensing the direction of inflow 32 of an airflow 34 in the immediate vicinity of the air purifier 2. The sensing means 30 are arranged in the first, upper section I of the housing 4, with an opening 36 provided in the housing 4 to simplify sensing. The sensing means 30 are designed here as an anemometer. The anemometer 30 is connected to the control unit 26, and the result of the sensing is transmitted to the control unit 26. The control unit 26 then adjusts the setting means 22 for adjusting the inflow direction 24, the setting means 18 for adjusting the outflow direction 20, and the fan 10 depending on the received control signals and the result of the sensing.

[0046] A battery 38 is provided in the housing 4 to supply energy to the components of the air purifier 2.

[0047] Fig. 1b shows the air purifier from Fig. 1a in a perspective view.

[0048] In the Fig. Figure 2a shows a first embodiment of a system 300 with two air purifiers for determining a spatial position. The system 300 comprises a first, left air purifier 100 and a second, right air purifier 200, both of which are essentially identical to the air purifier 2 of the Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b. Each air purifier 100, 200 has a control unit 126, 226.

[0049] The first, left-hand air purifier 100 has positioning devices 150 designed to determine its spatial position. These positioning devices 150 are configured as optical cameras that capture images of the area surrounding the first, left-hand air purifier 100. The captured images are transmitted to the control unit 126 of the first, left-hand air purifier 100 for evaluation.

[0050] The evaluation essentially consists of recognizing the shape and position of the second, right-hand air purifier 200 in the captured images. Based on the captured images, a positive or negative determination of the presence of the second air purifier 200 can be made, thus generating a count of air purifiers present. A comparison is then made using pre-stored information to determine the geographical position of each air purifier present. This determines the relative position of the second air purifier 200 to the position of the first air purifier 100.

[0051] Depending on the evaluation results, control unit 126 then provides control signals. The control signals provided depend on the number and relative position of the air purifiers present.

[0052] Fig. 2b shows the system of Fig. 2a during the transmission of control signals. The control unit 126 of the first, left air purifier 100 transmits the position-dependent control signals to the second, right air purifier 200 via a wireless communication link. Communication via Bluetooth is shown here. The receiver 228 of the second, right air purifier 200 receives the control signals, which are then transmitted to the control unit 226 of the same air purifier 200.

[0053] This optimizes airflow in a room containing System 300 with the two air purifiers 100 and 200. In the exemplary embodiment of the Fig. 2b the adjusting means 218 for adjusting the outflow direction 220 are adjusted depending on the position of the respective air purifiers 100, 200 in such a way that their adjustment avoids a short-circuit flow between the airflows of the two air purifiers 100, 200.

[0054] Fig. Figure 3 shows another embodiment of a system 300 with two air purifiers 100, 200, arranged in a room. The room is equipped with a door 400, a window 402, and a mechanical ventilation system 404. A first air purifier 100 is arranged on the floor of the room, and a second air purifier 200 is arranged on a shelf above the floor.

[0055] Each air purifier 100, 200 has detection means 130, 230, which are designed to detect the direction of an airflow. The respective detection means 160, 260 are designed as anemometers and have an individual detection range 162, 262, with each of the detection ranges 162, 262 covering the immediate vicinity of the respective air purifiers 100, 200.

[0056] A first airflow 406 exists between the open window 402 and the open door 400. The open position of the door 400 also causes a second airflow 408 between the mechanical ventilation 404 and the door 400. The sensing means 160 of the first air purifier 100 detect the direction and intensity of the first airflow 406, while the sensing means 260 of the second air purifier 200, which is positioned higher in the room, detect the direction and intensity of both the first airflow 406 and the second airflow 408.

[0057] The collected information is transmitted to the respective control units 126 and 226 and evaluated there. The result of the evaluation by control unit 226 of the second air purifier 200 is transmitted to control unit 126 of the first air purifier 200 via a Bluetooth connection.

[0058] To avoid subsequent transmission of control signals that do not match each other, only the control unit 126 of the first air purifier 100 is set up to generate and transmit control signals.

[0059] When generating the control signals, the control unit 126 of the first air purifier 100 takes into account the detected flow directions and flow rates, as well as the specific position of the respective air purifiers in the room. The control unit 126 then transmits the control signals to the second air purifier 200, which receives them via its receiver 228.

[0060] The control unit 226 of the second air purifier 200 then adjusts the adjustment means 218 for setting the outflow direction 220, the adjustment means 222 for setting the inflow direction 224, and the fan 210 for adjusting the flow rate depending on the transmitted control signals. The control unit 126 of the first air purifier 100 uses the acquired, evaluated, and determined information to also adjust the adjustment means 118, 122, and the fan 110 of the first air purifier 100.

[0061] In the Fig. Figure 4 shows another embodiment of a system 300 with two air purifiers. Similar to the Fig. Three air purifiers are arranged in the same room: a first air purifier (100) on the floor and a second air purifier (200) on a shelf above the floor. The room has an air conditioner (500) and a radiator (502), both of which are in operation.

[0062] The heating of the air by the radiator 502 creates an initial airflow 504 with a flow direction that is directed from bottom to top.

[0063] Meanwhile, the cooling of the air by the air conditioning system 500 causes a second airflow 506 to develop with a flow direction that is directed from top to bottom.

[0064] Both air purifiers 100 and 200 are equipped with detection devices 170 and 270, respectively, which are configured to detect another airflow-generating device 500 and 502. The detection devices 170 and 270 are designed as laser scanners and enable optical recognition by evaluating captured laser scans. The detection of the radiator 502 by laser scanner 170 of the first air purifier 100 and the detection of the air conditioner 500 by laser scanner 270 of the second air purifier 200 are shown here. During the evaluation, the air conditioner 500 and the radiator 502 are identified by comparison with reference data.

[0065] The results of the recording or evaluation of the laser scans by the laser scanner 270 of the second air purifier 200 are transmitted via a Bluetooth connection to the control unit 126 of the first air purifier 100.

[0066] Then the control unit 126 of the first air purifier generates control signals depending on the results of the measurements taken by the laser scanners 170, 270 of the respective air purifiers 100, 200. The number and relative position of the air purifiers 100, 200 are also taken into account.

[0067] Finally, the control unit 126 of the first air purifier 100 transmits the adaptive control signals thus generated, which correspond to information for setting the operating mode of the second air purifier 200. The receiver 228 of the second air purifier 200 receives the control signals, and the control unit 226 adjusts the various adjustment devices 218, 222, and the fan 210 of the second air purifier 200 accordingly.

[0068] As a result, the control units 126,226 of the two air purifiers 100, 200 adjust the adjustment means 118, 218 for adjusting the outflow direction 120, 220, the adjustment means 122, 222 for adjusting the inflow direction 124, 224 and the blowers 110, 210 of the respective air purifiers 100, 200 depending on the control signals.

Claims

[1] Air purification system in a room, - with at least two air purifiers (100, 200), each air purifier (100, 200) being configured to generate an airflow through at least one air filter (14), and at least one of the at least two air purifiers (100, 200) having a control unit (126), characterized by , - that adjustment means (18,218) for adjusting the outflow direction (20,220) of the airflow of at least one of the air purifiers (100,200) are available, - that positioning means (150) are available to determine the spatial position of the air purifiers (100, 200) and - that the control unit (126) transmits control signals to the at least one air purifier (200) to adjust the outflow direction (220) of the airflow of the at least one air purifier (200) depending on the spatial position of the at least two air purifiers (100,200). [2] System according to claim 1, characterized by , that the control unit (126) transmits control signals to the at least one air purifier (200) to adjust the outflow direction (220) of the airflow of the at least one air purifier (200) depending on the number of at least two air purifiers (100,200). [3] System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that second adjusting means (222) for adjusting the inflow direction (224) of the airflow into the at least one air purifier (200) are provided. [4] System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that detection means (236) for detecting the direction of flow (232) of an airflow are present in the area of ​​at least one of the air purifiers (200). [5] System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , - that third adjustment means (210) for adjusting the flow rate of the at least one air purifier (200) are available and - that the control unit (126) transmits control signals to the at least one air purifier (200) for adjusting the flow rate of the at least one air purifier (200). [6] System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , - that a second detection means (170) is available for detecting at least one further device (500, 502) generating an airflow and - that the control unit (126) transmits control signals to the at least one air purifier (200) for adjusting the operation of the at least one air purifier (200) depending on at least one detected device (500,502). [7] Air purifier for use in a system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, - with a case (4), - with an air inlet (6) and an air outlet (8), - with a blower (10) arranged in the housing (4) to generate an airflow and - with an air filter (14) arranged in the airflow, - wherein adjusting means (18) are provided for adjusting the outflow direction (20) of the airflow, characterized by , - that receiving means (28) for receiving control signals from a control unit (126) are available, - wherein the control signals depend on the spatial position of at least one air purifier (100, 200), and - that the adjusting means (18) adjust the outflow direction (20) of the airflow depending on received control signals. [8] Air purifier according to claim 7, characterized by , - that second adjustment means (22) for adjusting the inflow direction (24) of the airflow in the air purifier (2) are provided and - that the second adjusting means (22) adjust the inflow direction (24) of the airflow depending on received control signals. [9] Air purifier according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by, that detection means (30) are available for detecting the direction of flow (32) of an airflow. [10] Air purifier according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by , - that third adjustment means (10) for adjusting the flow rate of the at least one air purifier (2) are available and - that the third adjustment means (10) adjust the flow rate of the at least one air purifier (2) depending on received control signals.

Images