Air purifier

Abstract

In an air purifier capable of displaying the condition of the outside air, the objective is to prevent the display from changing due to user actions, thereby minimizing any discomfort or unease caused to the user. [Solution] The air purifier 1 is equipped with a display unit 19 that displays the state of the outside air. Until a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of the operation mode switching means 51, the display content immediately before the operation of the operation mode switching means 51 is displayed. After the predetermined time has elapsed, the display content based on the current operation mode is displayed. As a result, the display is maintained before and after the mode switching, enabling appropriate air purification operation while minimizing any discomfort or unpleasantness caused to the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air purifying device for purifying indoor air.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an air purifying device for purifying indoor air is provided with a sensor for detecting air pollution, and it is generally known to display the air pollution level detected by this sensor.

[0003] In addition, there is also a device that controls its operation according to the content corresponding to the operation mode (for example, Patent Document 1). In a specific mode, the minimum air volume is made higher than that in the standard mode, or the sensitivity of the sensor is made higher than that in the standard mode. By performing air purification operation according to the operation mode, an effective air purification operation required by the user can be realized.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, when the operation mode is switched, the operation content changes accordingly. Therefore, even in the same outside air state, the detection result of the sensor changes, and the displayed content may change before and after the switch. As a user, the display regarding the air pollution level changes due to one's own operation, which may cause a sense of discomfort or uneasiness to the user, or may be misinterpreted as a failure or defect.

[0006] The present invention is for solving the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an air purifying device capable of performing appropriate air purification operation while suppressing the sense of discomfort and uneasiness given to the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides an operating mode switching means for switching operating modes, An intake section that draws in outside air, This air purification unit collects and purifies substances contained in the air drawn in from this intake, The outlet that blows out purified air, A blower unit that creates the airflow that draws in air from the intake unit and blows it out from the outlet unit, A detection unit that detects the condition of the outside air, A display unit that displays the state of the outside air according to the detection status of the detection unit, An air purifier equipped with a control unit, The control unit selects the following operating modes: A first mode controls the amount of air blown by the air blower according to the detection status of the detection unit. It also features a second mode that performs control specifically for removing certain air pollutants, Until a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of the operating mode switching means, the display content immediately before the operation of the operating mode switching means will be displayed on the display unit. The air purifier is characterized in that, after the predetermined time has elapsed, the display unit displays content based on the current operating mode. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] By configuring the system as described above, it is possible to avoid changes in the display regarding the outside air conditions triggered by user actions, thus enabling proper air purification operation while minimizing discomfort or unease. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an external view of the air purifier according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of the air purifier according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the configuration of the air purification unit in this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing the main components of the air purifier according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is an illustrative diagram of the display unit and its operation in this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described by illustrating the operation of the present invention.

[0011] The present invention relates to an air purifier that purifies air drawn in by a blower unit using an air purification unit, comprising an operating mode switching means for switching operating modes, a detection unit for detecting the state of the outside air, a display unit for displaying the state of the outside air, and a control unit. The control unit has two operating modes: a first mode that controls the amount of air blown according to the detection status of the detection unit, and a second mode specialized for removing specific air pollutants. Until a predetermined time has elapsed since the operating mode switching means was operated, the display content immediately before the operation of the operating mode switching means is displayed, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the display content based on the current operating mode is displayed. With this configuration, even if the detection result regarding the state of the outside air changes before and after the mode switching, the display before the operation is maintained for a predetermined time after the operation of the operating mode switching means, thus preventing the display regarding the state of the outside air from changing due to the user's operation. This reduces the sense of discomfort or unpleasantness caused to the user.

[0012] In addition, the detection unit has a sensor for detecting specific air pollutants that are specifically removed in the second mode. When the first condition is satisfied during the second mode, the sensitivity of this sensor is set higher compared to the first mode. Although changing the sensitivity of the sensor will change the detection result regarding the state of the outside air, the display before the operation is maintained within a predetermined time from the operation of the operation mode switching means. This can avoid the situation where the display regarding the state of the outside air changes due to the operation of the user, enabling an air purification operation that can more sensitively detect and remove air pollutants while suppressing the discomfort and uneasiness given to the user.

[0013] Also, when the second condition is satisfied during the second mode, the air volume of the blower unit is increased to a volume greater than or equal to the maximum air volume in the first mode. Increasing the air volume enables effective air purification operation in a short time. On the other hand, the air pollutants detected by the sensor per unit time increase, and the detection result regarding the state of the outside air changes. However, since the display before the operation is maintained within a predetermined time from the operation of the operation mode switching means, it is possible to avoid the situation where the display regarding the state of the outside air changes due to the operation of the user, enabling more effective air purification operation in a shorter time while suppressing the discomfort and uneasiness given to the user.

[0014] Moreover, when the operation mode switching means is operated again before the elapse of a predetermined time after it is operated, the display content immediately before operating the operation mode switching means is displayed until the elapse of the predetermined time from the last operation of the operation mode switching means, and the display content based on the current operation mode is displayed after the elapse of the predetermined time. This can avoid the situation where the display regarding the state of the outside air changes successively due to the operation of the user even when the user continuously operates the operation mode switching means, and can suppress the discomfort and uneasiness given to the user.

Embodiment

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] FIG. 1 is an external view of the air purifier of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the air purifier of the present embodiment. The air purifier 1 of the present embodiment includes a top panel 11, a front panel 12, left and right side panels 13, a rear panel (not shown), and a bottom frame 14. And, on the top panel 11, an operation unit 15 having various buttons for instructing the operation of the air purifier 1 and an air outlet 17 having a grid-like grill 16 are provided.

[0017] The main body 2 of the air purifier 1 is supported by the bottom frame 14. On the front side of the main body 2, a front opening 12a is formed between the bottom frame 14 and the front panel 12, and a rear opening is similarly formed on the rear side. Also, on the side panel 13, a side opening 13a is formed by an opening provided downward. And, at the bottom of the air purifier 1, an air intake 18 for introducing air into the main body 2 is formed, and the air flowing in through the front opening 12a, the rear opening, and the side opening 13a is taken into the air intake 18.

[0018] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, inside the air purifier 1, in order from the upstream in the air flow direction, a mesh-like pre-filter 21 for collecting dust from the air taken in from the air intake 18, an air purification unit 22 for collecting substances that have passed through the pre-filter 21, and a blower 23 for blowing air to the air duct from the air intake 18 to the air outlet 17 are provided. The main body 2 is configured to include the pre-filter 21, the air purification unit 22, and the blower 23, and the front panel 12 is attached so as to cover the front of the main body 2.

[0019] And, below the air intake 18, that is, upstream in the air flow direction, a filter case 25 housing an air filter 24 is detachably provided. The air filter 24 is provided at the most upstream in the air flow direction and large dust adheres to it. By providing the air filter 24, the dust collected by the pre-filter 21 and the air purification unit 22 is reduced, so that the maintenance frequency of the pre-filter 21 and the air purification unit 22 can be lowered, and the convenience is excellent.

[0020] Figure 3 shows the configuration of the air purification unit of this embodiment. The air purification unit 22 purifies the air by capturing fine substances such as particles and viruses that have passed through the pre-filter 21 and air filter 24, and its configuration can include various elements. In the air purifier 1 of this embodiment, an electrostatic precipitator 26, a dust collection filter 27, and a deodorizing filter 28 are included.

[0021] The electrostatic precipitator 26 is configured by arranging ionization electrodes and dust collection electrodes alternately. By applying a voltage between the ionization electrodes and dust collection electrodes, substances that have passed through the pre-filter 21 are charged, and the charged substances are collected by the dust collection electrodes. The dust collection filter 27 collects particles that were not collected by the electrostatic precipitator 26, as well as fine substances such as viruses. The deodorizing filter 28 is a sheet-shaped or pleated filter made of, for example, activated carbon fibers, and purifies the air by adsorbing odor components contained in the air after it has passed through the dust collection filter 27.

[0022] The air purifier 1 may also have a configuration that includes only one of either the electrostatic precipitator 26 or the dust collection filter 27. In the above configuration that uses both the electrostatic precipitator 26 and the dust collection filter 27, a sensor for detecting the level of air pollution (details will be described later) may be provided, and the electrostatic precipitator 26 may be activated according to the amount of pollution detected by the sensor. In other words, the electrostatic precipitator 26 is activated when the pollution level is high, and substances in the air are captured by both the electrostatic precipitator 26 and the dust collection filter 27. This enhances the purification capacity and allows for faster air purification.

[0023] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the main components of the air purifier of this embodiment. The air purifier 1 is equipped with multiple sensors as a detection unit for detecting the state of the outside air. Each sensor detects a different object, and in this embodiment, two types of sensors are provided: a dust sensor 31 and a gas sensor 32.

[0024] The dust sensor 31 is a sensor that detects dust in the air, detecting the amount of PM2.5, pollen, dust, etc. Furthermore, since the output obtained differs depending on the particle size of the detected dust, the type of dust can also be identified. The gas sensor 32 is a semiconductor-type sensor that detects odor substances in the air, and calculates and outputs the gas sensitivity from the resistance value measured by the sensor. Note that the dust sensor 31 and gas sensor 32 are examples of sensors that detect substances contained in the air, and other sensors may also be included. Additionally, sensors may be provided individually depending on the particle size of the dust or the type of gas.

[0025] The outputs from the dust sensor 31 and the gas sensor 32 are transmitted to the control unit 4 as signals indicating the detection results. The control unit 4 compares the judgment threshold with the sensor outputs to determine the level of air pollution. In addition, the control unit 4 also receives input from a thermistor (not shown) that detects the room temperature and from various buttons on the operation unit 15.

[0026] The control unit 4 is configured to include a sensitivity setting means 41 for setting the sensitivity of the dust sensor 31 and the gas sensor 32, a level determination means 42 for determining the level of air pollution from the outputs of the dust sensor 31 and the gas sensor 32, an operation control means 43 for controlling the operation of the blower 23 and the electrostatic precipitator 26 based on the pollution level and the operating mode, and a display control means 44 for controlling the display. The control unit 4 controls the operation of the air purifier 1 based on the input signals, and displays the detection results of the dust sensor 31 and the gas sensor 32, the operating mode, etc., by lighting up the indicator lamp 19.

[0027] The user can change the sensor sensitivity information held by the sensitivity setting means 41, and can set the sensitivity of the dust sensor 31 and the gas sensor 32 individually. The sensitivity change operation is only possible when the operation is stopped, and the user can select three levels of sensitivity adjustment: "medium (standard)", "strong", and "weak", as well as "disable" sensitivity, by operating the buttons on the control unit 15.

[0028] Sensor sensitivity information is sent to the level determination means 42, and the determination threshold for determining the level of air pollution is changed. When the sensor sensitivity is set to "high," the system determines that the air is polluted even if the actual amount of pollution detected is less than when the sensitivity is set to "medium (standard)." Therefore, if you want to improve the purification performance, it is effective to set the sensor sensitivity higher.

[0029] The level determination means 42 individually determines the dust level and odor level based on the output from each sensor, compares them, and sets the higher level (the dirtier one) as the room's dirt level. The dust level and odor level are divided into four stages: 0, 1, 2, and 3 (the higher the number, the dirtier it is). For example, if the dust level is 2 and the odor level is 1, the level determination means 42 sets the room's dirt level to 2.

[0030] Figure 5 is an illustrative diagram of the display unit and its operation in this embodiment. Solid circles indicate the lit state of the lamps, and dashed circles indicate the off state of the lamps. The display control means 44 illuminates the indicator lamps 19 according to the dust level and odor level set by the level determination means 42. For example, in this embodiment, the "dust" lamp 191 is lit when the dust level is 1 or higher, and similarly, the "odor" lamp 192 is lit when the odor level is 1 or higher. Note that the configuration and operation of the indicator lamps 19 are just one example of the display unit and are not limited to this embodiment.

[0031] When the air purifier 1 receives an instruction to start operation, it rotates the blower 23 according to instructions from the operation control means 43 to draw in indoor air into the unit. The amount of substances contained in the air is detected by the dust sensor 31 and the gas sensor 32, and the operation control means 43 controls the airflow of the blower 23 and the ON / OFF status of the electrostatic precipitator 26 based on the set operating mode and the contamination level determined by the level determination means 42 to start air purification operation. The airflow of the blower 23 can be switched between "turbo," "high," "medium," and "low."

[0032] Furthermore, the air purifier 1 is equipped with an operating mode switching means for the user to select an operating mode. In this embodiment, the operation unit 15 is equipped with an operating mode change switch 51, and the operating mode is switched each time the user presses the operating mode change switch 51 while the device is in operation. Note that the operating mode change switch 51 is just one example of an operating mode switching means and is not limited to this embodiment. It is sufficient for the user to operate it for the purpose of switching the operating mode, and for example, it may be for switching the operating mode by remote control, or multiple means may be provided.

[0033] The air purifier 1 has three operating modes: "fixed airflow mode," "automatic mode," and "pollen mode." Pressing the operation switch 51 switches between these modes. The following describes each operating mode, but these are just examples of operating modes, and other operating modes may also be available.

[0034] "Fixed airflow operation mode" This mode allows the fan 23 to operate with a fixed airflow setting of "Turbo," "Strong," "Medium," or "Weak." When the fixed airflow mode is selected, the fan will operate at the airflow specified by the user, regardless of the determined level of soiling.

[0035] "Automatic driving mode" This operating mode controls the airflow of the blower 23 and the operation of the electrostatic precipitator 26 according to the level of contamination determined by the level determination means 42. The user can select the maximum airflow during operation from either "Turbo" or "Strong". The operation control means 43 increases the airflow as the contamination level increases and gradually decreases the airflow as the contamination level decreases. Also, when the airflow is set to either "Turbo" or "Strong", the output of the dust sensor 31 switches the electrostatic precipitator 26 ON / OFF.

[0036] "Pollen mode" This mode automatically operates in a manner particularly suited to pollen removal. In pollen mode, for the first predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes) from the start of operation, the fan speed is set to "high" and the electrostatic precipitator 26 is turned ON, regardless of the level of contamination, so that pollen is quickly removed as soon as operation starts. After the first predetermined time has elapsed, the fan speed and the ON / OFF status of the electrostatic precipitator 26 are switched according to the level of contamination in the room. After it is determined that the air is clean, the fan speed is set to "low" and operation continues.

[0037] Thus, the air purifier 1 has a mode that controls the airflow according to the output of the sensor and a different mode that is suitable for removing specific air pollutants. The "automatic operation mode" described above is an example of the first mode, and the "pollen mode" is an example of the second mode, but this embodiment is not limited to this example.

[0038] The operating modes of the air purifier 1 of this embodiment operate differently from one another, and therefore, the sensor detection results may differ depending on the operating mode due to differences in airflow and the flow of air to the sensor. If the detection results differ, the display showing the outside air condition will change when the user switches operating modes. If the display changes as a result of an operation even though the outside air condition has not changed, the user may feel uneasy or uncomfortable, or mistakenly think that there is a malfunction or defect. However, the air purifier 1 of this embodiment maintains the display until a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) has elapsed since the operation mode switching operation. This prevents the display regarding the outside air condition from changing as a result of user operation, and reduces the feeling of uneasy or uncomfortable the user may experience.

[0039] Furthermore, to further improve pollen removal efficiency, the sensitivity of the dust sensor 31 is increased when the first condition is met during pollen mode. As mentioned above, the dust sensor 31 can detect the amount of pollen, so increasing the sensitivity of the dust sensor 31 during pollen mode allows for more sensitive detection of pollen. Setting the sensor sensitivity high will change the detection results regarding the outside air conditions, but the display before the operation is maintained for a predetermined time after switching the operating mode, thus preventing the display regarding the outside air conditions from changing due to user operation. This makes it possible to perform air purification operation that can more sensitively detect and remove air pollutants while minimizing discomfort or unease for the user.

[0040] In this embodiment, the first condition for increasing the sensitivity of the dust sensor 31 during pollen mode is that, in the air purifier 1 of this embodiment, there is a sensitivity setting one level higher than the sensitivity of the dust sensor 31. In this embodiment, if the sensitivity before introducing pollen mode is "high", it will remain "high", but a sensitivity one level higher may be specially set.

[0041] Furthermore, to improve pollen removal efficiency, if the second condition is met during pollen mode, the airflow rate of the blower 23 is increased to the maximum airflow rate selected in automatic operation mode. For example, for the first 15 minutes after starting pollen mode, increasing the airflow rate to the maximum airflow rate selected in automatic operation mode (e.g., airflow rate "turbo") makes it possible to remove pollen in a shorter time. Increasing the airflow rate enables effective air purification in a shorter time, but it also increases the amount of air pollutants detected by the sensor per unit of time, changing the detection results regarding the state of the outside air. However, since the display from before the operation is maintained for a predetermined time after switching the operation mode, it is possible to avoid the display regarding the state of the outside air changing due to user operation. This makes it possible to perform effective air purification in a shorter time while minimizing discomfort or unease for the user.

[0042] For example, in this embodiment, when the operation mode switch 51 is pressed during operation of the air purifier 1, the currently set operation mode switches from automatic operation mode to pollen mode. At this time, the sensitivity of the dust sensor 31 is increased to one level higher (for example, "strong"), and the airflow is increased to the maximum airflow selected in automatic operation mode (for example, airflow "turbo") for 15 minutes after the introduction of pollen mode. As a result, even with the same outside air conditions, the level of contamination determined by the level determination means 42 may increase (for example, from dust level "0" to "1"). Even in this case, the indicator lamp showing the dust level is turned off for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) after the operation mode switch 51 is pressed, and the lamp showing the dust level is turned on after the predetermined time has elapsed. By operating in this manner, it is possible to achieve effective air purification operation that can remove pollen while avoiding changes in the display regarding the outside air conditions triggered by user operation.

[0043] Furthermore, the operation selector switch 51 may be pressed multiple times in quick succession to switch between three or more modes. To address this, the display content is maintained for a predetermined time (e.g., 30 seconds) after the last operation of the operation selector switch 51. After this time, the display content based on the current operating mode is displayed. This ensures that even if the operation selector switch 51 is pressed repeatedly, the display showing the outside air conditions does not change each time, thus minimizing any discomfort or unease for the user.

[0044] For example, using the air purifier 1 described above, if the operation mode switch 51 is pressed three times in a row, the operation mode is switched with each press, but the display from before the first press is maintained for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) after the third press. However, the time between the first and second presses, and between the second and third presses, is assumed to be less than the predetermined time. After the predetermined time has elapsed since the third press, the dust level and odor level are determined from the sensor sensitivity corresponding to the current operation mode, and the display is updated accordingly.

[0045] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 17. Air outlet (air outlet section) 18. Air intake port (intake section) 19. Indicator lamp (display unit) 22 Air purification unit 23. Blower (Air blower unit) 31. Dust sensor (detection unit) 32 Gas sensor (detection unit) 51 Operation changeover switch (operating mode switching means)

Claims

1. A means for switching the operating mode and An intake section that draws in outside air, This air purification unit collects and purifies substances contained in the air drawn in from this intake, The outlet that blows out purified air, A blower unit that creates the airflow that draws in air from the intake unit and blows it out from the outlet unit, A detection unit that detects the condition of the outside air, A display unit that displays the state of the outside air according to the detection status of the detection unit, An air purifier equipped with a control unit, The control unit selects the following operating modes: A first mode controls the amount of air blown by the air blower according to the detection status of the detection unit. It also features a second mode that performs control specifically for removing certain air pollutants, Until a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of the operating mode switching means, the display content immediately before the operation of the operating mode switching means will be displayed on the display unit. An air purifier characterized in that, after the predetermined time has elapsed, the display unit displays content based on the current operating mode.

2. The detection unit is The system includes a sensor that detects the aforementioned specific air pollutants, The control unit, If it is determined that the first condition is met during the selection of the second mode, The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the sensitivity of the sensor is set to be higher than that of the first mode.

3. The control unit, If it is determined that the second condition is met during the selection of the second mode, The air purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the amount of air blown by the air blower is increased to an amount equal to or greater than the maximum airflow in the first mode.

4. The control unit, If the operating mode switching means is operated again between the time the predetermined time elapses after the operating mode switching means is operated, The display unit will display the content immediately preceding the operation of the operating mode switching means until the predetermined time has elapsed, calculated from the last time the operating mode switching means was operated. The air purifier according to claim 1, characterized in that after the predetermined time has elapsed since the last operation of the operating mode switching means, the display unit displays content based on the current operating mode.

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