Air purifier having dehumidification function

Abstract

An air purifier according to the present invention comprises: a main body; an evaporator accommodated in the main body; a condensate guide disposed below the evaporator; and a drain hole disposed adjacent to the condensate guide, wherein the drain hole communicates with the outside of the main body, and the condensate guide is configured to guide condensate formed by the evaporator to the drain hole.

Description

Air purifier with dehumidifying function

[0001] The present invention relates to an air purifier. More specifically, it relates to an air purifier having a dehumidifying function, which does not require emptying a water tank.

[0002] As industry develops, air pollution is becoming increasingly serious. Although there are various types of air pollutants floating in the air, scientists broadly classify them into gaseous substances, represented by sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone, and particulate matter, such as fine dust and ultrafine dust. While most gaseous substances are emitted from daily human activities and industrial operations, the sources of particulate matter are extremely complex. This is because, although a significant portion of particulate matter originates from human activities in industrial complexes or large cities, it is also generated by natural phenomena such as yellow dust and volcanic activity, or by dust from the ground surface being swept into the air by the wind.

[0003] Air purifiers are often provided to purify polluted air indoors. Air purifiers can purify indoor air by drawing air into the unit and releasing clean air that has passed through a filter back into the room.

[0004] Recently, such air purifiers are being equipped with dehumidification functions. Generally, a dehumidifier has components such as a compressor, condenser, and evaporator, which constitute a refrigeration cycle, installed inside the main body. That is, to implement the dehumidification function, a condenser is installed inside the air purifier where refrigerant gas, compressed to high temperature and high pressure, is released into the atmosphere and changes to low temperature and high pressure; and an evaporator is installed where the refrigerant gas, having passed through the condenser and changed to low temperature and low pressure as it passes through a capillary tube, cools the indoor air.

[0005] In addition, an air purifier equipped with a dehumidification function is equipped with a fan that forcibly circulates indoor air. In an air purifier configured in this way, indoor air is dehumidified as the refrigerant gas passes through a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator; as the indoor air forcibly circulated by the fan passes through the evaporator, it is instantaneously cooled, and the moisture contained therein condenses and forms dew on the surface of the evaporator.

[0006] Conventionally, a water tank was required to collect condensate condensed by an evaporator. Additionally, there was the inconvenience of having to periodically empty the water tank. The present invention aims to provide an air purifier with a dehumidifying function that eliminates the need to empty the water tank.

[0007] The aforementioned background technology is one that the inventor possessed or acquired in the process of deriving the content of the disclosure of the present application, and it cannot be considered as prior art disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of this application.

[0008] The present invention was devised to solve the above problems, and the objective of the present invention is to provide an air purifier with a dehumidifying function that does not require emptying the water tank.

[0009] The technical problems intended to be solved in this document are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which this disclosure belongs from the description below.

[0010] An air purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body, an evaporator housed within the main body, a condensate guide located below the evaporator, and a drain hole located adjacent to the condensate guide, wherein the drain hole is in communication with the outside of the main body, and the condensate guide is configured to guide condensate formed by the evaporator into the drain hole.

[0011] The above condensate guide may have a sloping surface inclined downward with respect to the direction toward the drain hole.

[0012] The above condensate guides may be provided in multiple numbers to surround the drainage hole.

[0013] The above condensate guide can be in close contact with the main body to prevent condensate from flowing in between it and the main body.

[0014] The air purifier may further include a drain hole forming portion extending downward from the condensate guide, and the drain hole forming portion may be configured to prevent condensate from flowing into the receiving space formed between the main body and the drain hole forming portion.

[0015] The above air purifier further includes a condenser located in the above receiving space, the evaporator is supported by the upper inclined surface of the condensate guide, the condenser is coupled to the lower side of the condensate guide, and the condensate guide can separate the evaporator and the condenser.

[0016] The air purifier further comprises a compressor configured to be fluidically connected to the evaporator, a control unit configured to control the compressor, and a humidity sensor configured to detect the humidity of the environment in which the air purifier is located and to transmit humidity information to the control unit, wherein the control unit may be configured to control the compressor by determining the humidity based on a judgment method obtained by big data, based on the humidity information obtained by the humidity sensor.

[0017] An air purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured so that condensate can move directly to a drain hole located at the lower side of the evaporator, thereby eliminating the need for a separate water tank to collect the condensate.

[0018] The effects obtainable from the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the description below.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air purifier according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the air purifier illustrated in Figure 1 from a different angle.

[0021] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the air purifier shown in Figure 1 with the main body removed.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the air purifier illustrated in FIG. 1 cut along IV-IV'.

[0023] Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the condensate guide portion of Figure 4.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the air purifier illustrated in FIG. 1 cut along VI-VI'.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the air purifier illustrated in FIG. 1 cut along Ⅶ-Ⅶ'.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the condensate guide and duct of the air purifier shown in FIG. 3.

[0027] Figure 9 is a usage diagram illustrating the air purifier shown in Figure 1 being used in a bathroom.

[0028] Figure 10 is a control block diagram of the air purifier shown in Figure 1.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an air purifier according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the lower surface of the air purifier illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0031] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an air purifier according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an air purifier according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following embodiments.

[0034] In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of related prior art that are irrelevant to the explanation or that may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention have been omitted. Furthermore, when assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing in this specification, identical or similar reference numerals are assigned to identical or similar components throughout the entire specification.

[0035] Furthermore, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0036] The various embodiments of this document and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutions of said embodiments.

[0037] In relation to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components.

[0038] The singular form of the noun corresponding to the item may include one or multiple items, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0039] In this document, each of the phrases such as "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B or C", "at least one of A, B and C", and "at least one of A, B, or C" may include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof.

[0040] The term "and / or" includes a combination of multiple related described components or any of the multiple related described components.

[0041] Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used simply to distinguish a component from another component and do not limit the components in other aspects (e.g., importance or order).

[0042] Where any (e.g., 1st) component is referred to as "coupled" or "connected" to another (e.g., 2nd) component, with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicationly," it means that said any component may be connected to said other component directly (e.g., via a wire), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0043] Terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to specify the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in this document, and do not preclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0044] When it is said that a component is "connected," "combined," "supported," or "in contact" with another component, this includes not only cases where the components are directly connected, combined, supported, or in contact, but also cases where they are indirectly connected, combined, supported, or in contact through a third component.

[0045] When it is said that a component is located "on" another component, this includes not only cases where a component is in contact with another component, but also cases where another component exists between the two components.

[0046] Meanwhile, terms such as "up-and-down direction," "downward side," and "front-backward direction" used in the following description are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

[0047] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air purifier (1) shown in FIG. 1 from a different angle.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2, an air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 1, an air purifier (1) for cleaning the air may be provided. An air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention is described as being usable in a bathroom. However, the air purifier (1) is not limited to a specific location of use as long as it is used in a place where the same function can be implemented. Furthermore, an air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention can implement a dehumidification function.

[0051] The air purifier (1) may include a main body (100) that constitutes the exterior. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body (100) may have a shape of a roughly rectangular prism. However, the shape of the main body (100) may be appropriately changed as needed. The main body (100) may have a waterproof function of IPX4 grade or higher. Since it is used in a humid bathroom, it is necessary to prevent water from splashing onto components located inside the main body (100). Here, IPX4 is one of the protection grades established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and indicates a water resistance function for daily use. The IPX4 grade signifies a level of waterproof performance that prevents water from splashing from all directions, and can protect the product from damage even from sweat during exercise or light rain. To this end, the main body (100) may insert waterproof rubber into gaps or connection points to prevent water from entering the interior. Alternatively, silicone sealant may be used to seal electronic components or internal spaces. Furthermore, the main body (100) may be designed as a single unit, or the tolerance may be reduced when the main body (100) is assembled using various parts. Furthermore, a water-repellent coating may be applied to the surface to induce water droplets to flow down without forming. A nano coating or conformal coating may be applied to the PCB and electronic components so that even if water enters the interior of the main body (100), the PCB, etc., will not be damaged.

[0052] The main body (100) may include a scenting part (101). An aroma coin may be inserted into the scenting part (101) to provide a scenting function in the bathroom.

[0053] The air purifier (1) includes a blower (210) inside the main body (100) so that air can be drawn into the main body (100). Furthermore, the air purifier (1) includes a condensing blower (250) so that air inside the main body (100) can be discharged to the outside of the main body (100). However, the air drawn into the blower (210) may not be discharged toward the condensing blower (250). As shown in FIG. 2, a drain hole (510H) may be formed on the lower side of the main body (100), and a drain hole forming part (500) that forms the drain hole (510H) may be provided. Air introduced into the main body (100) through the blower (210) may be discharged through the drain hole (510H).

[0054] The configuration of an air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0055] FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the main body (100) of the air purifier (1) shown in FIG. 1 removed. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the air purifier (1) shown in FIG. 1 cut along IV-IV'. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the condensate guide (300) portion of FIG. 4 enlarged. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the air purifier (1) shown in FIG. 1 cut along VI-VI'. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the air purifier (1) shown in FIG. 1 cut along VII-VII'. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the condensate guide (300) and duct (400) of the air purifier (1) shown in FIG. 3.

[0056] With reference to FIGS. 3 to 8, the configurations of an air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the air purifier (1) may include a blower (210), an evaporator (220), a condenser (e.g., 230 in FIG. 4), a compressor (240), a condensing blower (250), a substrate (260), and / or a filter (270). Here, the condensing blower (250) may be omitted as needed. The blower (210), evaporator (220), condenser (230), compressor (240), condensing blower (250), substrate (260), and / or filter (270) may be located within the main body (100). The positional relationship of the blower (210), evaporator (220), condenser (230), compressor (240), condensing blower (250), substrate (260), and / or filter (270) may not be limited to that described below.

[0058] The blower (210) is positioned above the air purifier (1) and can introduce air into the main body (100). The filter (270) is positioned below the blower (210) and can filter out contaminants from the air introduced by the blower (210). The filter (270) may be a HEPA filter (270), etc. The filter (270) may be formed in a shape corresponding to the cross-section of the main body (100).

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 4, an evaporator (220), a condenser (230), a compressor (240), and a condensation blower (250) may be positioned below the filter (270). The evaporator (220), the condenser (230), and the compressor (240) are fluidly connected so that the refrigerant can be moved. The refrigerant is compressed by the compressor (240), evaporates in the evaporator (220), and thereby condenses the surrounding air, thereby reducing moisture in the surrounding air. The evaporated refrigerant is moved to the condenser (230) to be condensed into a liquid, and can then be moved back to the compressor (240).

[0060] At this time, air may be condensed in the evaporator (220) to generate condensate (W). Dehumidification may occur during this process. Conventionally, the condensate (W) generated by dehumidification was collected in a separate water tank, and a method was used to empty the water tank when a certain amount of condensate (W) was collected in the water tank. In order to reduce the hassle of emptying the water tank, the air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention is designed to be used in a bathroom, and thus has a structure that allows the condensate (W) to be discharged directly into the bathroom drain (D).

[0061] More specifically, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, an air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a condensate guide (300) located below an evaporator (220) and a drain hole (510H) located adjacent to the condensate guide. The drain hole (510H) is in communication with the outside of the main body (100), so that condensate (W) can be moved to the outside of the main body (100) through the drain hole (510H). At this time, the condensate guide (300) may be configured to guide the condensate (W) formed by the evaporator (220) into the drain hole (510H).

[0062] Here, the condensate guide (300) may have an inclined surface (301A) that is inclined downward with respect to the direction toward the drain hole (510H). In FIG. 5, with reference to the condensate guide (300) located on the right, an inclined surface (301A) is formed on the upper part of the condensate guide (300). The inclined surface (301A) is inclined downward with respect to the left direction. In particular, with reference to the enlarged drawing of the inclined surface (301A) in FIG. 5, the condensate (W) formed in the evaporator (220) moves downward and reaches the inclined surface (301A), and the condensate (W) can move along the inclined surface (301A) toward the drain hole (510H).

[0063] At this time, the inclined surface (301A) is not limited to being located on the upper side of the condensate guide (300), and since the inclined surface (301A) is configured to interact with the condensate (W) formed in the evaporator (220), it may be a surface facing the evaporator (220). That is, although the lower surface of the condensate guide (300) is depicted as a surface parallel to the inclined surface (301A) in FIG. 5 and thus has an incline, it may not be related to inducing the movement of the condensate (W). In other words, regardless of the shape of the lower surface of the condensate guide (300), the movement of the condensate (W) can be guided by the inclined surface (301A).

[0064] Furthermore, considering the above principle, the inclined surface (301A) may be spaced apart from the evaporator (220). This is because the inclined surface (301A) only needs to be able to receive the condensate (W) formed in the evaporator (220) when it falls due to gravity. However, the inclined surface (301A) according to one embodiment of the present invention may support the evaporator (220) from below to help fix the position of the evaporator (220).

[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 6, a plurality of condensate guides (300) may be provided to surround the drainage hole (510H). In FIG. 6, the drainage hole (510H) is provided in a square shape, and four condensate guides (300) may be provided to surround the drainage hole (510H). At this time, the shape of the condensate guides (300) may be formed such that the width located at the drainage hole (510H) is the narrowest and widens toward the outside. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the four condensate guides (300) may be formed in the same shape. Furthermore, the condensate guides (300) may include a connecting part (e.g., 310 in FIG. 7) that connects to each other. By means of the connecting part (310), the condensate (W) may not move into the gap between the plurality of condensate guides (300). The connecting part (310) can be configured to be inclined downward toward the direction toward the drainage hole (510H), as shown in FIG. 6.

[0066] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the condensate guides (300) can be joined together to form a joining groove (320H) at the end corners. The main body (100) may include an assembly jaw (110) that protrudes inwardly at the inner corners. Since the main body (100) has a square cross-section, assembly jaws (110) can be formed at each of the four corners. A joining groove (320H) can be formed to correspond to each assembly jaw (110). As illustrated in FIG. 6, the assembly jaws (110) extend in the vertical direction to help guide the position when the condensate guides (300) are assembled into the main body (100).

[0067] As shown in FIG. 4, the condensate guide (300) can be in close contact with the main body (100) to prevent condensate (W) from flowing in between the main body (100).

[0068] Furthermore, the air purifier (1) may further include a drain hole forming part (500) that surrounds the drain hole to form a drain hole and extends downward from the condensate guide (300). The drain hole forming part (500) may be in the shape of a hollow square pipe. A hole formed inside the square pipe may be the drain hole (510H). Accordingly, the fact that the drain hole forming part (500) extends from the condensate guide (300) may mean that the drain hole forming part (500) is provided as a separate component and coupled to the condensate guide (300), and thus can be interpreted as conceptually extended.

[0069] At this time, the drainage hole forming part (500) may be configured to prevent condensate (W) from flowing into the receiving space (120S) formed between it and the main body (100). To this end, a separate gap may not be formed in the drainage hole forming part (500) itself, and furthermore, the drainage hole forming part (500) may be in close contact with the surrounding components so that a gap through which condensate (W) flows is not formed in the joint portion between the drainage hole forming part (500) and the main body (100) and the joint portion between the drainage hole forming part (500) and the condensate guide (300).

[0070] Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a receiving space (120S) may be formed on the lower side of the condensate guide (300). A substrate (260), a compressor (240), a condenser (230), etc. may be located in the receiving space (120S). In particular, since the substrate (260) is a component vulnerable to moisture, a space in which condensate (W) does not flow in may be required. Therefore, as described above, a configuration in which condensate (W) does not flow into the receiving space (120S) may be required.

[0071] The evaporator (220) is supported by the upper inclined surface (301A) of the condensate guide (300), and the condenser (230) can be connected to the lower side of the condensate guide (300). Accordingly, the condensate guide (300) can separate the evaporator (220) and the condenser (230). Since the compressor (240) and the condenser (230) have different temperatures due to different states of refrigerant and maintaining this state improves efficiency, it is necessary to prevent heat exchange between them. However, if the evaporator (220) and the condenser (230) are separated too far apart, the travel distance of the refrigerant moving between the two components increases, requiring more refrigerant and causing energy loss during the movement process, which may result in an overall loss. Therefore, the condenser (230) and the evaporator (220) need to be located close to each other while preventing heat exchange between them. The condensate guide (300) is positioned between the condenser (230) and the evaporator (220) to provide an insulating function, thereby preventing heat exchange between the condenser (230) and the evaporator (220), and can be positioned close to the condenser (230) and the evaporator (220) by fixing them on opposite sides. At this time, the condensate guide (300) can have an insulating function by forming an empty space inside so that air is positioned therein, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0072] Furthermore, the compressor (240) has a higher temperature than the condenser (230) and can be positioned further away from the evaporator (220) than the condenser (230).

[0073] The positional relationship of the compressor (240), condenser (230), and condensation blower (250) is explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and FIGS. 8.

[0074] In the condenser (230), a passage is required for the condensed refrigerant to move, and a passage may be required for the external air to move to condense the refrigerant. To provide these passages, the air cleaner (1) may include a duct (400). The duct (400) may be connected to the condensate guide (300) and extend downward. As shown in FIG. 8, the duct (400) may include a compressor duct (410) extending toward the compressor (240) and a blower duct (420) extending toward the condenser blower (250).

[0075] A compressor (240) may be located at the end of the compressor duct (410). A condenser blower (250) may be located at the end of the blower duct (420). At this time, since the compressor (240) is hot, the end of the blower duct (420) for supplying air to the condenser (230) may be located at a different height from the compressor duct (410).

[0076] Each of the four condensate guides (300) may be provided with a corresponding evaporator (220) and a condenser (230). That is, four condensers (230) may be provided. If each condenser (230) requires a blower duct (420) and a compressor duct (410), a total of eight ducts (400) may be required. However, since increasing the number of ducts (400) is not spatially efficient, one duct (400) may be shared between adjacent condensers (230) to reduce the number. In other words, among the corners where the four condensate guides (300) meet, two corners may have compressor ducts (410) and the remaining two corners may have blower ducts (420), so that adjacent condensers (230) share the duct (400). Accordingly, multiple compressor ducts (410) and multiple blower ducts (420) can be arranged alternately.

[0077] FIG. 9 is a usage state diagram illustrating the air purifier (1) shown in FIG. 1 being used in a bathroom. FIG. 10 is a control block diagram of the air purifier (1) shown in FIG. 1.

[0078] With reference to FIGS. 9 and FIGS. 10, the function of an air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention is explained.

[0079] As illustrated in FIG. 9, an air purifier (1) may be positioned inside a bathroom to purify or dehumidify the air in the bathroom. At this time, the drain hole (510H) of the air purifier (1) may be used in alignment with the bathroom drain (D).

[0080] Unlike a dehumidifier, the air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention does not require a water tank, so maintenance can be minimized, and anyone can easily use it by placing it over the drain (D) without the need for separate installation. Furthermore, since condensed water is immediately discharged through the drain (D), water overflow and the growth of mold and bacteria can be prevented.

[0081] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the air purifier (1) may include a compressor (240) configured to be fluidly connected to an evaporator (220) and a control unit (261) configured to control the compressor (240). Furthermore, the air purifier (1) may further include a humidity sensor (262) configured to detect the humidity of the environment in which the air purifier (1) is located and to transmit humidity information to the control unit (261), and / or an input unit (263) for receiving user input.

[0082] The control unit (261) may include a processor (261a) configured to perform calculations. The processor (261a) may perform calculations by retrieving information stored in the memory (261b) described later, or by performing calculations based on transmitted information. The processor (261a) may be implemented by one or more semiconductor chips and related components provided on the substrate (260). For example, the processor (261a) may be a Micro Control Unit (MCU), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphics Control Unit (GPU), etc.

[0083] The control unit (261) may include a memory (261b) configured to store information. For example, the memory (261b) may include a volatile type such as SRAM or DRAM. Alternatively, for example, the memory (261b) may include a non-volatile type such as flash memory (261b) or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The memory (261b) may temporarily store the degree transmitted by the humidity sensor (262) or store the result calculated by the processor (261a).

[0084] The control unit (261) may be configured to control the compressor (240) by determining the humidity based on the humidity information obtained by the humidity sensor (262) and the humidity obtained by the judgment method obtained by big data.

[0085] An air purifier (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention can automatically control intake and exhaust to detect humidity in the bathroom in real time and maintain optimal airflow. Through this, convection can be induced not only on the bathroom floor but also on the walls and ceiling, thereby circulating dry air throughout to create a pleasant environment. In addition, the air purifier (1) has a function to insert an aroma coin to provide a fragrance effect in the bathroom, and can also have an insect-repellent function to block odors rising through the drain (D) and prevent insects from entering.

[0086] An air purifier (1) according to one embodiment relates to an artificial intelligence-based bathroom air purifier humidity control system that is useful for suppressing mold growth and maintaining a pleasant bathroom environment by automatically detecting and controlling excessive humidity occurring in the bathroom. In particular, the air purifier (1) has a function of controlling humidity in real time through an AI model based on data collected from a plurality of humidity sensors and user input values. The air purifier (1) is composed of a series of modules including 1) sensor data integration, 2) environmental state estimation, 3) user preference analysis, 4) control strategy determination, and 5) real-time control execution, and these modules are organically connected and designed to maintain humidity in the bathroom in an optimal state.

[0087] The sensor data integration module included in the air purifier (1) can generate an integrated humidity map by collecting data from humidity sensors installed in various locations, such as near the bathroom ceiling, near the shower, in moisture-vulnerable areas (e.g., wall corners), and the main body of the air purifier. Each sensor data is normalized by applying positional importance and time-based weights, and can be integrated into a form that reflects the real-time spatial humidity distribution. Through this, not only the average humidity of the entire bathroom but also whether local humidity is rising at specific locations can be identified, and this is used as important reference information for determining control strategies in the future.

[0088] The environmental state estimation module included in the air purifier (1) determines the humidity state of the bathroom in real time as 'overhumid', 'normal', 'dryness risk', etc. through a machine learning or neural network-based classification model. This module receives data such as the integrated value of the humidity sensor, time information, and whether a shower was recently taken as input values, classifies which state the current environment in the bathroom belongs to, and the subsequent control strategy changes depending on the state. For example, if it is determined to be 'overhumid', the dehumidification mode is quickly activated, and in the 'dryness risk' state, it may switch to humidity maintenance or ventilation mode.

[0089] The user preference analysis module included in the air purifier (1) learns past usage history, reactions by time of day, user feedback, etc., in addition to the target humidity value set by the user, to enable the setting of a more personalized target humidity. For example, if the user prefers relatively higher humidity at night, the AI ​​learned from past data automatically adjusts the target humidity to provide an optimized environment for the user. This module can go beyond simple setting value control and form the basis for intelligent control that reflects the user's lifestyle patterns and preferences.

[0090] The control strategy determination module included in the air purifier (1) dynamically determines the control method of the air purifier based on the estimated bathroom environment state and user target humidity information. In particular, a reinforcement learning-based policy decision algorithm is applied to automatically derive the most efficient dehumidification and ventilation strategy under various environmental conditions. This module may be designed to adjust multiple control variables such as airflow intensity, operation duration, and airflow direction, and to optimize the balance between the response speed to changes in humidity state and energy efficiency.

[0091] The real-time humidity control module included in the air purifier (1) controls the actual air purifier based on the output value of the strategy determination module. Control is performed on various parameters such as airflow speed, direction, and whether the drying mode is activated, and is repeatedly adjusted by reflecting sensor feedback. The air purifier is manufactured in a form optimized for installation above the bathroom drain and includes an intake port, an exhaust port, a dehumidification filter, and an air circulation induction structure. Multiple humidity sensors are wirelessly placed at key locations inside the bathroom and connected to the main body to enable real-time control without communication delay.

[0092] The air purifier (1) includes a function to predict and prevent mold growth in the bathroom in advance. The environmental condition estimation module uses humidity, time, temperature, shower frequency, air circulation information, etc., as input values ​​to calculate the mold risk in a specific area using a time-series prediction model. When the probability of mold risk exceeds a certain threshold, the system automatically switches to a dehumidification mode and performs intensive blowing and drying at a target location. This function contributes significantly to maintaining a hygienic bathroom and has the important advantage of preventing mold growth without user intervention.

[0093] Other embodiments in addition to the above examples are described below. Content common to the above examples will be omitted as much as possible, and the other embodiments will be described focusing on the differences. In other words, it is evident that if content not explained in other embodiments is necessary, it can be supplemented through the content of the above examples.

[0094] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an air purifier (1-1) according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the lower surface of the air purifier (1-1) shown in FIG. 11.

[0095] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, an air purifier (1-1) according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0096] Another embodiment differs from the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 in that it has a structure for discharging condensate (W) to the outside of the air purifier (1-1).

[0097] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the air purifier (1-1) may include an evaporator (220-1), a condensate guide (300-1) located below the evaporator (220-1), a compressor (240-1) located below the condensate guide (300-1), and a blower (210-1) located below the compressor (240-1).

[0098] Condensate (W) formed by the evaporator (220-1) can be collected in the condensate guide (300-1). The condensate guide (300-1) can be formed to collect the condensate (W) at the lowest position, such as a funnel. The lowest position of the condensate guide (300-1) can be connected to a drain hole (510H-1). The drain hole (510H-1) can be formed by a configuration such as a pipe and communicate with the outside of the main body (100).

[0099] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the drain hole (510H-1) may include a drain hole end (511A-1) exposed to the outside of the main body (100-1). The drain hole end (511A-1) may be formed at an angle so that condensate (W) flows along the angle and is configured to move along a certain path.

[0100] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an air purifier (1-2) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 13, an air purifier (1-2) according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0102] Another embodiment differs from the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 in that it implements a dehumidification function using a heating element (241-2) and has a structure for discharging condensate (W) to the outside of the air purifier (1-2).

[0103] The air purifier (1-2) may include a heating element (241-2). The heating element (241-2) may be, for example, a Peltier element. The heating element (241-2) may refer to a device that emits heat from one side and absorbs heat from the opposite side when driven by electricity.

[0104] A heat dissipation plate (231-2) may be attached to the portion of the heat dissipation element (241-2) where heat is emitted, and a condensation heat dissipation plate (221-2) may be attached to the portion of the heat dissipation element (241-2) where heat is absorbed. A blower (210) may be provided adjacent to the heat dissipation plate (231-2) to move air to the heat dissipation element (241-2). The air moved to the heat dissipation element (241-2) may be dehumidified on the side of the condensation heat dissipation plate (221-2). A condensation blower (250-2) may be positioned adjacent to the condensation heat dissipation plate (221-2). The dehumidified air may be moved to the outside of the air purifier (1-2) by the condensation blower (250-2). At this time, a slanted portion is formed on the lower side of the condensation heat sink (221-2), so that condensate (W) can be collected at the slanted end. The slanted end of the condensation heat sink (221-2) can be called a condensate guide (300-2). The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13 is identical in concept to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10 in that it has a condensate guide (300-2) that collects condensate (W).

[0105] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an air purifier (1-3) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 14, an air purifier (1-3) according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0107] Another embodiment differs from the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 in the arrangement of the configuration.

[0108] The air purifier (1-3) may include a blower (210-3) located at the top, a compressor (240-3) located at the bottom of the blower (210-3), an evaporator (220-3) and a condenser (230-3) located at the bottom of the compressor (240-3), and / or a condensing blower (250-3) adjacent to the condenser (230-3).

[0109] A condensate guide (300-3) may be provided on the lower side of the evaporator (220-3). The condensate guide (300-3) may have an inclined surface (301A-3) formed so as to be inclined downward toward the drain hole (510H-3). The condensate guide (300-3) in another embodiment differs from the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 in that it forms the lower surface of the air purifier (1-3).

[0110] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the embodiments described above may be combined with other embodiments. Alternatively, unless explicitly limited in the combination of any embodiment with another, it should be considered that combinations between embodiments are possible. Any combination of any embodiment with another embodiment is deemed to be disclosed herein.

[0111] Although the present invention has been described above by limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations are possible within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims described below by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

Claims

1. Main body; An evaporator housed within the above main body; A condensate guide located below the evaporator; and It includes a drain hole located adjacent to the above-mentioned condensate guide, and The above drainage hole is in communication with the outside of the main body, and The above condensate guide is an air purifier configured to guide the condensate formed by the above evaporator into the drain hole.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above condensate guide is an air purifier having a sloping surface inclined downward with respect to the direction toward the drain hole.

3. In Paragraph 1, The above condensate guide is provided in multiple numbers and surrounds the drainage hole in the air purifier.

4. In Paragraph 1, The above condensate guide is an air purifier that is in close contact with the main body to prevent condensate from flowing in between the main body and the guide.

5. In Paragraph 1, It further includes a drain hole forming part that surrounds the drain hole to form the drain hole and extends downward from the condensate guide. An air purifier configured such that the above-mentioned drainage hole forming part prevents condensate from flowing into the receiving space formed between the main body and the above-mentioned part.

6. In Paragraph 5, It further includes a condenser located in the above receiving space, and The above evaporator is supported by the upper inclined surface of the above condensate guide, and The above condenser is coupled to the lower side of the condensate guide, and The above condensate guide is an air purifier that separates the above evaporator and the above condenser.

7. In Paragraph 1, A compressor configured to be fluidically connected to the above-mentioned evaporator; A control unit configured to control the above compressor; and The air purifier further includes a humidity sensor configured to detect the humidity of the environment in which it is located and to transmit humidity information to the control unit. An air purifier configured such that the above control unit controls the compressor by determining the humidity based on humidity information acquired by the humidity sensor and a judgment method acquired by big data.

Images