Air cleaning system and method for controlling the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

In complex indoor spaces, multiple air cleaners installed to improve air quality often experience measurement noise and reduced sensor lifetime due to independent operation of dust sensors, leading to inaccurate measurements and decreased air cleaning efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An air cleaning system that links dust sensors across multiple air cleaners, allowing for the selection of a master sensor to operate all units, reducing noise and power consumption, and using AI to predict dust events and manage faulty sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple dust sensors are operated simultaneously in multiple air cleaners, then air quality monitoring coverage is improved, but measurement noise increases and sensor lifetime decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair quality measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple dust sensors into a networked system where sensors in different air cleaners communicate with each other. Instead of operating independently, the sensors are merged into a coordinated network that shares measurement data and control decisions, thereby reducing redundant measurements and associated noise while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic operation of dust sensors based on predicted dust events. Rather than continuous operation, sensors are activated periodically according to AI predictions of dust occurrence, which reduces overall sensor usage time and associated noise while maintaining effective air quality monitoring during critical periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If multiple dust sensors operate continuously, then real-time air quality monitoring is improved, but power consumption increases and sensor lifetime decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair quality monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidsensor power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses AI-based dust event predictions to determine when sensors need to be active. Sensors operate periodically based on predicted dust events rather than continuously, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable monitoring during periods when dust is likely to occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensor data and environmental information are continuously analyzed by an AI system to predict future dust events. This feedback loop allows the system to optimize sensor operation schedules, activating sensors only when needed based on predicted conditions, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining monitoring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If independent dust sensor operation is used in multiple air cleaners, then system simplicity is maintained, but measurement accuracy decreases due to noise and error rates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem configuration simplicityVSAvoiddust measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple independent dust sensors into a networked system that shares data and control functions. This combination allows the system to maintain the simplicity of individual air cleaner units while achieving improved measurement accuracy through coordinated operation and data sharing across the network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal control system that can manage multiple air cleaners and dust sensors through a common AI-based platform. This universal approach allows different air cleaners to operate independently physically while being coordinated logically, maintaining operational simplicity while improving measurement accuracy through multi-functional data processing and noise reduction algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3721147B1Air cleaning system and method for controlling the same
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3721147B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3721147B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3721147B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An air cleaning system having at least one dust sensor and a method for controlling the air cleaning system may improve accuracy of dust sensors through linkage control of the dust sensors, and may normally operate a faulty air cleaner using dust sensors of the remaining communicating air cleaners other than the faulty air cleaner even when any one of the dust sensors fails to operate. The air cleaning system may select a master dust sensor through linkage control of the dust sensors, and may operate the plurality of air cleaners only using sensor information of the master dust sensor. Therefore, the air cleaning system may stop operation of the remaining dust sensors other than the master dust sensor, may reduce measurement noise produced by the dust sensors and power consumption, and may increase a lifetime of the dust sensors.