Air Conditioner Filter Life Calculation Using Foreign Material Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air cleaners cannot accurately determine the remaining life of filters without user intervention, as they do not consider the use environment, making it difficult for users to replace filters at the proper time.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioner equipped with a sensor that detects foreign materials in the air using laser technology, a processor that calculates the mass concentration of these materials, and storage that correlates this information with filter life, allowing for accurate calculation of the remaining filter life and timely replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the air cleaner identifies filter performance without user intervention, then automation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because use environment is not taken into account

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of filter performance identificationVSAvoidaccuracy of remaining life calculation

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors foreign material concentration in the air and feeds this information back to the processor, which adjusts the remaining life calculation dynamically. This feedback mechanism enables automated monitoring while maintaining precision by adapting to actual environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The air cleaner autonomously monitors its own filter performance by detecting foreign material concentration and calculating remaining life without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by automatically identifying when filter replacement is needed based on real-time environmental data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If the user checks filter state with naked eyes, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of filter state assessmentVSAvoidconvenience of filter monitoring

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/visual inspection method with an automated optical sensing system. The sensor detects foreign material concentration in the air, and the processor converts this data into remaining life information, eliminating the need for manual visual inspection while providing more accurate and continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary computational layer between the physical filter and the user. Instead of directly observing the filter, users receive processed information about remaining life calculated from sensor data, making the complex technical assessment accessible and convenient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If conventional methods are used to identify filter performance, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to inaccurate remaining life calculation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of filter monitoring systemVSAvoidaccuracy of filter replacement timing

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple but unreliable visual inspection or basic usage-time tracking with an optical sensing system that measures foreign material concentration. This substitution increases device complexity slightly but dramatically improves reliability by providing objective, real-time data about filter loading conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors changes in foreign material concentration as a parameter to determine filter performance. By tracking this physical parameter over time and correlating it with filter capacity, the system achieves reliable remaining life calculation without requiring complex mechanical monitoring mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the air conditioner to accurately determine the proper time for filter replacement, improving air quality maintenance and user convenience by automating the filter life calculation process.

Implementation Method 1

the sensor may be configured to emit a laser to air and detects a scattering level of a laser reflected from the foreign material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS11371742B2Air conditioner and method for controlling same

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

The disclosure relates to an air conditioner and a control method thereof, the air conditioner including: a housing including an inlet and an outlet through which air is introduced and discharged; a fan driver configured to drive air introduced through the inlet to be discharged through the outlet; a filter configured to filter the introduced air; a sensor configured to detect a foreign material in air; a storage configured to store information; and a processor configured to control the storage to store information about mass concentration of the foreign material in air detected by the sensor, and calculate a remaining life of the filter based on the information stored in the storage. Thus, the air conditioner can identify proper time to replace the filter by calculating the remaining life of the filter.