Air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners face issues with reduced air purifying performance and unpleasant odors due to filter contamination, requiring effective sterilization solutions that can uniformly sterilize filter surfaces, adjust radiation angles, minimize light loss, and irradiate light to bent filter portions.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization module with a light guide, light source module, and body structure that allows for uniform sterilization of filters by adjusting radiation angles and minimizing light loss, even when dealing with bent filter surfaces, using a single light source to cover long or wide surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sterilizing device is installed to sterilize the filter, then air purifying performance is improved, but uniform sterilization of bent filter surfaces is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimension of light irradiation by installing the sterilizing device at the intake side rather than behind the filter. This allows light to reach the filter surface from the air inlet direction, effectively sterilizing both flat and bent portions of the filter that would be inaccessible from rear illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the intake airflow as an intermediary medium to deliver the sterilizing light to the filter surface. The airflow path serves as a conduit that allows the sterilizing device to indirectly illuminate and sterilize the filter, including difficult-to-reach bent areas.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple light sources are used to cover long or wide filter surfaces, then sterilization coverage is improved, but device complexity and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable or adjustable light source positioning mechanism that can dynamically reposition a single sterilizing device to cover different areas of the filter surface sequentially, replacing the need for multiple fixed light sources and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterilizing device operates through periodic scanning or oscillating motion across the filter surface, delivering continuous sterilization coverage over time rather than requiring simultaneous illumination from multiple sources. This periodic action achieves complete coverage while using minimal hardware.
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
The solution enables uniform sterilization of filter surfaces, reduces light loss, and simplifies the wiring structure while using a single light source to cover extensive areas, thereby maintaining air quality and reducing material costs.
Implementation Method 1
a light source module generating the light and disposed at a first side of the light guide
Implementation Method 2
a light guide extending in a first direction perpendicular to a direction from the intake to the outlet, and into which light is incident
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an air conditioner comprising: a case which includes an inlet and an outlet formed opposite to the inlet; a filter, a blower fan, and a heat exchanger which are disposed within the case and successively arranged in the direction from the inlet to the outlet; and a sterilization module which is disposed between the inlet and the filter, wherein: the sterilization module comprises a light guide which extends in a first direction perpendicular to the direction from the inlet to the outlet and into which light is incident, a light source module which generates the light and is disposed at a first side surface of the light guide, and a body, the top surface of which is open and which supports the light guide disposed therewithin; and the filter is bent in a zigzag shape along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.