Reusable Air Breathing Mask with UV-Sterilized Exhalation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing respirators struggle to effectively filter both microorganisms and volatile compounds, leading to discomfort and communication difficulties due to high air pressure drops and inadequate filtration, while also failing to sterilize exhaled air to prevent disease spread.
Innovation Solution
A reusable purified air breathing device with UV light sources to sterilize inhaled and exhaled air, motorized or gravity dampers to control airflow, and replaceable filters with UVC light and heating mechanisms to ensure comfortable breathing and prevent disease transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional filters are used to filter contaminants, then filtration capability is improved, but air pressure drop increases causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple filtration mechanisms (mechanical filters, chemical filters) with UV-C sterilization and heating functions into a single integrated breathing device. This merging allows the system to achieve comprehensive contamination removal while managing pressure drops through coordinated operation of multiple components that work together to maintain airflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The breathing device incorporates multiple functions within a single system: filtration of particles and vapors, UV-C sterilization of inhaled and exhaled air, and heating of breath. This multi-functionality allows the device to address multiple technical requirements simultaneously, improving overall effectiveness while attempting to maintain comfortable breathing through integrated design.
2Reliability
If high filtration is implemented to protect against microorganisms, then disease protection is improved, but communication ability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication system that includes a microphone to capture the user's voice and a display screen to visually present communication content. This intermediary system bridges the gap between the sealed protective environment and the need for effective communication, allowing users to maintain both protection and communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical communication methods with electronic and visual systems. Instead of relying solely on acoustic communication through the mask, the system uses electronic voice capture and visual display screens to convey information, thereby maintaining communication effectiveness while preserving the integrity of the protective barrier.
3Device complexity
If exhaled air is not sterilized, then device complexity is reduced, but disease spread prevention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sterilization function with the existing filtration and heating systems, integrating UV-C light sources into the same housing and control architecture. This consolidation allows the device to sterilize exhaled air without requiring a completely separate sterilization system, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving disease spread prevention.
4Reliability
If multiple filtration layers are used to remove all contaminants, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple filtration layers with sterilization and heating components into a single integrated unit. By merging these functions rather than using separate devices, the system achieves comprehensive contamination removal while minimizing total weight through shared structural elements and coordinated component design.
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 device effectively filters contaminants, maintains comfortable breathing, and prevents disease spread by sterilizing both inhaled and exhaled air, enhancing user communication and network connectivity.
Implementation Method 1
UV light sources to sterilize inhaled and exhaled air
Implementation Method 2
heating mechanisms to ensure comfortable breathing
Data Source
AI summary
An air breathing device includes a casing and an air passage cavity encompassed by the casing. The device includes an air intake port and an air discharge port that connect the air passage cavity to the outside of the casing. The device includes a damper (gravity or motorized) that allows the air to flow into the air passage cavity during inhalation through the air intake port. The device includes a damper (gravity or motorized) that allows the air to exit the air passage cavity during exhalation through the air discharge port. The device includes a retractable display screen to display content to the wearer. The device includes a fixed display screen to display images of the mouth of the wearer captured by a camera lens or simulated based on the wearer's captured voice. The device includes UV lights, filters, network connections, camera lenses, speakers, microphones, ear plugs, and heating coils.