Air purifier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air cleaners lack the ability to adapt operation modes based on indoor air contamination levels and do not facilitate easy filter cleaning, leading to inefficiencies and maintenance challenges.

Innovation Solution

The air cleaner features a housing with a filter assembly of gradually decreasing diameter, a brush unit for contaminant removal, and a discharge member with adjustable outlets for varying air discharge modes, along with a vibration generator and a notification system, allowing for adaptive operation and easy filter maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the air cleaner operates at high speed to purify air quickly in high-contamination spaces, then air purification efficiency is improved, but noise level increases and indoor quietness is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair purification efficiencyVSAvoidnoise level
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air cleaner employs multiple fans that can operate independently or together, allowing dynamic adjustment of operation modes. The control unit selectively activates fans based on contamination levels, enabling the system to switch between high-speed purification mode and low-speed quiet mode, thus resolving the contradiction between purification efficiency and noise generation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multiple filters are used to remove various contaminants, then air purification effectiveness is improved, but filter maintenance complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair purification effectivenessVSAvoidfilter maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a brush unit that automatically cleans the filter surfaces during operation. The brush rotates to remove accumulated dust and contaminants from the filter, enabling self-maintenance without requiring manual intervention. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining multiple filters for effective purification while automating their maintenance to reduce operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The brush unit performs preliminary cleaning action on the filters during normal operation, preventing excessive contaminant accumulation before it affects performance. By continuously removing dust during operation rather than requiring periodic manual cleaning, the system maintains purification effectiveness while simplifying maintenance requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the filter assembly has a larger surface area to capture more contaminants, then purification capacity is improved, but the device occupies more space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurification capacityVSAvoiddevice space occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes vertical stacking of multiple filter assemblies arranged in series along the vertical axis. Instead of expanding the filter surface area horizontally which would increase device footprint, the system stacks filters vertically, maintaining a compact horizontal profile while achieving high purification capacity through multiple filtration stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 air cleaner effectively operates according to indoor conditions, ensuring efficient air purification and easy filter cleaning, thereby enhancing user convenience and maintaining efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a brush unit configured to remove or separate contaminants attached to an outer surface of the filter assembly from the filter assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The air cleaner features a housing with a filter assembly of gradually decreasing diameter, a brush unit for contaminant removal, and a discharge member with adjustable outlets for varying air discharge modes, along with a vibration generator and a notification system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3485955B1Air purifier
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3485955B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3485955B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3485955B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An operation mode of an air cleaner is changed according to the degree of indoor air contamination and an indoor space condition, and one or more filters of the air cleaner can be easily cleaned. The air cleaner includes a housing, an inlet located at a lower part of the housing, a filter assembly, an outlet, and a brush unit. The filter assembly is located above the inlet, and a diameter of the filter assembly is gradually shortened in the direction from an upper part of the filter assembly to a lower part of the filter assembly. The discharge port is located above a second filter assembly. The brush unit is used to eliminate contaminants from an outer surface of the filter assembly.