Air Purifier Filter Lifespan Calculation Using Motor Current Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for calculating the consumed lifespan of air purifier filter cores are inaccurate, relying on service time periods rather than the filter's dirty degree, which affects the air purifying effect.

Innovation Solution

Control an electric motor in the purifier to rotate at a predetermined speed, acquire sampled parameters such as current or voltage, and determine the filter core's consumed lifespan based on these values, establishing a correlation between dirty degree and driving current to improve accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If service time periods are recorded and multiplied with coefficients to calculate consumed lifespan, then the calculation method is simple, but the accuracy of determining filter core lifespan is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of calculation methodVSAvoidaccuracy of consumed lifespan determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/time-based lifespan calculation method with an electrical measurement method. Instead of tracking service time and applying coefficients, the system uses an ammeter to detect real-time current consumption of the motor, which directly reflects the filter core's clogging status. This substitution of measurement approach significantly improves accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces current consumption as an intermediary parameter to indirectly measure filter core clogging degree. Rather than directly measuring filter dirtiness, the system measures the electrical current required to drive the motor, which increases as the filter becomes clogged. This intermediary measurement provides accurate lifespan determination without complex direct observation of filter condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If motor power is measured to determine filter pollution degree, then the measurement is indirect, but the accuracy is improved compared to time-based methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of filter pollution determinationVSAvoidcomplexity of measurement system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses motor current consumption as an intermediary indicator to measure filter core clogging. The ammeter detects current changes, which serve as a reliable proxy for filter pollution degree. This approach achieves accurate measurement without requiring complex direct sensing of filter condition, balancing measurement precision with system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors motor current consumption and uses this feedback to determine filter core status. The real-time current data provides ongoing information about filter clogging progression, enabling dynamic adjustment of replacement timing recommendations and improving overall measurement accuracy compared to static time-based methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3187241B1Method and device for calculating consumed lifespan
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3187241B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2A
  • EP3187241B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~3
  • EP3187241B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for calculating a consumed lifespan, pertaining to the field of purifiers. The method includes: controlling (101, 205) an electric motor of a purifier to rotate at a predetermined speed; acquiring (102, 206) a value of a sampled parameter of the electric motor, the sampled parameter being at least one of a sampled current and a sampled voltage of the electric motor; and determining (103) a consumed lifespan of the purifier according to the acquired value of the sampled parameter, wherein the consumed lifespan is in positive correlation with the acquired value of the sampled parameter.