Combination mobile built-in air flow mechanism and LED kill chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor air quality systems fail to effectively supplement HVAC systems in maintaining proper air quality and movement while providing adequate lighting, leading to issues like excessive heat damage to LED lights and the accumulation of harmful contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and mold, which affect productivity and health.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling tile-based air circulation device with integrated fans, UV light sources, and LED lighting that creates a kill zone for airborne contaminants, using UV-reflective materials and a remote control system to manage airflow and lighting, while also incorporating stepped-fan blade technology for efficient air distribution and thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If LED lights are used for illumination, then energy savings and longer lifespan are achieved, but excessive heat generation damages the LED lights and reduces their lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful heat from the LED lighting system by introducing a separate air circulation system with fans that actively removes heat from the LED fixtures. This separates the illumination function from the thermal management function, allowing LEDs to operate efficiently while heat is continuously extracted and dissipated through the air circulation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary medium between the heat-generating LED lights and the surrounding environment. The air circulation system uses fans to move air through channels that pass over LED fixtures, allowing heat to be transferred from LEDs to air, which then carries it away. This intermediary approach enables effective thermal management without direct thermal contact.
2Device complexity
If a single HVAC system is used for all rooms, then system complexity is reduced, but air quality and air movement are insufficient in specific indoor spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air treatment function by introducing localized air circulation devices that can be installed in specific rooms or zones independent of the central HVAC system. Each device operates autonomously to provide targeted air quality improvement and air movement in specific indoor spaces, allowing selective deployment based on local needs without requiring system-wide complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If ceiling tiles with dimensions of 2 ft.×2 ft. or 2 ft.×4 ft. are used, then standard ceiling configurations are maintained, but space for integrating air circulation and lighting functions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions (lighting, air circulation, heat removal, and illumination) into a single integrated ceiling tile assembly. The design combines LED light fixtures, fan motors, air intake and exhaust channels, and structural components within the standardized ceiling tile footprint, enabling multiple functions to coexist in the limited space without requiring larger or custom-sized tiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where smaller functional components are housed within the ceiling tile structure. The air circulation channels are nested within the tile thickness, fans are mounted in dedicated compartments, and LED fixtures are integrated into the same space, creating a compact multi-functional unit that fits standard ceiling dimensions.
4Reliability
If UV light sources are added to decontaminate air, then air quality and health are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates UV light sources into the existing air circulation system, allowing the same device to perform both air movement (via fans) and air decontamination (via UV lights). This multi-functional approach adds decontamination capability without requiring a completely separate system, as the UV lamps are incorporated into the air handling unit that already contains fans and air channels.
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 enhances air quality, prolongs LED light lifespan by reducing heat, and effectively decontaminates indoor air, improving productivity and health by providing a supplementary air circulation system that fits within standard ceiling tile dimensions and can be easily repositioned.
Implementation Method 1
a fan mounted to a housing within the apparatus... The fan moves air from the indoor environment
Implementation Method 2
a UV light source mounted within the housing... UV light source decontaminates air as it flows through the apparatus
Implementation Method 3
one or more LED lights mounted to the housing... LED bulbs that produce white light typically generate excessive heat
Implementation Method 4
Proper thermal management is critical to maintaining the original brightness and extending the lifespan of LED lights
Implementation Method 5
The fan moves air from the indoor environment... providing a cooling effect on the LED lights
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments relate to a combination axial fan and LED lighting system configured to fit into the footprint of a standard ceiling tile. Disclosed embodiments further include ceiling tiles with a built-in fan and/or LED lighting. The disclosed systems may include one or more UV-C light sources which irradiate contaminants as air flows through the UV-C unit. The UV-C unit is mounted on either a universal mounting mechanism or a mobile support unit to provide mobility to the UV-C unit.