Drain Pan Dirt Detection Using Blue-Wavelength Lighting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air treatment devices face difficulties in specifying the dirtied state of inner surfaces, particularly due to biofilm with pale pink, pale brown, or pale yellow colors, which are challenging to distinguish from the white surface using conventional photography methods.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a lighting device that emits visible light with a maximum peak wavelength between 400 nm to 500 nm, allowing dirt on the inner surfaces to absorb these wavelengths, resulting in lower brightness in image data and making it easier to differentiate between clean and dirty areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional photographing methods are used to capture the inner surface of the tray, then the image data can be obtained, but the dirtied state (pale pink, pale brown, or pale yellow biofilm) cannot be clearly specified or distinguished from the white surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the lighting parameter by using a light source with a specific wavelength (maximum peak wavelength between 400 nm to 500 nm) instead of conventional lighting. This wavelength parameter change causes dirt to absorb light differently, creating sufficient brightness contrast in the captured images to distinguish the pale-colored biofilm from the white tray surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the color absorption properties of dirt by selecting a light wavelength (400-500 nm) that is strongly absorbed by pale pink, pale brown, and pale yellow biofilm. This creates a brightness difference between dirty and clean areas, effectively using color absorption characteristics to solve the detection problem.
2Area of stationary object
If the photographing device captures the entire inner surface including water areas, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but the water surface reflects light and interferes with dirt detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs photographing at a specific timing - after water discharge from the drain pan is completed. This preliminary action of waiting for water discharge eliminates the water surface reflection interference before capturing the image, allowing clear detection of the entire inner surface including areas that would otherwise be obscured by water.
3Measurement precision
If multiple photographing devices are used to capture different angles and surfaces, then comprehensive dirt detection is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single photographing device that is capable of capturing multiple surfaces (bottom surface and side surfaces) of the drain pan. This multi-functional approach allows one device to perform the work that would otherwise require multiple devices, maintaining detection comprehensiveness while minimizing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The photographing device is designed to be movable or adjustable, enabling it to capture images of different surfaces and angles. This dynamic capability allows a single device to adapt its position and orientation to photograph various parts of the drain pan, achieving comprehensive coverage without requiring multiple fixed devices.
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
This approach enables clear depiction of dirt on the inner surfaces, including biofilm, by creating a significant brightness difference in image data, facilitating the assessment of the dirtied state.
Implementation Method 1
Dirt in pale pink, pale brown, or pale yellow tending to adhere to the inner surface of the tray absorbs most of maximum peak wavelength components of the visible light emitted from the lighting device (72)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An air treatment device includes a casing (20), a drain pan (50) provided in the casing (20), a camera (70) configured to capture an inner surface of the drain pan (50) to obtain image data, and a lighting device (72) configured to apply, to a photographing target of the camera (70), visible light having a maximum peak wavelength in a wavelength band from 400 nm to 500 nm.