Electronic Cabin Air Filter with Sensor-Based Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle cabin air filtration systems are inefficient as they require manual activation and can waste energy when left on unnecessarily, and passive filters become saturated, reintroducing materials and odors into the cabin.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle cabin air filtration system with an electronic air filter and sensors that automatically activate or deactivate based on environmental conditions, using a controller to compare sensor data to stored parameters for location and air quality, ensuring proactive filtration before unwanted particles enter the cabin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If passive filters are used to trap airborne particles, then particle removal is achieved, but the filter becomes saturated and reintroduces materials and odors into the cabin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle removalVSAvoidfilter saturation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces passive mechanical filters with an active electronic air filtration system that uses ionization technology. The system employs an ionization source to charge airborne particles, which are then attracted to and collected on oppositely charged collector plates, eliminating the saturation problem inherent in passive mechanical filters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic filtration system allows for easy removal and cleaning of the collector plates. When plates become saturated with collected particles, they can be discarded or cleaned and reused, preventing the reintroduction of trapped materials into the cabin that occurs with saturated passive filters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Object-affected harmful factors

If electronic air filtration systems are always on, then continuous particle removal is achieved, but energy is wasted when filtration is unnecessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous particle removalVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static always-on state to a dynamic state that adapts to environmental conditions. Sensors continuously monitor air quality parameters, and the control system adjusts the ionization source operation accordingly, activating filtration only when pollutants are detected and deactivating when air quality is acceptable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates sensors that provide real-time feedback on air quality conditions to the control system. This feedback loop enables the system to make informed decisions about when to activate or deactivate the ionization source, ensuring energy is consumed only when filtration is actually needed to remove harmful particles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If manual activation is required for air filtration, then user control is achieved, but activation is delayed until particles have already entered the cabin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidactivation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of air quality conditions through sensors that continuously monitor the environment before harmful particles reach the cabin. The control system activates the ionization source in advance based on detected conditions, preventing particle entry rather than reacting after particles have already entered.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system eliminates the need for manual user activation by implementing self-monitoring and self-activation capabilities. Sensors automatically detect air quality conditions and trigger the filtration system without requiring user intervention, ensuring timely activation based on actual environmental conditions rather than user awareness or action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 solution provides efficient and proactive air filtration, reducing energy waste and preventing the introduction of harmful particles into the vehicle cabin, while ensuring the system is only active when needed.

Implementation Method 1

The filter may use ionization to attract and remove unwanted particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Data Source

PatentUS10245924B2Automatic vehicle cabin air filtration system

Publication Date: 2019.04.02 NIO TECH ANHUI CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle cabin air filtration system has an electronic air filter which removes unwanted air particles from air prior to or after entry into a vehicle cabin. The vehicle cabin air filtration system also has a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a parameter and a controller operatively connected to the electronic air filter and the sensor. The controller receives the signal indicative of the parameter from the sensor, compares the parameter to a stored condition, and selectively activates or deactivates the electronic air filter based on the comparison.