Integrated Filter Contamination Sensor for Air Purifier Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air purifiers require cumbersome and unhygienic manual filter checking to determine contamination levels, which can lead to re-scattering of dusts and inaccurate contamination measurements due to the remote distance between light emitter and receiver in contamination sensors.
Innovation Solution
An air purifier with a contamination sensor that includes a light emitter and receiver closely integrated within a housing, allowing for accurate measurement of contamination levels by emitting light towards or through the filter, and adjusting the light duty based on received light intensity to determine filter replacement and correct mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the light emitter and receiver are disposed at a remote distance in the contamination sensor, then the device structure is simpler, but the contamination level measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitter and light receiver are integrated into a single contamination sensor housing, disposed close to each other. This merging of components allows the sensor to accurately measure contamination levels by detecting light intensity changes caused by particles in the air passage, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and measurement precision.
2Device complexity
If manual filter checking is required, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates and hygiene issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The contamination sensor automatically monitors the filter status by measuring light intensity changes in the air passage. The system self-diagnoses contamination levels without requiring user intervention, eliminating the need for manual filter inspection and addressing both the ease of operation and hygiene concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical inspection of filters is replaced with an optical sensing system. The light emitter and receiver detect contamination levels through non-contact optical measurement, substituting the mechanical action of removing and visually inspecting filters with an automated sensing mechanism.
3Measurement precision
If the filter is manually removed for inspection, then the measurement can be performed, but dust re-scattering occurs and hygiene is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The physical removal and visual inspection of filters is replaced with in-situ optical sensing. The light emitter and receiver measure contamination levels directly within the air passage without disturbing the filter or releasing trapped particles, eliminating dust re-scattering while maintaining measurement accuracy.
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
Enhances contamination level measurement sensitivity and user convenience by automatically determining filter replacement and correct mounting, reducing the need for manual filter inspection and minimizing dust re-scattering.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitter which emits a light toward the filter and a light receiver which receives the light emitted from the light emitter
Implementation Method 2
The light emitted from the light emitter can be reflected against or passed through the filter and then received at the light receiver
Data Source
AI summary
An air purifier includes a main body having an inlet configured to receive air and a discharger configured to discharge the air. The air purifier also includes a filter disposed within the main body and configure to purify contaminates from the air. The air purifier also includes a contamination sensor disposed adjacent to the filter and integrally includes a light emitter configured to emit a light toward the filter and a light receiver configured to receive the light emitted from the light emitter.