Method and apparatus for ensuring air quality in a building, including method and apparatus for controlling a working device using a handheld unit having scanning, networking, display and input capability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laboratory and other building spaces requiring high air exchange rates to remove noxious substances incur significant energy losses and increased costs due to the need for frequent conditioning of outside air, and on-board display screens in control devices add to the expense.
Innovation Solution
A novel air treatment device with a housing, air inlet, outlet, and circulation fan that filters out noxious substances, reducing the air exchange rate and energy consumption, and a handheld unit with scanning, networking, and input capabilities to control devices without the need for on-board displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the air exchange rate is increased to remove noxious substances, then air quality and safety are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes noxious substances from the air using a filtration system before recirculating the air. This allows the air to be cleaned of harmful chemicals without requiring complete air exchange, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining air quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers and recirculates cleaned air that has had noxious substances removed through filtration. Instead of discarding all air and bringing in fresh outside air, the system recovers the cleaned air and reuse it, significantly reducing energy consumption associated with air conditioning.
2Ease of operation
If on-board display screens are added to control devices, then user interface capability is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a handheld device as an intermediary between the user and the air treatment system. The handheld device contains the display screen and user interface capabilities, while the air treatment device itself remains simple and cost-effective without requiring an integrated display.
Solution Approach 2:
The handheld device serves as a universal control interface that can potentially control multiple devices. By using a separate, reusable handheld controller rather than embedding displays in each device, the system achieves user interface capability while reducing overall costs.
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 reduces energy losses and costs by transforming high air exchange rates to lower rates while ensuring safety and quality, and eliminates the need for on-board displays in control devices, providing a cost-effective and efficient air handling system.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation fan disposed in said passageway so as to draw the air of the higher air exchange rate space into said air inlet, through said passageway, and return that air to the higher air exchange rate space through said at least one air outlet
Implementation Method 2
a filter disposed in said passageway for purging noxious substances from the air passing through said passageway
Data Source
AI summary
A method for wirelessly controlling a working device using a handheld unit, the method comprising: connecting the working device to a central server by a network, wherein the working device is uniquely identified on the network by an assigned network address, and further wherein the working device and the central server are configured so that the central server can receive data concerning operation of the working device, and control operation of the working device, via the network; positioning a device-specific identification marker at the working device, wherein the device-specific identification marker is linked to the assigned network address of the working device; scanning the device-specific identification marker with the handheld unit, whereby to identify the working device and the assigned network address linked to the working device; and using the handheld unit to cause the central server to communicate with and control the working device at the assigned network address, whereby to allow the user to control operation of the working device via the handheld device and/or to receive data concerning the working device from the central server.