Method and electronic device for detecting contamination of filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air purifiers often inaccurately determine the need for filter replacement based solely on accumulated use time, neglecting the actual level of contaminants on the filter, leading to incorrect filter replacement notifications.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device that includes a fan, fan motor, and processor to monitor fan motor RPM stabilization time, using feedback and feed-forward control to determine filter contamination levels and notify when replacement is necessary, aided by an artificial intelligence model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If filter replacement is determined based solely on accumulated use time, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision of filter contamination level deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring the fan motor's RPM stabilization behavior and using this information to dynamically adjust the determination of filter replacement needs. The processor continuously monitors the stabilization time and compares it against threshold values, creating a closed-loop feedback system that improves measurement precision without requiring complex user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or time-based filter replacement determination with an electronic sensing and processing system. By using the fan motor's electrical parameters (RPM stabilization time) to infer filter contamination level, the system substitutes a simple time counter with a more sophisticated but still relatively simple electronic measurement approach.
2Device complexity
If filter replacement notification is displayed based on accumulated use time, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of filter replacement timing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the fan motor's actual performance (RPM stabilization behavior) to reliably determine when filter replacement is needed. This feedback mechanism ensures that replacement timing reflects actual filter condition rather than just elapsed time, improving reliability while keeping the system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the air purifier to self-diagnose filter contamination level by monitoring its own fan motor performance. The processor automatically detects stabilization time and determines replacement needs without requiring external inspection or complex additional sensors, allowing the device to service itself.
3Measurement precision
If the fan motor RPM is monitored and stabilized within reference RPM difference, then the measurement precision of contamination detection is improved, but the use of energy by moving object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial monitoring by measuring only the stabilization time to reach target RPM, rather than continuously monitoring the entire fan operation. This partial measurement approach provides sufficient precision for contamination detection while minimizing the additional energy consumption associated with extended monitoring periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system rapidly determines contamination level by measuring only the critical stabilization period rather than continuously monitoring fan performance over extended periods. This rushing through the essential measurement provides adequate precision while reducing energy consumption by skipping unnecessary continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method and an electronic device for detecting contamination of a filter. When a revolutions per minute (RPM) of a fan motor increases so as to exceed a target RPM, a stabilization time is detected from a time point when the RPM of the fan motor reaches the target RPM to a time point when the RPM of the fan motor is maintained within a reference RPM difference with respect to the target RPM. When it is determined that the detected stabilization time is greater than a filter replacement threshold time, a notification to replace the filter is displayed on a display.