Retractable Rotary Air Cleaner Control for Water-Resistant Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air cleaners with button-type manipulators occupy a large area on the outer surface, making them aesthetically unappealing and prone to water damage when used in table mode, which can harm the encoder unit's printed circuit board.
Innovation Solution
A rotary manipulator with a retractable design that includes a handle, control signal generator, and lift unit, allowing for rotation-based control of air cleaner functions without the need for multiple buttons, and featuring a drain hole to prevent water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple control buttons are provided to control various functions of the air cleaner, then the ease of operation is improved, but the area occupied on the outer surface increases and the external appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control buttons for different functions (power on/off, cleaning intensity, duration, discharge direction, cleaning modes) are merged into a single rotary manipulator. The rotary manipulator integrates all control functions into one component, allowing users to control various air cleaner functions by rotating the single manipulator to different positions, thereby reducing the area occupied on the outer surface while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary manipulator is designed as a universal control device that performs multiple functions. A single rotary manipulator can control power on/off, cleaning intensity, operation duration, air discharge direction, and different cleaning modes (sandy dust removing mode, dehumidifying mode, humidifying mode), making it a multi-functional control device that eliminates the need for multiple separate buttons.
2Ease of operation
If the encoder unit protrudes from the outer surface to allow user manipulation, then the ease of operation is improved, but water may enter the encoder unit and damage the printed circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary manipulator is designed to be retractable rather than fixed. It can be pushed inward to retract into the casing, creating a water-resistant configuration, or pushed outward to extend for user manipulation. This dynamic design allows the manipulator to adapt between ease of operation and water resistance based on usage conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable design provides preliminary protection against water ingress. When not in use, the manipulator automatically retracts into the casing, preventing water from entering the encoder unit and damaging the printed circuit board. This preliminary protective action is taken before water exposure can occur, especially important when the air cleaner is used in table type mode where the cover forms the table surface.
3Ease of operation
If the rotary manipulator is extracted from the casing for manipulation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases due to potential water ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary manipulator transitions between retracted and extended states dynamically. When extended, it provides ease of manipulation for user control. When retracted, it provides protection from water damage. This dynamic state change allows the system to balance ease of operation and reliability based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The manipulator assembly is designed with a protective structure that can flexibly transition between protected and accessible states. The retractable mechanism allows the manipulator to be shielded by the casing when not in use, providing a flexible protection system that maintains reliability while enabling operation when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An air cleaner having a manipulator is disclosed. The manipulator (200) includes a rotary manipulation unit (300), which is provided so as to be movable between a first position, at which the rotary manipulation unit is retracted into the air cleaner, and a second position, to which the rotary manipulation unit is extracted from the air cleaner to enable a user to manipulate the rotary manipulation unit. The manipulator further includes a lift unit (400), which is installed in the air cleaner to move the rotary manipulation unit between the first position and the second position. In the present invention, the manipulator can control several functions of the air cleaner obviating the need for having several control buttons, thus being more convenient for a user. Furthermore, the present invention can prevent water from permeating a PCB mounted in the rotary manipulation unit, thus preventing malfunction of the encoder unit.