Vehicle Air Filter Microbe Killing Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air filtration systems in vehicles require numerous components, making them costly and time-consuming to produce and assemble, and are prone to failure if one component malfunctions, leading to ineffective odor reduction from microbial growth.
Innovation Solution
An anti-odor filter assembly with a microbe-killing arrangement that emits energy selectively activated by an electronic control unit, using a conductive element to create an electrical field or UV-light to kill microbes on the air filter surface, reducing odor-causing microbe presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If many different components are used in the odour prevention system, then the functionality and reliability of odour reduction is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (particle charging, particle attraction, and particle flushing) into a single integrated system with one control unit, eliminating the need for multiple separate components while maintaining odour reduction effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls the charging process, manages the baffle activation, and coordinates the flushing mechanism, making a single component perform what previously required multiple specialized components
2Reliability
If many different components are used in the odour prevention system, then the odour control functionality is improved, but the production time and assembly cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple components into a single integrated assembly, the patent reduces the number of assembly steps and production time required, while maintaining full odour control functionality through the coordinated operation of integrated subsystems
3Reliability
If one component fails in the multi-component system, then the system reliability deteriorates, but replacing individual components increases maintenance complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated design means that if a failure occurs, the entire assembly can be replaced as a single unit rather than requiring diagnosis and replacement of individual components, simplifying maintenance while ensuring system reliability
4Reliability
If the means for emitting energy is continuously activated, then the microbe killing effectiveness is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The means for emitting energy is activated periodically or selectively based on detected microbe levels rather than continuously, maintaining effective microbe control while significantly reducing energy consumption through intermittent operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from detection means to control the activation of the energy-emitting means, activating only when microbes are detected and deactivating when microbe levels are acceptable, optimizing both effectiveness and energy efficiency
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 effectively eliminates odor from microbial growth on air filters, reduces component complexity and production costs, and conserves energy by selective activation, allowing dead microbes to remain until filter replacement, ensuring efficient and cost-effective odor control.
Implementation Method 1
using a conductive element to create an electrical field or UV-light to kill microbes on the air filter surface
Implementation Method 2
using a conductive element to create an electrical field or UV-light to kill microbes on the air filter surface
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an anti odour filter assembly for preventing growth of microbes on an air filter (1) for a vehicle. The air filter (1) is arranged for percolation of air (2) circulating in a passenger compartment of said vehicle. The anti odour filter assembly comprises a filter (1) and a microbe killing arrangement. The microbe killing arrangement comprises means for emitting energy towards a surface (4) of the filter (1). The means are arranged to be selectively activated for a period of time by an electronic control unit (3) to kill microbes on said surface.