Patent Application
20080006009
The same reference number represents the same element on all drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.
The tower portion 102 includes an external shell 103, one or more doors 104, and a control panel 110. The tower portion 102 further includes an air inlet 105 and an air outlet 106. Air is drawn in through the air inlet 105, is cleaned inside the tower portion 102, and the cleaned air is exhausted from the air outlet 106. However, it should be understood that the air cleaner 100 can comprise other shapes, configurations, and designs, and the tower configuration is shown merely for illustration.
The air inlet 105 is shown as being at the lower end of the tower portion 102. However, it should be understood that alternatively the relative positions of the air inlet 105 and the air outlet 106 could be interchanged.
Pressing the air revitalizer button 121 turns the air revitalizer on and off. Pressing the fan power button 122 cycles the fan of the air cleaner 100 through the fan power levels. To turn the air cleaner 100 on, the user presses the fan power button 122 once. Power comes on in the low i.e., “silence” setting. Subsequent presses of the fan power button 122 transitions the fan to the medium speed, to the high speed, and then turns the fan off. The electrostatic precipitator cell is turned on when the fan is running at any speed. Pressing the fan turbo button 123 runs the fan at its highest speed, the turbo speed. This speed setting is accompanied by illumination of the turbo fan speed indicator 137. The electrostatic precipitator is on when the fan is at the turbo speed setting. The turbo speed setting can be turned off by a subsequent press of the fan turbo button 123 or by cycling off the power of the air cleaner 100, for example.
The control panel further includes various visual indicators, including a check collector cell indicator 131, a change odor absorber indicator 132, an air revitalizer indicator 133, a high fan speed indicator 134, a medium fan speed indicator 135, a silence fan speed indicator 136, a turbo fan speed indicator 137, and a nightlight indicator 138.
The check collector cell indicator 131 is generally illuminated when a collector cell (i.e., electrostatic precipitator) of the air cleaner 100 is dirty and requires cleaning. The collector cell may require cleaning after a predetermined number of hours of operation, for example. The check collector cell indicator 131 can be illuminated when a corresponding collector cell timer indicates that a predetermined time period has elapsed.
The change odor absorber indicator 132 is generally illuminated when an odor absorber requires replacement. The odor absorber may require replacement when an odor absorber material has been consumed or effectively clogged up. The change odor absorber indicator 132 can be illuminated when a corresponding odor absorber timer indicates that a predetermined time period has elapsed.
The air revitalizer indicator 133 is generally illuminated when the air revitalizer (i.e., air ionizer) is operating and ionizing airflow through the air cleaner 100. The air revitalizer indicator 133 is correspondingly turned on and off when the air revitalizer is turned on and off.
The high fan speed indicator 134 is generally illuminated during a high fan output setting. The high indicator 134 is correspondingly turned on and off when the high fan output setting is turned on and off.
The medium fan speed indicator 135 is generally illuminated during a medium fan output setting. The medium indicator 135 is correspondingly turned on and off when the medium fan output setting is turned on and off.
The silence fan speed indicator 136 is generally illuminated during a lowest fan output setting. The silence mode of the air cleaner 100 is therefore relatively quiet. The silence fan speed indicator 136 is correspondingly turned on and off when the silence fan output setting is turned on and off.
The turbo fan speed indicator 137 is generally illuminated during turbo mode operation of a fan motor (or motors). The turbo mode is a highest fan output setting. In some embodiments, the turbo mode is automatically controlled by the air cleaner 100, and cannot be activated by a person. The turbo fan speed indicator 137 is correspondingly turned on and off when the turbo fan output setting is turned on and off.
The nightlight indicator 138 is generally illuminated when a nightlight 140 (see below) is activated. The nightlight indicator 138 is correspondingly turned on and off when the nightlight 140 is turned on and off.
The air cleaner 100 further includes a nightlight 140. The nightlight 140 can comprise a light source. The nightlight 140 can comprise one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).
The nightlight 140 in the embodiment shown is positioned at or near the top of the tower portion 102 of the air cleaner 100. Consequently, the nightlight 140 is substantially adjacent to the control panel 110. The nightlight 140 in some embodiments is substantially elongate in shape, as shown. However, it should be understood that the nightlight 140 can comprise any shape and size.
The nightlight 140 can perform as a typical nightlight. The nightlight 140 generates light and at least partially illuminates a surrounding area. The nightlight 140 can further illuminate the control panel 110 and enable a person to find the buttons or controls at night.
When the nightlight control 124 is activated, the nightlight 140 is turned on. If the nightlight control 124 comprises a button, the activation can comprise a button press, for example. In addition, the nightlight indicator 138 is illuminated. A subsequent de-activation of the nightlight control 124 turns off the nightlight 140 and the nightlight indicator 138.
It should be understood that the nightlight control 124 can comprise any manner of control mechanism. The nightlight control 124 can comprise a switch, button, slider, optical sensor, touch sensor, etc. Other nightlight controls are contemplated and are within the scope of the description and claims.
In some embodiments, electrical current to the nightlight 140 is ramped up or down when the nightlight control 124 is activated or de-activated, and is not merely turned on or off. The electrical current to the nightlight 140 is ramped up if power to the nightlight 140 is turned on by a nightlight control activation and the electrical current is ramped down if power to the nightlight 140 is turned off by a nightlight control de-activation. In addition, the ramping can comprise stepping the electrical current up or down, wherein the electrical current is stepped up or down over a predetermined ramp up or ramp down time period. The stepping can include a predetermined number of current levels.
The plurality of light sources 144 in one embodiment comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 144. In one embodiment, the light sources 144 comprise color light sources 144, such as blue LEDs, for example. However, it should be understood that other light sources are contemplated and are within the scope of the description and claims.
In an alternative to the previous nightlight ramping embodiment, the nightlight 140 can be ramped up or down by selectively illuminating individual light sources 144. For example, just one light source 144 can first be supplied with electrical current. Then an additional light source 144 is supplied with electrical current, and another, etc.
