Electronic device and method for sensing air quality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10225442-B2
Application number	US-201615000220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2016
Priority date	Feb 16, 2015
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

An electronic device for sensing air quality is provided. The electronic device includes a proximity sensor, a processor and a memory. The proximity sensor at least includes a light source and a light sensor. The light source emits light toward particulate matter in air, wherein the light is reflected by a surface of the particulate matter to form reflected light. The light sensor senses the reflected light. The processor is coupled to the proximity sensor, and the memory is operatively coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to execute program code stored in the memory by: obtaining an air quality value corresponding to an intensity value of the reflected light according to an air quality table.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device for sensing air quality, comprising:
a proximity sensor, at least comprising:
a light source, emitting light toward particulate matter in air, wherein the light is reflected by a surface of the particulate matter to form reflected light; and
a light sensor, sensing the reflected light;
a PM 2.5 filter, comprising a chamber having at least a size selective inlet, wherein the size selective inlet controls a size of the particulate matter flowing through the chamber, wherein an aerodynamic diameter of the particulate matter is less than 2.5 μm;
a processor coupled to the proximity sensor; and
a memory operatively coupled to the processor;
wherein the processor is configured to execute program code stored in the memory by:
obtaining an air quality value corresponding to an intensity value of the reflected light according to an air quality table.

2. The electronic device for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the air quality table is used for mapping the intensity values of the reflected light to air quality values; and the processor obtains the air quality value based on the intensity value of the reflected light.

3. The electronic device for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 1 , before obtaining the air quality value corresponding to the intensity value of the reflected light according to the air quality table, the processor further executes the program code stored in the memory by:
determining whether the PM 2.5 filter is installed at the top of the proximity sensor for controlling the size of the particulate matter flowing through the chamber; and
obtaining a PM 2.5 quality value corresponding to the intensity value of the reflected light according to a PM 2.5 quality table after the processor determines that the PM 2.5 filter is installed at the top of the proximity sensor for controlling the size of the particulate matter flowing through the chamber.

4. The electronic device for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the PM 2.5 quality table is used for mapping the intensity values of the reflected light to PM 2.5 quality values; and the processor obtains the PM 2.5 quality value based on the intensity value of the reflected light.

5. The electronic device for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a lens, disposed on an optical path of the light source and focusing the reflected light to increase sensitivity.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1 , before obtaining the air quality value corresponding to the intensity value of the reflected light according to the air quality table, the processor further executes the program code stored in the memory by:
increasing exposure time of the light sensor until a predetermined time when the intensity value of the reflected light sensed by the light sensor is less than a light threshold value.

7. The electronic device for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 1 , before obtaining the air quality value corresponding to the intensity value of the reflected light according to the air quality table, the processor further executes the program code stored in the memory by:
increasing supply current of the light source for increasing the intensity value of the light when the intensity value of the reflected light sensed by the light sensor is less than a light threshold value.

8. The electronic device for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the processor further executes the program code stored in the memory by:
connecting to a regulator device;
comparing the air quality value to a predetermined threshold;
determining whether the air quality value exceeds the predetermined threshold; and
transmitting a signal to the regulator device after determining that the air quality value exceeds the predetermined threshold, wherein the signal is used to instruct the regulator device to purify the air.

9. A method for sensing air quality, used in an electronic device, comprising:
emitting, by a light source of a proximity sensor of the electronic device, light toward particulate matter in air, wherein the light is reflected by a surface of the particulate matter to form reflected light;
sensing, by a light sensor of the proximity sensor, the reflected light;
obtaining, by a processor of the electronic device, an air quality value corresponding to an intensity value of the reflected light according to an air quality table; and
controlling, by a size selective inlet of a PM 2.5 filter of the electronic device, a size of the particulate matter flowing through a chamber of the PM 2.5 filter, wherein an aerodynamic diameter of the particulate matter is less than 2.5 μm.

10. The method for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the air quality table is used for mapping the intensity values of the reflected light to air quality values, and the method further comprises:
determining, by the processor, the air quality value based on the intensity value of the reflected light.

11. The method for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 9 , before obtaining the air quality value corresponding to the intensity value of the reflected light according to the air quality table, the method further comprising:
determining whether the PM 2.5 filter is installed at the top of the proximity sensor for controlling the size of the particulate matter flowing through the chamber; and
obtaining a PM 2.5 quality value corresponding to the intensity value of the reflected light according to a PM 2.5 quality table after the processor determines that the PM 2.5 filter is installed at the top of the proximity sensor for controlling the size of the particulate matter flowing through the chamber.

12. The method for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the PM 2.5 quality table is used for mapping the intensity values of the reflected light to PM 2.5 quality values, and the method further comprises:
determining, by the processor, the PM 2.5 quality value based on the intensity value of the reflected light.

13. The method for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a lens disposed on an optical path of the proximity sensor, and the method further comprises:
focusing, by the lens, the reflected light to increase sensitivity.

14. The method for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 9 , before obtaining the air quality value corresponding to the intensity value of the reflected light according to the air quality table, the method further comprises:
increasing, by the processor, exposure time of the light sensor until a predetermined time when the intensity value of the reflected light sensed by the light sensor is less than a light threshold value.

15. The method for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 9 , before obtaining the air quality value corresponding to the intensity value of the reflected light according to the air quality table, the method further comprising:
increasing, by the processor, supply current of the light source for increasing luminance of the light when the intensity value of the reflected light sensed by the light sensor is less than a light threshold value.

16. The method for sensing air quality as claimed in claim 9 , the method further comprising:
connecting to a regulator device;
comparing the air quality value to a predetermined threshold;
determining whether the air quality value exceeds the predetermined threshold; and
transmitting a signal to the regulator device after determining that the air quality value exceeds the pred

Assignees

• Mediatek Inc

Inventors

• Tseng Kui-Chang
• Liu Tsu-Ming

Classifications

• H04N23/63

  by using electronic viewfinders · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• G06F1/1626 Primary

  with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs] · CPC title

• H04N23/51 Primary

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N7/15

  Conference systems · CPC title