Mask apparatus and method for controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12263362-B2
Application number	US-202117231466-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2021
Priority date	Jun 30, 2020
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

A mask apparatus includes a mask body, a fan module, a seal that defines a breathing space, a pressure sensor coupled to the mask body and configured to sense an air pressure in the breathing space, and a controller coupled to the mask body and configured to control a rotation speed of the fan module based on the air pressure. The controller is configured to determine a breathing cycle based on a maximum pressure value and a minimum pressure value among air pressure values sensed by the pressure sensor, determine a time difference between a maximum time point and a minimum time point, determine an expected time point of inhalation in a subsequent breathing cycle based on the breathing cycle and the time difference, and increase the rotation speed of the fan module based on a current time corresponding to the expected time point of inhalation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mask apparatus comprising:
a mask body;
a fan module configured to be coupled to the mask body;
a seal that is coupled to a rear surface of the mask body and defines a breathing space therein;
a pressure sensor coupled to the mask body and configured to sense an air pressure in the breathing space;
a mask body cover coupled to a front surface of the mask body and configured to cover the fan module; and
a controller coupled to the mask body and configured to control a rotation speed of the fan module based on the air pressure sensed by the pressure sensor,
wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a first breathing cycle based on a maximum pressure value and a minimum pressure value among a plurality of air pressure values sensed by the pressure sensor,
determine a first time difference between a first maximum time point corresponding to the maximum pressure value of the first breathing cycle and a first minimum time point corresponding to the minimum pressure value of the first breathing cycle,
determine an expected time point of inhalation in a second breathing cycle based on the first breathing cycle and the first time difference, and
increase the rotation speed of the fan module based on a current time corresponding to the expected time point of inhalation.

2. The mask apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
operate the fan module at a first speed for a predetermined time based on power being applied to the mask apparatus, and
receive a first air pressure sensed by the pressure sensor while operating the fan module at the first speed.

3. The mask apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first breathing cycle is defined by a period of time between two adjacent time points at which two maximum air pressure values are sensed or at which two minimum air pressure values are sensed.

4. The mask apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to vary the expected time point of inhalation in a subsequent breathing cycle based on a current breathing cycle and a current time difference.

5. The mask apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the expected time point of inhalation of the second breathing cycle based on a time point corresponding to 20% to 50% of the first time difference from a time point corresponding to a maximum pressure value of the second breathing cycle.

6. The mask apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a minimum pressure value of the second breathing cycle, and
reduce the rotation speed of the fan module based on the current time corresponding to a time point corresponding to the minimum pressure value of the second breathing cycle.

7. The mask apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a duty ratio of the fan module, the duty ratio being less than a target duty ratio that is determined based on a target rotation speed; and
input the duty ratio to the fan module to decrease the rotation speed of the fan module.

8. The mask apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a power-off command of the mask apparatus is input.

9. The mask apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to, based on determining that the power-off command of the mask apparatus is not input, determine a second time difference between a second maximum time point corresponding to a maximum pressure value of the second breathing cycle and a second minimum time point corresponding to a minimum pressure value of the second breathing cycle.

10. The mask apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a duty ratio of the fan module, the duty ratio being greater than a target duty ratio that is determined based on a target rotation speed of the fan module; and
input the duty ratio to the fan module to increase the rotation speed of the fan module.

11. A method for controlling a mask apparatus, the method comprising:
supplying power to the mask apparatus to operate a pressure sensor of the mask apparatus;
sensing, by the pressure sensor, an air pressure in a breathing space that is defined in the mask apparatus;
receiving, by a controller of the mask apparatus, a plurality of pressure values sensed by the pressure sensor;
determining a first breathing cycle based on a maximum pressure value and a minimum pressure value among the plurality of pressure values sensed by the pressure sensor;
determining a first time difference between a first maximum time point corresponding to the maximum pressure value of the first breathing cycle and a first minimum time point corresponding to the minimum pressure value of the first breathing cycle;
determining an expected time point of inhalation in a second breathing cycle based on the first breathing cycle and the first time difference; and
controlling a rotation speed of a fan module of the mask apparatus,
wherein controlling the rotation speed of the fan module comprises increasing the rotation speed of the fan module based on a current time corresponding to the expected time point of inhalation.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
based on power being applied to the mask apparatus, operating the fan module at a first speed for a predetermined time; and
transmitting, to the controller, a first pressure value sensed by the pressure sensor while operating the fan module at the first speed.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the first breathing cycle is determined based on a period of time between two adjacent time points at which two maximum air pressure values are sensed or at which two minimum air pressure values are sensed.

14. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
varying the expected time point of inhalation of a subsequent breathing cycle based on a current breathing cycle and a current time difference.

15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the expected time point of inhalation is determined based on a time point corresponding to 20% to 50% of the first time difference from a time point corresponding to a maximum pressure value of the second breathing cycle.

16. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
determining a minimum pressure value of the second breathing cycle; and
decreasing the rotation speed of the fan module at a second minimum time point corresponding to the minimum pressure value of the second breathing cycle.

17. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
determining a duty ratio of the fan module, the duty ratio being less than a target duty ratio determined based on a target rotation speed of the fan module; and
inputting the duty ratio to the fan module to decrease the rotation speed of the fan module.

18. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
determining whether a power-off command of the mask apparatus is input.

19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
based on determining that the power-off command of the mask apparatus is not input, determining a second time difference between a second maximum time point corresponding to a maximum pressure value of the second breathing cycle and a second minimum time point corresponding to a minimum pressure value of the second breathing cycle.

20. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
determining a duty ratio of the fan module, the

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kwon Taewook
• Park Jinmoo
• Kwon Junchan
• Lee Seonghun
• Choi Hyengcheul
• Yuk Gyunghwan
• Kim Minsoo

Classifications

• A62B18/08

  Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices (eye-pieces for protective goggles A61F9/02; composition of materials for the windows or other transparent parts A62D7/00) · CPC title

• A62B18/025

  Halfmasks (A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11) · CPC title

• A62B9/00

  Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus (A62B19/00, A62B21/00, A62B23/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• A62B7/10 Primary

  with filter elements · CPC title

• A61B2562/18

  Shielding or protection of sensors from environmental influences, e.g. protection from mechanical damage · CPC title