Mask apparatus and method for controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022016449-A1
Application number	US-202117245534-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 30, 2021
Priority date	Jul 17, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A mask apparatus includes a mask body having a fan module, a seal defining a breathing space, a pressure sensor sensing air pressure in the breathing space, a mask body cover coupled to the mask body, and a controller that controls a rotation speed of the fan module based on pressure values. The controller is configured to determine breathing information including a maximum pressure value and time point, and a minimum pressure value and time point, determine a breathing state of a user based on the breathing information, determine whether the breathing state is a steady state, determine a tidal volume of the user based on the breathing information, and control the rotation speed of the fan module based on the tidal volume.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A mask apparatus comprising:
a mask body configured to mount a fan module; a seal coupled to a rear surface of the mask body, the seal being configured to define a breathing space therein; a pressure sensor coupled to the mask body and configured to sense air pressure in the breathing space; a mask body cover that is coupled to a front surface of the mask body and covers the fan module; and a controller coupled to the mask body and configured to control a rotation speed of the fan module based on pressure values measured by the pressure sensor, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine breathing information comprising a maximum pressure value and a minimum pressure value among the pressure values, a maximum time point corresponding to the maximum pressure value, and a minimum time point corresponding to the minimum pressure value,
determine a breathing state of a user based on the breathing information,
determine whether the breathing state is a steady state,
determine a tidal volume of the user based on the breathing information, wherein the tidal volume represents a volume of air that the user breathes in and out in the steady state, and
control the rotation speed of the fan module based on the tidal volume.

2 . The mask apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a difference value between the maximum pressure value and the minimum pressure value; compare the difference value to a reference value, and determine the breathing state based on comparing the difference value to the reference value.

3 . The mask apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the reference value comprises:
a first reference value; and a second reference value greater than the first reference value, and wherein the controller is configured to determine that the breathing state is the steady state based on the difference value being greater than the first reference value and less than the second reference value.

4 . The mask apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a time difference between the maximum time point and the minimum time point; compare the time difference to a reference time; and determine the breathing state based on comparing the time difference to the reference time.

5 . The mask apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the reference time comprises:
a first reference duration; and a second reference duration greater than the first reference duration, and wherein the controller is configured to determine that the breathing state is the steady state based on the time difference being greater than the first reference duration and less than the second reference duration.

6 . The mask apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to, based on determining that the breathing state is the steady state, determine the tidal volume by using the difference value and the time difference.

7 . The mask apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a breathing volume per unit time that is defined by dividing the tidal volume by the time difference; and control the rotation speed of the fan module based on the breathing volume per unit time.

8 . The mask apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine (i) a mean maximum pressure value of a plurality of maximum pressure values sensed during the steady state, (ii) a mean minimum value of a plurality of minimum pressure values sensed during the steady state, and (iii) a mean time difference determined based on a plurality of time differences, wherein each time difference corresponds to a difference between time points corresponding to one of the plurality of maximum pressure values and one of the plurality of minimum pressure values; and determine the tidal volume based on the mean maximum pressure value, the mean minimum value, and the mean time difference.

9 . The mask apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to:
store information of the tidal volume in a non-transitory memory; update the information of the tidal volume; and control the rotation speed of the fan module based on the updated information of the tidal volume.

10 . The mask apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to:
based on the difference value being greater than the second reference value, determine that the breathing state is an exercise state; and based on determining that the breathing state is the exercise state, reset the measured pressure values and control the rotation speed of the fan module based on tidal volume data stored before the breathing state is the exercise state.

11 . The mask apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to:
based on the difference value being less than the first reference value, determine that the mask apparatus is not worn by the user; and based on determining that the mask apparatus is not worn by the user, reset the measured pressure values and stop operation of the fan module.

12 . The mask apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to:
based on the time difference being greater than the second reference duration, determine that the user is in a deep breathing state; and based on determining that the user is in the deep breathing state, reset the measured pressure values and control the rotation speed of the fan module based on tidal volume data stored before the user is in the deep breathing state.

13 . The mask apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to:
based on the time difference being less than the first reference duration, determine that the user is in an abnormal breathing state or that the mask apparatus is in a malfunction state; and based on determining that the user is in the abnormal breathing state or that the mask apparatus is in the malfunction state, reset the measured pressure values and stop operation of the fan module.

14 . A method for controlling a mask apparatus, the method comprising:
sensing an internal pressure of the mask apparatus by a pressure sensor; determining breathing information comprising a maximum pressure value and a minimum pressure value among pressure values measured by the pressure sensor, a maximum time point corresponding to the maximum pressure value, and a minimum time point corresponding to the minimum pressure value; storing the breathing information; determining a breathing state of a user based on the breathing information; determining whether the breathing state is a steady state; determining a tidal volume of the user based on the breathing information, wherein the tidal volume represents a volume of air that the user breathes in and out when the breathing state is the steady state; and controlling a rotation speed of a fan module of the mask apparatus based on the tidal volume.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein determining the breathing state comprises:
determining a difference value between the maximum pressure value and the minimum pressure value; comparing the difference value to a reference value; determining the breathing state based on comparing the difference value to the reference value, wherein the reference value comprises a first reference value and a second reference value greater than the first reference value; and determining that the breathing state is the steady state based on the difference value being greater than the first reference value and less than

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A62B18/02 Primary

  Masks (gas-masks for animals A62B18/06; masks for welders A61F9/06) · CPC title

• 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

• F04D25/08

  the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation · CPC title

• A61B2562/0247

  Pressure sensors · CPC title

• A61B5/087

  Measuring breath flow · CPC title