Air conditioner having air purifying module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9468699-B2
Application number	US-201414445277-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2014
Priority date	Jul 30, 2013
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

An air conditioner including a body having an evaporator for heat-exchanging air flowing in the body, and an air purifying module coupled to the body. The air purifying module may have a light emitting diode part disposed along a flow path of the air to provide ultraviolet rays, and a filter part disposed adjacent to the light emitting diode part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air conditioner comprising:
a body including an evaporator for heat-exchanging air flowing in the body;
a first air purifying module and a second air purifying module, each coupled to the body,
wherein each air purifying module includes:
a light emitting diode part disposed along a flow path of the air to provide ultraviolet rays, and
a filter part disposed adjacent to the light emitting diode part, and

wherein the first air purifying module is disposed at a rear end of the evaporator; and
an air circulation unit disposed at a rear end of the first air purifying module,
wherein the second air purifying module is disposed at a rear end of the air circulation unit,
wherein the first air purifying module has a volume larger than a volume of the second air purifying module, and
wherein the light emitting diode part comprises:
a support member spanning the each air purifying module substantially perpendicular to the flow path of the air and defining a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, and a fourth opening;
a first sterilization light emitting diode disposed on the support member in between the first opening and the second opening;
a first photocatalytic light emitting diode disposed on the support member in between the first opening and the second opening,
a second sterilization light emitting diode disposed on the support member in between the second opening and the third opening;
a second photocatalytic light emitting diode disposed on the support member in between the second opening and the third opening;
a third sterilization light emitting diode disposed on the support member in between the third opening and the fourth opening; and
a third photocatalytic light emitting diode disposed on the support member in between the third opening and the fourth opening,
wherein the first sterilization light emitting diode, the second photocatalytic light emitting diode, and the third sterilization light emitting diode are disposed on a first side of the support member, and
wherein the first photocatalytic light emitting diode, the second sterilization light emitting diode, and the third photocatalytic light emitting diode are disposed on a second side of the support member opposite to the first side of the support member.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the filter part includes a photocatalytic filter and a collection filter, wherein the photocatalytic filter is disposed downstream of the light emitting diode part and upstream of the collection filter, and wherein the light emitting diode part emits the ultraviolet rays in a direction substantially the same as the flow of the air and toward the photocatalytic filter.

3. The air conditioner of claim 2 , wherein the filter part further includes a carbon filter disposed downstream of the collection filter to perform a deodorization function.

4. The air conditioner of claim 2 , wherein the first photocatalytic light emitting diode acts with the photocatalytic filter, and the first sterilization light emitting diode removes germs collected by the collection filter.

5. The air conditioner of claim 4 , wherein the first photocatalytic light emitting diode emits ultraviolet rays of about 300 to 400 nm, and the first sterilization photocatalytic light emitting diode emits ultraviolet rays of about 200 to 300 nm.

6. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein each air purifying module is disposed so that a direction of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the light emitting diode part is identical to a flow direction of the air in the body.

7. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the body includes an air inlet port, a filter disposed downstream of the air inlet port, wherein the evaporator is disposed downstream of the filter, wherein the air circulation unit draws air into the body, and an air outlet port disposed downstream of the second air purifying module, and wherein the flow path of the air extends from the air inlet port to the air outlet port.

8. The air conditioner of claim 7 , wherein the air circulation unit includes one of a rotor and a blower.

9. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the body is one of an indoor unit for a wall-mounted air conditioner and an indoor unit for a stand-type air conditioner.

10. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the each air purifying module further comprises a heat sink disposed upstream of the light emitting diode part, and
wherein the heat sink defines a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, and a fourth opening that coincide, respectively, with the first opening, the second opening, the third opening, and the fourth opening of the support member of the light emitting diode part.

11. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the first sterilization light emitting diode and the first photocatalytic light emitting diode emit light concurrently.

12. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sterilization light emitting diode, the second sterilization light emitting diode, the third sterilization light emitting diode, the first photocatalytic light emitting diode, the second photocatalytic light emitting diode, and the third photocatalytic light emitting diode selectively emits light.

13. An air conditioner comprising:
a body including an air circulation unit generating a flow of air therein; and
a first air purifying module and a second air purifying module, each coupled to the body,
wherein each air purifying module has:
a light emitting diode part disposed along a flow path of the air to provide ultraviolet rays, and
a filter part disposed adjacent to the light emitting diode part,

wherein the first air purifying module is disposed upstream of the air circulation unit,
wherein the second air purifying module is disposed downstream of the air circulation unit,
wherein the first air purifying module has a volume larger than a volume of the second air purifying module, and
wherein the light emitting diode part comprises:
a support member spanning the each air purifying module substantially perpendicular to the flow path of the air and defining a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening,
a first sterilization light emitting diode disposed on the support member in between the first opening and the second opening,
a first photocatalytic light emitting diode disposed on the support member in between the first opening and the second opening,
a second sterilization light emitting diode disposed on the support member in between the second opening and the third opening, and
a second photocatalytic light emitting diode disposed on the support member in between the second opening and the third opening,
wherein the first sterilization light emitting diode and second photocatalytic light emitting diode are disposed on a first side of the support member, and
wherein the first photocatalytic light emitting diode and the second sterilization light emitting diode are disposed on a second side of the support member opposite to the first side of the support member.

14. The air conditioner of claim 13 , wherein the air circulation unit includes one of a rotor and a blower.

15. The air conditioner of claim 13 , wherein the body includes an air inlet port, wherein the air circulation unit is disposed downstream of the air inlet port, and an air outlet port disposed downstream of the second air purifying module, and wherein the flow path of the air extends from the air inlet port to the air outlet port.

16. The air conditioner of claim 15 , further comprising an evaporator disposed downstream o

Assignees

• Seoul Viosys Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Jung Yeol
• Son Young Hwan
• Lee Seong Min
• Yi Jae Seon
• Koo Jong Hyun
• Cho Sang Hee
• Yoo Ju Won
• Cho Sung Lim
• Kim Jong Rack

Classifications

• F24F8/22 Primary

  using UV light · CPC title

• F24F3/1603

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• A61L2209/16

  Connections to a HVAC unit · CPC title

• A61L9/20 Primary

  Ultraviolet radiation · CPC title

• F24F2003/1667

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic