Air treatment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821260-B2
Application number	US-201514704121-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2015
Priority date	Feb 14, 2014
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

An air treatment system having an improved control system. The control system may include a dynamic “dead front” display that varies the display based on mode of operation. The display may include capacitive touch sensors and include an array of capacitive film segments or traces integrated into the display. The control system may include a self-contained electronics module that can be tested and calibrated before installation in the ATS. A dust sensor assembly may be integrated into the electronics module. The front cover may be attached with a mechanical attachment at the top and a magnetic attachment on the bottom. The ATS may include a filter retainer assembly with a rotating clip configured to perform in a cam-like manner to firmly clamp the particulate filter and carbon filter in place.

First claim

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive propertyor privilege is claimed are defined as follow:

1. An air treatment system comprising:
a system housing including a filter housing and defining an outlet;
a plurality of filters arranged in said filter housing;
a blower for moving air through said plurality of filters;
a dust sensor for sensing a dust level;
a proximity sensor configured to sense presence of an operator;
a control system having an electronics module with a display having a plurality of display elements capable of being illuminated in a plurality of different configurations, wherein said plurality of display elements includes dust level display elements, blower speed input display elements, power display element, automatic mode input display element, turbo mode input display element, night mode input display element, said electronics module controlling operation of said blower, said electronics module being covered by a translucent portion having a translucency selected to provide a dead front display;
a front cover disposed over said filters;
wherein said control system is configured to selectively illuminate combinations of said plurality of display elements in a variety of configurations to provide a plurality of display states that present available control options based on one of a plurality of air treatment system modes of operation, wherein said plurality of air treatment system modes of operation include automatic mode, manual mode, turbo mode, and night mode, wherein a display element associated with a current mode of operation of said air treatment system is illuminated in a first color to indicate said current mode of operation of said air treatment system, wherein other display elements associated with modes other than said current mode of operation of said air treatment system are illuminated in a second, different, color;
wherein during automatic mode, said control system evaluates said dust level sensed by said dust sensor, adjusts blower speed based on output of said dust sensor, and illuminates said dust level display elements based on output from said dust sensor, said blower speed input display elements based on said blower speed, and illuminates said turbo mode input display element, said night mode input display element, and said power display element to indicate those modes are available, and illuminates said automatic mode input display element to indicate current mode of said air treatment system;
wherein during manual mode, all of said plurality of display elements are illuminated;
wherein during turbo mode, said control system operates said blower at a predetermined speed setting for a preset period of time before returning automatically to a previous mode of operation and illuminates said blower speed input display elements, said night mode input display element, said automatic mode display element, and said power display element to indicate those modes are available, and illuminates said turbo mode input display element to indicate current mode of said air treatment system;
wherein during night mode, said control system reduces light emission from said plurality of display elements except said night mode input display element;
wherein said control system is configured to determine no operator is proximate the air treatment system based on output of said proximity sensor and in response adjust said plurality of display elements such that none of said plurality of display elements are illuminated except said dust level display elements, a display element indicating current mode of said air treatment system, and said power display element.

2. The air treatment system of claim 1 wherein said translucent portion is defined by a window.

3. The air treatment system of claim 1 wherein said front cover has a center and is generally convex becoming more distant from said plurality of filters toward said center proximate said inlet.

4. The air treatment system of claim 1 wherein said front cover includes a mechanical attachment securing said front cover to the remainder of the air treatment system.

5. The air treatment system of claim 4 wherein said display includes a plurality of light sources, a screen defining a plurality of display icons and a light duct array guiding light from said light sources to said display icons, said screen disposed immediately adjacent said translucent portion.

6. The air treatment system of claim 1 wherein said front cover has a top and a bottom, said front cover including a mechanical attachment for securing said top to the air treatment system and a magnetic attachment for securing said bottom to said filter housing.

7. The air treatment system of claim 1 wherein said front cover includes an interlock allowing said control system to determine when said front cover is present.

8. The air treatment system of claim 7 wherein said interlock includes a magnet and a hall-effect sensor.

9. The air treatment system of claim 8 wherein said translucent portion is molded thermoplastic, said front cover having an outer surface covered by at least one of paint and film.

10. The air treatment system of claim 1 wherein said front cover defines an inlet through which air is drawn into said system housing by said blower, said front cover having a bottom edge and a pair of lateral edges, said bottom edge and said lateral edges being spaced apart from said system housing to define additional inlets allowing air to be drawn into said system by said blower.

11. An air treatment system comprising:
a flow path including an inlet, a filter housing and an outlet;
a filter arranged in said filter housing along said flow path;
a front face covering said filter;
a blower for moving air through said flow path and said filter;
a dust sensor for sensing a dust level
a proximity sensor configured to sense presence of an operator; and
an electronics module capable of producing a display, said display disposed behind a translucent portion, said display having a plurality of display elements capable of being selectively illuminated, said display elements being visible through said translucent portion only when illuminated;
wherein said display includes a plurality of display elements capable of being illuminated in a plurality of different configurations, wherein said plurality of display elements includes dust level display elements, blower speed input display elements, power display element, automatic mode input display element, turbo mode input display element, night mode input display element, said electronics module controlling operation of said blower;
wherein said electronics module is configured to selectively illuminate combinations of said plurality of display elements in a variety of configurations to provide a plurality of display states that present available control options based on one of a plurality of air treatment system modes of operation, wherein said plurality of air treatment system modes of operation include automatic mode, manual mode, turbo mode, and night mode, wherein a display element associated with a current mode of operation of said air treatment system is illuminated in a first color to indicate said current mode of operation of said air treatment system, wherein other display elements associated with modes of operation other than said current mode of operation of said air treatment system are illuminated in a second, different, color;
wherein during automatic mode, said control system evaluates said dust level sensed by said dust sensor, adjusts blower speed based on output of said dust sensor, and illuminates said dust level display elements based on output from said dust sensor, said blower speed inpu

Assignees

• Access Business Group Int Llc

Inventors

• Stoner Jr William T
• Lautzenheiser Terry L
• Eurich Sean T
• Norconk Matthew J

Classifications

• B01D46/4254 Primary

  Allowing or improving visual supervision, e.g. lamps, transparent parts, windows · CPC title

• B01D46/0023

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01D46/62

  connected in series · CPC title