Abstract:
Disclosed is an air purifier having a small size so as to be easily mounted to various home appliances, and preventing ozone which is harmful to a human body from being generated, the air purifier including an insulating dielectric including a solid; a discharge electrode provided in the insulating dielectric; a ground electrode provided in the insulating dielectric and spaced for a predetermined distance from the discharge electrode; and a power supply coupled with the discharge electrode and the ground electrode for supplying a high voltage thereto.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. P2004-51612, filed on Jul. 2, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an air purifier, and more particularly, to an air purifier having a small size and easily mounted on various kinds of home appliances, and preventing a large amount of harmful ozone from being generated.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In general, an air purifier is often used in a living room of a general home, a car, a restaurant having many people gathered, a hospital, and an office, so as to remove dust and odor for keeping indoor atmosphere pleasant.  
         [0006]     Although the air purifier is often used separately, it is on increasing trend that the air purifier is used as a supplementary device being mounted on a home appliance such as an air conditioner. In other words, in recent years, many home appliances are on development, having not only a cooling/heating function and a ventilating function but also an air purifying function.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a diagram schematically showing a related art air purifier, and  FIG. 2  illustrates a cross sectional view taken along line I-I of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the related art air purifier is provided with a case  10  having opened top and bottom surfaces, and a ground electrode  20  and a discharge electrode  30  provided in the case  10 .  
         [0009]     A plurality of ground electrodes  20  are provided in the case  10  at predetermined intervals, and the discharge electrode  30  is provided respectively between the ground electrodes  20 . In this case, the ground electrode  20  includes a square plate, and the discharge electrode  30  includes a round wire.  
         [0010]     An interval of more than a common number cm is maintained between the ground electrode  20  and the discharge electrode  30  each of which is connected respectively to a power supply (not shown) supplying a high voltage. A net  40  is mounted on the top and bottom surfaces of the case  10  for preventing large-sized contaminants from being entered into the case  10 .  
         [0011]     An operation of the related art air purifier structured as aforementioned is briefly described as follows. First, when a voltage is supplied to the ground electrode  20  and the discharge electrode  30  by the power supply, corona discharge that ionizes neighboring air is generated between the ground electrode  20  and the discharge electrode  30 .  
         [0012]     Owing to the corona discharge, anions and ozone are generated around an electrode, for separating contaminants contained in air and sterilizing bacteria. Therefore, the air flowed into the air purifier is purified by the anions and ozone.  
         [0013]     In the mean time, the corona discharge is generated when the high voltage of more than 5 KV is applied to the ground electrode  20  and the discharge electrode  30 . In this case, the voltage for generating the corona discharge is called an onset voltage, and the onset voltage is different according to an interval between the ground electrode  20  and the discharge electrode  30 .  
         [0014]     The related art air purifier purifies air by using the anions and ozone generated by the corona discharge. The related art air purifier, however, has problems as follows.  
         [0015]     First, since the related art air purifier includes a plurality of ground electrodes and the discharge electrodes spaced at intervals of a number cm, there is a limitation in miniaturizing the related art air purifier. Particularly, there is a problem that a total size of a home appliance needs to be increased for securing a space for mounting the air purifier therein when the air purifier is mounted in the home appliance.  
         [0016]     Second, the related art air purifier generates a large amount of ozone during the corona discharge. If a higher voltage is supplied to the electrode, a larger amount of ozone is generated. Although the ozone performs a role of separating organic substances in air as a substance having a very strong oxidizing power, it is harmless to a human body.  
         [0017]     Therefore, the related art air purifier has a problem that a post-clearing process is required for removing a large amount of ozone after the corona discharge is certainly necessary.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an air purifier that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0019]     An object of the present invention is to provide an air purifier having a small size so as to be readily mounted to various home appliances.  
         [0020]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an air purifier for preventing ozone from being generated.  
         [0021]     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0022]     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an air purifier includes an insulating dielectric including a solid; a discharge electrode provided in the insulating dielectric; a ground electrode provided in the insulating dielectric and spaced for a predetermined distance from the discharge electrode; and a power supply connected with the discharge electrode and the ground electrode for providing a high voltage.  
         [0023]     In this case, the insulating dielectric is formed in a square plate form with a predetermined thickness, the power supply supplies a high frequency alternating voltage to the discharge electrode and the ground electrode, and the discharge electrode and the ground electrode are located on a same plane.  
         [0024]     Meanwhile, the discharge electrode and the ground electrode are provided to face each other, and the discharge electrode is provided at an upper part of the insulating dielectric and the ground electrode is provided at a lower part thereof. In this instance, the discharge electrode and the ground electrode have a same size.  
         [0025]     In this case, the discharge electrode includes a coupling member to which the power supply is supplied, and first and second electrodes being elongated respectively from both ends of the coupling member.  
         [0026]     The first and second electrodes are elongated in a direction of lying at right angles to the coupling member. A plurality of discharge pin is provided on top surfaces of the first and second electrodes in a direction of lying at right angles to the first and second electrodes. Meanwhile, the insulating dielectric includes a ceramic.  
         [0027]     In the mean time, in another aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner includes a cabinet; a intake formed on a front surface of the cabinet; a fan for drawing in room air through the intake into the cabinet; an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat of room air flowed into the cabinet; an insulating dielectric provided at the intake and includes a solid; a discharge electrode provided in the insulating dielectric; a ground electrode provided in the insulating dielectric and spaced for a predetermined distance from the discharge electrode; and a power supply coupled with the discharge electrode and the ground electrode for supplying a high voltage.  
         [0028]     In this case, it is desirable that the insulating dielectric is provided to be parallel to a flow direction of room air flowed through the intake.  
         [0029]     The power supply supplies a high frequency alternating voltage having to the discharge electrode and the ground electrode, and the discharge electrode and the ground electrode are located on a same plane.  
         [0030]     The discharge electrode is provided at an upper part of the insulating dielectric and the ground electrode is provided at a lower part thereof.  
         [0031]     In this case, the discharge electrode and the ground electrode have a same area. The discharge electrode includes a coupling member to which the power supply is supplied, and first and second electrodes being elongated respectively from both ends of the coupling member.  
         [0032]     The first and second electrodes are elongated to be perpendicular to the coupling member, and a plurality of discharge pins are provided on an upper surface of the first and second electrodes in a direction of lying at right angles to the first and second electrodes.  
         [0033]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0034]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings;  
         [0035]      FIG. 1  illustrates a diagram schematically showing a related art air purifier;  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross sectional view taken along the line I-I of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross sectional view showing an air purifier in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a floor plan showing the air purifier in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates a diagram showing an air conditioner provided in an air purifier in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 6  illustrates a diagram showing an air purifier in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates a floor plan showing the air purifier in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0042]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross sectional view showing an air purifier in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  illustrates a floor plan showing the air purifier in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0044]     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the air purifier  100  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention includes an insulating dielectric  110 , a discharge electrode  130  and a ground electrode  120  provided in the insulating dielectric  110 , and a power supply (not shown) connected with the discharge electrode  130  and the ground electrode  120  for supplying a voltage.  
         [0045]     The insulating dielectric  110  includes a solid and is formed in the form of a square plate having a predetermined thickness. In this case, it is desirable that the insulating dielectric  110  includes, but not limiting to, a ceramic.  
         [0046]     The ground electrode  120  and the discharge electrode  130  are spaced for a predetermined interval. Particularly, the ground electrode  120  and the discharge electrode  130  are provided in the insulating dielectric so as to be located on a same plane.  
         [0047]     Meanwhile, the power supply supplies an alternating voltage to the ground electrode  120  and the discharge electrode  130 . In this instance, it is desirable that the power supply supplies a high frequency alternating voltage to the ground electrode  120  and the discharge electrode  130  because with higher frequency of the alternating voltage supplied by the power supply, an electric discharge is more easily generated.  
         [0048]     The air purifier in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is actuated as follows. First, when the power supply applies a voltage that is higher than an onset voltage respectively to the discharge electrode  130  and the ground electrode  120 , insulation between the discharge electrode  130  and the ground electrode  120  is broken off and an electric discharge is generated on a surface of the insulating dielectric  110 .  
         [0049]     On the surface of the insulating dielectric  110 , a plasma area is formed via the electric discharge, and ozone and a large amount of OH radical and anions are generated as well. The ozone and the large amount of OH radical and anions purify air by oxidizing and separating contaminants contained in air.  
         [0050]     The air purifier in accordance with the present invention removes contaminants or bacteria contained in air not by using the conventional corona discharge but by using an electric discharge generated along the surface of the insulating dielectric  110 .  
         [0051]     In this case, the electric discharge generated on the surface of the insulating dielectric  110  is called a surface discharge. The surface discharge has a characteristic that an onset discharge required for the electric discharge is remarkably lower than the conventional corona discharge.  
         [0052]     In the mean time, as aforementioned, the air purifier  100  in accordance with the present invention is often used being installed in a home appliance such as an air purifier.  
         [0053]      FIG. 5  illustrates a diagram showing an air conditioner provided in the air purifier in accordance with the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the air conditioner includes a cabinet  60 , a fan  70 , an indoor heat exchanger  80 , and the air purifier  100 .  
         [0054]     An intake  90  is formed on a front surface of the cabinet  60 , and the fan  70  draws in room air through the intake  90 . The indoor heat exchanger  80  exchanges heat of room air flowed into the cabinet  60 . The air purifier  100  includes an insulating dielectric  110 , a discharge electrode  130 , and a ground electrode  120 .  
         [0055]     In this case, it is desirable that the air purifier  100  is provided at the intake  90 . In more detail, it is desirable that the insulating dielectric  110  is provided at the intake  90 .  
         [0056]     When the insulating dielectric  100  is provided at the intake  90 , contaminants are prevented from being stuck on the indoor heat exchanger  80  or the fan  70  by purifying the room air flowed into the cabinet  60  in advance.  
         [0057]     It is desirable that the insulating dielectric  100  is provided to be parallel to a flow of the room air flowed thorough the intake  90  such that the air is prevented from being interfered by the insulating dielectric  100 .  
         [0058]     The air conditioner purifies the air flowed through the intake  90  into the cabinet  60  by using the air purifier  100 . The air purifier  100  can be mounted on various home appliances not only the air conditioner.  
         [0059]      FIG. 6  illustrates a diagram showing an air purifier in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 7  illustrates a floor plan showing the air purifier in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0060]     Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the air purifier in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention includes an insulating dielectric  210 , a discharge electrode  230 , a ground electrode  220 , and a power supply.  
         [0061]     In this case, the discharge electrode  230  and the ground electrode  220  are provided to face each other. Particularly, the discharge electrode  230  is provided at an upper part of the insulating dielectric  210 , and the ground electrode  220  is provided at a lower part thereof.  
         [0062]     When the discharge electrode  230  and the ground electrode  220  are provided up and down so as to face each other in the insulating dielectric substance  210 , the surface discharge is much lively generated on the surface of the insulating dielectric  210 .  
         [0063]     In other words, compared to the first embodiment of the present invention, larger amount of ozone and OH radical and anions are generated on the surface of the insulating dielectric  210 . Therefore, the structure of the discharge electrode  230  and the ground electrode  220  in accordance with the present invention is employed in a large-sized air purifier for purifying large amount of air.  
         [0064]     It is desirable that the discharge electrode  230  and the ground electrode  220  have the same size. When the discharge electrode  230  and the ground electrode  220  are configured to have the same area, the surface discharge is more stably generated on the surface of the insulating dielectric  210 .  
         [0065]     Meanwhile, the discharge electrode  230  includes a coupling member  230   a  for supplying a power supply, and first and second electrodes  230   b ,  230   c  elongated respectively from both ends of the coupling member  230   a . In this case, it is desirable that the first and second electrodes  230   b ,  230   c  are elongated in a direction of lying at right angles to the coupling member  230   a . The structure of the discharge electrode  230  enables a smoother surface discharge by increasing a corner to which an electric charge is centered.  
         [0066]     In addition, a plurality of discharge pins  230   d  are provided at an upper surface of the first and second electrodes  230   b ,  230   c  in a direction of lying at right angles to the first and second electrodes  230   b ,  230   c . The discharge pin  230   d  being a part with electric charges concentrated thereon enables the surface discharge to be generated at a lower voltage. As described in the first embodiment, the air purifier in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is mounted to a various kinds of home appliances to be used.  
         [0067]     The air purifier in accordance with the present invention has effects as follows. First, miniaturization of an air purifier in accordance with the present invention is enabled because the discharge electrode and the ground electrode are provided in a thin insulating dielectric. Therefore, it is easily provided in a home appliance such as an air conditioner.  
         [0068]     Furthermore, the air purifier is maximally prevented from being oxidized because the discharge electrode and the ground electrode are provided in the insulating dielectric. Therefore, the discharge electrode and the ground electrode have a much longer life than the related art.  
         [0069]     Second, the air purifier in accordance with the present invention uses a surface discharge having an onset discharge much lower than a conventional corona discharge, thereby enabling to reduce the size of the power supply for supplying a voltage to the discharge electrode and the ground electrode.  
         [0070]     A large amount of ozone is prevented from being generated because the onset voltage is low. Accordingly, a post-cleaning process for cleaning the ozone is not required, and a manufacturing process and parts for the ozone cleaning process is not required as well. Therefore, size and manufacturing cost of the air purifier are lowered.  
         [0071]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.