Patent Publication Number: US-2019178781-A1

Title: Air particle detecting device

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to an electronic device having an air particle counter. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, air quality is influenced by particulate matter (“PM”) floating in the air. Particularly, PM2.5 particles, often described as fine particles, are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, and can adversely impact air quality and health conditions. Accordingly, people may want to know the air quality wherever they are at. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an air particle detecting device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is another diagram of the air particle detecting device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is another diagram of the air particle detecting device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an air particle detecting device  100  (hereinafter “the device  100 ”). The device  100  can be a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a smart watch, or any suitable portable electronic device. The device  100  includes a main body  10 , a display  11 , a processor  12 , and an air particle counter  14 . The display  11  is arranged on a side of the main body  10  and is used for displaying information for a user, such as a concentration of PM 2.5 particles. The processor  12  is arranged within the main body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the main body  10  defines a receiving space  102  for receiving the air particle counter  14 . In detail, the receiving space  102  is a space defined in a side of the main body  10 . The receiving space  102  is bound by at least a first surface  1021  and a second surface  1023 . The second surface  1023  is opposite to the first surface  1021 . The first surface  1021  and the second surface  1023  are coupled together by a sidewall (not labeled). The air particle counter  14  is arranged within the receiving space  102  and is used for obtaining data corresponding to a quantity of air particles of one or more predetermined sizes. The main body  10  defines at least one air inlet  104  communicating with the receiving space  102 . The air inlet  104  allows air to flow into the receiving space  102 . In at least one embodiment, the main body  10  defines two air inlets  104 . One air inlet  104  is adjacent to the first surface  1021 , and the other air inlet  104  is adjacent to the second surface  1023 . Each air inlet  104  communicates with the receiving space  102  to allow air from different directions enter into the receiving space  102 . Thus, air is more evenly distributed within the receiving space  102 . Of course, there may be two or more of the air inlet  104  in another embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the processor  12  is electrically coupled to the display  11  and the air particle counter  14 . The processor  12  is used to process data gathered by the device  100 , such as a particle number concentration of PM 2.5 particles, in order to calculate the concentration of PM 2.5 particles. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the air particle counter  14  includes a laser source  141  and a photodetector  143 . The laser source  141  is arranged on the first surface  1021  and is used for emitting light toward the photodetector  143 . When air enters the receiving space  102  through the air inlet  104 , light emitted from the laser source  141  is intercepted by air particles containing particulate matter, thereby causing scattered light. The photodetector  143  arranged on the second surface  1023  is used for receiving or sensing the scattered light and generating corresponding pulse signals. When the air inside the receiving space  102  includes air particles containing PM of certain sizes, a portion of the laser beam will be scattered by the PM. The scattered light forms diffraction rings of different radii and intensities. A radius of the diffraction rings corresponds to a diameter of the PM, and an intensity of the diffraction rings corresponds to a quantity/concentration of the PM. For example, when the PM are smaller, the radii of the diffraction rings are bigger. When the quantity of the PM of the same size is larger, the intensity of the diffraction rings of the same size is greater. Each size of PM corresponds to a radii of the diffraction rings. The photodetector  143  receives the diffraction rings and generates pulse signals according to the intensities and radii of the various diffraction rings. The photodetector  143  transmits the pulse signals to the processor  12 . The processor  12  receives the pulse signals and processes the pulse signals, such as by enlarging and filtering the pulse signals and then converting the pulse signals into numerical data. In detail, the processor  12  converts the pulse signals into numerical signals to determine intensity values of diffractions rings having different radii. In this way, the diameter of the particle is determined according to the radius of the diffraction ring, and the quantity of the particle is determined according to the intensity value. The processor  12  determines the particle number concentration of PM 2.5 according to a size of the receiving space  102  and the quantity of PM 2.5 particles in the receiving space  102 , since the concentration is related to the size of the receiving space  102 . Finally, the processor  12  converts the particle number concentration of PM 2.5 into a concentration having standard units and displays the concentration on the display  11 . 
     The device  100  uses the air particle counter  14 , the processor  12 , and the display  11  to allow a user to know the concentration of PM 2.5 particles anywhere they go. Thus, a separate air particle counter is not necessary. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.