Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a refrigerator, including a storage compartment having a front opening, a door for closing the storage compartment, and an air sanitation device fixed to a top wall of the storage compartment. The air sanitation device includes a housing and an air detection device and/or an air purification device located in the housing.

<CIT> discloses a sterilization and deodorization device for a refrigerator. The sterilization and deodorization device includes a housing provided with an airflow channel, a sterilization module located in the airflow channel, and a deodorization filtering module filled with sepiolite and located downstream of the sterilization module. The sterilization and deodorization device further includes an LED light bar, which is configured to make a ray of light emitted by the LED light bar exit through a central panel of a cover body of the housing, thereby integrating functions of sterilization, deodorization, and illumination.

The <CIT> discloses a sterilization apparatus which can sterilize and deodorize an inside of a storage compartment of a refrigerator.

The <CIT> discloses a refrigerator including a deodorizer for removing odors.

The <CIT> discloses a refrigerator having a purification device that is mounted on a grill pan to suck and purify air within a storage space of the refrigerator, and a duct unit in which a cold air passage that is formed on a rear side of the grill pan to guide cold air of an evaporator to the storage space and a purification passage that guides the air purified by the purification device to the storage space.

The <CIT> discloses a refrigerator having a gas sanitation module which comprises a shell and a gas detection unit and/or a purification unit which is positioned in the shell. The gas sanitation module is fixed to the top wall of a storage chamber and the gas sanitation module comprises an air inlet located in the shell.

The <CIT> discloses a plasma generating device and a method for sterilizing and deodorizing the device in a freezer.

The <CIT> discloses a refrigerator with a sterilization device. The sterilization device is mounted at an upper surface of a storage chamber and has a housing with an ion outlet and an air inlet. An ion generating unit arranged in rear of the ion outlet to generate ions, a blast unit slantingly arranged at a position adjacent to the air inlet, and a guide portion formed to protrude at an upper surface of the housing which faces the blast unit.

An objective of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improved air sanitation device for a refrigerator and a refrigerator.

Another objective of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an air sanitation device with more reliable performance for a refrigerator and a refrigerator.

The present invention provides an air sanitation device for a refrigerator according to claim <NUM>, including: a housing; an air channel located in the housing, and including an air inlet and an air outlet; a fan located in the air channel, to force air to enter the air channel from the air inlet, and then be discharged out of the air channel from the air outlet; and an air detection device located between the air inlet and an inlet of the fan.

According to the present invention, the air detection device is located between the fan and the air inlet, the air detection device may obtain more accurate sanitation parameters of to-be-detected ambient air, thereby helping improve the reliability of the air sanitation device.

According to the present invention, the air detection device includes a gas sensor fixed to a circuit board.

According to the present invention, the air channel is configured to enable air to flow along a side of the circuit board to which the gas sensor is fixed, and a direction that the inlet of the fan faces is opposite to a direction in which the gas sensor protrudes from the circuit board.

According to the present invention, the housing includes an upper wall, a lower wall, and a side wall, the side wall includes an oblique portion inclined downward, the air inlet is located on the oblique portion, and the inlet of the fan is open downward.

In a possible embodiment, the air sanitation device includes a pair of boundary walls in opposite arrangement to define at least a part of the air channel, the gas sensor protrudes from the circuit board toward a first boundary wall of the pair of boundary walls, the inlet of the fan faces a second boundary wall of the pair of boundary walls, and the gas sensor is closer to the first boundary wall than the inlet of the fan. The first boundary wall and/or the second boundary wall may be formed by corresponding parts of the housing or other components located in the housing, such as a partition member or a carrying plate.

In a possible embodiment, the first boundary wall is located above the second boundary wall, the gas sensor protrudes upward from the circuit board toward the first boundary wall, the inlet of the fan faces downward the second boundary wall, and an upper end of the gas sensor is higher than the inlet of the fan.

In a possible embodiment, the gas sensor includes a sensing element enclosed in a cavity and a permeable layer covering an inlet of the cavity, and the permeable layer is higher than the inlet of the fan.

In a possible embodiment, the permeable layer is higher than at least a part of the air inlet.

In a possible embodiment, the circuit board is fixed to a carrying plate, a gap is disposed between the circuit board and the carrying plate, and the gap is closed by a closing portion at an upstream side of the circuit board close to the air inlet.

In a possible embodiment, the air sanitation device includes the first boundary wall and the second boundary wall in opposite arrangement to define the air channel, the air detection device are fixed to the second boundary wall, and the air inlet is configured to enable air to enter the air inlet and then flow obliquely toward the first boundary wall.

In a possible embodiment, the inlet of the fan faces the second boundary wall, so that the air flows obliquely downward at least in some segments between the air detection device and the inlet of the fan.

In an implementation in which an air purification device being disposed between the fan and the air inlet, air is purified before entering the fan, thereby helping reduce an adverse effect of the air entering the air channel from the outside on the fan and devices disposed downstream of the fan.

In a possible embodiment, an air purification device includes: an air filter located between the air inlet and the fan; and/or a sterilization device located between the fan and the air outlet.

Another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention relates to a refrigerator, including a storage compartment and the air sanitation device according to any one of the foregoing embodiments, where the air sanitation device is located in the storage compartment.

In a possible embodiment, the air sanitation device is fixed to a top wall of the storage compartment, and the air channel is configured to enable air to be discharged out from a rear part of the housing obliquely downward.

Other features of the present invention are shown in the claims, accompanying drawings, and description of the accompanying drawings.

The following accompanying drawings, as a part of the specification and provided to further understand the present invention, describe specific implementations of the present invention and are used to describe the principle of the present invention along with the specification.

As shown in <FIG>, a refrigerator <NUM> includes a storage compartment <NUM> having a front opening <NUM> and a door <NUM> for closing the storage compartment <NUM>.

In an embodiment, a top wall <NUM> of the storage compartment <NUM> may be a top wall of a refrigerator body <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM>. The storage compartment <NUM> may extend from an upper part of the refrigerator body <NUM> to a lower part, or another storage compartment is further disposed in a lower part of the storage compartment <NUM>. It should be understood that, in an alternative embodiment, it is possible that another storage compartment is further provided in an upper part of the storage compartment <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may include an air duct <NUM> for conveying cooled air to the storage compartment <NUM>. The air duct <NUM> may be disposed in a rear part and/or a top part of the storage compartment <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the air duct <NUM> is disposed in the rear part of the storage compartment <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may include an air duct fan <NUM> for forming forced air circulation in a storage region of the storage compartment <NUM> and the air duct <NUM>. For example, during operation of the air duct fan <NUM>, air in the air duct <NUM> enters the storage region of the storage compartment <NUM> through an air vent <NUM>, and the air in the storage region of the storage compartment <NUM> returns to the air duct <NUM> from an air return vent <NUM>.

An evaporator <NUM> may be disposed in the air duct <NUM>. In other embodiments, cold air in the air duct <NUM> also comes from another storage compartment.

The refrigerator <NUM> includes an air sanitation device <NUM> for detecting at least one air sanitation related parameter in the storage compartment <NUM> and/or purifying air in the storage compartment <NUM>. In some embodiments, the air sanitation device <NUM> is merely used for detecting the air sanitation related parameter in the storage compartment <NUM>. In some other embodiments, the air sanitation device <NUM> has a purification device, such as any device adapted to perform sterilization and deodorization. In still other embodiments, the air sanitation device <NUM> may include an air detection device and an air purification device.

As shown in <FIG>, the air sanitation device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, an air channel <NUM> located in the housing <NUM>, and an air detection device <NUM> and optionally an air purification device <NUM> located in the air channel <NUM>.

Air from outside (for example, the storage compartment <NUM>) enters the air channel <NUM> through an air inlet <NUM>, and be discharged out of the air channel <NUM> through an air outlet <NUM>. The air inlet <NUM> and the air outlet <NUM> are formed in the housing <NUM>.

The air sanitation device <NUM> includes a fan <NUM> located in the air channel <NUM>, to force the air from the outside to enter the air channel <NUM> and be discharged out of the housing <NUM> after flowing through the air detection device <NUM> and the air purification device <NUM>. A flow direction of the air in the air channel <NUM> may be shown by an arrow a.

The air detection device <NUM> is configured to detect at least one gas parameter in the storage compartment <NUM>. For example, the gas parameter may include whether there are one or more types of gases, and/or contents or concentrations of ingredients of one or more types of gases. The air detection device <NUM> may be further configured to detect germ related parameters in air.

In an embodiment, the air detection device <NUM> detects concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) in the storage compartment <NUM>.

The air detection device <NUM> includes a first circuit board <NUM> and a gas sensor <NUM> fixed to the first circuit board <NUM>. The gas sensor <NUM> may be, but is not limited to, a metal-oxide semiconductor gas sensor, and the gas sensor may include a semiconductor sensing element and a heater for heating the semiconductor sensing element.

The air purification device <NUM> may include any one or more of an air filter, an ultraviolet sterilization device, an ion generation device, an ozone generation device, and the like. Different purification devices may be integrated into one module or be separately arranged.

The air purification device <NUM> may be located downstream of the air detection device <NUM> and be arranged in the air channel <NUM>.

Therefore, the air purification device <NUM> may be located between the air detection device <NUM> and the air outlet <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the air purification device <NUM> includes an ion generator <NUM>, and the ion generator <NUM> is configured to release icons into the air channel <NUM>. A power supply unit <NUM> for supplying power to the ion generator <NUM> is located in the housing <NUM>.

The air purification device <NUM> may further include an air filter <NUM>. The air filter <NUM> may be a physical and/or chemical filter, such as an adsorption filter or an enzyme filter (for example, Pt filter).

In an embodiment, when the air sanitation device <NUM> is arranged in a non-freezing compartment, the air filter <NUM> is arranged upstream of the ion generator <NUM>, to filter impurities in air and reduce humidity of air flowing through the ion generator <NUM>. It is found in experiments that, this can effectively reduce foreign substances gathered on a tip of the ion generator <NUM>, thereby significantly reducing a possibility that crystals are generated on the tip of the ion generator <NUM> due to the impurities and water vapor in the air adhering to the tip and then productions of ions and ozone are reduced. Therefore, sterilization efficiency of the air purification device <NUM> may be improved.

In an embodiment, the air filter <NUM> is arranged upstream of the fan <NUM>, and the ion generator <NUM> is arranged downstream of the fan <NUM>. In an implementation having the air detection device <NUM>, the air filter <NUM> is located between the air detection device <NUM> and the ion generator <NUM>.

The air sanitation device <NUM> may include a control unit <NUM> operatively connected to the air detection device <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> is adapted to receive a signal from the air detection device <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may alternatively be configured to be adapted to send an instruction to the air detection device <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> may be operatively connected to the fan <NUM>. The fan <NUM> may operate or stop operating based on the instruction of the control unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> may be operatively connected to the power supply unit <NUM>. The power supply unit <NUM> may supply power to the ion generator <NUM> based on the instruction of the control unit <NUM>.

A baffle wall <NUM> around the control unit <NUM> and a baffle wall <NUM> around the power supply unit <NUM> are disposed in the housing <NUM>, to reduce a chance that air is in contact with the control unit <NUM> and the power supply unit <NUM>. In an embodiment, the control unit <NUM> and the power supply unit <NUM> are disposed adjacent to a rear wall <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the air channel <NUM> includes a first channel segment <NUM> located between the air inlet <NUM> and the fan <NUM>, and a second channel segment <NUM> located between the fan <NUM> and the air outlet <NUM>. The first channel segments <NUM> extend transversely toward the fan <NUM>, and the second channel segment <NUM> extends toward the rear wall <NUM> in a front-to-rear direction.

In an embodiment, an air inlet <NUM> is disposed on each side wall <NUM>, a pair of first channel segments <NUM> merge at an inlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM>, and the second channel segment <NUM> extends rearward from an outlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM>.

The baffle walls <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed between the first channel segments <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM>, to define mounting regions <NUM> between the rear wall <NUM> and the baffle walls <NUM> and <NUM>, at least one electric component is disposed in the mounting regions <NUM>, and the electric component is electrically coupled to the air detection device <NUM> and/or the air purification device <NUM>. The electric component may include the control unit <NUM> and/or the power supply unit <NUM> electrically coupled to the air detection device <NUM> and/or the air purification device <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may include two mounting regions <NUM>, and the second channel segment <NUM> is located between the two mounting regions <NUM> in a transverse direction of the air sanitation device <NUM>.

Therefore, the air channel <NUM> extends from front parts of two sides of the housing <NUM> toward the middle of the housing <NUM>, and is discharged toward a rear part of the housing <NUM> after passing through the fan <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> and the power supply unit <NUM> are located at two sides of the second channel segment <NUM> of the air channel <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic partial three-dimensional view of a refrigerator having an air sanitation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic three-dimensional view of an air sanitation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air sanitation device. As shown in <FIG>, a housing <NUM> includes a front wall <NUM> facing a front opening <NUM>, a rear wall <NUM> facing a rear part of a storage compartment <NUM>, a bottom wall <NUM>, an upper wall <NUM>, and a pair of side walls <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may include a first housing <NUM> and a second housing <NUM>. An air channel <NUM> is located between the first housing <NUM> and the second housing <NUM>.

An air inlet <NUM> is located at a side part of the housing <NUM>. The air inlet <NUM> may be located at a single side or two sides of the housing <NUM>. An air outlet <NUM> is located at a rear part of the housing <NUM>. Air from the storage compartment <NUM> enters the housing <NUM> from two sides of the air sanitation device <NUM>, and finally returns to the storage compartment <NUM> from the rear part of the housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may be flat, and the air channel <NUM> in the housing <NUM> is also flat. A pair of boundary walls in opposite arrangement define at least a part of opposite boundaries of the air channel <NUM>. In this embodiment that a first boundary wall 3A is located above a second boundary wall 3B in the pair of boundary walls, the first boundary wall 3A may also be referred to as an upper boundary wall, and the second boundary wall 3B may also be referred to as a lower boundary wall.

In an embodiment, the first boundary wall 3A is formed by the upper wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the second boundary wall 3B is located between the upper wall <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The second boundary wall 3B may be formed by a carrying member <NUM> for carrying an air detection device <NUM> and/or an air purification device <NUM>. It should be understood that, in other embodiments of the present invention, the second boundary wall 3B may alternatively be formed by, for example, the bottom wall <NUM>.

A plurality of air inlets <NUM> are distributed at intervals on the side walls <NUM>. The air inlets <NUM> may be distributed over most of lengths of the side walls <NUM> in a front-to-rear direction, and even some air inlets <NUM> may overlap a control unit <NUM> or a power supply unit <NUM> of an ion generator <NUM>.

In an implementation, as shown in <FIG>, the side walls <NUM> include an oblique portion <NUM> that makes the housing <NUM> gradually contract in a width direction of the storage compartment <NUM> in a top-to-bottom direction, and the air inlet <NUM> is located at the oblique portion <NUM>. Therefore, when the air sanitation device <NUM> is mounted on a top part of the storage compartment <NUM>, the air inlet <NUM> is obliquely downward, which helps air enter the air sanitation device <NUM>.

The air channel <NUM> includes an introduction segment <NUM> through which air flows obliquely upward. After entering the air inlet <NUM>, the air flows obliquely upward toward the upper wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. An inlet of a fan <NUM> is lower than the upper wall <NUM>, to drive air to flow obliquely downward.

The air channel <NUM> is configured to enable air to flow along a side of a first printed circuit board <NUM> to which a gas sensor <NUM> is fixed, and a direction that an inlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM> faces is opposite to a direction in which the gas sensor <NUM> protrudes from the circuit board <NUM>.

In an embodiment, in a pair of opposite boundary walls of the air channel <NUM>, the gas sensor <NUM> protrudes from the first circuit board <NUM> toward the first boundary wall 3A, the inlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM> faces the second boundary wall 3B, and the gas sensor <NUM> is closer to the first boundary wall 3A than the inlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM>.

When the air sanitation device <NUM> is mounted on a top wall <NUM> of the storage compartment <NUM>, the gas sensor <NUM> protrudes from the first printed circuit board <NUM> toward the upper boundary wall of the air channel <NUM>, and the inlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM> faces the lower boundary wall which defines a lower boundary of the air channel <NUM>. The gas sensor <NUM> is closer to the upper boundary wall of the air channel <NUM> than the inlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the gas sensor <NUM> may include a sensing element <NUM> fixed to the circuit board <NUM>, a sensor cover <NUM> protruding from the circuit board <NUM> and having an accommodating cavity for accommodating the sensing element <NUM>, and a permeable layer <NUM> for covering an inlet of the accommodating cavity. The permeable layer <NUM> covers an inlet of a free end of the sensor cover <NUM>, to allow air to pass through the permeable layer <NUM> to enter the sensor cover <NUM> and be in contact with the sensing element <NUM>. The permeable layer <NUM> may be substantially parallel to the first circuit board <NUM> or the second boundary wall 3B of the air channel <NUM>.

The permeable layer <NUM> is higher than the inlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM>, so that the permeable layer <NUM> is closer to the first boundary wall 3A of the air channel <NUM> than the inlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, at least a part of the air inlet <NUM> is lower than the permeable layer <NUM>. For example, the permeable layer <NUM> is at least higher than a lower edge of the air inlet <NUM>. In a vertical direction, the permeable layer <NUM> may be completely located above the air inlet <NUM>.

The air detection device <NUM> is located between the air inlet <NUM> and the fan <NUM>. In this way, the air inlet <NUM> makes air flow obliquely toward the first boundary wall 3A after entering the air inlet <NUM>. The inlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM> faces the second boundary wall 3B, and sequentially, air flows obliquely downward in at least a part of segments between the air detection device <NUM> and the inlet of the fan <NUM>. The air flows obliquely upward and then flows obliquely downward between the air inlet <NUM> and the fan <NUM>, and a part of the air may have potential energy of movement in the vertical direction when flowing through the gas sensor <NUM>. Therefore, more air can be in contact with the sensing element <NUM> through the permeable layer <NUM>, thereby helping improve detection accuracy of the gas sensor <NUM>.

The first circuit board <NUM> is located in the air channel <NUM>, a gap G1 is disposed between the first circuit board and the second lower boundary wall 3B of the air channel <NUM>, and the gap G1 is closed at an upstream side of the first circuit board <NUM> adjacent to the air inlet <NUM>, so that more air flows above the first circuit board <NUM> and flows through the gas sensor <NUM>.

An air filter <NUM> between the air detection device <NUM> and the fan <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to the air detection device <NUM>. The air filter <NUM> may be higher than the permeable layer <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the air sanitation device <NUM> may include a carrying plate 7A located in the housing <NUM>. The carrying plate 7A is located between the first housing <NUM> and the second housing <NUM>. The air detection device <NUM> and the air purification device <NUM> are carried on the carrying plate 7A. The air channel <NUM> is located at a side of the carrying plate 7A on which the air detection device <NUM> and the air purification device <NUM> are mounted and defines a lower boundary of a corresponding segment of the air channel <NUM>.

The fan <NUM> is supported by the carrying plate 7A, the inlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM> faces the carrying plate 7A, and a gap G2 is disposed between the inlet and an upper surface of the carrying plate 7A. The control unit <NUM> and the power supply unit <NUM> are fixed to a rear part of the carrying plate 7A.

The first circuit board <NUM> is fixed to the carrying plate 7A. The first circuit board <NUM> may be substantially parallel to the carrying plate 7A, and the gap G1 is disposed between a lower surface of the first circuit board and the upper surface of the carrying plate 7A. The gap G1 is closed by a closing portion <NUM> at the upstream side of the first circuit board <NUM>, so that air cannot enter the gap G1.

As shown in <FIG>, in an embodiment, the control unit <NUM> and the power supply unit <NUM> are disposed adjacent to a rear wall <NUM>. The baffle walls <NUM> and <NUM> are respectively disposed around the control unit <NUM> and the power supply unit <NUM>, to separate from the air channel <NUM>.

Therefore, the air channel <NUM> extends transversely toward the middle from two sides of the housing <NUM>, respectively, and then extends rearward after gathering in the fan <NUM>. Therefore, air flows transversely in a front part of the housing <NUM> after entering the housing <NUM> from the two sides of the housing <NUM>, flows toward the rear part of the housing <NUM> after entering the fan <NUM>, and is discharged out of the housing <NUM>, that is, returns to the storage compartment <NUM>.

The outlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM> faces the air outlet <NUM> located at the rear part of the housing <NUM>. The ion generator <NUM> is located between the outlet <NUM> and the air outlet <NUM>. The outlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM> directly faces the ion generator <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the second channel segment <NUM> may include an expansion segment <NUM> that is adjacent to the outlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM>, and a width of which is gradually increased. Therefore, an end of the expansion segment adjacent to the outlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM> may have a smaller width, and in addition, the housing <NUM> still has an enough size for arranging the air outlet <NUM>. This helps prevent corners that may trap air from being formed next to the outlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM>, and in addition, the air outlet <NUM> distributed in a wider region helps air located downstream of the fan <NUM> be smoothly discharged out of the housing <NUM>.

The ion generator <NUM> may be a point discharge ion generator. The ion generator <NUM> may also generate ozone by-products for sterilization when generating ions. Referring to <FIG> in combination with <FIG>, the ion generator <NUM> may include a channel <NUM>, and a tip ion generation component <NUM> is located in the channel <NUM>. An inlet of the channel <NUM> faces the outlet <NUM> of the fan <NUM>.

An outlet of the ion generator <NUM> may face the air outlet <NUM>, so that products of the ion generator <NUM> may enter the storage compartment <NUM> through the air outlet <NUM> as rapidly as possible. The ion generator <NUM> may be disposed in such a way that the ions have a tendency to flow toward the air outlet <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in an embodiment, the air channel <NUM> may disposed in such a way that at least a part of air is obliquely downward discharged out of the housing <NUM>. Therefore, air including germicidal substances may flow obliquely downward, to further help the germicidal substances flow to other parts of the storage compartment <NUM>. It is particularly advantageous that, the air flowing obliquely downward from the top part of the storage compartment <NUM> and including the germicidal substances may join airflow that is discharged from the air duct <NUM> located in the rear part of the storage compartment <NUM> and that flows forward, which helps the germicidal substances follow the airflow discharged from the air duct <NUM> to places where the forced air circulation passes.

As shown in <FIG>, a depressed portion <NUM> may be disposed in a top wall <NUM>, to mount the air sanitation device <NUM>. In an embodiment, the upper wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM> is located in the depressed portion <NUM> and defines an upper boundary of the air channel <NUM>, and the air outlet <NUM> is located outside the depressed portion <NUM>. The upper wall <NUM> has a guiding portion <NUM> for guiding air downward to the air outlet <NUM>, so that the air is guided to the air outlet <NUM> located outside the depressed portion <NUM>. On the one hand, this helps the air be accurately guided to the air outlet <NUM> and be smoothly discharged out of the housing <NUM>. On the other hand, when the air is discharged out of the housing <NUM>, at least a part of the air may be guided by the guiding portion <NUM> to flow obliquely downward toward the air outlet <NUM>, so that at least a part of the air can flow obliquely downward.

The guiding portion <NUM> may include a slope that slopes from top to bottom. The slope may include a plane and/or a curved surface. A rear end of the guiding portion <NUM> may be connected to the rear wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM> provided with the air outlet <NUM>. The rear end of the guiding portion <NUM> may be adjacent to the air outlet <NUM> and located above the air outlet <NUM>.

A length of the guiding portion <NUM> may be greater than an entire length covering the ion generator <NUM> and cover the entire ion generator <NUM>, so that air flows more smoothly toward the air outlet <NUM>.

The air sanitation device <NUM> includes the housing <NUM> provided with the air channel <NUM>, and the air detection device <NUM> and optionally the air purification device <NUM> located in the air channel <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> includes a light outlet <NUM>, the air sanitation device <NUM> includes an illumination device <NUM>, and the illumination device <NUM> is located in the housing <NUM> to generate light adapted to pass through the light outlet <NUM>. The light outlet <NUM> faces the storage compartment <NUM>, to illuminate the storage compartment <NUM>.

The light outlet <NUM> may be a through hole passing through the housing <NUM>, or be formed through a light permeable wall of the housing <NUM>.

The air sanitation device <NUM> includes a partition member <NUM>, and the partition member <NUM> separates the illumination device <NUM> from the air channel <NUM>, so that air is adapted to flow along a first side of the partition member <NUM>, and the illumination device <NUM> is located between a second side of the partition member <NUM> and the light outlet <NUM>.

By using the partition member <NUM> to separate the illumination device <NUM> from the air channel <NUM>, air entering the housing <NUM> from outside may be separated from the illumination device <NUM>, which particularly helps improve the service life of the air sanitation device <NUM> having the illumination device <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the partition member <NUM> and the housing <NUM> together define an accommodating space <NUM> isolated from the air channel <NUM>, and the illumination device <NUM> is located in the accommodating space <NUM>.

When the air sanitation device <NUM> is arranged on the top part of the storage compartment <NUM>, the air channel <NUM> having the air detection device <NUM> and/or the air purification device <NUM> is located above the illumination device <NUM>. Both the accommodating space <NUM> and the air channel <NUM> may be in a flat structure. The accommodating space <NUM> may be distributed approximately parallel to the air channel <NUM>.

The partition member <NUM> may include a carrying plate 7A for mounting the air detection device <NUM> and/or the air purification device <NUM>. The air detection device <NUM> and/or the air purification device <NUM> may be fixed to the first side of the partition member <NUM>. In an embodiment, the air detection device <NUM>, the air purification device <NUM>, and the fan <NUM> are mounted at the first side of the partition member <NUM> away from the light outlet <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> and the power supply unit <NUM> may also be mounted at the first side of the partition member <NUM>.

The partition member <NUM> and these electronic devices carried in the partition member <NUM> may be pre-assembled to form a pre-assembly module 7B.

The partition member <NUM> may include a main board portion <NUM> and a side board <NUM> extending from an edge of the main board portion <NUM> toward the light outlet <NUM>. In this embodiment, the air sanitation device <NUM> is mounted on the top part of the storage compartment <NUM>, the light outlet <NUM> is located at the bottom part of the housing <NUM>, and the side board <NUM> extends downward from the main board portion <NUM>.

The air detection device <NUM>, the air purification device <NUM>, and the fan <NUM> are mounted on the main board portion <NUM>, so that the main board portion <NUM> forms the carrying plate 7A. The control unit <NUM> and the power supply unit <NUM> may also be mounted on the main board portion <NUM>. The main board portion <NUM> may have a plurality of protrusions <NUM> protruding in a direction away from the light outlet <NUM>, to fix these components.

A distal end of the side board <NUM> may overlap a lower wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The distal end of the side board <NUM> may overlap the lower wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM> by surrounding the light outlet <NUM>. The air sanitation device <NUM> may include a first fixing mechanism configured to fix the partition member <NUM> to the housing <NUM>. The first fixing mechanism may be configured to be adapted to generate a force that makes the distal end of the side board <NUM> tightly butt against the housing <NUM>. This way helps reduce a probability that air enters the accommodating space <NUM> through a gap between the side board <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

The first fixing mechanism may include a plurality of hooks <NUM> disposed in the housing <NUM>, and the hooks <NUM> are connected to the partition member <NUM> so that a force toward the lower wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM> is applied to the partition member <NUM>. The hooks <NUM> may be distributed around the light outlet <NUM>, and hook on an edge of the main board portion <NUM>.

The illumination device <NUM> may be mounted at the second side of the partition member <NUM> facing the light outlet <NUM>. In an embodiment, the main board portion <NUM> and the side board <NUM> enclose an accommodating cavity <NUM> opening toward the light outlet <NUM>, and the illumination device <NUM> is at least partially located in the accommodating cavity <NUM>. The accommodating cavity <NUM> may constitute at least main part of the accommodating space <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, an illumination device <NUM> includes a light source <NUM>. The light source <NUM> may include an LED light emitting element (not labeled) and a circuit board <NUM> carrying the light emitting element. In an embodiment, the circuit board <NUM> extends along a side board <NUM> and is located at a side in the accommodating cavity <NUM>.

A partition member <NUM> may have a first slot <NUM> extending along the side board <NUM>, and the circuit board <NUM> extends into the first slot <NUM>. A depth of the first slot <NUM> is greater than depths of other parts of the accommodating cavity <NUM> in the partition member <NUM>.

The illumination device <NUM> may include a light guide plate <NUM> and a frame bar <NUM> fixing the light source <NUM> to an end of the light guide plate <NUM>.

The frame bar <NUM> has a protrusion <NUM> supporting the circuit board <NUM> and protruding toward the first slot <NUM>, and the protrusion <NUM> extends into the first slot <NUM>, so that the circuit board <NUM> also extends into the first slot <NUM>.

The illumination device <NUM> may include a light diffuser <NUM>. The light diffuser <NUM> covers an outer side of the light guide plate <NUM>, and the light source <NUM> and the light guide plate <NUM> are located between a main board portion <NUM> and the light diffuser <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the light diffuser <NUM> may be fixed to the partition member <NUM>, so that the light source <NUM> and the light guide plate <NUM> are mounted in the accommodating cavity <NUM>. For example, periphery of the light diffuser <NUM> may be connected to the side board <NUM> by buckles.

In an exemplary embodiment, the light diffuser <NUM> may be in a shallow tray shape opening toward the partition member <NUM>, and the light source <NUM> and the light guide plate <NUM> are accommodated in the light diffuser <NUM>.

The light source <NUM>, the light guide plate <NUM>, and the light diffuser <NUM> may be together mounted at the partition member <NUM> after forming a pre-assembly unit.

The light diffuser <NUM> is at least partially accommodated in the partition member <NUM>. For example, a side wall of the light diffuser <NUM> is located in the accommodating cavity <NUM>.

In an embodiment, a surface of the light diffuser <NUM> facing a light outlet <NUM> does not exceed a distal end surface of the side board <NUM>.

The surface of the light diffuser <NUM> facing the light outlet <NUM> may be substantially flush with the distal end of the side board <NUM>.

The partition member <NUM> has an end surface <NUM> adjacent to a side wall <NUM> having an air inlet <NUM>, and the end surface <NUM> is exposed in the air channel <NUM>. A gap is disposed between the end surface <NUM> and the side wall <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The side wall <NUM> has an oblique portion <NUM>, an angle is disposed between the oblique portion and the end surface <NUM>, and the air inlet <NUM> passes through the oblique portion <NUM>. This can reduce occurrence of a case that the air entering the air channel <NUM> directly flows toward the end surface <NUM> and is blocked.

In an embodiment, the housing <NUM> includes a first housing <NUM> and a second housing <NUM>, and the first housing <NUM> is connected to the second housing <NUM> to form a receiving space <NUM>. The second housing member <NUM> has the light outlet <NUM>. An accommodating space <NUM> for accommodating the illumination device <NUM> is formed between the partition member <NUM> and the second housing <NUM>.

A second accommodating space <NUM> for accommodating an air detection device <NUM> and/or an air purification device <NUM> is disposed between the first housing <NUM> and the partition member <NUM>. At least most of the air channel <NUM> is located between the first housing <NUM> and the partition member <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the air inlet <NUM> is located in the second housing <NUM>. The air inlet <NUM> may be at least partially lower than an upper surface of the main board portion <NUM> facing the first housing <NUM>, and disposed obliquely so that air entering the air inlet <NUM> flows toward the first housing <NUM>, thereby helping avoid a case that air entering the air channel <NUM> through the air inlet <NUM> is blocked by the partition member <NUM> and wind resistance is increased.

A lower edge of the air outlet <NUM> may be substantially flush with an upper surface of the partition member <NUM> facing the first housing <NUM>, so that air flows to the air outlet <NUM> along the upper surface of the partition member <NUM>.

The air outlet <NUM> may be disposed in the second housing <NUM>. The second housing <NUM> may include a convex portion <NUM> protruding toward the partition member <NUM>, an inner side of the convex portion <NUM> may be tightly adjacent to or be in contact with the side board <NUM> of the partition member <NUM>, and the air outlet <NUM> is disposed on the convex portion <NUM>, so that the air outlet <NUM> is tightly adjacent to the upper surface of the partition member <NUM>, and air flowing along the upper surface of the partition member <NUM> can smoothly flow to the air outlet <NUM>.

A first sunk part <NUM> may be disposed at rear ends of two sides of the first housing <NUM>, to reduce air blown to the control unit <NUM> or the power supply unit <NUM>. A second sunk part <NUM> may be further disposed in the first housing <NUM>, to accommodate cables and terminals.

The air sanitation device <NUM> may be fixed in a depressed portion <NUM> by using a plurality of hooks <NUM> located in the first housing <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An air sanitation device (<NUM>) for a refrigerator (<NUM>), comprising:
a housing (<NUM>);
an air channel (<NUM>) located in the housing (<NUM>), and comprising an air inlet (<NUM>) and an air outlet (<NUM>);
a fan (<NUM>) located in the air channel (<NUM>), to force air to enter the air channel (<NUM>) from the air inlet (<NUM>), and then be discharged out of the air channel (<NUM>) from the air outlet (<NUM>); and
an air detection device (<NUM>) comprising a gas sensor (<NUM>) fixed to a circuit board (<NUM>), wherein the air channel (<NUM>) is configured to enable air to flow along a side of the circuit board (<NUM>) to which the gas sensor (<NUM>) is fixed, and a direction that an inlet (<NUM>) of the fan (<NUM>) faces is opposite to a direction in which the gas sensor protrudes from the circuit board, the inlet (<NUM>) of the fan (<NUM>) is open downward,
and the housing (<NUM>) comprises an upper wall (<NUM>), a lower wall (<NUM>), and a side wall (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the side wall (<NUM>) comprises an oblique portion (<NUM>) inclined downward, the air inlet (<NUM>) is located on the oblique portion (<NUM>), and the air detection device (<NUM>) is located between the air inlet (<NUM>) and the inlet (<NUM>) of the fan (<NUM>).