Patent Description:
Electronic apparatuses for sucking and discharging outside air such as an air conditioning apparatus, an air cleaner or a ventilator include a filter configured to remove particles or harmful gas which generate malodor.

Among the filters, photocatalytic filters provide excellent sterilization and deodorizing effect through photochemical reaction of photocatalyst and ultraviolet light. The photocatalytic filter generates hydroxyl radical and oxide ions to oxidize volatile organic compounds and to remove microorganisms adsorbed to the surface of the photocatalyst.

The photocatalyst can be used semi-permanently and can be operated stably without harming human body.

<CIT> relates to an air-purifying filter.

<CIT> relates to a control system for an ultraviolet photocatalytic oxidation air purification system.

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an electronic apparatus capable of controlling the air purification performance of a photocatalytic filter according to an air volume of a blowing fan or a concentration of a specific gas.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide an electronic apparatus having a deodorizing performance recovery function of a photocatalytic filter.

Additional aspects of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present disclosure.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus according to claim <NUM>, and a control method of an electronic apparatus according to claim <NUM>. Preferred features are set out in the dependent claims.

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:.

The singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In this present disclosure, the terms "including", "having", and the like are used to specify features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more of the features, elements, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, but elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element.

In the following description, terms such as "part", "unit", "block", "member", and "module" indicate a unit for processing at least one function or operation, wherein the unit and the block may be embodied as software or hardware, such as Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or embodied by combining hardware and software.

In addition, the same reference numerals or signs shown in the drawings of the present disclosure indicate elements or components performing substantially the same function.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating a filter apparatus and a blowing fan of an electronic apparatus, and <FIG> is a view illustrating an assembly of the filter apparatus of <FIG>. <FIG> is a view illustrating a light emitting module <NUM> of the electronic apparatus, and <FIG> are enlarged- views illustrating a photocatalytic filter of the electronic apparatus.

According to the disclosed embodiment, an electronic apparatus is an electronic apparatus provided with a blowing fan <NUM> and a filter apparatus, and includes an apparatus configured to generate the air flow by suctioning and discharging the outside air, such as an air conditioning apparatus, an air cleaner or a ventilator.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic apparatus includes the blowing fan <NUM> configured to suction the outside air, and the filter apparatus configured to purify the outside air suctioned by the blowing fan <NUM>.

The filter apparatus includes a light emitting module <NUM> to which a plurality of light emitting portions <NUM> configured to emit ultraviolet light, is mounted, a photocatalytic filter <NUM> provided to face the light emitting portion <NUM>, and a support frame <NUM> configured to support the light emitting module <NUM> and the photocatalytic filter <NUM> so that the light emitting module <NUM> and the photocatalytic filter <NUM> are apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

The photocatalytic filter <NUM> may include a base and photocatalyst applied to the base. As illustrated in <FIG>, the base may be implemented as a foam type plate including an atypical hole. Alternatively, the base of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> may be implemented as a honey-comb shaped plate. The shape of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> is merely an example, and thus the shape of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> is not limited thereto.

The base of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> may be formed of a ceramic material. For example, the base of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> may be formed of a cordierite or a mullite composed of alumina and silica, or formed of a combination of cordierite and mullite.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the photocatalytic filter <NUM> is implemented by applying a photocatalyst to the above mentioned base, and the photocatalyst may include at least one of titanium dioxide, tungsten trioxide, manganese dioxide, zinc oxide, and titanium tetraisopropoxide.

The photocatalyst may be applied to the base by a spray method or by an impregnation method.

As for the titanium dioxide, when ultraviolet light is irradiated, electrons in the valence band are excited and move to the conduction band, and holes are generated in the valence band. In a state in which the titanium dioxide has band gap energy of <NUM>. 2eV, when ultraviolet light is irradiated, energy greater than the band gap energy is absorbed, and thus the electrons are excited and holes are generated, as mentioned above.

When the electrons and the holes are reacted with oxygen and water, oxide ions and hydroxyl radicals may be generated, and the oxide ions and the hydroxyl radicals may purify the suctioned outside air by chemically decomposing and oxidizing various bacteria, viruses, and organic compounds. The photocatalyst may purify the outside air by removing organic chlorine compounds, volatile hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, phenols, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides.

The light emitting module <NUM> may include the light emitting portion <NUM> configured to emit ultraviolet light and a support portion in which the light emitting portion <NUM> is installed.

The light emitting module <NUM> may be implemented as a UV-LED configured to emit ultraviolet light of a UV-A wavelength band (<NUM> ~ <NUM>). The light emitting portion <NUM> may emit ultraviolet light having a wavelength band of <NUM> <NUM> as the primary wavelength range, and may be provided to have an irradiation angle of <NUM> degree or more.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the light emitting portion <NUM> is installed apart from the support portion by a predetermined distance, and the distance between the light emitting portion <NUM>, the number of the light emitting portion <NUM>, and the arrangement of the light emitting portion <NUM> may be determined based on an irradiation angle of the light emitting portion <NUM> and a distance from the photocatalytic filter <NUM>.

The support portion of the light emitting module <NUM> may be provided in a thickness of approximately <NUM> ~ <NUM>, and formed of aluminum or a heat-dissipating material. As illustrated in <FIG>, as for the support portion of the light emitting module <NUM>, a hole <NUM> configured to allow the outside air, introduced by the blowing fan <NUM>, to pass through, may be formed except a portion in which the light emitting portion <NUM> is installed and an outer frame.

The support frame <NUM> configured to support the photocatalytic filter <NUM> and the light emitting module <NUM> may include a groove 212a, and 212b configured to allow the photocatalytic filter <NUM> and the light emitting module <NUM> to be apart from each other. The groove of the support frame <NUM> may be provided to allow a distance between the photocatalytic filter <NUM> and the light emitting module <NUM> to be approximately <NUM>~<NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the photocatalytic filter <NUM> and the light emitting module <NUM> may be mounted to each groove of the support frame <NUM> so that the photocatalytic filter <NUM> and the light emitting module <NUM> are apart from each other.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an electronic apparatus may further include at least one of a deodorizing filter <NUM> and a dust filter <NUM>, as well as the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the dust filter <NUM> and the deodorizing filter <NUM> may be provided in front of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>.

The dust filter <NUM> may include a pre-filter, a high efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter, and an electrostatic precipitator, and the deodorizing filter <NUM> may include a carbon filter, but the dust filter <NUM> and the deodorizing filter <NUM> are not limited thereto. Therefore, the dust filter <NUM> and the deodorizing filter <NUM> may be implemented by well-known various filters.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example configuration of the electronic apparatus, and <FIG> is a graph illustrating a change in the performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> of the electronic apparatus.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the electronic apparatus may include a gas sensor <NUM> configured to detect the concentration of a certain gas, an input <NUM> configured to receive a command related to the operation of the electronic apparatus, a light emitting portion <NUM> configured to irradiate ultraviolet light to the photocatalytic filter <NUM>, and a blowing fan <NUM> configured to introduce the outside air.

The gas sensor <NUM> may be configured to detect a certain gas such as formaldehyde, and may be implemented by a semiconductor type gas sensor, a contact combustion type sensor and an electrochemical sensor.

The semiconductor type gas sensor may measure a concentration of a gas by measuring the influence of the change of the resistance component as the measurement target material is oxidized or reduced. The electrochemical type gas sensor may measure a concentration of a gas by measuring the amount of ions generated by oxidizing / reducing the gas dissolved in the electrolyte.

The gas sensor <NUM> may employ various well-known gas sensors. Since the gas detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is not limited to formaldehyde, a gas sensor configured to detect a variety of gas may be provided and a plurality of gas sensors configured to detect different gas may be provided.

The gas sensor <NUM> may be installed around the blowing fan <NUM> or the filer apparatus to detect gas contained in the outside air introduced by the blowing fan <NUM>. Alternatively, the plurality of gas sensors <NUM> may be installed in a different position around the blowing fan <NUM> or the filter apparatus.

The gas sensor <NUM> transmits data about the concentration of the detected gas to the controller <NUM>.

The input <NUM> may be configured to receive a command to adjust the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM>, and configured to receive a command to recover the deodorizing performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> described later. The input <NUM> may include a plurality of input tools configured to receive a variety of command related to the operation of the electronic apparatus, e.g., a button, a joystick, a jog shuttle, a touch panel, a voice input device, a motion recognition device, and a remote controller.

A storage <NUM> may store control programs and control data for the control of the operation of the electronic apparatus and various application programs and application data to perform various functions according to the user input.

For example, the storage <NUM> may store an operating system (OS) program for managing the configuration and the resources (hardware and software) included in the electronic apparatus.

The storage <NUM> may include a non-volatile memory in which data is not lost although the power is turned off. For example, the storage <NUM> may include a large-capacity flash memory or a solid state drive (SSD).

The controller <NUM> may control the drive of the blowing fan <NUM> or the light emitting portion <NUM> based on a command to adjust the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM>, a command to recover the deodorizing performance, which are input through the input <NUM>, or data about the concentration of the gas detected by the gas sensor <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may control the light emitting portion <NUM> and the blowing fan <NUM> contained in the electronic apparatus, according to the user input, which is received through the input <NUM>, the concentration of the gas, which is detected by the gas sensor <NUM>, and/or programs and data stored in the storage <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> may include a micro-processor configured to perform the calculation to control the electronic apparatus, and a memory to store/memorize the programs and data related to the calculation operation of the microprocessor.

The microprocessor may call the data stored/memorized in the memory according to the program stored/memorized in the memory, and perform the arithmetic or logic operation on the called data. In addition, the microprocessor may output the result of arithmetic or logic operations, to the memory.

The memory may include a volatile memory in which the stored data is lost when the power is turned off. The volatile memory may call programs and data from the above mentioned storage <NUM>, and temporarily store the called data. The volatile memory may provide the stored programs and data to the microprocessor, and restore data, which is output from the microprocessor. The volatile may include a Static Random Access Memory (S-RAM) and a Dynamic Random Access Memory (D-RAM).

As needed, the memory may include a non-volatile memory in which data is not lost although the power is turned off. The non-volatile memory may store a firmware to manage and initiate components contained in the electronic apparatus. The non-volatile memory may include a Read Only Memory (ROM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only memory (EPROM), and an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only memory (EEPROM), and a flash memory.

It has described that the microprocessor and the memory are functionally separated from each other, but it is not required that the microprocessor and the memory are physically separated from each other. For example, the microprocessor and the memory may be implemented by a single chip or by a separate chip.

As mentioned above, the controller <NUM> may control the entire operation of the electronic apparatus and it is assumed that the operation of the electronic apparatus described later is controlled by the controller <NUM>.

Hereinbefore it has described that the controller <NUM> and the storage <NUM> are functionally separated from each other, but it is not required that the controller <NUM> and the storage <NUM> are physically separated from each other. For example, the controller <NUM> and the storage <NUM> may be implemented by a single chip or by a separate chip.

The electronic apparatus may adjust the performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> by controlling a current value applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> according to the change in the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM>.

For example, the controller <NUM> may increase a current value applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>, when a command to change the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> from a first mode to a second mode, i.e., a command to increase the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM>, is input.

The first mode and the second mode may be a relative concept, which is that the first mode is an air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> weaker than a second mode, and the second mode is an air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> stronger than the first mode. For example, when the first mode is a weak mode, the second mode may be a moderate mode or a strong mode, and when the first mode is a moderate mode, the second mode may be a strong mode. In the same manner, when the second mode is a strong mode, the first mode may be a weak mode or a moderate mode, and when the second mode is a moderate mode, the first mode may be a weak mode.

When a command to change the first mode to the second mode is input, the controller <NUM> may increase a first current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> by corresponding to the first mode, to a second current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> by corresponding to the second mode. For example, the controller <NUM> may apply the first current value of 100mA to the light emitting portion <NUM> in the first mode and when the mode is changed from the first mode to the second mode, the controller <NUM> may apply the second current value of 300mA to the light emitting portion <NUM>, which is increased from 100mA.

When the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> is increased, the amount of outside air, which is introduced per a reference time, may be increased and thus it may be difficult to secure the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>, which is required to correspond to the increased air volume of the outside air, by using the intensity of the ultraviolet light, which is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> before the air volume is increased.

Therefore, when the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> is increased, the intensity of the ultraviolet light, which is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> from the light emitting portion <NUM>, may be needed to be increased to increase the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. When a mode change command to increase the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM>, is input, the controller <NUM> may increase the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> by increasing the current value applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>.

In addition, when the command to change the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> from the second mode to the first mode is input via the input <NUM>, i.e., a command to reduce the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> is input, the controller <NUM> may reduce the current value applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>.

When a command to change the second mode to the first mode is input, the controller <NUM> may decrease the second current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> by corresponding to the second mode, to the first current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> by corresponding to the first mode. For example, in a state in which the controller <NUM> applies the second current value of 300mA to the light emitting portion <NUM>, when the mode is changed from the second mode to the first mode, the controller <NUM> may apply the first current value of 100mA to the light emitting portion <NUM>, which is reduced from 300mA.

When the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> is decreased, the amount of outside air, which is introduced per a reference time, may be decreased and thus the intensity of ultraviolet light, which is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> before the air volume is reduced, may provide a unnecessarily high air purification performance in comparison with the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> corresponding to the reduced amount of the outside air. It may lead to the waste of the power.

Therefore, when the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> is decreased, the intensity of the ultraviolet light, which is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> from the light emitting portion <NUM>, may be needed to be decreased to reduce the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. When a mode change command to decrease the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM>, is input, the controller <NUM> may decrease the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> by reducing the current value applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>.

As mentioned above, the electronic apparatus may adjust the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> in a variable manner by adjusting the current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>, according to the variation of the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM>.

When the concentration of a certain gas detected by the gas sensor <NUM>, is increased, the electronic apparatus may control the current value applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> to adjust the performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>.

For example, when the concentration of formaldehyde detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is equal to or greater than a first reference concentration, the controller <NUM> may increase the current value applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>. The formaldehyde is merely an example and thus another gas may become a target gas to be detected.

That is, when the detected concentration of formaldehyde is equal to or greater than the first reference concentration, the controller <NUM> may determine that a stronger air purification performance is required, and thus the controller <NUM> may apply a current value, which is increased higher than a reference current value corresponding to the first reference concentration, so that the intensity of ultraviolet light irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> is increased.

When the detected concentration of formaldehyde is reduced less than the first reference concentration, the controller <NUM> may determine that a situation in which the strong air purification performance is required, is released, and the controller <NUM> may apply a current value, which is reduced less than the reference current value corresponding to the first reference concentration, so that the intensity of ultraviolet light irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> is reduced.

The above mentioned first reference concentration may be a certain concentration value of formaldehyde, but is not limited thereto. Therefore, the first reference concentration may mean a certain range of formaldehyde concentration. In a state in which the first reference concentration represents a certain range of formaldehyde concentration, when a gas concentration equal to or greater than the upper limit of the range is detected or when a gas concentration equal to or less than the lower limit of the range is detected, a current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> may be increased equal to or greater than the reference current value in accordance with the upper limit of the range, or the current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> may be decreased equal to or greater than the reference current value in accordance with the lower limit of the range.

As mentioned above, the electronic apparatus may adjust the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> in a variable manner by adjusting the current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>, according to the variation of the concentration of a certain gas detected by the gas sensor <NUM>.

The electronic apparatus may recover the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>, i.e., the deodorizing and sterilizing performance. That is, when a condition, which is to determine whether the photocatalytic filter <NUM> is contaminated, is satisfied, the controller <NUM> of the electronic apparatus may perform a control to recover the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>.

For example, when a command to recover the deodorizing performance is input via the input <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not. When the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> may stop the drive of the blowing fan <NUM>, and operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time, so that ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> for the predetermined period of time. When the blowing fan <NUM> is not operated, the controller <NUM> may immediately operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time.

When the command to recover the deodorizing performance is input by a user, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not. In a state in which the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, when ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM>, it may be similar with a case in which the deodorization and sterilization are performed by the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. Therefore, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not.

In a state in which the flow of the outside air by the blowing fan <NUM> is stopped, when ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM>, contaminants attached to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> may be decomposed or removed by the reaction of the photocatalyst with ultraviolet light, and thus the deodorizing and sterilizing performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> may be restored.

The input <NUM> may be implemented to allow a user to select a recovery time of the deodorizing performance when the user inputs the command for the deodorizing performance recovery. For example, the input <NUM> may include an input tool configured to receive a command for the deodorizing performance recovery for <NUM> minutes, and an input tool configured to receive a command for the deodorizing performance recovery for <NUM> hour. Alternatively, the input <NUM> may include an input tool configured to receive a command for the deodorizing performance recovery, and an input tool configured to receive a time for the deodorizing performance recovery.

In other words, a period of time, in which the light emitting portion <NUM> is operated for the deodorizing performance recovery, may be determined by the input <NUM>. When an additional input related to a period of time is not performed, the light emitting portion <NUM> may be driven for a predetermined period of time.

Although the deodorizing performance recovery command is not input via the input <NUM>, the controller <NUM> automatically performs the control for the deodorizing performance recovery when an amount of clean air is reduced equal to or less than a reference value. The amount of clean air may be illustrated by clean air delivery rate (CADR) indicating the volume of air that is purified each time, and the unit thereof may be indicated by m<NUM>/h.

In other words, when clean air delivery rate (CADR) is reduced equal to or less than the reference value, the controller <NUM> determines whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not. When the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> stops the drive of the blowing fan <NUM>, and operates the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time, so that ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> for the predetermined period of time. When the blowing fan <NUM> is not operated, the controller <NUM> may immediately operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time. A current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> when the light emitting portion <NUM> is operated for the predetermined period of time, may be pre-determined and the controller <NUM> may apply the predetermined and stored current value to the light emitting portion <NUM>.

When the clean air delivery rate (CADR) is reduced equal or less than the reference value, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not. In a state in which the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, when ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM>, it may be similar with a case in which the deodorization and sterilization are performed by the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. Therefore, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not.

Although the deodorizing performance recovery command is not input via the above mentioned input <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may automatically perform the control for the deodorizing performance recovery when a driving time of the blowing fan <NUM> is equal to or greater than a predetermined driving time. The driving time of the blowing fan <NUM> may be a cumulative driving time.

That is, when a cumulative driving time of the controller <NUM> is equal to or greater than the predetermined drive time, e.g., <NUM> hours, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated. The cumulative driving time may exceed <NUM> hours during the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, or the drive of the blowing fan <NUM> may be stopped since the electronic apparatus is stopped shortly after the cumulative driving time exceeds <NUM> hours, and thus the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not.

When the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> may stop the drive of the blowing fan <NUM>, and operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time, so that ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> for the predetermined period of time. When the blowing fan <NUM> is not operated, the controller <NUM> may immediately operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time. A current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> when the light emitting portion <NUM> is operated for the predetermined period of time, may be pre-determined, and the controller <NUM> may apply the predetermined and stored current value to the light emitting portion <NUM>.

Although the deodorizing performance recovery command is not input via the input <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may automatically perform the control for the deodorizing performance recovery when a concentration of the certain gas detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is higher than a second reference concentration or when a concentration of the certain gas detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is higher than a third reference concentration. The above mentioned first to third reference concentration corresponding to a reference value, which is compared with the concentration of the certain gas, may be pre-stored in the storage <NUM> or the memory. The first to third reference concentrations may be determined by the test and stored in advance, and may have different values. Alternatively, the first to third reference concentrations may be set as a value desired by the user and then stored.

For example, when a concentration of formaldehyde detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is equal to or higher than the second reference concentration or when a cumulative concentration of formaldehyde detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is equal to or higher than the third reference concentration, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not.

When the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> may stop the drive of the blowing fan <NUM>, and operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time, so that ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> for the predetermined period of time. When the blowing fan <NUM> is not operated, the controller <NUM> may immediately operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time. A current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> when the light emitting portion <NUM> is operated for the predetermined period of time, may be pre-determined and the controller <NUM> may apply the predetermined and stored current value to the light emitting portion <NUM>.

Table <NUM> illustrates a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of an air cleaner provided with the photocatalytic filter <NUM> and a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of an air cleaner provided with a carbon filter in a conventional manner.

Data shown in the table was acquired under the same condition except for the difference in a deodorizing filter, wherein the photocatalytic filter <NUM> is used for one case and the carbon filter is used for the other case.

A life prediction test according to CCM method of China GBT standard has been applied and it was confirmed that the air cleaner, to which the photocatalytic filter <NUM> is applied, has a dominant position in terms of the clean air delivery rate (CADR), as the cumulative amount of formaldehyde is increased.

<FIG> is a graph illustrating a change in the performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> of the electronic apparatus. In <FIG>, a horizontal axis illustrates the cumulative amount of formaldehyde and a vertical axis illustrates the clean air delivery rate (CADR).

Referring to <FIG>, an initial clean air delivery rate (CADR) of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> has <NUM><NUM>/h and the clean air delivery rate (CADR) of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> has approximately <NUM><NUM>/h in a range of the cumulative amount of formaldehyde of approximately <NUM> ~ <NUM>.

In order to confirm the effect of the deodorizing performance recovery of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>, the clean air delivery rate (CADR) is reduced to approximately <NUM><NUM>/h and then the light emitting portion <NUM> is operated for <NUM> minutes or <NUM> hours in a state in which the blowing fan <NUM> is stopped.

When the light emitting portion <NUM> is operated for <NUM> minutes, the clean air delivery rate (CADR) is increased to approximately <NUM><NUM>/h ('a' in <FIG>). In addition, when the light emitting portion <NUM> is operated for <NUM> hours, the clean air delivery rate (CADR) is increased to approximately <NUM><NUM>/h (`b' in <FIG>).

The photocatalytic filter <NUM> may be semi-permanently used by the function of the deodorizing performance recovery, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> are flowcharts illustrating a control method of the electronic apparatus. Hereinafter the control method of the electronic apparatus will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, when a mode of the blowing fan <NUM> is changed from the first mode to the second mode (<NUM> and <NUM>), the controller <NUM> may increase a current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>, from the first current value to the second current value (<NUM>).

When the command to change the first mode to the second mode is input, the controller <NUM> may increase the first current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> by corresponding to the first mode, to the second current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> by corresponding to the second mode. For example, in a state in which the controller <NUM> applies the first current value of 100mA to the light emitting portion <NUM> in the first mode, when the mode is changed from the first mode to the second mode, the controller <NUM> may apply the second current value of 300mA to the light emitting portion <NUM>, which is increased from 100mA.

When the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> is increased, the amount of outside air, which is introduced per the reference time, may be increased and thus it may be difficult to secure the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>, which is required to correspond to the increased air volume of the outside air, by using the intensity of the ultraviolet light, which is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> before the air volume is increased. When the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> is increased, it may be required that the intensity of ultraviolet light, which is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM>, is increased to improve the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. When the mode change command to increase the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM>, is input, the controller <NUM> may increase the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> by increasing the current value applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>.

When the mode of the blowing fan <NUM> is changed from the second mode to the first mode (<NUM>), the controller <NUM> may decrease the current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>, from the second current value to the first current value (<NUM>).

When the command to change the second mode to the first mode is input, the controller <NUM> may decrease the second current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> by corresponding to the second mode, to the first current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> by corresponding to the first mode. For example, in a state in which the controller <NUM> applies the second current value of 300mA to the light emitting portion <NUM>, when the mode is changed from the second mode to the first mode, the controller <NUM> may apply the first current value of 100mA to the light emitting portion <NUM>, which is reduced from 300mA.

When the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> is decreased, the amount of outside air, which is introduced per the reference time, may be decreased and thus the intensity of ultraviolet light, which is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> before the air volume is reduced, may provide a unnecessarily high air purification performance in comparison with the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> corresponding to the reduced amount of the outside air. It may lead to the waste of the power.

Therefore, when the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM> is decreased, the intensity of the ultraviolet light, which is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> from the light emitting portion <NUM>, may be needed to be decreased to reduce the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. When the mode change command to decrease the air volume of the blowing fan <NUM>, is input, the controller <NUM> may decrease the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter <NUM> by reducing the current value applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the concentration of the gas is equal to or greater than the first reference concentration (<NUM>), the controller <NUM> may increase a current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>, to be greater than the reference current value (<NUM>), and when the concentration of the gas is less than the first reference concentration, the controller <NUM> may decrease a current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>, to be less than the reference current value (<NUM>).

For example, when the concentration of formaldehyde detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is equal to or greater than the first reference concentration, the controller <NUM> may increase the current value applied to the light emitting portion <NUM>. That is, when the concentration of formaldehyde is equal to greater than the first reference concentration, the controller <NUM> may determine that a stronger air purification performance is required, and thus the controller <NUM> may apply a current value, which is increased higher than the reference current value corresponding to the first reference concentration, so that the intensity of ultraviolet light irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> is increased.

When the detected concentration of formaldehyde is reduced less than the first reference concentration, the controller <NUM> may determine that a situation, in which the strong air purification performance is required, is released, and the controller <NUM> may apply a current value, which is reduced less than the reference current value corresponding to the first reference concentration, so that the intensity of ultraviolet light irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> is reduced.

Referring to <FIG>, when the command to recover the deodorizing performance is input (<NUM>), the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not (<NUM>), and when the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> may stop the drive of the blowing fan <NUM> (<NUM>), and operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for a predetermined period of time (<NUM>).

When the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> may stop the drive of the blowing fan <NUM>, and operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time, so that ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. When the blowing fan <NUM> is not operated, the controller <NUM> may immediately operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time.

Referring to <FIG>, according to the invention, when the clean air delivery rate (CADR) is equal to or less than the reference value (<NUM>), the controller <NUM> determines whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not (<NUM>), and when the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> stops the drive of the blowing fan <NUM> (<NUM>), and operates the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time (<NUM>).

Although the deodorizing performance recovery command is not input via the input <NUM>, the controller <NUM> automatically performs the control for the deodorizing performance recovery when the amount of clean air is reduced equal or less than a reference value. In other words, when the clean air delivery rate (CADR) is reduced equal to or less than the reference value, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not. When the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> stops the drive of the blowing fan <NUM>, and operates the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time, so that ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM> for the predetermined period of time. When the blowing fan <NUM> is not operated, the controller <NUM> may immediately operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time.

When the clean air delivery rate (CADR) is reduced equal to or less than the reference value, the controller <NUM> determines whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not. In a state in which the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, when ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM>, it may be similar with a case in which the deodorization and sterilization are performed by the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. Therefore, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not.

When the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> stops the drive of the blowing fan <NUM>, and operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time, so that ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. When the blowing fan <NUM> is not operated, the controller <NUM> may immediately operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time. A current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> when the light emitting portion <NUM> is operated for the predetermined period of time, may be pre-determined and the controller <NUM> may apply the predetermined and stored current value to the light emitting portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the driving time of the blowing fan <NUM> is equal to or greater than a predetermined driving time (<NUM>), the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not (<NUM>), and when the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> may stop the drive of the blowing fan <NUM> (<NUM>), and operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time (<NUM>).

Although the deodorizing performance recovery command is not input via the above mentioned input <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may automatically perform the control for the deodorizing performance recovery when the driving time of the blowing fan <NUM> is equal to or greater than the predetermined driving time. The driving time of the blowing fan <NUM> may be a cumulative driving time.

In other words, when the cumulative driving time of the controller <NUM> is equal to or greater than the predetermined drive time, e.g., <NUM> hours, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated. The cumulative driving time may exceed <NUM> hours during the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, or the drive of the blowing fan <NUM> may be stopped since the electronic apparatus is stopped shortly after the cumulative driving time exceeds <NUM> hours, and thus the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not.

When the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> may stop the drive of the blowing fan <NUM>, and operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time, so that ultraviolet light is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter <NUM>. When the blowing fan <NUM> is not operated, the controller <NUM> may immediately operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time. A current value, which is applied to the light emitting portion <NUM> when the light emitting portion <NUM> is operated for the predetermined period of time, may be pre-determined and the controller <NUM> may apply the predetermined and stored current value to the light emitting portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when the concentration of the gas is greater than the second reference concentration or when the cumulative concentration of the gas is greater than the third reference concentration (<NUM>), the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not (<NUM>), and when the blowing fan <NUM> is operated, the controller <NUM> may stop the drive of the blowing fan <NUM> (<NUM>), and operate the light emitting portion <NUM> for the predetermined period of time (<NUM>).

Although the deodorizing performance recovery command is not input via the input <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may automatically perform the control for the deodorizing performance recovery when the concentration of the certain gas detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is higher than the second reference concentration or when the cumulative concentration of the certain gas detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is higher than the third reference concentration. The above mentioned first to third reference concentration corresponding to a reference value, which is compared with the concentration of the certain gas, may be pre-stored in the storage <NUM> or the memory.

For example, when the concentration of formaldehyde detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is equal to or higher than the second reference concentration or when the cumulative concentration of formaldehyde detected by the gas sensor <NUM> is equal to or higher than the third reference concentration, the controller <NUM> may determine whether the blowing fan <NUM> is operated or not.

As is apparent from the above description, it may be possible to provide the electronic apparatus capable of adjusting the air purification performance of the photocatalytic filter according to the air volume of the blowing fan and the variation of the certain gas concentration.

It may be possible to provide the electronic apparatus having the function of the deodorizing performance recovery of the photocatalytic filter.

Claim 1:
An electronic apparatus comprising:
a blowing fan (<NUM>);
a filter apparatus configured to purify air introduced by the blowing fan (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to adjust a current applied to the filter apparatus,
wherein the filter apparatus comprises:
a light emitting module (<NUM>) to which a plurality of light emitting portions (<NUM>) configured to output ultraviolet light is mounted;
a photocatalytic filter (<NUM>) provided to face the light emitting portions (<NUM>); and
a support frame (<NUM>) configured to support the light emitting module (<NUM>) and the photocatalytic filter (<NUM>) to be apart from each other by a predetermined distance,
characterized in that the controller (<NUM>) is configured such that:
in a state in which a clean air delivery rate (CADR) of the electronic apparatus reaches a reference value, when the blowing fan (<NUM>) is operated, the controller (<NUM>) is configured to stop the blowing fan (<NUM>),
when the blowing fan (<NUM>) is stopped by the controller (<NUM>), the controller (<NUM>) is configured to operate the light emitting module (<NUM>) for a predetermined period of time so that ultraviolet light output from the plurality of light emitting portions (<NUM>) is irradiated to the photocatalytic filter (<NUM>) to recover a deodorizing performance of the photocatalytic filter (<NUM>).