Patent ID: 12215700

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 members. 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 members have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to;” it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, an embodiment of the present application provides a fan100, which can be used to output a steady airflow even when a distance between the fan100and a target object changes. The fan100includes a fan body10and an airflow adjusting module20connected on the fan body10. The fan body10may be used to output an airflow, while the airflow adjusting module20can adjust the speed of the airflow output by the fan body10based on the distance between the target object and the fan body10. The target object may be a person. In other embodiments, the target object may also be a pet, a plant, or any specific entity or item based on user's needs or preferences.

The fan body10includes a base11, a supporting column12, a first driving member13, and a fan blade assembly14. An end of the supporting column12is connected to the base11along a vertical direction A. The first driving member13is connected to another end of the supporting column12away from the base11. The fan blade assembly14is connected to the first driving member13. The airflow adjusting module20is connected to the fan blade assembly14. The first driving member13drives the fan blade assembly14to rotate, thereby generating the airflow.

Referring toFIGS.1,2,3, and4, the airflow adjusting module20includes a fixing hood21, a variable hood22, a first sensor23, and a controller24. The first sensor23is disposed on the base11and electrically connected to the controller24. The controller24is electrically connected to the variable hood22. The variable hood22is mounted around a periphery of the fixing hood21to form a receiving space25. The fan blade assembly14is rotatably housed in the receiving space25. The first sensor23is used to sense the distance between the target object and the fan body10. The variable hood22defines a variable opening220. The controller24adjusts a size of the variable opening220based on the distance, thereby controlling the airflow speed. In at least one embodiment, the variable hood22is a variable nozzle, the first sensor23is a Time-Of-Flight camera, and the controller24is a Programmable Logic Controller.

In use, the fan blade assembly14rotates by a constant speed. When the first sensor23senses that the distance between the target object and the fan body10increases, the controller24sends a first command to the variable hood22to decrease the size of the variable opening220. The variable hood22receives this first command and reduces the size of the variable opening220, thereby increasing the airflow speed through the variable opening220. This allows the target object at an increased distance from the fan body10to feel a constant airflow. Conversely, when the first sensor23senses that the distance between the target object and the fan body10decreases, the controller24sends a second command to the variable hood22to increase the size of the variable opening220. The variable hood22receives this second command and increases the size of the variable opening220, thereby reducing the airflow speed through the variable opening220. This allows the target object at a decreased distance from the fan body10to feel a constant airflow. The airflow speed is defined as the volume of airflow passing through the variable opening220per unit time.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, in this embodiment, the base11is roughly rectangular. The base11includes a bottom plate111, a top plate112, and a plurality of connecting plates113. The plurality of connecting plates113is connected between the bottom plate111and the top plate112. A junction area115between the top plate112and one of the plurality of connecting plates113is recessed to form a groove114. The first sensor23is exposed from the groove114.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, in this embodiment, the fan blade assembly14includes a fan seat141and a plurality of fan blades142. The fan seat141is roughly cylindrical. The plurality of fan blades142are spaced apart from each other along an outer edge of the fan seat141. A central region of the fan seat141is connected to the first driving member13. The first driving member13drives the fan seat141and the plurality of fan blades142to rotate, thereby generate the airflow. In this embodiment, the number of fan blades142is five.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, in this embodiment, the fixing hood21is roughly disk-shaped. The fixing hood21includes a frame211and a plurality of ribs212. Each of the ribs212extends along a radial direction of the frame211, and is connected to the inner side of the frame211. One end of the ribs212away from the frame211is connected to the first driving member13. The fixing hood21is used to prevent dust from entering the receiving space25to maintain cleanliness and to prevent children or pets from accidentally touching the rotating fan blades142. In other embodiments, the shape and size of the fixing hood21may vary to adapt to different types of electric fans. For example, in other embodiments, the fixing hood21may fully enclosed to cover the entire fan blade assembly14, or only cover the upper or lower part of the fan blade assembly14.

In this embodiment, the variable hood22includes a mounting ring221, a plurality of first blades222, a plurality of second blades223, and a plurality of second driving members224. The mounting ring221defines a central axis P. One end of the first blade222is rotatably connected to a side of the mounting ring221, and making the other end of the first blade222is close to or away from the central axis P. One end of the second blade223is fixedly connected to the mounting ring221. The second blades223are alternately arranged with the first blades222, and each first blades222and the adjacent second blades223partially overlap with each other. In this way, the first blades222and the second blades223together form the variable opening220. The second driving member224is connected to each first blade222and drives the first blades222to rotate. The controller24is electrically connected to the second driving member224. In at least one embodiment, the second driving member224is a stepper motor.

In use, when the controller24controls the second driving member224to push the first blades222toward the central axis P, an overlapping portion between each first blade222and the adjacent second blade223increases, thereby reducing the size of the variable opening220as shown inFIG.3. When the controller24controls the second driving member224to push the first blades222away from the central axis P, the overlapping portion between each first blade222and the adjacent second blades223decreases, thereby increasing the size of the variable opening220as shown inFIG.4.

Referring toFIGS.3and4, in this embodiment, the variable hood22further includes a movable ring225and a plurality of connecting rods226. The movable ring225is roughly parallel to and spaced from the mounting ring221. Each of the connecting rods226is movably connected between the movable ring225and one first blade222. The second driving member224is connected to the movable ring225, thereby driving the movable ring225to rotate. As the movable ring225rotates, the movable ring225drives the first blades222to rotate towards or away from the central axis P. In other embodiments, the second driving member224may also drive the first blades222by hinges.

Referring toFIGS.1and2, in this embodiment, the first sensor23is a depth camera module. The first sensor23includes an emitter231, a receiver232, and an electronic control unit233. The emitter231and the receiver232are exposed in the groove114. The electronic control unit233is disposed inside the base11. The emitter231emits infrared laser towards the target object. The receiver232receives the infrared laser reflected by the target object. The electronic control unit233determines the distance based on the time difference between emitting and receiving the infrared laser. Specifically, the electronic control unit233consists of an input circuitry, a microcomputer, and an output circuitry. The input circuitry receives signals from the emitter231and the receiver232, filters and amplifies the signals, and then converts them into a certain voltage level. Both analog and digital signals are sent to the input circuitry of the electronic control unit233. The analog-to-digital converter can convert analog signals into digital signals, which are then processed by the microcomputer.

In this embodiment, the fan100also includes a second sensor30. The second sensor30is disposed on the base11and exposed from the groove114. The second sensor30is electrically connected to the controller24. The second sensor30determines whether the target object is a human, and the controller24adjusts the size of the variable opening220based on the determination results of the second sensor30. In at least one embodiment, the second sensor30is an infrared camera. When a human approaches the fan100, the human body emits infrared light. The infrared camera can capture this infrared light and determine whether the target object is a human based on the characteristics of the infrared light. For example, the infrared camera can detect information such as the heat distribution and motion trajectory of the human body to determine whether the target object is a human.

In this embodiment, the controller24adjusts the size of the variable opening220based on the determination results of the infrared camera. When the infrared camera determines that the target object is a human, the controller24can control the variable hood22to increase the size of the variable opening220, thereby providing cooling airflow for humans. Conversely, when the infrared camera determines that the target object is not a human (e.g., a pet or other object), the controller24can control the variable hood22to decrease the size of the variable opening220, thereby saving energy and reducing noise.

Referring toFIG.2, in this embodiment, the fan100also includes a steering component40. The first driving member13is rotatably connected the end of the supporting column12. The steering component40is used to control the first driving member13to rotate. The steering component40includes a third driving member41and a connecting member42. The third driving member41is fixed to the supporting column12, and the connecting member42is connected to the third driving member41and the first driving member13. The third driving member41is electrically connected to the controller24, and the second sensor30can also detect the orientation or location of the target object. In at least one embodiment, the third driving member41is a stepper motor, and the connecting member42is a gear set.

In use, when the second sensor30senses the orientation or location of the target object, the third driving member41drives the rotation of the first driving member13, causing the fan blade assembly14connected to the first driving member13to face the target object. In this way, an automatic tracking of the target object is achieved.

Even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present exemplary embodiments, to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.