IP Library Granted Patent US 12,663,353
Granted Patent B2
US 12,663,353 · App. 17/757,358 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

System for measuring contamination of an air condition

Inventors: Alfons Urban (Bad Heilbrunn, DE); Sabine Riha (Gmund am Tegernsee, DE)
Assignee: TUNAP GMBH & CO. KG
G01N15/0656B60H1/008B60H3/0092G01N27/125G01N2015/0046
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,663,353
App. No.
17/757,358
Filed
Jun 14, 2022
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2855
USPC
73/31.02
Abstract

There is described a system for analyzing an air condition. The system comprises a detection unit configured for detecting of detection signals indicative of a bacteria-related contamination of an evaporator and/or an air filter of the air condition, an analyzing unit configured for analyzing of a level of contamination of the evaporator and/or the air filter based on the detection signals, and an output unit configured for outputting the analyzed level of contamination of the evaporator and/or the air filter to a user.

Claims (38)

1 . A system for analyzing an air conditioner, the system comprising:

a detection unit configured for detecting of detection signals indicative of a bacteria-related contamination with a contaminant of an evaporator and/or the air filter of the air conditioner,

wherein the detection unit comprises a contamination sensor for measuring a concentration of volatile organic compounds in the exhausted air of the air conditioner,

wherein the concentration of volatile organic compounds is indicative of the level of the bacteria-related contaminant,

wherein the detection unit is further configured to detect operating conditions of the air conditioner,

an analyzing unit configured for analyzing of a level of bacteria-related contamination of the evaporator and/or an air filter based on the detection signals, and by conducting a comparison with the detected operating conditions and predefined operating data of the air conditioner; and

an output unit configured for outputting the analyzed level of bacteria-related contamination with the contaminant of the evaporator and/or the air filter to a user.

2 . The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the analyzing unit is configured to generate a decontamination signal if the analyzed level of the contaminant exceeds a predetermined level of the contaminant,

wherein the output unit is configured for outputting the decontamination signal.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , further comprising

a decontamination unit,

wherein the decontamination unit is coupleable to the evaporator for decontaminating the evaporator and/or the air filter based on the decontamination signal.

4 . The system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the decontamination unit comprises a chemical exhaust nozzle for ejecting chemical decontamination fluid to the evaporator and/or the air filter.

5 . The system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the decontamination unit comprises a heating element coupleable to the evaporator and/or the air filter for heating up the evaporator and/or the air filter in order to reduce the level of contaminant.

6 . The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detection unit is coupleable to an exhaust air channel of the conditioner for measuring the level of contaminant.

7 . The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the contamination sensor is configured for measuring a concentration of volatile organic compounds of at least 8 ppb in the exhausted air.

8 . The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detection unit comprises an air flow sensor for detecting a flow of exhaust air of the air conditioner.

9 . The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detection unit, the analyzing unit and/or the output unit are coupled wire connected or wireless connected for transmitting data.

10 . The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the output unit is a handheld device.

11 . The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the air conditioner is an air conditioner of a vehicle,

wherein the analyzing unit is a control unit of the vehicle.

12 . A method of analyzing an air condition of the system for analyzing an air conditioner of claim 1 , the method comprising:

detecting of detection signals indicative of a contamination with a contaminant of an evaporator and/or an air filter of the air conditioner,

analyzing of a level of the contamination with the contaminant of the evaporator and/or the air filter based on the detection signals, and

outputting the analyzed level of contamination with the contaminant of the evaporator and/or the air filter to a user.

13 . The method according to claim 12 ,

generating a decontamination signal if the analyzed level of the contaminant exceeds a predetermined level of the contamination,

decontaminating the evaporator and/or the air filter based on the decontamination signal,

analyzing the level of contamination with the contaminant after decontaminating the evaporator and/or the air filter if the analyzed level of the contamination with the contaminant falls below a predetermined level of the contamination with the contaminant.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2022
From: URBAN, ALFONS; RIHA, SABINE
To: TUNAP GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 060485/0910 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 19217588 · Dec 18, 2019 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230033369A1 · Feb 2, 2023
References Cited (46)
US 10758948B1 · Harris · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20020193064A1 · Michalakos · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20050124286A1 · Goldsmith · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20120111190A1 · Dariavach et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20160061747A1 · Lee et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160097311A1 · Coelho Ferreira · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180236121A1 · Worrilow · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200179857A1 · Delin · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CN 204575135U · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 106739979A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 206217577U · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 207407489U · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 19957364B4 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
DE 102004060101B4 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
DE 102006033528B3 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
DE 10210003966B3 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
DE 102017207872A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 102011076513B4 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 1602924A2 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
ES 2093550A1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
JP H02068216A · 1990 [cited by applicant]
JP 2000179910A · 2000 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001171338A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002263449 · 2002 [cited by examiner]
JP 2003130419 · 2003 [cited by examiner]
JP 2004301423A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005180830A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 201221829A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017137010A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018004351A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 201966141A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019517917A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 6587783B1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
KR 20020058108A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020040016300A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
KR 200400958Y1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020140068615A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2014084604A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018206354A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
Chinese Office action for Application No. 202080087954.4, dated Mar. 29, 2024, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report of PCT/EP2020/079771, Jan. 12, 2021, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion of International Searching Authority of PCT/EP2020/079771, Jan. 12, 2021, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report of EP 19217588.3, Jul. 1, 2020, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
European Office action for Application No. 19217588.3, dated Mar. 9, 2023, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office action for Application No. 2022-533654, dated Jan. 16, 2024, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office action and Search Report for Application No. 2022-533654, dated Jul. 18, 2023, 24 pages. [cited by applicant]