Systems and methods that utilize both UVA and UVC lamps to clean and disinfect a cabin filter of a vehicle, thereby preventing the cabin filter from becoming fouled for an extended period of time. By performing both gas filtration and cabin filter disinfection functions, these systems and methods mitigate: (1) the pressure drop (or flow reduction) experienced; (2) the smell breakthrough when the gas adsorbent becomes saturated; and (3) the presence of microbial growth. This is accomplished by the sequential application of UVC and UVA radiation to the cabin filter, with the UVC radiation being applied for a period of time upon vehicle startup to neutralize bacteria and fungus present in the cabin filter and the UVA radiation subsequently being applied continuously to filter the gas flowing through the cabin filter. A photocatalyst may be added to the cabin filter itself to enhance disinfection and gas filtration.

The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner, and more particularly, to a vehicle air conditioner having a photocatalyst module, which provides an optimal design location or a mounting structure in which the photocatalyst module is mounted on an upper surface of a duct, the upper surface of the duct has a predetermined inclination with respect to a floor surface, and the photocatalyst module is mounted on a left/right independent air conditioner.

A method of protecting an occupant of a vehicle an interior, an exterior and a portal through which air passes. The method includes monitoring quality and pressure of air on the interior and exterior of the vehicle. It is determined if air on the interior or the exterior has lower contaminants. Air pressure is adjusted on the interior to create a pressure differential between pressure of air on interior and pressure of air on the exterior to determine direction of movement of air through the portal.

A photocatalyst device including: a body; a light source part fixed to the body to irradiate ultraviolet light and having an LED and a substrate for fixing the LED thereto; a catalyst part fixed to the body to conduct photocatalytic reaction with the light irradiated by the light source part and thus to generate superoxygen radicals; and a heat radiating part disposed on the light source part to radiate the heat generated from the light source part, whereby the photocatalyst device purifies air and sterilizes and deodorizes the evaporator, while being easily mountable as a single module.

A photocatalyst filtration system for a vehicle includes a housing having an airflow path, and a filter configured to filter air flowing in the airflow path, the filter having a first photocatalyst and a second photocatalyst. The system further includes a first ultraviolet (UV) light source disposed proximate the filter and configured to energize the first photocatalyst, and a second UV light source disposed proximate the filter and configured to produce light having a shorter wavelength than light produced by the first UV light source, and configured to energize the second photocatalyst. One of the first photocatalyst or the second photocatalyst is configured to remove odor from the air. The other of the first photocatalyst or the second photocatalyst is configured to remove bacteria from the air.

The present invention relates to a photocatalytic device and a vehicle air conditioner including the same and, more specifically, to a photocatalytic device and a vehicle air conditioner including the same, and compared with a conventional photocatalytic device, the photocatalytic device readily protects, from external contaminants, electronic elements of a substrate at which a light source for emitting ultraviolet light is provided, and increases structural stability by changing a method for connecting the substrate and a connector with each other.

The present invention relates to a photocatalytic module for an automobile air conditioner and an automobile air conditioner having the same and, more particularly, to a photocatalytic module capable of eliminating various germs resulting from dew formed on an evaporator installed in an automobile air conditioner and corresponding bad smell, and an air conditioner having the same. The photocatalytic module includes a duct fixation frame 54 adjacent to an inner wall of the duct 10; a filter fixation frame 55 having one end connected to the duct fixation frame, the filter fixation frame 55 fixing the photocatalytic filter 52; a photocatalytic filter 52 fixed by the fixation frame 55, being formed by applying a photocatalytic material onto a supporter having a shape of a plurality of cells neighboring each other and provided with a plurality of airflow paths; and a substrate 58 fixed to the duct fixation frame 54 and equipped with an ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diode (LED) 59 for radiating ultraviolet light toward the photocatalytic filter 52. The present provides an air conditioner having the photocatalytic module installed therein and an LED disposed upstream of the photocatalytic filter on the flow path of the duct.

This publication discloses an electrostatic filter construction, to be positioned in air ducts or ventilation channels, which electrostatic filter construction includes a charging unit, which charges the particles to be filtered into a first electric potential and arranged in the filter construction in the path of the air flow before filter elements, electrically conducting electrodes connected to a second electric potential different to the potential of the charged particles and set substantially parallel to the direction of the airflow, and bag shaped filter elements positioned after the charging unit in the path of the air flow. According to the invention each bag shaped filter element has at least one designated UV-light source and an element of photo catalytic material like TiO.sub.2.

This publication discloses a filter unit connectable to a mobile communication device including a fan for generating an air flow inside the filter unit, electrodes covered with a photo catalytic material like TiO.sub.2 in the air flow, UV-LEDs illuminating the electrodes, and outlet for the air flow directed in direction of user of filter unit.

Methods and systems described perform air cleaning and/or sanitization in a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and/or refrigeration (HVACR) system by detecting a concentration of airborne contaminants in a space serviced by the HVACR system. The detected concentration of airborne contaminants is determined whether it exceeds a threshold relative to a capacity of a first air cleaner. When the detected concentration of airborne contaminants exceeds the threshold, a second air cleaner is selected and enabled to be activated in the space. When the detected concentration of airborne contaminants does not exceed the threshold, the first air cleaner is selected and enabled to be activated in the space. The first air cleaner has a cleaning material different from the second air cleaner, and the first air cleaner, relative to the second air cleaner, treats the space at a lower concentration of airborne contaminants. The second air cleaner includes specifically designed cleaner modules.