# US 2021/0330853 A1 · Air purification apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330853 A1 - Document ID: US20210330853A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/238,594 - Filed: 2021-04-23 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-24 - Inventors: David Mizandari - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330853A1 ## CPC - A61L 9/20: Ultraviolet radiation - A62B 7/10: with filter elements - A62B 9/00: Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus (A62B19/00, A62B21/00, A62B23/00 take precedence) - A62B 9/02: Valves {(non-return valves mounted in breathing masks or helmets A62B18/10)} - A62B 17/04: Hoods - A62B 18/006: {with pumps for forced ventilation (A62B18/045 takes precedence)} - A62B 18/025: {Halfmasks (A62B23/02 takes precedence; surgical face masks A41D13/11)} - A62B 18/08: Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices (eye-pieces for protective goggles A61F9/02; composition of materials for the windows or other transparent parts A62D7/00) - A62B 23/02: for respirators - B01D 46/0028: {provided with antibacterial or antifungal means} - B01D 46/46: automatic - A61L 2209/111: Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors - A61L 2209/12: Lighting means - A61L 2209/14: Filtering means - A62B 18/084: {Means for fastening gas-masks to heads or helmets} - B01D 2279/40: for cleaning of environmental air, e.g. by filters installed on vehicles or on streets - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract Disclosed is an air purification apparatus comprising an air inlet and an air outlet; an air passage in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet comprising a filtration section comprising a HEPA filter; and an ultraviolet (UV) light treatment section, wherein air in the filtration section and the UV light treatment section are treated with UV light. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air-purification apparatus comprising an air inlet and an air outlet; an air passage in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet comprising a filtration section comprising a HEPA filter wherein the HEPA filter is treated with UV light while air passes through it; and an ultraviolet (UV) light treatment section wherein filtered air from the filtration section is treated with UV light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air inlet comprises a filter cap comprising a plurality of air inlet holes on the lower portion of the rim of the filter cap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the filter cap comprises polished aluminum to reflect UV light toward the front face of the HEPA filter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The air-purification apparatus of claim 3 wherein the HEPA filter further comprises a hydrophobic layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the air passage in the UV light treatment section is coated with silver ions or polished aluminum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air passage in the UV light treatment section comprises a spiral pathway. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air passage comprises at least two bends comprising angles of at least 90 degrees wherein the UV light treats the air in the portion of the air passage between the at least two bends. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the UV light is UV-C light with wavelengths in a range of 254 nm to 300 nm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 further comprises an exhalation valve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 further comprises a filter to filter and treat exhaled air. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises an impeller disposed in the UV filter section to move air through the air passage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the air outlet comprises a fitting to attach the apparatus to an article of personal protective equipment or a medical treatment device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The air-purification apparatus of claim 12 wherein the article of personal protective equipment comprises a respirator mask, hood or shield. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The air-purification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a controller configured to autonomously control airflow through the apparatus by adjusting impeller rotational speed. ### Claim 15 An air purification device, comprising an air inlet and an air outlet; an internal air passage in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet; an impeller in the internal air passage; a sensor to measure rotational speed of the impeller; a computer instantiated controller; and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of computer readable instructions embodied thereon which, when executed by the controller, causes the controller to: receive a plurality of measurements from the sensor, the measurements providing information about impeller rotational speed in the air passage during respiration of a user of the air purification device; average the values obtained from a plurality of measurements obtained during user inhalations and average the values obtained from a plurality of measurements obtained during user exhalations; determine the difference between the average rotational speed value obtained during inhalations and the average rotational speed value obtained during exhalations; compare the difference between the average rotational speed value obtained during inhalations and the average rotational speed value obtained during exhalations with an empirically determined dimensionless factor; and provide instructions to an actuator coupled to the impeller to decrease or increase power supplied to the impeller to decrease or increase impeller rotation speed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The air purification device of claim 15 further comprising a power consumption sensor coupled to the actuator of the impeller, wherein the controller is configured to: receive a plurality of measurements from the power consumption sensor, the measurements providing information about power consumption during respiration of a user of the air purification device; analyze the power consumption information provided by the plurality of measurements; compare impeller rotational speed to power average values using pulse width modulation (PWM); modify the user-dependent respiration use factor to optimize power consumption; and provide instructions to the actuator coupled to the impeller to decrease or increase power supplied to the impeller to decrease or increase impeller rotation speed in discrete segments. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of computer readable instructions embodied thereon which, when executed by a controller of an air purification device comprising an air inlet and an air outlet; an internal air passage in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet; an impeller in the internal air passage; and a sensor to measure rotational speed of the impeller; wherein the plurality of computer readable instructions causes the controller to: receive a plurality of measurements from the sensor, the measurements providing information about impeller rotational speed in the air passage during respiration of a user of the air purification device; average the values obtained from a plurality of measurements obtained during user inhalations and average the values obtained from a plurality of measurements obtained during user exhalations; determine the difference between the average rotational speed value obtained during inhalations and the average rotational speed value obtained during exhalations; compare the difference between the average rotational speed value obtained during inhalations and the average rotational speed value obtained during exhalations with an empirically determined dimensionless factor; and provide instructions to an actuator coupled to the impeller to decrease or increase power supplied to the impeller to decrease or increase impeller rotation speed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein the air purification device further comprises a power consumption sensor coupled to the actuator of the impeller, wherein the plurality of computer readable instructions further cause the controller to: receive a plurality of measurements from the power consumption sensor, the measurements providing information about power consumption during respiration of a user of the air purification device; analyze the power consumption information provided by the plurality of measurements; compare impeller rotational speed to power average values using pulse width modulation (PWM); modify the user-dependent respiration use factor to optimize power consumption; and provide instructions to the actuator coupled to the impeller to decrease or increase power supplied to the impeller to decrease or increase impeller rotation speed in discrete segments. ### Claim 19 A method for controlling air flow through an air purification device comprising an air inlet and an air outlet; an air passage in fluid communication with the air inlet and the air outlet; an impeller in the internal air passage; and a sensor to measure rotational speed of the impeller; the method comprising the controller: receiving a plurality of measurements from the sensor, the measurements providing information about impeller rotational speed in the air passage during respiration of a user of the air purification device; averaging the values obtained from a plurality of measurements obtained during user inhalations and average the values obtained from a plurality of measurements obtained during user exhalations; determining the difference between the average rotational speed value obtained during inhalations and the average rotational speed value obtained during exhalations; compare the difference between the average rotational speed value obtained during inhalations and the average rotational speed value obtained during exhalations with an empirically determined dimensionless factor; and providing instructions to an actuator coupled to the impeller to decrease or increase power supplied to the impeller to decrease or increase impeller rotation speed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the air purification device further comprises a power consumption sensor coupled to the actuator of the impeller, wherein the method further comprises the controller: receiving a plurality of measurements from the power consumption sensor, the measurements providing information about power consumption during respiration of a user of the air purification device; analyzing the power consumption information provided by the plurality of measurements; comparing impeller rotational speed to power average values using pulse width modulation (PWM); modifying the user-dependent respiration use factor to optimize power consumption; and providing instructions to the actuator coupled to the impeller to decrease or increase power supplied to the impeller to decrease or increase impeller rotation speed in discrete segments.