Portable apparatus for estimating air quality and methods of operating the same

Abstract

A portable apparatus for estimating air quality is provided. The portable apparatus includes a light source unit suitable for emitting incident light having a predetermined wavelength toward air to generate scattered light which is reflected by particles in the air, a light detection unit suitable for collecting information on the scattered light, and an arithmetic unit suitable for analyzing the information on the scattered light which is collected by the light detection unit. The arithmetic unit generates information on a size and a concentration of the particles in the air. Related methods are also provided.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A portable apparatus for estimating air quality, the portable apparatus comprising:
 a first body including:
 a light source unit including a light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit a light of a predetermined wavelength toward a target space and cause the emitted light to be scattered by particles in an air, thereby generating a scattered light, and 
 a light detection unit disposed at a first side of the light source unit and configured to detect the scattered light; and 
   a second body detachably combinable with the first body and including:
 a control unit in communication with the light source unit and the light detection unit and configured to control the light source unit to adjust a timing at which the light of the predetermined wavelength is emitted toward the target space and to control the light detection unit to detect the scattered light in synchronization with the timing of the light source unit, and 
 an arithmetic unit in communication with the control unit to receive data detected by the light detection unit and configured to provide air quality information based on the received data. 
   
     
     
         19 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the light detection unit is structured to detect light using different modes including a static light scattering mode and a dynamic light scattering mode. 
     
     
         20 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the second body is installed in a portable terminal device including one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a wireless phone, a mobile phone and a smart phone. 
     
     
         21 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first body further includes:
 an air inlet disposed on a first surface of the first body and configured to introduce the air into the first body; and   a detection conduit disposed to receive the introduced air from the air inlet and configured to provide the target space in the detection conduit.   
     
     
         22 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the light source unit and the light detection unit are arranged on opposite sides of the first body. 
     
     
         23 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined wavelength of the emitted light is between 300 nm and 400 nm. 
     
     
         24 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the LED provides rays having a monochromic wavelength that has a single wavelength within a range of a full width at half maximum (FWHM). 
     
     
         25 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the LED emits UV rays, visible rays, IR rays, or multiple wavelengths. 
     
     
         26 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the particles in the air include a given particle having a size that is equal to or less than the predetermined wavelength. 
     
     
         27 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising an air outlet disposed on a second surface of the first body and configured to discharge the air from the body portion to an outside of the portable apparatus. 
     
     
         28 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the light detection unit provides the control unit with information about properties of the particles including sizes and concentrations of the particles in the air. 
     
     
         29 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a display configured to display air quality information provided by the arithmetic unit. 
     
     
         30 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a communication unit in communication with the arithmetic unit and configured to transmit air quality information provided by the arithmetic unit to another device. 
     
     
         31 . The portable apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising an additional light detection unit disposed at a second side of the light source unit that is opposite to the first side and configured to detect the scattered light. 
     
     
         32 . A portable apparatus for estimating air quality, the portable apparatus comprising:
 an air inlet disposed on a first surface of a body portion of the portable apparatus and configured to introduce an air into the body portion of the portable apparatus;   a detection conduit disposed to receive the introduced air from the air inlet and configured to provide a target space for the air;   a light source unit disposed at a first side of the detection conduit and including a light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit a light of a predetermined wavelength toward the target space, causing the light to be scattered by particles in the air in the target space, thereby generating a scattered light; and   a light detection unit disposed at a second side of the detection conduit that is opposite to the first side and configured to detect the scattered light,   wherein the light source unit and the light detection unit are in communication with an external device such that the portable apparatus transmits data detected by the light detection unit to the external device for the external device to provide air quality information based on the transmitted data.   
     
     
         33 . The portable apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the external device includes one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a wireless phone, a mobile phone and a smart phone. 
     
     
         34 . The portable apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the light detection unit is structured to detect light using different modes including a static light scattering mode and a dynamic light scattering mode. 
     
     
         35 . The portable apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the LED emits UV rays, visible rays, IR rays, or multiple wavelengths. 
     
     
         36 . The portable apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the light source unit and the light detection unit are arranged on opposite sides of the body portion. 
     
     
         37 . The portable apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the predetermined wavelength of the emitted light is between 300 nm and 400 nm.