Air purifying device and function module used therein

Abstract

An air purifying device includes a main body including: at least one filter unit including a filter, a blower unit including a blower, a main controller configured to control operation of the blower unit, a power supply configured to supply power to the main controller, and an output terminal configured to output power received from the power supply to outside, and at least one function module detachably assembled onto the main body and including a function unit including circuitry configured to perform a function of assisting the main body or a function different from a function of the main body, an auxiliary controller configured to control operation of the function unit, a connection terminal electrically connectable to the output terminal, and a second power supply configured to receive power separate from the power supplied to the power supply.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air purifying device comprising:
 a main body comprising at least one filter unit including a filter, a blower unit including a blower configured to induce air flow to pass through the at least one filter unit, a main controller comprising circuitry configured to control operation of the blower unit, a power supply configured to supply power to the main controller, and an output terminal configured to output power received from the power supply to outside; and   at least one function module detachably assembled onto the main body and comprising a function unit comprising circuitry configured to perform a function of assisting the main body or a function different from a function of the main body, an auxiliary controller comprising circuitry configured to control operation of the function unit, a connection terminal electrically connectable to the output terminal, and a second power supply configured to receive power separate from the power supplied to the power supply.   
     
     
         2 . The air purifying device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one function module further comprises a switch configured to selectively receive power from one of the connection terminal and the second power supply. 
     
     
         3 . The air purifying device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the second power supply comprises   a power adapter removably arranged to supply power to the at least one function module, and   an input terminal electrically connectable to the power adapter, wherein   the switch is configured to:   electrically connect the input terminal and the auxiliary controller to each other based on the power adapter being connected to the input terminal, and   electrically connect the connection terminal and the auxiliary controller to each other based on the power adapter being separated from the input terminal.   
     
     
         4 . The air purifying device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the main body further comprises a module detection sensor configured to detect the at least one function module, and   the main controller is configured to control operation of the main body, based on information detected by the module detection sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The air purifying device of  claim 4 , wherein the main controller is configured to selectively supply power to the output terminal, based on the information detected by the module detection sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The air purifying device of  claim 4 , wherein
 the module detection sensor is configured to detect a type of the at least one function module assembled onto the main body, and   the main controller is configured to control the operation of the blower unit differently based on the detected type of the at least one function module.   
     
     
         7 . The air purifying device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one function module comprises at least one of a blower module including a blower configured to perform a blowing function, a humidifying module including a humidifier configured to perform a humidifying function, or a charging module including charging circuitry configured to perform a charging function. 
     
     
         8 . The air purifying device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the main body and the at least one function module are assembled to overlap in an upward and downward direction, and   the connection terminal is arranged at an edge portion of an end of the at least one function module facing the main body.   
     
     
         9 . The air purifying device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the main body comprises a first connection unit including a connector provided to face the at least one function module,   the at least one function module comprises a second connection unit including a connector provided to face the first connection unit and be detachably fixed to the first connection unit, and   the first connection unit and the second connection unit are configured to be detachably fixed to each other using at least one of a push latch type or a lever lock type.   
     
     
         10 . The air purifying device of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply and the second power supply are configured to receive alternating current power. 
     
     
         11 . A function module comprising circuitry and configured to aid an air purifying device, the function module being detachably assembled onto a main body of the air purifying device and comprising:
 a function unit comprising circuitry configured to perform a function of assisting the main body or a function different from a function of the main body;   a connection terminal electrically connectable to an output terminal configured to output power from the main body to outside; and   a second power supply configured to receive power separate from the power supplied to a power supply of the main body.   
     
     
         12 . The function module of  claim 11 , further comprising a switch configured to selectively receive power from one of the connection terminal and the second power supply. 
     
     
         13 . The function module of  claim 11 , wherein the function module comprises at least one of a blower module including a blower configured to perform a blowing function, a humidifying module including a humidifier configured to perform a humidifying function, or a charging module including charging circuitry configured to perform a charging function. 
     
     
         14 . The function module of  claim 11 , wherein
 the main body and the function module are assembled to overlap in an upward and downward direction, and   the connection terminal is arranged at an edge portion of an end of the function module facing the main body.   
     
     
         15 . The function module of  claim 11 , wherein the second power supply is configured to receive alternating current power.