FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicle systems for passenger comfort, and more particularly, air handling systems on a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Airplanes use partially recycled air within the passenger cabin in order to reduce fuel consumption used for pressurizing outside air during flight to provide suitable cabin air. The recycled air can transport many types of contaminates including bacteria and viruses between passengers. There is a tremendous need for innovation that will provide a healthier travel environment within airplane cabins.

SUMMARY

[0003] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing virus filtered and/or ("/") sterilized airflows to individual passenger seats. The virus filtered and/or sterilized airflows are also referred to as "sterilized airflows" for brevity.

The sterilized airflows can be adapted to create substantially virus-reduced air regions surrounding passengers heads while seated, which would thereby protect the passengers from contaminates exhaled by other passengers. By providing virus filtered/sterilized airflows to individual passenger seats, greater recycling of cabin air can occur which decreases the mass flow rate outside air is pressurized for cabin use and decreases fuel consumption during flight.

[0004] In some embodiments, a directed airflow assembly includes a virus filter/sterilization chamber, an air return duct, and an air supply duct. The virus filter/sterilization chamber includes a cleaning device configured to receive return cabin air through an input duct, to sterilize the return cabin air, and to provide the sterilized air through an output duct. The air return duct extends from air return vents in a seat surface of each of a plurality of passenger seats in a vehicle through a cabin of the vehicle to the input duct of the virus filter/sterilization chamber. The air supply duct extends from the output duct of the virus filter/sterilization chamber through the cabin to the vehicle to air supply vents located to direct sterilized air toward each of the passenger seats.

[0005] Other directed airflow assemblies according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional directed airflow assemblies be included within this description, be within the scope of the present inventive subject matter, and be protected by the accompanying claims. Moreover, it is intended that all embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented separately or combined in any way and/or combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in a constitute a part of this application, illustrate certain non-limiting embodiments of inventive concepts. In the drawings:

[0007] Figure 1 illustrates a top view of an aircraft cabin with a directed airflow assembly configured according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0008] Figure 2A-C illustrate a side view of two rows of passenger seats with an aircraft cabin according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0009] Figure 2D illustrates a back view of passenger seats with an air return duct configured according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0010] Figures 3A-C illustrates a top angled view of a passenger seat with air return vents configured according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0011] Figure 4 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a virus filter/sterilization chamber configured according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 5A illustrates a top view of another embodiment of a virus filter/sterilization chamber configured according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0013] Figure 5B illustrates a side cutout view of the virus filter/sterilization chamber of Figure 5A according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0014] Figure 5C illustrates a top view of a virus filter/sterilization chamber according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and [0015] Figure 6 illustrates a top view of a virus filter/sterilization chamber according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Inventive concepts will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which examples of embodiments of inventive concepts are shown. Inventive concepts may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of various present inventive concepts to those skilled in the art. It should also be noted that these embodiments are not mutually exclusive. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present or used in another embodiment.

[0017] Although various embodiments of the present invention are explained herein in the context of an airplane environment, other embodiments of directed airflow assemblies and related components are not limited thereto and may be used in other environments, including other vehicles such as ships, submarines, buses, trains, commercial/military transport aircraft, and automobiles, as well as buildings such as conference centers, sports arenas, hotels, homes, etc. Accordingly, in some embodiments users are referred to, in a non-limiting way, as passengers. Passengers may include people who buy tickets, crew members, and/or other representatives of the vehicle operators, including without limitation, employees and representatives of airline, train, automobile, cruise ship, and bus operators.

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates a top view of an aircraft cabin 1 with a directed airflow assembly configured according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The aircraft cabin 1 includes a plurality of passenger seats (e.g., first passenger seat 200A, second passenger seat 200B, and third passenger seat 200C) and a directed airflow assembly.

[0019] In the illustrated example, the directed airflow assembly includes a virus filter/sterilization chamber 100, air return ducts 40, and air supply ducts 10. The virus filter/sterilization chamber 100 includes a virus filtering and/or sterilization device configured to receive return cabin air through an input duct, to sterilize the return cabin air, and to provide the virus filtered/sterilized air through an output duct. The return cabin air is air within the cabin 1 and may be a mixture of virus filtered/sterilized air and unfiltered/unsterilized air. The virus filter/sterilization chamber and the virus filtering and/or sterilization device are described further with reference to Figures 4-6 below.

[0020] The air return ducts 40 extends from air return vents in a seat surface of each of the plurality of passenger seats in the aircraft through the cabin 1 of the aircraft to the input duct of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 100. The air return vents are configured to allow cabin air to be sucked therethrough into the air return ducts, where the air is directed to the input duct of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 100.

[0021] In some embodiments, one of the air return ducts 40 extends along a row of the passenger seats (e.g., the row made up of the first passenger seat 200A, second passenger seat 200B, and third passenger seat 200C) and connects to a plurality of the air return vents located in the seat surfaces of those passenger seats in the row. For example, the first passenger seat 200A, second passenger seat 200B, and third passenger seat 200C each have an air return vent in a seat surface of each of the passenger seats and the air return duct 40 is connected to the air return vents of each seat. The air return duct 40 then directs the return cabin air received through the connected air return vents, along the aircraft cabin 1 to the input duct of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 100 that may be located in the back of the aircraft cabin 1.

[0022] In another example, the first passenger seat 200A, second passenger seat 200B, and third passenger seat 200C each have an air return vent in a seat surface of each of the passenger seats and the air return duct 40 is connected to the air return vents of each seat. The air return duct 40 then directs the return cabin air, that come into the air return vents, to the end of the row of the passenger seats and into the input duct of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 100 that may be located at the end of the row of passenger seats in the aircraft cabin 1.

[0023] It should be understood that while only one virus filter/sterilization chamber is depicted in Figure 1, more than one virus filter/sterilization chamber may be used herein. For example, there may be a virus filter/sterilization chamber configured to sterilize air for the aircraft cabin 1, for a passenger seat in the aircraft cabin 1, for a row of passenger seats in the aircraft cabin 1, for a column of passenger seats in the aircraft cabin 1, and/or for another associated grouping of passenger seats in the aircraft cabin 1. The virus filter/sterilization chamber may be located in a galley, an overhead storage area, a cargo storage area, within a seat, underneath a seat, and/or at one or more other locations within an aircraft.

[0024] One or more air supply ducts 10 or branches thereof extend from the output duct of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 100 through the cabin 1 of the aircraft to air supply vents that may be located to separately direct virus filtered/sterilized air toward each of the passenger seats. For example, the air supply duct 10 is connected to the output duct of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 100 and may extend along the cabin 1 to provide virus filtered/sterilized air to each row, or each passenger seat, that is located within the cabin 1.

[0025] In some embodiments, the directed airflow assembly further includes a fan connected to the air return duct 40. The fan may be configured to pull in return cabin air through the air return vents at a rate that is equal to or greater than the rate that virus filtered/sterilized air is directed out of the air supply vents to reduce overpressure-based movement of air that is directed at, e.g., a headrest area of one seat toward the headrest area of another adjacent seat.

[0026] In some embodiments, the directed airflow assembly further includes another fan connected to the air supply duct 10. The other fan may be configured to push air out of the air supply vents at a rate that is equal to or less than the rate that the return cabin air is pulled in through the air return vents.

[0027] It should be understood that more than one fan may be used to pull in air through the air return vents or to push air out of the air supply vents. It should also be understood that a single fan may be configured to both pull in return cabin air through the air return vents and push virus filtered/sterilized air out of the air supply vents.

[0028] The air supply duct 10 and/or air return duct 40 may include at least one air filter within the ducts. The at least one air filter operates to trap particles (e.g., dirt, dust, etc.), fibers (e.g., hair, clothing fibers, etc.), and other objects/materials that may be floating in the air and is pulled in by the air return vents. [0029] In some embodiments, the at least one air filter is a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, a fiberglass filter, polyester and pleated filter, etc. In an instance where the at least one air filter is more than one filter, the filters may be a combination of different types of filters or a combination of the same type of filters, and which can be arranged in a layered stack or spaced apart along the airflow conduit. For example, when two filters are used, one may be a HEPA filter and another may be a fiberglass filter arranged to pre-filter airflow before it passes through the HEPA filter. In another example, when two filters are used, both filters may be HEPA filters. Additionally, the filter may be removable, replaceable, and/or washable.

[0030] Figure 2A-C illustrate a side view of two rows of passenger seats with an aircraft cabin with air supply vents directing virus filtered/sterilized air toward the passenger seats.

[0031] In Figure 2A, an air supply vent 12 is blowing virus filtered/sterilized air received from the virus filter/sterilization chamber 100 downward between a first passenger seat 200A and an immediately adjacent second passenger seat 200B. The air supply vent 12 may be located in a ceiling of the cabin and extend along the ceiling a distance at least half the length of an armrest and may be located to be aligned with the armrest of the second passenger seat 200B (e.g., the armrest between the first passenger seat 200A and the second passenger seat 200B) to create a downward moving curtain of virus filtered/sterilized air which may be primarily directed toward the armrest to function to substantially isolate the air being breathed by one passenger from the air being breathed by the adjacently seated passenger.

[0032] In Figure 2B, a plurality of air supply vents (e.g., air supply vents 12A-C) are each aligned with a different armrest of a row of the passenger seats or aligned with a headrest area of a row of the passenger seats (e.g., aligned with facial areas of respectfully seated passengers) to create a downward moving curtain of virus filtered/sterilized air that isolates adjacent passenger seat areas.

[0033] In the illustrated example, air supply vent 12A is aligned with the armrest between the first passenger seat 200A and second passenger seat 200B and air supply vent 12B is aligned with the armrest between the second passenger seat 200B and the third passenger seat 200C. Air supply vents 12A and 12B each create a downward moving curtain of virus filtered/sterilized air which isolates the second passenger seat 200B from the adjacent first/third passenger seat 200A/200C. A similar downward moving air curtain is created adjacent the third passenger seat 200C with air supply vent 12B and air supply vent 12C and may be created for the first passenger seat 200A with air supply vent 12A and air supply vent 16 (depicted in Figure 2C).

[0034] In some embodiments, each row has the same or similar air supply vents. For example, the row of passenger seats, in front of the row of passenger seats including the first/second/third passenger seats 200A/200B/200C, may have air supply vents 14A-C blowing air from the cabin ceiling above them and the air supply vents 14A-C may be the same or similar to air supply vents 12A-C respectively.

[0035] In some embodiments, air return vents 400A are in a seat surface of each of a plurality of passenger seats in the aircraft. The downward blown air from the air supply vents 12A-C is respectively collected by suction created in the air return vents 400A located on the passenger seats 200A/200B/200C (e.g., suction created by a return fan connected through ducts to the air return vents 400a).

[0036] In some embodiments, the air return vents are located on a seat surface of a side of the armrest. Since the air supply vents 12A-C are located to direct the virus filtered/sterilized air between the seats toward the armrest of the passenger seats 200A/200B/200C and the air return vents 400A are located on the side of the armrest, the locations of the air supply vents 12A-C and the air return vents 400A relative to each of the passenger seats 200A/200B/200C create higher-pressure air zones in between the passenger seats 200A/200B/200C and above the armrest of each of the passenger seats 200A/200B/200C and spaced apart lower pressure air zones near the air return vents 400A on each of the passenger seats 200A/200B/200C.

[0037] In some other embodiments, the air supply vents 12A-C are located to direct the virus filtered/sterilized air toward headrest areas of respective seats and the air return vents 400A which would flow along the face and then torso areas of seated passengers and then be collected by the air return vents 400A to the virus filter/sterilization chamber 100 and/or exhausted outside the aircraft.

[0038] Alternatively or additionally, there may be air return vents 400B on the cabin walls of the aircraft. These air return vents 400B may be located proximate to each of the plurality of passenger seats. For example, air return vents 400B may be located low on the cabin wall, a distance from the floor, and between each row of passenger seats.

[0039] These various embodiments reduce the likelihood of passengers breathing in air exhaled by other passengers which may be contaminated with viruses, etc. By an air supply vent directing air downward that isolates the passenger seat from adjacent passenger seats, the air that other passengers breathe out is deflected downward and collected by local air return vents. These directed airflows decrease the likelihood that passengers seated next to each other will breath in each other's exhaled air which is possibly contaminated with dangerous viruses.

[0040] These various embodiments may also increase the amount of recycled air that can be safely reused within the cabin of the aircraft. Increasing the amount of allowed recycled air reduces the fuel consumed to pressurize low-pressure ambient outside air during flight for use within the aircraft cabin.

[0041] In Figure 2C, a plurality of air supply vents 16 are each aligned with a different armrest of different ones of aisle passenger seats (e.g. first passenger seat 200A) to create a downward moving curtain of virus filtered/sterilized air that isolates the aisle passenger seats (e.g., first passenger seat 200A) from passengers traversing an aisle of the cabin.

[0042] The aisle of the cabin provides a passenger walkway path or gap between adjacent rows of seats in a vehicle (such as an aircraft). It should be understood that there may be any number of aisles in a cabin depending upon seat arrangements and passenger movement routes.

[0043] In some embodiments, each air supply vent 16 is aligned with the armrest that is closest to the aisle in the cabin. The virus filtered/sterilized air that is directed downward by the air supply vents 16 may be pulled in by the air return vents 400A (e.g., one or more fans located in the virus filter/sterilization chamber 100 and/or along the air return duct 40) that are located on a seat surface of the passenger seat (e.g., first passenger seat 200A).

[0044] These directed airflows decrease the likelihood of possibly virus contaminated air from the aisle reaching the passenger seated in the aisle row first passenger seat 200A, and vice-versa also decrease the likelihood of contaminated air from the passenger seated in the aisle row first passenger seat 200A reaching passengers traversing the aisle.

[0045] Figure 2D illustrates a back view of passenger seats with an air return duct 40 configured according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0046] In Figure 2D, air supply vents (e.g., air supply vents 12A-C of Figure 2B) are directing virus filtered/sterilized air 22A-22C downward towards passenger seats where the virus filtered/sterilized air 22A-C mixes with possibly virus contaminated air creating return cabin air. Air return vents may be located in a seat surface of the armrests 220A-C of the second/third passenger seats 200B/200C. The return cabin air is pulled into the air return vents and collects into the air return duct 40 where the return cabin air is directed into the cabin wall 44 and to an input duct of the virus filter/sterilization chamber.

[0047] It should be understood that while the air return duct 40 is connected to air return vents in a seat surface of the armrests, the air return duct 40 may be additionally, or alternatively, connected to air return vents in other seat surfaces of the passenger seats.

[0048] In some embodiments, the air return duct 40 extends along a row of the passenger seats and connects to a plurality of the air return vents located in the seat surfaces of the passenger seats in the row.

[0049] In some embodiments, the air return duct 40 includes a pipe that is part of a structural support frame of the row of the passenger seats or the support frame of one of the passenger seats. In other embodiments, the air return duct includes a pipe that is connected to and supported by the support frame of the passenger seats in a row or supported by the support frame of one of the passenger seats.

[0050] In some embodiments, the air return duct 40 extends to connect to air return vents located on passenger seats in a row so that the virus filter/sterilization chamber sterilizes the return cabin air from the row of the passenger seats. In this embodiment, there may be a virus filter/sterilization chamber that sterilizes the air for the specific row of passenger seats. In other embodiments, there may be one virus filter/sterilization chamber that sterilizes the return cabin air for all or a plurality of rows of passenger seats. [0051] Although downward directed airflows have been illustrated in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, it is to be understood that the airflows may be directed from the cabin seat (e.g., the illustrated air return vents in one or more of the Figures operating air supply vents and, correspondingly, the illustrated air supply vents operating as air return vents). Moreover, although various embodiments are illustrated and described as being directed to virus filtered/sterilized airflows being outputting through air supply vents arranged relative to seats to create isolation areas, some or each of the air supply vents may be adapted to receive and connect to a flexible hose fitting through conducts the virus filtered/sterilized airflows through a flexible hose that extends to a facemask worn by a passenger (e.g., attached to a passenger's head) or to a nozzle that is fixated near a passenger's face, e.g., clipped to the passenger's shirt, to direct the airflow toward the passenger's face. The air return vents which can be located on the seat surfaces can then collect and return the contaminated air in a localized manner at each seat to avoid or reduce cross-set flow of contaminated air containing passenger exhaled air.

[0052] Figures 3A-C illustrates a top angled view of a passenger seat with air return vents configured according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0053] In some embodiments, the air return vents may be located in a seat surface of the armrest and/or in the headrest of the passenger seats.

[0054] For example, air return vent 400A is located in a seat surface of a side of the armrest on passenger seat 200. The air return vents 400B-C are located in a seat surface of a forward-facing portion of the headrest. The air return vents 400E-F are located in a seat surface of a top facing portion of the headrest.

[0055] In some embodiments, as illustrated in Figure 3C, the vents 410A-B may be air supply vents that direct virus filtered/sterilized air outward on opposite sides of and next to a passenger's head that may be seated in the passenger seat 200. The virus filtered/sterilized air would mix with passenger exhaled air and cabin air, and then the air return vent (e.g., air return vent 400A or air return vent 400G) would pull in the return cabin air into the air return duct (e.g., via a fan connected to the air return duct).

[0056] In some embodiments, the vent 410A may be an air supply vent and vent 410B may be an air return vent. The vent 410A that is an air supply vent may direct virus filtered/sterilized air outward next to a passenger's head that may be seated in the passenger seat 200, the virus filtered/sterilized air would mix with passenger exhaled air and cabin air, and then the vent 410B would pull in the return cabin air into the air return duct (e.g., via a fan connected to the air return duct). This would create a higher-pressure air zone on one side of a passenger's head and a lower-pressure air zone on the other side of the passenger's head.

[0057] In other embodiments, where vent 410A is an air supply vent, air return vent(s) (400A and 400G) in the armrests may pull in the return cabin air into the air return duct (e.g., via a fan connected to the air return duct). Providing a filtered/sterilized airflow forced out of vents 410A and/or 410B and forced into vents 400G and/or 400A generates a higher pressure filtered/sterilized air region surrounding the passenger's head that then flows downward to a lower pressure region drawn into the armrest(s) for return. This airflow configuration thereby advantageously functions to isolate the air which is exhaled by one passenger from the air which is inhaled by an adjacent seated passenger.

[0058] In some embodiments, the portion of the headrest where the air return vents and/or air supply vents are located may be adjustable, as illustrated in Figure 3C. For example, the vent 410A may be located on a far-left portion of the headrest (as viewed in Fig. 3C) and may be adjusted, through rotation, flexing, or sliding of that portion of the headrest inward toward a right side of the headrest. This would allow the air return vent and/or air supply vent 410A to be adjusted to be closer in proximity to the passenger's head. This may provide an added benefit of more precise directional control of a filtered/sterilized air flow toward a passenger's face and/or more precise directional suction of air exhaled by the passenger.

[0059] Various embodiments where the air return vents and/or air supply vents are in the headrest of a passenger seat, the vents may be installed in openings containing speaker and/or where a speaker was previously installed. This may reduce manufacturing costs and/or reduce construction costs in installing air return vents and/or air supply vents in passenger seats.

[0060] In some embodiments, illustrated by Figure 3B, each of the air supply vents (e.g., air supply vents 12A-C of Figure 2B) are located to direct the virus filtered/sterilized air 22B toward a headrest area of one of the passenger seats (e.g., second passenger seat 200B). Additionally, the air return vents are spaced apart on the seat surface away from the headrest area. The locations of the air supply vents and the air return vents relative to each of the passenger seats create higher-pressure air zones at the headrest area of each of the passenger seats and spaced apart lower pressure air zones near the air return vents on each of the passenger seats.

[0061] For example, an air return vent may direct virus filtered/sterilized air 22B toward a headrest area of the second passenger seat 200B. The virus filtered/sterilized air 22B directs possibly virus contaminated air coming from a passenger seated in the second passenger seat 200B downward. Air return vent 400A pulls in the mixture of virus filtered/sterilized air 22B and possibly virus contaminated air into the air return duct to be virus filtered/sterilized by the virus filter/sterilization chamber.

[0062] In various embodiments, the air return vent(s) are located on at least one of: a seat armrest, underneath the seat having the headrest, and a seatback surface of another seat facing the headrest. In embodiments where the air return vent(s) are located on a seatback surface of another seat facing the headrest, the seatback surface is a seat video display unit (SVDU), a tray on the seatback surface of the another seat facing the headrest, and/or elsewhere on the seatback surface of the another seat facing the headrest.

[0063] Figure 4 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 that includes one or more UV light sources that operate to sterilize the return cabin air passing through the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340. In some embodiments, the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 includes a reflectional area, at least one UV (ultraviolet) light source 380, and a virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344. The reflectional area is configured to cause light (e.g., UV light, UV-C light, etc.) to be reflected within the reflectional area. The reflectional area may be the entire inside portion of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340, the inside portion of the virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344, and/or any portion of area within the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 which is arranged to be exposed to incident UV light.

[0064] In some embodiments, the at least one UV light source 380 is configured to emit high-intensity UV light that sterilizes the return cabin air that passes through the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340. The UV light can be UV-A light, UV-B light, or UV-C light in order of increasing preference. This results in the air output of the virus filter/sterilization chamber being virus filtered/sterilized air. In one preferred embodiment, the UV light source is a UV-C light source that emits UV-C light with a sufficient intensity to render inoperative substantially all or at least a majority of viruses (sterilize) during a time duration that the return cabin air remains within the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340.

[0065] In some embodiments, the virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344 may be configured to extend along a meandering path through the reflectional area within the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 and channels return cabin air that enters the input duct 342A of the virus filter/sterilization chamber through the meandering path to the output duct 342B of the virus filter/sterilization chamber. Configuring air duct 344 to meander within the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 can advantageously extend the amount of time that contaminants within the return cabin air are exposed to the UV light and increase the associated sterilization effectiveness. Accordingly, the virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344 exposes the return cabin air that is directed through the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 to the UV light to sterilize the air. The virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344 may be formed from various materials and can include, without limitation, plastic, glass, and/or other material that allow UV light to pass through the material. Alternatively, the virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344 may be formed from various materials such as, without limitation, plastic, glass, metal, and/or other material that is formed in connection to the UV light source(s) to allow the UV light source(s) to emit UV light directly onto the air that passes through the virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344. The virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344 connected to the UV light source(s) forms an airtight pathway for the air to be pushed or pulled through.

[0066] Optionally, in some embodiments, the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 may include a filter 370 on the input duct. The filter 370 can be any type of air filter described above.

[0067] Figure 5A illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 with electrostatic (ES) plates 382. In some embodiments, the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 includes at least two ES plates 382 that are configured to allow the return cabin air that enters the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 (through input duct 342A) to pass between the at least two ES plates 382 and out the output duct 342B. The virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 can also include charger circuitry 600 that applies a positive or negative charge to each of the ES plates 382 and a virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344 that directs the return cabin air that enters the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 through the input duct 342A to the output duct 342B of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340. The electrostatic plates become positively or negatively charged by the charger circuitry 600 to attract and trap viruses, bacteria, and other small particulate contaminants in the return cabin air.

[0068] Optionally, in some embodiments, when ES plates 382 are used in the virus filter/sterilization chamber, a filter 370 may be used similar to Figure 4 described above.

[0069] Figure 5B illustrates a side cutout 800 view of the virus filter/sterilization chamber of Figure 5A. In some embodiments, the charger circuitry 600 applies a positive charge to at least one of the at least two ES plates 382 and applies a negative charge to the other at least one of the at least two ES plates 382.

[0070] For example, in Figure 5B, the charger circuitry 600 applies a substantial positive charge to the ES plates 382 at the bottom of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 and applies a substantial negative charge to the ES plates 382 at the top of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 by applying a voltage potential therebetween. The positively charged ES plates are arranged across from the negatively charged ES plates within the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340. This causes a static charge field and causes the particles in the return cabin air, passing between the positively/negatively charged ES plates, to be attracted to and trapped by the positively charged ES plates. The particles stick to the positively/negatively charged ES plates, resulting in sterilization of the return cabin air.

[0071] In some embodiments, more than one charger circuitry 600 may be used. Charger circuitry 600 can be used to positively charge some ES plates 382 while another charger circuitry negatively charges other ES plates 382. Alternatively, charger circuitry 600 can be used to positively and negatively charge some ES plates 382 and another charger circuitry 600 can be used to positively and negatively charge the other ES plates 382.

[0072] Figure 5C illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a virus filter/sterilization chamber with a high-pressure input 350 which we used for cleaning the virus filter/sterilization chamber. In some embodiments, the high-pressure input 350 is used to allow for high-pressure air to be directed into the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 and directed outward (down) through the input duct 342A of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340. When a high-pressure airflow source (e.g., compressed air cannister) is connected to the high-pressure input 350, connection of the airflow source or initiation of high pressure airflow causes a flap 352 to pushed out of the way of the high- pressure input 350 and block the output duct 342B of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340. In contrast, the flap 352 allows airflow into the output duct 342B toward the passenger direction nozzle.

[0073] Temporarily flowing high-pressure air through the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 while the charger circuitry 600 is not charging the ES plates 382, e.g., during a cleaning procedure, allows the high-pressure air to forcibly remove particles that have collected on the ES plates 382 to be blown out the input duct 342A.

[0074] Figure 6 illustrates a top view of another embodiment of a virus filter/sterilization chamber which combines one or more UV light sources and ES plates to generate a virus filtered/sterilized airflow, such as by combining various components of Figures 5A, 5B, and 5C. In some embodiments, a virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 includes a reflective area, at least one UV light source 380, at least two ES plates 382, charger circuitry 600, and a virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344. The reflective area, at least one UV light source 380, and virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344 can be the same, or similar to, the ones described above with reference to Figure 4. Additionally, or alternatively, the at least two ES plates 382, charger circuitry 600, and virus filter/sterilization chamber air duct 344 can be the same, or similar to, the ones described above with reference to Figures 5A-5C. By having both ES plates 382 and UV light sources 380, increased sterilization of the air flowing through the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340 can be achieved. Moreover, while UV light source(s) can be effective at rapidly rendering inoperative some types of viruses and bacteria, ES plates can be more effective at rendering inoperative (trapping) other types of viruses and bacteria. Accordingly, the combined operation of UV light source(s) and ES plates can provide improved operation of the virus filter/sterilization chamber 340.

[0075] Herein, ES plates 382 and UV light sources 380 may be referred to as a virus filtering and/or sterilization device within the virus filter/sterilization chamber. Further Definitions and Embodiments:

[0076] In the above-description of various embodiments of present inventive concepts, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of present inventive concepts. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which present inventive concepts belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense expressly so defined herein.

[0077] As used herein, the forward slash symbol "/" refers to "and/or" meaning that any one or both of the associated listed items occurs. The term "and/or" ("/") includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. When an element is referred to as being "connected", "coupled", "responsive", or variants thereof to another element, it can be directly connected, coupled, or responsive to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected", "directly coupled", "directly responsive", or variants thereof to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Furthermore, "coupled", "connected", "responsive", or variants thereof as used herein may include wirelessly coupled, connected, or responsive. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

[0078] It will be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements/operations, these elements/operations should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element/operation from another element/operation. Thus, a first element/operation in some embodiments could be termed a second element/operation in other embodiments without departing from the teachings of present inventive concepts. The same reference numerals or the same reference designators denote the same or similar elements throughout the specification.

[0079] As used herein, the terms "comprise", "comprising", "comprises", "include", "including", "includes", "have", "has", "having", or variants thereof are open-ended, and include one or more stated features, integers, elements, steps, components or functions but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, elements, steps, components, functions or groups thereof. Furthermore, as used herein, the common abbreviation "e.g.", which derives from the Latin phrase "exempli gratia," may be used to introduce or specify a general example or examples of a previously mentioned item, and is not intended to be limiting of such item. The common abbreviation "i.e.", which derives from the Latin phrase "id est," may be used to specify a particular item from a more general recitation.

[0080] Example embodiments are described herein with reference to block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations of computer-implemented methods, apparatus (systems and/or devices) and/or computer program products. It is understood that a block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by computer program instructions that are performed by one or more computer circuits. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor circuit of a general purpose computer circuit, special purpose computer circuit, and/or other programmable data processing circuit to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer and/or other programmable data processing apparatus, transform and control transistors, values stored in memory locations, and other hardware components within such circuitry to implement the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks, and thereby create means (functionality) and/or structure for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block(s).

[0081] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a tangible computer-readable medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks. Accordingly, embodiments of present inventive concepts may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro code, etc.) that runs on a processor such as a digital signal processor, which may collectively be referred to as "circuitry," "a module" or variants thereof.

[0082] It should also be noted that in some alternate implementations, the functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the flowcharts. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. Moreover, the functionality of a given block of the flowcharts and/or block diagrams may be separated into multiple blocks and/or the functionality of two or more blocks of the flowcharts and/or block diagrams may be at least partially integrated. Finally, other blocks may be added/inserted between the blocks that are illustrated, and/or blocks/operations may be omitted without departing from the scope of inventive concepts. Moreover, although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths to show a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that communication may occur in the opposite direction to the depicted arrows.

[0083] Many variations and modifications can be made to the embodiments without substantially departing from the principles of the present inventive concepts. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of present inventive concepts. Accordingly, the above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended examples of embodiments are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the spirit and scope of present inventive concepts. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of present inventive concepts are to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the present disclosure including the following examples of embodiments and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.