	US 12,263,362 B2
	Mask apparatus and method for controlling the same
Taewook Kwon, Seoul (KR); Jinmoo Park, Seoul (KR); Junchan Kwon, Seoul (KR); Seonghun Lee, Seoul (KR); Hyengcheul Choi, Seoul (KR); Gyunghwan Yuk, Seoul (KR); and Minsoo Kim, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Apr. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/231,466.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0080417 (KR), filed on Jun. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0402222 A1, Dec. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. A62B 18/00 (2006.01); A62B 7/10 (2006.01); A62B 9/00 (2006.01); A62B 18/02 (2006.01); A62B 18/08 (2006.01)

CPC A62B 18/006 (2013.01) [A62B 7/10 (2013.01); A62B 9/00 (2013.01); A62B 18/025 (2013.01); A62B 18/08 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A mask apparatus comprising:

a mask body;

a fan module configured to be coupled to the mask body;

a seal that is coupled to a rear surface of the mask body and defines a breathing space therein;

a pressure sensor coupled to the mask body and configured to sense an air pressure in the breathing space;

a mask body cover coupled to a front surface of the mask body and configured to cover the fan module; and

a controller coupled to the mask body and configured to control a rotation speed of the fan module based on the air pressure sensed by the pressure sensor,

wherein the controller is configured to:

determine a first breathing cycle based on a maximum pressure value and a minimum pressure value among a plurality of air pressure values sensed by the pressure sensor,

determine a first time difference between a first maximum time point corresponding to the maximum pressure value of the first breathing cycle and a first minimum time point corresponding to the minimum pressure value of the first breathing cycle,

determine an expected time point of inhalation in a second breathing cycle based on the first breathing cycle and the first time difference, and

increase the rotation speed of the fan module based on a current time corresponding to the expected time point of inhalation.

11. A method for controlling a mask apparatus, the method comprising:

supplying power to the mask apparatus to operate a pressure sensor of the mask apparatus;

sensing, by the pressure sensor, an air pressure in a breathing space that is defined in the mask apparatus;

receiving, by a controller of the mask apparatus, a plurality of pressure values sensed by the pressure sensor;

determining a first breathing cycle based on a maximum pressure value and a minimum pressure value among the plurality of pressure values sensed by the pressure sensor;

determining a first time difference between a first maximum time point corresponding to the maximum pressure value of the first breathing cycle and a first minimum time point corresponding to the minimum pressure value of the first breathing cycle;

determining an expected time point of inhalation in a second breathing cycle based on the first breathing cycle and the first time difference; and

controlling a rotation speed of a fan module of the mask apparatus,

wherein controlling the rotation speed of the fan module comprises increasing the rotation speed of the fan module based on a current time corresponding to the expected time point of inhalation.