KR102663940B1 - Smart filter to know water usage - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart filter that purifies water. More specifically, it can be installed on an existing faucet, and the amount of water used can be projected to a predetermined part of the smart filter with light or numbers to guide the user. User terminals can guide users to more active water conservation by informing them of water usage patterns and current usage rankings from the time of filter replacement. Users can also know the amount of water they use, allowing them to more directly understand their water usage. It's about a smart filter that can be felt.

Description

Smart filter to know water usage}

The present invention relates to a smart filter that purifies water. More specifically, it can be installed on an existing faucet, and the amount of water used can be projected to a predetermined part of the smart filter with light or numbers to guide the user. This is about a smart filter that can inform the user's terminal of the water usage pattern and current usage ranking from the time of filter replacement to the user's terminal to know the amount of water used, which can lead to water conservation.

Water is a major component of all living things, including humans, and is essential for maintaining life, accounting for more than 70% of an adult's body weight, and losing about 20% of body water can lead to a life-threatening condition. In addition, it is widely used in daily life as household water, agricultural water, and industrial water. Water not only plays an important role in maintaining our bodies, but also plays an important role in our lives.

The amount of water used has increased rapidly due to rapid economic growth, industrial advancement, population growth, and improved quality of life. However, the supply cannot meet the demand. Meanwhile, the UN designated Korea as a water-stressed country in 1993, and predicted that 15-20% of the world would experience drinking water shortages by 2050. As drinking water shortages are expected to worsen in the near future, research and technology development on various methods to save water are actively being conducted.

In this regard, Korean Patent No. 10-0974172 discloses technology for a water-saving device applied to faucets used at home. The technology is based on hardware that is installed inside a faucet and can directly control the flow rate without user intervention when using water.

Such hardware has a water-saving effect in that it can save water without user intervention, but water cannot be saved in a faucet where the hardware is not installed, and the faucet must be changed to control to install the hardware, so the user cannot use it. It has the problem of causing an economic burden.

Korean Patent No. 10-0974172 (2010.07.30.)

The present invention, created to solve this problem, relates to a smart filter that purifies water. More specifically, it can be installed on an existing faucet, and the amount of water used is projected into a predetermined part of the smart filter as light or numbers. It can guide users to more active water conservation by informing users of water usage patterns and current usage rankings from the time of filter replacement on the user terminal they have, and allowing users to monitor the amount of water they use. It is about a smart filter that allows you to know more directly about your water use.

A smart filter that can determine the amount of water used according to an embodiment of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned purpose,

A flow sensor unit 110 consisting of a flow sensor 111 provided in the replacement filter 100 including the filter 160 and measuring the flow rate,

A data processing unit 120 provided in the replacement filter 100 to receive and process measurement data from the flow sensor 111,

A usage display unit 130 that guides the user on the amount of water used by projecting light or numbers onto a selected portion of the replacement filter 100 through the data processed in the data processing unit 120;

A data communication unit 140 provided in the replacement filter 100 and performing data communication between the data processing unit 120 and the user terminal unit 200, and

It may be configured with an application unit 150 built into the user terminal unit 200 to display data transmitted from the data communication unit 140 to the user.

The flow sensor 111 of the flow sensor unit 110 may be composed of a turbine wheel with a magnet installed therein.

At this time, the flow sensor 111 may be configured to supply power generated through rotation of the turbine wheel to the replacement filter 100.

In addition, the application unit 150 includes a water usage confirmation menu 151 to check the user's water usage in numbers, a filter replacement time confirmation menu 152 to check the replacement time of the filter 160, and the usage display unit. It may be configured as a usage display control menu 153 to control (130).

In addition, the application unit 150 may further include data processing means 154 for processing data transmitted from the data communication unit 140.

The smart filter of the present invention, which can determine the amount of water used, intuitively conveys the amount of water used to the user through the usage display unit, so that the user can know the amount of water used and be aware of his or her water use pattern. This can provide an opportunity to change water usage habits.

In addition, by providing the filter replacement time in connection with the user's water usage pattern, a more realistic filter replacement date can be provided, and thus, a more accurate filter replacement time can be provided to the user than the filter replacement time provided as a general period. there is.

In addition, points are provided to users based on water usage, and users can utilize the points provided in a variety of ways, encouraging users to make saving water use a part of their daily lives, enabling active water conservation.

Figure 1 shows an example of a smart filter configuration that can determine the amount of water used according to the present invention.
Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the usage display unit of the present invention.
Figure 3 is an embodiment of the application part of the present invention
Figure 4 shows an example of the screen configuration of the application part of the present invention
Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the screen configuration of the application part of the present invention

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, and the inventor should appropriately define the concept of terms in order to explain his or her invention in the best way. Based on the principle of definability, it must be interpreted with meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention. In addition, if there is no other definition in the technical and scientific terms used, they have meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and the gist of the present invention is summarized in the following description and accompanying drawings. Descriptions of known functions and configurations that may be unnecessarily obscure are omitted.

Figure 1 is an example of a smart filter configuration that shows the amount of water used in the present invention, Figure 2 is an example of a usage display unit of the present invention, Figure 3 is an embodiment of the application part of the present invention, and Figure 4 is an example of the application part of the present invention. An embodiment of the screen configuration, and Figure 5 is another embodiment of the screen configuration of the application part of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the smart filter capable of knowing the amount of water used according to the present invention is provided in a replacement filter 100 including a filter 160 and consists of a flow sensor 111 that measures the flow rate. Sensor unit 110,

A data processing unit 120 provided in the replacement filter 100 to receive and process measurement data from the flow sensor 111,

A usage display unit 130 that guides the user on the amount of water used by projecting light or numbers onto a selected portion of the replacement filter 100 through the data processed in the data processing unit 120;

A data communication unit 140 provided in the replacement filter 100 and performing data communication between the data processing unit 120 and the user terminal unit 200, and

It may be configured with an application unit 150 built into the user terminal unit 200 to display data transmitted from the data communication unit 140 to the user.

That is, the smart filter of the present invention that can know the amount of water used measures the flow rate through the flow sensor 111 of the flow sensor unit 110 when the user uses water. At this time, the flow sensor 111 may be composed of a turbine wheel with a magnet installed inside, and the turbine wheel recognizes how many revolutions per second it rotates based on the magnet provided inside the wheel.

The data measured by the flow sensor 111 is transmitted to the data processing unit 120 and processed.

At this time, the flow sensor 111 may be configured to supply power generated through rotation of the turbine wheel to the replacement filter 100. Through this, the power produced by the flow sensor is used as a power source to drive the flow sensor unit 110, data processing unit 120, usage display unit 130, and data communication unit 140.

Therefore, the smart filter of the present invention does not need to have a separate power source built in, which is more advantageous for miniaturization, and can prevent electrical or mechanical failures that may occur when replacing the power supply, and can prevent use in a state of discontinuation caused by power failure. Since there is no , durability and user convenience can be improved.

As described above, data on the number of revolutions per second of the turbine wheel measured by the flow sensor 111 are processed in the data processing unit 120 and converted into flow rate data.

The data processing unit 120 measures the amount of water used using the cross-sectional area (A) and flow velocity (V) when measuring the flow rate (Q). This measurement method does not measure the flow rate directly, but measures the flow rate using the speed at which water passes through a certain cross-sectional area, and uses the frequency of rotation of the turbine wheel measured by the flow sensor 111 to measure the amount of water used. Calculate .

When flow measurement data is generated through this process, it can be stored in the data processing unit 120.

The usage display unit 130 can guide the user on the water usage amount by projecting light or numbers onto a selected portion of the replacement filter 100 through data processed by the data processing unit 120.

The flow measurement data is converted into light or numbers according to the water usage standards pre-entered into the data processing unit 120, and the water usage amount used by the user is projected as light or as numbers on the usage display unit 130. It can inform the user of the current water usage status.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, green or blue light can be projected when the user's current water usage is below the recommended amount (200L or less) in the flow measurement data, and when it is above the recommended amount (200L or more, 400L or less) In this case, yellow or orange light is projected, and if the recommended amount is greatly exceeded (over 400L), red light is projected to inform the user of the current usage amount. At this time, LED can be used to project light. In addition, the current water usage data measured by flow measurement data can be conveyed to the user in numbers through an LED screen located at a predetermined location.

Through this configuration of the present invention, the amount of water usage is accurately and intuitively conveyed to the user through the usage display unit 130, so that the user can be aware of his or her water usage amount and thereby improve his or her water usage habits. can provide an opportunity to do so.

Additionally, it is possible to predict the replacement time of the filter from the light or number displayed through the usage display unit 130.

The data communication unit 140 is provided in the replacement filter 100 and can perform data communication between the data processing unit 120 and the user terminal unit 200.

The flow measurement data processed by the data processing unit 120 is transmitted to the user terminal unit 200 used by the user through the data communication unit 140. At this time, if the user terminal unit 200 is unable to communicate with the data communication unit 140, the data processing unit 120 accumulates and stores the data to be transmitted from the time communication became impossible to the time communication resumed. and indexing and transmitting it to the user terminal unit 200 when communication is resumed.

In addition, the data communication unit 140 may be composed of one or more data communication modules selected from various data communication modules. In particular, it is desirable to use Bluetooth, a short-range wireless communication standard.

The application unit 150 includes a water usage confirmation menu 151 to check the user's water usage in numbers, a filter replacement time confirmation menu 152 to check the replacement time of the filter 160, and the usage display unit ( It may be composed of a usage display control menu 153 for controlling 130).

That is, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the application unit 150 of the present invention provides information to the user through the water usage confirmation menu 151 based on the flow measurement data transmitted from the data communication unit 140. Allows users to check their water usage. The water usage can be displayed through measured values, the ratio of the currently used water usage to the total previously stored water usage, color, etc. At this time, the water usage confirmation menu 151 may be provided so that the user can check not only the user's water usage, but also the water usage of other users in a similar environment, the average water usage of other users, and the current ranking of the user's water usage.

At this time, a separate processing device capable of data communication with the user terminal unit 200 collects a plurality of user information, and the user information includes household member number information, household member age information, residential area information, water usage information, etc. It can be composed of:

As shown in FIG. 4, the water usage confirmation menu 151 can provide information to the user by dividing the user's water usage into daily, weekly, and monthly periods using bar graphs, line graphs, etc.

By collecting and accumulating user information and water usage information from multiple users, a water usage database can be built in a separate processing device, continuously accumulated, and analyzed using big data techniques. Based on the analyzed information, it is possible to encourage user response by comparing it with the current user information entered in advance and providing the user with a ranking or score.

In addition, as shown in Figure 5, based on the user's water usage information accumulated in the water usage confirmation menu 151, the user's water usage by time, day, and location (toilet, sink, washbasin, bathtub, etc.) By providing information about patterns, you can be aware of your own water use patterns and through this, you can provide an opportunity to change your water use habits. In addition, points are provided to users based on the amount of water used, and these points can be used in a variety of ways, encouraging users to make saving water use a part of their daily lives, enabling active water conservation.

In addition, through the filter replacement time confirmation menu 152, the current filter usage and expected replacement time are provided to the user by comparing the maximum purified water capacity pre-entered in the application unit 150 with the purified water amount confirmed by flow measurement data. I can guide you.

In addition, by providing the filter replacement time in connection with the user's water usage pattern, an accurate filter replacement date can be provided, and thus a more accurate filter replacement time than the filter replacement time provided as a general period can be provided to the user. .

To explain more simply, the filter replacement time confirmation menu 152 identifies the replacement time of the filter 160 in connection with the user's water use pattern derived through flow measurement data, thereby providing a more accurate replacement date. there is.

Additionally, the light or number display information of the usage display unit 130 can be controlled through the usage display control menu 153. Therefore, changing the color, brightness, blinking, etc. of the light indicating the water usage in the usage display unit 130 or changing the color, size, brightness, blinking, etc. of the numbers is controlled through the usage display control menu 153. User convenience can be improved.

Additionally, the application unit 150 may further include data processing means 154 for processing data transmitted from the data communication unit 140.

That is, if the size of the data is large and difficult to process in the data processing unit 120, the data processing means 154 can be used as a configuration to use the computing power of the user terminal unit 200, which has relatively good computing power. there is. Therefore, if necessary, the data processing unit 120 can be discontinued and data processing can be performed in the data processing means 154, and the data processing unit 120 and the data processing means 154 can be used together to process data. You can also process it.

Additionally, the present invention may additionally include an abnormal pattern detection unit. The data processing unit 120 and the application unit 150 of the present invention can store flow measurement data measured by the flow sensor unit, data processed by the data processing unit, water usage amount, water usage pattern, current usage ranking, etc.

If the user's current water usage pattern is different from the stored water usage pattern, the abnormal pattern detection unit provides the user with an alarm or text message to check whether the filter is damaged, whether water is leaking, whether the faucet is damaged, whether the pipe is damaged, etc. can do.

Additionally, the present invention may additionally include a water use recommendation unit. The water usage recommendation section provides users with guidance on water use, guidance on refraining from water use, guidance on water usage amount, guidance on when to use water, etc., based on stored daily, weekly and monthly water usage, water use patterns, etc. can be provided to enable efficient water use.

Accordingly, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, and all claims that are equivalent or equivalent to the above claims as well as the claims described below shall fall within the scope of the spirit of the present invention.

100: Replacement filter
110: Flow sensor unit 111: Flow sensor
120: Data processing unit
130: Usage display unit
140: Data and Communication Department
150: Application unit
151: Water usage check menu 152: Filter replacement time check menu
153: Usage display control menu 154: Data processing means
160: filter
200: User terminal unit

Claims (7)

A flow sensor unit 110 consisting of a flow sensor 111 that is provided in the replacement filter 100 including the filter 160 and measures the flow rate;
A data processing unit 120 provided in the replacement filter 100 to receive and process measurement data from the flow sensor 111;
A usage display unit 130 that guides the user on the amount of water used by projecting light or numbers onto a selected portion of the replacement filter 100 through the data processed by the data processing unit 120;
A data communication unit 140 provided in the replacement filter 100 and performing data communication between the data processing unit 120 and the user terminal unit 200; and
In the smart filter capable of knowing the amount of water used, which includes an application unit 150 that is built into the user terminal unit 200 and displays data transmitted from the data communication unit 140 to the user,
The replacement filter 100 is individually installed in each faucet,
The application unit 150 is
A water usage check menu (151) to check the user's water usage numerically,
A filter replacement time confirmation menu 152 for checking the replacement time of the filter 160,
Includes a usage display control menu 153 for controlling the usage display unit 130,
The water usage confirmation menu 151 provides the user's water usage, the average water usage of other users, and the current ranking of the user's water usage,
The water usage confirmation menu 151 provides information on the user's water usage pattern by time, day, and location, based on the user's accumulated water usage information,
The filter replacement time confirmation menu 152 enables accurate filter replacement by providing the filter replacement time in connection with the user's water use pattern derived through flow measurement data,
The usage display control menu 153 controls the light or numeric display information of the usage display unit 130,
The application unit 150 further includes an abnormal pattern detection unit,
If the user's current water usage pattern is different from the stored water usage pattern, the abnormal pattern detection unit provides the user with an alarm or text message to check whether the filter is damaged, whether water is leaking, whether the faucet is damaged, and whether the pipe is damaged. A smart filter that can determine the amount of water used.
According to paragraph 1,
The flow sensor 111 of the flow sensor unit 110 is
A smart filter that can determine the amount of water used and consists of a turbine wheel with a magnet installed inside.
According to paragraph 2,
The flow sensor 111 is
A smart filter that can determine the amount of water used, characterized in that power generated through rotation of the turbine wheel is supplied to the replacement filter (100).
delete According to paragraph 1,
The application unit 150 is
A smart filter capable of knowing the amount of water used, characterized in that it further includes data processing means 154 for processing data transmitted from the data communication unit 140.
delete delete