KR20150003503A - Humidifier having alarm function of cleaning water tank time and alarm method of cleaning water tank time thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A humidifier having a water tank cleaning alarm function capable of informing a user of cleaning time of the water tank based on whether or not the water tank is mounted and the amount of humidification due to the operation of the apparatus is disclosed, and its water tank cleaning alarm method.
A humidifier having a water tank cleaning alarm function is disclosed. A water tank mounted inside the apparatus main body and capable of storing humidification water; A water tank detecting sensor provided on the apparatus main body for detecting whether the water tank is mounted on the apparatus main body; An alarm unit provided in the main body of the apparatus for indicating the time required to clean the water tank; And a control unit connected to the water tank sensor to operate the alarm unit based on whether or not the water tank is mounted on the apparatus body and the time when the water tank is mounted.
According to the humidifier having the water tank cleaning alarm function, when the product is used, the user can know the appropriate cleaning time of the water tank, and the hygienic use of the product can be achieved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a humidifier having a water tank cleaning alarm function, and a method of cleaning the water tank of the water tank. [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a humidifier having a water tank cleaning alarm function and a method for cleaning and cleaning a water tank of the water tank. More particularly, A humidifier having a cleaning alarm function, and a method for cleaning and cleaning the water tank.

The water tank provided in the humidifier and storing the humidifying water can provide the humidifying water to the humidifying filter during the humidifying operation of the humidifier.

When a humidifier is used, the water in the water tank is scaled by the stored water, which causes hygienic problems. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean the water tank for hygienic use of the humidifier.

However, since the conventional humidifier according to the conventional technology does not have a device for indicating the cleaning time of the water tank, the user must clean the water tank after separating the water tank and visually checking the state of the water tank. It is disadvantageous in that the use of the humidifier is inconvenient.

Particularly, when the appropriate cleaning period of the water tank has elapsed, a problem of sanitation due to contamination of the water tank occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a humidifier having a water tank cleaning alarm function capable of informing a user of an appropriate cleaning time of a water tank, The purpose is to provide.

According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving at least part of the above objects, A water tank mounted inside the apparatus main body and capable of storing humidification water; A water tank detecting sensor provided on the apparatus main body for detecting whether the water tank is mounted on the apparatus main body; An alarm unit provided in the main body of the apparatus for indicating the time required to clean the water tank; And a control unit connected to the water tank sensor to operate the alarm unit based on whether or not the water tank is mounted on the device body and the time when the water tank is mounted.

In one embodiment, a water level sensor for sensing the level of water stored in the water tank may be further included.

In addition, in one embodiment, the control section can operate the alarm section based on the operating humidification amount when the water tub is mounted on the apparatus main body.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for detecting a water tank, comprising: a water tank detecting step of detecting whether a water tank is installed in the apparatus body through a water tank sensor provided in the apparatus body; A water tank separating time counting step of counting the time from when the water tub is not mounted on the apparatus main body to when the water tub is separated from the apparatus main body and then mounted; Measuring a working steam amount when the water tub is mounted on the apparatus main body; And a water tank cleaning alarm step of notifying the cleaning time of the water tank through an alarm unit indicating the time when the water tank cleaning time is less than a preset reference time and when the operating water storage amount is equal to or greater than a preset reference humidity storage amount How to clean the water tank of the humidifier

In one embodiment, when the water tank is mounted on the apparatus main body in the water tank sensing step,

The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: comparing the water tank separation time with the reference time, and if the water tank separation time is less than the reference time, initializing the water tank separation time, And the water separating time can be initialized.

In one embodiment, when the water tank is mounted on the apparatus main body in the water tank sensing step, the water level sensing step may further include sensing water stored in the water tank through the water level sensor.

If the water stored in the water tank is sensed in the water level sensing step, the operation water amount measurement step is performed, and if the water stored in the water tank is not sensed in the water level sensing step, the water tank sensing step may be performed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the operating steam amount may be calculated by referring to a predetermined reference steam amount according to the operation stage, the operating temperature, and the operating humidity.

According to the embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, when the product is used, the user can know the appropriate cleaning timing of the water tank, and the hygienic use of the product can be achieved.

1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a humidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a flowchart showing a water tank cleaning alarm method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Furthermore, the singular forms "a", "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, referring to FIG. 1, a humidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a humidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, a humidifier 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 110, a blowing fan 120, a water tank 130, a water bottle 140, a water tank sensor 150, A water level detection sensor 160, an alarm unit 170, and a control unit 180.

The apparatus main body 110 is a box-shaped member constituting the external appearance of the humidifier 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The air blowing fan 120 is installed in the apparatus main body 110 so that the air in the room can be introduced into the apparatus main body 110 through the rotation operation and then discharged into the room again.

In addition, the water tank 130 is detachably installed in the apparatus main body 110, and can store water for humidification. A humidifying filter (not shown) may be installed in the water tank 130 to receive humidification water stored in the water tank 130.

The water tank 140 may store humidification water and may be connected to one side of the water tank 130 to supply humidification water to the water tank 130.

The water sensor 150 may be provided on the apparatus main body 110 to detect whether the water tank 130 is mounted on the apparatus main body 110. In one embodiment, the water tank sensor 150 may be configured as a lead sensor that is turned on when the water tank 130 is mounted on the apparatus body 110, and turned off when the water tank 130 is not mounted.

The water level sensor 160 may be installed in the apparatus body 110 to sense the level of water stored in the water tank 130. In one embodiment, the level sensor 160 may be a lead sensor for ON / OFF operation and for determining whether water is stored in the water tank 130.

The alarm unit 170 may be provided in the apparatus main body 110 to display the time required for cleaning the water tank 130 so that the user can know the time required to clean the water tank 130. The alarm unit 170 may be connected to the control unit 180 to be described later.

The control unit 180 is connected to the water tank sensor 150 and the water level sensor 160 and determines whether the water tank 130 is installed in the main body 110 and the time when the water tank 130 is installed The alarm unit 170 can be operated.

That is, the control unit 180 determines whether the water tank 130 is installed in the apparatus main body 110. If the water tank 130 is mounted, the control unit 180 counts the installed time and compares the time with the preset reference time, Is not detached from the apparatus main body 110 for a long period of time, it is determined that the water tank 130 is not cleaned and the alarm unit 170 can be operated.

In addition, in one embodiment, the control unit 180 can operate the alarm unit 170 based on the operating humidification amount when the water tank 130 is mounted on the apparatus main body 110. [

That is, in a state where the water tank 130 is mounted on the apparatus main body 110, the control unit 180 measures the operational water amount of operation by the operation of the apparatus, compares the measured operating water amount with the predetermined reference amount of water, The alarm unit 170 may be operated to notify the user that the water tank 130 needs to be cleaned when the water tank 130 is used for a long period of time.

Here, the operational humidification amount can be measured by accumulating the RPM (Revolution Per Minute) of the blowing fan 120, or by sensing the water level stored in the water tank 130 and accumulating the amount of water used for humidification .

The reference amount of the humidification amount can be set based on the reference value obtained through experiments by the amount of humidification depending on the operation stage (air volume), operation temperature and humidity of the apparatus through experiments.

That is, this reference amount of moisture can be obtained through experimentation as a reference value for judging how much the water tank 130 needs to be cleaned when the apparatus is operated, depending on the operation stage, temperature, and humidity of the apparatus.

Next, a water tank cleaning alarm method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The method for cleaning the water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to a method of operating the humidifier 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above with reference to FIG.

Accordingly, the water tank 130, the water tank sensor 150, the water level sensor 160, and the alarm unit 170 used in the respective stages are connected to the humidifier (not shown) according to the embodiment of the present invention The water tank detecting sensor 150, the water level detecting sensor 160 and the alarm unit 170 of FIG.

In the water tank cleaning alarm method according to an embodiment of the present invention, processing such as data comparison, time counting, and measurement of the amount of humidification may be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, And may be automatically performed by the control unit 180. [ That is, the method for alarming the water tank cleaning according to one embodiment of the present invention may correspond to the operation of the controller 180 included in the humidifier 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a method for alarming a water tank cleaning according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When the product of the humidifier 100 is operated (S110), the initial value when the product is operated may be configured to be in a state where the humidification mode is OFF (S120).

Then, it can be determined whether or not the water tank 130 is installed in the apparatus main body 110 (S130). Here, whether the water tank 130 is attached to the apparatus body 110 can be detected through the water tank sensor 150 provided in the apparatus body 110.

At this time, when the water tank 130 is not mounted on the apparatus main body 110, the water tank separation time which is the time from when the water tank 130 is removed from the apparatus main body 110 to when it is re-mounted can be counted ).

On the other hand, when the water tank 130 is mounted on the apparatus main body 110, the water tank separation time may be compared with a preset reference time (S140).

Here, the reference time may be set by the user as an elapsed time until the time when the water tank 130 needs to be cleaned after the product is activated.

If the water tank separating time is less than the reference time in the step of comparing the water tank separating time and the reference time, it is determined that the water tank 130 has not been cleaned by the user, , The water tank separating time can be initialized to '0' (S170).

On the other hand, if the water tank separating time is longer than the reference time, it is determined that the water tank 130 has been cleaned by the user and the operational water storage amount can be initialized to '0' (S160).

Here, the operating humidification amount is a value measured in the operation humidification amount measuring step, which will be described later. During the operation of the product, the respective steps included in the water cleaning method according to the embodiment of the present invention are repeatedly performed, .

In this manner, when the condition that the user has determined that the water tank 130 has been cleaned is satisfied, the operational water amount is initialized to determine the next cleaning time of the water tank 130 after the water tank 130 is cleaned and used .

After the operation humidification amount is initialized (S160), the water tank separation time can be initialized (S170).

After the water tank separating time is initialized (S170), it is detected whether water is stored in the water tank 130 through the water level sensor 160 (S180).

Here, the water level sensor 160 may be configured to determine whether or not water is stored in the water tank 130, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be configured to detect a water level to be increased or decreased.

At this time, when the water stored in the water tank 130 is not detected through the water level sensor 160, that is, when water is not stored in the water tank 130, the humidifier 100 is not in the humidifying mode , And returns to the humidification mode OFF step S120 so that the water tank sensing step S130 may be repeatedly performed.

Here, although not shown, since there is no water in the water tank 130, a water replenishment signal may be generated to allow the user to know that the water in the water tank 130 is empty.

On the other hand, when the water stored in the water tank 130 is detected through the water level sensor 160, that is, when the water is stored in the water tank 130, the humidification mode may be turned on (S190).

This is applicable to a case where the humidifier to which the water tank cleaning alarm method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied is a natural vaporization type humidifier in which water is stored in the water tank 130 and natural control is unnecessary.

Thereafter, the operating steam amount can be measured (S200).

Then, the measured operating humidification amount may be compared with a preset reference humidification amount (S210). Here, the reference steam amount corresponds to the reference steam amount described in the description of the humidifier 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above with reference to FIG. 1, and a description thereof will be omitted.

However, when comparing the operating humidification with the reference humidification, the operating humidification can be calculated by referring to the reference humidification amount preset for each operation stage, temperature and humidity.

That is, the operating humidification amount can be compared with the reference humidification amount according to the operation step, the temperature and the humidity condition when the product is operated from the preset reference humidification amount according to the operation step, temperature and humidity. In this way, the operating humidification quantity can be compared with the reference humidification quantity under the same conditions in which the product is operated.

To do this, the operating humidification amount may be previously tabulated according to the number of operating steps, the temperature or the humidity, and the operating humidification amount may be estimated by referring to the table value in actual operation.

At this time, when the measured operational humidification amount is equal to or greater than the reference humidification amount, the cleaning time of the water tank 130 may be displayed through the alarm unit 170 informing the user of the necessity of cleaning the water tank 130 (S220).

On the other hand, if the measured operating humidification amount is less than the reference humidification amount, the process may return to the watertone sensing step (S130) and the steps subsequent to the watertight sensing step (S130) may be repeatedly performed. However, May be regressed to the operational steam amount measurement step (S200).

The water tank cleaning alarm method according to an embodiment of the present invention automatically determines the cleaning time of the water tank 130 based on whether the water tank 130 is installed and the time when the water tank 130 is separated The user can be notified.

In addition, the water tank cleaning alarm method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes only a water tank 130, and in case the water tank 130 is not humidified, 130) and inform the user of the cleaning time.

Accordingly, the humidifier 100 and the water tank cleaning alarm method according to the embodiment of the present invention are configured such that the user can know the proper cleaning time of the water tank 130 when using the product, And it is easy to manage the apparatus.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims I would like to make it clear.

100: Humidifier with water tank cleaning alarm function
110: apparatus main body 120: blowing fan
130: Water tank 140: Bucket
150: water tank sensor 160: water level sensor
170: alarm unit 180: control unit

Claims (8)

A device body;
A water tank mounted inside the apparatus main body and capable of storing humidification water;
A water tank detecting sensor provided on the apparatus main body for detecting whether the water tank is mounted on the apparatus main body;
An alarm unit provided in the main body of the apparatus for indicating the time required to clean the water tank; And
A control unit connected to the water tank sensor for activating the alarm unit based on whether the water tank is mounted on the apparatus body or mounted on the apparatus body;
And a humidifier having a water tank cleaning alarm function.
The method according to claim 1,
And a water level sensor for sensing a water level of the water stored in the water tank.
The method of claim 1, wherein
Wherein,
And when the water tank is mounted on the apparatus main body, the alarm unit is activated based on the operating humidification amount.
A water tank detecting step of detecting whether a water tank is mounted on the apparatus body through a water tank sensor provided in the apparatus main body;
A water tank separating time counting step of counting the time from when the water tub is not mounted on the apparatus main body to when the water tub is separated from the apparatus main body and then mounted;
Measuring a working steam amount when the water tub is mounted on the apparatus main body; And
A water tank cleaning alarm step of notifying the cleaning time of the water tank through an alarm unit indicating the time required for cleaning the water tank if the water tank separation time is less than a preset reference time and the operating water amount is equal to or greater than a preset reference water amount;
The method comprising the steps of:
5. The method of claim 4,
When the water tank is mounted on the apparatus body in the water tank sensing step,
Further comprising the step of comparing the tank separation time with the reference time,
If the water tank separation time is less than the reference time,
Wherein the operating water amount and the water tank separation time are initialized when the water tank separation time exceeds the reference time.
5. The method of claim 4,
Further comprising a water level sensing step of sensing water stored in the water tank through the water level sensor when the water tank is installed in the apparatus body in the water tank sensing step.
The method according to claim 6,
Wherein when the water stored in the water tank is sensed in the water level sensing step,
And when the water stored in the water tank is not detected in the water level sensing step, the water tank sensing step is performed.
5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the operating humidification amount is calculated by referring to a reference humidification amount set in advance according to the number of operating steps, the operating temperature, and the operating humidity.

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