JPH1172243A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a humidifier that allows a user to monitor the indoor humidity environment regardless of an operation control mode. A humidity sensor for detecting indoor humidity,
A temperature sensor 8 for detecting a temperature change in the device, a microcomputer 13 for determining the current humidity detected by the humidity sensor 7 so as to correspond to a preset humidity display range which is divided in a predetermined range, and displaying a processing result. Independent humidity display unit 12 for determining the necessity of operation of the humidifier by always displaying the current humidity on the humidity display unit in the energized state regardless of the operation control mode including operation on / off. A humidifier that can be obtained is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a humidifier for performing appropriate humidification according to the indoor temperature and humidity environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is widely known that a humidifier of this type is provided with a humidity sensor for detecting humidity and displays the current humidity in a room during operation.

The humidifier will be described below with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the drawing, the humidifier body 101 has an operation off / on switch 1 for turning on and off the operation.
02, an operation switch 103 for switching the operation control mode, and a timer switch 1 for setting the time of a timer function for automatically stopping the operation after a predetermined time has elapsed.
04 and a display unit 105 for displaying the setting of the operation control mode, the current humidity display, the drought state, and the set time of the timer.
Is provided. Further, inside the humidifier main body 101, there are provided a heater 106 for generating water vapor, a blower fan 107 for lowering the water vapor blowing temperature and taking in outside air into the humidifier main body, and a control unit (not shown). ing. The control unit includes a heater driving unit 108 for driving the heater 106, a blowing fan driving unit 109 for driving the blowing fan 107, a humidity sensor 110 for detecting the relative humidity in the room, Is provided with a microcomputer 111 that performs control for

In the above configuration, first, the humidifier body 101
When commercial power is supplied to the microcomputer, the microcomputer 11
By the operation of 1, the humidity sensor 110 starts detecting the humidity in the room, and enters an input standby state of the operation off / on switch 102.

Next, when the operation off / on switch 102 is input, the microcomputer 111 drives and controls the heater driving means 108 and the fan motor driving means 109, so that the heater 106 and the fan motor 107 are energized. The current operation control mode and the timer setting are continuously displayed on the display unit 105 in accordance with the input of the operation changeover switch 103 and the timer switch 104, and the current humidity in the room detected by the humidity sensor 110 is blinked on the display unit 105. I do.

When the operation control mode is switched by the input of the operation changeover switch 103, the microcomputer 111 compares the current humidity in the room detected by the humidity sensor 101 with each set humidity of the operation control, and performs the humidification operation. Is determined, and if humidification is required, the heater driving means 108 is controlled to perform a humidification operation. At the same time, the current humidity in the room detected by the humidity sensor 101 is displayed on the display unit 105.

[0007]

In such a conventional humidifier, the humidity sensor during energization detects the indoor humidity,
The microcomputer is currently performing the process of judging the humidity, but does not display the current humidity until the microcomputer enters an operation state by inputting an operation off / on switch. Therefore, in order for the user to recognize the necessity of indoor humidification and the state of indoor humidity, it is necessary to keep the humidifier operating at all times. But,
There are problems such as increased power consumption and unnecessary humidification operation if the current operation state is set to always display the current humidity, and users are required to be able to recognize the indoor humidity state even when the humidifier is not operated. I have.

[0008] In addition, the mere display of the current indoor humidity indicates whether the indoor humidity environment is maintained at an appropriate level, whether the humidifier needs to be operated, or the room needs to be ventilated.
It is left to the judgment of the user. In particular, when the humidifier is stopped by the operation of the on / off switch and is in a high humidity state, there is a possibility that mold and the like may be generated in the room, and it is necessary to lower the humidity by ventilation of the room, but there is no display. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to recognize the high humidity state, and it is required that the user can recognize at a glance that the indoor humidity environment is in the unpleasant humidity state even when the humidifier is stopped.

[0009] Further, there is a problem that the power consumption increases when the humidity is displayed when the humidifier is not operating, and it is required that the power consumption can be reduced even when monitoring the indoor humidity environment.

When the user inputs the indoor humidity display function, the time required for the detection value of the humidity sensor to stabilize and the time for converting the actual indoor humidity by the temperature sensor are required. The device may not respond at all until the processing result is determined, causing a problem of giving the user anxiety, and the ability to immediately transmit humidity information to the user in response to the user's current humidity display request. Has been requested.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and it is possible to know the indoor humidity even when the humidifier is not operated, and to determine whether the indoor humidity is out of the comfortable range. It is an object of the present invention to provide a humidifier capable of visually recognizing low humidity or high humidity, saving power consumption and displaying humidity, and displaying current humidity at any time instantly.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a humidifier according to the present invention has a humidity sensor for detecting indoor humidity, a humidity display section provided with a plurality of indicator lights, and a humidifying operation. An on / off switch that is turned on, and a microcomputer that supplies current detected by the humidity sensor to one of the humidity indicating lamps to display the current humidity. The microcomputer operates the on / off switch. Regardless of the above, the current humidity is displayed on the humidity display section.

According to the present invention, a humidifier capable of knowing the indoor humidity even when the humidifier is not operated can be obtained.

Another means is that the humidity display section comprises a comfort humidity display section for displaying comfort humidity and an uncomfortable humidity display section provided adjacent to the comfort humidity display section. The color and the display color of the unpleasant humidity display section are different from each other.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a humidifier capable of visually recognizing whether the indoor humidity is out of the comfortable range and whether the humidity is low or high.

Further, another means is provided with a humidity display selection switch for selecting a display method of the humidity display section, and by operating the humidity display selection switch, one of continuous display, temporary display, and no display of the humidity display section is displayed. It can be selected.

According to the present invention, a humidifier capable of saving power and displaying humidity can be obtained.

Further, another means includes a temperature sensor for correcting the detected humidity of the humidity sensor, and a microcomputer for displaying the corrected humidity calculated based on the detected temperature of the temperature sensor on a humidity display section. Until the computer calculates the corrected humidity and outputs it,
The humidity detected by the humidity sensor is displayed on the humidity display section.

According to the present invention, a humidifier capable of immediately displaying the current humidity at any time can be obtained.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a humidity sensor for detecting indoor humidity, a humidity display unit having a plurality of indicator lights arranged side by side, an operation off / on switch for turning on and off a humidifying operation, and the humidity sensor. A microcomputer for displaying the current humidity by energizing the detected humidity to one of the humidity indicating lamps. The microcomputer displays the current humidity on the humidity display section regardless of the operation of the operation off / on switch. When the humidifier is energized, the humidity state in the room is detected regardless of the operation of the on / off switch, and the current humidity can be displayed on the humidity display unit.

The humidity display section comprises a comfort humidity display section for displaying comfortable humidity, and an uncomfortable humidity display section provided adjacent to the comfort humidity display section. The display colors of the display units are different from each other, and have an effect that the display of the humidity display unit can be visually distinguished with respect to the indoor humidity state even when the humidifying operation is not performed.

Further, a humidity display selection switch for selecting a display method of the humidity display section is provided, and one of continuous display, temporary display, and no display of the humidity display section can be selected by operating the humidity display selection switch. When the humidification operation is stopped by the on / off switch, the presence or absence of a humidity display section for displaying the indoor humidity state or the temporary display can be selected.

A humidity sensor for correcting the detected humidity of the humidity sensor, and a microcomputer for displaying the corrected humidity calculated on the basis of the detected temperature of the temperature sensor on a humidity display section, the microcomputer displays the corrected humidity. Until the arithmetic processing and output, the detected humidity of the humidity sensor is displayed on the humidity display unit, and in response to the user's request for the current humidity display, the correction humidity by the humidity sensor is arithmetically processed. Until the current humidity can be accurately displayed, the detected humidity of the humidity sensor is displayed as it is, so that the humidity near the current humidity can be immediately displayed.

[0024]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a humidifier body 1 includes a heater 2 for heating water to generate steam.
It has a blower fan 3 for transporting water vapor and a control unit 4. The control unit 4 includes a drive output control unit 5, an operation input unit 6, a sensor input unit 7, a display output unit 8, and a microcomputer 9. The drive output control unit 5 has a heater control means 10 for controlling the energization of the heater 2 and a blower fan control means 11 for controlling the energization of the blower fan. The operation input unit 6 includes an operation off / on switch 12 for turning on and off the operation, an operation changeover switch 13 for switching the operation control mode, and a timer function for automatically stopping the operation after a predetermined time has elapsed. It has a timer switch 14 for setting. The sensor input unit 7 has a humidity sensor 15 for detecting indoor humidity.
And a temperature sensor 16 for detecting a temperature change near the humidity sensor 15. The display output unit 8 includes a display unit 17 that displays the setting of the operation control mode, a drought state, and a set time of a timer, and a humidity display unit 18 that displays the current humidity detected by the humidity sensor 15. The humidity display section 18 is subdivided into each humidity range. When the current humidity is 30% or less, the humidity display lamp 18a and the current humidity is 30% to 40%.
, The humidity indicator light 18b for the current humidity of 40% to 50%, the humidity indicator light 18d for the current humidity of 50% to 60%, and the humidity indicator light 18e for the current humidity of 70% or more. Are lit correspondingly.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the humidifier body 1 is energized in step 31 and the microcomputer 9 is operated in step 32 and at the same time, the humidity sensor 1 is
Numeral 5 detects the current humidity in the room every few minutes, and drives the blower fan 3 intermittently at predetermined time intervals by the blower fan control means 11 to perform energy saving operation. The microcomputer 9 converts analog data obtained by detecting a change in indoor humidity by a voltage change due to a change in resistance of the humidity sensor 15 itself into digital data set in advance, and makes a determination for displaying the relative humidity on the humidity display unit 18. The processing is performed to determine the current humidity.

Next, in step 34, the input of the operation off / on switch 12 is determined, and the operation off / on switch 12 is determined.
If there is an input, the normal humidification operation is performed.
If there is no input from the ON switch 12, the process proceeds to step 35. When the process proceeds to step 35, a temperature change occurs around the humidity sensor 15 due to the effect of the blower fan 3 which performs intermittent driving, and the relative humidity detected by the humidity sensor 15 is affected by the temperature change peculiar to the inside of the device. become. Therefore, the temperature data obtained by detecting a specific temperature change occurring inside the device by the temperature sensor 16 is described in Step 3.
If it is necessary to correct the humidity in the room determined by the microcomputer 9 in step 5 and the temperature change is detected, in step 36, the confirmed data detected by the humidity sensor 15 is corrected so as to cancel the temperature change. In step 37, the corrected current humidity data is lit and displayed in association with the humidity indicating lamps 18a to 18e divided into a certain range. Therefore, the humidity sensor 1 is always
The detection by the microcomputer 5 and the temperature sensor 16 is performed at a predetermined interval, the humidity data is determined by the microcomputer 9, and the humidity data is corrected by the temperature data. The humidity display unit constantly updates the current data without depending on the operation control mode. The humidity will be displayed.

(Embodiment 2) As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 and FIG.
Any one of the light emitting elements provided in the light emitting elements a to 18e is turned on. The lighting color of the humidity indicating lights 18a and 18e is set to red as the unpleasant humidity indicating part 18f, and the humidity indicating lights 1
8b, 18c, and 18d are set to the comfortable humidity display section 18g, and the lighting color is set to green. The microcomputer 9 determines the detected value of the humidity sensor, and displays the current humidity corrected for humidity on one of the humidity indicating lamps 18a to 18e.

With the above configuration, when the room humidity is 30% or less, the humidity indicator light 18a of the uncomfortable humidity display section 18f lights in red, and when the room humidity is 30 to 70%, the humidity indicator light 18b of the comfortable humidity display section 18g. , 18c, 18d are lit in green, and when the room humidity is abnormal 70% or more, the humidity indicating lamp 18e of the uncomfortable humidity display section 18f is lit in red. Even in a high-humidity state that does not require the operation of the humidifier, it can be displayed on the uncomfortable humidity display section if the humidifier is energized.

The user who can recognize the comfortable humidity state or the unpleasant humidity state at a glance should ventilate the room when the humidity is high and operate the humidifier when the humidity is low. It can be executed with good timing.

In this embodiment, the humidity indicating lamps 18a, 18
e is the same color as red, but the humidity indicator 18a
May be different colors, such as orange, and the humidity indicator light 18e may be red, so that it is easy to distinguish between low humidity and high humidity.

(Embodiment 3) As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the operation input section 6 is provided with a humidity display selection switch 14, and the display function to be displayed on the humidity display section 18 is continuously displayed and short-time display (2).
Minutes) and three types without display.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the humidifier body 1 is energized in step 71 and the microcomputer 13 is operated in step 72, and at the same time, the humidity sensor 4 is
Detects the humidity at predetermined time intervals and updates the current humidity determination process, but does not display the humidity on the humidity display unit 10 unless the humidity display selection switch 14 is input. In step 74, the input of the humidity display selection switch is determined, and if there is an input, in step 75, the humidity determination data is corrected for humidity and the humidity is displayed. Continue to Step 7
The input of the humidity display selection switch shown in FIG. 6 is determined. If there is no input, the current humidity display is a two-minute timer display by the determination in step 77, and the humidity in steps 75 and 76 is continued until two minutes elapse. The input of the display / humidity display selection switch is determined. Then at step 77
When it is determined that the elapsed time has elapsed, the humidity display is stopped, and the process returns to step 73 and step 74, where only the humidity sensor, the temperature sensor detection, the intermittent operation of the blower fan, and the input determination of the humidity display selection switch are performed. If there is further input of the humidity display selection switch during the timer display at step 76, the 2-minute timer is canceled and at step 79 continuous humidity display is performed. Even during the continuous humidity display, the determination of the humidity display selection switch in step 7A is performed, and if there is no input, the humidity display is continued. If there is an input of the humidity display selection switch in step 7A, the humidity display is terminated in step 7B and the process returns to step 73, and the humidity sensor and temperature sensor detection in step 74 and thereafter, the intermittent operation of the blowing fan, and Perform input determination. This operation is valid regardless of the input of the operation off / on switch 8, that is, regardless of the operation control mode.

(Embodiment 4) As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, a humidity sensor 15 for detecting indoor humidity and a humidity display section 18 for displaying the current humidity detected by the humidity sensor 15 are provided. The humidity display section 18 is subdivided into each humidity range, and when the current humidity is 30% or less, the humidity display lamp 18a,
When the current humidity is 30% to 70%, the humidity indicating lamps 18b, 18c and 18d are turned on every 10%, and when the current humidity is 70% or more, the humidity indicating lamps 18e are turned on. The humidity data detected by the humidity sensor 15 is judged and processed by the microcomputer 9 and displayed on the humidity display section 18 as the current humidity. When the light emitting elements of the humidity indicating lamps 18a to 18e are turned on, normally, a constant brightness is obtained by constantly outputting the light. It is set in the computer 9.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the detection of the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor and the intermittent operation of the blower fan are performed in step 81, and the input of the humidity display selection switch 14 is determined in step 82. Therefore, when the humidity display selection switch 14 is input and the humidity is displayed, the humidity is displayed based on the humidity detection data up to the present in step 83, but the output to the light emitting element is performed by pulse output to reduce the luminance of the humidity indicator by half. . At this time, since the humidity correction is not performed, it can be displayed immediately.

Next, at step 84, the microcomputer 13 performs a process of judging whether the humidity data needs to be corrected based on the temperature data or has a stable detected value.
When the correction is not required, the humidity is displayed by the normal continuous output based on the humidity data determined up to the present. If temperature correction is required in step 84, correction calculation processing is performed in step 85, and if it is determined in step 87 that the correction calculation processing has been completed, normal humidity display by continuous output is performed in step 88.

[0036]

As is apparent from the above embodiment, according to the present invention, the value detected by the humidity sensor can be displayed on the humidity display section only by connecting the humidifier to the power supply, and the user can use the humidifier. It is possible to provide a humidifier having an effect that it is possible to monitor the indoor humidity environment even when the humidifier is not operated, and to judge the necessity of operation of the humidifier according to the monitor display.

Further, the user can easily determine whether or not the room is in an appropriate humid state simply by recognizing the current humidity in the room displayed on the humidity display of the humidifier by color. In such a case, it is possible to provide a humidifier that has an effect of encouraging the user to perform an action of lowering the humidity and maintaining an appropriate humidity.

In addition, since the user can select the indoor humidity display function, it is possible to provide a humidifier which has an effect of being able to save power consumption without performing unnecessary humidity display.

Further, while the rough humidity is displayed until the detection value of the humidity sensor becomes stable and while the microcomputer performs the temperature correction, the humidity is displayed in response to the user's request promptly. And a humidifier effective for convenient use can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a main body of a humidifier according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the same.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the same.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the main body of the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block circuit diagram of the same.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the same.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the main body of a conventional humidifier.

FIG. 10 is a block circuit diagram of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 Microcomputer 12 Operation off / on switch 15 Humidity sensor 16 Temperature sensor 18 Humidity display 18a-18d Humidity indicator 18f Uncomfortable humidity display 18g Comfortable humidity display 19 Humidity display selection switch

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A humidity sensor for detecting indoor humidity, a humidity display unit having a plurality of humidity indicator lights arranged side by side, an operation off / on switch for turning on and off a humidifying operation, and detecting the humidity detected by the humidity sensor. A microcomputer for energizing one of the humidity indicator lamps to display the current humidity, the microcomputer displaying the current humidity on the humidity display section regardless of the operation of the operation off / on switch; Machine. 2. A humidity display section comprising: a comfort humidity display section for displaying comfort humidity; and an uncomfortable humidity display section provided adjacent to the comfort humidity display section. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the display unit has different display colors. 3. A humidity display selection switch for selecting a display method of a humidity display section, and one of continuous display, temporary display, and no display of the humidity display section can be selected by operating the humidity display selection switch. The humidifier according to claim 2. 4. A humidity sensor for correcting the detected humidity of the humidity sensor, and a microcomputer for displaying the corrected humidity calculated on the basis of the detected temperature of the temperature sensor on a humidity display section, wherein the microcomputer has the corrected humidity. 4. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the detected humidity of the humidity sensor is displayed on the humidity display unit until the data is calculated and output. 5.