Humidifier with Water Control Arrangement

Abstract

A humidifier includes a base, a water tank, a water vaporizing mechanism, and a water control arrangement. The water control arrangement includes a first water level sensing device provided on the water tank and arranged to detect a water level in the water storage cavity, a second water level sensing device provided on the base and arranged to detect a water level in the water accommodating compartment, and a central processing unit. The central processing unit is electrically connected to the first water level sensing device, the second water level sensing device and the water vaporizing mechanism, in such a manner that when the water level in the water storage cavity falls below a predetermined threshold as detected by first water level sensing device, the central processing unit is configured to send a signal to a terminal device for reminding water refill.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A humidifier for use in conjunction with a terminal device, comprising:
 a base having a water accommodating compartment;   a water tank detachably attached on said base, said water tank having a water storage cavity for storing a predetermined amount of water, and a mist discharge channel and a mist discharge outlet;   a water vaporizing mechanism accommodated in said base and positioned to correspond to said mist discharge channel; and   a water control arrangement, which comprises:   a first water level sensing device provided on said water tank and arranged to detect a water level in said water storage cavity;   a second water level sensing device provided on said base and arranged to detect a water level in said water accommodating compartment; and   a central processing unit electrically connected to said first water level sensing device , said second water level sensing device and said water vaporizing mechanism, in such a manner that when said water level in said water storage cavity falls below a predetermined threshold as detected by first water level sensing device, said central processing unit is configured to send a signal to said terminal device, and when said water level in said water accommodating compartment falls below a predetermined threshold as detected by second water level sensing device, said central processing unit is configured to send a signal to said terminal device.   
     
     
         2 . The humidifier, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said water tank comprises a outer tank member and an inner tank member received in said outer tank member, and further has a plurality of securing slots formed on a bottom panel of said inner tank member, said base further comprising a plurality of securing members extended from a top panel of said base to selectively engage with said securing slots respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The humidifier, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said first water level sensing device comprises comprise a plurality of first water level sensors spacedly provided on an exterior surface of the inner tank member of said water tank, said first water level sensors being provided as an array and distributed along a vertical direction of the inner tank member, wherein a position of each of the first water level sensor corresponds to a corresponding water level in said water storage cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The humidifier, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein each of said first water level sensor comprises a first sensing member and a first sensor circuitry electrically connected to said first sensing member, in such a manner that when water in said water storage cavity reaches a level corresponding to said first sensing member, said first sensing member and said water are arranged to form a capacitance which generates a very small current to said first sensor circuitry, each of said first sensor circuitries comprising an amplifier electrically connected to said corresponding first sensing member and said central processing unit. 
     
     
         5 . The humidifier, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said central processing unit comprising at least one microprocessor electrically connected to said amplifier of each of said first sensor circuitries, wherein when said water level in said water storage cavity falls below a predetermined threshold as detected by first water level sensing device, said central processing unit is configured to send a signal to said terminal device for reminding refill of said water, wherein when said water level in said water accommodating compartment falls below a predetermined threshold as detected by second water level sensing device, said central processing unit is configured to deactivate said water vaporizing mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The humidifier, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said base further has a water-sealed compartment, said water control arrangement further comprises a main printed circuit board, wherein said first sensor circuitries and said central processing unit are implemented on said main printed circuit board, said main circuit board being securely supported in said water-sealed compartment in said base. 
     
     
         7 . The humidifier, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said water control arrangement further comprises a connection device comprising a plurality of connecting members, a first connection printed circuit board and a second connection printed circuit board, said first connection printed circuit board being supported in said water-sealed compartment, while said second connection printed circuit board being supported at a lower portion of said water tank, said connecting members electrically connecting said first connection printed circuit board and said second connection printed circuit board when said water tank is detachably attached on said base. 
     
     
         8 . The humidifier, as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said second water sensing device comprises at least one second water level sensor provided on the base, said second water level sensor comprising a second sensing member and a second sensor circuitry electrically connected to said second sensing member, in such a manner that when water in said water accommodating compartment reaches a level corresponding to said second sensing member, said second sensing member and said water are arranged to form a capacitance which generates a very small current to said second sensor circuitry, said second sensor circuitry comprising an amplifier electrically connected to said second sensing member and said central processing unit, said second sensor circuitry being implemented on said main printed circuit board. 
     
     
         9 . The humidifier, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said central processing unit further comprises a communication module electrically connected to said microprocessor for transmitting and receiving signals through a predetermine network, said communication module comprising a transceiver connected to said main printed circuit board. 
     
     
         10 . A method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device, comprising said steps of:
 (a) receiving, by said terminal device, a water level and a corresponding water volume of a water storage cavity of a water tank of a humidifier, wherein said water level is detected by a first water level sensing device of said humidifier;   (b) receiving, by said terminal device, a water level and a corresponding water volume of a water accommodating compartment of base of a humidifier, wherein said water level is detected by a second water level sensing device of said humidifier;   (c) acquiring a remaining total water volume of said humidifier by adding said water volume of said water storage cavity and said water accommodating compartment; and   (d) alerting a user of said humidifier to refill water in said water storage cavity when said remaining water volume of said humidifier falls below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         11 . The method, as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a step, in between said step (c) and said step (d), of displaying, by said terminal device, said remaining water volume of said humidifier. 
     
     
         12 . The method, as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a step (e) of determining, by at least one of said terminal device and a server, a water dissipating rate of said humidifier. 
     
     
         13 . The method, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said water dissipating rate is determined by actual water dissipation in said humidifier as detected by said first water level sensing device and said second water level sensing device. 
     
     
         14 . The method, as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a step (f) of determining a remaining operation time of said humidifier based on said remaining total water volume and said water dissipating rate of said humidifier obtained in said step (e), and displaying said remaining operation time by said terminal device. 
     
     
         15 . The method, as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a step (g) of deactivating, by a central processing unit of said humidifier, a water vaporizing mechanism of said humidifier when said water volume of said water accommodating compartment of base falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         16 . A method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device, comprising said steps of:
 (1) receiving, by said terminal device, a water volume of a water storage cavity of a water tank of a humidifier, wherein said water volume of said water storage cavity is obtained by a water level detected by a first water level sensing device of said humidifier;   (2) receiving, by said terminal device, a water volume of a water accommodating compartment of a base of said humidifier, wherein said water volume of said water accommodating compartment is obtained by a water level detected by a second water level sensing device of said humidifier;   (3) acquiring a water dissipating rate of said humidifier; and   (4) acquiring a remaining operation time of said humidifier based on said water volume of said water storage cavity, said water volume of said water accommodating compartment, and said water dissipating rate.   
     
     
         17 . The method, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said step (2) comprises the steps of:
 (2.1) setting said water volume of said water accommodating cavity to be maximum when said water volume of said water storage cavity is greater than zero;   (2.2) when said water volume of said water storage cavity is equal to zero, detecting, by a second water level sensing device, a water level in said water accommodating cavity; and   (2.3) acquiring said water volume of said water accommodating cavity based on said detected water level in said water accommodating cavity.   
     
     
         18 . The method, as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising a step of alerting a user of said humidifier to refill water in said water storage cavity when said remaining operation time of said humidifier falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         19 . The method, as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising a of deactivating said water vaporizing mechanism when said remaining operation time of said humidifier falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The method, as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a step of deactivating, by a central processing unit of said humidifier, a water vaporizing mechanism of said humidifier when said water volume of said water accommodating compartment of base falls below a predetermined threshold.