Water heater and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a water heater and a control method of the water heater. The water heater comprises a main body, a heat accumulator, a water passing pipeline, a controller and an interaction assembly. A heat storage cavity is formed in the main body; the heat storage body is filled in the heat storage cavity; at least part of the water passing pipeline is inserted into the heat accumulator; the controller is mounted on the main body; the interaction assembly comprises a prompt light bar installed on the main body, and the prompt light bar is in communication connection with the controller and can emit light to the outside of the main body. The controller is used for controlling the prompt light bar to display the light emitting length matched with the residual heat of the heat accumulator. According to the water heater, the light emitting length displayed by the prompt light bar is adopted to represent the residual heat of the heat accumulator, so that the interactive experience can be optimized, and the use experience of a user is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of household appliances, and in particular to a water heater and a control method for the water heater. Background Art

[0002] At present, water heaters are becoming more and more popular. However, water heaters are usually installed at a relatively high position, and when users use the water heaters, there is usually a considerable distance between them. When the distance is far, the interaction experience between the water heaters in the related art and the users is poor. Summary of the invention

[0003] The embodiments of the present application provide a water heater and a method for controlling the water heater, which can improve the user's interactive experience.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a water heater, the water heater comprising:

[0005] The main body is provided with a heat storage chamber;

[0006] A heat storage body is filled in the heat storage cavity;

[0007] A water pipe, at least part of which is inserted into the thermal storage body;

[0008] A controller installed on the main body; and

[0009] An interactive component, comprising a prompt light bar installed on the main body, the prompt light bar is in communication connection with the controller and can emit bright light outside the main body;

[0010] Wherein, the controller is used to control the prompt light bar to display a luminous length that matches the residual heat of the heat storage body.

[0011] In some embodiments, the water flow pipeline includes a water inlet pipe, a heat exchange pipe and a water outlet pipe which are connected in sequence, and the heat exchange pipe is inserted into the heat storage body; the water heater also includes:

[0012] A first temperature sensor is arranged on the water inlet pipe;

[0013] A second temperature sensor is disposed on the water outlet pipe; and

[0014] A flow sensor, arranged on the water inlet pipe or the water outlet pipe;

[0015] The controller is in communication connection with the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor and the flow sensor, so as to obtain the water inlet temperature T1 through the first temperature sensor, the water outlet temperature T2 through the second temperature sensor, and the water flow v through the flow sensor;

[0016] The controller is also used to obtain the water outlet time t1 of the water outlet pipe, and obtain the residual heat Qt according to the following formula:

[0017] Q t =Q0-Q out

[0018]

[0019] ΔT=T2-T1

[0020] Wherein, Q0 is the initial heat of the heat storage body, Qout is the conversion heat consumed for heating water, c is the specific heat capacity of water, and ρ is the density of water.

[0021] In some embodiments, the water heater further comprises a heating assembly for providing heat to the thermal storage body;

[0022] The controller is also used to obtain the heating power P and heating time t0 of the heating component, and determine the initial heat Q0 according to the following formula:

[0023]

[0024] Wherein, η is the conversion coefficient.

[0025] In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to obtain the remaining water outlet time t2 according to the following formula:

[0026] t2=Qt / cρvΔT

[0027] ΔT=T2-T1

[0028] Wherein, the controller is also used to control the luminous length of the prompt light bar according to the remaining water outlet time t2.

[0029] In some embodiments, the light emission length is positively correlated with the remaining water outlet time t2.

[0030] In some embodiments, the controller includes a storage unit, which is used to store a time threshold. The controller is also used to control the prompt light bar to change color and / or flash when the remaining water outlet time t2 is less than the time threshold.

[0031] In some embodiments, the interaction component further includes:

[0032] A human body sensing module installed on the main body, the human body sensing module is connected to the controller for generating a wake-up signal when sensing a human body within a preset range, and sending the signal to the controller, so that the controller wakes up the water heater according to the wake-up signal and controls the prompt light bar to display a wake-up motion effect;

[0033] And / or, a gesture sensing module installed on the main body, the gesture sensing module is communicatively connected to the controller to generate a gesture signal when a preset gesture is sensed, and send it to the controller, so that the controller controls the switching of the preset water outlet temperature and controls the prompt light bar to display interactive effects according to the gesture signal.

[0034] In some embodiments, the thermal storage body is a phase change thermal storage body.

[0035] In some embodiments, the light emission length is positively correlated with the residual heat.

[0036] In some embodiments, the interactive component further comprises a digital display mounted on the main body, wherein the digital display is used to display digital information corresponding to the residual heat of the heat storage body under the control of the controller.

[0037] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a control method for a water heater, wherein the water heater comprises a main body, a heat storage body installed in the main body, and an interactive component installed in the main body, wherein the interactive component comprises a prompt light bar, and the control method comprises:

[0038] Obtaining the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body and the conversion heat Qout consumed for heating water;

[0039] According to Qt = Q0-Qout, determine the remaining heat Qt;

[0040] The luminous length of the prompt light bar is controlled according to the residual heat Qt.

[0041] In some embodiments, the light emission length is positively correlated with the residual heat Qt.

[0042] In some embodiments, the water heater further comprises a heating assembly for providing heat to the heat storage body, and the step of obtaining the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body and the conversion heat Qout consumed for heating water comprises:

[0043] Obtaining the heating power P and heating time t0 of the heating component;

[0044] according to Determine the initial heat Q0;

[0045] Wherein, η is the conversion coefficient.

[0046] In some embodiments, the water heater further comprises a water inlet pipe, a heat exchange pipe and a water outlet pipe which are connected in sequence, the heat exchange pipe is inserted into the heat storage body, and the step of obtaining the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body and the conversion heat Qout consumed for heating water comprises:

[0047] Obtain the inlet water temperature T1, outlet water temperature T2, water flow v and outlet time t1;

[0048] according to ΔT=T2-T1, determining the conversion heat Qout;

[0049] Where c is the specific heat of water and ρ is the density of water.

[0050] In some embodiments, the step of controlling the luminous length of the prompt light bar displayed according to the residual heat Qt includes:

[0051] According to the residual heat Qt, the remaining water output time t2 is obtained;

[0052] According to the remaining water outlet time t2, a lighting signal is sent to the prompt light bar so that the prompt light bar displays a corresponding lighting length.

[0053] In some embodiments, the water heater further includes a water inlet pipe, a heat exchange pipe and a water outlet pipe connected in sequence, the heat exchange pipe is inserted into the heat storage body, and the step of obtaining the remaining water outlet time t2 according to the residual heat Qt includes:

[0054] Obtain the inlet water temperature T1, outlet water temperature T2 and water flow v;

[0055] According to t2=Qt / cρvΔT, ΔT=T2-T1, determine the remaining water discharge time t2;

[0056] Where c is the specific heat of water and ρ is the density of water.

[0057] In some embodiments, the prompt light bar includes a plurality of sub-display units, and the lighting signal includes a lighting number, so as to control the light emission length by lighting different numbers of sub-display units.

[0058] In some embodiments, the lighting signal further includes a first lighting color signal and a second lighting color signal, and the step of sending a lighting signal to the prompt light bar according to the remaining water outlet time t2 so that the prompt light bar displays a corresponding lighting length includes:

[0059] Determine whether the remaining water outlet time t2 is less than a time threshold;

[0060] If not, the lighting signal includes a first lighting color signal, so that the prompt light bar displays a light bar of the first color;

[0061] If yes, the lighting signal includes a second lighting color signal, so that the prompt light bar displays a light bar of a second color;

[0062] The first color is different from the second color.

[0063] In some embodiments, the interactive component further includes a human body sensing module installed on the main body, and the human body sensing module is used to generate a wake-up signal when sensing a human body within a preset range. Before the step of obtaining the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body and the conversion heat Qout consumed for heating water, the control method further includes:

[0064] Get the wake-up signal;

[0065] According to the wake-up signal, the water heater is woken up and the prompt light bar is controlled to light up and display the wake-up animation.

[0066] In some embodiments, the water heater has at least two preset water outlet temperatures, the interactive component further includes a gesture sensing module installed on the main body, the gesture sensing module is used to generate a gesture signal when a preset gesture within a preset range is sensed, and before the step of obtaining the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body and the conversion heat Qout consumed for heating water, the control method further includes:

[0067] acquiring the gesture signal;

[0068] According to the gesture signal, the preset water outlet temperature is switched and the prompt light bar is controlled to display an interactive dynamic effect.

[0069] In some embodiments, the water heater has at least two preset water outlet temperatures, the prompt light bar can display at least two light bar colors corresponding to the at least two preset water outlet temperatures, and the step of controlling the luminous length displayed by the prompt light bar according to the residual heat Qt includes:

[0070] Determine the light bar color;

[0071] The prompt light bar is controlled to light up with a determined light bar color, and the light emission length corresponding to the remaining heat Qt is displayed.

[0072] Based on the above embodiments, the water heater of the embodiment of the present application can use the length of the light emitted by the prompt light bar to represent the residual heat of the heat storage body. The prompt light bar is often simpler in shape than text or numbers, and has a certain degree of extensibility on the main body. The change in the length of the light emitted by the prompt light bar can obviously bring a more intuitive display effect, which is convenient for users to observe. Even if the user is far away from the water heater or is nearsighted, the user can still directly judge the amount of residual heat based on the length of the light. In this way, the user can fully understand the operating status of the water heater, which is convenient for the user to arrange the use time, avoid the water heater from stopping the water discharge or flowing out water that does not meet the temperature conditions without the user's knowledge, and ensure that the user can clearly understand the relevant information conveyed by the water heater, which is convenient for the user to make judgments and carry out the next step of interaction with the water heater, thereby optimizing the interactive experience and improving the user's usage experience.

[0073] It can be understood that, under the premise of a certain initial energy, when the water outlet temperature and water flow rate are different, the change rate of the residual heat is different. The faster the change, the faster the energy consumption, and the shorter the remaining water outlet time. The embodiment of the present application can directly use a prompt light bar to indicate the residual heat of the heat storage body. When the user selects different water outlet temperatures, the change rate of the residual heat is different, and the corresponding change rate of the luminous length is also different. The two are positively correlated. As a result, the user can obtain more information from the prompt light bar, and can flexibly adjust the relevant parameters of the water heater according to their own needs, luminous length and the rate of change of the luminous length, so as to achieve a deeper interaction with the water heater.

[0074] If the water heater is also equipped with other display components, the setting of the prompt light bar in conjunction with other display components on the water heater can enhance the effective coverage and amount of information displayed by the water heater, thereby facilitating users to obtain relevant information about the water heater and improving the interactive experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0076] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a water heater of the present application;

[0077] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the water heater;

[0078] Figure 3This is a partial structural diagram of an embodiment of a water heater of the present application;

[0079] Figure 4 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of another embodiment of the water heater of the present application;

[0080] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of a light strip for this application;

[0081] Figure 6 It is a flow chart of a method for controlling a water heater in one embodiment of the present application;

[0082] Figure 7 It is a flow chart of a method for controlling a water heater in one embodiment of the present application;

[0083] Figure 8 It is a flowchart of a method for controlling a water heater in another embodiment of the present application;

[0084] Fig. 9 It is a flowchart of a method for controlling a water heater in another embodiment of the present application;

[0085] Fig.10 It is a flowchart of a method for controlling a water heater in another embodiment of the present application;

[0086] Fig.11 It is a flowchart of a method for controlling a water heater in another embodiment of the present application;

[0087] Fig.12 This is a flow chart of a method for controlling a water heater in yet another embodiment of the present application;

[0088] Fig.13 This is a flow chart of a method for controlling a water heater in yet another embodiment of the present application;

[0089] Fig.14 It is a flowchart of a method for controlling a water heater in yet another embodiment of the present application.

[0090] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0091] 100, water heater; 10, main body; 11, shell; 11a, heat storage chamber; 111, front panel; 113, bottom plate; 20, heat storage body; 30, interactive component; 31, prompt light bar; 311, sub-display unit; 33, human body sensing module; 35, gesture sensing module; 40, heating component; 41, heating rod; 43, heat flow pipeline; 45, heat source; 50, water flow pipeline; 51, water inlet pipe; 53, heat exchange pipe; 55, water outlet pipe; 56, bypass pipe; 57, thermostatic valve; 59, mixing valve; 60, controller; 61, storage unit; 63, timing unit; 70, first temperature sensor; 71, second temperature sensor; 73, flow sensor.

[0092] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0093] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the following part will further describe the embodiments of the present application in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0094] When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present application. Instead, they are only examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the attached claims.

[0095] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "first", "second", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances. In addition, in the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0096] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in this specification are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0097] At present, water heaters are becoming more and more popular. There are various water heaters on the market, among which one type of water heater uses energy storage to store heat and heats water with this stored energy to achieve rapid heating of the water.

[0098] Please refer to Figure 1 to Figure 2 The embodiment of the present application provides a water heater 100. The water heater 100 includes a main body 10, a heat storage body 20, a water pipe 50, a heating component 40, an interactive component 30 and a controller 60. The main body 10 includes a shell 11, which provides an installation space and an installation foundation for various components of the water heater 100. The heat storage body 20, the water pipe 50, the heating component 40, the interactive component 30 and the controller 60 are all installed in the shell 11.

[0099] Specifically, Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a heat storage chamber 11a is provided in the shell 11, and a heat storage body 20 is filled in the heat storage chamber 11a. The heat storage body 20 is a material or device that can store thermal energy and release thermal energy when needed. It can adjust the temperature by absorbing, storing and releasing heat to achieve efficient utilization and energy saving of energy. For example, the heat storage body 20 can be made of ceramic heat storage material. In addition, the heat storage body 20 of an embodiment of the present application can also be selected as a phase change heat storage body 20, and the phase change heat storage body 20 is made of a phase change energy storage material. Specifically, the phase change energy storage material has a first state and a second state. When absorbing heat, the phase change energy storage material changes from the first state to the second state, and when releasing heat, the phase change energy storage material changes from the second state to the first state. For example, the first state can be solid, and the second state can be liquid. The phase change energy storage material absorbs heat or releases heat during the solid-liquid conversion; or, the first state and the second state of the phase change energy storage material can also be solid, etc. Phase change energy storage materials have a higher heat storage density and a relatively stable temperature, which is conducive to stably storing more heat in a limited volume and under common working conditions, and can better meet the needs of users for using the water heater 100.

[0100] The heating component 40 can be used to provide heat for the heat storage body 20. In the embodiment of the present application, the heating component 40 is connected to the controller 60 for controlling the start and stop and heating power of the heating component 40 through the controller 60, and recording the heating power P and the heating time t0. The heating component 40 can be optionally a heating rod 41 that can emit heat after being powered on, and at least part of the heating rod 41 is located in the heat storage chamber 11a and penetrates the heat storage body 20. In this way, when the heat storage body 20 needs to be supplemented with heat, it can be supplemented by the heat emitted by the heating rod 41. Of course, if Figure 4As shown, the heating assembly 40 may further include a heat source 45 and a heat flow pipeline 43, wherein the heat flow pipeline 43 is located in the heat storage chamber 11a and penetrates the heat storage body 20. A heat flow medium is provided in the heat flow pipeline 43, and the heat of the heat source 45 is transported to the heat storage chamber 11a through the circulating heat flow medium, and is absorbed and stored by the heat storage body 20.

[0101] Optionally, in order to improve the heating efficiency, the portion of the heating assembly 40 located in the heat storage chamber 11a (heating rod 41 or heat flow pipeline 43) is arranged in a curved shape to increase the heat exchange area to a certain extent. A heat insulation layer is also arranged on the inner wall of the heat storage chamber 11a. The heat insulation layer is made of a material that can block the transfer of heat flow, and can be glass fiber or the like. The heat insulation layer isolates the heat storage body 20 from the environment outside the heat storage chamber 11a, which can effectively reduce the loss of heat.

[0102] The water pipe 50 includes an inlet pipe 51, a heat exchange pipe 53 and an outlet pipe 55 which are connected in sequence. Among them, the inlet pipe 51 is connected to a water source, and the water source can be tap water or water filtered by a water filter, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. The heat exchange pipe 53 is located in the heat storage chamber 11a and is penetrated in the heat storage body 20. When the water flows through the heat exchange pipe 53, it exchanges heat with the heat storage body 20 and heats up. In order to improve the heat exchange efficiency, the heat exchange pipe 53 is arranged in a coil, and the coil can be spiral or grid-shaped, etc., to increase the heat exchange contact area of ​​the heat exchange pipe 53, so that the heat exchange speed between the heat exchange pipe 53 and the heat storage body 20 is faster. The water after heat exchange enters the outlet pipe 55, and the outlet pipe 55 is connected to a faucet or a shower head, etc., to discharge the water after heat exchange.

[0103] Alternatively, if Figure 3 As shown, the water inlet pipe 51 and the water outlet pipe 55 are directly connected through the heat exchange pipe 53. The water in the water inlet pipe 51 enters the heat exchange pipe 53 for heat exchange. The water after heat exchange reaches the set water outlet temperature and enters the water outlet pipe 55. Furthermore, a thermostatic valve 57 can be set at the outlet of the water outlet pipe 55. The thermostatic valve 57 is used to make water flow out when the water temperature meets the requirements, and not to make water flow out when the water temperature does not meet the requirements, so as to control the temperature of the water outlet of the water heater 100, so that the user can take a bath and other actions under a relatively constant water temperature condition, and the user experience is better. Figure 4In another form, the water inlet pipe 51 is also connected to the water outlet pipe 55 through a bypass pipe 56. Part of the water in the water inlet pipe 51 flows into the heat exchange pipe 53 to exchange heat with the heat storage body 20, and the other part enters the water outlet pipe 55 through the bypass pipe 56. The water flowing from the heat exchange pipe 53 into the water outlet pipe 55 is hot water (water with a higher temperature than normal temperature water), and the water flowing from the bypass pipe 56 into the water outlet pipe 55 is normal temperature water. A mixing valve 59 is provided at the connection between the bypass pipe 56 and the water outlet pipe 55. The mixing valve 59 mixes hot water and normal temperature water, and then a variety of different water outlet temperatures can be achieved by adjusting the thermostatic valve 57. Furthermore, the mixing valve 59 and the normal temperature valve can be integrated into a valve body structure to reduce the volume and improve the structural integration.

[0104] Of course, in other embodiments, the heating component 40 can also be arranged outside the heat storage chamber 11a, and the heat storage body 20 can be used to store heat outside or inside the water heater 100, such as by recovering the residual heat of the heated hot water. For example, the water in the water inlet pipe 51 can be preheated with the heating component 40, and the water after heat exchange flows into the heat exchange pipe 53. The heat storage body 20 can absorb the residual heat of the water or can perform secondary heating on the water, so as to achieve heat storage or heat the water to a specified temperature. Alternatively, in order to make the heating speed faster, the water can also be preheated in the heat storage chamber 11a first, and then flow out of the water outlet pipe 55 after secondary heating by the heating component 40. In this way, during the heating process, the water temperature rises less, thereby accelerating the heating speed of the incoming water. When the heating component 40 stops heating, the residual heat can be transferred to the heat storage body 20 by heat conduction, so that the heat is stored in the heat storage chamber 11a.

[0105] In addition, the water heater 100 may be provided with a plurality of heating components 40. For example, one of the heating components 40 is provided in the heat storage chamber 11a to provide heat energy for the heat storage body 20; at the same time, another one or more of the heating components 40 is provided outside the heat storage chamber 11a to heat water. In this way, the plurality of heating components 40 cooperate with the heat storage body 20 in the heat storage chamber 11a to complete the work of heating water, which will not be described in detail here.

[0106] The interactive component 30 is used to perform information interaction, command control and other operations with the user. In the embodiment of the present application, the interactive component 30 may include a display, which is used to display relevant information under the control of the controller 60. Exemplarily, the display can be used to display the operating mode information of the water heater 100, and can also be used to display water outlet temperature information or set temperature information. Alternatively, as the user uses the water heater 100 for a longer time, the remaining water outlet time of the water heater 100 becomes less and less, and the display can also be used to display the remaining water outlet time of the water heater 100, so that the user can use the water heater 100 more reasonably after knowing the relevant information. Among them, the display can be a display screen or a digital display, so that the above information, especially the remaining water outlet time, is displayed in the form of numbers or text.

[0107] However, in the related art, the water heater 100 is usually installed at a relatively high position, and when the user uses the water heater 100, there is usually a considerable distance between the user and the water heater 100. Since the display area of ​​the text, numbers or symbols is relatively concentrated, and due to the limitation of the display, the volume of the text, numbers or symbols may be small, when the distance is far, the user may not be able to distinguish and obtain the above information well. Considering that some myopic users usually take off their glasses when using the water heater 100 for bathing, it is even more difficult for the user to obtain relevant information in this case. In other words, it is difficult to ensure that the user can clearly obtain the relevant information of the water heater 100, especially the information about the remaining available time, by displaying the relevant information only in the form of text, numbers or symbols. Therefore, when the user cannot obtain the relevant information well, the interactive experience with the water heater 100 will be deteriorated.

[0108] The interactive component 30 of the embodiment of the present application also includes a prompt light bar 31 installed on the main body 10, which is connected to the controller 60 and can emit light outside the main body 10. For the convenience of explanation, the surface of the shell 11 of the main body 10 facing the user when the user is bathing is called the front side, and the side facing away from the user and used for installation is called the back side. Please refer to Figure 1 In order to facilitate user observation, the prompt light bar 31 in the embodiment of the present application is installed on the main body 10, and the prompt light bar 31 is exposed on the front of the shell 11. The prompt light bar 31 can be directly set on the outer surface of the shell 11 or embedded in the shell 11, or the shell 11 can also be provided with a window corresponding to the shape of the prompt light bar 31. The prompt light bar 31 is located in the shell 11, and the light it emits can be emitted to the outside of the shell 11 through the window area of ​​the shell 11, so that the user can observe the length of the light bar.

[0109] For example, please refer to Figure 5, the prompt light bar 31 includes a plurality of sub-display units 311, and the plurality of sub-display units 311 are arranged in a preset shape and are used to combine to form light bars of different lengths under the control of the controller 60, so that the prompt light bar 31 has different luminous lengths. For example, the sub-display unit 311 can be an indicator light, and the plurality of indicator lights can be arranged in a linear shape such as a straight line, an arc or a wavy line, or can be arranged in a ring shape, which is not limited in the present application. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of indicator lights can be in a strip shape and arranged along the length direction or the width direction of the main body 10, with the indicator light at one end of the prompt light bar 31 as the starting point and the indicator light at the other end as the end point, so that a plurality of continuous indicator lights are lit along the direction from the starting point to the end point, and the number of lighted indicator lights is different, and the luminous length is different. Alternatively, a certain indicator light in the middle part of the prompt light bar 31 can be used as the starting point, and the indicator lights at both ends of the prompt light bar 31 can be used as the end point, and different numbers of continuous indicator lights can be lit to achieve different luminous lengths of the prompt light bar 31.

[0110] In other optional embodiments of the present application, the prompt light bar 31 can also be a whole strip-shaped, arc-shaped or ring-shaped display screen, or a strip-shaped, arc-shaped or ring-shaped display area on a display screen. By displaying light bars of different lengths on the display screen, the different luminous lengths of the prompt light bar 31 can be reflected.

[0111] In the above two embodiments, the method of using multiple indicator lights has low cost and convenient structural layout and installation, while the solution of using a display screen can display a variety of colors and a variety of dynamic effects, which can be flexibly selected according to actual conditions.

[0112] On this basis, the embodiment of the present application utilizes the variable luminous length of the prompt light strip 31 to match it with the residual heat Qt of the heat storage body 20 under the control of the controller 60 .

[0113] When the water is discharged, the heating assembly 40 of the water heater 100 of the embodiment of the present application does not work, and the normal temperature water flows out after exchanging heat with the heat storage body 20. The embodiment of the present application uses the following formula to determine the residual heat Qt of the heat storage body 20:

[0114] Q t =Q0-Q out

[0115] Among them, Q0 is the initial heat possessed by the heat storage body 20, which refers to the sum of the heat stored in the heat storage body 20 before the next heat exchange with water after the heat is completely released and the heat is replenished. In some embodiments, the heat source of the heat storage body 20 comes from the heating component 40, and the heating component 40 is electrically connected to the controller 60. The controller 60 includes a storage unit 61 and a timing unit 63. The controller 60 can control the heating power P of the heating component 40. The timing unit 63 is used to record the heating time t0 of the heating component 40. The heating power P and the heating time t0 of the heating component 40 are both stored in the storage unit 61. Obviously, the heating power P is a function of the heating time t0, and the mapping relationship between the heating power P and the heating time t0 is also recorded and stored in the storage unit 61. Among them, as the heating time t0 changes, the heating power P may be a constant value or a constantly changing value. Therefore, the embodiment of the present application determines the initial heat Q0 according to the following formula:

[0116]

[0117] Wherein, η is the conversion coefficient. It can be understood that in the heating component 40, there is a certain loss in the conversion of electric energy to thermal energy, and the heat generated by the heating component 40 may not be completely absorbed by the heat storage body 20. Therefore, when calculating the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body 20 by the heating power P of the heating component 40 and the heating time t0, the conversion rate between electric energy and the initial heat Q0 needs to be considered. Different types and forms of heating components 40 and heat storage bodies 20 have different conversion coefficients η, and meet the condition 0≤η≤1. Obviously, the higher the conversion coefficient η, the higher the conversion efficiency of electric energy to the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body 20, and the higher the energy utilization rate. In order to improve the energy efficiency level of the water heater 100, the water heater 100 can select a combination of a heating component 40 and a heat storage body 20 with a higher conversion coefficient η; the main body 10 can also be designed in a related manner, such as improving the heat insulation capacity of the heat storage chamber 11a, which is also conducive to reducing heat loss, thereby improving the conversion coefficient η. Through measurement, for a certain heating assembly 40 and heat storage body 20, the conversion coefficient η is a certain value. That is:

[0118]

[0119] In this way, the electric energy consumed by the heating component 40 during the heating time t0 can be obtained by integrating the heating power P, and then multiplied by the conversion rate coefficient η, the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body 20 can be obtained.

[0120] Qout is the conversion heat, which refers to the heat consumed by the heat storage body 20 and water when the water passes through the heat exchange tube 53. To measure the conversion heat Qout, Figure 2As shown, in some embodiments, the water heater 100 further includes a first temperature sensor 70, a second temperature sensor 71 and a flow sensor 73. The first temperature sensor 70, the second temperature sensor 71 and the flow sensor 73 are all connected to the controller 60 for communication. The first temperature sensor 70 is arranged on the water inlet pipe 51, the second temperature sensor 71 is arranged on the water outlet pipe 55, and the flow sensor 73 is arranged on the water inlet pipe 51. Alternatively, in some structural forms, the water inflow of the water inlet pipe 51 is the same as the water outflow of the water outlet pipe 55, and the flow sensor 73 can also be arranged on the water outlet pipe 55. Thus, the controller 60 can obtain the water inlet temperature T1 through the first temperature sensor 70, the water outlet temperature T2 through the second temperature sensor 71, and the water flow v through the flow sensor 73. The timing unit 63 of the controller 60 can also obtain the water outlet time t1 of the water outlet pipe 55. It can be understood that the water inlet temperature T1, the water outlet temperature T2, and the water flow v can all change with the water outlet time t1. The controller 60 can obtain the conversion heat Qout according to the following formula:

[0121]

[0122] ΔT=T2-T1

[0123] Wherein, c is the specific heat capacity of water, ρ is the density of water, and under certain conditions, c and ρ are both constant values. In a specific embodiment of the present application, the water inlet temperature T1 can be the average value of the water temperature of the water inlet pipe 51 collected multiple times. The first temperature sensor 70 needs to continuously measure within a set time period (such as 10s to 120s) at the beginning of a user's use cycle, and collect the water temperature of the water inlet pipe 51 every X seconds. If the data collected for several consecutive times (3 to 6 times) fluctuates within a preset range (such as ±0.1℃ to 0.5℃), it is determined that the average value of the water temperature data collected for several consecutive times in the water inlet pipe 51 is the water inlet temperature T1 of this user's use cycle, and the first temperature sensor 70 no longer collects data in this cycle, that is, the water inlet temperature T1 can be a constant value in this user's use cycle. Wherein X is a positive integer, for example, X can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12. In one embodiment, a thermostatic valve 57 may be provided in the water outlet pipe 55 to ensure that the water outlet temperature T2 is a constant value. In this case, the temperature change ΔT = T2 - T1 is also a constant value. Then for this embodiment:

[0124]

[0125] In this way, by integrating the water flow v, the conversion energy Qout consumed by the heat storage body 20 for heating water within the water outlet time t1 can be obtained. In a specific embodiment, during the water outlet process, the flow sensor 73 can collect data once every interval time tv and feed it back to the controller 60, and the controller 60 uses this data as the water flow v within this period of time. Assuming that the controller 60 collects n data within the water outlet time t1, and the water flow rates at each interval time tv recorded by the controller 60 are v1, v2, v3...vn respectively, then the conversion energy Qout can be obtained by the following method:

[0126]

[0127] Based on the above analysis, after obtaining the initial heat Q0 and the conversion heat Qout, according to the formula Q t =Q0-Q out The residual heat Qt of the heat storage body 20 can be determined. Each time the flow sensor 73 feeds back data, the controller 60 outputs the residual heat Qt according to the above formula. It can be understood that, assuming that the controller 60 collects n data within the water outlet time t1, when the water outlet time t1 is constant, the larger the n, the shorter the interval time tv, the more accurate the water flow v fed back by the flow sensor 73, and the more accurate and reliable the residual heat Qt calculated according to the above formula. Of course, in other embodiments, the conversion heat Qout can also be calculated in other ways, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0128] In the embodiment of the present application, the controller 60 can also control the prompt light bar 31 to display a luminous length that matches the above-mentioned residual heat Qt. For example, in order to be more in line with the user's intuitive feeling, the luminous length is positively correlated with the residual heat Qt. That is, the more residual heat Qt, the longer the luminous length; conversely, the less residual heat Qt, the shorter the luminous length. On this basis, the luminous length can change linearly or nonlinearly according to the amount of residual heat Qt, and the present application does not limit this.

[0129] Specifically, in an optional structural form, the prompt light bar 31 includes a plurality of sub-display units 311, and the plurality of sub-display units 311 are arranged in a preset shape. The more residual heat Qt, the more sub-display units 311 are lit, and the longer the luminous length. In another structural form, the prompt light bar 31 is a whole strip, arc or ring-shaped display screen, and the more residual heat Qt, the longer the lit area on the display screen, and the longer the luminous length.

[0130] Thus, in order to solve the problem of poor long-distance interaction of the water heater 100, the embodiment of the present application creatively adopts a more intuitive information display method, namely, the prompt light bar 31, and the luminous length displayed by the prompt light bar 31 can be used to represent the residual heat of the heat storage body 20. The prompt light bar 31 is often a simpler shape than the text or digital form, and has a certain extensibility on the main body 10. The change of the luminous length of the prompt light bar 31 can obviously bring a more intuitive display effect, which is convenient for the user to observe. Even if the user is far away from the water heater 100 or is nearsighted, the user can still directly judge the amount of residual heat according to the length of the luminous length. In this way, the user can fully grasp the operating status of the water heater 100, which is convenient for the user to arrange the use time, avoid the water heater 100 from ending the water discharge or flowing out water that does not meet the temperature conditions without the user's knowledge, and ensure that the user can clearly know the relevant information conveyed by the water heater 100, which is convenient for the user to make a judgment and interact with the water heater 100 in the next step, thereby optimizing the interactive experience and improving the user's use experience.

[0131] It can be understood that, under the premise of a certain initial energy, when the water outlet temperature and water flow rate are different, the rate of change of the residual heat is different. The faster the change, the faster the energy consumption, and the shorter the remaining water outlet time. The embodiment of the present application can directly use the prompt light bar 31 to indicate the residual heat of the heat storage body 20. When the user selects different water outlet temperatures, the rate of change of the residual heat is different, and the corresponding rate of change of the luminous length is also different. The two are positively correlated. As a result, the user can obtain more information from the prompt light bar 31, and can flexibly adjust the relevant parameters of the water heater 100 according to their own needs, luminous length and the rate of change of the luminous length, so as to achieve a deeper interaction with the water heater 100.

[0132] Of course, the embodiment of the present application may also use other corresponding relationships to reflect the relationship between the prompt light bar 31 and the remaining heat. In some embodiments, according to the water flow rate v most recently fed back by the flow sensor 73, it can be understood that this value is a constant. The controller 60 is also used to obtain the current inlet water temperature T1, the outlet water temperature T2 and the remaining outlet water time t2 under the current water flow rate according to the following formula:

[0133] t2=Qt / cρvΔT

[0134] ΔT=T2-T1

[0135] Obviously, the more residual heat Qt, the longer the remaining water outlet time t2, and vice versa, the less residual heat Qt, the shorter the remaining water outlet time t2. After obtaining the remaining water outlet time t2, the controller 60 can send a signal to the prompt light bar 31 and the display according to the remaining water outlet time t2, so that the prompt light bar 31 displays the corresponding luminous length to characterize the corresponding remaining water outlet time t2, and the display directly displays the specific value of the remaining water outlet time t2 in the form of numbers or text. Among them, in order to better meet the user's intuitive impression, the luminous length can be selected to be positively correlated with the remaining water outlet time t2. In this way, the user can judge the remaining water outlet time t2 by the luminous length of the prompt light bar 31 when at a long distance, and can directly obtain more detailed information about the remaining water outlet time t2 through the display when at a close distance. In this way, the remaining water outlet time t2 obtained according to the conversion can be displayed by the prompt light bar 31 and the display at the same time, which can more comprehensively cover the interaction range between the user and the water heater 100 and improve the user experience.

[0136] Of course, the prompt light bar 31 and the display can also display different information. For example, the prompt light bar 31 is used to display the remaining heat, and the display is used to display the remaining usage time, the water outlet temperature, etc. The water heater 100 displays more and more extensive information, and the user can obtain more information at one time, which is convenient for the user's next interaction. In other words, the setting of the prompt light bar 31 and other display components on the water heater 100 can improve the effective coverage and information volume of the information displayed by the water heater 100, so as to facilitate the user to obtain relevant information of the water heater 100 and improve the interactive experience.

[0137] Further, in some embodiments, the storage unit 61 of the controller 60 is also used to save the time threshold. The time threshold is a value set by the user or preset by the water heater 100 at the factory, such as 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes, etc. Taking the time threshold of 5 minutes as an example, if the remaining water outlet time t2 is more than 5 minutes, it means that the time is still sufficient, and the prompt light bar 31 displays a white light bar; as the user uses it, the remaining water outlet time t2 continues to decrease. When the remaining water outlet time t2 is less than 5 minutes, the controller 60 controls the prompt light bar 31 to display a red light bar or controls the prompt light bar 31 to flash. By switching the more conspicuous light bar color and flashing effect, it can easily attract the user's attention and play a warning role, reminding the user that the remaining water outlet time is insufficient, so as to reasonably arrange their own use time. Of course, when the remaining water outlet time does not exceed the time threshold, the prompt light bar 31 can also be blue, green, and other colors that can make people relax, and when the remaining water outlet time exceeds the time threshold, the prompt light bar 31 can also display orange and other warning colors. Furthermore, when the remaining water outlet time exceeds the time threshold, the controller 60 may also control the prompt light bar 31 to switch the display color and flash at the same time, so as to attract the user's attention as much as possible and enhance the prompt effect.

[0138] In fact, in an optional embodiment of the present application, the prompt light bar 31 includes an RGB light source, such as a plurality of RGB lamp beads, so that light bars of various colors can be displayed. Optionally, the water heater 100 has multiple operating modes, and illustratively, the multiple operating modes include a men's mode, a women's mode, and a children's mode. Corresponding to each mode, the water heater 100 has a preset water outlet temperature, which can be a preset temperature when the water heater 100 leaves the factory or a temperature set by the user according to his or her own preferences. In this way, when using the water heater 100, the user does not need to adjust the temperature value every time, but can directly switch the corresponding operating mode, which is more convenient and quick. In some usage scenarios, the user switches the mode through a mobile terminal, such as a remote control or a mobile phone. In order to enable the user to intuitively know the current mode to confirm whether the mode switch is successful, the prompt light bar 31 of the embodiment of the present application has a light bar color corresponding to each operating mode. Exemplarily, the men's mode corresponds to blue light, the women's mode corresponds to pink light, and the children's mode corresponds to yellow light. The user can intuitively judge the operating mode according to the light emitted by the prompt light bar 31, which is more convenient. It is understandable that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the operation mode of the water heater 100, and it may include multiple operation modes of other categories, and correspond to multiple colors of the prompt light in other mapping relationships, and it is only necessary to ensure that one operation mode corresponds to one color of the prompt light bar 31. Of course, optionally, the light bar color of the prompt light bar 31 corresponding to the operation mode in this embodiment may only be applicable to the case where the remaining water outlet time does not exceed the time threshold. When the remaining water outlet time exceeds the time threshold, a light bar with a fixed warning color such as red or orange is displayed to ensure the prompt effect when the remaining water outlet time is insufficient.

[0139] Of course, it is also possible that the prompt light bar 31 has different lighting effects corresponding to each operating mode, and the lighting effects can be switched simultaneously when the light bar colors are switched to strengthen the distinction between different operating modes.

[0140] In some embodiments, the interactive component 30 also includes a human body sensing module 33 installed on the main body 10. The human body sensing module 33 can use an infrared sensor and is connected to the controller 60. The human body sensing module 33 can sense a human body within a certain range in front of the main body 10, and send a signal to the controller 60 when sensing a human body. For example, after being idle for a period of time, the water heater 100 enters a standby state, and the prompt light bar 31 no longer emits light, thereby saving energy. After receiving the wake-up signal sent by the human body sensing module 33, the controller 60 wakes up the water heater 100 and lights up the prompt light bar 31. The prompt light bar 31 displays a corresponding wake-up animation, such as flashing or streaming light effects, to give feedback to the user, indicating that the water heater 100 is awakened and enters a working state.

[0141] The interactive component 30 may also include a gesture sensing module 35. The gesture sensing module 35 may use an infrared sensor, or may also use a millimeter wave radar, so as to obtain more accurate gesture sensing. When the gesture sensing module 35 senses a preset gesture, it sends a corresponding gesture signal to the controller 60, and the controller 60 can issue a corresponding instruction according to the gesture signal. For example, when waving to the left, the previous preset water outlet temperature (operating mode) is switched, and when waving to the right, the next preset water outlet temperature (operating mode) is switched; or when waving to the left, the set temperature is reduced, and when waving to the right, the set temperature is increased, and so on. Correspondingly, the controller 60 also controls the prompt light bar 31 to display interactive effects according to the gesture signal. For example, when waving to the left, the prompt light bar 31 displays a stream of light to the left, and when waving to the right, the prompt light bar 31 displays a stream of light to the right, thereby giving the user certain feedback and improving the human-computer interaction experience.

[0142] In one embodiment of the present application, the interactive component 30 includes a human body sensing module 33 and a gesture sensing module 35. The shell 11 has a front panel 111 and a bottom plate 113 adjacent to the front panel 111. The prompt light bar 31 and the gesture sensing module 35 are exposed on the front panel 111, and the human body sensing module 33 is exposed on the bottom plate 113. In this way, while facilitating user interaction and observation, the various devices in the shell 11 are easier to arrange and the space is used reasonably.

[0143] The above are some optional implementation modes of the water heater 100 proposed in the present application. In combination with the above-mentioned structural form, the operation logic of the water heater 100 of the present application is explained below based on the control method of the water heater 100 proposed in another aspect of the embodiment of the present application.

[0144] Please combine Figure 6 , the control method of the embodiment of the present application includes:

[0145] Step S10: Obtain a wake-up signal;

[0146] When the water heater 100 is in the shutdown or standby state, the prompt light bar 31 and the display are in an off state. Optionally, in the shutdown state, the human body sensing module 33 and the gesture sensing module 35 are also in an inoperative state. The main body 10 has a power button electrically connected to the controller 60, and the power button is exposed outside the shell 11, and specifically can be exposed on the front panel 111 of the shell 11, so that the user can touch and operate it. A prompt light is also provided on the main body 10 to indicate the current operating status of the water heater 100. Among them, the prompt light can be set to a halo surrounding the power button, which can also indicate the position of the power button, which is convenient for user control. The user presses the power button and the controller 60 can receive a wake-up signal. Of course, the main body 10 can also have a wireless communication module, and can send a signal to the main body 10 through a mobile terminal so that the controller 60 can receive the wake-up signal.

[0147] In the standby state, the human body sensing module 33 senses whether a human body enters the preset range at a fixed period, and sends a wake-up signal to the controller 60 after sensing the human body, which is convenient and fast, and the user experience is good. Of course, in the standby state, the controller 60 can also receive the wake-up signal by pressing the power button or operating the mobile terminal, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0148] Step S20: according to the wake-up signal, the water heater 100 is woken up and the prompt light bar 31 is controlled to light up and display the wake-up animation.

[0149] After receiving the wake-up signal, the first temperature sensor 70, the second temperature sensor 71 and the flow sensor 73 start working, and the controller 60 calculates the remaining heat and / or remaining water output time based on the feedback data. The prompt light bar 31 and the display are both lit. When lit, the prompt light bar 31 displays a wake-up animation, which can be a streamer animation, and after the animation ends, it displays a matching luminous length according to the remaining heat or remaining water output time. The display can display the current water outlet temperature. Optionally, this water outlet temperature is the data fed back by the second sensor in the last user usage cycle. The data is stored in the storage unit 61 and is called when the water heater 100 is woken up. After a period of time (for example, 5 seconds), the display jumps to display the numerical information of the remaining heat or remaining water output time.

[0150] After a period of time (e.g., 3 minutes) after being awakened, if the water flow rate fed back by the flow sensor 73 received by the controller 60 is always 0, it is determined that the user has suspended the use of the water heater 100. In this case, the calculation of the remaining heat or the remaining water output time is suspended, and the collection of the inlet water temperature and the outlet water temperature is suspended. Furthermore, after a period of time after making the determination that the user has suspended the use of the water heater 100, the controller 60 can control the water heater 100 to enter the standby state.

[0151] In some embodiments, the water heater 100 has at least two operating modes, illustratively, the at least two operating modes include a men's mode, a women's mode, and a children's mode. Corresponding to each mode, the water heater 100 has a preset water outlet temperature, which can be a preset temperature when the water heater 100 leaves the factory or a temperature set by the user according to his or her own preferences. The operating mode and the corresponding preset water outlet temperature when the user last used the water heater 100 will be stored in the storage unit 61, and when the water heater 100 is awakened, this operating mode is used by default.

[0152] Please refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 If the user needs to switch the operation mode, after step S20, the control method further includes:

[0153] Step S80: obtaining a gesture signal;

[0154] Step S90: according to the gesture signal, switch the preset water outlet temperature and control the prompt light bar 31 to display the interactive dynamic effect.

[0155] In the embodiment of the present application, after waking up the water heater 100, the gesture sensing module 35 continuously senses human body movements within a preset range, and when a preset gesture is sensed, a corresponding gesture signal is generated and sent to the controller 60. For example, when waving to the left, the previous preset water outlet temperature (operating mode) is switched, and when waving to the right, the next preset water outlet temperature (operating mode) is switched, and multiple preset water outlet temperatures (operating modes) can be switched cyclically. Correspondingly, the controller 60 also controls the prompt light bar 31 to display interactive effects according to the gesture signal. For example, when waving to the left, the prompt light bar 31 displays a stream of light to the left, and when waving to the right, the prompt light bar 31 displays a stream of light to the right. This can give users interactive feedback and enhance the interactive experience.

[0156] In some usage scenarios, the user can also switch the operation mode through a mobile terminal, such as a remote controller or a mobile phone. In this way, when using the water heater 100, the user does not need to adjust the temperature value every time, but can directly switch the corresponding operation mode, which is more convenient and quick.

[0157] Of course, the user can also directly control the increase or decrease of the outlet water temperature, for example, the user can send a signal to the controller 60 through a mobile terminal or can directly control it through the buttons on the main body 10. The user can also perform the above operations through the gesture sensing module 35, when waving to the left, the outlet water temperature is reduced, when waving to the right, the outlet water temperature is increased, and so on.

[0158] Please refer to Figure 8 After determining the outlet water temperature, the control method of the embodiment of the present application includes:

[0159] Step S30: obtaining the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body 20 and the conversion heat Qout consumed for heating water;

[0160] Step S50: Determine the remaining heat Qt according to Qt=Q0-Qout;

[0161] Step S70: Controlling the luminous length of the prompt light bar 31 according to the residual heat Qt.

[0162] After calculating the remaining heat Qt, the controller 60 controls the luminous length of the prompt light bar 31 in a corresponding relationship. For example, the remaining heat Qt is positively correlated with the luminous length of the prompt light bar 31, which is convenient for the user to observe. Even if the user is far away from the water heater 100 or is nearsighted, the user can still directly judge the amount of remaining heat according to the length of the luminous length, thereby optimizing the interactive experience and improving the user's experience.

[0163] Please refer to Figure 8 and Fig. 9 In some embodiments, the heat source of the heat storage body 20 is the heating component 40. To ensure that the energy of the heat storage body 20 is sufficient after the water heater 100 is awakened, the controller 60 can control the heating component 40 to heat in the standby state. In the above steps of obtaining the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body 20 and the conversion heat Qout consumed for heating water, the following steps are used to obtain the initial heat Q0:

[0164] Step S31: obtaining the heating power P and heating time t0 of the heating component 40;

[0165] Step S33: According to The initial heat Q0 is determined.

[0166] The acquisition and calculation method of the heating power P and the heating time t0 is the same as the above-mentioned embodiment, and the present application will not repeat them here. It can be understood that after the heating component 40 is heated, for the next user's use cycle, the initial heat Q0 is a constant value, while the conversion heat Qout may change over time.

[0167] Combined with reference Fig.10 In some embodiments, in the above step of obtaining the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body 20 and the conversion heat Qout consumed for heating water, the following steps are used to obtain the conversion heat Qout:

[0168] Step S35: Obtaining the inlet water temperature T1, outlet water temperature T2, water flow v and outlet time t1;

[0169] Step S37: According to ΔT=T2-T1, determine the conversion heat Qout.

[0170] The acquisition and calculation methods of the inlet water temperature T1, the outlet water temperature T2, the water flow rate v, the outlet water time t1 and the conversion heat Qout are the same as those in the above-mentioned embodiments, and the present application will not repeat them here.

[0171] Combination Fig.11 After obtaining the initial heat Q0 and the conversion heat Qout, the remaining heat Qt is determined according to step S50, and the step of controlling the luminous length displayed by the prompt light bar 31 according to the remaining heat Qt includes:

[0172] Step S71: Determine the color of the light strip;

[0173] Step S73: Control the prompt light bar 31 to light up with the determined light bar color, and display the light emission length corresponding to the remaining heat Qt.

[0174] In some embodiments, in order to allow the user to intuitively know the current preset water outlet temperature (operating mode) to confirm whether the mode switching is successful, the prompt light bar 31 can display at least two light bar colors corresponding to at least two preset water outlet temperatures (operating modes). Exemplarily, the operating modes include men's mode, women's mode and children's mode, etc., the men's mode corresponds to yellow light, the women's mode corresponds to pink light, and the children's mode corresponds to yellow light. After determining the corresponding light bar color according to the current preset water outlet temperature, the controller 60 sends a corresponding control signal to the prompt light bar 31, so that the prompt light bar 31 is lit with the corresponding light bar color, and when lit, it displays the luminous length matching the residual heat Qt. Thus, the user can intuitively judge the operating mode according to the light bar color emitted by the prompt light bar 31, which is more convenient. It can be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the operating mode of the water heater 100, which may include multiple operating modes of other categories, and correspond to the multiple colors of the prompt light bar 31 in other mapping relationships, and only needs to ensure that one operating mode corresponds to one color of the prompt light bar 31.

[0175] Please refer to Fig.12 In some embodiments, the step of controlling the luminous length displayed by the prompt light bar 31 according to the residual heat Qt further includes:

[0176] Step S75: Obtain the remaining water output time t2 according to the remaining heat Qt;

[0177] Step S77: according to the remaining water outlet time t2, a lighting signal is sent to the prompt light bar 31 so that the prompt light bar 31 displays a corresponding lighting length.

[0178] In some embodiments of the present application, the controller 60 further calculates the remaining water output time t2 based on the obtained residual heat Qt. Obviously, the more residual heat Qt, the longer the remaining water output time t2, and vice versa, the less residual heat Qt, the shorter the remaining water output time t2. After obtaining the remaining water output time t2, the controller 60 can send a signal to the prompt light bar 31 according to the remaining water output time t2, so that the prompt light bar 31 displays the corresponding luminous length to represent the corresponding remaining water output time t2. Among them, the luminous length can be selected to be positively correlated with the remaining water output time t2. Converting the residual heat into the remaining water output time for light bar control saves the user from the process of converting it himself, and the user can judge the status of the water heater 100 more quickly and accurately when observing the prompt light bar 31.

[0179] Furthermore, the controller 60 also controls the display to directly display the specific value of the remaining water outlet time t2 in the form of numbers or text according to the remaining water outlet time t2. In this way, the user can judge the remaining water outlet time t2 by the length of the light of the prompt light bar 31 when the user is at a long distance, and can directly obtain more detailed information about the remaining water outlet time t2 through the display when the user is at a close distance. In this way, the remaining water outlet time t2 obtained according to the conversion can be displayed through the prompt light bar 31 and the display at the same time, which can more comprehensively cover the interaction range between the user and the water heater 100 and improve the user experience.

[0180] Please refer to Fig.13 In some embodiments, the step of obtaining the remaining water output time t2 according to the remaining heat Qt includes:

[0181] Step S751: Obtain the inlet water temperature T1, outlet water temperature T2 and water flow v;

[0182] Step S753: According to t2=Qt / cρvΔT, ΔT=T2-T1, determine the remaining water outlet time t2;

[0183] The method of obtaining the inlet water temperature T1 and the outlet water temperature T2 is similar to the above embodiment. According to the water flow v most recently fed back by the flow sensor 73, it can be understood that this value is a constant. The controller 60 obtains the current inlet water temperature T1, the outlet water temperature T2 and the remaining outlet time t2 at the current water flow v according to the above formula, and controls other components such as the prompt light bar 31 based on this.

[0184] In one specific structural form, the prompt light bar 31 includes a plurality of sub-display units 311, and the sub-display units 311 can be indicator lights. In the step of sending a lighting signal to the prompt light bar 31 according to the remaining water outlet time t2 so that the prompt light bar 31 displays the corresponding luminous length, the lighting signal includes the number of lights, so as to control the luminous length by lighting up different numbers of sub-display units 311. For example, when the remaining water outlet time t2 is 10 minutes, the number of lights in the lighting signal is limited to 20; when the remaining water outlet time t2 is 5 minutes, the number of lights in the lighting signal is limited to 10, and the luminous length of the prompt light bar 31 will naturally become shorter. Of course, the number of lights can be reduced linearly or nonlinearly according to the remaining water outlet time t2, and the present application does not impose any additional restrictions on this.

[0185] Please refer to Fig.14 The lighting signal may further include a first lighting color signal and a second lighting color signal. According to the remaining water outlet time t2, the step of sending the lighting signal to the prompt light bar 31 so that the prompt light bar 31 displays the corresponding lighting length includes:

[0186] Step S771: determine whether the remaining water outlet time t2 is less than the time threshold;

[0187] If not, then executing step S773: the lighting signal includes a first lighting color signal, so that the prompt light bar 31 displays a light bar of the first color;

[0188] If yes, then execute step S775: the lighting signal includes a second lighting color signal, so that the prompt light bar 31 displays a light bar of the second color;

[0189] The first color is different from the second color.

[0190] In this embodiment, the time threshold is a value set by the user or preset by the water heater 100 at the factory, for example, the time threshold can be 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes, etc. The time threshold is stored in the storage unit 61 and can be called to participate in the above operation. Taking the time threshold of 5 minutes as an example, when the remaining water outlet time t2 is more than 5 minutes, it is judged as no, that is, the remaining water outlet time t2 is greater than or equal to the time threshold, which indicates that the time is still sufficient, and the prompt light bar 31 displays a light bar of the first color. The first color can be a color that can make people soothe and relax, such as white, blue or green. Of course, there can be multiple first colors, and they correspond to multiple preset water outlet temperatures of the water heater 100. When the water heater 100 is discharging water at a preset water outlet temperature, the prompt light bar 31 displays a color corresponding to the preset water outlet temperature. As the user uses it, the remaining water outlet time t2 continues to decrease. When the remaining water outlet time t2 is less than 5 minutes, it is judged as yes, that is, the remaining water outlet time t2 is less than the time threshold, and the prompt light bar 31 displays a light bar of the second color. The second color can be red, orange, or other colors that are easy to attract the user's attention. The second color is different from the first color, so that when the remaining water outlet time t2 is less than the time threshold, the color change can attract the user's attention, and serve as a warning to remind the user that the remaining water outlet time is insufficient, so as to reasonably arrange their own usage time. Furthermore, to ensure the consistency of user experience, the second color is red or orange in each preset water outlet temperature. In addition, the controller 60 can also control the prompt light bar 31 to switch from the first color to the second color while flashing, so as to attract the user's attention as much as possible and strengthen the prompt effect.

[0191] The same or similar numbers in the drawings of this embodiment correspond to the same or similar parts; in the description of this application, it should be understood that if the terms "up", "down", "left", "right", etc. indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, it is only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, the terms describing the positional relationship in the drawings are only used for illustrative purposes and cannot be understood as limitations on this application. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0192] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A water heater, characterized in that: include: The main body is provided with a heat storage chamber; A heat storage body is filled in the heat storage cavity; A water pipe, at least part of which is inserted into the thermal storage body; A controller, mounted on the main body; as well as An interactive component, comprising a prompt light bar installed on the main body, the prompt light bar is in communication connection with the controller and can emit bright light outside the main body; Wherein, the controller is used to control the prompt light bar to display a luminous length that matches the residual heat of the heat storage body.

2. The water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water pipe includes a water inlet pipe, a heat exchange pipe and a water outlet pipe which are connected in sequence, and the heat exchange pipe is inserted into the heat storage body; the water heater also includes: A first temperature sensor is provided on the water inlet pipe; A second temperature sensor is disposed on the water outlet pipe; and A flow sensor, arranged on the water inlet pipe or the water outlet pipe; The controller is in communication connection with the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor and the flow sensor, so as to obtain the water inlet temperature T1 through the first temperature sensor, the water outlet temperature T2 through the second temperature sensor, and the water flow v through the flow sensor; The controller is also used to obtain the water outlet time t1 of the water outlet pipe and obtain the residual heat Q according to the following formula: t : Q t =Q0-Q out ΔT=T2-T1 Wherein, Q0 is the initial heat of the heat storage body, Q out is the conversion heat consumed for heating water, c is the specific heat capacity of water, and ρ is the density of water.

3. The water heater according to claim 2, characterized in that: The water heater also includes a heating assembly for providing heat to the thermal storage body; The controller is also used to obtain the heating power P and heating time t0 of the heating component, and determine the initial heat Q0 according to the following formula: Wherein, η is the conversion coefficient.

4. The water heater according to claim 2, characterized in that: The controller is also used to obtain the remaining water outlet time t2 according to the following formula: t2=Q t / cρvΔT ΔT=T2-T1 Wherein, the controller is also used to control the luminous length of the prompt light bar according to the remaining water outlet time t2.

5. The water heater according to claim 4, characterized in that The luminous length is positively correlated with the remaining water outlet time t2; And / or, the controller includes a storage unit, which is used to store a time threshold, and the controller is also used to control the prompt light bar to change color and / or flash when the remaining water outlet time t2 is less than the time threshold.

6. The water heater according to claim 1, characterized in that The interactive component also includes: A human body sensing module installed on the main body, the human body sensing module is connected to the controller for generating a wake-up signal when sensing a human body within a preset range, and sending the signal to the controller, so that the controller wakes up the water heater according to the wake-up signal and controls the prompt light bar to display a wake-up motion effect; And / or, a gesture sensing module installed on the main body, the gesture sensing module is communicatively connected to the controller to generate a gesture signal when a preset gesture is sensed, and send it to the controller, so that the controller controls the switching of the preset water outlet temperature and controls the prompt light bar to display interactive effects according to the gesture signal.

7. The water heater according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The heat storage body is a phase change heat storage body; And / or, the luminous length is positively correlated with the residual heat; And / or, the interactive component further comprises a digital display mounted on the main body, wherein the digital display is used to display digital information corresponding to the residual heat of the heat storage body under the control of the controller.

8. A method for controlling a water heater, characterized in that: The water heater comprises a main body, a heat storage body installed in the main body, and an interactive component installed on the main body, wherein the interactive component comprises a prompt light bar, and the control method comprises: Obtain the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body and the conversion heat Q consumed for heating water out ; According to Q t =Q0-Q out , determine the residual heat Q t ; According to the residual heat Q t , controls the luminous length of the prompt light bar.

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The luminous length and the residual heat Q t Positive correlation.

10. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The water heater also includes a heating component for providing heat to the heat storage body, wherein the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body and the conversion heat Q consumed for heating water are obtained. out The steps include: Obtaining the heating power P and heating time t0 of the heating component (40); according to Determine the initial heat Q0; Wherein, η is the conversion coefficient.

11. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The water heater also includes a water inlet pipe, a heat exchange pipe and a water outlet pipe which are connected in sequence. The heat exchange pipe is inserted into the heat storage body. The initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body and the conversion heat Q consumed for heating water are obtained. out The steps include: Obtain the inlet water temperature T1, outlet water temperature T2, water flow v and outlet time t1; according to ΔT = T2-T1, determine the conversion heat Q out ; Where c is the specific heat of water and ρ is the density of water.

12. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: According to the residual heat Q t The step of controlling the luminous length of the prompt light bar includes: According to the residual heat Q t , obtain the remaining water discharge time t2; According to the remaining water outlet time t2, a lighting signal is sent to the prompt light bar so that the prompt light bar displays a corresponding lighting length.

13. The control method according to claim 12, characterized in that: The water heater also includes a water inlet pipe, a heat exchange pipe and a water outlet pipe which are connected in sequence. The heat exchange pipe is inserted into the heat storage body. t The steps of obtaining the remaining water outlet time t2 include: Obtain the inlet water temperature T1, outlet water temperature T2 and water flow v; According to t2 = Q t / cρvΔT, ΔT = T2-T1, determine the remaining water discharge time t2; Where c is the specific heat of water and ρ is the density of water.

14. The control method according to claim 12, characterized in that: The prompt light bar includes a plurality of sub-display units, and the lighting signal includes a lighting number, so as to control the light emission length by lighting different numbers of sub-display units.

15. The control method according to claim 12, characterized in that: The lighting signal further includes a first lighting color signal and a second lighting color signal. The step of sending a lighting signal to the prompt light bar according to the remaining water outlet time t2 so that the prompt light bar displays a corresponding lighting length includes: Determine whether the remaining water outlet time t2 is less than a time threshold; If not, the lighting signal includes a first lighting color signal, so that the prompt light bar displays a light bar of the first color; If yes, the lighting signal includes a second lighting color signal, so that the prompt light bar displays a light bar of a second color; The first color is different from the second color.

16. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The interactive component also includes a human body sensing module installed on the main body, and the human body sensing module is used to generate a wake-up signal when sensing a human body within a preset range, and obtain the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body and the conversion heat Q consumed for heating water. out Before the step, the control method further comprises: Get the wake-up signal; According to the wake-up signal, the water heater is woken up and the prompt light bar is controlled to light up and display the wake-up animation.

17. The control method according to claim 8 or 16, characterized in that: The water heater has at least two preset water outlet temperatures, and the interactive component further includes a gesture sensing module installed on the main body, the gesture sensing module is used to generate a gesture signal when sensing a preset gesture within a preset range, and obtain the initial heat Q0 of the heat storage body and the conversion heat Q consumed for heating water. out Before the step, the control method further comprises: acquiring the gesture signal; According to the gesture signal, the preset water outlet temperature is switched and the prompt light bar is controlled to display an interactive dynamic effect.

18. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The water heater has at least two preset water outlet temperatures, and the prompt light bar can display at least two light bar colors corresponding to the at least two preset water outlet temperatures. t The step of controlling the luminous length of the prompt light bar includes: Determine the light bar color; Control the prompt light bar to light up with a certain light bar color and display the remaining heat Q t The corresponding luminous length.

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