Oil cup liquid level reminding method, controller and range hood

Abstract

This application discloses a method, controller, and range hood for reminding users of the liquid level in an oil cup. The range hood records changes in the liquid level in the oil cup, obtaining data on the changes in liquid level in multiple oil cups. Based on these changes, a predicted height is determined, and a second warning height is determined based on the predicted height and a first warning height. Since the second warning height is lower than the first warning height, the range hood can provide two levels of warning reminders. Specifically, when the current liquid level in the oil cup reaches the second warning height but not the first, the user is reminded to clean the oil cup. Even if the user doesn't clean the oil cup, the remaining capacity is sufficient for continued use, providing ample response time. When the current liquid level reaches the first warning height, the user is reminded again to clean the oil cup. This method effectively reminds users of the problem of waste oil easily overflowing from the oil cup.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of range hood application technology, and in particular to a method for indicating the liquid level of an oil cup, a controller, and a range hood. Background Technology

[0002] Range hoods are equipped with an upward-opening grease cup to collect the grease separated from the hood. Users can periodically clean the grease by disassembling the cup. Some range hoods now feature grease level sensors to remind users to empty the cup during use, preventing spills. However, these reminders are not always effective enough, and users may forget to empty the cup, leading to grease overflows. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a method, controller, and range hood for reminding users of the oil level in an oil cup, which can adaptively remind users to clean the oil cup in advance to avoid waste oil overflow.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a method for indicating the liquid level in an oil cup, comprising: Record the increase in the liquid level in the oil cup each time the user uses the range hood; The predicted height is determined based on the recorded rise value, and the second liquid level warning height is determined based on the preset first liquid level warning height and the predicted height; the first liquid level warning height is the liquid level height preset by the range hood to remind the user to clean the oil cup, and the second liquid level warning height is lower than the first liquid level warning height; In response to a user using the range hood, the current liquid level in the oil cup is detected, and the user is reminded to clean the oil cup based on the second liquid level warning height.

[0005] In some embodiments, determining the predicted height based on the recorded elevation value includes: Based on the recorded increases in natural days, the cumulative daily increase for each natural day is obtained. The predicted height is determined based on the m largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among n consecutive daily cumulative rise values; n and m are both positive integers and n > m.

[0006] In some embodiments, determining the predicted height based on the m largest daily cumulative rise values ​​out of n consecutive daily cumulative rise values ​​includes: Select the n daily cumulative increase values ​​corresponding to n consecutive days preceding the current date; The predicted height is obtained by adding the m largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among the n selected daily cumulative rise values.

[0007] In some embodiments, determining the predicted height based on the recorded elevation value includes: The daily cumulative increase value for each day of use of the range hood is obtained by statistically analyzing the recorded increase value on the day the user used the range hood. The predicted height is determined based on the j largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among k consecutive daily cumulative rise values; k and j are both positive integers and k > j.

[0008] In some embodiments, determining the predicted height based on the j largest daily cumulative rise values ​​out of k consecutive daily cumulative rise values ​​includes: Select the k daily cumulative increase values ​​in the most recent time order; The predicted height is obtained by adding the j largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among the k selected daily cumulative rise values.

[0009] In some embodiments, determining the second liquid level warning height based on a preset first liquid level warning height and the predicted height includes: Subtract the predicted height from the first liquid level warning height to obtain the second liquid level warning height; The warning sensing distance of the range hood's distance sensor is determined based on the second liquid level warning height and the preset initial distance, wherein the preset initial distance is the sensing distance between the distance sensor and the bottom of the oil cup.

[0010] In some embodiments, detecting the current liquid level in the oil cup and reminding the user to clean the oil cup based on the second liquid level warning height includes: The current liquid level in the oil cup is determined based on the detection value from the distance sensor; When the current liquid level in the oil cup is greater than or equal to the second liquid level warning height but less than the first liquid level warning height, a first reminder message is sent to the user; When the current liquid level in the oil cup is greater than or equal to the first liquid level warning height, a second reminder message is sent to the user; the first reminder message is an intermittent reminder message with a limited number of times, while the second reminder message is a continuous reminder message.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first alert message is sent when the user turns on the smoke extractor.

[0012] In some embodiments, the range hood includes a self-cleaning component, the range hood being configured to activate the self-cleaning component upon receiving a self-cleaning command; the method further includes: In response to receiving a self-cleaning command, the current liquid level in the oil cup is detected, and the predicted increase in the current liquid level in the oil cup due to the self-cleaning is predicted based on the self-cleaning command. If the current liquid level in the oil cup plus the predicted rise value is greater than the first liquid level warning height, a third reminder message is sent to the user.

[0013] In a second aspect, embodiments of this application provide a controller including at least one processor and a memory for communicatively connecting to the at least one processor; the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the method as described in the first aspect.

[0014] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a range hood, including the controller described in the second aspect.

[0015] In some embodiments, the range hood includes a distance sensor disposed above the oil cup, and the distance sensor is surrounded by a closed structure.

[0016] The oil cup level reminder method, controller, and range hood of this application embodiment have at least the following beneficial effects: The range hood records the changes in the liquid level height in the oil cup, thereby obtaining data on the changes in the liquid level height in multiple oil cups. Based on these obtained changes in liquid level height, a predicted height is determined, and a second liquid level warning height is determined based on the predicted height and a first liquid level warning height. Since the second liquid level warning height is lower than the first liquid level warning height, the range hood of this application embodiment can achieve two-level warning reminders. That is, when the current liquid level height in the oil cup reaches the second liquid level warning height but has not reached the first liquid level warning height, the user is reminded to clean the oil cup. At this time, even if the user does not clean the oil cup, the remaining capacity of the oil cup can still meet the user's needs for a period of time, giving the user sufficient response time. When the current liquid level height in the oil cup reaches the first liquid level warning height, the user is reminded to clean the oil cup again. Through the above method, the user can be effectively reminded, avoiding the problem of waste oil easily overflowing from the oil cup due to only one level of warning reminder in related technologies.

[0017] Other features and advantages of this application will be set forth in the following description and will be apparent in part from the description or may be learned by practicing the application. The objectives and other advantages of this application may be realized and obtained by means of the structures particularly pointed out in the description and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the oil cup and distance sensor of a range hood provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is an overall flowchart of a liquid level warning method provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 3 A flowchart for calculating predicted altitude based on calendar days is provided as an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 A flowchart for calculating the predicted height based on m daily cumulative rise values ​​is provided as an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 A flowchart for calculating predicted altitude based on usage day is provided as an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 A flowchart for calculating the predicted height based on j daily cumulative rise values ​​is provided as an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 A flowchart for triggering the first and second reminder messages is provided as an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating a pre-warning process for performing the self-cleaning function, provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure of a controller provided in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various implementations. Simultaneously, the steps or actions described in the method description can be rearranged or adjusted in a manner readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various orders in the specification and drawings are merely for the clear description of a particular embodiment and do not imply a mandatory order, unless otherwise stated that a particular order must be followed.

[0020] In the description of this application, "several" means one or more, "more than" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0021] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages).

[0022] The oil cup (or oil box) of a range hood is used to collect waste oil generated during cooking. Range hoods with automatic oil level detection usually have a distance sensor (such as an infrared sensor or ultrasonic module) to detect the current oil level and remind the user to empty the oil cup based on a preset warning height. In practical applications, the range hood is factory-calibrated or preset with an initial distance value L0, which represents the distance between the bottom surface of the oil cup and the distance sensor when the oil cup is empty. Assuming the oil cup height is H0, and the warning threshold for the oil level is set to H1 = 0.8 * H0, the range hood will strongly remind the user to empty the oil cup when the oil level reaches H1, and the corresponding distance value of the distance sensor at this time is L1 = L0 - H1. Considering the actual user scenarios, a single level of warning is insufficient to meet user needs. When the oil level in the cup reaches the critical warning level, by the time the user is reminded that cooking is finished, the oil level in the cup is already close to overflowing or may have already overflowed. This also makes it inconvenient for the user to disassemble the oil cup, resulting in a poor user experience.

[0023] Based on this, this application provides a method, controller, and range hood for reminding users of the liquid level in an oil cup. The range hood records changes in the liquid level in the oil cup, thereby obtaining data on the changes in liquid level in multiple oil cups. A predicted height is determined based on these changes in liquid level, and a second liquid level warning height is determined based on the predicted height and a first liquid level warning height. Since the second liquid level warning height is lower than the first liquid level warning height, the range hood of this application can achieve two levels of warning reminders. That is, when the current liquid level in the oil cup reaches the second liquid level warning height but has not reached the first liquid level warning height, the user is reminded to clean the oil cup. Even if the user does not clean the oil cup, the remaining capacity of the oil cup can still meet the user's needs for a period of time, giving the user sufficient response time. When the current liquid level in the oil cup reaches the first liquid level warning height, the user is reminded to clean the oil cup again. The above method can effectively remind the user and avoid the problem of waste oil easily overflowing from the oil cup due to only one level of warning reminder in related technologies.

[0024] The following description, with reference to the attached diagram, explains the method for indicating the oil level in the oil cup, the controller, and the range hood.

[0025] Reference Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the oil cup structure of a range hood provided in this application embodiment. The liquid level reminder method of this application embodiment is applied to this range hood. The range hood is equipped with an oil cup and a distance sensor. The distance sensor is located above the oil cup, and the module on which the distance sensor is installed is enclosed except for the downward area, restricting the distance sensor from detecting distances into the oil cup. The structure of this module also ensures that convection does not form in the downward area, and the distance sensor's measurement is not affected by cooking fumes. Furthermore, due to the presence of the external air intake, a negative pressure is formed between the module and the oil cup, and the downward area where the distance sensor is located is also under negative pressure, further reducing the impact of cooking fumes on the distance sensor. For other types of range hoods with distance sensors and oil cups, and which detect the liquid level height in the oil cup through the distance sensor, the liquid level reminder method of this application embodiment can also be applied.

[0026] Based on the above-described liquid level reminder method for range hoods according to embodiments of this application, refer to... Figure 2 As shown, the liquid level warning method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps: Step S110: Obtain the change value of the liquid level height in the oil cup; Step S120: Determine the predicted height of the liquid level in the oil cup based on the change value; Step S130: Determine the second liquid level warning height based on the first liquid level warning height and the predicted height; the first liquid level warning height is the liquid level height used to remind the user to clean the oil cup, and the second liquid level warning height is lower than the first liquid level warning height; Step S140: Based on the current liquid level in the oil cup, the first liquid level warning height, and the second liquid level warning height, remind the user to clean the oil cup.

[0027] When users cook with a range hood, oil fumes are usually generated. The range hood draws in the fumes through its volute and separates them, collecting the separated waste oil into the oil cup. Therefore, by recording the changes in the oil level in the oil cup each time the user uses the range hood, we can understand the user's cooking habits and the pattern of oil fume generation. The range hood's electronic control program predicts the oil level based on these recorded changes, and then adjusts the preset first oil level warning height according to the predicted height. For example, subtracting the predicted height from the first oil level warning height yields the second oil level warning height, which can be lower than the first. Thus, when the user actually uses the range hood, a two-level warning is issued based on the lower second oil level warning height and the higher first oil level warning height, reminding the user to clean the waste oil in the oil cup.

[0028] Therefore, it can be seen that since the second liquid level warning height differs from the first liquid level warning height by a predicted height, and the predicted liquid level reflects the user's cooking habits, even if the liquid level in the oil cup reaches the second liquid level warning height and the user does not clean the oil cup in time, the user can still continue to use it for a period of time when cooking with the range hood. For example, the predicted height value can be determined based on the amount of waste oil generated by the user in three days of cooking or the height the liquid level in the oil cup rises in three days of cooking. In this way, after receiving the reminder corresponding to the second liquid level warning height, the user can continue to use it for about three more days, giving the user sufficient response time to clean the oil cup, avoiding the problem in related technologies where the range hood only has a first-level warning and the user does not clean it in time, resulting in waste oil overflowing the oil cup.

[0029] In addition, in the electronic control program, after obtaining the second liquid level warning height, it needs to be converted into a distance value for judgment. The warning sensing distance of the range hood's distance sensor is determined based on the second liquid level warning height and the preset initial distance, which is the sensing distance between the distance sensor and the bottom of the oil cup.

[0030] Therefore, the predicted height can be set according to actual needs. For example, users can set a reservation number of days (or other time units) through a smart terminal or the interactive panel on the range hood. The range hood automatically calculates the predicted height based on the set time, thus allowing the user to set the second liquid level warning height according to their requirements. The calculation method of the predicted height is illustrated below through two different embodiments.

[0031] It is understandable that the aforementioned changes may include situations where the liquid level in the oil cup drops due to the user cleaning it; that is, the changes obtained by the range hood may be either increases or decreases. For the solution in this embodiment, only the increases in the changes are considered. These increases reflect the user's cooking habits when using the range hood. Therefore, in step S120, when determining the predicted height of the liquid level in the oil cup based on the changes, the change value data needs to be filtered and processed. In another possible embodiment, the range hood only records the increases in the changes. In this case, step S120 can directly use the recorded increases to determine the predicted height of the liquid level in the oil cup. The specific methods for processing the changes are illustrated in the following embodiments.

[0032] Reference Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the step S120 above, which determines the predicted height of the liquid level in the oil cup based on the change value, includes: Step S210: Based on the change values ​​obtained from the daily statistics, the daily cumulative increase value for each natural day is obtained; Step S220: Determine the predicted height based on the m largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among n consecutive daily cumulative rise values; n and m are both positive integers and n > m.

[0033] The range hood's electronic control program acquires daily changes in the oil level in the oil cup, determining the daily cumulative rise for each day. Over time, the program records multiple daily cumulative rises, each corresponding to a specific day. When calculating the predicted height, n consecutive days are selected, resulting in n daily cumulative rises. Then, the m largest daily cumulative rises are chosen from these n values, and the predicted height is calculated based on them. In other words, the m days with the highest waste oil production from cooking are selected for calculation, resulting in a larger predicted height and allowing the user to continue using the hood for a longer period even after the oil level reaches the second warning height.

[0034] It's important to note that the aforementioned daily cumulative increase is calculated on a calendar day basis. The range hood maintains an internal clock, and its distance sensor periodically detects the liquid level in the grease cup. Based on the start and end times of a calendar day, the change in the liquid level between two points is calculated as the daily cumulative increase for that calendar day. Therefore, even if a user turns on the range hood multiple times during a calendar day, or even if the user doesn't use the range hood at all during a calendar day, the daily cumulative increase is still calculated based on the start and end times of that calendar day.

[0035] Reference Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the step S220 above, which determines the predicted height based on the m largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among n consecutive daily cumulative rise values, includes: Step S310: Select n daily cumulative increase values ​​corresponding to n consecutive days from the current date; Step S320: Add the m largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among the selected n daily cumulative rise values ​​to obtain the predicted height.

[0036] When a user turns on the range hood, the hood checks the current oil level in the grease cup and compares it with the second warning level. Since the second warning level fluctuates based on the daily cumulative increase, it can be updated at the start of a calendar day or the first time the user turns on the range hood that day. In this embodiment, n consecutive calendar days are selected from the current day to obtain n daily cumulative increases. Then, the m largest values ​​are selected from these n daily cumulative increases and summed to obtain the predicted height, which is then used to update the second warning level. For example, seven daily cumulative increases are recorded over seven calendar days, and the two largest values ​​are summed to obtain the predicted height. This embodiment considers user habits in its height calculation method. Some users may not use the range hood on weekdays, only on weekends. Therefore, the above method can obtain the daily cumulative increases for these two weekend days, resulting in a second warning level that aligns with user habits.

[0037] Reference Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the step S120 above, which determines the predicted height of the liquid level in the oil cup based on the change value, includes: Step S410: Calculate the change value corresponding to the day the user used the range hood, and obtain the daily cumulative increase value for each day of use of the range hood; Step S420: Determine the predicted height based on the j largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among k consecutive daily cumulative rise values; k and j are both positive integers and k > j.

[0038] The range hood's electronic control program monitors the dates the user uses the range hood, recording the dates the user used it and the daily cumulative rise value for those dates. Over time, the program records multiple daily cumulative rise values, each corresponding to a specific date the user used the range hood. When calculating the predicted height, k consecutive daily cumulative rise values ​​are selected, reflecting the user's cooking habits over those k days. Then, the j largest daily cumulative rise values ​​are chosen from these k values. The predicted height is calculated based on these j largest values, resulting in a larger predicted height, allowing the user to continue using the range hood for a longer period even after the oil level in the grease cup reaches the second warning height.

[0039] It is worth noting that the above-mentioned daily cumulative increase value is calculated based on the usage day, which can be a calendar day; however, considering that if the user uses the range hood late at night, it will take some time for the waste oil to accumulate in the oil cup after the range hood is turned off, 24 hours can also be calculated from the time the user turns on the range hood as a usage day. The increase value accumulated by the user turning on the range hood multiple times within such a defined usage day is included in this usage day.

[0040] Reference Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments, the step S420 above, which determines the predicted height based on the j largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among k consecutive daily cumulative rise values, includes: Step S510: Select k daily cumulative increases in order of the latest time. Step S520: Add the j daily cumulative rise values ​​with the largest values ​​among the k selected daily cumulative rise values ​​to obtain the predicted height.

[0041] When a user turns on the range hood, the hood checks the current oil level in the grease cup and compares it with the second warning level. Since the second warning level fluctuates based on the daily cumulative increase, it can be updated at the start of a calendar day or when the user turns on the range hood for the first time that day. In this embodiment, k of the latest daily cumulative increases are selected in chronological order. Then, the j largest values ​​from these k values ​​are added together to obtain the predicted height, which is then used to update the second warning level. For example, five daily cumulative increases are selected from the current moment (or the current day), and the two largest values ​​are added together; the result is used as the predicted height. This embodiment calculates the predicted height by considering the user's cooking habits each time, reserving two daily cumulative increases that generate a large amount of grease. This predicted height (half of the predicted height) is slightly larger than the user's cooking habits (corresponding daily cumulative increases), thus providing a more tolerant second warning level.

[0042] In addition to following the steps in S520 above, you can also calculate the average of the five daily cumulative height values ​​corresponding to the five usage days, multiply the calculation result by 2 to get the predicted height. The predicted height calculated in this way is exactly in line with the user's cooking habits.

[0043] Reference Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, step S140 above, which reminds the user to clean the oil cup based on the current liquid level, the first liquid level warning height, and the second liquid level warning height, includes: Step S610: Determine the current liquid level in the oil cup based on the detection value from the distance sensor; Step S620: When the current liquid level in the oil cup is greater than or equal to the second liquid level warning height but less than the first liquid level warning height, a first reminder message is sent to the user. Step S630: When the current liquid level in the oil cup is greater than or equal to the first liquid level warning height, a second reminder message is sent to the user; the first reminder message is an intermittent reminder message with a limited number of times, while the second reminder message is a continuous reminder message.

[0044] The aforementioned two-level warning system is based on the second and first liquid level warning heights. When the current liquid level in the oil cup reaches the second warning height, the range hood will issue a first warning message to the user via its buzzer, lighting components, or interactive panel. For range hoods connected to the internet (or local area network), the first warning message can also be sent to the user's smart device via the network. This first warning message is a weak warning, with a limited number of warnings and each warning lasting only a few seconds; it will not provide prolonged warnings. Users can decide whether to clean the oil cup based on their needs. If the user does not clean the oil cup after the first warning message, when the current liquid level in the oil cup reaches the first warning height, the range hood will issue a second warning message via its buzzer, lighting components, or interactive panel. For range hoods connected to the internet (or local area network), the second warning message can also be sent to the user's smart device via the network. This second warning message is a strong warning, issued through one or more methods such as continuous warning for several minutes, loud noise, or strong vibration.

[0045] The first reminder message can be sent when the user turns on the range hood, reminding the user to clean the oil cup before cooking. The first reminder message can also be sent when the user's current oil level reaches the first warning level during cooking.

[0046] Reference Figure 8 As shown, in some embodiments, the range hood includes a self-cleaning component, which is activated upon receiving a self-cleaning command; the liquid level reminder method of this application embodiment further includes: Step S710: In response to receiving the self-cleaning command, detect the current liquid level of the oil cup, and predict the increase in the current liquid level of the oil cup due to the self-cleaning operation based on the self-cleaning command. Step S720: If the current liquid level in the oil cup plus the rise value is greater than the first liquid level warning height, a third reminder message is sent to the user.

[0047] The range hood in this embodiment has a self-cleaning function. When the self-cleaning component is activated, grease and other liquids enter the oil cup, causing the liquid level in the oil cup to rise. Based on the two-level warning concept of this application, the range hood receives a self-cleaning command and estimates the increase in the current liquid level in the oil cup that the self-cleaning will cause before activating the self-cleaning component. Based on this increase and the current liquid level in the oil cup, a new liquid level warning height is calculated. If the calculated liquid level warning height is higher than the first liquid level warning height, the self-cleaning function is not executed, and a third reminder message can be sent to the user to remind them to clean the oil cup. If the calculated liquid level warning height is not higher than the first liquid level warning height, the self-cleaning function is executed.

[0048] It is understandable that the aforementioned increase value can be a preset value, written as a fixed value according to the parameters of the range hood's self-cleaning function in a factory-set manner. The increase value can also be determined in real time based on the current self-cleaning function that needs to be executed, for example, based on the self-cleaning function's setting and the time interval between the last execution of the self-cleaning function.

[0049] In summary, the range hood of this embodiment can record changes in the liquid level in the oil cup, thereby obtaining data on the changes in liquid level in multiple oil cups. Based on these changes, a predicted height is determined, and a second warning height is determined based on the predicted height and a first warning height. Since the second warning height is lower than the first warning height, the range hood of this embodiment can achieve two levels of warning reminders. Specifically, when the current liquid level in the oil cup reaches the second warning height but not the first, the user is reminded to clean the oil cup. Even if the user does not clean the oil cup, the remaining capacity is sufficient for continued use, providing ample response time. When the current liquid level in the oil cup reaches the first warning height, the user is reminded again to clean the oil cup. This method effectively reminds the user, avoiding the problem of easy overflow of waste oil in the oil cup caused by only one level of warning reminders in related technologies.

[0050] The following is a detailed explanation of the oil level indicator method of this application through a specific example.

[0051] The range hood is factory-calibrated to have a first liquid level warning height of H1 = H0 * 0.8, where H0 is the height of the oil cup. When the liquid level in the oil cup reaches H1, the range hood will strongly remind the user to clean the oil cup. At this time, the warning distance value of the distance sensor is L1 = L0 - H1.

[0052] In actual use, the range hood tracks the daily oil level rise in the grease cup over seven consecutive days, taking the data from the two days with the highest rise and summing them to obtain the sum 'd'. The second warning height H2 = H1 - d, corresponding to the warning distance value L2 = L1 + d from the distance sensor. This means that when the oil level in the grease cup reaches H2, the range hood will weakly remind the user to clean the grease cup, without affecting the user's cooking. The user can use the range hood for at least two more days before a strong reminder to clean the grease cup is triggered, providing ample response time.

[0053] Before executing the self-cleaning function, the range hood calculates the height by which the liquid generated during the self-cleaning process will raise the liquid level in the grease cup, determining whether the remaining height in the grease cup is sufficient for the complete self-cleaning process. Assuming the self-cleaning process will cause the liquid level in the grease cup to rise by a height of h, and the currently detected liquid level in the grease cup is H, then when H + h > H1, the range hood first prompts the user to clean the grease cup without directly executing the self-cleaning function; when H + h < H1, the self-cleaning function continues.

[0054] like Figure 9 As shown, Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a controller 1000 provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0055] The controller 1000 in this embodiment includes one or more processors 1001 and a memory 1002. Figure 9 The example uses a processor 1001 and a memory 1002.

[0056] Processor 1001 and memory 1002 can be connected via a bus or other means. Figure 9 Taking the example of a connection between China and Israel via a bus.

[0057] Memory 1002, as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store non-transitory software programs and non-transitory computer-executable programs. Furthermore, memory 1002 may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state storage device. In some embodiments, memory 1002 may optionally include memory 1002 remotely located relative to processor 1001, and these remote memories can be connected to controller 1000 via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0058] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 9 The device structure shown does not constitute a limitation on the controller 1000 and may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0059] This application also provides a range hood, including the aforementioned controller 1000.

[0060] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network nodes. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0061] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all or some of the steps and systems in the methods disclosed above can be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and suitable combinations thereof. Some or all of the physical components can be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software can be distributed on a computer-readable medium, which can include computer storage media (or non-transitory media) and communication media (or transient media). As is known to those skilled in the art, the term computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information (such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data). Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disc storage, magnetic cartridges, magnetic tape, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired information and is accessible to a computer. Furthermore, as is known to those skilled in the art, communication media typically contain computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in modulated data signals such as carrier waves or other transmission mechanisms, and may include any information delivery medium.

[0062] It should be understood that in this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, and "more than" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0063] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, instruments, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the instrument embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the shown or discussed mutual couplings, direct couplings, or communication connections may be through some interfaces; indirect couplings or communication connections between instruments or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms. Units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and components shown as units may or may not be physical units, i.e., they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0064] It should also be understood that the various implementation methods provided in this application can be combined arbitrarily to achieve different technical effects.

[0065] The above is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this application. However, this application is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of this application. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A method for indicating the liquid level in an oil cup, characterized in that, include: Obtain the change in the liquid level height inside the oil cup; The predicted height of the liquid level in the oil cup is determined based on the change value; The second liquid level warning height is determined based on the first liquid level warning height and the predicted height; the first liquid level warning height is the liquid level height used to remind the user to clean the oil cup, and the second liquid level warning height is lower than the first liquid level warning height; The user is reminded to clean the oil cup based on the current liquid level, the first liquid level warning height, and the second liquid level warning height.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the predicted height of the liquid level in the oil cup based on the change value includes: Based on the change values ​​obtained from the daily statistics, the cumulative daily increase value for each natural day is obtained; The predicted height is determined based on the m largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among n consecutive daily cumulative rise values; n and m are both positive integers and n > m.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining the predicted height based on the m largest daily cumulative rise values ​​out of n consecutive daily cumulative rise values ​​includes: Select the n daily cumulative increase values ​​corresponding to n consecutive days preceding the current date; The predicted height is obtained by adding the m largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among the n selected daily cumulative rise values.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the predicted height of the liquid level in the oil cup based on the change value includes: The change value corresponding to the day when the user used the range hood is statistically analyzed to obtain the daily cumulative increase value for each day of use of the range hood; The predicted height is determined based on the j largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among k consecutive daily cumulative rise values; k and j are both positive integers and k > j.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of determining the predicted height based on the j largest daily cumulative rise values ​​out of k consecutive daily cumulative rise values ​​includes: Select the k daily cumulative increase values ​​in the most recent time order; The predicted height is obtained by adding the j largest daily cumulative rise values ​​among the k selected daily cumulative rise values.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining the second liquid level warning height based on the first liquid level warning height and the predicted height includes: Subtract the predicted height from the first liquid level warning height to obtain the second liquid level warning height; The warning sensing distance of the range hood's distance sensor is determined based on the second liquid level warning height and the preset initial distance, wherein the preset initial distance is the sensing distance between the distance sensor and the bottom of the oil cup.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method of reminding the user to clean the oil cup based on the current liquid level, the first liquid level warning height, and the second liquid level warning height includes: The current liquid level in the oil cup is determined based on the detection value from the distance sensor; When the current liquid level in the oil cup is greater than or equal to the second liquid level warning height but less than the first liquid level warning height, a first reminder message is sent to the user; When the current liquid level in the oil cup is greater than or equal to the first liquid level warning height, a second reminder message is sent to the user; the first reminder message is an intermittent reminder message with a limited number of times, while the second reminder message is a continuous reminder message.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first reminder message is sent when the user turns on the smoke extractor.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The range hood includes a self-cleaning component, and the range hood is used to activate the self-cleaning component after receiving a self-cleaning command; the method further includes: In response to receiving a self-cleaning command, the current liquid level in the oil cup is detected, and the predicted increase in the current liquid level in the oil cup due to the self-cleaning is predicted based on the self-cleaning command. If the current liquid level in the oil cup plus the predicted rise value is greater than the first liquid level warning height, a third reminder message is sent to the user.

10. A controller, characterized in that, The method includes at least one processor and a memory for communicatively connecting to the at least one processor; the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A range hood, characterized in that, Includes the controller as described in claim 10.

12. The range hood according to claim 11, characterized in that, The range hood includes a distance sensor disposed above the oil cup, and the distance sensor is surrounded by a closed structure.

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