A control method of an electric water heater, an electric water heater system and a cloud server

Abstract

This invention provides a control method, system, and cloud server for an electric water heater, belonging to the field of water heater technology. The method includes: the cloud server storing a first correlation between outlet water temperature and climate information, and a second correlation between inner tank water temperature and climate information. The method includes acquiring the current climate information of the location of the electric water heater; determining a target outlet water temperature corresponding to the current climate information based on the first correlation; determining a target inner tank water temperature corresponding to the current climate information based on the second correlation; and sending instructions to the electric water heater to adjust the outlet water temperature to the target outlet water temperature and to adjust the inner tank water temperature to the target inner tank water temperature. The cloud server automatically matches the outlet water temperature and inner tank water temperature according to the local climate information and sends instructions, realizing dual-temperature collaborative adaptive control. Users do not need to manually adjust them separately, improving the convenience and comfort of water use, while avoiding energy waste caused by improper settings.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of water heater technology, and in particular relates to a control method for an electric water heater, an electric water heater system, and a cloud server. Background Technology

[0002] Electric water heaters are a ubiquitous household appliance in modern homes, primarily using electrical energy converted into heat to provide hot water for bathing, washing, and other domestic needs. Existing electric water heaters typically include storage-type models, whose core working principle involves heating the water in the inner tank using a heating element and storing the hot water for later use. Some electric water heaters also feature a mixing module with adjustable outlet water temperature.

[0003] In actual use, users usually need to manually set the heating temperature of the inner tank (i.e., the target inner tank water temperature) and the target outlet water temperature of the mixing valve according to their personal comfort. Currently, the target outlet water temperature control of the mixing module mainly relies on the mixing thermostatic valve in the mixing module. By adjusting the mixing ratio of the high-temperature hot water flowing out of the inner tank and the cold water flowing in from the tap water pipe, the final outlet water temperature reaches the target outlet water temperature set by the user.

[0004] However, existing electric water heater control methods have the following drawbacks: the user-set tank water temperature and target outlet water temperature often lack scientific basis and mainly rely on the user's personal experience or blind experimentation. This experience-based setting method not only leads to a poor user experience but also easily causes unnecessary waste of electricity, reducing the energy efficiency of the electric water heater. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The first technical problem solved by this invention is to provide a control method for an electric water heater, so as to automatically adapt the outlet water temperature and the inner tank water temperature according to the local climate, reduce the blindness of manual setting by the user, improve the comfort of water use and reduce energy consumption.

[0006] The second technical problem solved by this invention is to provide a control method for an electric water heater that allows users to intuitively personalize the temperature curve while automatically adapting to the climate, thus meeting individual differences and improving the interactive experience.

[0007] The third technical problem solved by this invention is to provide an electric water heater system that automatically adapts the outlet water temperature and the inner tank water temperature according to the local climate, reducing the uncertainty of manual settings by users, improving water comfort, and reducing energy consumption. While automatically adapting to the climate, it also allows users to intuitively personalize the temperature curve, meeting individual differences and improving the user experience.

[0008] The fourth technical problem solved by this invention is to provide a cloud server that can automatically adapt the outlet water temperature and inner tank water temperature according to the local climate, reduce the blindness of manual settings by users, improve water comfort and reduce energy consumption.

[0009] The first technical problem mentioned above is solved by the following technical solution:

[0010] A control method for an electric water heater is applied to a cloud server, wherein the cloud server is communicatively connected to the electric water heater, the electric water heater has a mixing module with adjustable outlet water temperature, and the cloud server stores a first correlation between outlet water temperature and climate information and a second correlation between inner tank water temperature and climate information. The method includes:

[0011] Obtain the current climate information for the location of the electric water heater;

[0012] Based on the first correlation, the target outlet water temperature corresponding to the current climate information is determined;

[0013] The target inner tank water temperature corresponding to the current climate information is determined based on the second correlation.

[0014] Send instructions to the electric water heater to adjust the outlet water temperature to the target outlet water temperature and to adjust the inner tank water temperature to the target inner tank water temperature.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the control method for electric water heaters described in this invention has the following advantages: This invention stores a first correlation between outlet water temperature and climate information, and a second correlation between inner tank water temperature and climate information, on a cloud server. When the cloud server obtains the current climate information of the location of the electric water heater, it determines the target outlet water temperature based on the first correlation and the target inner tank water temperature based on the second correlation, and then sends corresponding adjustment commands to the electric water heater. During this process, both the outlet water temperature and the inner tank water temperature dynamically change with the current climate information, naturally forming a correlation between them. Users do not need to manually set different temperatures for different climate conditions. The cloud server can automatically output matching dual temperature setpoints under different climate conditions, enabling the temperature control of the electric water heater to directly link with the local climate, reducing the need for human intervention and lowering the possibility of temperature discrepancies or energy waste due to improper settings.

[0016] In one embodiment, before sending the instruction to the electric water heater to adjust the outlet water temperature to the target outlet water temperature, the method further includes:

[0017] Get the current water temperature inside the electric water heater;

[0018] When the target outlet water temperature is less than or equal to the current inner tank water temperature, the target outlet water temperature remains unchanged;

[0019] When the target outlet water temperature is greater than the current inner tank water temperature, the target outlet water temperature is updated to the current inner tank water temperature.

[0020] In one embodiment, the cloud server is also communicatively connected to a user terminal, and when the target outlet water temperature is greater than the current inner tank water temperature, the method further includes:

[0021] Calculate the sum of the current inner tank water temperature and the preset temperature increment to obtain the candidate temperature;

[0022] Send a prompt message to the user terminal to adjust the inner tank water temperature to the alternative temperature.

[0023] In one embodiment, the climate information includes at least one of temperature, season, and weather type.

[0024] In one embodiment, the cloud server is equipped with a weather interface, and obtaining the current climate information of the location of the electric water heater includes:

[0025] Obtain the location information associated with the identifier of the electric water heater;

[0026] The climate information corresponding to the location information is obtained through the weather interface and used as the current climate information for the location of the electric water heater.

[0027] In one embodiment, the cloud server is also communicatively connected to a user terminal, and the method further includes:

[0028] In response to a user activating the temperature adaptive function through the user terminal, a target association relationship corresponding to the temperature adaptive function and bound to the identifier of the electric water heater is determined; the temperature adaptive function includes an outlet water temperature adaptive function and an inner tank water temperature adaptive function; the outlet water temperature adaptive function corresponds to the first association relationship, and the inner tank water temperature adaptive function corresponds to the second association relationship.

[0029] The stored target association relationship is sent to the user terminal, and the initial data of the target association relationship is default data;

[0030] Receive the modified target association relationship uploaded by the user terminal;

[0031] The modified target association is bound and stored with the identifier of the electric water heater.

[0032] The second technical problem mentioned above is solved by the following technical solution:

[0033] A control method for an electric water heater, applied to a user terminal communicating with a cloud server, the user terminal having a control interface, the method comprising:

[0034] In response to the user activating the temperature adaptive function, a request is sent to the cloud server to send the target association relationship corresponding to the temperature adaptive function. The temperature adaptive function is either the outlet water temperature adaptive function or the inner tank water temperature adaptive function. The target association relationship corresponding to the outlet water temperature adaptive function is the first association relationship between the outlet water temperature and climate information, and the target association relationship corresponding to the inner tank water temperature adaptive function is the second association relationship between the inner tank water temperature and climate information.

[0035] Receive the target association relationship sent by the cloud server;

[0036] The control interface displays a statistical chart corresponding to the target correlation. The statistical chart shows the correspondence between temperature or season and the set temperature. Each temperature node or season node on the statistical chart has adjustment controls for adjusting the values.

[0037] In response to the user's operation on the adjustment control, the set temperature of the corresponding node is modified;

[0038] The modified target association is uploaded to the cloud server.

[0039] Compared with the prior art, the control method for electric water heaters described in this invention has the following advantages: it presents the climate-temperature correlation data sent from the cloud to the user terminal in the form of a statistical chart, enabling the user to clearly understand the temperature adaptive logic; at the same time, through the adjustment controls at each node on the statistical chart, the user can conveniently modify the target temperature under any climate condition according to their own physical preferences, and send the modified data back to the cloud, thereby meeting the user's individual comfort needs while ensuring the temperature adaptive capability, and significantly improving the interactive experience and temperature controllability.

[0040] In one embodiment, the control method for the electric water heater further includes:

[0041] In response to the user activating the temperature adaptive function for the first time, the location information of the user terminal is obtained and uploaded to the cloud server, so that the cloud server binds and stores the location information with the identifier of the electric water heater.

[0042] The third technical problem mentioned above is solved by the following technical solution:

[0043] An electric water heater system includes an electric water heater, a cloud server, and a user terminal. The electric water heater and the user terminal are respectively communicatively connected to the cloud server. The cloud server is used to execute the control method for the electric water heater applied to the cloud server as described above, and the user terminal is used to execute the control method for the electric water heater applied to the user terminal as described above.

[0044] Compared with the prior art, the electric water heater system of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0045] This invention stores a first correlation between outlet water temperature and climate information, and a second correlation between inner tank water temperature and climate information, on a cloud server. When the cloud server obtains the current climate information of the water heater's location, it determines the target outlet water temperature based on the first correlation and the target inner tank water temperature based on the second correlation, and then sends corresponding adjustment commands to the water heater. During this process, both the outlet water temperature and the inner tank water temperature dynamically change with the current climate information, naturally forming a correlation between them. Users do not need to manually set separate temperatures for different climate conditions. The cloud server can automatically output matching dual temperature setpoints under different climate conditions, enabling the water heater's temperature control to directly link with the local climate, reducing the need for human intervention and lowering the possibility of unsatisfactory temperatures or energy waste due to improper settings. On the other hand, the climate-temperature relationship distributed from the cloud is presented intuitively to the user terminal in the form of a statistical chart, enabling users to clearly understand the temperature adaptation logic. At the same time, through the adjustment controls at each node on the statistical chart, users can easily modify the target temperature under any climate condition according to their own physical preferences, and send the modified data back to the cloud. Thus, while ensuring the temperature adaptation capability, it meets the user's individual comfort needs and significantly improves the interactive experience and temperature controllability.

[0046] The fourth technical problem mentioned above is solved by the following technical solution:

[0047] A cloud server includes a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that the processor executes the computer program to implement the control method for an electric water heater applied to the cloud server as described above.

[0048] Compared with the prior art, the cloud server described in this invention has the following advantages: This invention stores a first correlation between outlet water temperature and climate information, and a second correlation between inner tank water temperature and climate information, through the cloud server. When the cloud server obtains the current climate information of the location of the water heater, it determines the target outlet water temperature based on the first correlation and the target inner tank water temperature based on the second correlation, and then sends corresponding adjustment commands to the water heater. During this process, both the outlet water temperature and the inner tank water temperature dynamically change with the current climate information, naturally forming a correlation between them. Users do not need to manually set different temperatures for different climate conditions. The cloud server can automatically output matching dual temperature setpoints under different climate conditions, enabling the water heater's temperature control to directly link with the local climate, reducing the need for human intervention and lowering the possibility of unsatisfactory temperatures or energy waste due to improper settings. Attached Figure Description

[0049] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a control method for an electric water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a temperature adjustment process provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a control method for an electric water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a control method for an electric water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an adaptive setting of the inner tank water temperature provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an adaptive setting of outlet water temperature provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of an electric water heater system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a cloud server provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0058] In the following description, specific details such as particular system architectures and techniques are set forth for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present application may be implemented in other embodiments without these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, apparatuses, circuits, and methods have been omitted to avoid unnecessary detail that could obscure the description of the present application.

[0059] The technical solution of the present invention will be illustrated below through specific embodiments.

[0060] This invention provides a method for electric water heaters, applied to a cloud server. The cloud server can be implemented in hardware and / or software and can be configured within a cloud server.

[0061] The cloud server communicates with the electric water heater, for example, via Wi-Fi or mobile network. The cloud server stores a first correlation between the outlet water temperature and climate information, and a second correlation between the inner tank water temperature and climate information. Climate information may include, but is not limited to, parameters such as air temperature (e.g., daily average air temperature, real-time air temperature), season (spring, summer, autumn, winter), or weather type (sunny, rainy, snowy, cloudy). These two sets of correlations can be default tables pre-set during the R&D phase based on extensive user surveys and thermodynamic simulations, or they can be custom tables updated and stored later based on user-specific adjustments.

[0062] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electric water heater method provided by an embodiment of the present invention is shown, as follows: Figure 1 As shown, the method may specifically include the following steps:

[0063] S101. Obtain the current climate information of the location of the electric water heater.

[0064] Specifically, the cloud server first needs to determine the geographical location of the electric water heater, and then obtain the current climate information for that location. For example, the cloud can pre-integrate third-party weather interfaces, such as meteorological bureau APIs or commercial weather service provider interfaces. By calling these service interfaces and passing in the location information, the current climate information for that location can be obtained in real time. The current climate information includes at least one of temperature, weather type (sunny, rainy, snowy, etc.), or season (spring, summer, autumn, winter).

[0065] S102. Determine the target outlet water temperature corresponding to the current climate information based on the first correlation.

[0066] The first association describes the mapping logic between climate information (such as temperature value and season type) and the outlet water temperature space, which is expressed as a lookup table or function.

[0067] After obtaining the current climate information, the cloud server uses a pre-stored first association relationship to perform a lookup or calculation to determine the target outlet water temperature corresponding to that climate information. For example, when the climate information is "air temperature is 25℃", the first association relationship can map it to "outlet water temperature 40℃"; when the climate information is "winter", it is mapped to "outlet water temperature 42℃". Through this step, the cloud can obtain the target outlet water temperature adapted to the current climate information.

[0068] Through this step, the cloud server can automatically calculate the appropriate water temperature for the user based on external climate conditions, avoiding the need for the user to blindly set the temperature based on experience.

[0069] S103. Determine the target inner tank water temperature corresponding to the current climate information based on the second correlation.

[0070] Similar to the first association, the second association describes the mapping logic between climate information and the inner tank (set) temperature. The inner tank water temperature refers to the target temperature that the water heater inside the electric water heater needs to heat the water to. Unlike the outlet water temperature, the inner tank water temperature usually needs to be set higher because the electric water heater has a mixing module with an adjustable outlet water temperature. In actual use, the high-temperature hot water flowing out of the electric water heater needs to mix with cold water in the mixing module to achieve a comfortable outlet water temperature. The setting of the inner tank water temperature directly affects the heating energy consumption, insulation loss, and the duration of continuous hot water supply for the electric water heater.

[0071] The second association can also be represented as a lookup table or function. For example, when the climate information is "temperature is 5℃", the first association can map it to "outlet water temperature is 65℃"; when the climate information is "winter", it can map it to "outlet water temperature is 70℃". Through this step, the cloud can obtain the target inner tank water temperature that is adapted to the current climate information.

[0072] In this way, the water temperature inside the tank can be adaptively adjusted according to climate changes. For example, in the cold winter, the water temperature inside the tank will automatically rise to ensure sufficient hot water output and water temperature stability; in the hot summer, the water temperature inside the tank will automatically decrease to reduce unnecessary heating energy consumption and standby heat loss.

[0073] S104. Send instructions to the electric water heater to adjust the outlet water temperature to the target outlet water temperature and to adjust the inner tank water temperature to the target inner tank water temperature.

[0074] After determining the target outlet water temperature and the target inner tank water temperature through the above steps, the cloud server encapsulates these two target values ​​into control commands and sends them to the corresponding electric water heater via the network.

[0075] Specifically, the cloud server first locates the communication address of the water heater based on its unique identifier (such as a MAC address), and then sends the instruction to the water heater. Upon receiving the instruction, the water heater's communication module transmits it to its built-in controller (such as an MCU). The controller parses the instruction and performs the following two operations: first, it controls the stepper motor or proportional valve of the thermostatic valve to adjust the outlet water temperature to the target outlet water temperature sent from the cloud; second, it controls the on / off state of the heating relay or thyristor to heat the inner tank water to the target inner tank water temperature sent from the cloud, and then enters a heat preservation state after reaching the target temperature.

[0076] The above instructions can be two independent instructions (for example, issuing an inner tank water temperature instruction first, and then issuing a water temperature instruction), or a single comprehensive instruction containing both temperature fields. Regardless of the form, as long as the electric water heater can ultimately adjust the outlet water temperature to the target outlet water temperature and the inner tank water temperature to the target inner tank water temperature, it is acceptable.

[0077] It should be noted that the order of description of S101 to S104 above does not constitute a strict limitation on the execution order of the method of the present invention. In specific implementations, S102 and S103 can be executed in parallel, or S103 can be executed first and then S102, as long as two target temperature values ​​can be obtained before S104. In addition, S101 can obtain climate information in real time each time temperature adjustment is performed, or it can be updated and cached every preset time (e.g., 1 hour) to reduce the frequency of calls to external interfaces.

[0078] This invention stores a first correlation between outlet water temperature and climate information, and a second correlation between inner tank water temperature and climate information, on a cloud server. When the cloud server obtains the current climate information of the water heater's location, it determines the target outlet water temperature based on the first correlation and the target inner tank water temperature based on the second correlation, and then sends corresponding adjustment commands to the water heater. During this process, both the outlet water temperature and the inner tank water temperature dynamically change with the current climate information, naturally forming a correlation between them. Users do not need to manually set separate temperatures for different climate conditions. The cloud server can automatically output matching dual temperature setpoints under different climate conditions, enabling the water heater's temperature control to directly link with the local climate, reducing the need for human intervention and lowering the possibility of unsatisfactory temperatures or energy waste due to improper settings.

[0079] In an optional embodiment, based on the above embodiment, before sending the instruction to the electric water heater to adjust the outlet water temperature to the target outlet water temperature, a temperature adjustment process is also included, which may specifically be the adjustment of the target outlet water temperature and / or the target inner tank water temperature. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a temperature adjustment process, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the temperature adjustment process includes:

[0080] S201. Obtain the current water temperature inside the electric water heater.

[0081] The cloud server first needs to obtain the real-time water temperature inside the water heater's inner tank as a benchmark for subsequent comparisons. There are several ways to obtain this current inner tank water temperature. For example, the water heater can proactively report its inner tank water temperature data to the cloud at preset time intervals (such as every 30 seconds or every minute); alternatively, the cloud can proactively send a query command to the water heater when needed, and the water heater, upon receiving the command, reads the current value from the temperature sensor and returns it to the cloud. Regardless of the method used, the cloud server can obtain a specific numerical value reflecting the real-time thermal state of the water heater's inner tank.

[0082] S202. When the target outlet water temperature is less than or equal to the current inner tank water temperature, the target outlet water temperature shall be kept constant.

[0083] When the target outlet water temperature is less than or equal to the current inner tank water temperature, it indicates that the hot water temperature in the inner tank is high enough to support the user's desired outlet water temperature. For example, if the target outlet water temperature is 38℃, and the current inner tank water temperature is 55℃, the inner tank clearly has sufficient hot water reserves. In this case, the water heater can mix in an appropriate amount of cold water through the thermostatic valve to precisely control the outlet water temperature at 38℃. Therefore, the cloud server does not need to modify the target outlet water temperature, maintaining the original target value and using it as the value for subsequent command issuance.

[0084] S203. When the target outlet water temperature is greater than the current inner tank water temperature, update the target outlet water temperature to the current inner tank water temperature.

[0085] When the target outlet water temperature is higher than the current tank water temperature, it indicates that the hot water temperature in the tank is insufficient to reach the outlet water temperature expected by the cloud. For example, the cloud may determine the target outlet water temperature to be 45℃ based on spring environmental data, but the current tank water temperature is only 38℃. In this case, even if the hot water valve on the thermostatic valve is fully opened (without any cold water mixing in), the highest temperature of the hot water flowing out will only reach 38℃, failing to reach the set value of 45℃. If the cloud still sends 45℃ as the command value, the target temperature displayed on the user's terminal will be 45℃, but the actual water temperature felt by the user will only be around 38℃. The user will feel a significant temperature difference and may mistakenly believe that the water heater's temperature control is inaccurate or malfunctioning, resulting in a poor water usage experience.

[0086] To address this issue, this embodiment employs an active correction measure: the cloud server updates the target outlet water temperature (an unattainable high value) originally determined based on climate information to the current inner tank water temperature (an actually achievable value). For example, 45℃ is corrected to 38℃. The corrected target outlet water temperature will then be equal to the current inner tank water temperature.

[0087] The cloud server then uses this corrected value as the new target outlet water temperature and generates a command to send to the water heater. Upon receiving the command, the water heater's controller attempts to adjust the thermostatic valve according to the set value (38℃). Since the set value is exactly equal to the current inner tank water temperature, the thermostatic valve opens the hot water side valve to its maximum (full heat state), resulting in an actual outlet water temperature of 38℃, perfectly consistent with the set value displayed on the user's terminal. The user sees no discrepancy between the set value and the water temperature they experience, avoiding the aforementioned cognitive conflict.

[0088] This embodiment performs a feasibility check on setting the target water temperature in the cloud, ensuring the consistency between the user interface setting and the actual water temperature, and avoiding user misunderstanding.

[0089] In an optional embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, after S203 (i.e., the target outlet water temperature downward correction event occurs), the following also includes:

[0090] S204. Calculate the sum of the current inner tank water temperature and the preset temperature increment to obtain the candidate temperature.

[0091] The preset temperature increment is a pre-configured fixed value that can be dynamically adjusted according to different climate conditions or user preferences. For example, it can be set to a larger increment (e.g., 8°C) in winter and a smaller increment (e.g., 3°C) in summer; or users can customize the increment value in the APP, and this invention does not limit this.

[0092] The cloud server adds the current inner tank water temperature to the preset temperature increment to obtain a candidate temperature. This candidate temperature is a recommended target inner tank temperature that is higher than the current inner tank water temperature. It is used to guide users to appropriately increase the inner tank water temperature, thereby narrowing the gap between the actual inner tank temperature and the ideal outlet water temperature, or making the actual inner tank temperature greater than or equal to the ideal outlet water temperature.

[0093] Taking a temperature increment of 5℃ as an example: The cloud server obtains the current inner tank water temperature (e.g., 38℃) obtained in step S201, adds it to the preset increment (5℃), and calculates the candidate temperature of 43℃.

[0094] S205. Send a prompt message to the user terminal to adjust the inner tank water temperature to the alternative temperature.

[0095] The user terminal can be implemented using various portable smart devices, such as tablets, smartwatches, or dedicated remote controls with network communication capabilities. For example, the user terminal is a smartphone with a mobile application (APP) installed to accompany the electric water heater. Through this APP, users can register an account, bind the electric water heater in their home, check the device status, receive information pushed from the cloud, and perform various temperature settings. The APP establishes a persistent connection with the cloud server via a mobile network or Wi-Fi for sending and receiving control commands and status data.

[0096] The cloud server also communicates with the user terminal. Specifically, the cloud server can establish a persistent connection via mobile network or Wi-Fi. After determining the alternative temperature, a prompt message is sent to the user terminal bound to the electric water heater. This prompt message may include the following: first, informing the user that the current inner tank water temperature is too low, preventing the achievement of the climate-adaptive recommended target outlet water temperature; second, suggesting that the user increase the inner tank set temperature to the alternative temperature (e.g., 43℃). For example: "The current inner tank water temperature (38℃) is lower than the recommended outlet water temperature (45℃), is it recommended to increase the inner tank water temperature to 43℃?" After the user confirms, the cloud sends the new inner tank set temperature to the electric water heater.

[0097] Through the above steps, this embodiment proactively pushes optimization suggestions to users when it detects insufficient heating capacity of the inner tank in the cloud. Users do not need to make their own judgments or manually search for the inner tank water temperature setting in the APP, allowing them to quickly set a more suitable inner tank water temperature. In addition, after the user confirms the increase in the inner tank water temperature, the root cause of the substandard water temperature is solved, further improving the intelligent coordination level of the electric water heater and user satisfaction.

[0098] In an optional embodiment, obtaining current climate information for the location of the electric water heater includes:

[0099] Obtain the location information bound to the identifier of the electric water heater; obtain the climate information corresponding to the location information through the weather interface, and use it as the current climate information of the location of the electric water heater.

[0100] The cloud server pre-stores the binding relationship between the unique identifier of the electric water heater (such as MAC address or device serial number) and its installation geographical location. This binding relationship can be established when the user uses the water heater for the first time, by obtaining location permissions on the mobile application and reporting the location information, or by the user manually entering and saving their location in the app. When climate information is needed, the cloud server first queries the water heater's identifier and then reads the bound location information from the local database.

[0101] The cloud server uses the acquired location information as a request parameter to call a third-party weather interface. Based on the input location information, the weather interface returns various current meteorological data for that location, including but not limited to: real-time temperature, daily high / low temperature, wind speed, and weather conditions (sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy, etc.). The cloud server extracts the necessary climate parameters (especially temperature and weather type) from the returned data and further calculates or identifies the season based on these parameters. Finally, the cloud server outputs the acquired climate information (e.g., "temperature 28℃, summer") as the result of step S101, for subsequent use in determining the target outlet water temperature and the target inner tank water temperature.

[0102] These parameters can be used to further calculate or identify the season, specifically by using the moving average of temperatures over multiple consecutive days as a basis for judgment. For example:

[0103] When the sliding average temperature rises to a level not lower than the first threshold (e.g., 10°C) and the number of days it lasts reaches a preset value (e.g., 5 days), it is determined that winter has ended and spring has begun.

[0104] When the sliding average temperature rises to no less than the second threshold (e.g., 22℃) and the number of days it lasts reaches a preset value, it is determined that spring has ended and summer has begun.

[0105] When the sliding average temperature drops below the second threshold and the number of days it lasts reaches a preset value, it is determined that summer has ended and autumn has begun.

[0106] When the sliding average temperature drops to no higher than the first threshold and the number of days reaches the preset value, it is determined that autumn has ended and winter has begun.

[0107] The first threshold, the second threshold, and the preset number of days mentioned above can be adaptively adjusted according to the climate characteristics of different regions. This embodiment is only an example.

[0108] Through the above methods, the cloud server can dynamically and accurately obtain the real climate conditions of the location of the electric water heater, without requiring users to manually input weather information. This reduces the user's operational burden and ensures the real-time nature and reliability of the climate data.

[0109] In an optional embodiment, the cloud server also communicates with the user terminal; please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 3 The diagram shown illustrates a control method for an electric water heater. The control method also includes:

[0110] S301. In response to the user activating the temperature adaptive function through the user terminal, determine the target association relationship corresponding to the temperature adaptive function and bound to the identifier of the electric water heater.

[0111] The temperature adaptive function includes an outlet water temperature adaptive function and an inner tank water temperature adaptive function; the outlet water temperature adaptive function corresponds to the first correlation, and the inner tank water temperature adaptive function corresponds to the second correlation.

[0112] When using the mobile application, users can select to enable either the "Outlet Water Temperature Adaptive Function" or the "Inner Tank Water Temperature Adaptive Function" on the control interface. The user terminal sends this activation request to the cloud server. Upon receiving the request, the cloud server first determines the target association to be operated based on the function type carried in the request: if the outlet water temperature adaptive function is enabled, the target association is the first association (mapping of outlet water temperature to climate information); if the inner tank water temperature adaptive function is enabled, the target association is the second association (mapping of inner tank water temperature to climate information). Simultaneously, the cloud server also looks up the association instance bound to the device based on the water heater's unique identifier (such as a MAC address). Each device has an independently stored association table, facilitating personalized configuration.

[0113] S302. Send the stored target association relationship to the user terminal. The initial data of the target association relationship is the default data.

[0114] The cloud server reads the target association bound to the current device identifier from the database. If this is the user's first time enabling the function and there is no user-defined historical data in the database, the cloud server sends a pre-configured default association (i.e., the factory default curve). The default association includes multiple discrete climate nodes (e.g., five temperature nodes: 0℃, 10℃, 20℃, 30℃, and 40℃, or four season nodes: spring, summer, autumn, and winter) and the recommended set temperature for each node (e.g., the default outlet water temperature). After receiving this association, the user terminal displays it to the user in the form of a statistical chart for viewing and adjustment.

[0115] S303, Receive the modified target association relationship uploaded by the user terminal.

[0116] After the user edits the statistical chart on the terminal interface (such as dragging node sliders or entering temperature values), the terminal will package and upload the modified complete correlation data to the cloud server. The cloud server receives the data and performs a reasonableness check, such as ensuring that the temperature values ​​are within a reasonable range, for example, the water temperature in the inner tank is not higher than 75℃ and not lower than 30℃.

[0117] S304. Bind and store the modified target association with the identifier of the electric water heater.

[0118] After successful verification, the cloud server will replace the original association of the device with the received modified association and bind it to the water heater's unique identifier (such as a MAC address) for storage. Subsequently, when the cloud server needs to determine the target outlet water temperature or target inner tank water temperature based on climate information, it will prioritize using the personalized association corresponding to this device (i.e., the user-defined curve) for table lookup or interpolation calculations. If the user has never modified it, the default association will continue to be used.

[0119] Through the steps described above, users can customize the mapping curve between climate and temperature according to their own comfort preferences, thus incorporating personalized needs on top of automatic climate adaptation. The cloud server independently stores the customized relationships for each device, ensuring the independence of different devices while enabling the adaptive control algorithm to dynamically update as user preferences change, significantly improving product flexibility and user satisfaction.

[0120] The present invention also provides a control method for an electric water heater, which is applied to a user terminal that communicates with a cloud server and has a control interface.

[0121] The user terminal can be implemented using various portable smart devices, such as tablets, smartwatches, or dedicated remote controls with network communication capabilities. For example, the user terminal is a smartphone with a mobile application (APP) installed to accompany the electric water heater. The APP establishes a persistent connection with a cloud server via a mobile network or Wi-Fi for sending and receiving control commands and status data.

[0122] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a control method for an electric water heater, as shown below. Figure 4 As shown, the method includes:

[0123] S401. In response to the user enabling the temperature adaptive function, request the cloud server to send the target association relationship corresponding to the temperature adaptive function.

[0124] The temperature adaptive function is either the outlet water temperature adaptive function or the inner tank water temperature adaptive function. The target correlation corresponding to the outlet water temperature adaptive function is the first correlation between outlet water temperature and climate information, and the target correlation corresponding to the inner tank water temperature adaptive function is the second correlation between inner tank water temperature and climate information.

[0125] Users can choose to enable the "Temperature Adaptive Function" on the app's control interface. This function includes two types: "Outlet Water Temperature Adaptive Function" and "Inner Tank Water Temperature Adaptive Function." Users can choose to enable one or both as needed. When the user clicks the corresponding function button, the app sends a request message to the cloud server. This request message contains at least the following information: first, the type of function the user has enabled (outlet water temperature adaptive or inner tank water temperature adaptive); and second, the unique identifier of the electric water heater (such as a MAC address, which has been previously bound).

[0126] S402, Receive the target association relationship sent by the cloud server.

[0127] After receiving the request, the cloud server responds by sending the stored target association relationship bound to the current device identifier to the user terminal. If this is the user's first time using this function, the cloud sends the default association relationship (i.e., the factory-preset curve data); if the user has previously customized the curve, the cloud sends the personalized association relationship stored after the last modification.

[0128] The user terminal receives the data through the APP and temporarily stores it in local memory.

[0129] S403. Display the statistical chart corresponding to the target relationship on the control interface. The statistical chart shows the correspondence between the temperature or season and the set temperature. Adjustment controls for adjusting values ​​are set on each temperature node or each season node on the statistical chart.

[0130] The app parses the received target relationship data and visualizes it as a statistical chart on the smartphone's touchscreen. Optionally, the statistical chart can be a line graph or a bar chart.

[0131] The horizontal axis of the statistical chart represents climate information, specifically air temperature (e.g., a series of discrete nodes in degrees Celsius: 0℃, 10℃, 20℃, 30℃, 40℃) or season (four nodes: spring, summer, autumn, and winter); the vertical axis represents the set temperature, which is the outlet water temperature for the first correlation and the inner tank water temperature for the second correlation. Of course, the horizontal axis of the statistical chart can also represent the set temperature, and the vertical axis can represent climate information; this invention does not impose any limitation on this.

[0132] On the graph, there is an adjustment control for each climate node (such as the 0℃ node, the "spring" node, etc.) so that users can modify the set temperature of that node.

[0133] As an optional implementation, the adjustment control is a slider that can be dragged along the vertical axis. Each slider is positioned by default at the current temperature value of that node, and users can touch the slider and drag it up or down to intuitively adjust the temperature value. Alternatively, the adjustment control can be an input box that allows users to enter a numerical value. Users can click on this input box (at which point a numeric keyboard will pop up on the screen) and enter the desired temperature value.

[0134] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an adaptive water temperature setting for the inner tank, as shown below. Figure 5 As shown, the user terminal's control interface displays a "Tank Water Temperature Adaptive Setting" screen. The top of this screen displays the location of the water heater (e.g., "XX District") and the current weather conditions (e.g., "30℃, Cloudy"), allowing users to easily correlate the current external environment with the tank water temperature setting. This interface also includes a region setting control 51, through which users can actively input or select the region where the water heater is located.

[0135] Figure 5 The lower part of the interface is the inner tank water temperature adjustment area, which uses a statistical chart to show the relationship between the inner tank water temperature and the seasons. Specifically, the chart is a bar chart, with the horizontal axis representing the seasons, in order: spring, summer, autumn, and winter; the vertical axis represents the inner tank set temperature, ranging from 0℃ to 75℃. Each season node corresponds to a bar, and the height of the bar represents the recommended or user-defined inner tank set temperature for that season. Each bar has an adjustment control 52 at the top or inside, which users can drag up or down to adjust the inner tank water temperature value for the corresponding season. The interface also includes a temperature data reset control 53 and a season setting control 54. Users can click the temperature data reset control 53 to restore the data of the bar chart to its initial default state. The season setting control 54 is located below each season node, and users can click the season setting control 54 to set the status of the corresponding season to "current," and only one season can be set to "current."

[0136] pass Figure 5 The interface shown allows users to intuitively view recommended settings for the inner tank water temperature in different seasons and personalize the temperature settings according to their own water usage habits or comfort preferences. The adjusted values ​​are uploaded to a cloud server and stored, used for subsequent automatic issuance of inner tank water temperature control commands based on real-time seasonal information. The interface is simple and intuitive, reducing the learning curve and operational complexity for users configuring the inner tank water temperature.

[0137] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an adaptive outlet water temperature setting, such as... Figure 6As shown, the user terminal's control interface displays a "Water Outlet Temperature Adaptive Setting" screen. This interface, in terms of overall layout, top information display (location, current weather conditions), and lower-middle data prompts, is similar to... Figure 5 The interface for adaptive water temperature settings in the inner tank shown is similar; please refer to the following for details. Figure 5 The relevant descriptions will not be repeated here for similar layouts or functions (controls).

[0138] and Figure 5 The difference is that, Figure 6 The main body of the graph uses a curve (or scatter plot) to present the relationship between water temperature and air temperature. The horizontal axis represents air temperature (°C), ranging from 0°C to 50°C; the vertical axis represents the set outlet water temperature (°C), ranging from 35°C to 50°C. Multiple discrete air temperature nodes are set on the horizontal axis, such as 0°C, 10°C, 20°C, 30°C, 40°C, and 50°C. Each node corresponds to a data point, which is highlighted with a circle. Adjacent nodes are connected by line segments to form a continuous broken line. Each data point has a draggable adjustment control 61, allowing users to adjust the outlet water temperature value of the corresponding air temperature node by dragging the control up or down.

[0139] The diagram illustrates the set values ​​for some nodes: for example, when the air temperature is 30℃, the corresponding outlet water temperature is approximately 41℃. The overall curve shows a trend of higher outlet water temperature when the air temperature is low and lower outlet water temperature when the air temperature is high, reflecting the adaptive logic of high water temperature in winter and low water temperature in summer.

[0140] Furthermore, when control 61 is selected, its display area increases, and when the user ends the operation (e.g., removes their finger from the screen) or switches to another node, the control returns to its default size. This dynamic change allows users to more clearly locate the currently operated control, especially when nodes are densely packed on the graph or when screen size is limited. The magnification significantly reduces the probability of accidental touches and improves the accuracy of temperature adjustment. Simultaneously, the visual magnification feedback enhances the perceptibility of the operation and the smoothness of the interaction, further optimizing the user experience.

[0141] pass Figure 6 The interface shown allows users to intuitively view the recommended outlet water temperature under different air temperatures and make personalized adjustments to each air temperature node. The adjusted relationships will be uploaded to the cloud for real-time control.

[0142] S404. In response to the user's operation on the adjustment control, modify the set temperature of the corresponding node.

[0143] When a user touches and drags an adjustment control (such as a slider), the app obtains the slider's position in real time, converts it into a corresponding temperature value, and updates the temperature data of that node on the graph. If the graph is a line graph, the line segments adjacent to that node are also redrawn based on the new temperature value, ensuring a smooth transition. Users can modify multiple nodes sequentially until the temperature values ​​of all nodes match their personal preferences. During this process, the app maintains the modified relationships only in local memory and has not yet uploaded them to the cloud.

[0144] S405. Upload the modified target association to the cloud server.

[0145] After completing all necessary adjustments, the user can trigger the upload operation by clicking the "Save" or "Confirm" button. The app packages the modified complete target correlation (including the climate parameters of all nodes and their corresponding new temperature values) in memory into a data packet and sends it to the cloud server. After receiving the data packet, the cloud server verifies it according to steps S303 and S304 in the aforementioned embodiment. After passing the verification, it binds and stores the correlation in the data packet with the device identifier. Subsequently, the cloud will use the user-defined correlation to replace the default curve for subsequent determination of the target outlet water temperature or target inner tank water temperature based on real-time climate information.

[0146] Through the steps described above, users can intuitively view the mapping relationship between climate and temperature via graphs and easily modify the set temperature under any climate conditions using sliders and other adjustment controls, achieving personalized configuration. The modified data is uploaded back to the cloud and persistently stored, satisfying both temperature adaptation requirements and individual user differences, thus improving user-friendliness and product satisfaction.

[0147] In an optional embodiment, the control method for the electric water heater further includes:

[0148] In response to the user's first activation of the temperature adaptive function, the location information of the user's terminal is obtained and uploaded to the cloud server, so that the cloud server can bind and store the location information with the identifier of the electric water heater.

[0149] When a user first enables the temperature adaptive function on their device (for example, when using the water heater's accompanying app for the first time, the homepage will display either "Outlet Water Temperature Adaptive" or "Inner Tank Water Temperature Adaptive"), clicking either button will prompt the user's device to request their current location information. One implementation method is for the user's device to access the system's location service, obtaining location information only after user authorization. The user's device then packages this location information along with the water heater's unique identifier (such as MAC address or device serial number) and uploads it to a cloud server.

[0150] After receiving the data, the cloud server binds the location information to the water heater's identifier and stores it in the database. Subsequently, whenever the cloud needs to make temperature decisions based on climate information, it can query the device's bound location information using its identifier and then call the weather interface to obtain the corresponding real-time climate data.

[0151] It should be noted that this step is only performed once when the user first enables the temperature adaptive function. Once the binding is complete, the cloud will directly use the stored location information when the user uses the function again, without needing to repeatedly obtain the user's terminal location. If the electric water heater is moved to a new installation location (e.g., the user moves), the user can manually clear the existing binding relationship in the APP, or update the location information by re-running the initial setup process, thus ensuring the accuracy of the climate data.

[0152] The above embodiments achieve one-time binding of the device to the geographic location, which ensures the accuracy of climate information acquisition and avoids repeated requests for location permissions.

[0153] It should be noted that the sequence number of each step in the above embodiments does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0154] Reference Figure 7 The diagram shows a schematic of an electric water heater system provided by an embodiment of the present invention, specifically including an electric water heater 10, a cloud server 20, and a user terminal 30. The electric water heater 10 and the user terminal 30 are respectively connected to the cloud server 20 for communication. The cloud server 20 is used for the control method of the electric water heater applied to the cloud server 20 side in the present invention, and the user terminal 30 is used to execute the control method of the electric water heater applied to the user terminal 30 side in the present invention.

[0155] The present invention provides an electric water heater system, which can realize the steps in the aforementioned control method embodiments of electric water heaters.

[0156] It should be noted that the module division in the electric water heater system provided in the above embodiments is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods are also possible. Furthermore, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this invention can be integrated into a single processor, exist as separate physical entities, or be integrated into a single module. The integrated modules described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules.

[0157] If the integrated module is implemented as a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, all or part of the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention can be embodied in the form of a computer program product, which is stored in a computer storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a cloud server or processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods in the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned computer storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0158] Furthermore, the electric water heater system and the control method embodiment of the electric water heater provided in the above embodiments belong to the same concept, and their specific implementation process can be found in the method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0159] Reference Figure 8 The diagram illustrates a cloud server provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 As shown, the cloud server in this embodiment of the invention includes a processor, a memory, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the steps described in the above embodiment of the control method for an electric water heater applied to the cloud server side. Alternatively, when the processor executes the computer program, it implements the functions of the cloud server.

[0160] For example, a computer program can be divided into one or more modules, one or more of which are stored in memory and executed by a processor to complete this application. The one or more modules can be a series of computer program instruction segments capable of performing a specific function, which can be used to describe the execution process of the computer program in a cloud server.

[0161] A cloud server can be a desktop computer, electronic device, or other computing device. A cloud server may include, but is not limited to, processors and memory. Those skilled in the art will understand that... Figure 8 This is merely one example of a cloud server and does not constitute a limitation on cloud servers. It may include more or fewer components than illustrated, or combine certain components, or different components. For example, a cloud server may also include input / output devices, network access devices, buses, etc.

[0162] The processor can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0163] Storage can be an internal storage unit of a cloud server, such as its hard drive or RAM. Storage can also be an external storage device, such as a plug-in hard drive, Smart Media Card (SMC), Secure Digital (SD) card, Flash Card, etc., all found on the cloud server. Furthermore, storage can include both internal and external storage units. Storage is used to store computer programs and other programs and data required by the cloud server. Storage can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or will be output.

[0164] The embodiments described above are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and should all be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A control method for an electric water heater, characterized in that, The system is applied to a cloud server, which is communicatively connected to the electric water heater. The electric water heater has a mixing module with adjustable outlet water temperature. The cloud server stores a first correlation between outlet water temperature and climate information, and a second correlation between inner tank water temperature and climate information. The control method includes: Obtain the current climate information for the location of the electric water heater; Based on the first correlation, the target outlet water temperature corresponding to the current climate information is determined; The target inner tank water temperature corresponding to the current climate information is determined based on the second correlation. Send instructions to the electric water heater to adjust the outlet water temperature to the target outlet water temperature and to adjust the inner tank water temperature to the target inner tank water temperature.

2. The control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Before sending the instruction to the electric water heater to adjust the outlet water temperature to the target outlet water temperature, the method further includes: Get the current water temperature inside the electric water heater; When the target outlet water temperature is less than or equal to the current inner tank water temperature, the target outlet water temperature remains unchanged; When the target outlet water temperature is greater than the current inner tank water temperature, the target outlet water temperature is updated to the current inner tank water temperature.

3. The control method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The cloud server is also connected to the user terminal. After updating the target outlet water temperature to the current inner tank water temperature, the method further includes: Calculate the sum of the current inner tank water temperature and the preset temperature increment to obtain the candidate temperature; Send a prompt message to the user terminal to adjust the inner tank water temperature to the alternative temperature.

4. The control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The climate information includes at least one of temperature, season, and weather type.

5. The control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cloud server is equipped with a weather interface, and obtaining the current climate information of the location of the electric water heater includes: Obtain the location information associated with the identifier of the electric water heater; The climate information corresponding to the location information is obtained through the weather interface and used as the current climate information for the location of the electric water heater.

6. The control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cloud server is also connected to the user terminal for communication, and the method further includes: In response to a user activating the temperature adaptive function through the user terminal, a target association relationship corresponding to the temperature adaptive function and bound to the identifier of the electric water heater is determined; the temperature adaptive function includes an outlet water temperature adaptive function and an inner tank water temperature adaptive function; the outlet water temperature adaptive function corresponds to the first association relationship, and the inner tank water temperature adaptive function corresponds to the second association relationship. The stored target association relationship is sent to the user terminal, and the initial data of the target association relationship is default data; Receive the modified target association relationship uploaded by the user terminal; The modified target association is bound and stored with the identifier of the electric water heater.

7. A control method for an electric water heater, characterized in that, The method, applied to a user terminal communicating with a cloud server and having a control interface, includes: In response to the user activating the temperature adaptive function, a request is sent to the cloud server to send the target association relationship corresponding to the temperature adaptive function. The temperature adaptive function is either the outlet water temperature adaptive function or the inner tank water temperature adaptive function. The target association relationship corresponding to the outlet water temperature adaptive function is the first association relationship between the outlet water temperature and climate information, and the target association relationship corresponding to the inner tank water temperature adaptive function is the second association relationship between the inner tank water temperature and climate information. Receive the target association relationship sent by the cloud server; The control interface displays a statistical chart corresponding to the target correlation. The statistical chart shows the correspondence between temperature or season and the set temperature. Each temperature node or season node on the statistical chart has adjustment controls for adjusting the values. In response to the user's operation on the adjustment control, the set temperature of the corresponding node is modified; The modified target association is uploaded to the cloud server.

8. The method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, Also includes: In response to the user activating the temperature adaptive function for the first time, the location information of the user terminal is obtained and uploaded to the cloud server, so that the cloud server binds and stores the location information with the identifier of the electric water heater.

9. An electric water heater system, characterized in that, The device includes an electric water heater, a cloud server, and a user terminal. The electric water heater and the user terminal are respectively communicatively connected to the cloud server. The cloud server is used to execute the control method of the electric water heater according to any one of claims 1-6, and the user terminal is used to execute the control method of the electric water heater according to any one of claims 7-8.

10. A cloud server, comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the control method for the electric water heater as described in any one of claims 1-6.

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