A water softener salt tank, an intelligent water softener and a water softener control method

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a water softener salt tank, an intelligent water softener and a water softener control method. The water softener salt tank comprises a tank body, a salt adding opening is formed in the side surface of the tank body; a distance measuring module is installed on the inner top surface of the tank body, the distance measuring module is used for detecting the salt level in the tank body; a blowing module is installed on the inner side surface of the tank body, the position of the blowing module corresponds to the position of the distance measuring module, and the blowing module is used for blowing cold air or hot air to the surface of the distance measuring module. The distance measuring module of the present disclosure can detect the salt level information in the tank body in real time. The cold air blown by the blowing module can form an airflow protection barrier on the surface of the distance measuring module, reducing the probability of corrosion of the distance measuring module caused by salt mist contact. The hot air blown can heat and melt the salt deposit on the surface of the distance measuring module and then dry it, avoiding the failure of the distance measuring module caused by the salt deposit. This can not only improve the accuracy of salt level information measurement in the salt tank, but also prolong the service life of the distance measuring module, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the salt tank and the water softener.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of water softener technology, and in particular to a water softener brine tank, an intelligent water softener, and a water softener control method. Background Technology

[0002] Water softeners remove calcium and magnesium ions from water using ion exchange resins. Once the resins are saturated, they need to be regenerated using a high-concentration brine solution (NaCl solution). Water softeners are typically equipped with a separate brine tank to store solid granular salt (usually spherical or flake-shaped), and a regenerant is prepared by dissolving the salt in water. Proper management of the brine tank is crucial for the stable operation of the water softener.

[0003] Currently, the management of brine tanks in water softeners mainly relies on manual or simple mechanical / electrical controls. The former requires manual periodic checks of the brine level in the tank, which affects the user experience. The latter uses measuring devices such as float switches / electrodes to measure the brine level, but these measuring components are prone to failure, leading to inaccurate brine level measurements and consequently affecting the stability and reliability of the water softener. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address at least one of the aforementioned technical problems, this disclosure provides a brine tank for a water softener, an intelligent water softener, and a control method for the water softener.

[0005] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, a brine tank for a water softener is provided, comprising: a tank body, wherein a salt inlet is provided on the side of the tank body; a ranging module installed on the inner top surface of the tank body, wherein the ranging module is used to detect the salt level height inside the tank body; and a blowing module installed on the inner side of the tank body, wherein the position of the blowing module corresponds to the position of the ranging module, and the blowing module is used to blow cold or hot air onto the surface of the ranging module.

[0006] Based on the above solution, the ranging module is installed on the inner top surface of the chamber, and a blower module is configured to blow cold or hot air onto the surface of the ranging module. The ranging module can detect the salt level information inside the chamber in real time. The cold air blown by the blower module can form an airflow protective barrier on the surface of the ranging module, reducing the probability of the ranging module being corroded by salt spray. The hot air blown by the blower module can heat and melt the salt stains on the surface of the ranging module and then dry them, preventing the ranging module from failing due to salt stains. This can improve the accuracy of salt level information measurement in the salt tank and extend the service life of the ranging module, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the salt tank and water softener.

[0007] In some possible implementations, the ranging module includes a mounting housing, a laser ranging sensor, and a protective lens. The mounting housing and the protective lens are both made of corrosion-resistant material. The mounting housing and the protective lens form a mounting chamber. The laser ranging sensor is disposed in the mounting chamber, with the sensing end of the laser ranging sensor close to the protective lens.

[0008] Based on the above scheme, the ranging module adopts a laser ranging sensor, which can improve the accuracy of salt level measurement. The mounting housing and protective lens form a mounting chamber, which can prevent salt spray from contacting the laser ranging sensor, thereby ensuring the stable operation of the laser ranging sensor. Both the mounting housing and the protective lens are made of corrosion-resistant materials, which can improve the overall reliability of the ranging module. The protective lens protects the sensing end of the laser ranging sensor without affecting the measurement effect of the laser ranging sensor, while ensuring measurement accuracy and protection strength.

[0009] In some possible implementations, the side where the blower module is located and the side where the salt inlet is located are opposite to each other, and the height of the blower module is greater than or equal to the height of the salt inlet.

[0010] Based on the above scheme, the blowing module is set opposite to the salt filling port, and the height of the blowing module is between the height of the salt filling port and the height of the ranging module, which helps to send the salt mist moisture inside the box to the outside of the box through the salt filling port.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the water softener salt tank also includes a sensor module installed inside the tank, the sensor module including at least one temperature sensor or at least one humidity sensor.

[0012] Based on the above solution, a temperature and humidity sensor is installed inside the cabinet. The temperature and humidity sensor can detect and provide feedback on the temperature and humidity data inside the cabinet. The blower module operates in different modes according to the temperature and humidity data to achieve precise temperature and humidity control. This helps to reduce the formation of salt bridges inside the cabinet, thereby improving the reliability of the cabinet and the water softener.

[0013] In some possible implementations, the blowing module includes a heating element and a plurality of fans, at least one of the fans being aligned with the surface of the ranging module and at least one of the fans being aligned with the salt inside the housing.

[0014] Based on the above solution, the blowing module includes multiple fans with different blowing directions. At least one fan is directed at the salt inside the tank. When the water softener is in the regeneration process, the blowing module can blow hot air onto the salt to increase the temperature inside the tank, thereby assisting in salt melting, improving salt melting efficiency, reducing the possibility of salt bridge formation, and improving the water softener's water replacement effect.

[0015] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, a smart water softener is also provided, including a water softener salt tank as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0016] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, a water softener control method is also provided, applied to an intelligent water softener described in the above embodiments, the method comprising: When the intelligent water softener is in standby mode, in response to a timed monitoring command, the ranging module and the blowing module are controlled to operate according to the first configuration parameters; when the intelligent water softener starts the regeneration program, the ranging module and the blowing module are controlled to operate according to the second configuration parameters; after the intelligent water softener stops running the regeneration program, the blowing module is controlled to operate according to the third configuration parameters; the first configuration parameters indicate that the ranging module performs a single measurement, and the blowing module rotates at a first speed for a first preset duration, and the heating element in the blowing module does not heat up; the second configuration parameters indicate that the ranging module performs continuous measurement, and the blowing module rotates continuously at a second speed, and the heating element in the blowing module does not heat up; the third configuration parameters indicate that the blowing module rotates at a third speed for a second preset duration, and the heating element in the blowing module heats up; the third speed is greater than the second speed, which is greater than the first speed, and the second preset duration is greater than the first preset duration.

[0017] Based on the above solution, a three-level control method is adopted for the intelligent water softener. When the intelligent water softener is in standby mode, timed air blowing is used for ranging, achieving regular cleaning of the ranging module surface and periodic detection of salt level information, thus reducing the power consumption of the water softener. During the regeneration process, continuous air blowing is used for ranging to prevent salt spray corrosion of the ranging module and to detect salt level information in real time to ensure the accuracy of the regeneration process. After the regeneration process is completed, continuous hot air cleaning is used to prevent salt residue from remaining on the ranging module surface, achieving self-cleaning and deep drying of the ranging surface, thereby extending the service life of the ranging module. This three-level control method can adapt to different working states of the intelligent water softener, improving its reliability and stability.

[0018] In some possible implementations, a humidity sensor is installed in the salt tank of the smart water softener; the method further includes: if the humidity data acquired by the humidity sensor is detected to be greater than a preset high humidity threshold during a continuous time period of a third preset length, the blower module is controlled to operate according to the third configuration parameters.

[0019] Based on the above solution, self-cleaning is triggered when the humidity in the brine tank of the water softener is too high, thereby maintaining the humidity balance in the brine tank and preventing the formation of salt bridges due to excessive humidity, thus ensuring the reliability of the smart water softener.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: controlling the blowing module to operate according to the third configuration parameters when the measurement results of a preset number of consecutive ranging modules are detected to be less than a preset low threshold.

[0021] Based on the above scheme, if the measurement result of the ranging module is lower than the preset low threshold multiple times in a row, the state of dirt on the surface of the ranging module can be detected. The self-cleaning is triggered by this detection condition, which can quickly clean the dirt on the surface of the ranging module and avoid the inaccuracy of the ranging module measurement caused by the salt residue on the surface of the ranging module.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: in response to a timed cleaning command or when the cumulative duration since the last operation of the blower module according to the third configuration parameters is detected to reach a fourth preset duration, controlling the blower module to operate according to the third configuration parameters.

[0023] Based on the above scheme, setting fixed timed and cumulative timed cleaning can periodically clean the surface of the ranging module and dehumidify the inside of the water softener's salt tank, further improving the reliability of the water softener's salt tank.

[0024] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0025] Other features and aspects of this disclosure will become clear from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions and advantages in the embodiments or prior art of this specification, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this specification. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 A perspective structural view of the brine tank of a water softener according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 2 A perspective structural diagram of a ranging module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating the steps of a water softener control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided.

[0028] In the picture, 1. Housing; 11. Salt inlet; 12. Salt water outlet; 2. Distance measuring module; 21. Mounting housing; 22. Laser distance measuring sensor; 23. Protective lens; 3. Air blowing module. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this specification will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this specification, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this specification, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0030] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this disclosure described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or server that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0031] Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote elements that have the same or similar functions. Although various aspects of the embodiments are shown in the drawings, they are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0032] The term “exemplary” as used herein means “serving as an example, embodiment, or illustration.” Any embodiment illustrated herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as superior to or better than other embodiments.

[0033] In this document, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. Furthermore, the term "at least one" in this document means any combination of at least two of any one or more elements. For example, including at least one of A, B, and C can mean including any one or more elements selected from the set consisting of A, B, and C.

[0034] Furthermore, to better illustrate this disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art will understand that this disclosure can be practiced without certain specific details. In some instances, methods, means, components, and circuits well known to those skilled in the art have not been described in detail in order to highlight the main points of this disclosure.

[0035] Water softeners remove calcium and magnesium ions from water using ion exchange resins. Once the resins are saturated, they need to be regenerated using a high-concentration brine solution (NaCl solution). Water softeners are typically equipped with a separate brine tank to store solid granular salt (usually spherical or flake-shaped), and a regenerant is prepared by dissolving the salt in water. Proper management of the brine tank is crucial for the stable operation of the water softener.

[0036] Currently, the management of brine tanks in water softeners mainly relies on manual or simple mechanical / electrical controls. However, these management methods have several drawbacks, including the following: I. Outdated or missing salinity detection methods: For manual observation solutions, users need to open the lid periodically to check, which is extremely inconvenient and easy to forget, leading to salt deficiency, making it impossible for the resin to regenerate effectively and causing the hardness of the effluent to exceed the standard. For float switch solutions, float switches can only provide two switching signals: "high salt level" (full) and "low salt level" (empty). They cannot provide continuous salt level information, so users cannot predict when salt needs to be added. Furthermore, floats are prone to corrosion and jamming in concentrated salt water, resulting in poor reliability. For simple electrode-based solutions, the electrodes are susceptible to interference from impurities and air bubbles in the brine, and scaling or corrosion on the electrode surface can lead to misjudgments. II. Sensor contamination leading to measurement failure: The salt tank is in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment with salt mist. Electronic sensors (such as ultrasonic probes, infrared sensors, and capacitive sensors) installed inside or on top of the salt tank are exposed to this environment for a long time. The sensitive elements of the electronic sensors (such as detection windows and electrodes) will be quickly covered by deliquescent salt, forming a layer of white salt stains. This will cause the measurement signal to decay sharply or fail completely, resulting in a very short service life for the electronic sensors. 3. Low salt dissolution efficiency: Traditional water softeners only inject a fixed amount of water into the brine tank when the regeneration process is started, relying on natural dissolution through soaking. The dissolution speed is slow and the regeneration waiting time is long, which becomes a bottleneck when rapid and continuous regeneration is needed, affecting the user experience. IV. Easily forms salt bridges: Under specific temperature and humidity conditions, the salt particles in the lower part of the salt tank will harden into a rigid arched structure, which is called a salt bridge. The presence of a salt bridge will prevent water from contacting the salt. The user can see the salt pile, but in reality, no brine can be produced, leading to regeneration failure and causing the water softener to malfunction.

[0037] To address at least one of the aforementioned technical problems, this disclosure provides a brine tank for a water softener. This brine tank simultaneously functions as a distance measuring device, a blower, and a heater. The brine tank employs a high-precision distance measuring device, providing continuous salt level / salt quantity measurement information with high accuracy. Furthermore, the brine tank can blow air onto the distance measuring device, protecting it with an airflow barrier. The blower, in conjunction with the heater, enables hot air flow, which cleans the surface of the distance measuring device, extending its lifespan. The hot air also removes moisture from the brine tank, disrupting the conditions for salt bridge formation, reducing the likelihood of salt bridge formation, and improving salt melting efficiency, thereby enhancing the water softening effect of the equipment.

[0038] Please refer to Figure 1 The brine tank of the water softener in this embodiment includes a tank body 1, which is connected to the water softener. A brine outlet 12 is provided at the bottom of the tank body 1, communicating with the brine channel of the water softener. A salt inlet 11 is provided on the side of the tank body 1. A ranging module 2 and a blower module 3 are installed inside the tank body 1. The ranging module 2 is installed on the inner top surface of the tank body 1 and is used to detect the salt level height inside the tank body 1. Specifically, the ranging module 2's detection direction is downwards. By obtaining the distance between the top of the salt inside the tank body 1 and the ranging module 2, the salt level height information is obtained. The blower module 3 is installed inside the tank body 1. On the inner side of body 1, the position of the blowing module 3 corresponds to the position of the ranging module 2. The blowing module 3 is used to blow cold or hot air onto the surface of the ranging module 2. Specifically, when the water softener starts the regeneration program, the water softener injects water into the tank 1 to dissolve the salt. Salt mist exists inside the tank 1. The blowing module 3 blows cold air onto the surface of the ranging module 2 to form a barrier protection until the regeneration program ends. When it is necessary to clean the surface of the ranging module 2, the blowing module 3 blows hot air onto the surface of the ranging module 2. The hot air is used to clean the salt stains on the surface of the ranging module 2 to ensure that the measurement signal strength of the ranging module 2 is sufficient.

[0039] Based on the above scheme, the ranging module 2 is installed on the inner top surface of the housing 1, and a blower module 3 is configured to blow cold or hot air onto the surface of the ranging module 2. The ranging module 2 can detect the salt level information inside the housing 1 in real time. The cold air blown out by the blower module 3 can form an airflow protective barrier on the surface of the ranging module 2, reducing the probability of the ranging module 2 being corroded by salt spray. The hot air blown out by the blower module 3 can heat and melt the salt stains on the surface of the ranging module 2 and then dry them, preventing the ranging module 2 from failing due to salt stains. This can improve the accuracy of salt level information measurement in the salt tank and extend the service life of the ranging module 2, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the salt tank and the water softener.

[0040] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the ranging module 2 adopts a nested structure, that is, the ranging module 2 includes a housing and a sensor disposed inside the housing. Based on the nested structure, the service life of the sensor can be significantly extended.

[0041] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 The ranging module 2 includes a mounting housing 21, a laser ranging sensor 22, and a protective lens 23. Both the mounting housing 21 and the protective lens 23 are made of corrosion-resistant materials. Specifically, the mounting housing 21 is made of waterproof and salt spray resistant materials, while the protective lens 23 is made of high-strength and corrosion-resistant materials. In some cases, both the mounting housing 21 and the protective lens 23 are made of quartz glass, while in other cases, the mounting housing 21 is made of stainless steel or plastic, and the protective lens 23 is made of quartz glass.

[0042] The mounting housing 21 and the protective lens 23 form a mounting chamber. The laser rangefinder 22 is disposed in the mounting chamber, with its sensing end close to the protective lens 23. Specifically, the sensing end of the laser rangefinder 22 includes a laser emitter and a laser receiver, both of which are in contact with the inner surface of the protective lens 23 to prevent steam or salt spray from penetrating into the mounting chamber. A sealing ring is provided at the connection between the mounting housing 21 and the protective lens 23 to improve sealing.

[0043] Based on the above scheme, the ranging module 2 adopts a laser ranging sensor 22, which can improve the accuracy of salt level measurement. The mounting housing 21 and the protective lens 23 form a mounting chamber, which can prevent salt spray from contacting the laser ranging sensor 22, thereby ensuring the stable operation of the laser ranging sensor 22. Both the mounting housing 21 and the protective lens 23 are made of corrosion-resistant materials, which can improve the overall reliability of the ranging module 2. The protective lens 23 protects the sensing end of the laser ranging sensor 22 without affecting the measurement effect of the laser ranging sensor 22, while ensuring measurement accuracy and protection strength.

[0044] In some embodiments, both the ranging module 2 and the blowing module 3 are detachable, that is, the ranging module 2 is detachably installed on the inner top surface of the housing 1, and the blowing module 3 is detachably installed on the inner side surface of the housing 1. Based on the detachable design, the ranging module 2 and the blowing module 3 can be easily removed, facilitating subsequent replacement and maintenance.

[0045] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1The side where the blower module 3 is located is opposite to the side where the salt inlet 11 is located, and the height of the blower module 3 is greater than or equal to the height of the salt inlet 11. Based on the above scheme, the blower module 3 and the salt inlet 11 are set opposite to each other, and the height of the blower module 3 is between the height of the salt inlet 11 and the height of the ranging module 2, which helps to send the salt mist moisture inside the box 1 to the outside of the box 1 through the salt inlet 11.

[0046] In this embodiment, the blower module 3 can blow cold air or hot air alone, or it can blow both cold air and hot air at the same time, without limitation.

[0047] In some embodiments, the blowing module 3 includes multiple blowing units, at least one blowing unit is aligned with the surface of the ranging module 2, and at least one blowing unit is aligned with the salt inside the tank 1. The blowing unit aligned with the surface of the ranging module 2 can blow hot or cold air, and the blowing unit aligned with the salt inside the tank 1 is used to blow hot air to accelerate salt dissolution and dehumidification. Specifically, the blowing unit includes a heating element and a fan. The heating element is a PTC heating element, which has the advantages of low thermal resistance and high heat exchange efficiency. It is an automatic temperature-controlled, energy-saving electric heating element that can enhance the safety of the brine tank of the water softener and reduce the energy consumption of the water softener.

[0048] In a further embodiment, multiple blower units share the same heating element. That is, the blower module 3 includes a heating element and multiple fans, at least one of which is aligned with the surface of the ranging module 2 and at least one of which is aligned with the salt inside the housing 1.

[0049] Based on the above scheme, the blowing module 3 includes multiple fans with different blowing directions. At least one fan is directed at the salt inside the tank 1. When the water softener is in the regeneration process, the blowing module 3 can blow hot air onto the salt to increase the temperature inside the tank 1, thereby assisting in salt melting, improving salt melting efficiency, reducing the possibility of salt bridge formation, and improving the water softener's water replacement effect.

[0050] In some possible embodiments, the blowing module 3 includes a heating element and a movable fan. The blowing direction of the movable fan can be changed. By setting the movable fan in conjunction with the heating element, it helps to reduce the space occupied inside the housing 1.

[0051] In some embodiments, the operation of the blower module 3 is based on environmental data feedback control. Specifically, the brine tank of the water softener also includes a sensor module installed inside the tank 1. The sensor module includes at least one temperature sensor or at least one humidity sensor. Based on the above scheme, a temperature and humidity sensor is installed inside the tank 1. The temperature and humidity sensor can detect and provide feedback on the temperature and humidity data inside the tank 1. The blower module 3 operates in different modes according to the temperature and humidity data to achieve precise temperature and humidity control, which helps to reduce the formation of salt bridges inside the tank 1, thereby improving the reliability of the tank 1 and the water softener.

[0052] Specifically, when the water softener is in standby mode and the temperature and humidity are within the normal range, the blower module 3 operates in low-speed cold air mode to achieve timed dust removal. When the water softener is running the regeneration program, the humidity inside the housing 1 increases due to water injection. The blower module 3 then operates in medium-speed cold air mode to form an airflow barrier to protect the ranging module 2 while also expelling moisture and maintaining humidity balance. When the temperature data is detected to be too low or the humidity data to be too high, the blower module 3 operates in high-speed hot air mode. This helps to improve salt dissolution efficiency and removes moisture to reduce humidity, preventing the formation of salt bridges inside the housing 1, which could lead to water softener malfunction.

[0053] This embodiment does not limit the specific number or location of temperature or humidity sensors. In some possible cases, the sensor module includes multiple temperature sensors and multiple humidity sensors, which are evenly arranged on the inner wall of the housing 1 to avoid measurement errors from individual sensors. In other possible cases, the sensor module is integrated with the air blowing module 3, thereby reducing the space occupied by the sensor module inside the housing 1.

[0054] The above embodiments have described in detail a salt tank for a water softener, which can accurately measure salt level data, automatically clean and remove salt stains, and improve salt melting efficiency.

[0055] This disclosure also provides an intelligent water softener, including a brine tank of any of the above embodiments.

[0056] This disclosure also provides a water softener control method, applied to an intelligent water softener described in the above embodiments. Please refer to... Figure 3 The control methods for water softeners include: Step S101: When the intelligent water softener is in standby mode, in response to the timed monitoring command, control the ranging module and the blowing module to operate according to the first configuration parameters.

[0057] Step S102: When the intelligent water softener starts the regeneration program, control the ranging module and the blowing module to operate according to the second configuration parameters.

[0058] Step S103: After the intelligent water softener stops running the regeneration program, control the blower module to run according to the third configuration parameters.

[0059] In this embodiment, the three configuration parameters correspond to three different working modes. The first configuration parameter corresponds to the intermittent detection mode, which is suitable for the standby working state of the water softener and is periodically woken up by the system. That is to say, when the smart water softener is in standby mode, the control module of the smart water softener periodically (e.g., every 30 minutes or other set time) generates timed monitoring instructions, and the ranging module and the blowing module operate according to the first configuration parameter.

[0060] The second configuration parameter corresponds to the continuous detection mode, which is adapted to the working state of the water softener when running the regeneration program. When the intelligent water softener starts the regeneration program, it simultaneously generates a start command to control the ranging module and the blowing module to run according to the second configuration parameter. When the intelligent water softener stops the regeneration program, it simultaneously generates a stop command to control the ranging module and the blowing module to stop running.

[0061] The third configuration parameter corresponds to the automatic cleaning and dehumidification mode. The automatic cleaning and dehumidification mode is set to be executed automatically after each regeneration program ends. In other words, when the smart water softener stops the regeneration program, the smart water softener generates an automatic cleaning and dehumidification command to control the blower module to run according to the third configuration parameter.

[0062] This embodiment does not limit the specific setting method of the above three configuration parameters. It should be understood that the above three configuration parameters have a progressive relationship. For example, the fan speed gradually increases, the heating element power gradually increases, and the frequency of the ranging module gradually increases.

[0063] In some possible implementations, the first configuration parameter indicates that the ranging module performs a single measurement, and the blowing module rotates at a first speed for a first preset duration, without the heating element in the blowing module generating heat. The second configuration parameter indicates that the ranging module performs continuous measurements, and the blowing module rotates continuously at a second speed, without the heating element in the blowing module generating heat. The third configuration parameter indicates that the blowing module rotates at a third speed for a second preset duration, and the heating element in the blowing module generates heat. Wherein, the third speed is greater than the second speed, which is greater than the first speed, and the second preset duration is greater than the first preset duration.

[0064] In one specific implementation, the first configuration parameter indicates that during a single measurement by the ranging module, the fan runs at a low speed for 10-15 seconds and the heating element does not work; the second configuration parameter indicates that the ranging module continuously measures at a frequency greater than or equal to 1Hz, the fan runs continuously at a medium speed and the heating element does not work; the third configuration parameter indicates that the fan runs at a high speed for 3-5 minutes and the heating element heats the airflow up to 50-70℃.

[0065] Based on the above solution, a three-level control method is adopted for the intelligent water softener. When the intelligent water softener is in standby mode, timed air blowing is used for ranging, achieving regular cleaning of the ranging module surface and periodic detection of salt level information, thus reducing the power consumption of the water softener. During the regeneration process, continuous air blowing is used for ranging to prevent salt spray corrosion of the ranging module and to detect salt level information in real time to ensure the accuracy of the regeneration process. After the regeneration process is completed, continuous hot air cleaning is used to prevent salt residue from remaining on the ranging module surface, achieving self-cleaning and deep drying of the ranging surface, thereby extending the service life of the ranging module. This three-level control method can adapt to different working states of the intelligent water softener, improving its reliability and stability.

[0066] In some embodiments, a humidity sensor is installed in the brine tank of the smart water softener. By detecting the humidity inside the brine tank, the sensor enables automatic dehumidification and cleaning when high humidity is detected. Specifically, the water softener control method further includes: if the humidity data acquired by the humidity sensor exceeds a preset high humidity threshold within a continuous time period of a third preset length, controlling the blower module to operate according to third configuration parameters. Based on the above scheme, self-cleaning is triggered when the humidity in the brine tank is too high, thereby maintaining the humidity balance in the brine tank and preventing the formation of salt bridges due to excessive humidity, thus ensuring the reliability of the smart water softener.

[0067] In some embodiments, an automatic cleaning and dehumidification mode can also be triggered based on the dirt detection results of the ranging module. Specifically, the water softener control method further includes: when a preset number of consecutive measurement results from the ranging module are detected to be less than a preset low threshold, controlling the blower module to operate according to a third configuration parameter. Based on the above scheme, the measurement results of the ranging module being less than the preset low threshold multiple times consecutively can detect the state of dirt on the surface of the ranging module. This detection condition triggers self-cleaning, enabling rapid cleaning when dirt occurs on the surface of the ranging module, preventing salt residue buildup on the ranging module surface from causing inaccurate measurements.

[0068] In some embodiments, the automatic cleaning and dehumidification mode can also be timed. Specifically, the water softener control method further includes: in response to a timed cleaning command or when the cumulative duration since the last operation of the blower module according to the third configuration parameters is detected to reach a fourth preset duration, controlling the blower module to operate according to the third configuration parameters. Based on the above scheme, setting fixed timed and cumulative timed cleaning can periodically clean the surface of the ranging module and dehumidify the inside of the water softener brine tank, further improving the reliability of the water softener brine tank.

[0069] In some embodiments, the intelligent water softener also includes a fourth configuration parameter, which corresponds to the auxiliary salt dissolution and bridge breaking mode. This fourth configuration parameter is used to control the air blowing module. Specifically, when the intelligent water softener is running the regeneration program, the ranging module continuously monitors the salt level. When the salt level data fluctuates less than a preset fluctuation threshold within a certain period, it indicates that the height of the salt cap has not changed, and it is determined that a salt bridge has been formed. The intelligent water softener then generates an auxiliary salt dissolution and bridge breaking command. In response to the auxiliary salt dissolution and bridge breaking command, the fan of the air blowing module runs at full speed, and the heating element of the air blowing module heats at the highest heating power, improving the salt dissolution efficiency and thus assisting in breaking the salt bridge.

[0070] The various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, nor are they limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or technical improvements to the embodiments in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A brine tank for a water softener, characterized in that, include: The box body has a salt filling port on its side; A ranging module is installed on the inner top surface of the box, and the ranging module is used to detect the salt level height inside the box. A blower module is installed on the inner side of the housing. The position of the blower module corresponds to the position of the ranging module. The blower module is used to blow cold or hot air onto the surface of the ranging module.

2. The brine tank of the water softener according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ranging module includes a mounting housing, a laser ranging sensor, and a protective lens. Both the mounting housing and the protective lens are made of corrosion-resistant materials. The mounting housing and the protective lens together form a mounting chamber. The laser ranging sensor is disposed in the mounting chamber, and the sensing end of the laser ranging sensor is close to the protective lens.

3. The brine tank of the water softener according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side where the blower module is located is opposite to the side where the salt inlet is located, and the height of the blower module is greater than or equal to the height of the salt inlet.

4. The brine tank of the water softener according to claim 3, characterized in that, The water softener salt tank also includes a sensor module, which is installed inside the tank. The sensor module includes at least one temperature sensor or at least one humidity sensor.

5. The brine tank of the water softener according to claim 4, characterized in that, The blowing module includes a heating element and a plurality of fans, at least one of which is aligned with the surface of the ranging module and at least one of which is aligned with the salt inside the housing.

6. A smart water softener, characterized in that, Includes a brine tank for a water softener according to any one of claims 1-5.

7. A water softener control method, applied to the intelligent water softener described in claim 6, characterized in that, The method includes: When the intelligent water softener is in standby mode, in response to the timed monitoring command, the ranging module and the blowing module are controlled to operate according to the first configuration parameters; When the intelligent water softener starts the regeneration program, the ranging module and the blowing module are controlled to operate according to the second configuration parameters; After the intelligent water softener stops running the regeneration program, the blower module is controlled to operate according to the third configuration parameters; The first configuration parameter indicates that the ranging module performs a single measurement, and the blowing module rotates at a first speed for a first preset duration, while the heating element in the blowing module does not heat up; the second configuration parameter indicates that the ranging module performs continuous measurements, and the blowing module rotates continuously at a second speed, while the heating element in the blowing module does not heat up; the third configuration parameter indicates that the blowing module rotates at a third speed for a second preset duration, while the heating element in the blowing module heats up; the third speed is greater than the second speed, which is greater than the first speed, and the second preset duration is greater than the first preset duration.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The intelligent water softener is equipped with a humidity sensor in its brine tank; the method further includes: If, within a continuous time period of a third preset length, the humidity data acquired by the humidity sensor is detected to be greater than a preset high humidity threshold, the blower module is controlled to operate according to the third configuration parameters.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the measurement results of a preset number of consecutive ranging modules are less than a preset low threshold, the blowing module is controlled to operate according to the third configuration parameters.

10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: In response to a timed cleaning command or when the cumulative duration since the last operation of the blower module according to the third configuration parameters is detected to reach a fourth preset duration, the blower module is controlled to operate according to the third configuration parameters.

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