Dehumidifier

Abstract

The utility model relates to dehumidification technical field discloses a dehumidifier, including native machine and the contact terminal of carrying on native machine, the contact terminal is used for contacting clothes surface, and has integrated humidity detector and wireless communication module, in the clothes drying mode, humidity detector gathers clothes surface humidity data, and through wireless communication module transmission to dehumidifier body, and native machine according to the humidity data received generates stop signal, and controls clothes drying mode to stop running. The dehumidifier of the utility model directly perceives clothes actual humidity, and controls dehumidifier clothes drying mode according to this, reduces dehumidifier power consumption, speeds up clothes drying speed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of dehumidification technology, and in particular to a dehumidifier. Background Technology

[0002] Most dehumidifiers with drying functions on the market work by the user manually starting the drying or high-power mode. The dehumidifier then runs at maximum power for a fixed period of time, or it relies on the built-in ambient humidity sensor to control the operation. When the sensor detects that the air humidity in the entire room has dropped to a certain preset threshold, the dehumidifier stops working, i.e., the drying mode stops.

[0003] However, this control method based on fixed duration or ambient air humidity has significant technical drawbacks: the drying rate of clothing is not synchronized with the ambient air humidity. In a closed space, the ambient air may dry quickly due to the efficient operation of the dehumidifier, causing the machine to shut down prematurely, while thick clothing or parts close to the core may still be damp. Conversely, when the ambient humidity rises for some reason, the dehumidifier will restart. This repeated start-stop cycle not only fails to ensure that the clothes are thoroughly dried but also wastes energy. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the problem that the shutdown of the drying mode of the dehumidifier depends on the ambient humidity, resulting in high power consumption and slow drying speed of the dehumidifier. The present invention provides a dehumidifier that directly senses the actual humidity of the clothes and controls the drying mode accordingly, thereby reducing the power consumption of the dehumidifier and speeding up the drying speed of the clothes.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a dehumidifier, comprising: This machine has a drying mode; Contact terminals, mounted on the machine, are used to contact the surface of clothing; A humidity detector, mounted on the contact terminal, is used to collect humidity data on the surface of the clothing in the drying mode; A wireless communication module, integrated into the contact terminal, is used to transmit the humidity data to the dehumidifier body in the drying mode; The machine generates a stop signal based on the humidity data, and triggers the drying mode to stop based on the stop signal.

[0006] Preferably, the device further includes a temperature detector mounted on the contact terminal for collecting temperature data of the clothing surface in the drying mode; the temperature data is transmitted to the device via the wireless communication module; and the device generates the shutdown signal based on the humidity data and the temperature data.

[0007] Preferably, the contact terminal is configured as a detection clip, the detection clip including a clamp head, which clamps the surface of the garment.

[0008] Preferably, the humidity detector is disposed inside the clamp.

[0009] Preferably, the detection clip is equipped with a battery that powers the humidity detector and the wireless communication module.

[0010] Preferably, a plurality of contact terminals are provided, and the plurality of contact terminals are used to clamp different positions on the surface of the garment.

[0011] Preferably, the wireless communication module includes any one of a Bluetooth module, a ZigBee module, an infrared module, and a 433 RF module.

[0012] Preferably, the machine is provided with an air guide to change the air outlet direction in the drying mode; and the air outlet direction of the air guide is related to the position of the contact terminal.

[0013] Preferably, the machine is further provided with a fan, which is used to change the air speed at the air outlet; and the rotational speed of the fan is related to the distance between the contact terminal and the machine.

[0014] Preferably, it also includes a UV sterilization device, which is configured on the machine; when the drying mode is triggered, the UV sterilization device is activated simultaneously.

[0015] Preferably, it further includes an infrared motion sensor, which is configured on the device, and the device triggers the UV sterilization device to turn off based on the sensing signal from the infrared motion sensor.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the above-mentioned technical solution of this utility model has the following beneficial effects: The dehumidifier described in this invention introduces a humidity detector that directly contacts the surface of clothing to collect humidity data from the clothing surface as a control basis. This fundamentally avoids the problem of the machine stopping before the clothes are dry due to the asynchronous relationship between the ambient air humidity and the actual drying degree of the clothes, thus accelerating the drying speed of the clothes. In addition, the working cycle of the dehumidifier is determined by the actual drying needs of the clothes, eliminating the ineffective start-stop and idling caused by fixed duration or fluctuations in ambient humidity, thereby significantly reducing the overall energy consumption of the dehumidifier in the drying mode. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To make the content of this utility model easier to understand, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of the dehumidifier in a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the dehumidifier in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the instruction manual: 10-This unit; 20-Contact terminal; 30-Humidity detector; 40-Wireless communication module; 50-Temperature detector; 60-Battery; 70-UV sterilization device; 80-Infrared motion sensor; 90-Detection clip. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand and implement the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0020] The purpose of this utility model embodiment is to overcome the problem that the dehumidifier's drying mode shutdown depends on the ambient humidity, resulting in high power consumption and slow clothes drying speed. It provides a dehumidifier that directly senses the actual humidity of the clothes and controls the dehumidifier's drying mode shutdown accordingly, thereby reducing the dehumidifier's power consumption and accelerating the clothes drying speed.

[0021] Reference Figure 1 and 2 As shown in the figure, this utility model embodiment discloses a dehumidifier, including a unit 10, a contact terminal 20, a humidity detector 30, and a wireless communication module 40.

[0022] The main body of this dehumidifier (unit 10) includes a compressor, evaporator, condenser, fan, main control board, and power module. The unit's operating modes include a drying mode, which is a pre-set control program on the main control board. Users can trigger this mode via physical buttons, knobs, remote control, or a mobile app on the unit. Once in drying mode, the main control board will invoke the drying logic.

[0023] In drying mode, users should place the clothes to be dried either hanging or spread out, preferably within the effective airflow range of the dehumidifier's air outlet. The orientation of the clothes can be adjusted as needed, so that the larger damp side faces the air outlet directly or at an angle, so that the drying airflow can act evenly and efficiently on the surface of the clothes.

[0024] The contact terminal 20 is mounted on the main unit 10 and is detachable from the main unit 10. A dedicated storage compartment or docking station is preferably provided on the dehumidifier casing, either on the top or on a side easily accessible to the user, for storing the contact terminal 20 when not in use and / or charging it. The part of the contact terminal 20 that contacts clothing can be made of a non-slip, soft material (such as silicone or rubber) to protect the clothing and enhance clamping stability.

[0025] The contact terminal 20 is preferably configured as a detection clip 90, as shown in the reference. Figure 2 As shown, the detection clip 90 includes clamps that hold the surface of the garment. The detection clip 90 is preferably in the form of a clip, such as a structure similar to a clothespin, which includes two clamps that provide clamping force through springs or elastic bodies, ensuring stable clamping at different parts of the garment, such as the hem, cuffs, and pant legs.

[0026] Of course, in other embodiments, the contact terminal 20 can also be configured as a sheet / patch type, similar to a thicker band-aid or smart tag, and can be square, round, or irregular in shape; it can be directly attached to the surface of clothing using low-tack, re-adhesive adhesive; or for metal clothes hangers or clothing of certain materials, two magnets can be used to attract the clothing and clamp it in the middle to fix the detector. Suitable for flat areas of clothing, such as the back of a T-shirt or the leg of pants.

[0027] It can also be a hook type: it is hung directly on the horizontal bar of the clothesline or clothes hanger, and its sensing element hangs down naturally and is close to the surface of the clothes directly below the hanging point; it is especially suitable for hanging on the clothes rack to monitor the dryness of the upper part of the clothes.

[0028] It can also be a pin / probe type: the main body is a thin rod with a sharp but safe probe at the top, like a pin, which is gently inserted into thicker fabrics so that the probe inside can directly contact the clothing fibers; it is suitable for measuring the internal humidity of thick, multi-layered clothing and can provide more in-depth dryness information than surface measurements.

[0029] It can also be an embedded hanger type: the sensing element is directly integrated into a customized hanger, and the hanger's crossbar has several contact points that come into contact with the clothes when they are hung on the hanger.

[0030] A humidity detector 30 is mounted on the contact terminal 20. This humidity detector 30 is preferably a resistive or capacitive humidity sensing element. Resistive type: humidity is sensed by measuring the change in resistance between two electrodes embedded inside the clamp; the wetter the clothing, the lower the resistance. Capacitive type: humidity is sensed by measuring the change in capacitance of the clothing as a dielectric. The sensing element is directly disposed inside one or both clamps, ensuring effective contact between the sensing element and the clothing surface when the detection clamp 90 clamps the clothing. The humidity detector 30 is connected to a microprocessor inside the contact terminal 20, acquiring humidity data at a fixed sampling frequency (e.g., once every 10 seconds), and performing analog-to-digital conversion and preliminary signal processing for acquiring humidity data on the clothing surface in dry mode.

[0031] The wireless communication module 40, along with the aforementioned microprocessor and humidity detector 30, is integrated onto a small circuit board and encapsulated within the housing of the detection clip 90. In dry mode, the contact terminal 20 is activated, and the microprocessor packages the collected humidity data and transmits it to the main control board within the dehumidifier body via the wireless communication module 40. The wireless communication module 40 can be any one of a Bluetooth module, a ZigBee module, an infrared module, or a 433 RF module.

[0032] The dehumidifier's main control board has a preset humidity threshold, which represents the critical point at which clothes are considered dry. The main control board receives and analyzes humidity data from one or more contact terminals 20 in real time. When the humidity data reported by all contact terminals 20 is consistently lower than the preset threshold for a certain period of time, the logic judgment unit of the main control board generates a shutdown signal. This shutdown signal is sent to the dehumidifier's power control unit, which then cuts off the compressor's power supply and may adjust the fan to low speed or stop it, thereby triggering the end of the drying mode.

[0033] The dehumidifier described in this utility model introduces a humidity detector 30 that directly contacts the surface of clothing to collect humidity data of the clothing surface as a control basis. This fundamentally avoids the problem of the machine stopping before the clothes are dry or over-drying due to the asynchronous relationship between the ambient air humidity and the actual drying degree of the clothes, thus speeding up the drying speed of the clothes. In addition, the working cycle of the dehumidifier is determined by the actual drying needs of the clothes, eliminating the ineffective start-stop and idling caused by fixed market or ambient humidity fluctuations, thereby significantly reducing the overall energy consumption of the dehumidifier in the drying mode.

[0034] Based on the above embodiments, the dehumidifier also includes a temperature detector 50, which is mounted on the contact terminal 20. The temperature detector 50 collects temperature data of the surface of the clothes in the drying mode. The temperature data is transmitted to the unit 10 through the wireless communication module 40. The unit 10 generates a stop signal based on the humidity data and temperature data.

[0035] Inside the contact terminal 20, a temperature detector 50 is integrated alongside the humidity detector 30. The humidity detector 30 and temperature detector 50 can be configured separately, or the temperature and humidity sensing elements can be integrated into the same microchip (such as Sensirion's SHT series or TI's HDC series). When configured separately, the temperature detector 50 is placed in a position that can effectively sense the surface temperature of the clothing, typically in the same area as the humidity sensor, ensuring that the temperature and humidity of the same area are measured. The microprocessor inside the contact terminal 20 simultaneously reads the data from the temperature and humidity detectors and transmits it to the dehumidifier itself via the wireless communication module 40.

[0036] In the initial drying stage, the evaporation of moisture from clothing absorbs heat, causing its surface temperature to be lower than the ambient temperature. As the clothing gradually dries, the evaporation effect weakens, and its temperature rises back to ambient temperature. This machine generates a stop signal based on both temperature and humidity data, enabling a more accurate assessment of the clothing's dryness. This can be understood as follows: The drying process of clothing involves not only moisture evaporation but also cooling. As moisture evaporates, it absorbs heat, causing the surface temperature of the clothing to drop. In the initial stages of drying, the temperature of the damp clothing held by the contact terminal 20 is typically slightly lower than the ambient temperature. As the clothing gradually dries, the evaporation effect weakens, and the clothing temperature gradually rises to match the ambient temperature. Therefore, by monitoring the temperature difference between a specific point on the clothing and a reference point in the environment far from the clothing, the drying progress at that point can be determined.

[0037] Based on the above embodiments, the humidity detector 30 is disposed inside the clamp. Specifically, the humidity detector 30 can be based on contact measurement or non-contact measurement.

[0038] Contact-based measurements include miniature probe / contact types: tiny metal contacts made of conductive materials (such as gold plating or corrosion-resistant alloys) are designed on the inner sides of the two clamps of the clip. When the clip clamps the clothing, these contacts gently press against the surface of the clothing, and the humidity is determined by measuring the resistance or capacitance between the two contacts; the resistance decreases and the capacitance increases when the clothing is wet. A miniature thermocouple or thermistor is integrated on one of the contacts to directly measure the humidity of the clothing surface.

[0039] Capacitive humidity sensor chip: A miniature capacitive humidity sensor chip is embedded inside a clip so that its surface is in direct contact with the clothing. The polymer film of the sensor changes its dielectric constant according to the amount of water vapor absorbed, thereby changing the capacitance value.

[0040] Non-contact measurement includes closed / semi-closed cavity type: a small cavity with air inlet and outlet is designed inside the clip, and temperature and humidity sensing elements are installed in the cavity. When the clip clamps the clothes, this cavity will be in close contact with the clothes, forming a microenvironment; the moisture evaporated from the clothes will diffuse into this cavity and be sensed by the internal sensing elements.

[0041] Non-contact measurement also includes electromagnetic induction: a miniature high-frequency AC coil is embedded inside the clip as a sensing probe. When the clip clamps the clothing and the coil is close to the surface of the clothing, the high-frequency alternating magnetic field generated by it will penetrate the surface of the clothing. Since water contains trace amounts of ions, it has weak conductivity. The higher the humidity of the clothing, the stronger its conductivity. By detecting the change in the coil impedance, the humidity level of the clothing surface can be indirectly calculated.

[0042] Based on the above embodiments, the detection clip is equipped with a battery 60, which powers the humidity detector 30, temperature detector 50 and wireless communication module 40; the battery 60 can be a button cell battery or a rechargeable lithium battery.

[0043] The implementation of button batteries includes: designing a standard button battery holder (such as CR2032, CR2025) inside the housing of the contact terminal 20; the housing adopts an openable back cover or sliding cover structure to facilitate user battery replacement; the battery compartment cover can be designed with an anti-loss buckle or a threaded tightening structure.

[0044] The rechargeable lithium battery is implemented by integrating a small-capacity rechargeable lithium battery inside the contact terminal 20, setting metal charging contacts on the outer shell of the contact terminal 20, and setting a dedicated storage compartment on the dehumidifier body, which contains elastic charging pins corresponding to the contact positions of the contact terminal 20. When the user puts the contact terminal 20 back into the storage compartment, the contacts contact the charging pins and charging starts automatically.

[0045] When drying clothes in a dehumidifier, different parts of the garment dry at different speeds. Generally, the edges, thinner areas, and areas near heat sources dry quickly, while the center, thicker areas, and overlapping areas (such as underarms and waistbands) dry slowly. If only one contact terminal is used to clamp the corner of the garment, it may quickly reach the drying threshold, causing the system to mistakenly judge the entire garment as dry and stop, while the thicker parts remain damp, resulting in uneven drying. To solve this problem, the embodiment of this invention uses multiple contact terminals 20, which are used to clamp different positions on the surface of the garment. Two or more contact terminals 20 can be provided, clamping one or more representative positions on the garment, such as, but not limited to, the hem, cuffs, underarms, waistband, or collar. Preferably, at least one contact terminal 20 should be fixed to the thickest area where the expected drying speed is the slowest. By arranging contact terminals in the fast-drying and slow-drying areas of the garment, the slowest drying point can be monitored, ensuring that all parts reach the drying standard before stopping the machine, thereby solving the problem of uneven drying.

[0046] Based on the above embodiments, the machine 10 is provided with an air guide to change the air outlet direction in the drying mode; and the air outlet direction of the air guide is related to the position of the contact terminal 20.

[0047] In specific application scenarios, the position of the contact terminal 20 and the distance between the contact terminal 20 and the machine 10 can be determined based on the wireless signal of the wireless communication module 40. The direction of the clothes can be determined based on the position of the contact terminal 20, and the air guide can be rotated so that the air outlet is facing the clothes.

[0048] In addition, in other embodiments, the machine 10 is also equipped with a fan to change the air speed at the air outlet; and the rotational speed of the fan is related to the distance between the contact terminal 20 and the machine 10; for example, the air speed is increased when the distance is far and decreased when the distance is close, thereby speeding up the drying of clothes while saving energy.

[0049] Based on the above embodiments, it also includes a UV sterilization device 70 and an infrared motion sensor 80, both of which are located in the machine 10; when the drying mode is triggered, the UV sterilization device 70 is activated simultaneously; the machine 10 triggers the UV sterilization device 70 to turn off based on the sensing signal from the infrared motion sensor 80.

[0050] The UV sterilization device 70 preferably uses UVC-LED lamp beads. The main UV lamp group is installed near or inside the dehumidifier's air outlet grille to ensure that the blown dry airflow can pass through the UV irradiation area, thereby carrying the sterilized air to the clothes. The auxiliary UV lamp group can be installed on the top of the dehumidifier, directly facing the area where the clothes are hanging, for close-range direct irradiation.

[0051] An infrared motion sensor 80 is installed on the front or top of the dehumidifier casing, covering the main activity areas in front of and to the sides of the dehumidifier. When it detects a moving heat source (such as a person or pet) within its field of view, it outputs a high / low level signal to the main control board, controlling the UV sterilization device 70 to shut down. Furthermore, the UV sterilization device 70 also automatically shuts down when the drying mode ends normally (e.g., when clothes are dry) or when the user manually turns it off.

[0052] Simultaneous sterilization during the drying process effectively kills bacteria, viruses, and mold attached to clothing. At the same time, the operation of the UV sterilization device 70 and the infrared motion sensor 80 form a hardware or software interlock, improving safety and eliminating health risks.

[0053] In addition, in other embodiments, the dehumidifier also includes an ozone device, which works on the same principle as the UV sterilization device described above.

[0054] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A dehumidifier, characterized in that, include: This machine has a drying mode; Contact terminals, mounted on the machine, are used to contact the surface of clothing; A humidity detector, mounted on the contact terminal, is used to collect humidity data on the surface of the clothing in the drying mode; A wireless communication module, integrated into the contact terminal, is used to transmit the humidity data to the dehumidifier body in the drying mode; The machine generates a stop signal based on the humidity data, and triggers the drying mode to stop based on the stop signal.

2. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a temperature detector mounted on the contact terminal for collecting temperature data of the surface of the clothing in the drying mode; the temperature data is transmitted to the device via the wireless communication module; the device generates the shutdown signal based on the humidity data and the temperature data.

3. The dehumidifier according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The contact terminal is configured as a detection clip, which includes a clamp head that holds the surface of the garment.

4. The dehumidifier according to claim 3, characterized in that, The humidity detector is located inside the clamp.

5. The dehumidifier according to claim 3, characterized in that, The detection clip is equipped with a battery, which powers the humidity detector and the wireless communication module.

6. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The contact terminals are configured in multiple ways, and the multiple contact terminals are used to clamp different positions on the surface of the clothing.

7. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wireless communication module includes any one of a Bluetooth module, a ZigBee module, an infrared module, and a 433 RF module.

8. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The machine is equipped with an air guide to change the air outlet direction in the drying mode; and the air outlet direction of the air guide is related to the position of the contact terminal.

9. The dehumidifier according to claim 1 or 8, characterized in that, The machine is also equipped with a fan, which is used to change the air speed at the air outlet; and the rotational speed of the fan is related to the distance between the contact terminal and the machine.

10. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a UV sterilization device, which is configured in the machine; when the drying mode is triggered, the UV sterilization device is activated simultaneously.

11. The dehumidifier according to claim 10, characterized in that, It also includes an infrared motion sensor, which is configured in the unit, and the unit triggers the UV sterilization device to turn off based on the sensing signal from the infrared motion sensor.

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