Dehumidifier

Abstract

To provide a dehumidifier which can determine, when dry efficiency of clothing is deteriorated, whether air of high humidity in the space around clothing is required to move.SOLUTION: A dehumidifier comprises: a body case 1 with an inlet port 2 sucking air from prescribed space and an outlet port 3 blowing air to the prescribed space; a ventilation part 5 which guides air from the inlet port 2 to the outlet port 3; a dehumidifying part 4 which dehumidifies the air sucked from the inlet port 2; a humidity acquisition part 14 which acquires humidity of the prescribed space; and a determination part 13 which determines based on the humidity of the prescribed space acquired by the humidity acquisition part 14 whether air ventilation or air conditioning in the prescribed space is required.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dehumidifier. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, dehumidifiers have been known as dehumidifying devices that are installed in a predetermined space for the purpose of drying clothes and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-98264 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a dehumidifier intended to dry clothes, etc., the humidity around the clothes may remain high depending on the size of the space in which the dehumidifier is installed, the spacing between the clothes to be dried, etc. This causes high humidity air to remain around the clothes, reducing the efficiency of drying the clothes.

[0005] In such a situation, for example, the drying efficiency of the clothes can be improved by moving the humid air remaining in the space around the clothes. Therefore, it is important to appropriately determine whether the drying efficiency of the clothes has decreased. Whether the drying efficiency of the clothes has decreased depends on the conditions in the space in which the dehumidifier is installed, such as the dry state of the clothes, the size of the specified space, and the air circulation path in the specified space. For example, even when clothes are placed in the same space, it is difficult for a user to determine whether the drying efficiency of the clothes has decreased each time because it depends on various factors such as the amount of clothes and the weather.

[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure aims to solve the above problem and provide a dehumidifier that can determine whether or not it is necessary to move humid air remaining in the space around the clothes when the drying efficiency of the clothes is reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve this objective, the dehumidifier of the present disclosure comprises a main body case having an intake port for drawing in air from a specified space and an outlet port for blowing air into the specified space, a blower unit that directs air from the intake port to the outlet port, a dehumidifier unit that dehumidifies the air drawn in from the intake port, a humidity acquisition unit that acquires the humidity of the specified space, and a judgment unit that judges whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space based on the humidity of the specified space acquired by the humidity acquisition unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a dehumidifier can be provided that can determine whether or not it is necessary to move humid air remaining in the space around the clothes when the efficiency of drying the clothes has decreased. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic functional block diagram of a dehumidifier according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing control procedures of the dehumidifier according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic functional block diagram of a dehumidifier according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing the control content of a dehumidifier according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments shown below are merely illustrative examples for embodying the technical concept of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following. In particular, the materials, shapes, components, and the arrangement and relative arrangement of the components described in the embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto. Furthermore, in each drawing, substantially identical components are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensions of the components in each drawing are enlarged or reduced as appropriate to facilitate understanding. Furthermore, in each drawing, some components that are not important for explaining the embodiments are omitted.

[0011] (Embodiment 1) First, a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The dehumidifier is a device that is installed in a predetermined space and dehumidifies the air present in the space in which the dehumidifier is installed. The dehumidifier is also used as a clothes dryer for drying clothes after washing. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the dehumidifier. Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the dehumidifier.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dehumidifier includes a main body case 1.

[0013] The main body case 1 is a box-shaped body and has an inlet 2 and an outlet 3.

[0014] The air inlet 2 is provided on the back surface of the main body case 1 and is a lattice-shaped opening for drawing air from a predetermined space outside the main body case 1 into the main body case 1.

[0015] The air outlet 3 is an openable / closable opening for blowing out the air taken into the main body case 1 through the inlet 2 into a predetermined space outside the main body case 1. In Figures 1 and 2, the air outlet 3 is in an open state.

[0016] The main body case 1 also includes a dehumidifying section 4, a blower section 5, a control section 6, a humidity measuring section 7, a notification section 8, and an operation section 9.

[0017] The dehumidifying unit 4 dehumidifies the air drawn in through the air inlet 2. The dehumidifying unit 4 removes moisture from the air by, for example, using a compressor to cool the air taken into the main body case 1. Since the dehumidifying method is a common technique, a detailed description will be omitted here. Furthermore, the dehumidifying unit 4 may use a method other than using a compressor as long as it can remove moisture from the air.

[0018] Blower unit 5 is composed of, for example, a sirocco fan and a motor, and guides air from suction port 2 to outlet 3. The sirocco fan is rotated by the power of the motor. When the motor is controlled by controller 6 (described later) to rotate the sirocco fan, air outside main body case 1 is sucked in by the sirocco fan, passes through suction port 2, dehumidifier 4, and blower unit 5, and is blown out of main body case 1 through outlet 3. In other words, an air passage 10 connecting suction port 2 and outlet 3 is formed inside main body case 1, and airflow is generated as the sirocco fan rotates, connecting suction port 2 and outlet 3.

[0019] The control unit 6 controls the dehumidifier, the details of which will be described later.

[0020] The humidity measuring unit 7 measures the humidity in a predetermined space. In this embodiment, the humidity measuring unit 7 includes a humidity sensor that measures humidity. In this embodiment, as an example, the humidity measuring unit 7 is provided on the top surface of the main body case 1. The humidity in the predetermined space measured by the humidity measuring unit 7 is sent to the control unit 6 via wired or wireless communication. The humidity measuring unit 7 may be provided within the predetermined space, for example, on a wall surface within the predetermined space. Furthermore, the dehumidifier does not necessarily have to include a hygrometer side unit, and the humidity in the predetermined space measured by a hygrometer side unit that the dehumidifier does not include may be sent to the control unit 6 of the dehumidifier.

[0021] The notification unit 8 notifies the user that ventilation or air conditioning is required in a specified space. The notification unit 8 is, for example, an LED, and is provided on the top surface of the main body case 1. As an example, the LED lights up when ventilation or air conditioning is required, thereby notifying the user that ventilation or air conditioning is required. The notification unit 8 may also be a buzzer, and may issue a sound to notify the user when ventilation or air conditioning is required. The notification by the notification unit 8 is controlled by the control unit 6.

[0022] The operation unit 9 accepts operations from the user. The operation unit 9 is composed of, for example, a plurality of physical switches, and the physical switches are switched by the user's operation. The physical switches are operated by the user when the user wants to start or stop operation, etc. The control unit 6 can grasp the operation from the user by acquiring the switching state of the physical switches. The operation unit 9 may not be a physical switch, but may be another configuration such as a touch panel.

[0023] Next, each function of the control unit 6 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a schematic functional block diagram of the control unit 6 and its periphery according to the first embodiment.

[0024] The control unit 6 includes an operation determination unit 11, a humidity acquisition unit 14, a change amount calculation unit 12, a determination unit 13, a notification control unit 16, and a storage unit 15.

[0025] The operation determination unit 11 receives operation information from the operation unit 9 by the user. When the operation determination unit 11 receives operation information to start operation from the operation unit 9, it determines that the dehumidifying operation has started, and when it receives operation information to end operation from the operation unit 9, it determines that the dehumidifying operation has ended. Furthermore, the operation determination unit 11 determines that the dehumidifying operation is in progress from the time it determines that the dehumidifying operation has started until it determines that the dehumidifying operation has ended.

[0026] The humidity acquisition unit 14 acquires the humidity of the specified space measured by the humidity measurement unit 7. The humidity acquisition unit 14 stores the acquired humidity together with time information (time stamp) in the storage unit 15. The storage unit 15 is a so-called memory, and in this embodiment is a non-volatile memory. In this embodiment, the humidity acquisition unit 14 acquires the humidity of the specified space periodically when the dehumidification operation starts. Periodically means, for example, every 10 seconds. The humidity acquisition unit 14 may acquire the humidity at a predetermined timing after the start of the dehumidification operation and every time a predetermined time has elapsed since the predetermined timing. The predetermined timing is, for example, immediately after the start of the dehumidification operation. The predetermined time is, for example, 30 minutes. The predetermined timing and the predetermined time can be set arbitrarily.

[0027] The change amount calculation unit 12 calculates the humidity change amount, which is the amount of change in humidity over a predetermined time. Specifically, the change amount calculation unit 12 calculates the humidity change amount, which is the difference between the humidity a predetermined time ago and the current humidity. In other words, the change amount calculation unit 12 calculates the humidity change amount by subtracting the current humidity from the humidity a predetermined time ago from the present. In this manner, the change amount calculation unit 12 calculates the humidity change amount over a predetermined time. In the present embodiment, as an example, the change amount calculation unit 12 calculates the humidity change amount, which is the difference between the humidity a predetermined time ago from the present stored in the memory unit 15 and the current humidity stored in the memory unit 15. The predetermined time is the time for calculating the humidity change amount and determining the transition of the humidity, and is, for example, 30 minutes. The predetermined time can be set arbitrarily and is stored in the memory unit 15.

[0028] The determination unit 13 determines whether the drying efficiency of the clothes placed in the specified space is declining. As mentioned above, depending on the size of the specified space and the spacing between the clothes to be dried, the humidity around the clothes may remain high. This causes high humidity air to remain around the clothes, reducing the drying efficiency of the clothes. The determination unit 13 determines whether the drying efficiency of the clothes is declining.

[0029] When the efficiency of drying clothes is reduced, the efficiency of drying clothes can be improved by moving the humid air remaining in the space around the clothes. In other words, the efficiency of drying clothes can be improved by ventilating or air-conditioning the specified space. Note that ventilating the specified space specifically means operating a ventilation device in the specified space. Also, air-conditioning the specified space specifically means operating an air conditioner in the specified space. The air conditioner is what is commonly known as an air conditioner.

[0030] That is, the determination unit 13 determines whether ventilation or air conditioning is required in the specified space by determining whether the drying efficiency of the clothes placed in the specified space has decreased.

[0031] The determination unit 13 determines whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space based on the humidity of the specified space acquired by the humidity acquisition unit 14. Specifically, the determination unit 13 determines whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space based on the humidity change over a specified time period calculated by the change amount calculation unit 12 and the current humidity of the specified space.

[0032] In more detail, the judgment unit 13 judges that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in a specified space if the humidity change amount, which is the difference between the humidity a predetermined time ago and the current humidity, is less than the decrease amount threshold and the current humidity is equal to or greater than the high humidity threshold.

[0033] The reduction threshold is used to determine whether ventilation or air conditioning is required in a specified space based on the change in humidity in the specified space, and is arbitrarily set in advance through experiments or the like and stored in the storage unit 15. An example of the reduction threshold is 5 percent.

[0034] The high humidity threshold is used to determine whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary based on the current humidity, and is arbitrarily set in advance through experiments or the like and stored in the memory unit 15. An example of the high humidity threshold is 60 percent.

[0035] The determination by the determination unit 13 is made periodically, for example. The determination by the determination unit 13 may be made every 10 seconds, every 30 minutes, or at a time interval set by the user, which can be set arbitrarily.

[0036] Here, we will explain why it is possible to determine that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in a specified space if the humidity change amount, which is the difference between the humidity a specified time ago and the current humidity, is less than the decrease amount threshold and the current humidity is equal to or greater than the high humidity threshold. Normally, the humidity in the specified space increases when clothes start drying, and then decreases over time.

[0037] When the drying efficiency of clothes decreases during drying, high humidity air remains around the clothes even if the dehumidifier is operating. This makes it difficult for the humidity in the specified space to decrease. In other words, if the humidity change is less than the decrease threshold, the drying efficiency of the clothes has decreased. However, it is not desirable to determine that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space based on this alone. This is because the humidity change over a specified time period will also be less than the decrease threshold when the clothes are nearing completion of drying. As the clothes are nearing completion of drying, the humidity in the specified space decreases, and the humidity change will be less than the decrease threshold. In this way, when the clothes are nearing completion of drying, Therefore, it is preferable to take this into consideration when determining that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space.

[0038] Therefore, if the humidity change amount, which is the difference between the humidity a predetermined time ago and the current humidity, is less than the decrease amount threshold, and the current humidity is equal to or greater than the high humidity threshold, it can be determined that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space.

[0039] When the determination unit 13 determines that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary, the notification control unit 16 notifies the user that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary via the notification unit 8. In other words, when the determination unit 13 determines that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in a predetermined space, the notification unit 8 notifies the user that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the predetermined space. In this embodiment, when the determination unit 13 determines that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary, the notification control unit 16 notifies the user that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary by turning on the LED that is the notification unit 8.

[0040] Here, each functional block of the control unit 6 can be realized as hardware by elements or mechanical devices such as a computer CPU (Central Processing Unit), and as software by a computer program, etc., but here it is a functional block realized by cooperation of these. Therefore, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by combining hardware and software.

[0041] Next, the control executed by the control unit 6 will be described using the flowchart in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the control content executed by the control unit 6. In the flowchart, numbers are assigned starting with the initial letter S. For example, S1 indicates a processing step. However, the magnitude of the numerical value indicating the processing step has no relation to the processing order.

[0042] First, the operation determination unit 11 receives operation information. The operation determination unit 11 determines whether or not the dehumidifying operation has started (S1). If the operation determination unit 11 has not yet determined that the dehumidifying operation has started, the operation determination unit 11 continues to make the determination until it determines that the dehumidifying operation has started (No in S1→S1).

[0043] If it has been determined that dehumidification operation has started, the control unit 6 starts the dehumidification operation by operating the dehumidification unit 4 and the blower unit 5, and the humidity acquisition unit 14 starts acquiring the humidity (Yes in S1 → S2).

[0044] The determination unit 13 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S3). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the determination unit 13 waits until the predetermined time has elapsed (No in S3→S3).

[0045] If the predetermined time has passed, the change amount calculation unit 12 calculates the amount of change in humidity by subtracting the current humidity from the humidity the predetermined time before the present (Yes in S3→S4).

[0046] Next, the determination unit 13 determines whether the amount of humidity change is less than the decrease amount threshold (S4). If the determination unit 13 determines that the amount of humidity change is equal to or greater than the decrease amount threshold, the process waits until the next timing, at which point the change amount calculation unit 12 calculates the amount of humidity change again and the determination unit 13 makes a determination (No in S4→S4). The next timing may be 10 seconds later, 30 minutes later, or after a time period set by the user, as described above, and can be set arbitrarily. That is, in step S4, if the amount of humidity change is equal to or greater than the decrease amount threshold, the determination of whether the amount of humidity change is less than the decrease amount threshold is periodically repeated.

[0047] If it is determined that the humidity change amount is less than the decrease amount threshold, the determination unit 13 determines whether the current humidity is higher than the high humidity threshold. It is determined whether the value is equal to or greater than the value (Yes in S4 → S5).

[0048] If the judgment unit 13 determines that the current humidity is less than the predetermined high humidity threshold, as in the case where step S4 is No, the process waits until the next timing, at which point the change amount calculation unit 12 calculates the humidity change amount again, and the judgment unit 13 makes a judgment again (No in S5 → S4).

[0049] If it is determined that the current humidity is equal to or higher than the high humidity threshold, the determination unit 13 determines that ventilation or air conditioning of the predetermined space is necessary. Then, the notification control unit 16 notifies the user that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary via the notification unit 8 (Yes in S5 → S6).

[0050] As a result, it is possible to determine whether the efficiency of drying clothes is declining. In other words, it is possible to determine whether the humid air remaining in the space around the clothes needs to be moved. It is possible to determine whether the efficiency of drying clothes is declining and whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary for a specific space. It is then possible to notify the user that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary at the appropriate time.

[0051] The present disclosure has been described above based on embodiment 1, but the present disclosure is in no way limited to the above embodiment 1, and it can be easily inferred that various improvements and modifications are possible within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0052] For example, in this embodiment, the predetermined timing is immediately after the start of the dehumidification operation, but the predetermined timing may be the following timing. For example, if the user starts the dehumidification operation when they place wet clothes that have just been washed, the amount of humidity change will be large for a while after the wet clothes are placed, so the predetermined timing may be the time when the amount of humidity change has decreased. The time until the amount of humidity change has decreased may be determined appropriately in advance through experiments, etc.

[0053] (Embodiment 2) Like embodiment 1, embodiment 2 relates to the control of a dehumidifier. The explanation of embodiment 2 will focus on the differences from embodiment 1. The internal configuration of the dehumidifier in embodiment 2 is almost the same as that of the dehumidifier in embodiment 1, but it includes a control unit 6A instead of control unit 6.

[0054] Each function of the control unit 6A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a schematic functional block diagram of the control unit 6A according to the second embodiment and its periphery.

[0055] The control unit 6A includes an operation determination unit 11, a humidity acquisition unit 14, a change amount calculation unit 12, a determination unit 13, a communication unit 17, and a storage unit 15.

[0056] The operation determination unit 11, humidity acquisition unit 14, change amount calculation unit 12, and determination unit 13 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0057] The communication unit 17 communicates with an external device 18 that can ventilate or air-condition a predetermined space. The external device 18 is a ventilation device or an air-conditioning device. The communication unit 17 and the external device 18 are connected so that they can communicate with each other. In this embodiment, the communication between the communication unit 17 and the external device 18 is wireless communication, but it may also be wired communication.

[0058] Furthermore, the communication unit 17 does not have to communicate directly with the external device 18. For example, the communication unit 17 and the external device 18 may communicate via a communication device such as a router.

[0059] When the determination unit 13 determines that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the predetermined space, the communication unit 17 transmits an operation instruction to the external device 18.

[0060] The external device 18 receives the operation instruction transmitted from the communication unit 17 and starts ventilation or air conditioning of the predetermined space.

[0061] As in the first embodiment, each functional block of the control unit 6A can be realized in various forms by combining hardware and software.

[0062] Next, the control executed by the control unit 6A in the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the control content of the dehumidifying device according to the second embodiment.

[0063] First, the control unit 6A performs steps S1 to S5, but since steps S1 to S5 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] Next, in step S5, if the judgment unit 13 judges that the current humidity is equal to or higher than the high humidity threshold, that is, if the judgment unit 13 judges that ventilation or air conditioning of the predetermined space is necessary, the communication unit 17 transmits an operation instruction to the external device 18 (Yes in S5 → S7). In response to the operation instruction transmitted from the communication unit 17, the external device 18 starts operation and ventilates or air-conditions the predetermined space.

[0065] As a result, it is possible to determine whether the efficiency of drying clothes is declining. In other words, it is possible to determine whether the humid air remaining in the space around the clothes needs to be moved. It is possible to determine whether the efficiency of drying clothes is declining and whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in a specified space. Then, ventilation or air conditioning can be performed at an appropriate timing when ventilation or air conditioning is necessary.

[0066] The present disclosure has been described above based on embodiment 2, but the present disclosure is in no way limited to the above embodiment 2, and it can be easily inferred that various improvements and modifications are possible within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0067] For example, in the second embodiment, the communication unit 17 transmits an instruction to start operation to the external device 18. However, after transmitting the instruction to start operation to the external device 18, the communication unit 17 may transmit an instruction to stop operation to the external device 18 when ventilation or air conditioning is no longer required in the predetermined space.

[0068] Specifically, after transmitting an operation instruction to external device 18, if the current humidity in the specified space is equal to or lower than the stop threshold, communication unit 17 transmits a stop instruction to external device 18. The determination of whether the current humidity in the specified space is equal to or lower than the stop threshold is performed by, for example, determination unit 13.

[0069] The stop threshold is a threshold lower than the high humidity threshold, and is used to determine whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary based on the current humidity, and is arbitrarily set in advance through experiments or the like and stored in the storage unit 15. An example of the stop threshold is 40 percent.

[0070] When the external device 18 starts operating, the decrease in the drying efficiency of the clothes is resolved, and even if the external device 18 is not operating at some point, the decrease in the drying efficiency of the clothes will not be a problem. In other words, the decrease in the drying efficiency is resolved by the start of operation of the external device 18, and as the clothes dry, there will be no problem in drying the clothes even if the external device 18 is not operating. When the current humidity in a specified space drops below the stop threshold, there will be no problem in drying the clothes even if the external device 18 is not operating. This makes it possible to prevent unnecessary operation of the external device 18. Power can be used efficiently, and unnecessary power consumption can be reduced.

[0071] Furthermore, after transmitting the operation instruction to the external device 18, the communication unit 17 may transmit a stop instruction to the external device 18 if the humidity in the specified space remains below the stop threshold for a specified period of time. If the operation of the external device 18 is immediately stopped when the current humidity in the specified space drops below the stop threshold, the clothes may absorb moisture from the surrounding area, which would prevent the clothes from drying. Therefore, when the current humidity in the specified space drops below the stop threshold, the operation of the external device 18 is not immediately stopped, but is continued for a specified period of time. This prevents the clothes from absorbing moisture from the surrounding area. In other words, it prevents unnecessary operation of the external device 18 while also preventing the clothes from absorbing moisture from the surrounding area. The specified period is a time period for preventing the clothes from absorbing moisture from the surrounding area, and is, for example, one hour. The specified period of time can be set arbitrarily and is stored in the memory unit 15.

[0072] (Disclosure Summary) The dehumidifier of the present disclosure comprises a main body case having an intake port for drawing in air from a specified space and an outlet port for blowing air into the specified space, a blower unit that directs air from the intake port to the outlet port, a dehumidifier unit that dehumidifies the air drawn in from the intake port, a humidity acquisition unit that acquires the humidity of the specified space, and a judgment unit that judges whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space based on the humidity of the specified space acquired by the humidity acquisition unit.

[0073] This allows the necessity of ventilation or air conditioning to be determined for a specific space where clothes are to be dried.

[0074] The device may include a change amount calculation unit that calculates the amount of humidity change over a specified time period, and the judgment unit may determine whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space based on the amount of humidity change over the specified time period calculated by the change amount calculation unit and the current humidity in the specified space.

[0075] The need for ventilation or air conditioning can be determined based on the amount of humidity change over a given time period and the current humidity in a given space.

[0076] The change amount calculation unit calculates the humidity change amount, which is the difference between the humidity a predetermined time ago and the current humidity, and the judgment unit may determine that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space if the humidity change amount is less than the decrease amount threshold and the current humidity is equal to or greater than the high humidity threshold.

[0077] The necessity of ventilation or air conditioning can be determined by comparing the humidity change with the decrease threshold and the current humidity with the high humidity threshold, allowing for accurate determination of the necessity of ventilation or air conditioning for a given space.

[0078] The device may further include a notification unit that notifies the user that ventilation or air conditioning is required in the specified space when the determination unit determines that ventilation or air conditioning is required in the specified space.

[0079] This allows the user to understand the need for ventilation or air conditioning in a given space.

[0080] The ventilation system may be provided with a communication unit that communicates with an external device capable of ventilating or air-conditioning a specified space, and the communication unit may send an operating instruction to the external device when the judgment unit determines that ventilation or air-conditioning is necessary in the specified space.

[0081] This allows the system to automatically ventilate or air-condition the designated space where clothes are dried without requiring user intervention when it determines that ventilation or air-conditioning is necessary, thereby eliminating the situation where the efficiency of clothes drying is reduced.

[0082] After transmitting the operation instruction to the external device, the communication unit may transmit a stop instruction to the external device if the humidity in the predetermined space is equal to or lower than the stop threshold.

[0083] This allows the external device to operate automatically only when ventilation or air conditioning is required, making it possible to dry clothes efficiently and in an energy-saving manner.

[0084] After transmitting the operation instruction to the external device, the communication unit may transmit a stop instruction to the external device if the humidity in the predetermined space remains at or below the stop threshold for a predetermined period of time.

[0085] This allows the external device to operate automatically only when ventilation or air conditioning is required, enabling energy-saving and efficient drying of clothes, while also reducing the possibility of clothes absorbing moisture from the surrounding area.

[0086] The external device may also be a ventilation device or an air conditioning device.

[0087] This allows ventilation or air conditioning to be performed in a given space. [Industrial Applicability]

[0088] The present disclosure is useful for a dehumidifier capable of drying clothes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 1 Main unit case 2 Intake port 3 Air outlet 4 Dehumidification section 5. Blower 6 Control Unit 6A Control unit 7 Humidity measurement section 8. Notification Department 9 Control section 10 Wind path 11 Driving judgment unit 12. Change amount calculation section 13 Judgment Department 14 Humidity acquisition section 15 Storage section 16 Notification control section 17 Communications Department 18 External equipment

Claims

1. a main body case having an intake port for drawing in air from a predetermined space and an outlet port for blowing air into the predetermined space; a blower that guides air from the air inlet to the air outlet; a dehumidifying unit that dehumidifies the air sucked through the suction port; a humidity acquisition unit that acquires the humidity of the predetermined space; a determination unit that determines whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space based on the humidity in the specified space acquired by the humidity acquisition unit.

2. a change amount calculation unit that calculates a humidity change amount over a predetermined time period; The determination unit 2. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the dehumidifier determines whether ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space based on the humidity change over a specified time period calculated by the change amount calculation unit and the current humidity in the specified space.

3. The change amount calculation unit calculating the humidity change amount, which is the difference between the humidity a predetermined time before the present and the current humidity; The determination unit The dehumidifier according to claim 2 , wherein if the humidity change amount is less than a decrease amount threshold and the current humidity is equal to or greater than a high humidity threshold, it is determined that ventilation or air conditioning is required in the specified space.

4. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm unit that, when the determination unit determines that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space, notifies the user that ventilation or air conditioning is necessary in the specified space.

5. a communication unit that communicates with an external device that can ventilate or air-condition the predetermined space, The communication unit The dehumidifier according to claim 1 , wherein when the determination unit determines that ventilation or air conditioning is required in the predetermined space, the dehumidifier transmits an operation instruction to the external device.

6. The communication unit The dehumidifier according to claim 5, wherein after transmitting the operation instruction to the external device, if the humidity in the predetermined space is equal to or lower than a stop threshold, the dehumidifier transmits a stop instruction to the external device.

7. The communication unit The dehumidifier according to claim 5, wherein after transmitting the operation instruction to the external device, if the humidity in the predetermined space remains at or below the stop threshold for a predetermined period of time, the dehumidifier transmits a stop instruction to the external device.

8. The dehumidifier according to claim 5, wherein the external device is a ventilation device or an air conditioning device.

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