Humidification device

Abstract

To provide a humidifier capable of determining a degree of humidification efficiency in a space where the humidifier is placed.SOLUTION: A humidifier includes: a body case 22 having an air inlet 2 and a blowout port 3; a blower fan 9 sucking air into the body case 22 through the air inlet 2 and sending the air to the outside of the body case 22 through the blowout port 3; a humidification part 10 humidifying the sucked air; a control part 11 controlling the blower fan 9; a temperature detection part 6 detecting a temperature of a space humidified by the humidification part 10; and a humidity detection part 7 detecting humidity of the space. The control part 11 includes: a calculation part 12 calculating an absolute humidity from the temperature detected by the temperature detection part 6 and the humidity detected by the humidity detection part 7; and a determination part 14 determining a degree of humidification efficiency in the space on the basis of time change of the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation part 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Humidifiers that humidify air by emitting water vapor or mist are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-121388 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, suppose the space in which a humidifier is installed is connected to another space by a door or window. If the humidifier is used to humidify while the door or window is open, the humidified air will flow out of the space in which the humidifier is installed. This will result in poor humidification efficiency in the space in which the humidifier is installed. Here, poor humidification efficiency means that the space in which the humidifier is installed is not efficiently humidified. In other words, when the humidifier is used to humidify for a certain period of time, the increase in humidity in the space in which the humidifier is installed does not reach the increase value based on the humidification performance of the humidifier.

[0005] In such a poor humidification environment, it is common to operate the humidifier at its maximum humidification level to increase the humidity in the space in which it is installed. However, if a door or window is open, there is a chance that the humidity will not increase even if the humidifier is operated at the maximum humidification level. In other words, operating the humidifier at the maximum humidification level wastes a lot of power. Furthermore, the humidifier wastes a lot of water for humidification.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a humidifier that can determine the degree of humidification efficiency of the space in which the humidifier is installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve this object, the humidifier according to the present invention comprises a main body case having an air inlet and an air outlet, and air is drawn into the main body case through the air inlet and discharged through the air outlet. Book The air conditioner includes a blower fan that blows air to the outside of the body case, a humidifier that humidifies the drawn air, a controller that controls the blower fan, a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the space, and a humidity detector that detects the humidity of the space. The controller includes a calculator that calculates absolute humidity from the temperature detected by the temperature detector and the humidity detected by the humidity detector, and a temperature detector that calculates absolute humidity based on the change in absolute humidity over time. sky a determination unit that determines the degree of humidification efficiency between the The control unit performs a determination process in which, when humidification is started, the control unit calculates a first absolute humidity, which is an absolute humidity, and after a first hour has elapsed since the start of humidification, calculates a second absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed, and if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is smaller than a threshold value, reduces the rotation speed of the blower fan compared to when humidification was started, and if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, does not reduce the rotation speed of the blower fan from when humidification was started. If the rotation speed of the blower fan has been reduced, the control unit performs a repeat process in which, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the reduction in the rotation speed of the blower fan, the control unit returns the rotation speed of the blower fan to the rotation speed at the start of humidification, and performs a determination process. Repeat the process until it becomes This will achieve the stated objectives. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a humidifier can be provided that can determine the degree of humidification efficiency of the space in which the humidifier is installed, so that humidification operation can be performed according to the degree of humidification efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air purifying device taken along plane A. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic functional block diagram of a control unit and peripheral units. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a part of a table stored in a storage unit. [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart showing the control content in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 11 is a flowchart showing the control content in the third embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing the control content in the fourth embodiment. 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 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 will be omitted or simplified.

[0011] In this embodiment, an air cleaning device with a humidifying function will be used as an example of a humidifying device.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) First, an air purifying device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the air purifying device 1. The air purifying device 1 according to this embodiment is a device that humidifies and purifies the air in the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed. Here, in this embodiment, a space connected to the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed by a door, window, or the like is considered to be a space separate from the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed.

[0013] The air purifying device 1 includes a main body case 22. The main body case 22 is a substantially box-shaped box body, and includes an air intake 2, an air outlet 3, and a notification unit 4.

[0014] The air intake 2 is provided on the front surface of the main body case 22 and is an opening for taking in outside air into the main body case 22.

[0015] The air outlet 3 is provided on the top surface of the main body case 22 and is an openable / closable opening for blowing out the air taken into the main body case 22 from the air inlet 2 to the outside of the main body case 22. In FIG. 1, the air outlet 3 is in a closed state.

[0016] The notification unit 4 is provided on the front surface of the main body case 22 and notifies the user about the humidification efficiency of the air purifying device 1 based on instructions from the control unit 11. Here, the humidification efficiency will be described. In this embodiment, poor humidification efficiency means that the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed is not efficiently humidified. Specifically, when the air purifying device 1 humidifies for a certain period of time, the increase in absolute humidity in the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed does not reach the increase value based on the humidification performance of the air purifying device 1. In other words, because a door or window in the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed is open, the humidified air flows out of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed, and the increase in absolute humidity does not reach the increase value based on the humidification performance of the air purifying device 1.

[0017] Conversely, not having poor humidification efficiency means that the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed is efficiently humidified. Specifically, when the air purifying device 1 humidifies for a certain period of time, the increase in absolute humidity in the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed reaches an increase value based on the humidifying performance of the air purifying device 1. In other words, because the doors, windows, etc. of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed are closed, the humidified air does not flow out of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed, and the increase in absolute humidity reaches an increase value based on the humidifying performance of the air purifying device 1.

[0018] The notification unit 4 includes an LED. In this embodiment, as an example, the notification unit 4 notifies that the humidification efficiency is not poor by lighting up the LED, and notifies that the humidification efficiency is poor by flashing the LED. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the notification unit 4 is configured to be provided inside the air purifying device 1, but the notification unit 4 may be provided in another location within the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed. In this case, for example, the air purifying device 1 and the notification unit 4 may be connected via wireless communication, thereby eliminating the need for complex wiring work. However, the air purifying device 1 and the notification unit 4 do not necessarily need to be connected via wireless communication, and may be able to communicate via wired communication.

[0019] The notification unit 4 may also be provided in a device that can be linked to the air purifying device 1. An example of a device that can be linked to the air purifying device 1 is a smartphone. In this case, a user can configure an app installed on the smartphone to enable linkage with the air purifying device 1, and the smartphone will then send a notification based on the humidification efficiency.

[0020] Furthermore, the notification unit 4 may notify using an LED, but may also notify using a sound such as a voice or a buzzer.

[0021] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air purifying device 1 in Fig. 1 taken along plane A. As shown in Fig. 2, the air purifying device 1 includes a temperature detecting unit 6, a humidity detecting unit 7, an air duct 8, a blower fan 9, a purifying unit 20, a humidifying unit 10, a control unit 11, and a water storage unit 21.

[0022] The temperature detection unit 6 is a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed. The temperature detection unit 6 may be, for example, a thermistor, a linear resistor, or a platinum resistor, the resistance of which changes with temperature.

[0023] The humidity detection unit 7 is a humidity sensor that detects the relative humidity of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed. The humidity detection unit 7 uses, for example, a humidity-sensitive film whose resistance value or capacitance changes depending on the relative humidity.

[0024] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the temperature detection unit 6 and the humidity detection unit 7 are configured to be provided inside the air purifying device 1, but the temperature detection unit 6 and the humidity detection unit 7 may be provided in different locations within the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed. In this case, the air purifying device 1 and the temperature detection unit 6 and the humidity detection unit 7 are connected via wireless communication, thereby eliminating the need for complex wiring work. However, the air purifying device 1 and the temperature detection unit 6 and the humidity detection unit 7 do not necessarily have to be connected via wireless communication, and may communicate via wired communication.

[0025] The temperature detection unit 6 and the humidity detection unit 7 may also be connected to a device capable of uploading data to a server via wireless or wired communication. In this case, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 6 and the relative humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 7 are transmitted to the server via the device capable of uploading data to the server. By being able to connect the air purifying device 1 to the device capable of uploading data to the server via wireless or wired communication, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 6 and the relative humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 7 can be obtained from the server.

[0026] The ventilation passage 8 is an air passage that connects the intake port 2 and the outlet port 3.

[0027] The blower fan 9 is disposed on the ventilation duct 8 and generates an air current to guide air from the intake port 2 to the outlet port 3. The higher the rotation speed per unit time of the blower fan 9, the greater the air volume. In this embodiment, the air purifying device 1 can be set to three levels of air volume, weak, medium, and strong, in that order.

[0028] The purifying unit 20 is a so-called filter made of, for example, a fiber or sponge-like material having a certain thickness and having numerous holes inside through which air can pass. The purifying unit 20 filters the air drawn in from the air intake 2 by passing the air through the numerous holes.

[0029] Humidifying unit 10 is disposed on ventilation duct 8 and is, for example, a filter made of a sponge-like material with a certain thickness. Humidifying unit 10 humidifies the air by sucking up water from water storage unit 21 and passing the air through humidifying unit 10 to moisten it. Here, the greater the air volume generated by blower fan 9, the greater the amount of air passing through humidifying unit 10 per unit time. In other words, the greater the air volume generated by blower fan 9, the greater the amount of humidification by humidifying unit 10 per unit time.

[0030] The control unit 11 controls the air purifying device 1, and the details of the control will be described later.

[0031] The water storage section 21 stores water and supplies the water to the filter that is the humidifying section 10 .

[0032] Next, each function of the control unit 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a schematic functional block diagram of the control unit 11 and its peripheral units. The control unit 11 includes a calculation unit 12, a storage unit 13, a determination unit 14, and a rotation speed control unit 16.

[0033] Calculation unit 12 calculates absolute humidity (unit: grams per cubic meter) using the temperature detected by temperature detection unit 6 and the relative humidity detected by humidity detection unit 7. The calculation formula is known and therefore will not be described here.

[0034] The memory unit 13 stores an air volume table that associates multiple air volumes that can be set in the air purifying device 1 with thresholds corresponding to each air volume. Here, the thresholds are determined based on the humidifying performance of the air purifying device 1. The humidifying performance of the air purifying device 1 is the expected increase in absolute humidity when the air purifying device 1 is operated at the set air volume for a first hour (e.g., 30 minutes). This will be explained in detail.

[0035] When the air purifying device 1 is operated for a first hour at a set air volume, the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed is humidified based on the set air volume, and the absolute humidity in the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed increases. Here, the larger the set air volume, the greater the amount of humidification. In other words, the larger the set air volume, the greater the increase in absolute humidity in the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed. The increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour corresponding to each set air volume becomes a threshold value. The increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour corresponding to each set air volume is a value determined in advance through experiments, etc.

[0036] Furthermore, the expected increase in absolute humidity after the first hour corresponding to each set airflow rate varies depending on the relative humidity before the first hour of operation. In other words, the threshold value varies depending on the relative humidity before the first hour of operation. Therefore, an airflow rate table is provided for each relative humidity before the first hour of operation. In other words, the memory unit 13 stores multiple airflow rate tables.

[0037] Here, a portion of the air volume table will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows an example of the air volume table when the relative humidity before the first hour of operation is 30%. In this embodiment, the air volume can be set to three levels: weak, medium, and strong. For example, if the relative humidity before the first hour of operation is 30% and the air volume is operated at a weak air volume for the first hour, the threshold value B1 is the expected increase in absolute humidity after the first hour of operation. Similarly, if the relative humidity before the first hour of operation is 30% and the air volume is operated at a medium air volume for the first hour, the threshold value B2 is the expected increase in absolute humidity after the first hour of operation. Similarly, if the relative humidity before the first hour of operation is 30% and the air volume is operated at a strong air volume for the first hour, the threshold value B3 is the expected increase in absolute humidity after the first hour of operation. The higher the set air volume, the greater the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed; therefore, the threshold values ​​are B3, B2, and B1 in descending order.

[0038] Similarly, memory unit 13 stores an air volume table in which threshold values ​​C1, C2, and C3 are used when the relative humidity before the first hour of operation is 40%. Memory unit 13 stores a plurality of air volume tables for each relative humidity before the first hour of operation.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the air volume is used as an example in the air volume table, but another value correlated with the amount of humidification by the air purifying device 1 may also be used, such as the rotation speed of the blower fan 9.

[0040] The determination unit 14 determines the degree of humidification efficiency of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed, based on the change over time in absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit 12. Specifically, the determination unit 14 obtains the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit 12 before the first hour of operation. The absolute humidity obtained before the first hour of operation is set as the first absolute humidity.

[0041] Furthermore, the determination unit 14 acquires the absolute humidity after the first time has elapsed using the calculation unit 12. The absolute humidity acquired after the first time has elapsed is set as the second absolute humidity.

[0042] Then, determination unit 14 compares the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity with the threshold value stored in memory unit 13. In this embodiment, determination unit 14 obtains, from the air volume table, a threshold value corresponding to the relative humidity detected by humidity detection unit 7 before the first hour of operation and the air volume when the first hour of humidification operation is performed. For example, if the relative humidity before the first hour of operation is 30% and the air volume when the first hour of humidification operation is performed is medium, determination unit 14 obtains B2 from the air volume table as the threshold value.

[0043] The determination unit 14 compares the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity with a threshold value, and determines that the humidification efficiency is poor if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is smaller than the threshold value. Here, the reason why the humidification efficiency is determined to be poor when the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is smaller than the threshold value will be explained. The difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity being smaller than the threshold value means that the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has not reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed. One possible cause of this is that a door or window in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed is open, causing humidified air to flow into a space other than the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed. Because of this, the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has not reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed, and the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor. This concludes the explanation of the reason.

[0044] When determining that the humidification efficiency is poor, the determining unit 14 instructs the notifying unit 4 to notify that the humidification efficiency is poor. This allows the user to know that the humidification efficiency is poor.

[0045] Furthermore, when the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold, the determination unit 14 does not determine that the humidification efficiency is poor because the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed. When the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is not poor, it instructs the notification unit 4 to notify that the humidification efficiency is not poor. This allows the user to know that the humidification efficiency is not poor.

[0046] Rotation speed control unit 16 controls the rotation speed of blower fan 9. Specifically, if determination unit 14 determines that humidification efficiency is poor, rotation speed control unit 16 reduces the rotation speed of blower fan 9 to a value lower than that at the start of humidification operation, and if determination unit 14 does not determine that humidification efficiency is poor, rotation speed control unit 16 does not reduce the rotation speed of blower fan 9 from that at the start of humidification operation. Not reducing the rotation speed of blower fan 9 from that at the start of humidification operation means, for example, maintaining the rotation speed of blower fan 9 at the start of humidification operation.

[0047] Here, the reason why the rotation speed control unit 16 reduces the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 compared to when the humidification operation started when it was determined that the humidification efficiency was poor will be explained. When the humidification efficiency is poor, the humidity does not increase as expected, so it is generally considered that the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 is increased compared to when the humidification operation started in order to increase the humidity.

[0048] Here, a possible cause of poor humidification efficiency is that, as mentioned above, a door or window in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed is open, causing the humidified air to flow out into a space other than the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed. In other words, with a door or window open, even if the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 is increased above the start of the humidifying operation, it is highly likely that the target humidity cannot be achieved.

[0049] Increasing the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 from the start of the humidification operation increases the power consumption of the air purifying device 1. In other words, the power consumption is increased even though there is a high possibility that the target humidity will not be reached. In other words, power is being wasted.

[0050] Furthermore, increasing the rotation speed of blower fan 9 from the start of the humidification operation also means that the amount of water consumed in water storage section 21 increases. In other words, a large amount of water is consumed, even though there is a high possibility that the target humidity will not be reached. When the water in water storage section 21 runs out, the user needs to replenish water in water storage section 21. In other words, even though there is a high possibility that the target humidity will not be reached, the timing when water replenishment is required comes earlier. In other words, for the user, the time-consuming task of refilling water comes earlier.

[0051] Therefore, when it is determined that the humidification efficiency is poor, the rotation speed control unit 16 reduces the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 from that at the start of the humidification operation, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption. Also, by having the rotation speed control unit 16 reduce the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 from that at the start of the humidification operation, it is possible to prevent the user from having to perform the time-consuming task of refilling water too early. This concludes the explanation of the reasons.

[0052] Here, the control unit 11 includes a computer. The computer executes a program to realize the functions of the present disclosure. The computer includes, as its main hardware configuration, a processor that operates according to the program. The type of processor is not important as long as it can realize the functions by executing the program. The processor is composed of one or more electronic circuits, including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or an LSI (Large Scale Integration). The multiple electronic circuits may be integrated into a single chip, or may be provided on multiple chips. The multiple chips may be integrated into a single device, or may be provided on multiple devices. The program is recorded on a non-transitory recording medium, such as a computer-readable ROM. The program may be pre-stored on the recording medium, or may be supplied to the recording medium via a wide area communication network, including the Internet.

[0053] Next, the control executed by the control unit 11 will be explained using the flowchart in Fig. 5. 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.

[0054] When the air purifying device 1 starts a humidifying operation, the control unit 11 starts a determination process. As the determination process, the calculation unit 12 first calculates the absolute humidity. The control unit 11 sets the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit 12 as a first absolute humidity (S1).

[0055] The determination unit 14 acquires, from the air volume table, a threshold value corresponding to the relative humidity at the start of the humidification operation and the air volume at which the humidification operation is being performed (S2).

[0056] Then, the control unit 11 determines whether a first time has elapsed since the start of the humidification operation (S3). If the first time has not elapsed since the start of the humidification operation, the control unit 11 repeats the determination whether the first time has elapsed until the first time has elapsed since the start of the humidification operation (S3No→S3).

[0057] If the first hour has elapsed since the start of the humidification operation, the calculation unit 12 calculates the absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed. The control unit 11 sets the absolute humidity after the first hour calculated by the calculation unit 12 as the second absolute humidity (S3 Yes → S4).

[0058] Next, the determination unit 14 compares the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity with a threshold value (S5).

[0059] If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold, the determination unit 14 does not determine that the humidification efficiency is poor. In other words, the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed, so the determination unit 14 does not determine that the humidification efficiency is poor. The rotation speed control unit 16 then maintains the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 without reducing it since the start of the humidification operation. The control unit 11 then ends the determination process (S5 No → S9). If the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is not poor, the determination unit 14 instructs the notification unit 4 to notify the user that the humidification efficiency is not poor. The notification unit 4 notifies the user that the humidification efficiency is not poor (S10). In this embodiment, the notification unit 4 notifies the user that the humidification efficiency is not poor by turning on an LED. This allows the user to know that the doors and windows of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed are closed and that the humidification efficiency is not poor.

[0060] If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is smaller than the threshold value, the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor. In other words, the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has not reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed, and therefore the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor. Then, the rotation speed control unit 16 reduces the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 from the start of the humidification operation. Thereafter, the control unit 11 ends the determination process (S5 Yes → S6). This makes it possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption. It also makes it possible to reduce unnecessary consumption of water in the water storage unit 21. It also makes it possible to prevent the user from having to refill the water storage unit 21 with water earlier, which is a time-consuming task.

[0061] Next, if the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor, it instructs the notification unit 4 to notify that the humidification efficiency is poor. The notification unit 4 notifies that the humidification efficiency is poor (S7). In this embodiment, the notification unit 4 notifies that the humidification efficiency is poor by flashing an LED. This allows the user to know that a door, window, etc. in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed is open and that the humidification efficiency is poor. In other words, the user can take measures to address the cause of the poor humidification efficiency. In other words, the user can know that a door, window, etc. in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed needs to be closed.

[0062] When the determination process is completed, the control unit 11 starts a repeat process (S8). After a predetermined second time (e.g., 30 minutes) has elapsed since the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 was reduced, the rotation speed control unit 16 returns the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 to the rotation speed at the start of the humidification operation. Thereafter, the control unit 11 performs the determination process again. As the determination process, the control unit 11 updates the first absolute humidity and the second absolute humidity to newly calculated values ​​and determines the humidification efficiency (S1 to S5). The control unit 11 repeats the process until it no longer determines that the humidification efficiency is poor.

[0063] This makes it possible to detect the timing when the user closes a door or window in the space where air purifying device 1 is installed and the humidifying efficiency changes from poor to good. In other words, by detecting the timing when the humidifying efficiency changes to good, and by having rotation speed control unit 16 not reduce the airflow rate of blower fan 9 from the start of humidifying operation, the space where air purifying device 1 is installed can be efficiently humidified.

[0064] Here, the second time period will be described. The longer the second time period, the shorter the time spent wasting power, but the longer the time until the humidification efficiency is judged again. Therefore, the second time period should be set to a long time if it is desired to shorten the time spent wasting power, and a short time if it is desired to judge the humidification efficiency more frequently. The second time period may be set arbitrarily by the user.

[0065] (Embodiment 2) In the first embodiment, as a repeating process, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the rotation speed control unit 16 reduced the rotation speed of the blower fan 9, the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 is returned to the rotation speed at the start of the humidification operation, and the control unit 11 performs the determination process again. That is, the control unit 11 returns to step S1 after step S8.

[0066] However, in the second embodiment, the control unit 11 returns to step S3 after step S8. That is, the control unit 11 updates the second absolute humidity but does not update the first absolute humidity from the initially calculated value. This allows the air purifying device 1 to perform simpler control.

[0067] (Embodiment 3) The difference between embodiment 3 and embodiment 1 will be mainly described. The internal configuration of the air purifying device in embodiment 3 is the same as that of air purifying device 1 in embodiment 1. However, the control content of the air purifying device in embodiment 3 is partially different from that in embodiment 1. The calculation unit 12, storage unit 13, and determination unit 14 in embodiment 3 will be described.

[0068] The calculation unit 12 calculates the absolute humidity using the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 6 and the relative humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 7.

[0069] Furthermore, the calculation unit 12 calculates absolute humidity at a past time from the time series data of temperature and humidity stored in the storage unit 13.

[0070] In addition to the functions of the first embodiment, the storage unit 13 stores time-series data in which the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 6 and the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 7 are stored in time series.

[0071] The determination unit 14 determines the degree of humidification efficiency of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed, based on the change over time in absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit 12.

[0072] Specifically, the determination unit 14 acquires the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit 12 before the first hour of operation. The absolute humidity acquired before the first hour of operation is set to the first absolute humidity. Furthermore, the determination unit 14 acquires the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit 12 for a predetermined time before the start of the first hour of operation. The absolute humidity before the predetermined time is set to the pre-humidification absolute humidity. The predetermined time can be set arbitrarily.

[0073] Furthermore, the determination unit 14 calculates a predicted absolute humidity if a first hour elapses without humidification when humidification is started, based on the first absolute humidity and the pre-humidification absolute humidity. Specifically, the determination unit 14 calculates an absolute humidity increase per unit time if humidification is not performed, based on the first absolute humidity and the pre-humidification absolute humidity. The determination unit 14 calculates the absolute humidity if a first hour elapses without humidification, based on the absolute humidity increase per unit time if humidification is not performed.

[0074] Furthermore, the determination unit 14 acquires the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit 12 after the first time has elapsed. The absolute humidity acquired after the first time has elapsed is set as the second absolute humidity.

[0075] The determination unit 14 then compares the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity with a threshold value stored in the memory unit 13. The threshold value is obtained from the air volume table. Alternatively, the threshold value may be a value arbitrarily set by the user. The air volume table is created to suit a typical indoor environment, but a wide variety of indoor environments exist in real environments. Therefore, the user may arbitrarily set or change the threshold value depending on the indoor environment.

[0076] When determining that the humidification efficiency is poor, the determining unit 14 instructs the notifying unit 4 to notify that the humidification efficiency is poor. This allows the user to know that the humidification efficiency is poor.

[0077] The determination unit 14 compares the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity with a threshold value, and determines that the humidification efficiency is poor if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is smaller than the threshold value. Here, the reason why the humidification efficiency is determined to be poor if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is smaller than the threshold value will be explained. The difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity being smaller than the threshold value means that the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has not reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed. One possible cause of this is that a door or window in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed is open, causing humidified air to flow into a space other than the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed. Because of this, the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has not reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed, and the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor. This concludes the explanation of the reason.

[0078] Furthermore, if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold, the determination unit 14 does not determine that the humidification efficiency is poor because the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed. If the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is not poor, it instructs the notification unit 4 to notify that the humidification efficiency is not poor. This allows the user to know that the humidification efficiency is not poor.

[0079] Next, the control executed by the control unit 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0080] When the air purifying device 1 starts a humidification operation, the control unit 11 starts a determination process. As part of the determination process, the calculation unit 12 first calculates the absolute humidity. The calculation unit 12 calculates a pre-humidification absolute humidity, which is the absolute humidity a predetermined time before the humidification operation starts, and a first absolute humidity, which is the absolute humidity at the time the humidification operation starts. The determination unit 14 calculates a predicted absolute humidity based on the pre-humidification absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity (S11).

[0081] The determination unit 14 obtains, from the air volume table, a threshold value corresponding to the relative humidity at the start of the humidification operation and the air volume at which the humidification operation is being performed (S12).

[0082] Then, the control unit 11 determines whether a first time has elapsed since the start of the humidification operation (S13). If the first time has not elapsed since the start of the humidification operation, the control unit 11 repeats the determination whether the first time has elapsed until the first time has elapsed since the start of the humidification operation (S13 No → S13).

[0083] If the first hour has elapsed since the start of the humidification operation, the calculation unit 12 calculates the absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed. The control unit 11 sets the absolute humidity after the first hour calculated by the calculation unit 12 as the second absolute humidity (S13 Yes → S14).

[0084] Next, the determination unit 14 compares the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity with a threshold value (S15).

[0085] If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold, the determination unit 14 does not determine that the humidification efficiency is poor. In other words, the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed, so the determination unit 14 does not determine that the humidification efficiency is poor. The rotation speed control unit 16 then maintains the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 without reducing it since the start of the humidification operation. The control unit 11 then ends the determination process (S15 No → S19). If the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is not poor, the determination unit 14 instructs the notification unit 4 to notify the user that the humidification efficiency is not poor. The notification unit 4 notifies the user that the humidification efficiency is not poor (S20). In this embodiment, the notification unit 4 notifies the user that the humidification efficiency is not poor by turning on an LED. This allows the user to know that the doors and windows of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed are closed and that the humidification efficiency is not poor.

[0086] If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is smaller than the threshold, the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor. In other words, the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has not reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed, and therefore the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor. Then, the rotation speed control unit 16 reduces the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 from the start of the humidification operation. Thereafter, the control unit 11 ends the determination process (S15 Yes → S16). This makes it possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption. It also makes it possible to reduce unnecessary consumption of water in the water storage unit 21. It also makes it possible to prevent the user from having to refill the water storage unit 21 with water earlier, which is a time-consuming task.

[0087] Next, if the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor, it instructs the notification unit 4 to notify that the humidification efficiency is poor. The notification unit 4 notifies that the humidification efficiency is poor (S17). In this embodiment, the notification unit 4 notifies that the humidification efficiency is poor by flashing an LED. This allows the user to know that a door, window, etc. in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed is open and that the humidification efficiency is poor. In other words, the user can take measures to address the cause of the poor humidification efficiency. In other words, the user can know that a door, window, etc. in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed needs to be closed.

[0088] When the determination process is completed, the control unit 11 starts a repeat process (S18). After a predetermined second time has elapsed since the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 was reduced, the rotation speed control unit 16 returns the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 to the rotation speed at the start of the humidification operation. Thereafter, the control unit 11 performs the determination process again. As the determination process, the control unit 11 updates the first absolute humidity and the second absolute humidity to newly calculated values ​​and determines the humidification efficiency (S11 to S15). The control unit 11 repeats the process until it no longer determines that the humidification efficiency is poor.

[0089] This makes it possible to detect the timing when the user closes a door or window in the space where air purifying device 1 is installed and the humidifying efficiency changes from poor to good. In other words, by detecting the timing when the humidifying efficiency changes to good, and by having rotation speed control unit 16 not reduce the airflow rate of blower fan 9 from the start of humidifying operation, the space where air purifying device 1 is installed can be efficiently humidified.

[0090] (Fourth embodiment) The fourth embodiment will be described mainly with respect to the differences from the first embodiment. The internal configuration of the air purifying device in the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the air purifying device 1 in the first embodiment. However, the control content of the air purifying device in the fourth embodiment is partially different from that in the first embodiment. The calculation unit 12, the storage unit 13, and the determination unit 14 in the fourth embodiment will be described.

[0091] The calculation unit 12 calculates the absolute humidity using the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 6 and the relative humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 7.

[0092] Furthermore, the calculation unit 12 calculates the absolute humidity at a predetermined time from the time series data of temperature and humidity stored in the storage unit 13.

[0093] In addition to the functions of the first embodiment, the storage unit 13 stores time-series data in which the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 6 and the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 7 are stored in time series.

[0094] The determination unit 14 determines the degree of humidification efficiency of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed, based on the change over time in the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit 12. Specifically, the determination unit 14 obtains the absolute humidity at a predetermined timing during humidification calculated by the calculation unit 12. The absolute humidity at the predetermined timing during humidification is set as a first absolute humidity.

[0095] Furthermore, the determination unit 14 obtains the absolute humidity a predetermined time before the predetermined timing during humidification, which is calculated by the calculation unit 12. The absolute humidity a predetermined time before the predetermined timing during humidification is set as the absolute humidity a predetermined time before. The predetermined time can be set arbitrarily.

[0096] Furthermore, the determination unit 14 calculates a predicted absolute humidity after a first time has elapsed from a predetermined timing during humidification based on the first absolute humidity and the absolute humidity before the predetermined time. Specifically, the determination unit 14 calculates an absolute humidity increase value per unit time from the first absolute humidity and the absolute humidity before the predetermined time. The determination unit 14 calculates a predicted absolute humidity after the first time has elapsed based on the absolute humidity increase value per unit time.

[0097] Furthermore, the determination unit 14 acquires the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit 12 after the first time has elapsed. The absolute humidity acquired after the first time has elapsed is set as the second absolute humidity.

[0098] The determination unit 14 then compares the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity with a threshold value stored in the memory unit 13. The threshold value is obtained from the air volume table. Alternatively, the threshold value may be a value arbitrarily set by the user. The air volume table is created to suit a typical indoor environment, but a wide variety of indoor environments exist in real environments. Therefore, the user may arbitrarily set or change the threshold value depending on the indoor environment.

[0099] When determining that the humidification efficiency is poor, the determining unit 14 instructs the notifying unit 4 to notify that the humidification efficiency is poor. This allows the user to know that the humidification efficiency is poor.

[0100] The determination unit 14 compares the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity with a threshold value, and determines that the humidification efficiency is poor if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is smaller than the threshold value. Here, the reason for determining that the humidification efficiency is poor if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is smaller than the threshold value will be explained. The difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity being smaller than the threshold value means that the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has not reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed. Possible causes of this include the opening of a door or window in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed, causing humidified air to flow into a space other than the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed. Another possible cause of humidity reduction is an increase in the ventilation rate in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed. Another possible cause is that the humidity in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed is approaching the target humidity, and the amount of humidification and the amount of moisture released outside the space by ventilation, etc., are close to each other. Due to this reason, the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed does not reach the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed, and so the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor.

[0101] Furthermore, if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold, the determination unit 14 does not determine that the humidification efficiency is poor because the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed. If the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is not poor, it instructs the notification unit 4 to notify that the humidification efficiency is not poor. This allows the user to know that the humidification efficiency is not poor.

[0102] Next, the control executed by the control unit 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0103] At a predetermined timing during humidification operation by the air purifying device 1, the control unit 11 starts a determination process. As part of the determination process, the calculation unit 12 first calculates the absolute humidity. The calculation unit 12 calculates the absolute humidity a predetermined time before the predetermined timing, which is the absolute humidity a predetermined time before the predetermined timing, and a first absolute humidity, which is the absolute humidity at the predetermined timing. The determination unit 14 calculates a predicted absolute humidity based on the absolute humidity a predetermined time before the predetermined timing and the first absolute humidity (S21).

[0104] The determination unit 14 obtains a threshold value corresponding to the relative humidity at a predetermined timing and the air volume at which the humidifying operation is performed from the air volume table (S22).

[0105] Then, the control unit 11 determines whether a first time has passed since the predetermined timing (S23). If the first time has not passed since the predetermined timing, the control unit 11 repeats the determination whether the first time has passed until the first time has passed since the predetermined timing (S23 No → S23).

[0106] If the first time has passed since the predetermined timing, the calculation unit 12 calculates the absolute humidity after the first time has passed. The control unit 11 sets the absolute humidity after the first time has passed, calculated by the calculation unit 12, as the second absolute humidity (S23 Yes → S24).

[0107] Next, the determination unit 14 compares the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity with a threshold value (S25).

[0108] If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold, the determination unit 14 does not determine that the humidification efficiency is poor. In other words, the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed, so the determination unit 14 does not determine that the humidification efficiency is poor. The rotation speed control unit 16 then maintains the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 without reducing it since the start of the humidification operation. The control unit 11 then ends the determination process (S25 No → S29). If the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is not poor, the determination unit 14 instructs the notification unit 4 to notify the user that the humidification efficiency is not poor. The notification unit 4 notifies the user that the humidification efficiency is not poor (S30). In this embodiment, the notification unit 4 notifies the user that the humidification efficiency is not poor by turning on an LED. This allows the user to know that the doors and windows of the space in which the air purifying device 1 is installed are closed and that the humidification efficiency is not poor.

[0109] If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is smaller than the threshold, the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor. In other words, the increase in absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed has not reached the increase in absolute humidity expected after the first hour has elapsed, and therefore the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor. Then, the rotation speed control unit 16 reduces the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 from the start of the humidification operation. Thereafter, the control unit 11 ends the determination process (S25 Yes → S26). This makes it possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption. It also makes it possible to reduce unnecessary consumption of water in the water storage unit 21. It also makes it possible to prevent the user from having to refill the water storage unit 21 with water earlier, which is a time-consuming task.

[0110] Next, if the determination unit 14 determines that the humidification efficiency is poor, it instructs the notification unit 4 to notify that the humidification efficiency is poor. The notification unit 4 notifies that the humidification efficiency is poor (S27). In this embodiment, the notification unit 4 notifies that the humidification efficiency is poor by flashing an LED. This allows the user to know that a door, window, etc. in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed is open and that the humidification efficiency is poor. In other words, the user can take measures to address the cause of the poor humidification efficiency. In other words, the user can know that a door, window, etc. in the space where the air purifying device 1 is installed needs to be closed.

[0111] When the determination process is completed, the control unit 11 starts a repeat process (S28). After a second predetermined time has elapsed since the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 was reduced, the rotation speed control unit 16 returns the rotation speed of the blower fan 9 to the rotation speed at the predetermined timing. Thereafter, the control unit 11 performs the determination process again. As the determination process, the control unit 11 updates the first absolute humidity and the second absolute humidity to newly calculated values ​​and determines the humidification efficiency (S21 to S25). The control unit 11 repeats the process until it is no longer determined that the humidification efficiency is poor.

[0112] This makes it possible to detect the timing when the user closes a door or window in the space where air purifying device 1 is installed and the humidifying efficiency changes from poor to good. In other words, by detecting the timing when the humidifying efficiency changes to good, and by having rotation speed control unit 16 not reduce the airflow rate of blower fan 9 from the start of humidifying operation, the space where air purifying device 1 is installed can be efficiently humidified.

[0113] The air purifying device 1 and the control unit 11 according to the present invention have been described above.

[0114] Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it can be easily understood that various improvements and modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0115] For example, in this embodiment, the humidification method used by humidifier 10 is an evaporation method in which water is sucked up into a filter and the sucked up water from the filter is absorbed into the air. Instead of an evaporation method, the humidification method used by humidifier 10 may be an ultrasonic method in which water is atomized by ultrasonic vibrations and the atomized water is absorbed into the air, or a heating method in which water is heated by a heater and the evaporated water is absorbed into the air.

[0116] (Summary of the Invention) The humidifying device of the present invention comprises a main body case having an air intake and an air outlet, a blower fan that draws air into the main body case through the air intake and blows it out of the main body case through the air outlet, a humidifier that humidifies the intake air, a control unit that controls the blower fan, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the space to be humidified by the humidifier unit, and a humidity detection unit that detects the humidity of the space, and the control unit comprises a calculation unit that calculates the absolute humidity from the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit and the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit, and a judgment unit that judges the degree of humidification efficiency of the space based on the change over time in the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit.

[0117] This makes it possible to determine the degree of humidification efficiency of the space in which the humidifier is installed, and therefore allows the humidification operation to be performed in accordance with the degree of humidification efficiency.

[0118] Furthermore, when humidification by the humidifier unit is started, the control unit calculates a first absolute humidity, which is an absolute humidity, as a determination process. After a first hour has elapsed since the start of humidification, the control unit calculates a second absolute humidity, and if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is smaller than a threshold value, the control unit determines that humidification efficiency is poor and reduces the rotation speed of the blower fan compared to when humidification started. If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit does not determine that humidification efficiency is poor, and it is not necessary to reduce the rotation speed of the blower fan from when humidification started.

[0119] In other words, when humidification efficiency is poor, the rotation speed of the blower fan can be reduced compared to when humidification started. This makes it possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption when humidification efficiency is poor. It also makes it possible to reduce unnecessary consumption of water in the water storage section 21. It also makes it possible to prevent the user from having to refill the water storage section 21 with water earlier, which is a time-consuming task.

[0120] The threshold value may also be determined based on the humidifying performance of the humidifier.

[0121] This allows the humidification efficiency to be determined based on the humidification performance of the humidifier.

[0122] The control unit may also reduce the rotation speed of the blower fan and, as a repeating process, after a predetermined time has elapsed since reducing the rotation speed of the blower fan, return the rotation speed of the blower fan to the rotation speed at the start of humidification and perform a judgment process, repeating the process until it is no longer determined that the humidification efficiency is poor.

[0123] This makes it possible to detect the timing when the humidification efficiency changes from poor to good. In other words, by detecting the timing when the humidification efficiency changes to good and not reducing the airflow rate of the blower fan from the start of humidification, the space in which the humidifier is installed can be efficiently humidified.

[0124] The control unit may also reduce the rotation speed of the blower fan, and as a repeated process, after a predetermined time has elapsed since reducing the rotation speed of the blower fan, return the rotation speed of the blower fan to the rotation speed at the start of humidification, calculate the absolute humidity after a first time has elapsed, set the absolute humidity calculated after the first time has elapsed as a new second absolute humidity, determine that the humidification efficiency is poor if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is smaller than a threshold value, reduce the rotation speed of the blower fan from that at the start of humidification if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, do not determine that the humidification efficiency is poor, and do not reduce the rotation speed of the blower fan from that at the start of humidification, and repeat the process until it is no longer determined that the humidification efficiency is poor.

[0125] This makes it possible to detect the timing when the humidification efficiency changes from poor to good. In other words, by detecting the timing when the humidification efficiency changes to good and not reducing the airflow rate of the blower fan from the start of humidification, the space in which the humidifier is installed can be efficiently humidified.

[0126] The device further includes a main body case having an intake port and an outlet port, and a memory unit that stores the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit and the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit in chronological order, the blower fan draws air into the main body case through the intake port and blows air out of the main body case through the outlet port, and when humidification starts, the control unit, as a determination process, calculates the pre-humidification absolute humidity a predetermined time before the start of humidification based on the temperature a predetermined time before the start of humidification and the humidity a predetermined time before the start of humidification that are stored in the memory unit, and determines a first absolute humidity at the start of humidification. The absolute humidity is calculated, and based on the absolute humidity before humidification and the first absolute humidity, a predicted absolute humidity is calculated if a first hour has passed without humidification at the start of humidification. After the first hour has passed since the start of humidification, a second absolute humidity is calculated. If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is smaller than a threshold value, the rotation speed of the blower fan is reduced compared to when humidification started, and if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the rotation speed of the blower fan is not reduced from when humidification started.

[0127] In other words, when humidification efficiency is poor, the rotation speed of the blower fan can be reduced compared to when humidification started. This makes it possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption when humidification efficiency is poor. It also makes it possible to reduce unnecessary consumption of water in the water storage section 21. It also makes it possible to prevent the user from having to refill the water storage section 21 with water earlier, which is a time-consuming task.

[0128] The device also includes a main body case having an intake port and an outlet port, and a memory unit that stores the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit and the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit in chronological order, the blower fan draws air into the main body case through the intake port and blows air out of the main body case through the outlet port, and at a predetermined timing during humidification, the control unit performs a determination process to calculate an absolute humidity a predetermined time before the predetermined timing during humidification based on the temperature a predetermined time before the predetermined timing during humidification and the humidity a predetermined time before the predetermined timing during humidification that are stored in the memory unit, and a first absolute humidity, which is the absolute humidity at the time of the predetermined timing; a predicted absolute humidity when a first hour has elapsed from a predetermined timing during humidification based on the absolute humidity before the predetermined time and the first absolute humidity; a second absolute humidity, which is the absolute humidity after the first hour has elapsed from the predetermined timing during humidification; if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is smaller than a threshold value, the rotation speed of the blower fan is reduced compared to that at the predetermined timing; and if the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the rotation speed of the blower fan is not reduced from that at the predetermined timing.

[0129] In other words, when humidification efficiency is poor, the rotation speed of the blower fan can be reduced compared to when humidification started. This makes it possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption when humidification efficiency is poor. It also makes it possible to reduce unnecessary consumption of water in the water storage section 21. It also makes it possible to prevent the user from having to refill the water storage section 21 with water earlier, which is a time-consuming task.

[0130] The threshold value may be changeable by the user, so that the humidification efficiency can be determined based on a threshold value desired by the user.

[0131] The humidifier may also include a notification unit that notifies the user that the humidification efficiency is poor when the measured value is less than the threshold value. This allows the user to understand that the humidification efficiency of the space in which the humidifier is installed is poor. The user can also take measures to address the cause of the poor humidification efficiency.

[0132] The humidification method used by the humidifier may be any of an ultrasonic method in which water is atomized by ultrasonic vibration and the atomized water is mixed into the air, a heating method in which water is heated by a heater and evaporated by heating and the evaporated water is mixed into the air, and an evaporation method in which water is sucked into a filter and the sucked water from the filter is mixed into the air. This allows the present invention to be implemented with a variety of humidification methods. [Industrial Applicability]

[0133] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as a humidifier or the like for humidifying air. [Explanation of symbols]

[0134] 1. Air purifier 2 air intakes 3 Air outlet 4 Notification section 6 Temperature detection unit 7 Humidity detection unit 8 Ventilation duct 9. Blower fan 10 Humidification unit 11 Control section 12 Calculation section 13 Storage section 14 Judgment section 16 Rotation speed control unit 20 Cleaning section 21 Water storage section 22 Main unit case

Claims

1. a main body case having an air intake port and an air outlet; a humidifying unit that humidifies the air; a blower fan that blows the air humidified by the humidifier; a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the space to be humidified by the humidifier; a humidity detection unit that detects the humidity of the space; a control unit that performs humidification control, The control unit a calculation unit that calculates absolute humidity based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit and the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit; a determination unit that performs a determination process to determine a degree of humidification efficiency of the space based on the time change of the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit, The blower fan is Air is drawn into the main body case through the intake port and blown out of the main body case through the outlet port, When starting humidification, the control unit performs the determination process as follows: Calculating a first absolute humidity, which is the absolute humidity; After a first hour has elapsed since the start of the humidification, a second absolute humidity is calculated after the first hour has elapsed; If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is smaller than a threshold value, The rotation speed of the blower fan is reduced to a value lower than that at the start of humidification, When the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, The rotation speed of the blower fan is not reduced from the start of humidification. Processing is performed, The control unit When the rotation speed of the blower fan is reduced, As a repetitive process, After a predetermined time has elapsed since the rotation speed of the blower fan was reduced, the rotation speed of the blower fan is returned to the rotation speed at the start of the humidification; The determination process is performed. Processing is performed, The humidifier repeats the repetitive process until the concentration becomes equal to or greater than the threshold.

2. The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the threshold value is determined based on the humidifying performance of the humidifier.

3. A main body case having an air intake and an air outlet; a humidifying unit that humidifies the air; a blower fan that blows the air humidified by the humidifier; a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the space to be humidified by the humidifier; a humidity detection unit that detects the humidity of the space; a control unit that performs humidification control, The control unit a calculation unit that calculates absolute humidity based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit and the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit; a determination unit that performs a determination process to determine a degree of humidification efficiency of the space based on the time change of the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit, The blower fan is Air is drawn into the main body case through the intake port and blown out of the main body case through the outlet port, When starting humidification, the control unit performs the determination process as follows: Calculating a first absolute humidity, which is the absolute humidity; After a first hour has elapsed since the start of the humidification, a second absolute humidity is calculated after the first hour has elapsed; If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is smaller than a threshold value, The rotation speed of the blower fan is reduced to a value lower than that at the start of humidification, When the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, The rotation speed of the blower fan is not reduced from the start of humidification. Processing is performed, The control unit When the rotation speed of the blower fan is reduced, As a repetitive process, After a predetermined time has elapsed since the rotation speed of the blower fan was reduced, the rotation speed of the blower fan is returned to the rotation speed at the start of the humidification; Calculating the absolute humidity after the first time period has elapsed; The absolute humidity calculated after the first time has elapsed is set as a new second absolute humidity. If the difference between the new second absolute humidity and the new first absolute humidity is less than the threshold value, The rotation speed of the blower fan is reduced to a value lower than that at the start of humidification, If the difference between the new second absolute humidity and the new first absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, The rotation speed of the blower fan is not reduced from the start of humidification. Processing is performed, The humidifier repeats the repeating process until the temperature becomes equal to or greater than the threshold.

4. A humidifier device as described in claim 3, wherein the threshold value is determined based on the humidification performance of the humidifier device.

5. a main body case having an air intake port and an air outlet; a humidifying unit that humidifies the air; a blower fan that blows the air humidified by the humidifier; a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the space to be humidified by the humidifier; a humidity detection unit that detects the humidity of the space; a control unit that performs humidification control, The control unit Absolute humidity is calculated from the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit and the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit. A calculation unit; a determination unit that performs a determination process to determine a degree of humidification efficiency of the space based on the time change of the absolute humidity calculated by the calculation unit; a storage unit that stores the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit and the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit in chronological order, The blower fan is When humidification is started by drawing air into the main body case through the air intake port and blowing air out of the main body case through the air outlet, the control unit performs the determination process as follows: calculating a pre-humidification absolute humidity before the predetermined time from the start of humidification based on the temperature before the predetermined time from the start of humidification and the humidity before the predetermined time from the start of humidification, which are stored in the memory unit; Calculating a first absolute humidity, which is the absolute humidity at the start of the humidification; calculating a predicted absolute humidity that would be obtained if a first hour had elapsed without humidification at the start of humidification based on the pre-humidification absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity; After a first hour has elapsed since the start of the humidification, a second absolute humidity is calculated after the first hour has elapsed; If the difference between the second absolute humidity and the predicted absolute humidity is less than a threshold value, The rotation speed of the blower fan is reduced to a value lower than that at the start of humidification, When the difference between the second absolute humidity and the first absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, The rotation speed of the blower fan is not reduced from the start of humidification. A humidifying device that processes the material.

6. The humidifier according to claim 5 , wherein the threshold value is changeable by a user.

7. The humidifier according to claim 1 , further comprising a notification unit that notifies the user that humidification efficiency is poor when the measured value is smaller than the threshold value.

8. The humidification method by the humidifying unit is as follows:

6. A humidifier according to claim 1, 3 or 5, which is any one of an ultrasonic system in which water is atomized by ultrasonic vibration and the atomized water is incorporated into the air, a heating system in which water is heated by a heater and the evaporated water is incorporated into the air, and an evaporation system in which water is sucked into a filter and the sucked water from the filter is incorporated into the air.

Images