humidifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing humidifiers face issues with inaccurate water level detection due to water or humidified air entering the weight sensor area, leading to operational errors, and improper placement of the water tank affecting weight measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A humidifier design that includes a middle tray with a tray sealer and tray drain hole to prevent water entry, and a configuration that ensures the weight sensor is contacted perpendicularly for accurate measurement, using a tray sealer and guide grooves to direct water away from sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If water or humidified air enters the weight sensor area, then the sensor operation becomes inaccurate, but preventing entry requires additional sealing structures
Solution Approach 1:
The middle tray is divided into a tray body and a tray base that can be separated, with the weight sensor placed on the tray base. The tray sealer creates a waterproof barrier between these segments, preventing water from reaching the sensor while maintaining measurement accuracy through the segmented design.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray sealer acts as an intermediary component between the tray body and tray base, providing waterproof sealing without interfering with the weight sensor's function. It creates a protective barrier that allows accurate measurement while preventing water intrusion.
2Measurement precision
If the water tank is placed on the middle tray for weight detection, then water level can be detected, but water may enter the sensor area causing operational errors
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the middle tray into separable tray body and tray base components, the design allows the weight sensor to remain protected on the tray base while the water tank sits on the tray body, maintaining both detection accuracy and operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray sealer extends vertically between the tray body and tray base, creating a three-dimensional waterproof barrier that prevents water from the water tank area from reaching the sensor area, thus maintaining reliability while preserving measurement precision.
3Strength
If another component is placed between the water tank and weight measuring component, then structural support is provided, but accurate sensing of water tank weight becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted into a separate tray sealer component that does not interfere with weight measurement. The tray sealer provides structural support and waterproofing without being part of the weight-bearing path, allowing accurate sensing while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray sealer serves as an intermediary that provides structural support between the tray body and tray base without interfering with weight transmission to the sensor, thus maintaining both strength and measurement precision.
4Reliability
If the middle tray is sealed to prevent water entry, then sensor protection is improved, but water that enters must be drained
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is extracted as a separate feature of the tray base, with drain holes positioned to allow water removal without compromising the sealed environment protecting the sensor. This maintains reliability while minimizing drainage system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents water or humidified air from entering the sensor area, ensuring accurate weight measurement by minimizing interference and maintaining sensor functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a weight sensor disposed on the middle tray and configured to sense a weight of the water tank
Implementation Method 2
a tray sealer disposed around the hole and sealing between the tray body and the tray base
Implementation Method 3
A tray drain hole is formed in the tray base to send water admitted into the middle tray out of the middle tray
Implementation Method 4
The tray base has a guide groove disposed in front of the hole and configured to guide water introduced into the middle tray to the tray drain hole
Data Source
AI summary
A humidifier including a water tank having a space configured to store water, a humidification module disposed below the water tank and configured to generate humidified air using water supplied from the water tank, a middle tray disposed between the humidification module and the water tank, and an inner shell. The middle tray includes a hole through which the humidified air generated by the humidification module is configured to flow, a tray body, a tray base disposed below the tray body, and a tray sealer disposed around the hole and configured to seal between the tray body and the tray base. The inner shell includes a discharge passage through which the humidified air is configured to flow between the water tank and the inner shell, the inner shell contacting the tray body of the middle tray.