humidifier
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing humidifiers face challenges such as contamination due to unsterilized water, bacterial accumulation in filters, and inefficient air distribution, leading to poor indoor air quality and potential safety hazards from ultraviolet light exposure.
Innovation Solution
A humidifier design incorporating a sterilization module that emits ultraviolet light to sterilize the filter and humidifying chamber, with a control system to ensure safe operation by emitting light only when the case is coupled and the filter is seated, and a dual-chamber humidifying assembly for efficient air humidification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultraviolet light is emitted to sterilize the filter and humidifying chamber, then bacterial growth is prevented and air quality is improved, but user safety is compromised due to potential UV light exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The control system activates the ultraviolet light emitter only after detecting that the case is properly coupled and the filter is seated, ensuring sterilization occurs only when the device is in a safe, enclosed state
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors detect the coupling state of the case and seating state of the filter, providing feedback to the control system to determine whether it is safe to activate the ultraviolet light emitter
2Productivity
If unsterilized water is used for humidification, then the humidifier outputs a large amount of mist, but contaminated water flows into the indoor space and may cause safety accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The ultraviolet light emitter sterilizes the water in the humidifying chamber before it is atomized and discharged, preventing contamination while maintaining mist output
3Ease of operation
If the humidifier operates with the case uncoupled or filter unseated, then ease of maintenance is improved, but ultraviolet light may leak and cause safety accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the coupling and seating states through sensors, preventing ultraviolet light emission when the case is uncoupled or filter is unseated, thereby preventing light leakage while allowing easy maintenance when needed
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
The solution provides clean and safe humidified air by preventing bacterial growth, ensuring proper sterilization of internal components, and enhancing user safety by controlling UV light exposure, while maintaining efficient air humidification.
Implementation Method 1
a sterilization module disposed on the base cover and configured to emit ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 2
a humidifying assembly disposed in the case and configured to generate mist
Data Source
AI summary
A humidifier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a case; a base disposed below the case; a base cover which is disposed above the base, and to which the case is removably coupled; a humidifying assembly disposed in the case and configured to generate mist, a filter disposed below the humidifying assembly; and a sterilization module disposed on the base cover and configured to emit ultraviolet light, wherein in response to the case being coupled to the base cover and the filter being seated, the sterilization module is configured to emit ultraviolet light to an inner hollow of the filter, thereby preventing a safety accident, and controlling hygiene in the humidifier.