Humidifier system and methods for using same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current humidifiers lack the ability to effectively regulate humidity in specific areas, such as a crib, leading to issues like mold growth and inefficient water usage, as they often sense humidity at one point and output water vapor throughout the room, wasting resources and failing to maintain optimal humidity levels.

Innovation Solution

A humidifier device and system that includes a vapor source, airflow source, sensors for measuring humidity and temperature, and a control unit to manage humidity levels in a predefined area, utilizing a mesh transducer to produce water vapor without standing pools and a pump to manage fluid levels, ensuring efficient humidity control and mold prevention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a humidifier outputs water vapor throughout the room to maintain humidity, then humidity coverage is improved, but water waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehumidity control effectivenessVSAvoidwater waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using multiple sensors positioned at different locations (front, rear, left, right sides) to detect humidity levels in specific zones. The control unit processes these localized measurements and directs vapor output only to areas where humidity is needed, rather than uniformly distributing vapor throughout the entire room. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining effective humidity control in target areas while reducing unnecessary water consumption in already-humid zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring humidity levels at multiple sensor positions and using this information to dynamically adjust the vapor output. The control unit receives real-time data from sensors and modulates the ultrasonic transducer operation accordingly, increasing vapor output when humidity is low and decreasing it when humidity is sufficient. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable humidity maintenance while minimizing water waste through precise, demand-based vapor generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of manufacture

If a humidifier uses standing pools of water to generate vapor, then vapor production is simplified, but mold growth increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevapor generation simplicityVSAvoidmold growth
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful element of standing water pools by replacing them with an ultrasonic transducer-based vapor generation system. Instead of maintaining stagnant water reservoirs that promote mold growth, the system uses the transducer to directly convert water into vapor through ultrasonic vibration. Water is delivered to the transducer surface and immediately vaporized, eliminating the standing water environment that causes mold while keeping the vapor generation process simple and effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical heating element (which requires standing water pools and high temperatures) with an ultrasonic transducer that uses mechanical vibration at high frequency. This substitution allows vapor generation without maintaining large water reservoirs or high-temperature heating elements, thereby eliminating mold growth conditions while preserving efficient vapor production. The ultrasonic mechanism vibrates water molecules directly into vapor form.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If a humidifier senses humidity at one point to control output, then device complexity is reduced, but humidity regulation precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor configurationVSAvoidhumidity regulation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the monitoring function into multiple independent sensors positioned at different locations (front, rear, left, right sides of the device). Each sensor independently measures humidity in its local zone, providing segmented spatial coverage. The control unit integrates these multiple measurements to make comprehensive humidity control decisions, achieving precise multi-zone regulation without requiring overly complex individual sensor systems. This segmented approach improves measurement precision while keeping each sensor unit relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple sensor measurements and control functions into a unified control system. The control unit combines data from all sensor positions and coordinates the ultrasonic transducer operation to address humidity needs across the entire monitored space. This merging of multiple simple sensing points into a coordinated control strategy achieves comprehensive humidity regulation precision without the complexity of a single sophisticated sensor system, effectively combining simplicity with accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 system effectively maintains optimal humidity levels in a specific area, reducing mold growth and water waste by precisely controlling humidity and using AI and machine learning to adjust output based on real-time data, ensuring efficient water usage and comfortable microclimate creation.

Implementation Method 1

a vapor source configured to produce water vapor or moisture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

an airflow source configured to produce airflow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentUS12085292B2Humidifier system and methods for using same
Publication Date: 2024.09.10 DR NOZE BEST LLC
  • US12085292B2 patent drawing
  • US12085292B2 patent drawing
  • US12085292B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a humidifier device and system for regulating a microclimate in a predefined microenvironment within a predefined area. The system including a humidifier device having a vapor source configured to produce water vapor or moisture, and an airflow source configured to produce airflow, a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to measure absolute humidity data and/or temperature data; a control unit in operative communication with the humidity unit for controlling operation of the humidity unit; a specialized housing for containing the components; and a tank configured to removably couple with the housing. The system may employ sensors may located at different, predetermined positions and technology such as predictive analytics using positional data and sensed data from the various sensors for controlling humidity and regulating the microclimate. Also disclosed herein are methods for using the disclosed humidifier devices and system.