JP7654411B2 - Humidifier - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, paragraph 2 of the Patent Act (1) Posting on a website, https://corporate.ya-man.com/topics/pressrelease/consumer/11566/, September 15, 2020 (2) Sale, YA-MAN official online store, https://www.ya-man.com/shop/commodity/0000/rr00470/, September 17, 2020 (3) Sale, Amazon.com. , 2020.9.17 (4) Sold by Rakuten Ichiba, 2020.9.17 (5) Sold by PayPay Mall, 2020.9.17 (6) Sold by Yodobashi Camera, 2020.9.17 (7) Sold by Bic Camera, 2020.9.17 (8) Sold by Nojima, 2020.9.17 (9) Sold by Edion, 2020.9.17 (10) Sold by Yamada Denki, 2020.9.17 (11) Sold by Joshin, 2020.9.17 (12) Sold by 100 Man Volt, 2020.9.17

The present invention relates to a humidifier that generates steam.

There are humidifiers available that generate steam toward the position of the user's face. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a humidifier that detects the position of the user's face and controls the amount of steam generated and the amount of air blown based on the position of the face.

JP 2018-96648 A

When releasing steam toward the skin surface such as the face, it is preferable to appropriately adjust the diffusion range and temperature of the steam, but the humidifier in Patent Document 1 does not take these points into consideration.
In view of the above background, the present invention provides a means for appropriately adjusting the diffusion range and temperature of emitted vapor.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides, as a first aspect, a humidifier comprising a tank for storing liquid, a heating section for heating the liquid to generate steam, a tube for guiding the steam, and a first jetting section and a second jetting section each having an inlet through which steam from the tube flows in and an outlet through which the inflowing steam is discharged, wherein the distance from the centre of the first jetting section to the centre of the second jetting section is 10 to 45 mm (millimeters).
According to the humidifier of the first aspect, the diffusion range and temperature of the steam ejected can be made appropriate for the anticipated position of the face.

In the humidifier of the first aspect, a configuration in which the first jetting portion and the second jetting portion each have a cylindrical flow path portion having a height of 0.3 mm to 0.9 mm may be adopted as a second aspect.
According to the humidifier of the second aspect, water droplets are less likely to accumulate near the outlet, so that a drop in the temperature of the steam caused by water droplets is prevented, and the ejected steam can be kept at an appropriate temperature.

In the humidifier of the first or second aspect, a configuration may be adopted as a third aspect, in which the first and second ejection sections have an inner wall of the flow path from the inlet to the outlet having a portion that widens toward the outlet, and the inner wall surface of that portion is inclined at an angle of 40 degrees or more with respect to the central axis of the flow path.
According to the humidifier of the third aspect, water droplets are less likely to accumulate near the outlet, and the temperature of the steam being ejected can be prevented from decreasing. In addition, the steam is easily diffused, so that the steam can easily reach the entire face of the user.

In the humidifier of any one of the first to third aspects, a fourth aspect may be adopted in which the diameter of the inlet is 3.5 mm to 5 mm, and the diameter of the outlet is 6 mm to 10 mm.
According to the humidifier of the fourth aspect, the steam that is sprayed onto the user's face can be adjusted to an appropriate temperature.

In the humidifier of any one of the first to fourth aspects, a configuration in which the distance from the center of the first jetting portion to the center of the second jetting portion is 20 to 35 mm may be adopted as a fifth aspect.
According to the humidifier of the fifth aspect, steam is diffused over an appropriate range, making it easier for the steam to reach the entire face of the user.

In a sixth aspect, the humidifier of any of the first to fifth aspects may further include a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the skin surface of the user's face, and a control unit that controls the amount of steam generated in the heating unit based on the measured temperature.
According to the humidifier of the sixth aspect, the amount of steam hitting the face of the user can be appropriately controlled based on the temperature of the skin surface of the user.

In the sixth aspect of the humidifier, a seventh aspect may be adopted in which the humidifier further includes a drive mechanism that controls the direction in which the outlets of the first and second ejection parts face, and the control unit controls the drive mechanism based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.
According to the humidifier of the seventh aspect, the concentration of steam hitting the user's face can be changed according to the temperature of the skin surface of the user's face.

In the seventh aspect of the humidifier, an eighth aspect may be adopted in which a distance measuring sensor is provided to measure the distance from the first ejection portion and the second ejection portion to the user's face, and the control portion controls the drive mechanism based on the distance measured by the distance measuring sensor.
According to the eighth aspect of the humidifier, steam can be emitted in a direction that is likely to hit the user's face, depending on the distance to the user's face.

In the humidifier of any of the sixth to eighth aspects, a ninth aspect may be adopted in which the control unit performs control based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor so that the temperature of the steam reaching the face falls within a predetermined range with 40°C as the standard.
According to the humidifier of the ninth aspect, the steam that reaches the face can be adjusted to an appropriate temperature based on the temperature of the facial skin surface.

In a humidifier of any of the sixth to ninth aspects, a configuration in which the temperature sensors are provided in plurality so as to measure the temperature of the skin surface at multiple positions on the face, and the control unit executes the control based on the measurement results of the multiple temperature sensors may be adopted as a tenth aspect.
According to the humidifier of the tenth aspect, control can be performed so that the temperature distribution on the facial skin surface becomes uniform.

In the humidifier of the tenth aspect, a configuration may be adopted as an eleventh aspect, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the user of the temperature distribution state of the facial skin surface based on the measurement results of the multiple temperature sensors.
According to the humidifier of the eleventh aspect, the temperature distribution state of the skin surface of the user's face can be notified to the user based on the measurement results from the multiple temperature sensors.

In the humidifier of the eighth aspect, a configuration may be adopted as a twelfth aspect, further comprising a notification unit that notifies the user when the distance measured by the distance measuring sensor is outside a predetermined range.
According to the humidifier of the twelfth aspect, it is possible to guide the user so that the face is in an appropriate position relative to the humidifier.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a humidifier according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the humidifier according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a nozzle portion of the humidifier according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a diffusion state of steam in the humidifier according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a jetting portion of the humidifier according to the first embodiment. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the distance between two ejection parts and the diffusion range of steam in the humidifier according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining the relationship between the distance between two ejection parts and the diffusion range of steam in the humidifier according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a humidifier according to a first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the appearance of a humidifier according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a humidifier according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a control flow in a humidifier according to a second embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining drive control of a nozzle portion in a humidifier according to a second embodiment.

[Embodiment]
A humidifier 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
1 is a diagram showing the external appearance of a humidifier 1. The humidifier 1 is composed of a cylindrical main body 11 and a cover 12 that can be opened and closed from the top surface of the main body 11. An operation lamp 13 is provided on the front side surface of the main body 11. The operation lamp 13 is lit by turning on a power switch provided on the lower rear surface side of the main body 11.

A nozzle section 14 and a number of operation buttons 15 are provided on the top surface of the main body section 11. A pair of ejection sections 141L, 141R having an opening for emitting steam are provided on the nozzle section 14 so as to be aligned in the left-right direction. In addition, adjustment knobs 142L, 142R are provided on each of the left and right ends of the nozzle section 14 to allow the user to rotate the nozzle section 14 to change the direction of the ejection sections 141L, 141R.

The ejection sections 141L and 141R are oriented so that the steam is emitted diagonally upward from the front of the main body 11, but the angle of the emission direction can be adjusted vertically using the adjustment knobs 142L and 142R.

The multiple operation buttons 15 allow the user to select an operation mode and set the operation time, such as whether steam is released for a short or long period of time. The top surface of the main body 11, on which the nozzle 14 and operation buttons 15 are provided, can be hidden by closing the cover 12.

Figure 2 shows the internal structure of the humidifier 1. Figure 2 shows the cover 12 in a closed state. When steam is to be generated, the cover 12 is opened by the user as shown in Figure 1.

The tank 21 stores water, which is the liquid used to generate steam. The tank 21 is detachable from the main body 11. The user can remove the tank 21 from the main body 11, fill the tank 21 with water, and then attach it to the main body 11.

The water stored in the tank 21 is supplied to the boiler room 22 via a water supply line. In the boiler room 22, the supplied water is boiled to generate steam. Heaters 23a and 23b, which are heating units, are provided on the outer surfaces of the left and right sides of the boiler room 22. By heating the boiler room 22 with the heaters 23a and 23b, the water in the boiler room 22 can be boiled to generate steam.

The upper part of the boiler room 22 and the nozzle part 14 are connected by a pipe 24. Steam generated in the boiler room 22 rises from the upper part of the boiler room 22 through the pipe 24, flows along the path indicated by arrow A, and reaches the nozzle part 14. The steam that reaches the nozzle part 14 is released to the outside from the two ejection parts 141L and 141R.

Figure 3 shows the structure of the nozzle portion 14, where Figure 3(A) is a top view of the ejection portions 141L and 141R as seen from above, and Figure 3(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 3(A). The nozzle portion 14 is a cylindrical member, and is provided so that the upper side including the ejection portions 141L and 141R is exposed from the top surface of the main body portion 11 as shown in Figure 1.

A protruding adjustment knob 142L is provided at the left end of the upper side of the nozzle portion 14, and a protruding adjustment knob 142R is provided at the right end. Two ejection parts 141L, 141R are provided between the adjustment knobs 142L, 142R at both ends. The ejection part 141L is provided to the left of the center position of the nozzle portion 14 (the adjustment knob 142L side), and the ejection part 141R is provided to the right of the center position of the nozzle portion 14 (the adjustment knob 142R side).

Each of the ejection portions 141L, 141R has a circular opening 145 that penetrates from the outer surface side to the inner surface side of the nozzle portion 14. The distance LO between the centers of the two ejection portions 141L, 141R (which in this embodiment is equivalent to the distance between the centers of the two openings 145) is preferably 10 mm (millimeters) or more and 40 mm (millimeters) or less. More preferably, it is 20 mm (millimeters) or more and 35 mm (millimeters). The preferred value of such distance LO will be described in detail later.

Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the diffusion state of the steam emitted from the ejection portion 141 of the nozzle portion 14. Fig. 4 shows the nozzle portion 14 as viewed from above.
The diffusion range SR indicates the range in which the steam emitted from the jetting part 141R diffuses, and the diffusion range SL indicates the range in which the steam emitted from the jetting part 141L diffuses. In Fig. 4, the diffusion ranges SR and SL indicate the diffusion ranges in the horizontal direction, and in practice, the steam also diffuses in the vertical direction in the same manner.

Distance LU indicates the distance from the ejection parts 141L, 141R to the user's face. In this embodiment, the reference value for distance LU is assumed to be 200 mm. As shown in FIG. 4, there is an overlapping portion between the diffusion range SR and the diffusion range SL. In the overlapping portion, the steam emitted from each of the ejection parts 141L, 141R mixes together, allowing the steam to be maintained at a high temperature.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the temperature of the steam is kept at 40°C at the position where the steam hits the user's face (at the position of distance LU). In FIG. 4, width LLR indicates the width of the entire diffusion range of the steam emitted from each of the emission parts 141L, 141R at the distance LU. And width LW indicates the width of the range where the diffusion ranges of the steam emitted from each of the emission parts 141L, 141R overlap at the position where the steam hits the user's face (at the position of distance LU).

The diffusion range SA indicates the range where the diffusion ranges of the steam emitted from each of the ejection portions 141L and 141R overlap and the temperature of the steam is maintained at around 40°C. This range is close to an ellipse in FIG. 4, but in actual space it is a shape that also extends vertically and is close to an ellipsoid. The distance LD indicates the depth of the diffusion range SA (the minor axis of the ellipsoid).

When using the humidifier 1, it is preferable that the user's face is positioned within the diffusion range SA. By doing so, steam at a temperature of 40°C can be applied to the skin surface of the user's face, and the temperature of the skin surface can be increased to 40°C. By maintaining the temperature of the skin surface at 40°C, collagen production in the skin surface is promoted, leading to beautiful skin.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the jetting portion 141 (hereinafter, the two jetting portions 141L and 141R may be collectively referred to as the jetting portion 141).
The opening 145 of the jet part 141 has an opening 145a formed on the inner periphery side and an opening 145b formed on the outer periphery side. The opening 145a on the inner periphery side has an inlet 146 through which the steam flows in, and the opening 145b on the outer periphery side has an outlet 147 through which the steam is released.

The opening 145a formed on the inner periphery side is formed by a cylindrical flow path 148 whose inner wall diameter does not change from the inlet 146 toward the outer periphery side (the opening 145b side). The opening 145b formed on the outer periphery side is formed by a sloped portion 149 whose inner wall diameter increases from the outer periphery end of the opening 145a toward the discharge port 147.
In this embodiment, the jetting portion 141 as described above is made of a resin material.

The diameter of the inlet 146, i.e., the diameter D1 of the flow path 148, is preferably 3.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less. Also, the diameter D2 of the outlet 147 is preferably 6 mm or more and 10 mm or less. By setting the diameter sizes of the inlet 146 and the outlet 147 in such ranges, the flow rate at which steam is released from the flow path 148 can be set to an appropriate value, and the diffusion range SA of a temperature of about 40°C in Figure 4 can be realized.

The height T1 of the flow path 148 is preferably 0.3 mm or more and 0.9 mm or less. By setting the thickness of the flow path 148 in this range, the temperature of the released steam is less likely to drop, and water droplets are less likely to accumulate outside the flow path 148 (near the inclined portion 149 and the discharge port 147). Therefore, it is possible to realize a diffusion range SA of a temperature of about 40°C in FIG. 4.

When the ejection portion 141 is made of resin as in this embodiment, strength problems arise, so it is better for the thickness of the flow path 148 not to be too thin. However, if the thickness exceeds 1 mm, moisture will be released and water droplets will accumulate near the ejection port 147. For these reasons, it is more preferable that T1 be 0.5 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less.

The inclination angles φ1 and φ2 of the inclined portion 149 (the inclination angles of the inner wall surface of the inclined portion 149 with respect to the central axis C of the flow path 148) are preferably 40 degrees or more. In this way, by providing the inclined portion 149 on the inside of the outlet 147, water droplets are less likely to accumulate near the outlet 147, and steam is more likely to be diffused appropriately. Therefore, the width LW of the diffusion range SA can be increased, making it easier for steam at a temperature of around 40°C to reach a wide area of the user's face.

It is preferable that the two ejection portions 141L and 141R have the same shape, but as long as the diameter D1, diameter D2, height T1, and angles φ1 and φ2 are formed within the above-mentioned ranges, they do not necessarily have to have the same shape.

Figure 6 shows the relationship between the distance LO between the ejection parts 141L and 141R and the diffusion range of the steam, and shows the results of measuring the size of the diffusion range and the temperature of the steam within the diffusion range using nozzle parts 14 with distance LO changed between 10 mm and 70 mm.

According to the table in Figure 6, the shorter the distance LO, the larger the area and width LW of the diffusion range SA. The temperature (temperature of the steam within the diffusion range) is 40.0°C when the distance LO is 20 mm, 25 mm, or 35 mm. When the distance LO is 40 mm, it is 39.5°C, and when it is 45 mm, it is 39.0°C, maintaining the temperature close to the ideal 40°C, but when it is 50 mm, it is 38.5°C, which is too low. When the distance LO is 15 mm, it is 40.5°C, and when it is 10 mm, it is 41.0°C, maintaining the temperature close to the ideal 40°C. From these results, it is thought that when the distance LO is less than 10 mm, the temperature becomes too high.

From the above, it can be seen that the distance LO is preferably 10 mm or more and 45 mm or less, which keeps the temperature of the steam within the diffusion range SA at around 40°C (39°C to 41°C). It is particularly preferable to set the distance LO to 20 mm or more and 35 mm or less, in which case the temperature of the steam within the diffusion range SA will be 40°C.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the distance LO between the ejection parts 141L, 141R and the diffusion range of the steam, and also shows the relationship between the diffusion range of the steam and the area on the user's face that the steam hits. In Figure 7, the skin surface of the user's face is assumed to be 200 mm away from the ejection parts 141L, 141R (LU = 200 mm), and the diffusion ranges SA, SR, and SL show the range at the position of LU = 200 mm.

Figure 7 (A) shows the case where the distance LO is 10 mm, Figure 7 (B) shows the case where the distance LO is 20 mm, Figure 7 (C) shows the case where the distance LO is 30 mm, Figure 7 (D) shows the case where the distance LO is 40 mm, and Figure 7 (E) shows the case where the distance LO is 50 mm.

In the cases of Figures 7(A), 7(B), and 7(C) (LO = 10-30 mm), the diffusion range SA covers the entire skin surface of the face, making it possible to heat the entire skin surface of the face to a temperature of 40°C. In the case of Figure 7(D) (LO = 40 mm), the diffusion range SA also covers everything except the edges of the face, making it possible to heat almost the entire skin surface of the face to a temperature of 40°C. In the case of Figure 7(E) (LO = 50 mm), the area covered by the diffusion range SA is too narrow compared to the entire face, making it possible to heat only a portion of the skin surface of the face to 40°C. From the above, it can be said that it is preferable for the distance LO to be 40 mm or less.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the humidifier 1.
The control unit 31 is composed of, for example, a circuit board equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a drive board for controlling the heaters 23a, 23b. The CPU executes processes according to stored programs to control the operation of each component in the humidifier 1. The power switch 32 is provided at the bottom of the rear side of the main body 11 (not shown in FIG. 1 ), and when the power switch 32 is turned on by a user's operation, power is supplied to the control unit 31 and other components, making them operable.

When power is supplied and operation is started, the control unit 31 controls to light up the operation lamp 13. The control unit 31 also receives an output signal from the operation button 15.
The two heaters 23a, 23b are controlled based on the operation mode set by the output signal from the operation button. Depending on the operation mode or the passage of time, the heaters 23a, 23b are controlled to be both on, or only one of the heaters 23a, 23b is controlled to be on.

Next, a humidifier 51 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the external appearance of a humidifier 51. The main body 11, cover 12, operation lamp 13, nozzle 14, and operation button 15 are similar to those of the humidifier 1 in Fig. 1, but the humidifier 51 is provided with two temperature sensors 61a and 61b, a distance measurement sensor 62, and notification lamps 63a, 63b, and 64 on the front side of the main body 11.

For example, a radiation thermometer is used as the temperature sensors 61 a and 61 b. The radiation thermometer can measure the surface temperature of an object without coming into contact with the object (i.e., non-contact) by measuring the intensity of infrared rays or visible light emitted from the object.
A radiation thermometer, for example, focuses infrared rays radiated from an object onto an infrared sensor using a lens or the like, and outputs a signal corresponding to the incident infrared energy.

The two temperature sensors 61a, 61b are installed so that the directions of infrared rays incident on each sensor do not intersect. Therefore, the infrared rays incident on the two temperature sensors 61a, 61b are infrared rays emitted from different positions on the subject. In other words, it is possible to measure the surface temperature of two different positions on the subject's face.

For example, a laser distance sensor is used as the distance measurement sensor 62. The sensor 62 measures the distance to an object by emitting laser light obliquely upward from the main body 11 and receiving return light reflected by the object.
The notification lamps 63a and 63b are, for example, three-color LEDs (light-emitting diodes). Based on the measurement results of the temperature sensors 61a and 61b, the colors of the LEDs lit in the notification lamps are switched to notify the user.
For example, a three-color LED (light-emitting diode) is used as the notification lamp 64. Based on the measurement result by the distance measurement sensor 62, the color of the lit LED is switched to notify the user.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the humidifier 51.
The control unit 65 is composed of, for example, a circuit board equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a drive board for controlling the heaters 23a, 23b. The CPU controls the operation of each component in the humidifier 51 by executing processes according to stored programs. The power switch 32, operation lamp 13, and operation button 15 are the same as those in FIG. 8.

The drive mechanism 66 is a mechanism for driving the nozzle portion 14. The drive mechanism 66 can perform control to change the direction of the outlets 147 of the ejection portions 141L and 141R by rotating the cylindrical nozzle portion 14 about the central axis. This control can automatically change the angle at which steam is released without the user having to adjust the adjustment knobs 142L and 142R.

The control unit 65 can control the operation of the drive mechanism 66, and through this control, can set the direction in which the outlets 147 of the ejection parts 141L and 141R are facing. The control unit 65 also stores the amount of drive of the nozzle part 14 by the drive mechanism 66, and can recognize the rotation angle of the nozzle part 14, i.e., the current operating status (whether or not it is rotating) and the direction (angle) in which the outlets 147 of the ejection parts 141L and 141R are facing.

The control unit 65 inputs output signals indicating the measurement values from the temperature sensors 61a and 61b. The control unit 65 then obtains the temperature of the surface (skin surface) of the object (user's face) by converting the measurement value into temperature. When the object is the user's face, the two temperature sensors 61a and 61b can obtain the temperature of the skin surface at two positions on the user's face.

The control unit 65 inputs an output signal indicating the measurement value from the distance measurement sensor 62. Then, based on the measurement value, it calculates the distance from the ejection parts 141L, 141R to the target (the user's face). The distance measurement sensor 62 and the ejection parts 141L, 141R are provided at different positions in the humidifier 51. In addition, since the angle at which the ejection parts 141L, 141R are facing is variable by the drive mechanism 66, the irradiation angle of the laser light emitted from the distance measurement sensor 62 for measurement is not necessarily the same as the angle at which the ejection parts 141L, 141R are facing.

Therefore, the distance from the ejection parts 141L, 141R to the target (the user's face) is calculated by correcting the measurement value obtained from the distance measurement sensor 62 based on the difference in the installation positions of the distance measurement sensor 62 and the ejection parts 141L, 141R, and the difference between the irradiation direction of the laser light from the distance measurement sensor 62 and the stored direction in which the ejection parts 141L, 141R are facing.

The control unit 65 controls the amount of steam generated based on the temperature of the skin surface of the user's face obtained from the measured values of the temperature sensors 61a and 61b. The amount of steam generated is controlled by controlling the operation of the two heaters 23a and 23b. For example, the control unit 65 controls both of the two heaters 23a and 23b to be in the on state when operation starts. Then, when the obtained temperature becomes higher than a predetermined range, the control unit 65 controls one of the two heaters 23a and 23b to be in the off state in order to reduce the amount of steam generated. In this way, the amount of steam generated is reduced by weakening the heating power.

In addition, if the acquired temperature is lower than a predetermined range when one of the two heaters 23a, 23b is in the off state, the control unit 65 controls the heater that is in the off state to be in the on state, thereby increasing the heating power and the amount of steam generated.

The control unit 65 also controls the drive mechanism 66 to repeatedly rotate the nozzle unit 14 up and down based on the temperature of the skin surface of the user's face obtained from the measured values of the temperature sensors 61a and 61b. This control is performed to reduce the concentration of steam near the user's face by swinging the direction of the ejection units 141L and 141R up and down when the temperature of the skin surface of the user's face becomes higher than a predetermined range, thereby preventing the temperature of the skin surface of the user's face from becoming too high.

The control unit 65 also controls the drive mechanism 66 to change the angle of the nozzle unit 14 based on the distance to the user's face obtained from the measurement value from the distance sensor 62. This control is performed to set the direction of the spray units 141L and 141R to an angle that makes it easy for the steam to hit the user's face, depending on the distance to the user's face.

Figure 11 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the control unit 65 according to a program. The flowchart in Figure 11 shows the processing executed at a predetermined time interval when the humidifier 51 is turned on by the user operating the power switch 32, at least one of the heaters 23a and 23b is on, and steam is being emitted from the ejection parts 141L and 141R.

First, the control unit 65 receives an output signal indicating a measurement value, which is distance information, from the distance measurement sensor 62, and obtains the distance to the target object, which is the user's face (step S201).
Next, it is determined whether the distance acquired from the distance sensor 62 is within a predetermined range (step S202). When the temperature sensors 61a and 61b measure the temperature, there is a possibility that an accurate value cannot be obtained if the distance to the object is too far. If the distance is not within the predetermined range (step S202: No), that is, if the distance is too far, it is determined that the user is not near the humidifier 51, and the process of step S201 is repeated. If the distance is within the predetermined range (step S202: Yes), the control unit 65 inputs an output signal indicating a measurement value, which is temperature information, from the temperature sensors 61a and 61b, and acquires a temperature measurement value of the skin surface of the user's face (step S203).

The control unit 65 then determines whether the acquired temperature is within the temperature range of human skin (step S204). This process is performed in order to prevent the measurement value from being used in subsequent processes when the temperature sensors 61a and 61b measure the temperature of an object other than the user's face. The temperature range of human skin is set to, for example, 35°C to 43°C, and any measurement value outside this range is determined to be the temperature measurement value of an object other than the human face.

In this embodiment, two temperature sensors are provided, so the control unit 65 obtains two temperature measurements. If neither of the two temperature measurements is within the temperature range of human skin (step S204: No), the process returns to step S201 and is repeated. If at least one of the two temperature measurements is within the temperature range of human skin (step S204: Yes), it is determined whether the temperature measurement is within a predetermined range near 40 degrees (step S205). The predetermined range near 40 degrees Celsius is, for example, 39 degrees Celsius to 41 degrees Celsius.

If the measured temperature value is higher than the predetermined range (i.e., higher than 41°C), proceed to step S211. If the measured temperature value is lower than the predetermined range (i.e., lower than 39°C), proceed to step S231. If the measured temperature value is within the predetermined range (step S205: Yes), proceed to step S221. Then, in each step, control of the rotation of the nozzle portion 14 and control of the heaters 23a and 23b are performed.

In the above-mentioned step S204, the temperature measurement value that is determined not to be within the temperature range of human skin is not used in the judgment in step S205. In other words, the judgment is made using only one of the temperature measurement values that is determined to be within the temperature range of human skin.
If it is determined in step S204 that both of the temperature measurements are within the temperature range of human skin, the following determination is made based on whether each of the two temperature measurements is within a predetermined range.

If both of the temperature measurements are higher than the predetermined range, or if one of the temperature measurements is higher than the predetermined range and the other is within the predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S211.
If both of the temperature measurements are below the predetermined range, or if one of the temperature measurements is below the predetermined range and the other is within the predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S231.
If both temperature measurements are within the predetermined range, or if one temperature measurement is higher than the predetermined range and the other is lower than the predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S221.

In step S211, the control unit 65 checks the operating state of the drive mechanism 66. Then, if the drive mechanism 66 is not performing the operation of repeatedly rotating the nozzle part 14 up and down (hereinafter referred to as "up and down operation") (step S211: No), the control unit 65 controls the drive mechanism 66 to start the up and down operation of the nozzle part 14 (step S212), and proceeds to step S241.

When the drive mechanism 66 is moving the nozzle portion 14 up and down (step S211: Yes), the control unit 65 checks the operating state of the heaters 23a and 23b (step S213). Then, when multiple heaters are on (step S213: Yes, in this embodiment, there are two heaters, so two heaters are on), control is performed to turn off one heater (step S214), and the process proceeds to step S241.

The processes in steps S211 to S214 are for lowering the temperature of the skin surface of the user's face to within a predetermined range, since it is higher than the predetermined range. First, the nozzle unit 14 is controlled to move up and down to lower the concentration of steam near the face. If this control has already been performed, the number of heaters that are turned on is reduced. If only one heater is turned on (step S213: No), the heater operation state remains the same, and the process proceeds to step S241.

In step S231, the control unit 65 checks the operating state of the drive mechanism 66. Then, if the drive mechanism 66 is moving the nozzle unit 14 up and down (step S231: Yes), the control unit 65 controls the drive mechanism 66 to stop the up and down movement of the nozzle unit 14 (step S232), and proceeds to step S241.

If the drive mechanism 66 is not moving the nozzle unit 14 up and down (step S231: No), the control unit 65 checks the operating state of the heaters 23a and 23b (step S233). Then, if all the heaters are on (step S233: Yes, in this embodiment, there are two heaters, so two heaters are on), the operating state of the heaters remains the same, and the process proceeds to step S241. If any heater is off (step S233: No), control is performed to turn one of the off heaters on (step S234). That is, in this embodiment, there are two heaters, so one of the off heaters is turned on. Then, the process proceeds to step S241.

The processes in steps S231 to S234 are for raising the temperature of the user's facial skin surface to within a predetermined range, since it is lower than that range. First, if control is being performed to move the nozzle unit 14 up and down, this is stopped, and the concentration of steam near the face is increased. If control is not being performed to move the nozzle unit 14 up and down, the number of heaters that are turned on is increased.

In step S221, the control unit 65 checks the operating state of the drive mechanism 66. Then, if the drive mechanism 66 is moving the nozzle unit 14 up and down (step S221: Yes), the control unit 65 controls the drive mechanism 66 to stop the up and down movement of the nozzle unit 14 (step S232), and proceeds to step S241. If the drive mechanism 66 is not moving the nozzle unit 14 up and down (step S221: No), the control unit 65 proceeds directly to step S241.

As described above, the control unit 65 controls the start or stop of the up and down movement of the nozzle unit 14 and the on and off of the two heaters so that the temperature of the steam in the diffusion range SA shown in FIG. 4 falls within a predetermined range (e.g., 39°C to 41°C) based on 40°C. In this way, the temperature of the steam hitting the user's face can be controlled to be close to 40°C.

Next, the control unit 65 performs control to switch the lighting state of the notification lamps 63a, 63b, and 64 (step S241).
First, the control unit 65 controls the lighting of the notification lamps 63a and 63b based on the two temperature measurement values obtained from the temperature sensors 61a and 61b. In this embodiment, the lighting of the notification lamps 63a and 63b notifies the user whether the surface temperature of the user's face is uniform or not.

If the temperature measurement value acquired from the temperature sensor 61a is within a predetermined range (e.g., 39°C to 41°C), control is performed to turn on the blue LED of the notification lamp 63a. If the temperature measurement value acquired from the temperature sensor 61a is lower than the predetermined range, control is performed to turn on the green LED of the notification lamp 63a. If the temperature measurement value acquired from the temperature sensor 61a is higher than the predetermined range, control is performed to turn on the red LED of the notification lamp 63a.

Similarly, when the temperature measurement value acquired from the temperature sensor 61b is within a predetermined range, the blue LED of the notification lamp 63b is controlled to light up. When the temperature measurement value acquired from the temperature sensor 61b is lower than the predetermined range, the green LED of the notification lamp 63b is controlled to light up. When the temperature measurement value acquired from the temperature sensor 61b is higher than the predetermined range, the red LED of the notification lamp 63b is controlled to light up.
In this manner, by controlling the lighting colors of the two notification lamps corresponding to the two temperature sensors, it is possible to notify the user of the temperature distribution of the skin surface of the face.

Next, the control unit 65 controls the switching of the lighting state of the notification lamp 64 based on the distance from the ejection parts 141L, 141R to the user's face calculated from the measurement value obtained from the distance measurement sensor 62 (step S242).

If the calculated distance from the ejection parts 141L, 141R to the user's face is within a predetermined range (not significantly deviating from the reference value of 200 mm), the control unit 65 controls to turn on the blue LED of the notification lamp 64. If the calculated distance to the user's face is closer than the predetermined range, the control unit 65 controls to turn on the red LED of the notification lamp 64. If the calculated distance to the user's face is farther than the predetermined range, the control unit 65 controls to turn on the green LED of the notification lamp 64.

In this way, the color of the notification lamp 64 can be changed based on the distance to the user's face, thereby guiding the user to move their face to a position within a predetermined range.

Next, the control unit 65 operates the drive mechanism 66 based on the distance from the ejection parts 141L, 141R to the target object calculated from the measurement value obtained from the distance sensor 62, and controls the change in the direction in which the ejection openings 147 of the ejection parts 141L, 141R are facing by changing the angle of the nozzle part 14 (step S243).

Figure 12 is a diagram for explaining the control of the drive mechanism 66 based on the distance to the target object. Figure 12 (A) is a diagram showing a case where the user's face is relatively close to the humidifier 51, and Figure 12 (B) is a diagram showing a case where the user's face is relatively far from the humidifier 51. Arrow R indicates the laser light emitted from the distance measurement sensor 62, and arrow S indicates the direction and diffusion range of the steam emitted from the ejection parts 141L and 141R.

As shown in FIG. 12(A), when the user's face is relatively close to the humidifier 51, the user's face is often above the humidifier 51, and it is preferable to release steam at a large angle relative to the horizontal direction. Therefore, when the calculated distance from the ejection parts 141L, 141R to the user's face is closer than a predetermined range, the control unit 65 performs control to set the direction in which the ejection ports 147 of the ejection parts 141L, 141R are facing to be at a large angle relative to the horizontal direction.

As shown in Fig. 12(B), when the user's face is relatively far from the humidifier 51, it is preferable to emit steam at a smaller angle to the horizontal direction compared to the case of Fig. 12(A) in order to emit steam to a distant position. Therefore, when the calculated distance from the ejection parts 141L, 141R to the user's face is farther than a predetermined range, the control unit 65 performs control to set the direction in which the ejection ports 147 of the ejection parts 141L, 141R are facing to be at a small angle to the horizontal direction.

The control for changing the angle of the nozzle portion 14 in step S243 can be performed simultaneously with the up-down movement of the nozzle portion 14 described in steps S211, S221, and S231. The up-down movement of the nozzle portion 14 is an operation in which the nozzle portion 14 is repeatedly rotated within a predetermined angle range. If the central angle of the predetermined angle range of the rotation is the angle set in step S243, the nozzle portion 14 can perform up-down movement within a predetermined angle range centered on the set angle.

The control unit 65 repeats the above-described processing of steps S201 to S243 in FIG. 11 every time a predetermined time has elapsed.

[Modification]
The above-described embodiment can be modified in various ways. Examples of such modifications are shown below. Note that the above-described embodiment and the modifications shown below may be combined as appropriate.

(1) In the above embodiment, LU, which is the reference value for the distance from the ejection parts 141L and 141R to the user's face, is set to 200 mm, but is not limited to this value. It can be set to any desired distance, and the heating capacity of the heater, the shape of the ejection part, etc. can be changed according to the set distance.

(2) In the above embodiment, two heaters are provided as heating units, but three or more may be provided. By increasing the number of heaters, the options for the number of heaters to be turned on are expanded, making it easier to control the position of the vapor diffusion range SA.

(3) In the first embodiment described above, the direction of steam emission from the ejection portions 141L and 141R can be changed in the up-down direction by rotating the nozzle portion 14, but the direction of emission may also be changed in the left-right direction. Similarly, in the second embodiment, the direction of emission may also be changed in the left-right direction by the drive mechanism 66.

In this case, the up and down movement of the nozzle portion 14 performed in steps S212, S222, and S232 of FIG. 11, i.e., the movement of the drive mechanism 66 repeatedly rotating the nozzle portion 14 up and down, may be changed to a movement of repeatedly rotating the nozzle portion 14 left and right.

In addition, the angle control of the nozzle portion 14 based on the distance obtained from the distance measuring sensor in step S243 of FIG. 11 may be control based on the temperature measurement values obtained by the temperature sensors 61a and 61b, as described below.

In the second embodiment, if the nozzle portion 14 is configured to be rotated left and right to change the emission direction left and right, the control unit 65 may control the nozzle portion 14 to change its direction as follows, based on the temperature measurement values obtained by the temperature sensors 61a and 61b.

For example, if the temperature measured by one of the two temperature sensors 61a, 61b is higher than the specified range, the nozzle portion 14 is rotated in the direction opposite to the side where the temperature sensor that measured the higher value is located. This reduces the concentration of steam that hits the face on the side where the temperature is higher.

For example, if the temperature measured by one of the two temperature sensors 61a, 61b is lower than a predetermined range, the nozzle portion 14 is rotated toward the side where the temperature sensor that measured the lower value is located. This reduces the concentration of steam that hits the part of the face where the temperature is lower.

(4) In the second embodiment described above, the distance measurement sensor 62 emits laser light in a fixed direction, but the emission direction may be controlled to change up and down or left and right. With this configuration, the distance to the user's face can be measured even if the user's face is not directly in front of the humidifier.

(5) In the second embodiment described above, the temperature sensor receives infrared rays from a fixed direction, but the direction of incidence may be controlled to change up and down or left and right. With this configuration, the temperature of the skin surface of the user's face can be measured even if the user's face is not directly in front of the humidifier.

(6) In the second embodiment described above, the temperature sensors 61a, 61b are provided on the front side of the main body 11, but they may be provided on the nozzle 14. In this case, if the temperature is measured by receiving infrared rays from the same direction as the steam emission direction in the ejection portion 141 provided on the nozzle 14, the temperature of an object in the direction of steam emission can be measured. Also, if the nozzle 14 is rotated to change the emission direction, the incident direction of the infrared rays by the temperature sensor also changes accordingly, so that the temperature of the object can be measured accurately.

(7) In the second embodiment described above, the distance measuring sensor 62 is provided on the front side of the main body 11, but it may be provided on the nozzle 14. In this case, if the laser light is irradiated in the same direction as the steam emission direction from the ejection part 141 provided on the nozzle 14, the distance from the ejection part 141 to the target object can be accurately measured. Also, if the nozzle 14 is rotated to change the emission direction, the direction of the laser light emitted by the distance measuring sensor also changes accordingly, allowing accurate distance measurement.

(8) In the second embodiment described above, the distance measuring sensor 62 emits a laser beam. However, the distance measuring sensor 62 may emit electromagnetic waves (radio waves, ultrasonic waves, etc.) other than laser light.
In addition, when the temperature sensors 61a and 61b perform measurements by irradiating infrared light, it is preferable that the light irradiated by the distance measurement sensor 62 be light with a wavelength shorter than the infrared range in order to avoid affecting the measurements by the temperature sensors 61a and 61b.
(9) In the second embodiment described above, the temperature sensors 61 a and 61 b are configured to measure the temperature of an object by receiving infrared light emitted by the object, but the temperature sensors may be configured to measure the temperature of the object by a method other than the above. For example, the temperature sensors may be configured to measure the temperature of the object by receiving visible light emitted by the object.

(10) In the second embodiment described above, in the flowchart of FIG. 11, if the distance measured by the distance sensor 62 is too far, no further processing is performed (step S202 in FIG. 11). However, if the range in which the temperature sensor can measure the temperature is about several meters, it is not necessary to measure the distance using the distance sensor.

When using a humidifier indoors, if the user is not in front of the humidifier, there is a possibility that the temperature of a wall or furniture several meters away will be measured. In that case, however, the measured temperature is unlikely to be within the range of human skin temperature (Figure 11, step S204), so there will be no problem with subsequent processing.

(11) In the second embodiment described above, the two temperature sensors 61a, 61b are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on the front side of the main body 11, but the temperature sensors may be arranged side by side in the vertical direction. In this case, the control unit 65 may perform control to change the angle of the nozzle unit 14 as follows, based on the temperature measurement values obtained by the two temperature sensors arranged side by side in the vertical direction.

For example, if the temperature measurement value from the temperature sensor installed on the upper side is higher than a predetermined range, the angle of the nozzle unit 14 is set to a small angle relative to the horizontal direction. Then, the steam is emitted downward to reduce the concentration of steam hitting the upper part of the user's face. Also, if the temperature measurement value from the temperature sensor installed on the lower side is higher than a predetermined range, the angle of the nozzle unit 14 is set to a large angle relative to the horizontal direction. Then, the steam is emitted upward to reduce the concentration of steam hitting the lower part of the user's face.

For example, if the temperature measurement value from the temperature sensor installed on the bottom is lower than a predetermined range, the angle of the nozzle portion 14 is set to a small angle relative to the horizontal direction. Then, the steam is emitted downward to increase the concentration of steam that hits the lower part of the user's face. For example, if the temperature measurement value from the temperature sensor installed on the top is lower than a predetermined range, the angle of the nozzle portion 14 is set to a large angle relative to the horizontal direction. Then, the steam is emitted upward to increase the concentration of steam that hits the upper part of the user's face.

(12) In the second embodiment described above, the notification lamps 63a, 63b change the color based on the temperature measurement values from the corresponding temperature sensors 61a, 61b to notify the user of the temperature distribution on the skin surface of the face, but the notification may also be such that the user is prompted to move their face left or right.

For example, the notification lamps 63a and 63b are shaped like arrows, with the notification lamp 63a shaped like an arrow pointing to the left in FIG. 9 (i.e., an arrow shaped like an arrow pointing to the left as seen by a user in front of the humidifier 51), and the notification lamp 63b shaped like an arrow pointing to the right in FIG. 9.

For example, if the temperature measurement value by temperature sensor 61a is higher than a predetermined range, notification lamp 63a is turned on. In this case, since the left side of the user's face is considered to be near the center of diffusion range SA in FIG. 4, the notification lamp 63a indicates that the user is prompted to move his/her face to the left as seen by the user. If the temperature measurement value by temperature sensor 61b is higher than a predetermined range, notification lamp 63b is turned on. In this case, since the right side of the user's face is considered to be near the center of diffusion range SA in FIG. 4, the notification lamp 63b indicates that the user is prompted to move his/her face to the right as seen by the user.

For example, if the temperature measurement value by the temperature sensor 61a is lower than a predetermined range, the notification lamp 63b is turned on. In this case, it is considered that the left side of the user's face is outside the diffusion range SA in FIG. 4, so the user is prompted to move their face to the right as indicated by the notification lamp 63b. For example, if the temperature measurement value by the temperature sensor 61b is lower than a predetermined range, the notification lamp 63a is turned on. In this case, it is considered that the right side of the user's face is outside the diffusion range SA in FIG. 4, so the user is prompted to move their face to the left as indicated by the notification lamp 63b.

(13) In the second embodiment described above, in step S205 of FIG. 11, if the temperature measurement value of one of the two temperature sensors is not within the predetermined range, a decision is made to proceed to step S211 or step S231 of FIG. 11 depending on whether the temperature measurement value that is not within the predetermined range is higher or lower than the predetermined range, but the method of decision is not limited to this.

For example, the average of the two temperature measurements may be calculated, and if the average is within a predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S221; if the average is higher than the predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S211; if the average is lower than the predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S231.

(14) In the second embodiment described above, two temperature sensors are provided, but only one may be provided. In this case, the determinations in steps S204 and S205 in FIG. 11 may be made based on only the temperature measurement value from the single temperature sensor.

In the second embodiment described above, two notification lamps 63a and 63b are provided corresponding to the temperature sensors 61a and 61b, but if only one temperature sensor is provided, one of the notification lamps 63a and 63b does not need to be provided.

(15) In the second embodiment described above, two temperature sensors are provided, but three or more may be provided. In this case, the three or more temperature sensors are installed so that the directions of infrared rays incident on each sensor do not intersect with each other, allowing the temperature of each of multiple different positions on the target face to be measured.

When three or more temperature sensors are provided, the determination in step S205 of FIG. 11 may be made, for example, by calculating the average of the temperature measurements of the three or more temperature sensors. For example, if the average is within a predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S221; if the average is higher than the predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S211; and if the average is lower than the predetermined range, the process proceeds to step S231.

In addition, the temperature measurements from three or more temperature sensors can be classified into groups of temperature measurements within a predetermined range, temperature measurements higher than the predetermined range, and temperature measurements lower than the predetermined range, and processing corresponding to the group into which the largest number of measurements are classified can be performed. For example, if the majority of temperature measurements are within the predetermined range, the process can proceed to step S221; if the majority of temperature measurements are higher than the predetermined range, the process can proceed to step S211; and if the majority of temperature measurements are lower than the predetermined range, the process can proceed to step S231.

If the number of temperature measurements classified into each group is the same, proceed to step S221. If the number of temperature measurements classified into the two groups is the same, the priority of the steps to proceed to (S211, S221, S231) can be determined.

For example, if there are the same number of other groups as there are temperature measurements higher than the specified range, proceed to step S211. If there are the same number of temperature measurements higher than the specified range and lower than the specified range, proceed to step S221. If there are the same number of temperature measurements lower than the specified range and within the specified range, proceed to step S231.

In the second embodiment described above, two notification lamps 63a, 63b are provided corresponding to the temperature sensors 61a, 61b, but if three or more temperature sensors are provided, three or more notification lamps may be provided corresponding to the temperature sensors.

1: Humidifier, 11: Main body, 12: Cover, 13: Operation lamp, 14: Nozzle, 15: Operation button, 21: Tank, 22: Boiler chamber, 23, 23a, 23b: Heater, 24: Pipe, 31: Control unit, 32: Power switch, 51: Humidifier, 61a, 61b: Temperature sensor, 62: Distance measurement sensor, 63a, 63b, 64: Notification lamp, 65: Control unit, 66: Drive mechanism, 141L, 141R: Spouting unit, 142L, 142R: Adjustment knob, 145, 145a, 145b: Opening, 146: Inlet, 147: Outlet, 148: Flow path, 149: Inclined unit.

Claims (10)

A tank for storing a liquid;
A heating unit that heats the liquid to generate steam;
A tube for conducting the steam;
a first ejection unit and a second ejection unit each having an inlet through which steam from the tube flows and an outlet through which the steam that has flowed in is ejected;
The distance from the center of the first jet portion to the center of the second jet portion is 10 mm to 45 mm (millimeters),
In the first jetting section and the second jetting section, an inner wall of a flow path from the inlet to the discharge port has a portion that widens toward the discharge port, and the inner wall surface of the portion is inclined at an angle of 40 degrees or more with respect to a central axis of the flow path,
The diameter of the inlet is 3.5 mm to 5 mm, and the diameter of the outlet is 6 mm to 10 mm.
That is,
Humidifier. The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the first jetting portion and the second jetting portion each have a cylindrical flow path portion having a height of 0.3 mm to 0.9 mm. 3. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein a distance from a center of the first ejection portion to a center of the second ejection portion is 20 mm to 35 mm. A temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the skin on the user's face;
The humidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a control unit that controls an amount of steam generated in the heating unit based on the measured temperature. A drive mechanism for controlling a direction in which the outlets of the first and second jetting parts are facing is further provided,
The humidifier according to claim 4 , wherein the control unit controls the drive mechanism based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. a distance measuring sensor that measures a distance from the first jetting unit and the second jetting unit to a face of the user;
The humidifier according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit controls the drive mechanism based on the distance measured by the distance measuring sensor. The humidifier according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the control unit executes control based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor so that the temperature of the steam reaching the face falls within a predetermined range with 40°C as the standard. The temperature sensor is provided in plurality so as to measure temperatures of the skin surface at a plurality of positions on the face,
The humidifier according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the control unit executes the control based on measurement results of a plurality of the temperature sensors. The humidifier according to claim 8 , further comprising a notification unit that notifies the user of a temperature distribution state of the facial skin surface based on the measurement results of the plurality of temperature sensors. The humidifier according to claim 6 , further comprising a notification unit that notifies the user when the distance measured by the distance measuring sensor is outside a predetermined range.

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