System, method, and device for preventing or mitigating condensation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11711871-B2
Application number	US-202217868962-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2022
Priority date	Oct 9, 2018
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

Abstract

In an embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to an assembly for preventing condensation on a surface of an object. The assembly includes a condensation mitigation device, an ambient temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a processor. The processor determines dewpoint temperatures for different times, the determination being based on the ambient temperature and the humidity. The processor then determines a regression for the determined dewpoint temperatures. A control signal for activating the condensation mitigation device is transmitted based on the regression for the determined dewpoint temperatures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
a condensation mitigation device positioned on or near an object;
a processor operably coupled to the condensation mitigation device;
an ambient temperature sensor configured to sense an ambient temperature; and
a humidity sensor configured to sense a humidity;
wherein the processor is operably coupled to the ambient temperature sensor and the humidity sensor; and
wherein the processor is configured to:
determine a dewpoint temperature based on the ambient temperature and the humidity;
repeat the determination of the dewpoint temperature for different times, the determined dewpoint temperatures including a current dewpoint temperature;
determine a regression for the determined dewpoint temperatures; and
transmit a control signal to begin activating the condensation mitigation device;
wherein the transmission of the control signal is based on the current dewpoint temperature and the regression for the determined dewpoint temperatures.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a surface temperature sensor configured to sense a surface temperature for the object, wherein the transmission of the control signal is further based on the surface temperature.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to: determine, based on the regression, a predicted time for the dewpoint temperature to reach the surface temperature; wherein the transmission of the control signal is further based on the predicted time.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a threshold temperature based on the predicted time;
wherein the transmission of the control signal to begin activating the condensation mitigation device occurs when the sum of the current dewpoint temperature and the threshold temperature is greater than or equal to the surface temperature.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the threshold temperature is further based on a predetermined time limit, the predetermined time limit indicative of how long before the dewpoint temperature reaches a surface temperature at which the condensation mitigation device will be activated.

6. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the determinations of the predicted time for the dewpoint to reach the surface temperature is based on a slope of the regression.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the slope of the regression is not determined until a predetermined number of determined of the dewpoint temperature have been determined.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the object is a mirror or a glass.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the condensation mitigation device is a heating element.

10. A method for preventing condensation on a surface of an object, the method comprising:
positioning a condensation mitigation device on or near an object;
positioning the ambient temperature sensor in an area in which the object is located to sense an ambient temperature;
positioning the humidity sensor to sense a humidity in the area in which the object is located;
operably coupling the condensation mitigation device, the ambient temperature sensor, and the humidity sensor to a processor;
determining, by the processor, a dewpoint temperature based on the ambient temperature and the humidity;
repeating the determination of the dewpoint temperature for different times, the determined dewpoint temperatures including a current dewpoint temperature;
determining, by the processor, a regression for the determined dewpoint temperatures; and
transmitting, by the processor, a control signal to begin activating the condensation mitigation device, wherein the transmission of the control signal is based on the current dewpoint temperature and the regression for the determined dewpoint temperatures.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising positioning a surface temperature sensor on or near a surface of the object to sense a surface temperature for the object, wherein the transmission of the control signal is further based on the surface temperature.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising: determining, based on the regression, a predicted time for the dewpoint temperature to reach the surface temperature; wherein the transmission of the control signal is further based on the predicted time.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
determining a threshold temperature based on the predicted time;
wherein the transmission of the control signal to begin activating the condensation mitigation device occurs when the sum of the current dewpoint temperature and the threshold temperature is greater than or equal to the surface temperature.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the threshold temperature is further based on a predetermined time limit, the predetermined time limit indicative of how long before the dewpoint temperature reaches a surface temperature at which the condensation mitigation device will be activated.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the determinations of the predicted time for the dewpoint to reach the surface temperature is based on a slope of the regression.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the slope of the regression is not determined until a predetermined number of determined of the dewpoint temperature have been determined.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the object is a mirror or a glass.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the condensation mitigation device is a heating element.

Assignees

• Robern Inc
• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Patel Harshil N
• Wahlgren George
• Stanley Jr James L

Classifications

• H05B3/845 Primary

  specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors · CPC title

• B60S1/023

  including defroster or demisting means · CPC title

• G01N25/66

  by investigating dew-point · CPC title

• A47G1/02 Primary

  Mirrors used as equipment (hand, pocket, or shaving mirrors A45D42/00; {optical viewing means for vehicles B60R1/00}) · CPC title

• A47G2200/066

  sensor · CPC title