Humidifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12422153-B2
Application number	US-202217875165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2022
Priority date	Mar 31, 2022
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A humidifier includes a pedestal, a water tank, a float, and a detection device. The water tank is detachably mounted on a top of the pedestal. The float is on the water tank and movable relative to the water tank. The detection device is on the pedestal and configured to detect a position of the float in a preset space of the humidifier. In the preset space, the position of the float indicates whether the water tank is separated from the pedestal and whether the water tank is short of water.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A humidifier comprising:
a pedestal;
a water tank detachably mounted on a top of the pedestal;
a float on the water tank and movable relative to the water tank;
a detection device on the pedestal and configured to detect a position of the float in a preset space of the humidifier, wherein the position of the float indicates whether at least one of (i) the water tank is separated from the pedestal, and (ii) the water tank is short of water; and
a float limiter on the water tank and fitted over the detection device, wherein the float is within the float limiter and is movable relative to the float limiter,
wherein:
the float limiter comprises a limiting tube extending in an up-down direction, and a top of the limiting tube is coupled to a bottom of the water tank; and
an outer surface of a middle portion of the limiting tube is recessed inwards and forms a chute, and the float is annular and is fitted in the chute and movable along the up-down direction.

2. The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein:
the float limiter comprises a float cover detachably mounted to a bottom of the water tank and fitted over the detection device; and
the float cover has a floating chamber, and the float is movable along an up-down direction in the floating chamber.

3. The humidifier according to claim 2 , wherein:
the float cover has a first through hole in a bottom of the float cover, and the detection device is insertable into the first through hole; and
the float cover has a plurality of second through holes, and the floating chamber is in communication with an atomization chamber of the pedestal by the plurality of second through holes.

4. The humidifier according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of second through holes are along a peripheral direction of the float cover.

5. The humidifier according to claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of second through holes penetrates a bottom surface of the float cover in the up-down direction and penetrates a side wall of the float cover in an inner-outer direction of the float cover, the inner-outer direction of the float cover being perpendicular to the up-down direction.

6. The humidifier according to claim 2 , wherein the float limiter comprises a stopper at the bottom of the water tank and extending downwards by a predetermined size, and the stopper is within the floating chamber and above the float.

7. The humidifier according to claim 2 , wherein one of a top of the float cover and the bottom of the water tank comprises a snap, and the other of the top of the float cover and the bottom of the water tank comprises a slot fitted with the snap.

8. The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pedestal comprises a first bottom wall, and the first bottom wall at least partially protrudes upwards and forms a positioning groove with a downward opening; and
the detection device is in the positioning groove, and the float limiter surrounds the positioning groove.

9. The humidifier according to claim 8 , wherein
the float limiter includes a float cover detachably mounted to a bottom of the water tank and fitted over the detection device; and
a protruding portion of the first bottom wall defines the positioning groove, and the float cover is fitted over the protruding portion.

10. The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein:
the limiting tube comprises a first tube segment, a second tube segment, and a third tube segment connected in sequence;
a top of the first tube segment is coupled to the bottom of the water tank;
a diameter of the second tube segment is smaller than a diameter of the first tube segment and a diameter of the third tube segment, and the first tube segment, the second tube segment and the third tube segment define the chute; and
the float is fitted over the second tube segment and movable along the up-down direction.

11. The humidifier according to claim 1 , further comprising a positioning member,
wherein the positioning member comprises a first positioning plate and a second positioning plate at a bottom of an atomization chamber, and the first positioning plate is spaced apart from the second positioning plate;
an inner wall surface of the first positioning plate and an inner wall surface of the second positioning plate are both arc-shaped surfaces; and
the inner wall surface of the first positioning plate, the inner wall surface of the second positioning plate, and a side wall of the atomization chamber of the pedestal define a guide groove with an upward opening; and the guide groove constitutes a part of the atomization chamber and guides the float limiter.

12. The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein:
the float comprises a base body and a magnetic portion, and the magnetic portion is on the base body; and
the detection device is a Hall sensor.

13. The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the detection device comprises a camera.

14. The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the float is annular and is around the detection device.

15. The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pedestal has an atomization chamber, and the float is movable into the atomization chamber, the preset space of the humidifier being the atomization chamber;
the water tank is determined to be separated from the pedestal in response to detecting, by the detection device, that a position of the float in the atomization chamber is higher than a first preset position in the atomization chamber; the water tank is determined to be short of water in response to detecting, by the detection device, that the position of the float in the atomization chamber is lower than a second preset position in the atomization chamber; and the first preset position is higher than the second preset position.

16. The humidifier according to claim 15 , wherein:
the detection device comprises a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor being above the second sensor; and
the second sensor is configured to detect whether the position of the float in the atomization chamber is lower than the second preset position, and the first sensor is configured to detect whether the position of the float in the atomization chamber is higher than the first preset position.

17. The humidifier according to claim 15 , wherein the detection device comprises a third sensor configured to detect whether the position of the float in the atomization chamber is lower than the second preset position and whether the position of the float in the atomization chamber is higher than the first preset position.

Assignees

• Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhu Kenan

Classifications

• G01F23/62

  using magnetically actuated indicating means · CPC title

• G01F23/606

  using opto-electrically actuated indicating means · CPC title

• F24F2006/008

  Air-humidifier with water reservoir · CPC title

• G01F23/72

  using magnetically actuated indicating means · CPC title

• F24F13/20

  Casings or covers · CPC title