Humidifier

Abstract

A humidifier including a water tank including a space configured to receive water, a first humidification reservoir including a heater, a supply tube connecting the water tank to the first humidification reservoir, a first valve configured to open and close the supply tube, a first water level sensor configured to sense a water level of water held within the first humidification reservoir, a second humidification reservoir, a connection pipe connecting the first humidification reservoir to the second humidification reservoir, a second valve configured to open and close the connection pipe, a second water level sensor configured to sense a water level of water held within the second humidification reservoir, and a controller configured to, during a humidification operation, control the second valve to supply the water to the second humidification reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A humidifier comprising:
 a water tank including a space configured to receive water;   a first humidification reservoir including a heater;   a supply tube connecting the water tank to the first humidification reservoir;   a first valve configured to open and close the supply tube;   a first water level sensor configured to sense a water level of water held within the first humidification reservoir;   a second humidification reservoir;   a connection pipe connecting the first humidification reservoir to the second humidification reservoir;   a second valve configured to open and close the connection pipe;   a second water level sensor configured to sense a water level of water held within the second humidification reservoir; and   a controller configured to, during a humidification operation, control the second valve to supply the water to the second humidification reservoir when a lower limit level of a preset management water level range is not sensed by the second water level sensor, and terminate the water supply to the second humidification reservoir when an upper limit level of the preset management water level range is sensed by the second water level sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform the humidification operation in a first humidification mode in which the heater is always driven. 
     
     
         3 . The humidifier of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when the lower limit level is not sensed by the second water level sensor and a reference water level is not sensed by the first water level sensor, control the first valve to supply the water to the first humidification reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The humidifier of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when the water in the first humidification reservoir is boiled, control supply of the water to the second humidification reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The humidifier of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when the water in the first humidification reservoir is boiled and the water level of the second humidification reservoir is lower than the lower limit level, control supply of the water to the second humidification reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The humidifier of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water held within the first humidification reservoir; and   a second temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water held within the second humidification reservoir,   wherein the controller is further configured to, when the water temperature of the first humidification reservoir reaches a first temperature and the first temperature is maintained for a first time, or the water temperature reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature and the second temperature is maintained for a second time longer than the first time, determine a state of the water as a boiling state.   
     
     
         7 . The humidifier of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when the lower limit level is sensed by the second water level sensor and when an operating time of the first humidification mode reaches a forced water supply cycle, control the first valve to supply the water to the first humidification reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The humidifier of  claim 7 , wherein the forced water supply cycle has a longer duration than a duration of a water supply cycle set for each operation step of the first humidification mode. 
     
     
         9 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform the humidification operation in a second humidification mode in which the heater is driven according to at least one condition. 
     
     
         10 . The humidifier of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when the lower limit level is not sensed by the second water level sensor and the water is boiled in the first humidification reservoir, control the second valve to supply the water to the second humidification reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The humidifier of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water held within the first humidification reservoir; and   a second temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water held within the second humidification reservoir,   wherein the controller is further configured to, when the water temperature of the first humidification reservoir reaches a first temperature and the first temperature is maintained for a first time, or the water temperature reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature and the second temperature is maintained for a second time longer than the first time, determine a state of the water as a boiling state.   
     
     
         12 . The humidifier of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when the water in the first humidification reservoir is boiled and the water level of the second humidification reservoir is lower than the lower limit level, control the water supply to the second humidification reservoir to be on. 
     
     
         13 . The humidifier of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when a reference water level is not sensed by the first water level sensor after the water supply to the second humidification reservoir is terminated, control the first valve to supply the water to the first humidification reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The humidifier of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when the water supply to the first humidification reservoir is terminated, drive the heater. 
     
     
         15 . The humidifier of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water held within the first humidification reservoir; and   a second temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water held within the second humidification reservoir,   wherein the controller is further configured to, when the water temperature of the first humidification reservoir reaches a first temperature and the first temperature is maintained for a first time, or the water temperature reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature and the second temperature is maintained for a second time longer than the first time, determine a state of the water as a boiling state.   
     
     
         16 . The humidifier of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when the water in the first humidification reservoir is boiled, control the heater to turn off. 
     
     
         17 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when a water supply time to the second humidification reservoir elapses a predetermined time, terminate the water supply to the second humidification reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . A humidifier comprising:
 a water tank including a space configured to receive water;   a first humidification reservoir including a heater;   a supply tube connecting the water tank to the first humidification reservoir;   a first valve configured to open and close the supply tube;   a first water level sensor configured to sense a water level of water held within the first humidification reservoir;   a second humidification reservoir;   a connection pipe connecting the first humidification reservoir to the second humidification reservoir;   a second valve configured to open and close the connection pipe;   a second water level sensor configured to sense a water level of water held within the second humidification reservoir; and   a controller configured to, during a humidification operation, when a lower limit level of a preset management water level range is not sensed by the second water level sensor, a reference water level is sensed by the first water level sensor, and the water in the first humidification reservoir is boiled, perform control of the second valve to supply the water to the second humidification reservoir, and when an upper limit level of the preset management water level range is sensed by the second water level sensor, terminate the water supply to the second humidification reservoir.   
     
     
         19 . The humidifier of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when the reference water level is not sensed by the first water level sensor, control the first valve to supply the water to the first humidification reservoir. 
     
     
         20 . A humidifier comprising:
 a water tank including a space configured to receive water;   a first humidification reservoir;   a supply tube connecting the water tank to the first humidification reservoir;   a first valve configured to open and close the supply tube;   a first water level sensor configured to sense a water level of water held within the first humidification reservoir;   a second humidification reservoir;   a connection pipe connecting the first humidification reservoir to the second humidification reservoir;   a second valve configured to open and close the connection pipe;   a second water level sensor configured to sense a water level of water held within the second humidification reservoir; and   a controller configured to, during a humidification operation, when a lower limit level of a preset management water level range is not sensed by the second water level sensor and the water is boiled in the first humidification reservoir, control the second valve to supply the water to the second humidification reservoir, and when an upper limit level of the management water level range is sensed by the second water level sensor, terminate the water supply to the second humidification reservoir.