System and method for regulating a heating humidifier
First Claim
1. A method for supplying a regulated degree of humidification (m) of air, the method comprising:
- providing a water reservoir configured such that air contacting a surface of water in the reservoir is charged with humidity;
providing a heating device for heating the water in the reservoir by circulating an electric current;
measuring an average intensity (Iav) of the current passing through the heating device; and
controlling the average intensity (Iav) relative to a reference value (Iavc) to obtain a degree of humidification (m) of the air that is independent of an ambient temperature (Ta);
wherein the heating device is supplied with a rectified sinusoidal current including passing some half-cycles and blocking other half-cycles; and
wherein controlling the average intensity (Iav) comprises;
determining a count of the number of half-cycles passed to the heating device during a given time interval, andcontrolling, based at least in part on the count of the number of passed half-cycles, the number of half-cycles passed to the heating device during the given time interval to regulate the average intensity (Iav) of the current passing through the heating device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for supplying a mask through which air flows with a regulated degree of humidification (m) is provided. The method may include: providing a water reservoir configured such that the air circulates in contact with the surface of water within the reservoir is charged with humidity; providing a heating device for heating the water in the reservoir by circulating an electric current; measuring an average intensity (Iav) of the current passing through the heating device; and controlling the average intensity (Iav) relative to a reference value (Iavc) to obtain a degree of humidification (m) of the air that is independent of the ambient temperature (Ta). An apparatus for regulating the degree of humidification of air flow, as well as a heating humidifier including such a regulation device, are also provided.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for supplying a regulated degree of humidification (m) of air, the method comprising:
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providing a water reservoir configured such that air contacting a surface of water in the reservoir is charged with humidity; providing a heating device for heating the water in the reservoir by circulating an electric current; measuring an average intensity (Iav) of the current passing through the heating device; and controlling the average intensity (Iav) relative to a reference value (Iavc) to obtain a degree of humidification (m) of the air that is independent of an ambient temperature (Ta); wherein the heating device is supplied with a rectified sinusoidal current including passing some half-cycles and blocking other half-cycles; and wherein controlling the average intensity (Iav) comprises; determining a count of the number of half-cycles passed to the heating device during a given time interval, and controlling, based at least in part on the count of the number of passed half-cycles, the number of half-cycles passed to the heating device during the given time interval to regulate the average intensity (Iav) of the current passing through the heating device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 7)
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3. An apparatus for regulating the degree of humidification (m) of an air flow in contact with a surface of water located in a reservoir and intended to be delivered to a user, the apparatus comprising:
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a heating device operable to heat the water by circulating an electric current; means for measuring an average intensity (Iav) of the current passing through the heating device; means for regulating the average intensity (Iav) relative to a reference value (Iavc), including; a rectification device for rectification of the voltage delivered by the line voltage; a counter for determining a count of the number of half-cycles passed to the heating device during a given time interval; and a blocking device operable to block some of the half-cycles of the voltage at 0; wherein the rectification and blocking devices are configured such that the heating device can be supplied a rectified sinusoidal current including passing some half-cycles and blocking other half-cycles; and wherein the blocking device is operable to control, based at least in part on the count of the number of passed half-cycles, the number of half-cycles passed to the heating device during the given time interval as a function of the difference between the measured value (Iav) and the reference value (Iavc) of the average intensity. - View Dependent Claims (4, 8)
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5. A heating humidifier apparatus, comprising:
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a water reservoir configured to house water; a heating device operable to heat the water in the reservoir by circulating electric current; an air input and output configured such that an air flow can circulate in contact with the surface of the water and be charged with humidity; and a control device for regulating the degree of humidification of the air flow, including; means for measuring an average intensity (Iav) of the current passing through the heating device; means for regulating the average intensity (Iav) relative to a reference value (Iavc); a rectification device for rectification of the voltage delivered by the line voltage; and a blocking device operable to block some of the half-cycles of the voltage at 0; wherein the rectification and blocking devices are configured such that the heating device can be supplied a rectified sinusoidal current including passing some half-cycles and blocking other half-cycles; and wherein the blocking device is operable to; determine a count of the number of half-cycles passed to the heating device during a given time interval, and regulate the average intensity (Iav) relative to a reference value (Iavc) by controlling, based at least in part on the count of the number of passed half-cycles, the number of half-cycles passed to the heating device during the given time interval as a function of the difference between the measured value (Iav) and the reference value (Iavc) of the average intensity. - View Dependent Claims (6, 9)
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Specification