US-20260126191-A1 - APPARATUS FOR HUMIDIFYING AND PURIFYING AIR

Abstract

An apparatus for humidifying and purifying air is provided. The apparatus includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet, a blower fan configured to move air drawn in through the inlet to the outlet, a humidifying device disposed in the housing, and configured to heat water to discharge steam to the outlet, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a first temperature of the air drawn in through the inlet, a second temperature sensor configured to detect a second temperature of a mixed air including the steam discharged through the outlet, memory, comprising one or more storage media, storing instructions, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the apparatus to determine a rotation speed of the blower fan based on the first temperature of the air drawn in through the inlet, in response to a start of a humidification operation, and adjust the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the second temperature of the mixed air discharged through the outlet and a preset target temperature of the mixed air.

Inventors

• Byoungchan JUN
• Taeyong Lee
• Youngseok LIM
• Sungjune CHO
• Sanghoon Lee

Assignees

• SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251113

Priority Date

20241106

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An apparatus for humidifying and purifying air, the apparatus comprising: a housing including an inlet and an outlet; a blower fan configured to move air drawn in through the inlet to the outlet; a humidifying device disposed in the housing, and configured to heat water to discharge steam to the outlet; a first temperature sensor configured to detect a first temperature of the air drawn in through the inlet; a second temperature sensor configured to detect a second temperature of a mixed air including the steam discharged through the outlet; memory, comprising one or more storage media, storing instructions; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the apparatus to: determine a rotation speed of the blower fan based on the first temperature of the air drawn in through the inlet, in response to a start of a humidification operation, and adjust the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the second temperature of the mixed air discharged through the outlet and a preset target temperature of the mixed air.
2. 2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the apparatus to: determine a difference between the second temperature and the preset target temperature of the mixed air, and increase or decrease the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the difference being greater than or equal to a threshold value.
3. 3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the apparatus to: maintain the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the difference being less than the threshold value.
4. 4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the apparatus to: determine an average value of second temperatures of the mixed air detected over a defined time period, and determine the difference using the average value of the second temperatures.
5. 5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the apparatus to: increase or decrease the rotation speed of the blower fan by a large amount, as the difference is larger.
6. 6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a heating source configured to heat the water, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the apparatus to: adjust a power level of the heating source based on the second temperature and the preset target temperature of the mixed air.
7. 7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a user interface, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the apparatus to: set the preset target temperature of the mixed air based on a user input obtained via the user interface.
8. 8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: communication circuitry configured to communicate with a mobile device, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, further cause the apparatus to: set the preset target temperature of the mixed air based on a user input obtained via the mobile device.
9. 9 . A method performed by an apparatus for humidifying and purifying air comprising a housing, a blower fan, a humidifying device, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a processor, the method comprising: detecting, by the first temperature sensor, a first temperature of air drawn in through an inlet of the housing; detecting, by the second temperature sensor, a second temperature of a mixed air including steam discharged through an outlet of the housing; determining, by the processor, a rotation speed of the blower fan based on the first temperature of the air drawn in through the inlet, in response to a start of a humidification operation; and adjusting, by the processor, the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the second temperature of the mixed air and a preset target temperature of the mixed air.
10. 10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the adjusting of the rotation speed of the blower fan comprises: determining a difference between the second temperature and the preset target temperature of the mixed air; and increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the difference being greater than or equal to a threshold value.
11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting of the rotation speed of the blower fan comprises: maintaining the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the difference being less than the threshold value.
12. 12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining of the difference comprises: determining an average value of second temperatures of the mixed air detected over a defined time period; and determining the difference using the average value of the second temperatures.
13. 13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting of the rotation speed of the blower fan comprises increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the blower fan by a large amount, as the difference is larger.
14. 14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: adjusting a power level of a heating source included in the humidifying device, based on the second temperature and the preset target temperature of the mixed air.
15. 15 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: obtaining a user input via a user interface or a mobile device; and setting the preset target temperature of the mixed air based on the user input.
16. 16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the humidifying device includes a water tank and a heating source, and wherein the start of the humidification operation comprises activating the heating source to generate the steam from water in the water tank.
17. 17 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising: purifying the air drawn in through the inlet using a dust collector before the air is moved by the blower fan.
18. 18 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the mixed air is a combination of the steam discharged from the humidifying device and a portion of the air moved by the blower fan, the portion of the air being mixed with the steam at the outlet.
19. 19 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing one or more computer programs including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an apparatus individually or collectively, cause the apparatus to perform operations, the operations comprising: detecting, by a first temperature sensor, a first temperature of air drawn in through an inlet of a housing; detecting, by a second temperature sensor, a second temperature of a mixed air including steam discharged through an outlet of the housing; determining, by a processor, a rotation speed of a blower fan based on the first temperature of the air drawn in through the inlet, in response to a start of a humidification operation; and adjusting, by the processor, the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the second temperature of the mixed air and a preset target temperature of the mixed air.
20. 20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 19 , the operations further comprising: determining a difference between the second temperature and the preset target temperature of the mixed air; and increasing or decreasing the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the difference being greater than or equal to a threshold value.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 365(c), of an International application No. PCT/KR2025/016084, filed on Oct. 14, 2025, which is based on and claims the benefit of a Korean patent application number 10-2024-0156220, filed on Nov. 6, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates to an apparatus for humidifying and purifying air and a method for controlling the same that may supply steam by heating water while purifying air simultaneously. BACKGROUND ART In general, a humidifier is a device that maintains the humidity of an indoor space at an appropriate level. The humidifier may vaporize water stored in a water tank and discharge steam into the indoor space. There are various types of humidifiers on the market, including vaporization, ultrasonic, and heating types. Heating type humidifiers may generate steam by heating water stored in the water tank. The water tank may be located inside a main body of the humidifier. A cover that opens and closes the water tank may be installed on the main body. Generally, the cover may be installed on an upper portion of the main body, and the water tank may be designed to open upward. An air purifier may remove contaminants from the air and discharge clean air. The air purifier may include a purifying device for purifying contaminated air. Air drawn into the air purifier may be purified into clean air while passing through the purifying device, and the clean air may be discharged to the outside of the air purifier. For example, the air purifier may include a purifying device such as a filter and/or a dust collector. The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure. DISCLOSURE Technical Problem Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide an apparatus for humidifying and purifying air and a method for controlling the same that may perform a humidification operation and an air purification operation simultaneously. Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide an apparatus for humidifying and purifying air and a method for controlling the same that may adjust a temperature of air discharged into an indoor space from the apparatus. Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments. In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for humidifying and purifying air is provided. The apparatus includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet, a blower fan configured to move air drawn in through the inlet to the outlet, a humidifying device disposed in the housing, and configured to heat water to discharge steam to the outlet, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a first temperature of the air drawn in through the inlet, a second temperature sensor configured to detect a second temperature of a mixed air including the steam discharged through the outlet, memory, comprising one or more storage media, storing instructions, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the apparatus to determine a rotation speed of the blower fan based on the first temperature of the air drawn in through the inlet, in response to a start of a humidification operation, and adjust the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the second temperature of the mixed air discharged through the outlet and a preset target temperature of the mixed air. In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method performed by an apparatus for humidifying and purifying air including a housing, a blower fan, a humidifying device, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a processor is provided. The method includes detecting, by the first temperature sensor, a first temperature of air drawn in through an inlet of the housing, detecting, by the second temperature sensor, a second temperature of a mixed air including steam discharged through an outlet of the housing, determining, by the processor, a rotation speed of the blower fan based on the first temperature of the air drawn in through the inlet, in response to a start of a humidification operation, and adjusting, by the processor, the rotation speed of the blower fan based on the second temperature of the mixed air and a preset target temperature of the mixed air. In