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Publication Number
US-12298225-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A humidity measuring device is equipped with a temperature and humidity measurement unit including a temperature sensing element that measures temperature and a humidity sensing element that measures humidity, a casing having an accommodating section in which the temperature and humidity measurement unit is accommodated, and a supply tube that supplies a gas at a measurement location into the accommodating section, and a display unit having a display device, and which is fixed to the casing. The display unit further includes a display control unit that controls the display device to thereby cause the display device to display at least one of the humidity of the gas measured by the humidity sensing element, or a dew point temperature of the gas calculated based on the temperature of the gas measured by the temperature sensing element, and the humidity of the gas measured by the humidity sensing element.
Core Innovation
A humidity measuring device measures humidity of a gas using a measurement unit that includes a temperature sensing element and a humidity sensing element. A casing includes an accommodating section that accommodates the measurement unit, and a display unit fixed to the casing includes a display device controlled by a display control unit.
The display unit displays at least one of the humidity measured by the humidity sensing element, or a dew point temperature calculated based on both the temperature measured by the temperature sensing element and the humidity measured by the humidity sensing element. The casing comprises a supply tube that supplies the gas at a measurement location into the accommodating section, a discharge tube that discharges the gas from the accommodating section into atmosphere, and a connecting tube that connects the measurement location and the supply tube.
A main body portion includes the supply tube, and a connecting portion including the connecting tube is attached to the main body portion in a detachable manner. A filter is mounted in the connecting tube, and a connecting-tube orifice is arranged more on a side of the accommodating section than the filter, the orifice having a hole cross-sectional area smaller than that of the discharge tube.
In related embodiments, the gas at the measurement location is gas discharged from a dehumidifying device configured to dehumidify the gas, and the display unit determines whether the dehumidifying device has been replaced. When the humidity measured immediately after replacement is higher than a threshold, a correction unit corrects the humidity based on the humidity measured immediately after replacement and the dehumidifying capability of the replaced dehumidifying device, or the display control unit prompts a user to replace the measurement unit.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims include clm-00001, clm-00007, clm-00008, and clm-00009. Across these claims, the main inventive features focus on display of humidity or dew point temperature calculated from measured temperature and humidity, specific gas-flow and tube/orifice/filter arrangements with a detachable connecting portion, and replacement-detection driven correction or prompting when measuring gas discharged from a dehumidifying device.
Display humidity or dew point temperature based on sensed temperature and sensed humidity
A display unit fixed to the casing displays at least one of the humidity of the gas measured by a humidity sensing element, or a dew point temperature of the gas calculated based on both the temperature of the gas measured by a temperature sensing element and the humidity measured by the humidity sensing element.
Specific supply, discharge, and connecting tube arrangement with detachable connecting portion and positioned orifice smaller than discharge tube
The casing includes a supply tube configured to supply the gas at a measurement location into an accommodating section, a discharge tube configured to discharge the gas to atmosphere, and a connecting tube connecting the measurement location and the supply tube, with a filter mounted in the connecting tube, an orifice arranged more on a side of the accommodating section than the filter, and a hole cross-sectional area smaller than that of the discharge tube. A connecting portion including the connecting tube is detachable from a main body portion.
Replacement determination and humidity correction after replacing the dehumidifying device when above threshold
When the gas at the measurement location is gas discharged from a dehumidifying device, the display unit comprises a replacement determination unit to determine whether the dehumidifying device has been replaced and a correction unit that, if the humidity measured immediately after replacement is higher than a threshold value, corrects the humidity based on the humidity measured immediately after replacement and the dehumidifying capability of the dehumidifying device that has been replaced.
Replacement determination and user prompting to replace the measurement unit when above threshold
When the gas at the measurement location is gas discharged from a dehumidifying device and the display unit includes a replacement determination unit, in a case where the humidity measured immediately after having determined that the dehumidifying device has been replaced is higher than a threshold value, the display control unit controls the display device to display a prompt to replace the measurement unit.
Coupling-member tubing configuration with filter and downstream orifice and upstream-downstream tube connections
A humidity measuring device includes a coupling member connected in the middle between tube portions through which the gas flows, with the coupling member including a coupling tube enabling gas flow between the tube portions and having a filter mounted in the coupling tube and an orifice arranged more downstream than the filter. The casing includes a first tube and a second tube connecting the coupling tube and the accommodating section, with the first tube connected to the coupling tube more upstream than the orifice and between the filter and the orifice, and the second tube connected more downstream than the orifice.
Across the independent claims, the patent’s claim coverage centers on a humidity measuring device that displays either measured humidity or a dew point temperature calculated from measured temperature and humidity, together with specific gas-flow tubing, orifice, and filter arrangements. For embodiments measuring gas discharged from a dehumidifying device, the claims further cover replacement determination with either humidity correction based on replaced-device dehumidifying capability or user prompting to replace the measurement unit when post-replacement humidity exceeds a threshold.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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