Patent Publication Number: US-2021190347-A1

Title: Humidifier with Water Control Arrangement

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a non-provisional application which claims priority to a Chinese patent application having an application number of CN 201911324762.6, and a filing date of Dec. 18, 2019, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of Invention 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a humidifier, and more particularly to a humidifier comprising a water control arrangement which is capable of detecting water level in a base and a water tank, and transmitting such water level information to a terminal device. 
     Description of Related Arts 
     With the advance of technology, humidifiers have been widely utilized around the world for increasing humidity in a designated space, such as a living room or a bedroom. There exist many kinds of humidifiers. Conventional humidifiers may broadly be classified into ultrasonic humidifiers, evaporative humidifiers, vaporizers etc. In those humidifiers where water is continuously heated and evaporated, some sorts of safety mechanisms may be provided for deactivating the humidifier when the water in the base has been used up so as to prevent overheat of the machine. 
     A major disadvantage of these conventional humidifiers is that while safety mechanisms are provided for preventing overheat, there is no mechanism by which a user may continuously monitor water level in the water tank or the base. 
     As a result, there is a need to develop a humidifier which is capable of detecting water level in a base and a water tank, and transmitting such water level information to a terminal device. 
     SUMMARY 
     Implementations of the present disclosure provide a humidifier comprising a water control arrangement which is capable of detecting water level in a base and a water tank, and transmitting such water level information to a terminal device. 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, it provides a humidifier for use in conjunction with a terminal device, comprising: 
     a base having a water accommodating compartment; 
     a water tank detachably attached on the base, the water tank having a water storage cavity for storing a predetermined amount of water, and a mist discharge channel and a mist discharge outlet; 
     a water vaporizing mechanism accommodated in the base and positioned to correspond to the mist discharge channel; and 
     a water control arrangement, which comprises: 
     a first water level sensing device provided on the water tank and arranged to detect at least one of a water level and a corresponding water volume in the water storage cavity; 
     a second water level sensing device provided on the base and arranged to detect at least one of a water level and a corresponding water volume in the water accommodating compartment; and 
     a central processing unit electrically connected to the first water level sensing device, the second water level sensing device and the water vaporizing mechanism, in such a manner that when at least one of the water volume and the water level in the water storage cavity falls below a predetermined threshold as detected by first water level sensing device, the central processing unit is configured to send a signal to the terminal device for reminding water refill, and when at least one of the water volume and the water level in the water accommodating compartment falls below a predetermined threshold as detected by second water level sensing device, the central processing unit is configured to send a signal to the terminal device. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, it provides a method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device, comprising the steps of: 
     (a) receiving, by the terminal device, a water level and a corresponding water volume of a water storage cavity of a water tank of a humidifier, wherein the water level is detected by a first water level sensing device of the humidifier; 
     (b) receiving, by the terminal device, a water level and a corresponding water volume of a water accommodating compartment of base of a humidifier, wherein the water level is detected by a second water level sensing device of the humidifier; 
     (c) acquiring a remaining total water volume of the humidifier by adding the water volume of the water storage cavity and the water accommodating compartment; and 
     (d) alerting a user of the humidifier to refill water in the water storage cavity when the remaining water volume of the humidifier falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, it provides a method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device, comprising the steps of: 
     (1) receiving, by said terminal device, a water volume of a water storage cavity of a water tank of a humidifier, wherein said water volume of said water storage cavity is obtained by a water level detected by a first water level sensing device of said humidifier; 
     (2) receiving, by said terminal device, a water volume of a water accommodating compartment of a base of said humidifier, wherein said water volume of said water accommodating compartment is obtained by a water level detected by a second water level sensing device of said humidifier; 
     (3) acquiring a water dissipating rate of said humidifier; and 
     (4) acquiring a remaining operation time of said humidifier based on said water volume of said water storage cavity, said water volume of said water accommodating compartment, and said water dissipating rate. 
     This summary presented above is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify any key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a humidifier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the humidifier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an electrical diagram of the first water level sensor according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the humidifier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is partial sectional view of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a top panel of a base of the humidifier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating a method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device according to an alternative mode of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is another perspective view of the humidifier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an illustration of major components of a terminal device for use in conjunction with the humidifier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustrating major components of the humidifier according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an electrical diagram of the second water level sensor according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description of the embodiments is the preferred mode of carrying out the present disclosure. The description is not to be taken in any limiting sense. It is presented for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     It should be appreciated that the terms “install”, “connect”, “couple”, and “mount” in the following description refer to the connecting relationship in the accompanying drawings for easy understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the connection can refer to permanent connection or detachable connection. Furthermore, “connected” may also mean direct connection or indirect connection, or connection through other auxiliary components. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual connection limitation of the elements of embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     It should be appreciated that the terms “length”, “width”, “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, vertical”, “horizontal”, “upper”, “lower”, “exterior”, and “interior” in the following description refer to the orientation or positioning relationship in the accompanying drawings for easy understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure without limiting the actual location or orientation of embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual location limitation of the elements of embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     It should be appreciated that the terms “first”, “second”, “one”, “a”, and “an” in the following description refer to “at least one” or “one or more” in the embodiment. In particular, the term “a” in one embodiment may refer to “one” while in another embodiment may refer to “more than one”. Therefore, the above terms should not be an actual numerical limitation of the elements of embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 12  of the drawings, a humidifier for use with conjunction of a terminal device  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Broadly, the humidifier may comprise a base  2  having a water accommodating compartment  21 , a water tank  1 , a water vaporizing mechanism  30 , and a water control arrangement  40 . 
     The water tank  1  may be detachably attached on the base  2 . The water tank  1  may have a water storage cavity  111  for storing a predetermined amount of water, a mist discharge channel  15  and a mist discharge outlet  13 . 
     The water vaporizing mechanism  30  may be accommodated in the base  2  and positioned to correspond to the mist discharge channel  15 . 
     The water control arrangement  40  may comprise a first water level sensing device  3 , a second level water sensing device  4 , and a central processing unit  50 . 
     The first water level sensing device  3  may be provided on the water tank  1  and arranged to detect at least one of a water level and a corresponding water volume in the water storage cavity  111 . 
     The second water level sensing device  4  may be provided on the base  2  and arranged to detect at least one of a water level and a corresponding water volume in the water accommodating compartment  21 . 
     The central processing unit (CPU)  50  may be electrically connected to the first water level sensing device  3 , the second water level sensing device  4  and the water vaporizing mechanism  30 , in such a manner that when at least one of the water volume and the water level in the water storage cavity  111  falls below a predetermined threshold as detected by first water level sensing device  3 , the central processing unit  50  is configured to send a signal to the terminal device  100  for reminding water refill, and when at least one of the water volume and the water level in the water accommodating compartment  21  falls below a predetermined threshold as detected by second water level sensing device  4 , the central processing unit  50  may be configured to deactivate the water vaporizing mechanism  30 . 
     According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the humidifier may take a wide variety of forms and may utilize different humidifying technology. For example, the humidifier of the present invention may be configured as an ultrasonic humidifier, an evaporative humidifier, or a vaporizer. The humidifier of the present invention may be communicated with a terminal device  100 , such as a smartphone or a tablet computer, through wireless or wired network. A basic structure of the terminal device  100  may be illustrated in  FIG. 10  of the drawings, in which the terminal device  100  may comprise a central processor  101 , a storage unit  102  and a wireless transceiver  103 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the base  2  may store a predetermined amount of in the water accommodating compartment  21 . The water may be supplied from the water tank  1  when the water tank  1  is detachably attached on the base  2 . 
     The water tank  1  may comprise an inner tank member  11  and an outer tank member  12 . The inner tank member  11  may be received and protected within the outer tank member  12 , wherein the water storage cavity  111  may be formed in the inner tank member  11  for storing a predetermined amount of water, while the first water level sensing device  3  may be provided on the inner tank member  11 . 
     The water tank  1  may be detachably attached on the base  2  and when this happens, the water stored in the water storage cavity  111  may be guided to flow into the water accommodating compartment  21  for use by the water vaporizing mechanism  30 . 
     In order to refill water in the water tank  1 , the water tank  1  may further comprise an opening  121  communicating the water storage cavity  111  with an exterior thereof, and a water cap  120  detachably attached on the water tank  1  at the opening  121  for detachably covering the opening  121 . A user may be allowed to refill water to the water storage cavity  111  through the water opening  121 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the water tank  1  may further have a plurality of securing slots  122  formed on a bottom panel  12  of the inner tank member  11  whereas the base  2  may further comprise a plurality of securing members  24  extended from a top panel  23  of the base  2  to selectively engage with the securing slots  122  respectively. The securing slots  122  and the securing members  24  may be arranged to secure the position of the water tank  1  on top of the base  2 . Note that the positions of the securing slots  122  and the securing members  24  may be interchanged. 
     The water vaporizing mechanism  30  may comprise a water atomizer  301  provided in the base  2 , wherein the water stored in the water accommodating compartment  21  may be arranged to be atomized by the water atomizer  301 . In this scenario, the humidifier of the present invention may be configured as an ultrasonic humidifier. 
     Alternatively, the water vaporizing mechanism  30  may comprise a heating element  301 ′ for heating the water in the water accommodating compartment  21  in a controlled manner. The water may then be slowly evaporated and blew out of the humidifier though the mist discharge channel  15  and the mist discharge outlet  13 . In this scenario, the humidifier of the present invention may be configured as an evaporative humidifier. It is important to mention that other mechanisms by which the water is vaporized are also possible. 
     The first water level sensing device  3  may comprise a plurality of first water level sensors  301  spacedly provided on an exterior surface of the inner tank member  11  of the water tank  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings, the first water level sensors  301  may be provided as an array and may be distributed along a vertical direction of the inner tank member  11 , wherein a position of each of the first water level sensor  301  may correspond to a corresponding water level in the water storage cavity  111 . For example, when the bottommost first water level sensor  301  detects water and the second bottommost first water level sensor  301  does not detect water, the actual water level in the water storage cavity  111  may be estimated to be somewhere between the bottommost first water level sensor  301  and the second bottommost first water level sensor  301 . 
     Note that when the water tank  10  has only a single tank member, the first water level sensors  301  may be provided on an exterior surface of the water tank  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, each of the first water level sensor  301  may comprise a first sensing member  33  and a first sensor circuitry  31 . The first sensing member  33  may be configured from metallic material such as copper and may be attached on a desirable position on an exterior surface of the inner tank member  11 . As shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings, terminal “KEY  1 ” may be electrically connected to the corresponding first sensing member  33 . 
     When water in the water storage cavity  111  reaches a level corresponding to a first sensing member  33 , the first sensing member  33  and the water may form a capacitance which may generate a very small current to the first sensor circuitry  31 . This small current may be detected by the first sensor circuitry  31  so as to ascertain the water level in the water storage cavity  111 . 
     The first sensor circuitry  31  may comprise an amplifier  312  electrically connected to the first sensing member  33  and the central processing unit  50 . The central processing unit  50  may comprise a microprocessor (MCU  311 ) electrically connected to the amplifier  312  which may be configured to amplify the very small electrical current generated by the detection of the water. This very small electrical current may be transmitted to the MCU  311  for further processing and analyzing. 
     It is worth mentioning that each of the first sensor circuitries  31  may be connected to a MCU  311 . In this scenario, the central processing unit  50  may comprise a plurality of MCUs  311  electrically connected to the first sensor circuitries  31  respectively. As an alternative configuration, the central processing unit  50  may comprise a single MCU  311  connected to all the amplifiers  312  of the first sensor circuitries  31 . In other words, all amplifiers  312  may share a single MCU  311  in this alternative configuration. 
     Each of the first water level sensors  301  may further comprise an indicating light  32  electrically connected to the corresponding first sensor circuitry  31  and the central processing unit  50 , in such a manner that when the first sensor circuitry  31  detects water as described above, the central processing unit  50  may be arranged to drive the indicating light  32  to illuminate so as to signal that the water in the water storage cavity  111  has reached a level corresponding to the height of the corresponding first sensing member  33 . 
     The indicating light  32  may be electrically connected to the corresponding MCU  311  of the central processing unit  50 . In the case that the first sensor circuitries  31  share a single MCU  311 , all the indicating lights  32  may be electrically connected to the single MCU  311  which may individually activate or deactivate each of the indicating lights  32 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the water control arrangement  40  may further comprise a main Circuit Board (main PCB  22 ), wherein the first sensor circuitries  31  and the central processing unit  50  may be implemented on the main PCB  22  which may be securely supported in a water-sealed compartment  220  in the base  2  for better protection. The first sensing members  33  may be provided on the inner tank member  11  while the first sensor circuitries  31  may be supported in the base  2 . 
     In order to facilitate electrical connection between the first sensing members  33  and the sensor circuitries  31 , the water control arrangement  40  may further comprise a connection device  5  comprising a first connection Printed Circuit Board (first connection PCB  52 ) and a second connection Printed Circuit Board (second connection PCB  53 ). As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the first connection PCB  52  may be supported in the water-sealed compartment  220  of the base  2 , while the second connection PCB  53  may be supported at a lower portion  14  of the water tank  1 . The connection device  5  may further comprises a plurality of (at least one) connecting members  51  electrically connecting between the first connection PCB  52  and the second connection PCB  53  when the water tank  1  is detachably attached on the base  2 . The first connection PCB  52  may be electrically connected to the main PCB  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the water tank  1  may further comprise a sealing cover  6  provided at the lower portion  14  for forming a sealing compartment  61  within the sealing cover  6 . The sealing cover  6  may be attached on the bottom panel  12  within the inner tank member  11  through at least one connecting member  124  so as to form a sealing structure for preventing water in the water storage cavity  111  from entering the sealing compartment  6 . According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second connection PCB  53  may be supported within the sealing compartment  6  at the lower portion  14  of the water tank  1  so as to be securely protected from water damage. Moreover, the water tank  1  may further have a reinforcing portion  123  supporting the second connection PCB  53 . 
     Specifically, each of the connecting members  51  may be configured from metallic material (i.e. electrical conductor) and may be attached on the first connection PCB  52 . The connecting members  51  may be arranged to physically contact with the second connection PCB  53  when the water tank  1  is detachably attached on the base  2 . 
     The second water sensing device  4  may comprise at least one second water level sensor  41  provided on the base  2 . The second water level sensor  41  may comprise a second sensing member  411  and a second sensor circuitry  412 . The second water level sensor  41  may be provided on an exterior surface of the water accommodating cavity  21 . The second water level sensor  41  may operate in a manner similar to the first water level sensor  301  as described above. Thus, referring to  FIG. 12  of the drawings, the second water level sensor  41  may comprise a second sensing member  411  and a second sensor circuitry  412 . The second sensing member  411  may be configured from metallic material such as copper and may be attached on a desirable position on an exterior surface of the water accommodating cavity  21 . As shown in  FIG. 12  of the drawings, terminal “KEY  1 ” may be electrically connected to the corresponding second sensing member  411 . 
     When water in the water accommodating cavity  21  reaches a level corresponding to a second sensing member  411 , the second sensing member  411  and the water may form a capacitance which may generate a very small current to the first sensor circuitry  412 . This small current may indicate that the water in the water accommodating cavity  21  does not fall below a predetermined threshold. 
     Note that the second sensor circuitry  412  may also be connected to the central processing unit  50 . Thus, the second sensor circuitry  412  may comprise an amplifier  4122  electrically connected to the second sensing member  411  and electrically connected to at least one MCU  311  of the central processing unit  50 . The amplifier  4122  may be configured to amplify very small electrical current generated by the detection of the water by the second sensing member  411 . When the water in the water accommodating cavity  21  falls below the second sensing member  411 , the small current ceases to exist and the MCU  311  may be arranged to deactivate the water vaporizing mechanism  30  so as to prevent overheating of the dehumidifier of the present invention. 
     Note that the first sensor circuitries  31  and the second sensor circuitry  412  may be implemented on the main PCB  22  so that they may be well protected in a water-sealed environment in the base  2 . The signal received by the first sensing members  33  may be transmitted to the first sensor circuitries  31  on the main PCB  22 . Similarly, the signal received by the second sensing member  411  may also be transmitted to second sensor circuitry  412  also implemented on the main PCB  22 . 
     Note that, depending on the circumstances in which the present invention is manufactured and to be utilized, central processing unit  50  may comprise a plurality of MCUs  311  so that each of the first sensor circuitries  31  and the second sensor circuitry  412  may have an individual MCU  311 . Alternatively, the first sensor circuitries  31  and the second sensor circuitry  412  may share a single MCU so that the central processing unit  50  may need to only comprise one MCU  311 , to which all the first sensor circuitries  31  and the second sensor circuitry  412  may be connected. 
     Moreover, the MCU  311  of the central processing unit  50  may be configured or programed to deactivate the water vaporizing mechanism  30  when the second water level sensing device  4  detects that the water in the water-accommodating compartment  21  of the base  2  has fallen below a predetermined threshold. 
     The central processing unit  50  may further comprise a communication module  312  electrically connected to the MCU  311  for transmitting and receiving signals through a predetermine wireless or wired network. The communication module  312  may be configured to send a corresponding signal to the terminal device  100  through the wireless or wired network. 
     It is worth mentioning that as slight variations of the preferred embodiment, each of the first sensor circuities  31 , the second sensor circuitries  411  may be implemented on the main PCB  22 , the first connection PCB  52  or the second connection PCB  53 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  of the drawings, the base  2  may further have a plurality of through holes  232  formed on the top panel  23  for allowing the connecting members  51  to pass therethrough. The connecting members  51  may therefore extend from the first connection PCB  52  to the second connection PCB  53  through the through holes  232 . Furthermore, the base  2  may further have a plurality of partitioning ridges  231  formed on the top panel  23  for separating each of the through holes  232 . When the water tank  1  is attached on or detached from the base  2 , a small amount of water may stay on the top panel  23 . The purpose of separating the through holes  232  is to prevent such small amount of water from contacting with the all the connecting members  51  so as to minimize the chance of short circuit between the connecting members  51 . The base  2  may further have a plurality of guiding grooves  233  formed on the top panel  23 , wherein the guiding grooves  233  may extend from the partitioning ridges  231  for guiding water staying on the top panel  23  to flow away from the through holes  232 . Thus, each of the guiding grooves  233  may extend from the corresponding through hole  232  to a peripheral portion of the base  2  so as to guide the water to flow away from the through hole  232 . 
     The communication module  312  of the central processing unit  50  may also be implemented on the main PCB  22  and may be configured to communicate with the terminal device  100  through wired or wireless communication, such as through wireless Internet network. Thus, the communication module  312  may comprise a transceiver  3121  which support popular wireless communication protocols such as ultra high frequency (UHF) short radio wave transmission protocol (e.g. BLUETOOTH), a wireless network protocol (e.g. WIFI) etc. The connection between the communication module  312  and the terminal device  100  may be through a server  500 . 
     The communication module  312  may be arranged to transmit information about water level in the water storage cavity  111  and/or the water accommodating compartment  21  to the terminal device  100  or through a predetermined server  500 . The water level information may be accompanied by warning signal advising a user of the present invention to refill water when the water level in the water storage cavity  111  and/or the water accommodating compartment  21  falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     The water control arrangement  40  may further comprise at least one speaker  43  mounted in the base  2  and electrically connected to the main PCB  22  and the microprocessor  311 . The speaker  43  may be arranged to deliver audible sound when the water level in the water storage cavity  111  and/or the water accommodating compartment  21  fall below the predetermined threshold. The speaker  43  may be connected on the main PCB  22  or any other suitable portion on the base  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11  of the drawings, the water control arrangement  40  may further comprise an input device  60  and a storage device  70  electrically connected to the CPU  50  for allowing a user to input operational command and for operational data to be stored respectively. The input device  60  may be configured as at least one button provided on the water tank  1  or the base  2 . The input device  60  may also be configured as a touch screen which may allow a user to input commands through touching the touch screen. The input device  60  may also be configured as a control panel for allowing a user to control an operation of the humidifier such as switching mist volume. Moreover, the water control arrangement  40  may further comprise an output device  7  provided on the base  2  for displaying an operational status of the humidifier. The output device  7  may be configured as a display for visually displaying an operational status of the humidifier. Moreover, the input device  60  and the output device  7  may be implemented on the single touch-screen display for allowing a user to input commands or visually observe operational status of the humidifier. 
     The storage device  70  may be a conventional storage medium, such as a hard drive, flash drive, or any other storage mediums for storing data. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  of the drawings, the present invention may also provide a method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device  100 , comprising the steps of: 
     (a) receiving, by the terminal device  100 , a water level and a corresponding water volume of a water storage cavity  111  of a water tank  11  of a humidifier, wherein the water level may be detected by a first water level sensing device  3  of the humidifier; 
     (b) receiving, by the terminal device  100 , a water level and a corresponding water volume of a water accommodating compartment  21  of base  2  of a humidifier, wherein the water level may be detected by a second water level sensing device  4  of the humidifier; 
     (c) acquiring a remaining total water volume of the humidifier by adding the water volume of the water storage cavity  111  and the water accommodating compartment  21 ; and 
     (d) alerting a user of the humidifier to refill water in the water storage cavity  111  when the remaining water volume of the humidifier falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     In step (a) above, the water volume of the water storage cavity  111  may be calculated by the water level detected by the first water level sensing device  3 . Similarly, the water volume of the water accommodating compartment  21  may be calculated by the water level detected by the second water level sensing device  4 . The calculation of the water volume in the water storage cavity  111  and the water accommodating compartment  21  may be performed in the CPU  50  of the humidifier, in the properly-programed terminal device  100 , or in the server  500 . 
     In step (a) and step (b), the water level or the corresponding water volume in the water storage cavity  111  of the water tank  1  and the water accommodating compartment  21  of the base may be wirelessly transmitted to the terminal device  100  through the predetermined network described above. Moreover, in step (a) and step (b) above, the terminal device  100  may acquire the water volume of the water storage cavity  111  of the water tank  1  and the water volume of the water accommodating compartment  21  of the base directly from the communication module  312  of the humidifier, or from a server wirelessly connected to the humidifier. 
     As mentioned above, the wireless communication between the communication module  3121  of the central processing unit  50  and the terminal device  100  may be accomplished by typical wireless communication protocols such as ultra high frequency (UHF) short radio wave transmission protocol (e.g. BLUETOOTH), a wireless network protocol (e.g. WIFI) etc. 
     Step (a) through step (c) may be performed at a predetermined time interval so that the remaining total water volume of the humidifier may be periodically monitored so that water may be refilled into the water storage cavity  111  in time. This predetermined time interval may be pre-set by the manufacturer of the present invention, or by a user through the terminal device  100  by using a designated software. 
     The method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier may further comprise a step, in between step (c) and step (d), of displaying, by the terminal device  100 , the remaining water volume of the humidifier. The terminal device  100  may display the remaining water volume of the humidifier through a built-in display screen or through an external display connected to the terminal device  100 . The remaining water volume of the humidifier may be displayed to the user of the present invention through texts, graphics, or a combination of texts and graphics. For example, if the maximum remaining water volume of the humidifier is 5000 ml, and the actual remaining water volume of the humidifier is 2300 ml, a 46% colored-filled portion of a whole graphical element (e.g. a humidifier) may graphically represent the remaining water volume of the humidifier. 
     In step (d), the predetermined threshold for alerting refill may be pre-set by manufacturer of the present invention. Alternatively, the threshold may be set by the user of the present invention through the terminal device  100  by using a designated software. The alert for the user may be in the form of an audible sound generated by at least one of the terminal device  100  or the humidifier. 
     The method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier may further comprise a step (e) of determining, by at least one of the terminal device  100  and the server  500 , a water dissipating rate of the humidifier. 
     The water dissipating rate of the humidifier is closely related to the operation of the humidifier. For example, the humidifier of the present invention may be configured to have three operational modes (such as high, medium, low) which correspond to three different mist setting. When the humidifier is set as high mist operational mode, the humidifier may discharge the highest amount of mist and the water dissipating rate will the highest. When the humidifier is set as low mist operational mode, the humidifier may discharge the smallest amount of mist and the water dissipating rate will be the lowest. The medium mist operational mode is somewhere between the high mist operational mode and the low mist operational mode. 
     As a result, the terminal device  100  or the server may determine a corresponding water dissipating rate of the humidifier. For example, when the humidifier is set as high mist operational mode, the water dissipating rate may be 500 ml/hour, and when the humidifier is set as low mist operational mode, the water dissipating rate may be 100 ml/hour, and when the humidifier is set as medium mist operational mode, the water dissipating rate may be 300 ml/hour. The terminal device  100  or the server  500  may determine the water dissipating rate by detecting the operational mode of the humidifier. 
     Note that the water dissipating rate of the humidifier for each of the operational modes may be determined by a pre-set parameter from the manufacturer. Alternatively, the water dissipating rate may be calculated by actual water dissipation in the humidifier as detected by the first water level sensing device  3  and the second water level sensing device  4 . During a particular operational mode, the water level in the water storage cavity  111  and the water accommodating compartment  21  may be detected in regular intervals (such as 1-minute interval) so as to determine the remaining total water volume of the humidifier before and after the interval. After that, the water dissipating rate may be calculated by dividing the difference between the remaining total water volume of the humidifier by the time interval. For example, the remaining total water volume before a 1-minute interval is 3005 ml and after the 1-minute interval is 3000 ml. The water dissipating rate may be calculated as 3005 ml−3000 ml=5 ml per minute. 
     The method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier may further comprise a step (f) of determining a remaining operation time of the humidifier based on the remaining total water volume and the water dissipating rate of the humidifier obtained in step (e), and displaying the remaining operation time on the terminal device  100 . 
     The remaining operating time of the humidifier may be determined by dividing the remaining total water volume by the water dissipating rate obtained in step (e) above. For example, when the remaining total water volume is 3000 ml, and the water dissipating rate is 300 ml/hour, the remaining operating time is 3000/300=10 hours. 
     In step (f) above, the remaining operation time may be periodically updated when the operational mode of the humidifier changes. Thus, step (f) may comprise a step of periodically updating the remaining operation time when the operational mode of the humidifier changes. Since different operational mode may cause different water dissipating rate, when the operational mode changes (such as from low to medium), the water dissipating rate may increase and the remaining operation time of the humidifier may decrease due to the change in the operational mode. 
     The method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier may further comprise a step (g) of deactivating, by the CPU  50 , the water vaporizing mechanism  30  of the humidifier when the water volume of the water accommodating compartment  21  of base  2  falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     From the forgoing descriptions, one skilled in the art may appreciate that the terminal device  100  may alert the user for refilling water when the water in the water storage cavity  111  falls below a predetermined threshold. Moreover, the CPU  50  of the humidifier may deactivate the water vaporizing mechanism  30  when the water in the water accommodating compartment  21  falls below another predetermined threshold. 
     Alternatively, the deactivation of the water vaporizing mechanism  30  may also be triggered when the CPU  50  or the terminal device  100  determines that the remaining operation time of the humidifier may be less than a predetermined threshold, such as 5 minutes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  of the drawings, an alternative mode of the method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device  100  is illustrated. In this alternative mode, the method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier may comprise the steps of: 
     (1) receiving, by the terminal device  100 , a water volume of a water storage cavity  111  of a water tank  11  of a humidifier, wherein the water volume of the water storage cavity  111  may be obtained by a water level detected by a first water level sensing device  3  of the humidifier; 
     (2) receiving, by the terminal device  100 , a water volume of a water accommodating compartment  21  of base  2  of a humidifier, wherein the water volume of the water accommodating compartment  21  may be obtained by a water level detected by a second water level sensing device  4  of the humidifier; 
     (3) acquiring a water dissipating rate of the humidifier; and 
     (4) acquiring a remaining operation time of the humidifier based on the water volume of the water storage cavity  111 , the water volume of the water accommodating compartment  21 , and the water dissipating rate. 
     In step (3), as mentioned earlier, the water dissipating rate of the humidifier is closely related to the operation of the humidifier. For example, the humidifier of the present invention may be configured to have three operational modes (such as high, medium, low) which correspond to three different mist setting. The terminal device  100  or the server may determine or detect a corresponding water dissipating rate of the humidifier. 
     The method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier may further comprise a step of displaying, by the terminal device  100 , the remaining operation time of the humidifier. The terminal device  100  may display the remaining operation time of the humidifier through a built-in display screen or through an external display connected to the terminal device  100 . The remaining operation time of the humidifier may be displayed to the user of the present invention through texts, graphics, or a combination of texts and graphics. 
     Step (2) may comprise the steps of: 
     (2.1) setting the water volume of the water accommodating cavity  21  to be maximum when the water volume of the water storage cavity  111  is greater than zero; 
     (2.2) when the water volume of the water storage cavity  111  is equal to or greater than zero, detecting, by a second water level sensing device  4 , a water level in the water accommodating cavity  21 ; and 
     (2.3) acquiring the water volume of the water accommodating cavity  21  based on the detected water level in the water accommodating cavity  21 . 
     The method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device  100  may further comprise a step (5) of alerting a user of the humidifier to refill water in the water storage cavity  111  when the remaining operation time of the humidifier falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     The method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device  100  may further comprise a step, in between step (4) and step (5), of acquiring a water volume of the water accommodating compartment  21  based on the maximum water volume of the water accommodating compartment  21 , the water dissipating rate, and the time lapsed after the water volume of the water storage cavity  111  becomes zero. 
     In this situation, step (5) may alert a user of the humidifier to refill water in the water storage cavity  111  when at least one of the remaining operation time and the water level in the water accommodating compartment  21  of the humidifier falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     The method of monitoring and controlling water volume in a humidifier through a terminal device  100  may further comprise a step (6) of deactivating the water vaporizing mechanism  30  when the remaining operation time of the humidifier falls below a predetermined threshold. The remaining operation time may be pre-set by the manufacturer or by the user through the terminal device  100 . 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure, while illustrated and described in terms of disclosed embodiments and several alternatives, is not limited to the particular description contained in this specification. Additional alternative or equivalent components could also be used to practice embodiments of the present disclosure.