IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,410,075
Granted Patent B2
US 12,410,075 · App. 17/925,820 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Water softening device

Inventors: Noriyoshi Ueya (Osaka, JP); Mai Saito (Osaka, JP); Yasunari Maeda (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
C02F1/4618C02F1/008C02F5/00C02F2201/005C02F2201/46125C02F2201/46145C02F2209/055C02F2209/06C02F2209/10C02F2209/11C02F2301/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,410,075
App. No.
17/925,820
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water softening device includes an electrolysis device, a first circulation flow path and a second circulation flow path, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller, wherein the controller controls the electrolysis device to execute a first mode in which the alkaline water is allowed to flow through the first circulation flow path and the acidic water is allowed to flow through the second circulation flow path, and a second mode in which the acidic water is allowed to flow through the first circulation flow path ( 8 A) and the alkaline water is allowed to flow through the second circulation flow path, and controls to stop electrolysis by the electrolysis device based on a detection value of the first sensor or the second sensor in the first mode and the second mode.

Claims (37)

1. A water softening device comprising:

an electrolysis device that generates alkaline water and acidic water by electrolysis;

a first circulation flow path and a second circulation flow path connected to the electrolysis device, the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path being capable of alternately passing the alkaline water and the acidic water generated by the electrolysis device;

a first sensor that detects a parameter of water flowing through the first circulation flow path;

a second sensor that detects a parameter of water flowing through the second circulation flow path; and

a controller,

wherein the controller

controls the electrolysis device to execute a first mode in which the alkaline water is allowed to flow through the first circulation flow path and the acidic water is allowed to flow through the second circulation flow path, and a second mode in which the acidic water is allowed to flow through the first circulation flow path and the alkaline water is allowed to flow through the second circulation flow path, and

controls to stop electrolysis by the electrolysis device based on a detection value of the first sensor or the second sensor in the first mode and the second mode

wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are any one of a pH sensor, a turbidity sensor, a conductivity sensor, a hardness sensor, a chromaticity sensor, and a TDS sensor

wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are any one of a pH sensor, a conductivity sensor, and a TDS sensor; and

the controller

determines whether or not a variation value of the detection value of the first sensor during a predetermined period is within a predetermined range in the first mode,

when it is determined that the variation value is within the predetermined range, then determines whether or not an increased value of the detection value of the first sensor during the predetermined period is the predetermined value or more,

controls to stop electrolysis by the electrolysis device when the increased value is determined to be the predetermined value or more,

determines whether or not a variation value of the detection value of the second sensor during a predetermined period is within a predetermined range in the second mode,

when it is determined that the variation value is within the predetermined range, then determines whether or not an increased value of the detection value of the second sensor during the predetermined period is a predetermined value or more, and

controls to stop electrolysis by the electrolysis device when the increased value is determined to be the predetermined value or more.

2. The water softening device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller controls to stop electrolysis by the electrolysis device based on the detection value of the first sensor in the first mode, and controls to stop electrolysis by the electrolysis device based on the detection value of the second sensor in the second mode.

3. A water softening device comprising:

an electrolysis device that generates alkaline water and acidic water by electrolysis;

a first circulation flow path and a second circulation flow path connected to the electrolysis device, the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path being capable of alternately passing the alkaline water and the acidic water generated by the electrolysis device;

a first sensor that detects a parameter of water flowing through the first circulation flow path;

a second sensor that detects a parameter of water flowing through the second circulation flow path; and

a controller,

wherein the controller

controls the electrolysis device to execute a first mode in which the alkaline water is allowed to flow through the first circulation flow path and the acidic water is allowed to flow through the second circulation flow path, and a second mode in which the acidic water is allowed to flow through the first circulation flow path and the alkaline water is allowed to flow through the second circulation flow path, and

controls to stop electrolysis by the electrolysis device based on a detection value of the first sensor or the second sensor in the first mode and the second mode,

the water softening device further comprising:

a first batch treatment tank provided in the first circulation flow path;

a second batch treatment tank provided in the second circulation flow path; and

a valve that controls water flow/water stop from the first batch treatment tank to downstream thereof and water flow/water stop from the second batch treatment tank to downstream thereof,

wherein the controller,

in the first mode, controls the valve so that water flows downstream from the first batch treatment tank and water is stopped from the second batch treatment tank, and

in the second mode, controls the valve so that water flows downstream from the second batch treatment tank and water is stopped from the first batch treatment tank.

4. The water softening device according to claim 3 , wherein the first sensor is provided downstream of the electrolysis device and upstream of the first batch treatment tank in the first circulation flow path, and the second sensor is provided downstream of the electrolysis device and upstream of the second batch treatment tank in the second circulation flow path.

5. The water softening device according to claim 3 , wherein the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path merge at positions extending downstream from the first batch treatment tank and the second batch treatment tank respectively, and then are connected to the electrolysis device.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 17, 2026
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 075166/0563 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Mar 17, 2026
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC HOUSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 075144/0149 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2023
From: UEYA, NORIYOSHI; SAITO, MAI; MAEDA, YASUNARI
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062446/0728 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-089790 · May 22, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230183105A1 · Jun 15, 2023
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