Climate control devices and methods are disclosed. A climate control device includes a housing, an ultrasonic emitter, an ultrasonic receiver, and a controller. The housing defines a receptacle for receiving liquid. The ultrasonic emitter is positioned to emit an ultrasonic wave toward a surface of the liquid received in the receptacle. The ultrasonic receiver is positioned to receive the ultrasonic wave after the ultrasonic wave reflects off of the surface of the liquid. The controller is configured to provide a liquid level indication based on the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic receiver. A climate control method includes receiving liquid in the receptacle, emitting an ultrasonic wave toward a surface of the liquid in the receptacle, receiving at least a portion of the ultrasonic wave after the ultrasonic wave reflects off of the surface of the liquid, and providing a liquid level indication based on the received ultrasonic wave.

An air conditioner includes a humidifying assembly and a control unit to control the humidifying assembly. The humidifying assembly includes a humidifying-receiving unit including a water tank configured to receive water and a humidifying-sterilizing unit configured to irradiate light to sterilize water received in the water tank. The control unit is configured to control a driving time of the humidifying-sterilizing unit based on an amount of water received in the water tank.

An air conditioner includes a humidifying assembly and a control unit to control the humidifying assembly. The humidifying assembly includes a humidifying-receiving unit including a water tank configured to receive water and a humidifying-sterilizing unit configured to irradiate light to sterilize water received in the water tank. The control unit is configured to control a driving time of the humidifying-sterilizing unit based on an amount of water received in the water tank.

Liquid heating devices and methods of use are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, devices include a heating element and a surface area interactive material contacting the heating element, the surface area interactive material having approximately zero surface tension interaction with a liquid which is passed through the surface area interactive material, the surface area interactive material conducting heat from the heating element into the liquid to raise a temperature of the liquid.

A humidifier that suppresses formation of a slime, a scale, and a dew bridge in a lower portion of a humidifying member thereby preventing degradation in humidifying performance. The humidifier includes one or more porous metal bodies serving as the humidifying member and including therein a plurality of voids, a fan that blows air to the porous metal body, a water-supplying device (a supply pipe, a reservoir, and a nozzle) that supplies water to the porous metal body, and the porous metal body includes a tip portion formed in a lower end portion, in a protruding shape or a pointed shape.

A humidifier that suppresses formation of a slime, a scale, and a dew bridge in a lower portion of a humidifying member thereby preventing degradation in humidifying performance. The humidifier includes one or more porous metal bodies serving as the humidifying member and including therein a plurality of voids, a fan that blows air to the porous metal body, a water-supplying device (a supply pipe, a reservoir, and a nozzle) that supplies water to the porous metal body, and the porous metal body includes a tip portion formed in a lower end portion, in a protruding shape or a pointed shape.

A low cost medical humidifier for adding moisture to a patient air flow is disclosed. The humidifier comprises a water reservoir, a disposable evaporative wick containing a heater, a lid containing electrical contacts to engage the heater in the wick and airway connections. The wick heater comprises a PET film with aluminium tracks and a cover layer of PTC resistive ink. The heater is covered with paper to provide a water pathway via capillary flow. There is a capillary path from the water reservoir to the wick. The wick and heater are manufactured with printing and calendaring processes in reel to reel processes.

A low cost medical humidifier for adding moisture to a patient air flow is disclosed. The humidifier comprises a water reservoir, a disposable evaporative wick containing a heater, a lid containing electrical contacts to engage the heater in the wick and airway connections. The wick heater comprises a PET film with aluminium tracks and a cover layer of PTC resistive ink. The heater is covered with paper to provide a water pathway via capillary flow. There is a capillary path from the water reservoir to the wick. The wick and heater are manufactured with printing and calendaring processes in reel to reel processes.

A humidifier includes a base, a water tank, a water vaporizer, a fan, a printed circuit board, and a waterproof arrangement. The base has a receiving cavity and a vapor discharge outlet. The water tank is detachably attached on the base, and has a vapor discharge channel communicated with the vapor discharge outlet. The waterproof arrangement includes a water blocking assembly including a main blocking member and an actuating member. When the water tank is attached on the base, the water blocking assembly is driven to move away from the vapor discharge outlet. When the water tank is to detached from the base, the actuating member is driven to drive the water blocking assembly to fittedly cover the vapor discharge outlet so as to prevent water from entering the vapor discharge outlet.

A humidifier includes a base, a water tank, a water vaporizer, a fan, a printed circuit board, and a waterproof arrangement. The base has a receiving cavity and a vapor discharge outlet. The water tank is detachably attached on the base, and has a vapor discharge channel communicated with the vapor discharge outlet. The waterproof arrangement includes a water blocking assembly including a main blocking member and an actuating member. When the water tank is attached on the base, the water blocking assembly is driven to move away from the vapor discharge outlet. When the water tank is to detached from the base, the actuating member is driven to drive the water blocking assembly to fittedly cover the vapor discharge outlet so as to prevent water from entering the vapor discharge outlet.