Smart carpet, pad, or strip for leak detection and loss mitigation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10107708-B1
Application number	US-201615085597-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2016
Priority date	Apr 2, 2015
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A system for detecting a leak or spill and mitigating losses resulting therefrom comprises a floor covering and a software application. The floor covering includes a sensor assembly, a processing element, and a transmitter. The sensor assembly generates information when exposed to liquid. The processing element determines a location of the liquid based upon the information from the sensor assembly. The transmitter transmits data regarding the liquid. The software application executes on an electronic device and is operable to receive data from the floor covering regarding the liquid; display a message that liquid has been detected on the floor covering; calculate an area of the liquid; determine whether a leak is still occurring and if so, shut an electronically controllable valve; transmit data regarding the liquid to an insurance provider; and/or receive insurance-related information from the insurance provider, such as information related to a proposed insurance claim or estimated damage.

First claim

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. A system for detecting a leak or spill and mitigating losses resulting therefrom, the system comprising:
a floor covering including:
a sensor assembly operable to generate information when exposed to liquid,
a processing element operable to determine a location of the liquid based upon the information from the sensor assembly, and
a transmitter operable to transmit data regarding the liquid; and
a software application operable to be executed on an electronic device including a memory element and a processing element, the software application being stored in the memory element, being executed by the processing element, and being operable to:
receive data from the transmitter of the floor covering regarding the liquid,
display a message that liquid has been detected on the floor covering,
calculate an area of the liquid,
transmit data regarding the liquid to an insurance provider, and
receive and display insurance-related data from the insurance provider to facilitate mitigating losses caused by the leak or spill or the handling of an insurance claim.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly further includes:
a first array of conductors spaced apart, parallel to one another, and oriented in a first direction;
a second array of conductors spaced apart, parallel to one another, and oriented in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction, the second array of conductors overlaying the first array of conductors;
a first array of sensors, each sensor operable to detect electrical current flow and integrated with one conductor of the first array; and
a second array of sensors, each sensor operable to detect electrical current flow and integrated with one conductor of the second array.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein each conductor of the first array is electrically connected to a voltage supply and each conductor of the second array is electrically connected to electrical ground.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor assembly further includes a plurality of insulators, each insulator positioned between one conductor of the first array and one conductor of the second array.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein each sensor of the first array generates information that indicates an X-coordinate of the liquid and each sensor of the second array generates information that indicates a Y-coordinate of the liquid.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the floor covering includes a quadrilateral frame to which the sensor assembly is attached.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the floor covering includes a structural medium in which the sensor array is embedded.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the software application is further operable to determine a time duration of change of the area of the liquid.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the software application is further operable to determine whether the time duration of change is greater than a predetermined threshold, and contact emergency or security services if the time duration of change is greater than the predetermined threshold.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the insurance-related data received from the insurance provider relates to:
a proposed insurance claim generated by the insurance provider or an insurance provider remote processor or server;
an estimate of damage generated by the insurance provider or an insurance provider remote processor or server; or
contact information for a repair company.

11. A system for detecting a leak or spill and mitigating losses resulting therefrom, the system comprising:
a floor covering including:
a sensor assembly operable to generate information when exposed to liquid, the sensor assembly including:
a first array of conductors spaced apart, parallel to one another, and oriented in a first direction,
a second array of conductors spaced apart, parallel to one another, and oriented in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction, the second array of conductors overlaying the first array of conductors,
a first array of sensors, each sensor operable to detect electrical current flow and integrated with one conductor of the first array, and
a second array of sensors, each sensor operable to detect electrical current flow and integrated with one conductor of the second array,
a processing element operable to determine a location of the liquid based upon the information from the sensor assembly, and
a transmitter operable to transmit data regarding the liquid; and

a software application operable to be executed on an electronic device including a memory element and a processing element, the software application being stored in the memory element, being executed by the processing element, and being operable to receive data from the transmitter of the floor covering regarding the liquid, display a message that liquid has been detected on the floor covering, calculate an area of the liquid,
transmit data regarding the liquid to an insurance provider, and
receive and display insurance-related data from the insurance provider to facilitate mitigating losses caused by the spill or leak or handling of an insurance claim.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein each conductor of the first array is electrically connected to a voltage supply and each conductor of the second array is electrically connected to electrical ground.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor assembly further includes a plurality of insulators, each insulator positioned between one conductor of the first array and one conductor of the second array.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein each sensor of the first array generates information that indicates an X-coordinate of the liquid and each sensor of the second array generates information that indicates a Y-coordinate of the liquid.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the floor covering includes a quadrilateral frame to which the sensor assembly is attached.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the floor covering includes a structural medium in which the sensor array is embedded.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the software application is further operable to determine a time duration of change of the area of the liquid.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the software application is further operable to determine whether the time duration of change is greater than a predetermined threshold, and contact emergency or security services if the time duration of change is greater than the predetermined threshold.

Assignees

• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co

Inventors

• Schick Sean W
• Harris Steven J

Classifications

• G01M3/16 Primary

  using electric detection means ({G01M3/045,} G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• G06Q50/163

  Real estate management · CPC title

• G06Q40/08

  Insurance · CPC title

• G08B21/20 Primary

  responsive to moisture · CPC title