Fluid leak detector alarm mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10388144-B2
Application number	US-201715791303-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2017
Priority date	Feb 10, 2017
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

A system having a fluid leak detector, an audio detection circuit, and a processor. The fluid leak detector may have an audio alarm. The audio detection circuit may have a sound sensor and an audio-to-electrical signal converter. The processor may have an electrical signal-to-status of fluid presence. The fluid leak detector, the audio detection circuit and the processor may use very little power when in a standby detection mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water sensing system comprising:
a water leak detector having an alarm sound generator, wherein the alarm sound generator is configured to emit an alarm sound having a predetermined pattern of one or more amplitudes for a specific duration of time in response to the water leak detector sensing moisture at water equipment;
a water valve shutoff device comprising:
a sound converter configured to:
detect sound and convert the sound to an electrical signal;
filter out electrical signals that do not represent the alarm sound that has the predetermined pattern of one or more amplitudes during the specific duration of time; and
in response to detecting electrical signals that represent the alarm sound, output an alarm electrical signal indicating that the water leak detector has sensed moisture or water,
wherein the water valve shutoff device is configured to turn off a water supply in response to the alarm electrical signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the water leak detector uses one milliwatt of electrical power or less while in a detection mode.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the water equipment is a water heater.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the water equipment is one or more items selected from a group comprising a house main water supply, valve, faucet, sink, washer, ice maker, bathroom, and water heater.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein to turn off the water supply in response to the alarm electrical signal, the water valve shutoff device is configured to close a valve in a water line connected to the water equipment.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the water leak detector includes a battery.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the water equipment comprises a water heater, the system further comprising:
a water heater control device comprising an audio detection circuit, wherein the water heater control device is configured to shut down the water heater in response to the audio detection circuit detecting the alarm sound having the predetermined pattern of one or more amplitudes for the specific duration of time.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wireless dongle device comprising an audio detection circuit, wherein the wireless dongle is configured transmit a signal to a water heater control device in response to the audio detection circuit detecting the alarm sound having the predetermined pattern of one or more amplitudes for the specific duration of time.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wireless dongle device comprising an audio detection circuit, wherein the wireless dongle is configured to transmit information to a user device in response to the audio detection circuit detecting the alarm sound having the predetermined pattern of one or more amplitudes for the specific duration of time.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the wireless dongle device is configured to transmit information to the user device over WiFi.

11. A water sensing system comprising:
a water leak detector having an alarm sound generator, wherein the alarm sound generator is configured to emit an alarm sound having a predetermined pattern of one or more amplitudes for a specific duration of time in response to the water leak detector sensing moisture at water equipment; and
a water heater control device comprising an audio detection circuit, wherein the water heater control device is configured to shut down the water heater in response to the audio detection circuit detecting the alarm sound having the predetermined pattern of one or more amplitudes for the specific duration of time.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a water valve shutoff device configured to turn off a water supply in response to detecting the alarm sound having the predetermined pattern of one or more amplitudes for the specific duration of time.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein to turn off the water supply in response to the alarm electrical signal, the water valve shutoff device is configured to close a valve in a water line connected to the water equipment.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the water leak detector uses one milliwatt of electrical power or less while in a detection mode.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the water equipment is a water heater.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the water equipment is one or more items selected from s group comprising a house main water supply, valve, faucet, sink, washer, ice maker, bathroom, and water heater.

17. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a wireless dongle device comprising an audio detection circuit, wherein the wireless dongle is configured to transmit information to a user device in response to the audio detection circuit detecting the alarm sound having the predetermined pattern of one or more amplitudes for the specific duration of time.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the wireless dongle device is configured to transmit information to the user device over WiFi.

19. A water valve shutoff device comprising:
a water valve shut off mechanism; and
a sound converter implemented in circuitry and configured to:
detect sound and convert the sound to an electrical signal;
in response to detecting an alarm sound having a predetermined pattern of one or more amplitudes for a specific duration of time, output an alarm electrical signal that causes the water valve shut off mechanism to turn off a water supply.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein to turn off the water supply in response to the alarm electrical signal, the water valve shutoff mechanism is configured to close a valve in a water line connected to the water equipment.

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Nguyen Anh
• Kim Hyunki

Classifications

• G08B21/20 Primary

  responsive to moisture · CPC title

• G08B25/009

  Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range · CPC title

• G08B1/08

  using electric transmission {; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal} · CPC title

• H04L12/2816

  Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities (arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00) · CPC title

• G08B25/10

  using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} · CPC title