Water sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11217082-B2
Application number	US-202016745940-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 17, 2020
Priority date	Dec 31, 2015
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A water sensor comprises a housing including a top portion and a bottom portion; a controller positioned within the housing; a power source electrically coupled to the controller to energize the controller; and a continuity sensor electrically coupled to the controller and including an inner arcuate portion and an outer arcuate portion, the inner arcuate portion having an electrically conductive surface spanning at least 300 degrees, the outer arcuate portion having an electrically conductive surface spanning at least 300 degrees and substantially surrounding the inner arcuate portion to define an elongate gap therebetween, wherein the water sensor is structured to transition from a first logical state to a second logical state responsive to water bridging the elongate gap, and wherein the controller is structured to transmit a wireless water detection signal responsive to the water sensor transitioning to the second logical state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A water sensor comprising:
a housing including a top portion and a bottom portion;
a controller positioned within the housing;
a power source positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the controller to energize the controller; and
a sensor electrically coupled to the controller, the sensor comprising control logic coupled to the controller, wherein the control logic is structured to transition from a first logical state to a second logical state responsive to water being sensed by the sensor;
wherein the controller is configured to transition from a sleep mode to an active mode in response to the control logic transitioning from the first logical state to the second logical state;
wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a first type of signal when the control logic is in the first logical state and transmit a second type of signal when the control logic is in the second logical state, wherein the first type of signal consumes less power than the second type of signal;
a visual indicator operably coupled to the controller, wherein the visual indicator outputs a first indication in response to a successful pairing between the water sensor and an electronic device; and
wherein the visual indicator outputs a second indication in response to an unsuccessful pairing between the water sensor and the electronic device.

2. The water sensor of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to pair with an electronic device to form a wireless personal area network.

3. The water sensor of claim 2 , further comprising an actuating mechanism, wherein the controller emits a signal to pair with the electronic device in response to engagement of the actuating mechanism.

4. The water sensor of claim 3 , wherein the controller transitions from the sleep mode to the active mode in response to the engagement of the actuating mechanism when the water sensor is successfully paired with the electronic device.

5. The water sensor of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to output a signal strength when the water sensor is being paired with the electronic device.

6. The water sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to output a temperature signal corresponding to a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.

7. An electronic device for pairing with a water sensor, the electronic device comprising:
a transceiver;
a processor coupled to the transceiver;
a user interface coupled to the processor;
memory coupled to the processor and comprising instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
receive, via the transceiver, a leak signal from the water sensor,

wherein the leak signal corresponds to the water sensor sensing water;
display, on the user interface, an alert icon in response to receiving the leak signal;
receive, via the transceiver, a signal strength signal from the water sensor;
display, on the user interface, a signal strength icon corresponding to the signal strength signal received from the water sensor on a user interface of the electronic device;
receive, via the transceiver, a pairing signal from the water sensor;
pair the electronic device with the water sensor to form a wireless personal area network in response to receiving the pairing signal; and
display, on the user interface, an icon corresponding to the water sensor on the electronic device in response to the electronic device being paired with the water sensor;

wherein the water sensor includes a controller and control logic coupled to the controller, the control logic structured to transition from a first logical state to a second logical state responsive to water being sensed by the water sensor; and
wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a first type of signal when the control logic is in the first logical state and transmit a second type of signal when the control logic is in the second logical state, wherein the first type of signal consumes less power than the second type of signal.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 , the memory comprising further instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
receive, via the user interface, an acknowledgement input from a user via the electronic device; and
transition the alert icon from a first state to a second state in response to the acknowledgement input.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the alert icon is displayed in a first color while the alert icon is in the first state and wherein the alert icon is displayed in a second color while the alert icon is in the second state, wherein the first color is different than the second color.

10. The electronic device of claim 7 , the memory comprising further instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
receive, via the transceiver, a temperature signal from the water sensor; and
display, on the user interface, a temperature icon corresponding to the temperature signal received from the water senor.

11. The electronic device of claim 7 , the memory comprising further instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
receive, via the transceiver, a voltage signal from the water sensor; and
display, on the user interface, a voltage icon corresponding to the voltage signal received from the water senor.

Assignees

• Delta Faucet Co
• Idevices Llc

Inventors

• Sale Michael C
• Sawaski Joel D
• Tetreault Michael
• Tracy Hillary C
• Ferguson Eric L
• Daigle Michael A
• Weaver Casey S
• Scarcella Jeffrey A

Classifications

• G01F23/804

  containing circuits handling parameters other than liquid level · CPC title

• H04H60/88

  which are wireless networks · CPC title

• G08B21/20 Primary

  responsive to moisture · CPC title

• G08B21/182

  Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold · CPC title

• G01F23/0076

  Physics · mapped topic