Electromagnetic sensor for active monitoring of filter media within a filtration system
First Claim
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1. A filter sensor to be used with a filter media contained in a filter housing, comprising:
- an antenna;
a controller electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to drive an electric signal through the antenna to generate an electromagnetic signal,wherein the antenna is configured to electromagnetically couple to the filter media via near-field coupling and configured to encompass the filter media,wherein the controller is configured to detect a characteristic of the antenna, wherein the characteristic of the antenna varies in response to a change of the filter media, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine an indicator indicative of a remaining filter capacity of the filter media based on the characteristic of the antenna.
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Abstract
In general, techniques are described for filter media monitoring within a filtration system. The filter media monitoring techniques described herein include, for example, direct contact with the filter media, e.g., a sensor may be located inside a boundary defined by a surface of the filter media, or indirect contact with the filter media, e.g., a sensor may be located outside the boundary defined by the surface of the filter media such that the sensor does not make direct physical contact with the filter media being monitored.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A filter sensor to be used with a filter media contained in a filter housing, comprising:
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an antenna; a controller electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to drive an electric signal through the antenna to generate an electromagnetic signal, wherein the antenna is configured to electromagnetically couple to the filter media via near-field coupling and configured to encompass the filter media, wherein the controller is configured to detect a characteristic of the antenna, wherein the characteristic of the antenna varies in response to a change of the filter media, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine an indicator indicative of a remaining filter capacity of the filter media based on the characteristic of the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A filtration system comprising:
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a filter housing positioned along a flow path conveying a fluid, the filter housing containing a filter media to filter the fluid; a filter sensor comprising an antenna and a controller, wherein the antenna is disposed exterior to the filter housing, wherein the controller is configured to drive an electrical signal through the antenna to generate an electromagnetic signal configured to form an electromagnetic field through at least a portion of the filter media, and wherein the controller is configured detect a characteristic of the antenna influenced by the near-field coupling with the filter media contained within the filter housing and, responsive to the detected characteristic, determine a remaining filter capacity of the filter media. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification