Water detection assembly

• US 10,466,137 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2018
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hs Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hs Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Billman, Bradly Jay, Scott, Kade, Flachsbart, Matthew T., Matheson, Cory, Ethington, Benjamin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount, Eric
• Application Number:
  US16/182,324
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 340605
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/045 with electrical detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/183 for pipe joints or seals
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/40 by using electric means, e.g. by observing electric discharges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/048 for determining moisture content of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/36 Accumulators not provided for in groups H01M10/05-H01M10/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/32 activated through external addition of electrolyte or of electrolyte components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a water detection device that includes a water-activated battery configured to supply an electrical voltage upon contact with water, an electronic circuit configured to receive the electrical voltage from the water-activated battery, where the electronic circuit is configured to communicate with an external, electronic device upon receipt of the electrical voltage, and a housing configured to receive the water-activated battery and the electronic circuit, where the housing has passageways configured to facilitate movement of water into the housing and toward the battery.

Claims

1. A water detection device, comprising:

a housing;

a bracket configured to couple the housing to a feature within a location that may incur a water leak;

a water-activated battery disposed within the housing, wherein the water-activated battery is configured to supply an electrical voltage upon contact with water from the water leak; and

an electronic circuit configured to receive the electrical voltage from the water-activated battery, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to communicate with an external, electronic device in response to receipt of the electrical voltage.

2. The water detection device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises passageways configured to facilitate movement of water into the housing and toward the battery.

3. The water detection device of claim 2, wherein the passageways are formed in an external surface of the housing, and wherein the passageways comprise channels configured to direct water into the housing via capillary action.

4. The water detection device of claim 3, wherein the passageways are configured to direct a portion of substantially all water that contacts the housing into the housing to ultimately contact the water-activated battery.

5. The water detection device of claim 2, comprising a coating disposed over the passageways, and wherein water is configured to dissolve the coating upon contact with the coating.

6. The water detection device of claim 1, comprising memory electrically coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to store instructions executed by the electronic circuit.

7. The water detection device of claim 6, comprising an interrogator configured to electrically communicate with the memory.

8. The water detection device of claim 7, comprising an indicator configured to communicate a signal to the interrogator indicative of an identity of the water detection device.

9. The water detection device of claim 1, comprising a conductive strip coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to program the electronic circuit via communication with an external electronic device.

10. A water detection and notification device, comprising:

a housing;

a bracket configured to couple the housing within a location susceptible to a water leak;

a level indicator configured to indicate an amount of water within the housing;

a water-activated power source disposed within the housing, wherein the water-activated power source is configured to activate upon exposure to water from the water leak; and

an electronic circuit connected to the water-activated power source and configured to transmit an electrical signal in response to activation of the water-activated power source to indicate the water leak.

11. The water detection and notification device of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a water soluble layer including sugar glass, a water-soluble polymer, or a combination thereof.

12. The water detection and notification device of claim 11, wherein the water soluble layer comprises the water-soluble polymer, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sorbitol, or a combination thereof.

13. The water detection and notification device of claim 10, wherein the electronic circuit is disposed within a component housing configured to be disposed in an opening of the housing, wherein the component housing is modular with respect to the housing, and wherein the electronic circuit is removably connected to the water-activated power source.

14. The water detection and notification device of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a light emitting diode configured to alert a user of the water leak.

15. The water detection and notification device of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises passageways configured to facilitate movement of water into the housing, wherein the passageways are formed in an external surface of the housing, and wherein the passageways comprise channels configured to direct water into the housing via capillary action.

16. The water detection and notification device of claim 15, wherein the passageways are spaced a uniform distance apart from one another.

17. A water detection device, comprising:

a housing comprising passageways configured to facilitate movement of water into the housing, wherein the passageways are formed in an external surface of the housing, and wherein the passageways comprise channels configured to direct water into the housing via capillary action;

a level indicator configured to indicate an amount of water within the housing;

a water-activated power source configured to activate upon exposure to water; and

an electronic circuit connected to the water-activated power source, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to transmit an electrical signal to an external, electronic device in response to activation of the water-activated power source.

18. The water detection device of claim 17, wherein the water-activated power source includes an anode comprising magnesium, aluminum, zinc, lead, thallium, manganese, silicon, iron, calcium, nickel, copper, or a combination thereof.

19. The water detection device of claim 17, wherein the water-activated power source includes a cathode comprising silver chloride, cuprous iodide, cuprous thiocyanate, lead chloride, cuprous chloride, or a combination thereof.

20. The water detection device of claim 19, wherein the cathode comprises a depolarizer.