WIRELESS WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEMS AND WIRELESS REMOTE DISPENSING DEVICES FOR WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEMS

• US 20080078710A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Asheville LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Barnstead Thermolyne Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Larkner, Thomas Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,824,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/109
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate

Abstract

Wireless water purification systems and wireless remote dispensing devices for a water purification system. The remote dispensing device is fluidly coupled with the main purification unit. A wireless transceiver is associated with the remote dispensing device and another wireless transceiver is associated with the main purification unit. The wireless transceivers communicate across a wireless communications link between the remote dispensing device and the main purification unit. The system may include multiple remote dispensing devices and/or multiple main purification units.

Claims

1. A wireless apparatus for dispensing purified water supplied by a main purification unit, the wireless apparatus comprising:

a remote dispensing device configured to be fluidly coupled with the main purification unit for receiving purified water supplied from the main purification unit; and

a wireless transceiver associated with the remote dispensing device, said wireless transceiver operative to communicate across a wireless communications link with the main purification unit.

2. The wireless apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote dispensing device comprises:

a controller coupled electrically with said wireless transceiver, said controller adapted to encode first wireless signals for transmission by said wireless transceiver across said wireless communications link to the main purification unit and decode second wireless signals received by said wireless transceiver across said wireless communications link from the main purification unit.

3. The wireless apparatus of claim 2 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a dispenser capable of being fluidly coupled with the main purification unit;

a support structure configured to hold said dispenser; and

an electrically-powered component electrically coupled with said controller.

4. The wireless apparatus of claim 3 wherein said electrically-powered component comprises:

a flow control valve configured to selectively divert the purified water to said dispenser, said flow control valve controlled by electrical signals from said controller.

5. The wireless apparatus of claim 3 wherein said support structure is detached from the main purification unit.

6. The wireless apparatus of claim 3 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a battery holder associated with said support structure, said battery holder adapted to receive a battery for powering said electrically-powered component, said controller, and said wireless transceiver.

7. The wireless apparatus of claim 2 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a user interface electrically coupled with said controller, said user interface including a user input device for converting user input to electrical signals and communicating the electrical signals to said controller.

8. The wireless apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a flow control valve electrically coupled with said controller, said flow control valve controlled by electrical signals from said controller.

9. The wireless apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a battery holder adapted to receive a battery for powering said wireless transceiver.

10. The wireless apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wireless transceiver is adapted to communicate with the main purification unit across said wireless communications link using at least one of ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals.

11. The wireless apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wireless transceiver is adapted to communicate with the main purification unit across said wireless communications link using at least one of microwave signals, radio-frequency signals, or optical signals.

12. The wireless apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises a flow sensor adapted to detect a flow rate of the purified water from said remote dispensing device.

13. A wireless system for dispensing purified water, the wireless system comprising:

a main purification unit configured to supply the purified water;

a wireless transceiver associated with said main purification unit;

a remote dispensing device fluidly coupled with said main purification unit for receiving purified water from said main purification unit; and

a wireless transceiver associated with said remote dispensing device, said wireless transceiver of said remote dispensing device and said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit operative to enable communications across a wireless communications link.

14. The wireless system of claim 13 wherein said remote dispensing device comprises:

a controller coupled electrically with said electrically-powered component and with said wireless transceiver of said remote dispensing device, said controller adapted to encode first wireless signals for transmission across said wireless communications link to said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit and to decode second wireless signals received across said wireless communications link from said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit.

15. The wireless system of claim 14 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a dispenser capable of being fluidly coupled with said main purification unit;

a support structure configured to hold said dispenser; and

an electrically-powered component electrically coupled with said controller.

16. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said electrically-powered component comprises:

a flow control valve configured to selectively divert the purified water to said dispenser, said flow control valve controlled by electrical signals from said controller.

17. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said support structure is detached from said main purification unit.

18. The wireless system of claim 15 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a battery holder associated with said support structure, said battery holder adapted to receive a battery for powering said electrically-powered component, said controller, and said wireless transceiver.

19. The wireless system of claim 14 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a user interface electrically coupled with said controller, said user interface including a user input device for converting user input to electrical signals and supplying the electrical signals to said controller.

20. The wireless system of claim 13 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises:

a battery holder adapted to receive a battery for powering said wireless transceiver.

21. The wireless system of claim 13 wherein said wireless transceivers are adapted to communicate across said wireless communications link using at least one of ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals.

22. The wireless system of claim 13 wherein said wireless transceivers are adapted to communicate across said wireless communications link using at least one of microwave signals, radio-frequency signals, or optical signals.

23. The wireless system of claim 13 wherein said remote dispensing device further comprises a flow sensor adapted to measure a flow rate of the purified water at said remote dispensing device.

24. The wireless system of claim 23 wherein said main purification unit includes a purity sensor configured to monitor a purity of the purified water supplied from the main purification unit to the remote dispensing device.

25. The wireless system of claim 13 wherein said main purification unit includes a fluid circuit, an inlet to the fluid circuit, and an outlet from the fluid circuit, and said remote dispensing device is fluidly coupled with said outlet for receiving a flow of the purified water from the fluid circuit and is fluidly coupled with said inlet for returning the flow of the purified water to the fluid circuit.

26. A wireless system for dispensing purified water, the wireless system comprising:

a main purification unit configured to supply the purified water, said main purification unit including a wireless transceiver;

a first remote dispensing device fluidly coupled with said main purification unit for receiving purified water, said first remote dispensing device including a first wireless transceiver operative to communicate with said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit across a first wireless communications link; and

a second remote dispensing device fluidly coupled with said main purification unit for receiving purified water, said second remote dispensing device including a second wireless transceiver operative to communicate with said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit across a second wireless communications link.

27. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit, said first wireless transceiver of said first remote dispensing device, and said second wireless transceiver of said second remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals.

28. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein said wireless transceiver of said main purification unit, said first wireless transceiver of said first remote dispensing device, and said second wireless transceiver of said second remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using microwave signals, radio-frequency signals, or optical signals.

29. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein each of said first and second remote dispensing devices further comprises a flow sensor adapted to detect a flow rate of the purified water at said remote dispensing device.

30. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein said main purification unit further comprises a flow sensor adapted to detect a flow rate of the purified water.

31. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein said main purification unit includes a fluid circuit, an inlet to the fluid circuit, and an outlet from the fluid circuit, and said first and second waters usage devices are each fluidly coupled with said outlet for receiving a flow of the purified water from the fluid circuit and is fluidly coupled with said inlet for returning the flow of the purified water to the fluid circuit.

32. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein said first remote dispensing device is physically located in first room of a facility and said second remote dispensing device is physically located in a second room of the facility.

33. The wireless system of claim 32 wherein said main purification unit is physically located in a third room of the facility.

34. The wireless system of claim 32 wherein said main purification unit is physically located in the first room of the facility.

35. The wireless system of claim 26 wherein said first and second remote dispensing devices each have an input coupled and a recirculation output fluidly with said main purification unit, said input and said recirculation output cooperating to recirculate purified water from each of said first and second remote dispensing devices to said main purification unit.

36. A wireless system for dispensing purified water, the wireless system comprising:

a first main purification unit configured to supply a first stream of the purified water;

a first wireless transceiver associated with said first main purification unit;

a second main purification unit configured to supply a second stream of the purified water;

a second wireless transceiver associated with said second main purification unit;

a first remote dispensing device fluidly coupled with said first main purification unit, said first remote dispensing device including a first wireless transceiver operatively coupled with said first wireless transceiver of said first main purification unit for communication across a first wireless communications link; and

a second remote dispensing device fluidly coupled with said second main purification unit, said second remote dispensing device including a second wireless transceiver operatively coupled with said second wireless transceiver of said second main purification unit for communication across a second wireless communications link.

37. The wireless system of claim 36 wherein said first wireless transceiver of said first main purification unit and said first wireless transceiver of said first remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals, and said second wireless transceiver of said second main purification unit and said second wireless transceiver of said second remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals.

38. The wireless system of claim 36 wherein said first wireless transceiver of said first main purification unit and said first wireless transceiver of said first remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using ultrasonic signals or electromagnetic signals, and said second wireless transceiver of said second main purification unit and said second transceiver of said second remote dispensing device are adapted to communicate using microwave signals, radio-frequency signals, or optical signals.

39. The wireless system of claim 36 wherein each of said first and second remote dispensing devices includes a radio frequency identification transponder configured to store data, and each of said main purification units includes a tag reader configured to read the data stored by said radio frequency identification transponder of a corresponding one of said first and second remote dispensing devices.

40. The wireless system of claim 36 wherein each of said first and second remote dispensing devices includes a memory storage device configured to store data, and each of said main purification units includes a reader configured to read the data stored by said memory storage device of a corresponding one of said first and second remote dispensing devices.

41. The wireless system of claim 36 wherein each of said first and second remote dispensing devices further comprises a flow sensor adapted to detect a flow rate of the purified water.

42. The wireless system of claim 36 wherein each of said first and second main purification units further comprises a flow sensor adapted to detect a flow rate of the purified water.