METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RELIABLY DETECTING STRUCTURE AND WATER SYSTEM LEAKS
First Claim
1. A system for detecting potentially destructive water leakage conditions in a building, comprising:
- a humidity detector for detecting a level of humidity inside of said building;
a control circuit having an input coupled to said humidity detector and generating a preventative response in conformity with determining that said level of humidity has exceeded a threshold; and
at least one motion sensor coupled to said control circuit for providing an indication of human activity within said building, wherein said control circuit ignores said determination that said level of humidity has exceeded a threshold when said motion sensor in conformity with said motion sensor indicating that human activity is occurring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for reliably detecting structure and water system leaks incorporates motion-sensing for determining whether there is activity in a building is occupied and measures humidity of the inside of the building. If there is no activity in the building, and an unexpected level of humidity or sudden change in humidity is detected, an alarm is generated and the building water system can be disabled by an electrically controlled valve. Current consumed by water-consuming and/or water vapor generating appliances can be detected and used to qualify the generating of an alarm or interruption of the water system, so that false alarms are not generated and the water supply is not interrupted due to operation of those appliances.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for detecting potentially destructive water leakage conditions in a building, comprising:
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a humidity detector for detecting a level of humidity inside of said building; a control circuit having an input coupled to said humidity detector and generating a preventative response in conformity with determining that said level of humidity has exceeded a threshold; and at least one motion sensor coupled to said control circuit for providing an indication of human activity within said building, wherein said control circuit ignores said determination that said level of humidity has exceeded a threshold when said motion sensor in conformity with said motion sensor indicating that human activity is occurring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for detecting potentially destructive water leakage conditions in a building, comprising:
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detecting a level of humidity inside of said building; sensing motion indicating human activity within said building; and generating a preventative response in conformity with a result of said detecting and said sensing such that said preventative response is generated when said sensing senses motion indicating human activity within said building and said detected level of humidity is greater than at threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a system for detecting potentially destructive water leakage conditions in a building and generating a preventative response, said method comprising:
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sensing activation of at least one appliance that can cause an undesirable indication of said water leakage conditions by measuring an electrical current consumed by said at least one appliance; and blocking generation of said preventative response by said system in response to said undesirable indication while said sensing senses that said at least one appliance is active. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification