System and Method for Leak Detection

• US 20100039271A1
• Filed: 08/17/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DST Holdings Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DST Holdings Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Samson, Howard, Stumpf, Michael, Izikoff, Myles
• Application Number:
  US12/542,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039271A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations

Abstract

A leak detection apparatus has a transducer arranged for detection of sound, the transducer translating the sound into an analog signal and a display device. In addition, the leak detection apparatus has logic configured to detect the analog signal and display to the display device a gain range corresponding to the signal.

Claims

1. A leak detection apparatus, comprising:

a transducer arranged for detection of sound, the transducer translating the sound into an analog signal;

a display device; and

logic configured to receive the analog signal and display to the display device a gain range corresponding to the analog signal.

2. The leak detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to transmit an audible signal indicative of the analog signal received to a listening device.

3. The leak detection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the logic is further configured to filter the analog signal about a first frequency within a first bandwidth and transmit the filtered signal to the listening device based upon a user selection.

4. The leak detection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the logic is further configured to filter the analog signal about the first frequency within a second bandwidth and transmit the filtered signal to the listening device based upon a user selection.

5. The leak detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising memory storing data indicative of particular sounds.

6. The leak detection apparatus of claim 5, wherein the logic displays to the display device indicators identifying the data indicative of the particular sounds.

7. The leak detection apparatus of claim 6, wherein the logic transmits audible data indicative of one of the particular sounds based upon a user input.

8. The leak detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to calibrate the leak detection apparatus when the leak detection apparatus is powered on.

9. The leak detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising memory storing historical data associated in memory with a particular apparatus from which a leak was detected.

10. The leak detection apparatus of claim 9, wherein the historical data comprises data indicative of the strength of the leak detected.

11. The leak detection apparatus of claim 10, wherein the logic is configured to display to the display device data indicative of the leak detected based upon a user input.

12. A leak detection apparatus, comprising:

a transducer arranged for detection of sound, the transducer configured to transmit an analog signal indicative of the sound detected;

logic configured to generate a plurality of signals indicative of the analog signal centered about a particular frequency, the logic further configured to apply a gain to each of the plurality of signals, the gain applied to one signal differing from the gain applied to each of the other signal, the logic further configured to select one of the plurality of signals and display information related to the selected signal to a display device.

13. The leak detection apparatus of claim 12, wherein the logic comprises a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier for applying a different gain to the analog signal.

14. The leak detection apparatus of claim 13, wherein the logic is further configured to remove noise components from the selected signal to generate a narrow signal.

15. The leak detection apparatus of claim 12, wherein the logic is further configured to output the selected signal or the generated narrow signal based upon a user input.

16. A leak detection method, comprising:

detecting sound via a transducer;

translating the sound into an analog signal;

receiving the analog signal; and

displaying to a display device a gain range corresponding to the signal.

17. The leak detection method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting an audible signal indicative of the analog signal received to a listening device.

18. The leak detection method of claim 17, further comprising filtering the analog signal about a first frequency within a first bandwidth;

and transmitting the filtered signal to the listening device based upon a user selection.

19. The leak detection method of claim 18, further comprising

filtering the analog signal about the first frequency within a second bandwidth;

and transmitting the filtered signal to the listening device based upon a user selection.

20. The leak detection method of claim 16, further comprising storing data indicative of particular sounds.

21. The leak detection method of claim 20, further comprising displaying to the display device indicators identifying the data indicative of the particular sounds.

22. The leak detection method of claim 21, further comprising transmitting audible data indicative of one of the particular sounds based upon a user input.