Wetness sensor utilizing passive resonant circuits
First Claim
1. A system for detecting a liquid leak in a fluid system comprising:
- a sensor including a passive resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, the passive resonant circuit configured to sense a presence of liquid;
an interrogation unit configured to transmit a radio frequency wave corresponding to the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit;
a receiver configured to measure the resonant circuit response to the radio frequency wave transmitted by the interrogation unit; and
a determination unit configured to determine the presence of liquid based on the measured response.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An example embodiment of the invention provides a system and method for detecting a liquid leak that includes a sensor with a passive resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, an interrogation unit to transmit a radio frequency (RF) wave corresponding to the resonant circuit'"'"'s resonant frequency, and a receiver to measure the resonant circuit'"'"'s response. A determination unit is configured to determine the presence of liquid based on the measured response. In the absence of liquid, the resonant circuit radiates a signal corresponding to its resonant frequency; however, in the presence of liquid, the resonant circuit'"'"'s electrical characteristics change such that the resonant circuit does not resonate at its resonant frequency. The resonant circuit may include inductive and capacitive elements formed on a substrate using electrically conductive materials. Thus, the system may quickly, safely and accurately detect potentially life-threatening blood leaks that may occur during, for example, hemodialysis.
106 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for detecting a liquid leak in a fluid system comprising:
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a sensor including a passive resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, the passive resonant circuit configured to sense a presence of liquid; an interrogation unit configured to transmit a radio frequency wave corresponding to the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit; a receiver configured to measure the resonant circuit response to the radio frequency wave transmitted by the interrogation unit; and a determination unit configured to determine the presence of liquid based on the measured response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29)
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21. A method of detecting a leakage in a fluid system, the method comprising:
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registering a passive resonant circuit having a resonant frequency to sense a presence of liquid; transmitting a radio frequency wave corresponding to the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit; measuring a response generated by the resonant circuit, the response responsive to the transmitted radio frequency wave; and determining the presence of liquid based on the measured response. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification