WIRELESS RECEPTOR FOR COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN HOUSINGS

• US 20100328865A1
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Millipore Corporation
• Inventors: Grzonka, Michael T., Burke, Aaron, Joens, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,114,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/52 Filter identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/56 Wireless systems for monitoring the filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/06 Filters making use of electricity or magnetism ultrafiltration, microfiltration B01D61/14; electrodialysis, electro-osmosis B01D61/42; devices comprising filters and magnetic separators B03C1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/143 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/34 Indicator and controllers

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for transmitting information between a device within a housing to a second device, preferably a test or monitoring unit, outside of the housing. There are numerous issues associated with transferring information from within a sealed housing to an external device. In some cases, the use of wires inside the housing may be impractical, due to internal conditions, such as fluid flow, pressure or temperature. In one embodiment, the antenna of the external RF reading device is electrically connected to the dome of the housing. In another embodiment, the device within the housing is electrically connected to a housing component. In another embodiment, the gasket is used to pass information from within the housing to an external device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between an external device and a filtering assembly having electronic circuitry, where said filtering assembly is located within a housing, comprising:

employing a housing comprising an electrically conductive housing dome and a housing base;

placing an electrically insulating gasket between said dome and said base to keep them physically and electrically isolated;

pressing said housing dome and housing base together to create a liquid tight seal; and

employing an external device adapted to utilize an antenna, wherein said housing dome is in communication with said device so as to serve as one pole of said antenna, to communicate with said filtering assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said housing base is grounded.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said housing base is in communication with said device to serve as a second pole of said antenna.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said housing dome and housing dome are pressed together using an electrically nonconductive clamp.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said gasket has an inner and outer circumference and comprises an electrical channel in communication with said housing dome and said outer circumference, further comprising connecting said electrical channel to said external device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said electrical channel terminates at said outer circumference at a connector;

and wherein said device is connected to said connector.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising locating a contact mechanism on said gasket so as to maintain said electrical channel in communication with said housing dome.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said contact mechanism comprises contact pads located on said gasket.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said contact mechanism comprises springs located on said gasket.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said gasket comprises a second electrical channel in communication with said housing base and said outer circumference, further comprising connecting said second electrical channel to said external device to serve as a second pole of said antenna.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising locating a contact mechanism on said gasket so as to maintain said second electrical channel in communication with said housing base.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said contact mechanism comprises contact pads located on said gasket.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said contact mechanism comprises springs located on said gasket.

14. A filtering system comprising:

a housing comprising a housing dome and a housing dome;

a filtering element located within said housing;

electronic circuitry located on or near said filtering element;

a gasket interposed between said dome and said base to as to keep them physically isolated, and to create a liquid tight seal, said gasket comprising an inner circumference and an outer circumference and a channel within said gasket extending from said inner circumference to said outer circumference; and

a wire passing through said channel in communication with said electronic circuitry and a device external to said housing.

15. A filtering system comprising:

a housing comprising an electrically conductive housing dome and a housing dome;

a filtering element located within said housing;

electronic circuitry located on or near said filtering element;

a gasket interposed between said dome and said base to as to keep them physically and electrically isolated, and to create a liquid tight seal; and

a device external to said housing, wherein said electronic circuitry and said device are both in communication with said housing dome such that said housing dome serves as an electrical conductor between said electronic circuitry and said device.

16. The filtering system of claim 15, wherein said housing base is grounded.

17. A method of communicating between an external device and a filtering assembly having electronic circuitry, where said filtering assembly is located within a housing, comprising:

employing a housing comprising an electrically conductive housing dome and a housing base;

placing a gasket between said dome and said base to keep them physically isolated;

pressing said housing dome and housing base together to create a liquid tight seal; and

using a wire to connect said electronic circuitry to said housing dome; and

using a second wire to connect said external device to said housing dome, such that said housing dome serves as an electrical conduit between said circuitry and said device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising using serial communications to communicate between said device and said electronic circuitry.