METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING MOISTURE IN BUILDING MATERIALS

• US 20110093217A1
• Filed: 12/28/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nest Labs Incorporated (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kates, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US12/980,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093217A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/24
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 19/04 for use between floor or ceiling and wall, e.g. skirtings
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2019/0422 of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/048 for determining moisture content of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

Abstract

A moisture sensor system is described. In one embodiment, the provides an adjustable threshold level for the sensed moisture level. The adjustable threshold allows the moisture sensor to adjust to ambient conditions, aging of components, and other operational variations while still providing a relatively sensitive detection capability. In one embodiment, the adjustable threshold moisture sensor is used in an intelligent sensor system that includes one or more intelligent sensor units and a base unit that can communicate with the moisture sensor units. When one or more of the moisture sensor units detects a excess moisture the moisture sensor unit communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the moisture condition. The base unit can contact a supervisor or other responsible person by a plurality of techniques, such as, telephone, pager, cellular telephone, Internet (and/or local area network), etc. In one embodiment, one or more wireless repeaters are used between the moisture sensor units and the base unit to extend the range of the system and to allow the base unit to communicate with a larger number of sensors.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A system for detecting moisture of a substrate, comprising:

a first probe comprising a first conductor with a plurality of pins;

a second probe comprising a second conductor with a plurality of pins;

wherein the first probe and the second probe are configured to engage a substrate;

a moisture sensor configured to measure an impedance between said first probe and said second probe;

a self-test module; and

a processor configured to collect moisture readings by receiving a plurality of measured values from said moisture sensor, said processor configured to compute an impedance from said plurality of measured values and report a possible moisture problem when said impedance falls below a threshold value.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the self-test module provides a resistor to the first conductor and the second conductor.

39. The system of claim 37, further comprising means for receiving instructions to close a water shutoff valve.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein said moisture sensor is provided to a wireless sensor unit configured to report data measured by said moisture sensor when said wireless sensor determines that said impedance fails a threshold test, said wireless sensor unit configured to operating in a low-power mode when not transmitting or receiving data.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein said system is configured to receive an instruction to change a status reporting interval.

42. The system of claim 37, wherein said system is configured to receive an instruction to change a sensor data reporting interval.

43. The system of claim 37, wherein a monitoring computer is configured to monitor a status of said wireless sensor unit.

44. The system of claim 37, wherein a monitoring computer is configured to provide plots of moisture levels.

45. A moisture sensor system, comprising:

sensor unit comprising a moisture sensor provided to a moisture probe, said sensor unit configured to receive instructions, the sensor unit configured to report a severity of moisture level when the sensor unit determines that data measured by the moisture sensor fails a threshold test based on impedance, the sensor unit configured to adjust the threshold test according to sensor reading taken during a specified time period.

46. The moisture sensor system of claim 45, wherein said severity of a moisture level depends at least in part on a length of time said moisture sensor has detected moisture above said threshold level.

47. The moisture sensor system of claim 45, wherein said severity of a moisture level depends at least in part on a rate of raise in said moisture level.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein said system is configured to receive an instruction to change a status reporting interval.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein said system is configured to receive an instruction to change a sensor data reporting interval.

50. The system of claim 45, further comprising a monitoring computer configured to provide plots of moisture levels.

51. The system of claim 45, further comprising a self-test module capable of providing a resistor to the sensor unit.

52. The system of claim 45, further comprising means for receiving instructions to close a water shutoff valve.

53. The system of claim 45, wherein the moisture probe is configured to engage a substrate comprising a wall molding.

54. The system of claim 45, further comprising a monitoring computer configured to monitor a status of the sensor unit.