ESTIMATING GAS USAGE IN A GAS BURNING DEVICE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor module apparatus comprising:
- at least one transducer that obtains a measurement of one aspect of the combustion process of a gas-burning device; and
a microprocessor to calculate gas usage of the gas-burning device based on the measurement obtained by the at least one transducer.
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Abstract
An apparatus includes at least one transducer that obtains a measurement of one aspect of the combustion process of a gas-burning device. The apparatus also includes a microprocessor to calculate gas usage of the gas-burning device based on the measurement obtained by the at least one transducer. Also included are methods for using the apparatus.
17 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A sensor module apparatus comprising:
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at least one transducer that obtains a measurement of one aspect of the combustion process of a gas-burning device; and a microprocessor to calculate gas usage of the gas-burning device based on the measurement obtained by the at least one transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A sensor module apparatus comprising:
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at least one transducer that obtains a measurement of one aspect of the combustion process of a gas-burning device; and a radio frequency carrier to link the sensor module to a home energy management system to transmit the measurement of one aspect of the combustion process of a gas-burning device and a time stamp to the home energy management system to calculate gas usage of the gas-burning device based on the measurement obtained by the at least one transducer.
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10. A method comprising the steps of:
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calculating a running average of temperature data and corresponding time data for a component of a gas-burning device for a given timeframe; calculating a first derivative of the running average data; calculating a second derivative of the running average data; identifying one or more peaks in the second derivative data; identifying one or more valleys in the second derivative data; using the first derivative data to select valley data points among the one or more identified valleys in the second derivative data; subtracting the selected valley data point from the selected peak data point to determine an amount of time of gas usage; and using the amount of time of gas usage to calculate a volume of gas used based on one or more parameters of the gas-burning device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising the steps of:
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collecting temperature data and corresponding time data for a component of a gas-burning device; analyzing the temperature data to determine a time at which the gas-burning device begins burning gas and a time at which the gas-burning device ends burning gas; calculating a time duration of gas consumption by the gas-burning device based on the time at which the gas-burning device begins burning gas and the time at which the gas-burning device ends burning gas; calculating an amount of energy used during the calculated time duration of gas consumption based on the time duration and one or more parameters of the gas-burning device; and calculating a volume of gas used during the time duration of gas consumption based on the calculated amount of energy used and one or more parameters of the gas-burning device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A system for determining burner duration of an appliance having a gas burner, the system comprising:
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a temperature sensor responsive to temperature of a structure of the appliance heated by the gas burner; and a processor coupled to a memory, and operatively connected to the temperature sensor to receive and store temperature data from the sensor and process the data to detect turning on of the gas burner and turning off of the gas burner and to determine a duration of time between the turning on and turning off of the burner. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for determining gas consumed by an appliance having a gas burner, the method comprising:
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identifying turning on times of the burner; identifying turning off times of the burner; determining a burner duration of time the burner is on time by determining a time lapse between the turning on time and the turning off time; and calculating an amount of gas consumed as a function of the duration of time the burner is on.
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Specification