INFRARED MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130301675A1
• Filed: 05/13/2012
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence E Anderson
• Original Assignee: Lawrence E Anderson
• Inventors: ANDERSON, LAWRENCE E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,164,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/135
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 17/00 Measuring quantity of heat measuring temperature by calorimetry G01K3/00 - G01K11/00; specially adapted for measuring thermal properties of materials, e.g. specific heat, heat of combustion G01N

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring the flow of heat into and out of a building comprising at least one infrared detector adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of a building opening; at least one processor for processing data obtained from the at least one infrared detector; the at least one infrared detector operatively connected to the at least one processor; whereby the at least one infrared detector operates to detect heat transfer through the building opening for processing by the at least one processor, the at least one processor being operative to detect energy usage.

Claims

1. An infrared monitoring system comprising

at least one infrared detector adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of a an external building wall comprising at least one of a window or door for monitoring of heat flow in and out of a building;

at least one processor for processing data obtained from the at least one infrared detector;

the at least one infrared detector operatively connected to the at least one processor;

whereby the at least one infrared detector operates to detect heat transfer through the building wall for processing by the at least one processor, the at least one processor being operative to detect energy usage.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein a first infrared sensor is positioned external to the building wall comprising one of a window or door and a second infrared sensor is positioned internal to the building wall comprising one of a window or door.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one infrared detector comprises one external infrared detector positioned external to the building and one internal infrared detector positioned internal in the building.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one temperature sensor.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises one temperature sensor positioned external to the building and one temperature sensor positioned internal in the building.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one temperature sensor senses a temperature differential of at least 20 degrees Fahrenheit before the at least one infrared detector is activated.

8. The system of claim 3 further comprising a first detector operatively connected to a heat supply within the building;

the heat detector operatively connected to the at least one processor, whereby the external infrared detector is operative when the first detector detects the operation of the heat supply within the building.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one infrared detector is positioned within a range of approximately less than three feet of the building opening.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor operates to calculate and accumulate the duration and intensity of heat transfer in order to approximate energy loss through the building opening.

2. (canceled)

11. A method of monitoring heat loss through at least one building opening comprising positioning at least one infrared detector on opposite sides of a building opening;

operating at least one processor for processing data, the at least one processor being operatively connected to the at least one infrared detector;

whereby the at least one infrared detector operates to detect heat transfer through the building opening for processing by the at least one processor, the at least one processor being operative to detect energy usage.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising at least one temperature sensor;

the at least one temperature sensor being operatively connected to the at least one processor;

whereby when a predetermined temperature differential between temperatures inside and outside the building is sensed, the infrared monitoring system is activated.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one building opening comprises one of a window or door.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one infrared detector comprises one external infrared detector positioned external to the building and one internal infrared detector positioned internal in the building.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising at least one temperature sensor adapted to be positioned external and at least one temperature sensor adapted to be positioned internal to the building, the temperature sensors being operatively connected to the at least one processor;

whereby when a predetermined temperature differential between temperatures inside and outside the building is sensed, the infrared monitoring system is activated.

16. The method claim 15 wherein the at least one temperature sensor senses a temperature differential of at least 20 degrees Fahrenheit before the at least one infrared detector is activated.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising a first detector operatively connected to a heat supply within the building;

the heat detector operatively connected to the at least one processor, whereby the external infrared detector is operative when the first detector detects the operation of the heat supply within the building.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one infrared detector is positioned within a range of approximately less than three feet of the building opening.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one processor operates to calculate and accumulate the duration and intensity of heat transfer in order to approximate energy loss through the building opening.

20. An infrared monitoring system for building openings comprising

at least one infrared detector adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of a building opening;

at least one processor for processing data obtained from the at least one infrared detector;

the at least one infrared detector operatively connected to the at least one processor;

at least one temperature sensor;

the at least one temperature sensor being operatively connected to the at least one processor;

whereby when a predetermined temperature differential between temperatures inside and outside the building is sensed, the infrared monitoring system is activated.

whereby the at least one infrared detector operates to detect heat transfer through the building opening for processing by the at least one processor, the at least one processor being operative to detect energy usage.