Water-leakage detecting apparatus and method which are little influenced by noise
First Claim
1. A water leakage detecting apparatus comprising:
- vibration detection means for detecting a vibration generated due to water leakage;
integration means, connected to said detection means, for integrating over a predetermined time period each time interval for which a vibration level of the vibration detected by said detection means exceeds a predetermined value, said integration means performing the integration over a plurality of said predetermined time periods to obtain a plurality of integration values; and
determination means for receiving the plurality of integration values calculated by said integration means, for selecting a minimum value of the plurality of integration values as an integration value obtained when an influence of noise is minimum, for comparing the selected minimum value with a preset reference value, and for, when the minimum value exceeds the reference value, determining a presence of water leakage, and when the minimum value is smaller than the reference value, determining an absence of water leakage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor detects a vibration generated due to water leakage. An integration circuit integrates time intervals for which a signal obtained by absolute-value amplifying an output signal from the sensor exceeds a predetermined level within a predetermined period of time. The integration circuit performs the integration a plurality of times. A detection circuit selects a minimum value of a plurality of integration values obtained by the plurality of measurements as an integration value obtained when the influence of unrelated noise is at a minimum and compares the minimum value with a preset reference value. When the minimum value exceeds the reference value, the detection circuit determines the presence of water leakage, and when the minimum value is smaller than the reference value, determines the absence of water leakage.
26 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A water leakage detecting apparatus comprising:
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vibration detection means for detecting a vibration generated due to water leakage; integration means, connected to said detection means, for integrating over a predetermined time period each time interval for which a vibration level of the vibration detected by said detection means exceeds a predetermined value, said integration means performing the integration over a plurality of said predetermined time periods to obtain a plurality of integration values; and determination means for receiving the plurality of integration values calculated by said integration means, for selecting a minimum value of the plurality of integration values as an integration value obtained when an influence of noise is minimum, for comparing the selected minimum value with a preset reference value, and for, when the minimum value exceeds the reference value, determining a presence of water leakage, and when the minimum value is smaller than the reference value, determining an absence of water leakage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of detecting water leakage, comprising the steps of:
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detecting whether current time coincides with a plurality of predetermined integration start timings; upon each detection that current time coincides with one of said plurality of predetermined integration start timings, performing the following steps; detecting a vibration of at least one of a water channel and an object coupled thereto and capable of transmitting vibration, integrating over a predetermined time period each time interval for which a vibration level of the detected vibration exceeds a predetermined level, and interrupting the integration upon expiration of the predetermined time period, thereby obtaining a plurality of integration values corresponding to the integration performed in each predetermined time period; and selecting a minimum value of the plurality of integration values obtained by integrating during each of said plurality of predetermined time periods; comparing one minimum value with a preset reference value; and determining a presence of water leakage when the minimum value exceeds the reference value and an absence of water leakage when the minimum value is smaller than the reference value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A water leakage detecting apparatus comprising:
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vibration detection means for detecting a vibration of at least one of a water channel and an object acoustically coupled thereto; vibration level detection means, connected to said vibration detection means, for detecting if a vibration level of the vibration detected by said vibration detection means exceeds a predetermined vibration level; integration means, connected to said vibration level detection means, for integrating over a predetermined time period each time interval for which the vibration level exceeds the predetermined vibration level in response to an output signal from said vibration level detection means; control means for controlling said integration means and causing said integration means to perform the integration a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of integration values; and determination means for receiving the plurality of integration values obtained from said integration means, selecting a minimum value of the plurality of integration values, comparing the minimum value with a predetermined reference value, and for, when the minimum value exceeds the reference value, determining a presence of water leakage, and when the minimum value is smaller than the reference value, determining an absence of water leakage. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification