Wireless MEMS sensing device
First Claim
1. A filter module for filtering a fluid, said filter module comprising:
- a filter element having an end cap at an end thereof, said filter element receiving said fluid in an unfiltered state at an inlet side and producing said fluid in a filtered state at an outlet side;
a single-body sensor component coupled to said end cap, said sensor component having a single housing and at least a first sensor package and a second sensor package disposed within said housing, each said sensor package including a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor, and each said sensor package being configured to measure at least one member selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, and flow rate; and
a transmitter coupled to said sensor component, said transmitter being configured to wirelessly transmit measurement data to a remote signal receiver, wherein said filter element, said end cap, and said sensor component are adapted to be housed within a casing, and wherein said first sensor package is adapted to be in communication with said unfiltered fluid upstream of said filter element and said second sensor package is adapted to be in communication with said filtered fluid downstream of said filter element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor component that may be used in conjunction with a filter module may include a plurality of sensor packages. The latter, in turn, may incorporate one or more micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors to measure various characteristics of fluid flow and filtration. A single sensor component may be adapted to measure the pressure, temperature, flow rate, differential pressure, conductivity, viscosity, pH level, etc. of the fluid at an upstream and a downstream location. Sensor measurements may be obtained continuously in order to monitor and indicate fluid conditions, including the use of a warning mechanism to indicate an out-of-range condition when the measurements fall outside of pre-set limits. Depending on the application and the fluid being filtered, data, including measurement data, may be transmitted through electrical connections or wirelessly. In wireless configurations, a sleep-mode may be included to maximize the life of local power supplies.
74 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A filter module for filtering a fluid, said filter module comprising:
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a filter element having an end cap at an end thereof, said filter element receiving said fluid in an unfiltered state at an inlet side and producing said fluid in a filtered state at an outlet side;
a single-body sensor component coupled to said end cap, said sensor component having a single housing and at least a first sensor package and a second sensor package disposed within said housing, each said sensor package including a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor, and each said sensor package being configured to measure at least one member selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, and flow rate; and
a transmitter coupled to said sensor component, said transmitter being configured to wirelessly transmit measurement data to a remote signal receiver, wherein said filter element, said end cap, and said sensor component are adapted to be housed within a casing, and wherein said first sensor package is adapted to be in communication with said unfiltered fluid upstream of said filter element and said second sensor package is adapted to be in communication with said filtered fluid downstream of said filter element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A filter module for filtering a fluid, said filter module comprising:
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a filter element having an end cap at an end thereof, said filter element receiving said fluid in an unfiltered state upstream of the filter element and producing said fluid in a filtered state downstream of the filter element;
a single-body sensor component coupled to said end cap through a sensor port defined therethrough, said sensor component having a single housing and a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor disposed within said housing, wherein said first pressure sensor is adapted to be in communication with said unfiltered fluid and said second pressure sensor is adapted to be in communication with said filtered fluid so as to enable calculation of a differential pressure based on respective measurements of said first and second pressure sensors;
a casing having top and bottom ends, said casing configured to house therein said filter element, said end cap, and said sensor component;
a signal receiver coupled to said bottom end of said casing; and
a transmitter coupled to said sensor component, wherein said transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit measurement data from said first and second pressure sensors to said signal receiver, wherein said first and second pressure sensors are micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A filter module for filtering a fluid, said filter module comprising:
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a filter element having an end cap at an end thereof, said filter element receiving said fluid in an unfiltered state at an inlet side upstream of the filter element and producing said fluid in a filtered state at an outlet side downstream of the filter element;
a single-body sensor component coupled to said end cap through a sensor port defined therethrough, said sensor component having a single housing, a first sensor package that is adapted to be in communication with said unfiltered fluid and a second sensor package that is adapted to be in communication with said filtered fluid, said first sensor package including a first micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor, said second sensor package including a second MEMS sensor, and both of the first and second sensor packages being disposed within said single housing;
a casing having top and bottom ends, said casing configured to house therein said filter element, said end cap, and said sensor component;
a signal receiver coupled to said bottom end of said casing;
a transmitter coupled to said sensor component, said transmitter being configured to wirelessly transmit measurement data from said first and second MEMS sensors to said signal receiver; and
a sleep-mode feature, wherein said first and second MEMS sensors and said signal receiver are configured to remain in an unactuated state in the absence of fluid flow, said first and second MEMS sensors becoming actuated once fluid flow is initiated, and said signal receiver becoming actuated upon receipt of said measurement data. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification