Apparatus, system and method for monitoring a drying procedure

• US 7,403,126 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RM2 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RM2 Incorporated
• Inventors: Pedraza, Mark A., Lubeski, Richard G., O'Connell, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeff
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US11/639,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20070103319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 236/44.A, 236/44.C
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/70 Drying or keeping dry, e.g. by air vents using damp-proof courses E04B1/644; using sealings, e.g. sealing masses or foils, E04B1/66; during erection E04G21/28
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0008 for air-humidification F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/14 by humidification; by dehumidification
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/22 Controlling the drying process in dependence on liquid content of solid materials or objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method provide drying procedure information through a user interface. A monitoring device transmits drying procedure data measured by sensors within a structure undergoing the drying procedure to a server. In response to requests received through a communication network from a user interface, the server transmits the drying procedure information that is presented through the user interface. A variety of information and services related to the drying procedure may be provided through the user interface.

Claims

1. A moisture monitoring device comprising:

a controller;

a non-penetrating moisture sensor configured to measure a moisture content of a material forming at least a portion of a structure undergoing a drying procedure to remove moisture from the material;

a mechanism responsive to the controller to direct the non-penetrating moisture sensor at a first section of a structure and to a second section of the structure, the non-penetrating moisture sensor measuring a first moisture content of the first section when directed at the first section and measuring a second moisture content of the second section when directed at the second section.

2. A moisture monitoring device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit drying procedure data indicative of the first moisture content and the second moisture content.

3. A moisture monitoring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises:

a rotating arm; and

a motor responsive to the controller to direct the non-penetrating moisture sensor at a plurality of sections of the structure, the non-penetrating mechanism measuring a plurality of moisture contents of the plurality of sections of the structure.

4. A moisture monitoring device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the plurality of sections are distributed on a wall of the structure.

5. A moisture monitoring device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the rotating arm is configured to rotate 360 degrees to allow the non-penetrating moisture sensor to measure the moisture contents of the plurality of sections distributed over a plurality of walls surrounding the moisture monitoring device.

6. A moisture monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a distance sensor, the drying procedure data comprising distance information indicative of a distance between the non-penetrating moisture sensor and at least one section of the first section and second section.

7. A moisture monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a digital camera, the drying procedure data comprising image information based on the digital camera signals and indicative of the first section and the second section.

8. A moisture monitoring device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the material is selected from the group comprising concrete, wood, drywall, plywood, brick, pressboard, plaster, carpet, and insulation.

9. A graphical user interface comprising:

drying procedure information based on drying procedure data obtained from a moisture monitoring device at a structure undergoing a drying procedure to remove moisture from a material at least partially forming the structure, the drying procedure information comprising;

a visual model of the structure representing at least a portion of the structure; and

moisture level content of a plurality of sections of the structure.

10. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 9, wherein different moisture level contents of the plurality of sections are represented with different colors.

11. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 9, wherein the visual model comprises a photographic representation of the at least a portion of the structure.

12. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 9, wherein the visual model comprises a three dimensional model.

13. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 12, wherein the graphical user interface is responsive to a user input to change a perspective of the representation of the structure to provide a virtual walkthrough of the structure.

14. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 9, wherein the moisture monitoring device comprises:

a controller;

a non-penetrating moisture sensor configured to measure the moisture content;

a mechanism responsive to the controller to direct the non-penetrating moisture sensor at a first section of a structure and to a second section of the structure, the non-penetrating moisture sensor measuring a first moisture content of the first section when directed at the first section and measuring a second moisture content of the second section when directed at the second section.

15. A graphical user interface comprising in accordance with claim 9, wherein the material is selected from the group comprising concrete, wood, drywall, plywood, brick, pressboard, plaster, carpet, and insulation.

16. A drying procedure monitoring system comprising:

a server adapted to transmit, through a communication network to a user interface, drying procedure information based on drying procedure data acquired at a structure undergoing a drying procedure to remove moisture from a material forming at least a portion of the structure, the drying procedure data comprising moisture content values of a plurality of sections of the structure.

17. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 16, further comprising:

moisture monitoring device configured to direct a non-penetrating moisture sensor at the plurality of sections to obtain the drying procedure data.

18. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the drying procedure information comprises:

a visual model of the structure representing at least a portion of the structure; and

moisture level content of the plurality of sections of the structure.

19. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 18, wherein different moisture level contents of the plurality of sections are represented with different colors at the user interface.

20. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the drying procedure data comprises a photographic information generating a photographic representation of the at least a portion of the structure at the user interface.

21. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 20, wherein the visual model comprises a three dimensional model.

22. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 21, wherein the server is responsive to a user input, entered through the user interface and received through the communication network, to change a perspective of the representation of the structure to provide a virtual walkthrough of the structure at the user interface.

23. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the moisture monitoring device comprises:

a controller;

a non-penetrating moisture sensor configured to measure the moisture content;

a mechanism responsive to the controller to direct the non-penetrating moisture sensor at a first section of a structure and to a second section of the structure, the non-penetrating moisture sensor measuring a first moisture content of the first section when directed at the first section and measuring a second moisture content of the second section when directed at the second section.

24. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the material is selected from the group comprising concrete, wood, drywall, plywood, brick, pressboard, plaster, carpet, and insulation.