Immersion detection
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a fluid detection system, comprising:
- providing a fluid detection system comprising a liquid sensor in circuit communication with an air pump and an atmospheric pressure sensor, wherein the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor are encased within an air and water permeable casing;
the casing defining an enclosed air space about the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor;
determining a flood status state of the fluid detection system as flooded or non-flooded;
the atmospheric pressure sensor acquiring a first sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing;
the air pump expelling an additional quantity of gas into the casing;
the atmospheric pressure sensor acquiring a second sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing;
comparing the first and the second pressure sample values; and
determining a failure of the fluid detection system or an immersion of the fluid detection system in fluid in response the comparing of the first and the second sample values and to the determined flood status state.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid detection system comprises a liquid sensor, an air pump and an atmospheric pressure sensor encased within an air and water permeable casing defining an enclosed air space. The pressure sensor acquires pressure samples within the casing, the air pump expelling additional gas into the casing. In response to determining a flood-status or a non-flood-status state of the fluid detection system and comparing the samples, a failure of the fluid detection system or an immersion of the fluid detection system in fluid is determined. In some embodiments, failure is determined if a second sample is greater than a first sample in a non-flooded state, and in others immersion is determined if a second sample is greater than a first sample value and the determined state is flooded. In some examples, gas is expelled across a liquid detection surface and a third sample value is acquired.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a fluid detection system, comprising:
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providing a fluid detection system comprising a liquid sensor in circuit communication with an air pump and an atmospheric pressure sensor, wherein the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor are encased within an air and water permeable casing; the casing defining an enclosed air space about the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor; determining a flood status state of the fluid detection system as flooded or non-flooded; the atmospheric pressure sensor acquiring a first sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing; the air pump expelling an additional quantity of gas into the casing; the atmospheric pressure sensor acquiring a second sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing; comparing the first and the second pressure sample values; and determining a failure of the fluid detection system or an immersion of the fluid detection system in fluid in response the comparing of the first and the second sample values and to the determined flood status state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for determining an immersion of a fluid detection system, comprising:
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providing a fluid detection system comprising a liquid sensor in circuit communication with an air pump and an atmospheric pressure sensor, wherein the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor are encased within an air and water permeable casing, the casing defining an enclosed air space about the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor; the atmospheric pressure sensor acquiring a first sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing; determining a flood status state of the fluid detection system as flooded or non-flooded; in response to a determined flooded state, the atmospheric pressure sensor acquiring a second sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing; comparing the first and second pressure samples; and determining that the fluid detection system is immersed in a fluid if the second sample value is greater than the first sample value. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A service for monitoring a fluid detection system, comprising:
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providing a computer infrastructure being operable to; determine a flooded or a non-flooded status state of a fluid detection system in communication with the computer infrastructure, wherein the fluid detection system comprises a liquid sensor in circuit communication with an air pump and an atmospheric pressure sensor, and wherein the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor are encased within an air and water permeable casing, the casing defining an enclosed air space about the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor; cause the atmospheric pressure sensor to acquire a first sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing; cause the air pump to expel an additional quantity of gas into the casing; cause the atmospheric pressure sensor to acquire a second sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing; compare the first and second pressure samples; and in response to a difference between the first sample value and the second sample value and to the determined flood status state, determine a failure of the fluid detection system or an immersion of the fluid detection system in fluid. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for monitoring a fluid detection system, comprising:
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producing computer executable program code; storing the code on a non-transitory computer readable medium; providing the program code to be deployed and executed on a computer system, the program code causing the computer system to; determine a flooded or a non-flooded status state of a fluid detection system in communication with the computer system, wherein the fluid detection system comprises a liquid sensor in circuit communication with an air pump and an atmospheric pressure sensor, and wherein the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor are encased within an air and water permeable casing, the casing defining an enclosed air space about the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor; cause the atmospheric pressure sensor to acquire a first sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing; cause the air pump to expel an additional quantity of gas into the casing; cause the atmospheric pressure sensor to acquire a second sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing; compare the first and second pressure samples; and in response to a difference between the first sample value and the second sample value and to the determined flood status state, determine a failure of the fluid detection system or an immersion of the fluid detection system in fluid. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A flood detection system, comprising:
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a processing means comprising a logic controller; a liquid sensor in circuit communication with the processing means; an air pump in circuit communication with the processing means; an atmospheric pressure sensor in circuit communication with the processing means; a power supply means connected to the processing means, the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor; and an air permeable and water permeable casing disposed about and encompassing the liquid sensor, the air pump and the atmospheric pressure sensor and defining an enclosed air space; wherein the processing means is configured to; determine a flood status state of the fluid detection system as a flooded state or a non-flooded state; cause the atmospheric pressure sensor to acquire a first sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing; cause the air pump to expel an additional quantity of gas into the casing; cause the atmospheric pressure sensor to acquire a second sample value of atmospheric pressure within the casing; compare the first and second pressure samples; and in response to a difference between the first sample value and the second sample value and to determining the flood status state, determine a failure of the fluid detection system or an immersion of the fluid detection system in fluid. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification