Flow detector with alarm features
First Claim
1. A flow detection device for detecting flow associated with a fluid source, said flow detection device comprising:
- a processor enclosed by a housing configured for being associated with a fluid source;
a memory that is one of (a) electrically associated with said processor and (b) integral to said processor, wherein said memory is configured to store data representing alert-criteria and flow-criteria;
a flow sensor electrically associated with said processor and disposed within said housing at a position to allow said flow sensor to detect at least one of (a) fluid flow through said fluid source and (b) fluid flow in a fluid source;
an environment sensor electrically associated with said processor and mechanically associated with said housing and configured for generating environment sensor signals related to an environmental parameter;
an alert-generator mechanically associated with said housing wherein said alert-generator is at least one of (a) a sound generator electrically associated with said processor and configured for generating a sound based alert and (b) a visual signal generator electrically associated with said processor and configured for generating a visual based alert;
wherein said processor is configured for using said flow sensor and said flow-criteria to detect a predefined flow condition; and
wherein said processor is further configured to activated said alert-generator according to said alert-criteria for a detected flow condition.
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Abstract
The disclosed invention relates to detecting a flow condition in a fluid supply system. The invention is particularly useful for detecting flow in a toilet system. The flow detection device comprises a processor associated with a flow sensor. Predefined flow criteria are stored in a memory associated with said processor. When the processor detects flow through the fluid supply system, the processor uses the flow criteria to characterize the detected flow. If such flow complies with predefined flow conditions, a flow event is noted and an alert is issue. Such alert is configured according to predefined alert-criteria stored in a memory.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A flow detection device for detecting flow associated with a fluid source, said flow detection device comprising:
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a processor enclosed by a housing configured for being associated with a fluid source; a memory that is one of (a) electrically associated with said processor and (b) integral to said processor, wherein said memory is configured to store data representing alert-criteria and flow-criteria; a flow sensor electrically associated with said processor and disposed within said housing at a position to allow said flow sensor to detect at least one of (a) fluid flow through said fluid source and (b) fluid flow in a fluid source; an environment sensor electrically associated with said processor and mechanically associated with said housing and configured for generating environment sensor signals related to an environmental parameter; an alert-generator mechanically associated with said housing wherein said alert-generator is at least one of (a) a sound generator electrically associated with said processor and configured for generating a sound based alert and (b) a visual signal generator electrically associated with said processor and configured for generating a visual based alert; wherein said processor is configured for using said flow sensor and said flow-criteria to detect a predefined flow condition; and wherein said processor is further configured to activated said alert-generator according to said alert-criteria for a detected flow condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A flow detection device for detecting water flow through a toilet, said flow detection device comprising:
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a processor enclosed by a housing configured for being associated with at least one of (a) a toilet bowl and (b) a toilet tank; a memory that is one of (a) electrically associated with said processor and (b) integral to said processor, said memory configured to store alert-criteria and flow-criteria; a flow sensor electrically associated with said processor, said flow sensor suitably associated with said housing to allow said flow sensor to detect fluid flow through at least one of said toliet bowl and said toliet tank; an alert-generator comprising at least one of (a) a sound generator electrically associated with said processor and configured for generating a sound based alert and a visual signal generator electrically associated with said processor and configured for generating a visual based alert; wherein said processor is configured for using said flow sensor and said flow-criteria to detect a predefined flow condition; and wherein said processor is further configured to activated said alert-generator according to said alert-criteria for the detected flow condition. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A flow detection device for detecting water flow in a water supply line associated with a toilet, said flow detection device comprising:
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a processor enclosed by a housing, wherein said housing comprises at least one arm for mechanically associating said housing with said water supply line and wherein said processor is configured to track time to determine time-data; a memory that is one of (a) electrically associated with said processor and (b) integral to said processor, said memory configured to store alert-criteria and flow-criteria and wherein said alert-criteria includes time-criteria; a microphone electrically associated with said processor via an amplifier circuit, said microphone disposed in said housing so that said microphone is substantially adjacent to said water supply line; an alert-generator comprising at least one of (a) a sound generator electrically associated with said processor and configured for generating a sound based and (b) a light generator electrically associated with said processor and configured for generating a light based alert; wherein said processor is configured for using said microphone to listen for water flow though said water line to generate flow-data, said processor further configured to use said flow-data and said flow-criteria to detect a predefined flow condition; and wherein said processor is further configured to activated said alert-generator when said time-data satisfies said time-criteria. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification