System and method for estimating and indicating temperature characteristics of temperature controlled liquids
First Claim
1. A water heater comprising:
- a tank;
a heating source;
a first temperature sensor positioned at a first location with respect to the tank;
a second temperature sensor positioned at a second location with respect to the tank;
a processor coupled to the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the heating source, the processor receives a first temperature value from the first temperature sensor, receives a second temperature value from the second temperature sensor, and controls operation of the heating source; and
a computer readable memory storing water tank temperature profile information and a set of computer instructions, andwherein the computer instructions, when executed on the processor, cause the processor toreceive the first temperature value and the second temperature value,access the water tank temperature profile information,determine an estimated amount of hot water in the tank based on the first temperature value, the second temperature value, and the water tank temperature profile information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to systems and methods for estimating and indicating temperature characteristics of temperature controlled liquids. A system in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a tank filled at least partially with a liquid, such as water, and the system has a plurality of temperature sensors mounted on the tank. During operation, a controller compares temperatures sensed by these temperature sensors to a predefined temperature profile for the liquid within the tank in order to estimate the likely temperature characteristics of such liquid. The controller then reports these estimated temperature characteristics via a user interface. As an example, the controller may estimate and report the amount of liquid above a threshold temperature that can be drawn from the tank. Based on the reported temperature characteristics, a user may make decisions about whether or how to use liquid drawn from the tank.
87 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A water heater comprising:
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a tank; a heating source; a first temperature sensor positioned at a first location with respect to the tank; a second temperature sensor positioned at a second location with respect to the tank; a processor coupled to the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the heating source, the processor receives a first temperature value from the first temperature sensor, receives a second temperature value from the second temperature sensor, and controls operation of the heating source; and a computer readable memory storing water tank temperature profile information and a set of computer instructions, and wherein the computer instructions, when executed on the processor, cause the processor to receive the first temperature value and the second temperature value, access the water tank temperature profile information, determine an estimated amount of hot water in the tank based on the first temperature value, the second temperature value, and the water tank temperature profile information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling a water heater, the water heater including a tank, a heating source, a first temperature sensor positioned at a first location with respect to the tank, a second temperature sensor positioned at a second location with respect to the tank, a memory, and a processor coupled to the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, and the heating source, the method comprising the following acts performed by the processor:
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receiving a first temperature value from the first temperature sensor; receiving a second temperature value from the second temperature sensor; accessing water tank temperature profile information from the memory; determining an estimated amount of hot water in the tank based on the first temperature value, the second temperature value, and the water tank temperature profile information. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification