Integrated flood and temperature sensor for use in a home network environment
First Claim
1. A method of environmental sensing for use with a) a portable integrated flood and temperature sensor comprising an enclosure enclosing therein a range tester, a plurality of retractable metal probes each extendable from the interior of the enclosure such that a portion of each probe comes in contact with a surface exterior to the enclosure, a temperature sensor, and a level sensor, and b) a wireless network device remote from and being wirelessly connected to said portable integrated flood and temperature sensor, the method comprising:
- measuring an electrical property at the surface with two or more of the plurality of retractable metal probes;
determining with the portable integrated flood and temperature sensor a presence of water on the surface from the measured electrical property;
sensing a temperature in the vicinity of said surface with the enclosed temperature sensor;
determining an orientation of the integrated flood and temperature sensor with respect to gravity with the enclosed level sensor to confirm that the orientation permits the plurality of retractable metal probes to make contact with the surface;
determining with the enclosed range tester if the wireless network device is in range of the range tester including transmitting a range testing signal from the range tester to the wireless network device;
in response to the wireless network device being in range of the range tester, receiving from the wireless network device a link for communication with the wireless network; and
in response to receiving from the wireless network device the link for communication with the wireless network device, selectively generating a signal indicative of at least one of the determined presence of water, the temperature, and the determined orientation for communication with the wireless network device based on the link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for an integrated flood and temperature sensor may comprise sensing a presence of water in a premises by measuring a resistance between at least one pair of metal probes in an integrated flood and temperature sensor, sensing a temperature utilizing one or more temperature sensors, and sensing an orientation of the integrated flood and temperature sensor with respect to gravity utilizing one or more level sensors. The metal probes may be extendable. The metal probes may be gold plated. A tamper sensor may sense whether an enclosure for the integrated flood and temperature sensor has been tampered with. The presence of water may be sensed utilizing a remote probe. The integrated water and temperature sensor may communicate wirelessly with one or more external devices utilizing a wireless transceiver.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of environmental sensing for use with a) a portable integrated flood and temperature sensor comprising an enclosure enclosing therein a range tester, a plurality of retractable metal probes each extendable from the interior of the enclosure such that a portion of each probe comes in contact with a surface exterior to the enclosure, a temperature sensor, and a level sensor, and b) a wireless network device remote from and being wirelessly connected to said portable integrated flood and temperature sensor, the method comprising:
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measuring an electrical property at the surface with two or more of the plurality of retractable metal probes; determining with the portable integrated flood and temperature sensor a presence of water on the surface from the measured electrical property; sensing a temperature in the vicinity of said surface with the enclosed temperature sensor; determining an orientation of the integrated flood and temperature sensor with respect to gravity with the enclosed level sensor to confirm that the orientation permits the plurality of retractable metal probes to make contact with the surface; determining with the enclosed range tester if the wireless network device is in range of the range tester including transmitting a range testing signal from the range tester to the wireless network device; in response to the wireless network device being in range of the range tester, receiving from the wireless network device a link for communication with the wireless network; and in response to receiving from the wireless network device the link for communication with the wireless network device, selectively generating a signal indicative of at least one of the determined presence of water, the temperature, and the determined orientation for communication with the wireless network device based on the link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A portable environmental sensing device for use with a wireless network device, the portable environmental sensing device comprising:
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an enclosure; a plurality of retractable metal probes each extendable from the interior of the enclosure such that a portion of each probe comes in contact with a surface exterior to the enclosure, and configured to measure an electrical property at the surface between two or more of the retractable metal probes, and to determine a presence of water on the surface from the measured electrical property; a temperature sensor, enclosed within the enclosure, and configured to measure a temperature near said portable environmental sensing device; a level sensor, enclosed within the enclosure, and configured to determine an orientation of the portable integrated flood and temperature sensor with respect to gravity to confirm that the orientation permits the plurality of retractable metal probes to make contact with the surface; a range tester, enclosed within the enclosure, and configured to determine if the wireless network device is in range of the range tester including transmitting a range testing signal from the range tester to the wireless network device; a transceiver, enclosed within the enclosure, and configured to receive from the wireless network device a link for communication with the wireless network in response to the wireless network device being in range of the range tester; and a processor, enclosed within the enclosure, and configured to receive said determined presence of water, said temperature, and said sensed orientation, and, in response to receiving from the wireless network device the link for communication with the wireless network device, to selectively generate a signal indicative of at least one of the determined presence of water, the temperature, and the determined orientation for communication with the wireless network device based on the link. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A portable environmental sensing device for use with a wireless network device, the portable environmental sensing device comprising:
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an enclosure; a plurality of retractable metal probes each extendable from the interior of the enclosure such that a portion of each probe comes in contact with a surface exterior to the enclosure, and configured to measure an electrical property at the surface between two or more of the, and to determine a presence of water on the surface from the measured electrical property; a temperature sensor, enclosed within the enclosure, and configured to measure a temperature near said portable environmental sensing device; a level sensor, enclosed within the enclosure, and configured to determine an orientation of the portable integrated flood and temperature sensor with respect to gravity to confirm that the orientation permits the plurality of retractable metal probes to make contact with the surface; a range tester, enclosed within the enclosure, and configured to determine if the wireless network device is in range of the range tester; and a transceiver, enclosed within the enclosure, and configured a) to transmit a range testing signal from the range tester to the wireless network device, b) to receive from the wireless network device a link for communication with the wireless network in response to the wireless network device being in range of the range tester, and, c) in response to receiving from the wireless network device a link for communication with the wireless network device, wirelessly communicate a message indicating a presence of water, a change in temperature above a threshold change, and/or and the determined orientation with the wireless network device based on the link.
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Specification