Flow sensing device

• US 9,335,297 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Watertally, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Watertally, Inc.
• Inventors: Cummins, Ryan M., Cummins, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, John H
• Application Number:
  US13/774,530
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 702/45, 702/47, 702/48, 702/50, 702/51, 702/54, 702/66, 702/71, 702/75, 738/61, 137/389, 137/468, 239/71, 340/573.1, 340/606, 700/282
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/072 Arrangement of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/02 Plumbing installations for fresh water
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/057 touchless, i.e. using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/015 Attenuation, scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02836 Flow rate, liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/42 by frequency filtering or by tuning to resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4427 with stored values, e.g. threshold values
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A non-invasive, hands-free “water flow device” senses when water is and is not flowing and can give the user a visual display, of the real time water flow duration and quantity of water used by a shower (or other water dispensing device), for example. The water flow device may use an acoustic transducer (e.g., a microphone) to sense the acoustic waves generated by the flow of water during a shower. For example, the flow or lack of flow of water may be determined by analyzing the acoustic signature and/or amplitude of sounds (e.g., within a certain frequency range) in the shower.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring use of a shower, the device comprising:

a mounting mechanism for mounting the device on a surface of the shower so that the device is not in direct contact with water carrying components of the shower;

an acoustic transducer;

a processor configured to;

maintain the device in a first operational mode wherein the processor;

receives acoustic data from the acoustic transducer;

determines an amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data within a predetermined frequency range, wherein the predetermined frequency range includes a peak frequency of sound created by water exiting a shower head or water flowing;

in response to determining that the amplitude and/or signal pattern is above a predetermined threshold for a first predetermined time period, initiating a second operational mode of the device, wherein in the second operational mode, the processor;

tracks a time period for the device in the second operational mode;

monitors the amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data within the predetermined frequency range;

in response to determining that the amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data is below the predetermined threshold for a second predetermined time period, transmitting the tracked time period to an external device and initiating return of the device to the first operational mode.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the acoustic transducer comprises a microphone.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined frequency range comprises frequencies between about 20 kHz to 25 kHz.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the predetermined frequency range comprises frequencies between about 23 kHz to 25 kHz.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold is an amplitude of more than about 50% higher than an amplitude of the acoustic data within the predetermined frequency range when water is not exiting the shower head.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold is an amplitude of more than about twice an amplitude of the acoustic data within the predetermined frequency range when water is not exiting the shower head.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined time period is about 500 milliseconds and the second predetermined time period is about 750 milliseconds.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device consumes less power in the first operational mode than in the second operational mode.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive data from a mobile computing device and to provide a visible and/or audible indication of the received data.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the mobile computing device comprises a cellular phone and the visible and/or audible indication indicates that a phone call and/or text message has been received on the cellular phone.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device comprises a text to voice module configures to convert textual data in the received data into audible words that are played on one or more speakers of the device.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the mobile computing device communicates with the device via a Bluetooth communication link.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the tracked time period is transmitted via one or more networks to the external device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the tracked time period is accessible by other computing devices also in communication with the external device via one or more networks.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the external device comprises an online portal that stores the tracked time period and provides summary information regarding multiple tracked time periods from the device.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive advertising data from the external device or another device.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive water trivia data from the external device or another device.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a touch sensitive screen that is configured to receive feedback from the user.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises one or more suction cups and is configured for mounting in a shower.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein device further comprises a battery compartment configured to receive one or more batteries configured for powering the processor.

21. A device for monitoring use of a shower, the device configured for placement outside of direct contact with water carrying components of the shower, the device comprising:

an acoustic transducer; and

a processor configured to;

maintain the device in a first operational mode wherein the processor;

receives acoustic data from the acoustic transducer;

determines an amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data within a predetermined frequency range, wherein the predetermined frequency range includes a peak frequency of sound created by water exiting a shower head or water flowing;

in response to determining that the amplitude and/or signal pattern is above a predetermined threshold for a first predetermined time period, initiating a second operational mode of the device, wherein in the second operational mode, the processor;

tracks a time period for the device in the second operational mode;

monitors the amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data within the predetermined frequency range;

in response to determining that the amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data is below the predetermined threshold for a second predetermined time period, transmitting the tracked time period to an external device and

initiating return of the device to the first operational mode.

22. A non-transitory computer readable storage device storing a water use module comprising software instructions executable by a computing device placed outside of direct contact of water carrying components, the computing device having an acoustic transducer and a processor, execution of the water use module causing the computing device to:

maintain the water use module in a first operational mode wherein the processor;

receives acoustic data from the acoustic transducer;

determines an amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data within a predetermined frequency range, wherein the predetermined frequency range includes a peak frequency of sound created by water exiting a shower head or water flowing;

in response to determining that the amplitude and/or signal pattern is above a predetermined threshold for a first predetermined time period, initiating a second operational mode of the water use module, wherein in the second operational mode the processor;

tracks a time period for the water use module in the second operational mode;

monitors the amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data within the predetermined frequency range;

in response to determining that the amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data is below the predetermined threshold for a second predetermined time period, transmitting an alert indicating the tracked time period to an external device; and

initiating return of the water use module to the first operational mode.