Systems and methods for detecting a liquid

• US 9,506,886 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Helvetia Wireless, LLC
• Inventors: Woodbury, Brian C., Lastinger, Roc
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): RHODES-VIVOUR, TEMILADE S
• Application Number:
  US14/265,520
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/00 Multi-cylinder machines or pumps characterised by number or arrangement of cylinders machines or pumps with pistons coacting within one cylinder F04B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/00 Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow measuring a proportion of the volume flow G01F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 22/00 Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/12 of a solid body in dependence upon absorption of a fluid; of a solid body in dependence upon reaction with a fluid , for detecting components in the fluid

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting a liquid. Detection a liquid may include detecting liquid at a boundary of an area and reporting the presence of the liquid. Reporting liquid at a boundary may prevent leaking of the liquid form the area. Detecting also includes detecting liquid inside the area. The amount of liquid detected inside the boundary may relate to a range of amounts of liquid. The minimum amount of the range may represent the minimum amount of liquid that is permissible in the area prior to taking action to deal with the liquid.

Claims

1. A system for detecting at least one of a liquid in a portion of an area and the liquid exiting the area, the system comprising:

a first conductor, a first portion of the first conductor positioned within a first portion of the area, a second portion of the first conductor positioned within a second portion of the area;

a second conductor positioned within the first portion of the area, a portion of the second conductor positioned along an outer boundary of the area;

a third conductor positioned within the second portion of the area, a portion of the third conductor positioned along the outer boundary of the area;

a fourth conductor positioned along the outer boundary of the area;

wherein;

the first conductor is positioned at least a first distance away from the second conductor and the third conductor;

a first portion of the fourth conductor is positioned at most a second distance from the portion of the second conductor that is positioned along the outer boundary;

the fourth conductor is positioned at most a second distance from the portion of the second conductor that is positioned along the outer boundary;

a second portion of the fourth conductor is positioned at most a second distance from the portion of the third conductor that is positioned along the outer boundary;

a first electrical circuit between the first conductor and the second conductor indicates that the liquid is positioned within the outer boundary in the first portion of the area;

a second electrical circuit between the first conductor and the third conductor indicates that the liquid is positioned within the outer boundary in the second portion of the area;

a third electrical circuit between the fourth conductor and the second conductor indicates that the liquid has crossed the outer boundary in the first portion of the area so as to exit the area; and

a fourth electrical circuit between the fourth conductor and the third conductor indicates that the liquid has crossed the boundary in the second portion of the area so as to exit the area.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein upon detecting at least one of the third electrical circuit and the fourth electrical circuit a volume of liquid at the outer boundary is related to the second distance.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein upon detecting at least one of the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit a volume of liquid within the outer boundary is related to the first distance.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the first distance is less than the second distance; and

a first volume of liquid detectable at the outer boundary is less than a second volume of liquid detectable within the outer boundary.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein prior to detecting a liquid at the boundary, the liquid may spread a distance in a range of the second distance and about two times the second distance.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein prior to detecting a liquid within the boundary, the liquid may spread a distance in a range of the first distance and about two times the first distance.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an absorbent layer, wherein:

the absorbent layer is positioned in the area and along the outer boundary;

the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor contact the absorbent layer; and

detecting at least one of the third electrical circuit and the fourth electrical circuit indicates that the liquid is about to leak from the absorbent layer.

9. A system for detecting at least one of a liquid in a portion of an area and the liquid exiting the area, the system comprising:

a first conductor;

a second conductor;

a third conductor; and

a fourth conductor;

wherein;

the first conductor, second conductor, third conductor, and forth conductor are positioned within the area without contacting each other;

a first electrical circuit between the first conductor and the second conductor indicates that the liquid is positioned within a first portion of the area;

a second electrical circuit between the first conductor and the third conductor indicates that the liquid is positioned within a second portion of the area;

a third electrical circuit between the fourth conductor and the second conductor indicates that the liquid has crossed an outer boundary in the first portion of the area so as to exit the area; and

a fourth electrical circuit between the fourth conductor and the third conductor indicates that the liquid has crossed the outer boundary in the second portion of the area so as to exit the area.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising an absorbent layer, wherein:

the absorbent layer is positioned in the area and along the outer boundary;

the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor contact the absorbent layer; and

detecting at least one of the third electrical circuit and the fourth electrical circuit indicates that the liquid is about to leak from the absorbent layer.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein:

a first portion of the first conductor is positioned within the first portion of the area; and

a second portion of the first conductor positioned within the second portion of the area.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the second conductor is positioned within the first portion of the area; and

a portion of the second conductor is positioned along the outer boundary of the area.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the third conductor is positioned within the second portion of the area; and

a portion of the third conductor is positioned along the outer boundary of the area.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the fourth conductor is positioned along the outer boundary of the area.

15. A system for detecting at least one of a liquid in a portion of an area and the liquid exiting the area, the system comprising:

a first conductor positioned within a first portion of the area and within an outer boundary of the area;

a second conductor positioned within the second portion of the area and within the outer boundary of the area;

a third conductor, a first portion of the third conductor positioned within the first portion of the area, a second portion of the third conductor positioned in the second portion of the area, a third portion of the third conductor positioned along the outer boundary in the first portion of the area, a fourth portion of the third conductor positioned along the outer boundary in the second portion of the area;

a fourth conductor positioned along the outer boundary of the area;

wherein;

the second conductor is positioned at least a first distance from the first conductor and the third conductor;

the second conductor is positioned at most a second distance from the fourth conductor along the outer boundary;

a first electrical circuit between the first conductor and the second conductor indicates that the liquid is positioned within the outer boundary in the first portion of the area;

a second electrical circuit between the third conductor and the second conductor indicates that the liquid is positioned within the outer boundary in the second portion of the area; and

a third electrical circuit between the fourth conductor and the second conductor indicates that the liquid has crossed the outer boundary so as to exit the area.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein:

the first conductor is positioned a third distance from the third conductor; and

a fourth electrical circuit between the first conductor and the third conductor indicates that the liquid is positioned within the boundary in a third portion of the area.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein upon detecting the third electrical circuit, a volume of liquid at the outer boundary is related to the second distance.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein upon detecting at least one of the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit, a volume of liquid within the outer boundary is related to the first distance.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein:

the second distance is less than the first distance; and

a first volume of liquid detectable at the outer boundary is less than a second volume of liquid detectable within the outer boundary.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprising an absorbent layer, wherein:

the absorbent layer is positioned in the area and along the outer boundary;

the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor contact the absorbent layer; and

detecting the third electrical circuit indicates that the liquid is about to leak from the absorbent layer.