Water use monitoring apparatus
DCFirst Claim
1. A water use monitoring and leak detection apparatus comprising:
- a base station apparatus designed to be connected to a main water supply means;
said base station includes a joint means for connecting to a cold/ambient water supply, or a joint means for connecting to a cold/ambient water supply and a joint means for connecting to a hot water supply, said base station have a joint means for connecting to outgoing water supply line(s) for a home residence, company or building structure;
electrical circuitry including one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers with a power source contained with said base station apparatus;
said power source is either AC powered, DC powered, or powered with one or more batteries, said power source is electrically connected to said electrical circuitry;
one or more flow sensors in communication with a water supply, said one or more flow sensors in electrical communication with said electrical circuitry;
one or more wired or wireless electrical communication means, said wired or wireless electrical communication means having the capability to transfer water parameter, water energy and/or water quality information or data to one or more remote apparatuses, said wired or wireless electrical communication means utilizes protection technology to securely provide water use, water energy and/or water quality information and/or data in a confidential format;
said base station includes mesh-enabled circuitry that can communicate with other base stations for transferring water flow, water energy and/or water quality data;
said base station(s) functioning as one or more access points that transfer said water flow, water energy and/or water quality data, using encryption and identification technology to an internet connection;
said water flow, water energy and/or water quality data transferred over the internet connection to one or more remote computers or computer servers, and;
said remote computers or servers allow registered owners and users to access their registered water flow, water energy and/or water quality data using a cell phone, smart phone, mobile phone, or a mobile electronic communication device.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a water use and/or a water energy use monitoring apparatus that is affixed to the hot and cold water supply piping for continuously (or on demand) monitoring displaying the water and water energy (hot vs. ambient) use within a residential or commercial building. The water use monitor apparatus includes a power generation, a microprocessor, temperature and water flow sensors, optional water quality sensors, timing circuits, wireless circuitry, and a display means. A wired or wireless means is designed to electronically communicate water use, water energy use and/or water quality information to a remotely located display apparatus or typical cell phone, smart phones, or similar apparatus for convenient observation by a commercial, operator or occupier, resident, municipal or government agency.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A water use monitoring and leak detection apparatus comprising:
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a base station apparatus designed to be connected to a main water supply means; said base station includes a joint means for connecting to a cold/ambient water supply, or a joint means for connecting to a cold/ambient water supply and a joint means for connecting to a hot water supply, said base station have a joint means for connecting to outgoing water supply line(s) for a home residence, company or building structure; electrical circuitry including one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers with a power source contained with said base station apparatus; said power source is either AC powered, DC powered, or powered with one or more batteries, said power source is electrically connected to said electrical circuitry; one or more flow sensors in communication with a water supply, said one or more flow sensors in electrical communication with said electrical circuitry; one or more wired or wireless electrical communication means, said wired or wireless electrical communication means having the capability to transfer water parameter, water energy and/or water quality information or data to one or more remote apparatuses, said wired or wireless electrical communication means utilizes protection technology to securely provide water use, water energy and/or water quality information and/or data in a confidential format; said base station includes mesh-enabled circuitry that can communicate with other base stations for transferring water flow, water energy and/or water quality data; said base station(s) functioning as one or more access points that transfer said water flow, water energy and/or water quality data, using encryption and identification technology to an internet connection; said water flow, water energy and/or water quality data transferred over the internet connection to one or more remote computers or computer servers, and; said remote computers or servers allow registered owners and users to access their registered water flow, water energy and/or water quality data using a cell phone, smart phone, mobile phone, or a mobile electronic communication device. - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30)
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2. A water use monitoring and leak detection apparatus comprising:
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a base station in close proximity to a main water supply; said base station includes a joint means for connecting to a cold/ambient water supply, or a joint means for connecting to a cold/ambient water supply and a joint means for connecting to a hot water supply, said base station have a joint means for connecting to outgoing water supply line(s) for a home residence, company or building structure; said base station further comprising a first power supply, said first power supply is either AC powered, DC powered, or powered with one or more batteries, said first power supply electrically connected to a first circuitry which has one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers; one or more water flow sensors in communication with a water supply, said one or more water flow sensors in electrical connection with a first electrical circuitry; said base station monitors and processes water parameter data including water flow, water energy, and/or water quality data; said base station includes software that controls and sequences the water parameter data and prepares said data for wired or wireless transfer; a receiving station, said receiving station having a second electrical circuitry including one or more second microprocessors, said receiving station remotely located from said base station; said receiving station having a second power supply, said second power supply is either AC power, DC power, or powered with one or more batteries, said second power supply electrically connected to a second circuitry; said first electrical circuitry of said base station is in wire or wireless communication with said second electrical circuity of said receiving station; said receiving station designed to establish Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or ZigBee electrical communication with a wireless router/server, and/or cellular communication with a cell tower technology, and any combinations thereof; said receiving station includes mesh-enabled circuitry that can communicate with other receiving stations for transferring water flow, water energy and/or water quality data to one or more access points; said receiving station or a custom transfer apparatus functioning as one or more access points for transferring said water flow, water energy and/or water quality data over an internet connection to one or more remote computers or computer servers; and said computer servers allow registered owners and users to access their registered water flow, water energy and/or water quality data using a cell phone, smart phone, mobile phone or a mobile electronic communication device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 9, 10, 13, 14, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification