Networked filter condition indicator

• US 9,920,947 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BD Technology Partners
• Original Assignee: BD Technology Partners
• Inventors: Breslin, Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US15/377,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20170089606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391, 34053911, 340603, 340607, 340608
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 5/04 with return of the air or the air-heater
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/39 Monitoring filter performance
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/40 Pressure, e.g. wind pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/34 Heater, e.g. gas burner, electric air heater
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A filter condition indicator system is described herein. A pressure differential switch monitors air pressure across a filter, and a transmitter coupled to the pressure differential switch sends a signal to a networked device. If the pressure differential near the filter triggers the switch, then a “dirty” signal is sent to or retrieved by a mobile device which indicates that the filter is dirty and should be replaced. The filter condition indicator is able to be used by bypassing a thermostat and sending an alert to a computer or mobile device wirelessly. Alternatively, the filter condition indicator system described herein is able to be used in conjunction with a previously installed furnace/thermostat system by utilizing the pre-existing thermostat wiring. The filter condition indicator system is able to be used with HVAC systems, air conditioning systems, other heating/cooling systems, or other systems or devices.

Claims

1. A system for indicating a status of a filter of a heating, ventilation or air conditioning (HVAC) system, wherein a thermostat controls a temperature and activation of the HVAC system, the system comprising:

a. a monitoring device to monitor air pressure across the filter of the HVAC system; and

b. a transmitter device, separate from the thermostat, and coupled to the monitoring device to transmit a signal related to the monitored air pressure, wherein the transmitter device stores a status of the filter determined based on the signal related to the monitored air pressure, and further wherein the transmitter device is configured to communicate the status of the filter to a networked device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the status of the filter is transmitted to the networked device periodically.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the networked device is a mobile device containing an application configured to enable access to the status of the filter from the transmitter device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the networked device communicates with the transmitter device via a router.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter device communicates the status of the filter to the thermostat.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the status of the filter is transmitted to the networked device by at least one of emailing, texting, and posting on a web page.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the HVAC system comprises a forced air furnace.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the HVAC system comprises an air conditioning system.

9. A system for indicating a status of a filter of a heating, ventilation or air conditioning (HVAC) system, wherein a thermostat controls a temperature and activation of the HVAC system, the system comprising:

a. a monitoring device to monitor air pressure across the filter of the HVAC system;

b. a chipset to store a status of the filter determined based on the monitored air pressure; and

c. a transmitter coupled to the monitoring device to communicate the status of the filter to a networked device, wherein the chipset is stored on the transmitter separate from the thermostat.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the transmitter communicates the signal using WIFI.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein communicating the status of the filter comprises modifying a web page.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein communicating the status of the filter comprises sending an email.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein communicating the status of the filter comprises sending a text message.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the status of the filter is only communicated when the status of the filter is dirty.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein communicating the status of the filter comprises communicating the status of the filter to the thermostat.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the HVAC system comprises a forced air furnace.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein the HVAC system comprises an air conditioning system.

18. A method of indicating a status of a filter of a heating, ventilation or air conditioning (HVAC) system, wherein a thermostat controls a temperature and activation of the HVAC system, the method comprising:

a. detecting an air pressure of the HVAC system with a monitoring device;

b. storing a status of the filter on a transmitter device separate from the thermostat, wherein the status corresponds to the air pressure; and

c. transmitting a signal related to the status of the filter to a networked device with the transmitter device.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising transmitting the status of the filter to the thermostat.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein transmitting the signal related to the status of the filter comprises at least one of emailing, texting, and posting on a web page.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the HVAC system comprises a forced air furnace.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the HVAC system comprises an air conditioning system.

23. A system for indicating a status of a filter of an air system which modifies and moves air, wherein a thermostat controls a temperature and activation of the air system, the system comprising:

a. a monitoring device to monitor air pressure across the filter of the air system; and

b. a transmitter device, separate from the thermostat, and coupled to the monitoring device to transmit a signal related to the monitored air pressure, wherein the transmitter device stores a status of the filter determined based on the signal related to the monitored air pressure, and further wherein the transmitter device is configured to communicate the status of the filter to a networked device.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the status of the filter is transmitted to the networked device periodically.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the networked device is a mobile device containing an application configured to enable access to the status of the filter from the transmitter device.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the networked device communicates with the transmitter device via a router.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the transmitter device communicates the status of the filter to the thermostat.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the status of the filter is transmitted to the networked device by at least one of emailing, texting, and posting on a web page.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the air system comprises a forced air furnace.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein the air system comprises an air conditioning system.