Wireless receptor for communications within housings

• US 8,298,322 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Grzonka, Michael T., Joens, Michael, Burke, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Greene, Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHUMATE, ANTHONY R
• Application Number:
  US13/459,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20120212892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 183 Days
• Field of Search: 55D/IG.34, 95/25, 952/73, 96/18, 964/17, 964/21, 964/22, 174/17.CT
• US Class Current: 96/25
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/52 Filter identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/56 Wireless systems for monitoring the filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/06 Filters making use of electricity or magnetism ultrafiltration, microfiltration B01D61/14; electrodialysis, electro-osmosis B01D61/42; devices comprising filters and magnetic separators B03C1/30
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/143 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/34 Indicator and controllers

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for transmitting information between a device within a housing to a second device, preferably a test or monitoring unit, outside of the housing. There are numerous issues associated with transferring information from within a sealed housing to an external device. In some cases, the use of wires inside the housing may be impractical, due to internal conditions, such as fluid flow, pressure or temperature. In one embodiment, the antenna of the external RF reading device is electrically connected to the dome of the housing. In another embodiment, the device within the housing is electrically connected to a housing component. In another embodiment, the gasket is used to pass information from within the housing to an external device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between an external device and a filtering assembly having electronic circuitry, where said filtering assembly is located within a housing, comprising:

employing a housing comprising an electrically conductive housing dome and a housing base;

placing a gasket between said dome and said base to keep them physically isolated;

pressing said housing dome and housing base together to create a liquid tight seal; and

using a wire to connect said electronic circuitry to said housing dome; and

using a second wire to connect said external device to said housing dome, such that said housing dome serves as an electrical conduit between said circuitry and said device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using serial communications to communicate between said device and said electronic circuitry.