Apparatus configured to detect gas usage, method of providing same, and method of detecting gas usage
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured to detect gas usage by two or more gas appliances the apparatus comprises:
- a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and
a sensing unit configured to be coupled to a gas regulator, the sensing unit comprising;
at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator and convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first digital acoustic data signals; and
a transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one acoustic sensor and configured to transmit the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to the computational unit,wherein;
the processing module is configured to use the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to determine an individual gas usage by each of the two or more gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator based at least in part upon changes in a magnitude of a resonant frequency intensity of the one or more first digital acoustic data signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, an apparatus can be configured to detect gas usage. The apparatus can include: (a) a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and (b) a sensing unit configured to be coupled to a gas regulator, the sensing unit having: (1) at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator and convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first data signals; and (2) a transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one acoustic sensor and configured to transmit the one or more first data signals to the computational unit. The processing module is configured to use the one or more first data signals to determine the gas usage. Other embodiments are disclosed.
42 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus configured to detect gas usage by two or more gas appliances the apparatus comprises:
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a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and a sensing unit configured to be coupled to a gas regulator, the sensing unit comprising; at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator and convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first digital acoustic data signals; and a transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one acoustic sensor and configured to transmit the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to the computational unit, wherein; the processing module is configured to use the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to determine an individual gas usage by each of the two or more gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator based at least in part upon changes in a magnitude of a resonant frequency intensity of the one or more first digital acoustic data signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of detecting usage of a. gas in a building, the building having a gas regulator with a pressure relief vent, the method comprising:
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using at least one acoustic sensor to receive one or more first acoustic signals from the pressure relief vent of the gas regulator; converting the one or more first acoustic signals from the pressure relief vent of the as regulator into one or more first digital acoustic data signals; determining a total amount of the gas being used b all active gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator based upon the one or more first digital acoustic data signals; and determining a first amount of the gas being used by to first gas appliance based at least in part upon changes in a magnitude of a resonant frequency intensity of the one or more first digital acoustic data signals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of providing a gas sensing device, the method comprising:
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providing at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals produced by a gas regulator and to convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first digital acoustic data signals; providing a transmitter configured to transmit the one or more first digital acoustic data signals; electrically coupling the transmitter to the at least one acoustic sensor; providing a sensor mount configured to mechanically couple to the gas regulator; mechanically coupling the at least one acoustic sensor and the transmitter to the sensor mount; and providing a processing module configured to run on as computational unit, the processing module comprising; an event detection module configured to use the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to determine a total gas usage by one or more gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator, and to determine an individual gas usage by each of the one or more gas appliances based at least in part upon chances in a magnitude of a resonant frequency intensity of the one or more first digital acoustic data signals. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A gas regulator unit comprising:
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a gas regulator comprising; a gas inlet; a diaphragm chamber configured to control an amount of gas flowing through the gas regulator; a relief valve coupled to the diaphragm chamber; and a relief vent coupled to the relief valve; at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals created by the gas regulator and to convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first digital acoustic data signals, the at least one acoustic sensor is located at the gas regulator; and a processing module configured to run on a computational unit, the processing module configured to use the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to determine individual gas usage by each of two or more gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator based at least in part upon changes in a magnitude of a resonant frequency intensity of the one or more first digital acoustic data signals. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification