Air conditioning system filter monitor assemblies, air conditioning system filter monitor systems, and methods of operating same

Abstract

An air conditioning system filter monitor assembly includes an anemometer device, a communication interface, and a structure connector coupled to the anemometer device. The anemometer device generates sensor data indicating an air flow speed of an air flow based on interaction between the air flow and the anemometer device. The structure connector mounts the anemometer device at a downstream side of an air filter of an air conditioning system, such that the anemometer device is between the air filter and an air mover of an air handler of the air conditioning system, such that the anemometer device generates return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air drawn through the air filter toward the air mover at the downstream side of the air filter.

Description

Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POAAIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FILTER MONITOR ASSEMBLIES, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FILTER MONITOR SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF OPERATING SAMECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 780.031, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on March 28, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUNDField

[0002] The present inventive concepts relate generally to air-conditioning systems, and more particularly to monitoring air conditioning systems, including monitoring the state of an air filter in an air conditioning system, including monitoring the service life level value of the air filter based on monitoring a return air flow speed value of return air drawn through the air filter toward an air mover of an air handler of an air conditioning system at a downstream side of the air filter.Description of Related Art

[0003] Air-conditioning systems may include an air handler, also referred to as an air handling unit (AHU) that may circulate and cool air within a space and / or structure. An air handler may move air, via operation of an air mover such as a blower or fan, to flow in thermal communication with a heat exchanger such as an air coil. The air handler may circulate a refrigerant through the heat exchanger to absorb (e.g., remove) heat from the flow of air to cool the air, and the air-conditioning system may circulate the refrigerant through a heat exchanger to discharge the absorbed heat into a heat sink (e.g., the ambient environment).Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA

[0004] In some cases, an air conditioning system may include an air filter that filters materials (including, without limitation, particulate matter) from a return air flow (return air stream) of return air drawn into an air conditioning system (e.g., air handler) to be conditioned. In some cases, the flow area of the air filter may be progressively reduced as the air filter accumulates material that is filtered from the return air flow by the air filter. As a result, the flow rate of return air into the air conditioning system (e.g., air handler) may be progressively reduced over time as the material that is filtered from the return air flow by the air filter accumulates in the air filter. Such a progressive reduction in return air flow into the air conditioning system (e.g., air handler) may progressively reduce the performance of the air conditioning system. Air filters may be periodically replaced to restore filtering capability and to restore the flow area for return air flow drawn into the air conditioning system (e.g., air handler) to preclude excessive performance degradation of the air conditioning system.SUMMARY

[0005] According to some example embodiments, an air conditioning system filter monitor assembly may include an anemometer device and a structure connector. The anemometer device may be configured to generate sensor data indicating an air flow speed of an air flow based on interaction between the air flow and the anemometer device. The anemometer device may be configured to transmit information associated with the sensor data to at least one remote device. The structure connector may be coupled to the anemometer device. The structure connector may be configured to mount the anemometer device at a downstream side of an air filter of an air conditioning system, such that the anemometer device is between the air filter and an air mover of an air handler of the air conditioning system, such that that the anemometer device is configuredAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA to generate return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air drawn through the air filter toward the air mover of the air handler at the downstream side of the air filter.

[0006] The structure connector may be configured to mount the anemometer device at the downstream side of the air filter based on coupling with a structure at an upstream side of the air filter. The structure connector may include an extension structure that is configured to extend around an outer edge surface of the air filter between the anemometer device at the downstream side and the structure at the upstream side to hold the anemometer device in place at the downstream side.

[0007] The structure connector may include a clamp. The clamp may be configured to couple to the structure based on engaging opposite surfaces of the structure at the upstream side of the air filter.

[0008] The structure connector may be configured to engage at least one surface at least partially defining an air filter track structure of the air handler to couple to the structure. The air filter track structure may be configured to at least partially accommodate the air filter to position the air filter in a particular air filter placement region of a return air flow pathway extending from an external environment to the air mover of the air handler, to enable the air filter to filter the return air drawn to the air mover through the return air flow pathway.

[0009] The extension structure may be configured to be engaged by the outer edge surface of the air filter based on the air filter being positioned in the particular air filter placement region of the return air flow pathway.

[0010] At least a portion of the extension structure may be configured to be compressed between the outer edge surface of the air filter and a surface at least partially defining the particular air filter placement region based on the air filter being positioned in the particular air filter placement region by the air filter track structure.

[0011] The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly may further include a battery powerAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA supply.

[0012] The communication interface may be a wireless network communication interface.

[0013] According to some example embodiments, an air conditioning system filter monitor system may include the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly and a computing device communicatively coupled to the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly through at least the communication interface of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly. At least one device of the computing device or the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly may be configured to determine a service life level value of the air filter based on processing information associated with the return air sensor data.

[0014] The at least one device may be configured to determine the service life level value of the air filter based on determining that the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data at least meets one or more threshold air flow speed values associated with a particular service life level value.

[0015] The at least one device may be configured to determine the service life level value of the air filter based on determining a particular service life level value that is associated with the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data.

[0016] The at least one device may be configured to perform one or more operations based on the service life level value of the air filter, the one or more operations including at least one of: causing an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, or transmitting a status signal indicating the service life level value to a separate device.

[0017] The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly may be configured to transmit the return air sensor data to the computing device. The computing device may be configured to process the sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter. The computing device mayAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA be configured to transmit, to a separate device, at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.

[0018] The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly may be configured to process the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, and the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly may be configured to transmit, to at least one of the computing device or a separate device, at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.

[0019] According to some example embodiments, a method of operating the air conditioning system filter monitor system may include: generating, at the anemometer device, return air sensor data indicating the return air flow speed value of the return air drawn through the air filter toward the air mover of the air handler at the downstream side of the air filter; and determining, at the at least one device of the computing device or the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly, the service life level value of the air filter based on processing the information associated with the return air sensor data.

[0020] The service life level value of the air filter may be determined based on determining that the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data at least meets one or more threshold air flow speed values associated with a particular service life level value.

[0021] The service life level value of the air filter may be determined based on determining a particular service life level value that is associated with the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data.

[0022] The method may further include: performing, at the at least one device, one or moreAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA operations based on the service life level value of the air filter, the one or more operations including at least one of: causing an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, or transmitting a status signal indicating the service life level value to a separate device.

[0023] The method may further include: transmitting, at the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly, the return air sensor data to the computing device, processing, at the computing device, the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, and transmitting, from the computing device to a separate device, at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.

[0024] The method may further include: processing, at the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly, the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, and transmitting, from the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly to at least one of the computing device or a separate device, at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The various features and advantages of the non-limiting example embodiments herein may become more apparent upon review of the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are merely provided for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. For purposes of clarity, various dimensions of the drawings may have been exaggerated.Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA

[0026] FTG. 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system and an air conditioning system filter monitor system according to some example embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates an expanded view of an air conditioning system filter monitor assembly in Region A of FIG. 1, according to some example embodiments.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a monitor device of an air conditioning system filter monitor assembly, according to some example embodiments.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an electronic device according to some example embodiments.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating an air conditioning system filter monitor system according to some example embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference labels refer to like elements throughout. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for the purpose of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forth herein.

[0032] Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, example embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but to the contrary, exampleAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of example embodiments of the inventive concepts.

[0033] Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of example embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments should not be construed as limited to the shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, including those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0035] It will be understood that elements and / or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like), which may be referred to as being “perpendicular,” “parallel,” “flush,” or the like with regard to other elements and / or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) may be “perpendicular,” “parallel,” “flush,” or the like, or may be “substantially perpendicular,” “substantially parallel,” “substantially flush,” respectively, with regard to the other elements and / or properties thereof.

[0036] Elements and / or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially perpendicular” with regard to other elements and / or properties thereof will be understood to be “perpendicular” with regard to the other elements and / or properties thereof withinAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA manufacturing tolerances and / or material tolerances and / or have a deviation in magnitude and / or angle from “perpendicular,” or the like with regard to the other elements and / or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a tolerance of ±10%).

[0037] Elements and / or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially parallel” with regard to other elements and / or properties thereof will be understood to be “parallel” with regard to the other elements and / or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and / or material tolerances and / or have a deviation in magnitude and / or angle from “parallel,” or the like with regard to the other elements and / or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a tolerance of ±10%).

[0038] Elements and / or properties thereof (e.g., structures, surfaces, directions, or the like) that are “substantially flush” with regard to other elements and / or properties thereof will be understood to be “flush” with regard to the other elements and / or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and / or material tolerances and / or have a deviation in magnitude and / or angle from “flush,” or the like with regard to the other elements and / or properties thereof that is equal to or less than 10% (e.g., a tolerance of ±10%).

[0039] It will be understood that elements and / or properties thereof may be recited herein as being “the same” or “equal” as other elements, and it will be further understood that elements and / or properties thereof recited herein as being “identical” to, “the same” as, or “equal” to other elements may be “identical” to. “the same” as. or “equal” to, or “substantially identical” to, “substantially the same” as, or “substantially equal” to, the other elements and / or properties thereof. Elements and / or properties thereof that are “substantially identical” to, “substantially the same” as, or “substantially equal” to other elements and / or properties thereof will be understood to include elements and / or properties thereof that are identical to, the same as, or equal to the otherAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA elements and / or properties thereof within manufacturing tolerances and / or material tolerances. Elements and / or properties thereof that are identical or substantially identical to, and / or the same or substantially the same as, other elements and / or properties thereof may be structurally the same or substantially the same, functionally the same or substantially the same, and / or compositionally the same or substantially the same.

[0040] It will be understood that elements and / or properties thereof described herein as being “substantially” the same and / or identical encompass elements and / or properties thereof that have a relative difference in magnitude that is equal to or less than 10%. Further, regardless of whether elements and / or properties thereof are modified as "substantially," it will be understood that these elements and / or properties thereof should be construed as including a manufacturing or operational tolerance (e.g., ±10%) around the stated elements and / or properties thereof.

[0041] When the terms "about" or “substantially” are used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that the associated numerical value include a tolerance of ±10% around the stated numerical value. When ranges are specified, the range includes all values therebetween, such as increments of 0.1%.

[0042] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioning system 100 and an air conditioning system filter monitor system 1000 according to some example embodiments. FIG. 2 illustrates an expanded view of an air conditioning system air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 in Region A of FIG. 1. according to some example embodiments. FIG. 3 illustrates an anemometer device 510 of an air conditioning system air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500, according to some example embodiments. The anemometer device 510 shown in FIG. 2 may be the anemometer device 510 shown in FIG. 3, although example embodiments are not limitedAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA thereto. The anemometer device 510 shown in FIG. 3 may be the anemometer device 510 shown in FIG. 2, although example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, an air conditioning system 100, which may be interchangeably referred to as an air conditioner system, an air conditioner, or the like, may be configured to provide cooling of air within an interior of a structure 1 and may be at least partially located within the structure 1. but example embodiments are not limited thereto. The air conditioning system 100 may be included as a part of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, but example embodiments are not limited thereto, and in some example embodiments the air conditioning system 100 may be separate from any heating system.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning system 100 may include an air handler 102 and a condenser assembly 104 that are configured to draw return air 106 from an external environment 150, cool (e.g.. absorb heat from) the drawn return air 106 into conditioned air 114, and discharge (e.g., supply) the conditioned air 114 back into the external environment 150. The external environment 150 may be an interior of the structure 1, or any portion of the interior. The air handler 102 may include, within a housing 101 that may at least partially comprise metal (e.g., steel), an air intake 103, an air filter 105, an air mover 108 (e.g., fan, blower, etc.), a heat exchanger 110 (e.g., evaporator coil), an expansion valve 111, a drip pan 122, a condensate drain line 124 (also referred to herein as a condensate drain conduit, condensate drain pipe, etc.), a controller 140, a float switch 160, and an air outlet 112. The condenser assembly 104 may include a compressor 156, a second heat exchanger 152 (e.g., condenser coil), and an air mover 154 (e.g., fan, blower, etc.).

[0045] It will be understood that example embodiments of an air conditioning system, air handler, condenser assembly, or the like may have different arrangements of devices therein andAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA may omit or add to the aforementioned elements of the air conditioning system 100 as shown in FIG. 1. It will be understood, for example, that elements shown as being included in the air handler 102 may in some example embodiments be located in the condenser assembly 104 (e.g., the controller 140 may be located in the condenser assembly 104 instead of the air handler 102). As shown, the condenser assembly 104 may be located external to the structure 1 while the air handler 102 is located internal to the structure 1, but example embodiments are not limited thereto. The air handler 102 may omit one or more of the elements thereof as shown in FIG. 1 and / or may include one or more additional elements not shown in FIG. 1.

[0046] In some example embodiments, the air conditioning system 100 may draw return air 106 from the external environment 150 into the air handler 102 via a return air flow pathway 109 that extends from the external environment 150 to at least the air mover 108 through the air intake 103, the air filter 105, ducting 107, or any combination thereof. In some example embodiments, the air flow pathway 109 includes the air intake 103 at least partially defining an upstream region 109u, a particular air filter placement region 184 and / or any structure(s) defining same (e.g., air filter track structure 182), and ducting 107 at least partially defining a downstream region 109d, such that the particular air filter placement region 184 is defined between the upstream region 109u and the downstream region 109d, although example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, in some example embodiments the flow pathway 109 may include one or more additional articles of ducting between the particular air filter placement region 184 and the air intake 103 and at least partially defining the upstream region 109u. In another example, in some example embodiments the ducting 107 may be omitted and the downstream region 109d may be at least partially defined by one or more structures of the air handler 102, including for example at least aAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA portion of the housing 101 defining a region between the particular air filter placement region 184 (and / or air filter track structure 182 defining same) and the air mover 108 in the air handler 102.

[0047] The air filter 105 may be any known air filter that is configured to remove some matter (e.g., particulate matter, including dust) from the return air 106. The air filter 105 is in a particular air filter placement region 184 of the flow pathway 109 so that the air filter 105 is configured to direct air flowing through the pathway 109 to flow through the air filter 105 from an upstream side 105us thereof to a downstream side 105ds thereof.

[0048] The air mover 108 (e.g., blower) may induce the flow of air into, through, and out of, the air handler 102. The air mover 108 may cause return air 106 to be drawn through the return air flow pathway 109 such that an air flow of the return air 106, referred to herein as a return air flow, is drawn through the air filter 105 to remove some matter. The air mover 108 may further draw return air 106 from the air filter 105 to the air mover 108 (e.g., through ducting 107) and may move (e.g., blow) the return air 106 through the air mover 108 and to the heat exchanger 110. The return air 106 may flow in thermal communication with (e.g., in contact with outer surfaces of) one or more coils of the heat exchanger 110 so that heat is removed from the return air 106 to cool the return air 106 into conditioned air 114. The air handler 102 may move the conditioned air 114 out of the air handler 102 and back into the external environment 150 (e.g., an interior space of the structure 1) via the air outlet 112.

[0049] The air conditioning system 100 may circulate a working fluid (e.g., a refrigerant, including known R22 refrigerant, R410A refrigerant, or any known refrigerant) between the heat exchangers 110 and 152 to remove heat from the return air 106 when the return air 106 flows in thermal communication (e.g., through and / or in contact with one or more coils of) the heat exchanger 110. The heat exchanger 110 may include any known heat exchanger used for an airAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA conditioning system, for example, an evaporator coil exchanger that includes one or more coils of one or more tubes through which the working fluid flows (e.g., as a cooled liquid). The heat exchanger 110 may cause heat to be transferred from the return air 106 and into the working fluid when the return air 106 is caused to flow across (e.g., in contact with, in thermal communication with, etc.) the one or more coils, thereby resulting in the working fluid becoming heated (e.g., heated into a low-pressure gas). The heated working fluid may be drawn, via fluid line 116 (e.g., fluid conduit, pipe, etc.), into the condenser assembly 104.

[0050] The air conditioning system 100 may include, in the condenser assembly 104, a compressor 156 (which may be any known compressor) that induces flow of the working fluid through the air conditioning system 100. The compressor 156 may draw the heated working fluid from the fluid line 118 and may compress the heated working fluid into a high-pressure gas. The heated working fluid may pass (e.g.. flow), for example, as the high-pressure gas, from the compressor 156 to the heat exchanger 152 (which may be any known heat exchanger and may be referred to as a condenser coil). The air mover 154 may cause ambient air 192 from the ambient environment 190 to be drawn across (e.g., in thermal communication with) one or more tubes of the heat exchanger 152 to remove heat from the heated working fluid passing through the one or more tubes of the heat exchanger 152, thereby discharging the heat originally removed from the return air 106 into the ambient environment 190 which serves as a heat sink for the air conditioning system 100. As a result, the working fluid passing through the heat exchanger 152 may be cooled back into a liquid. The working fluid may then pass (e.g., flow, circulate, etc.) back to the air handler 102 via a fluid line 118, where the working fluid may pass through an expansion valve 111 (which may be any known expansion valve) to cool the working fluid, which then passes into the heat exchanger 110 to remove additional heat from return air 106.Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA

[0051] As noted above, the circulation of working fluid through the heat exchanger 110, heat exchanger 152, fluid lines 116 and 118, and expansion valve 111 may be induced by operation of the compressor 156.

[0052] As further shown, the air conditioning system 100 may include a controller 140 that is configured to control elements of the air conditioning system 100, including, for example, controlling operation of the air conditioning system 100, or any part thereof (e.g.. air handler 102). For example, the controller 140 may adjustably control operation of one or more portions of the air conditioning system 100, including, for example, adjustably controlling operation of at least the air handler 102, based on adjustably controlling operation of one or more of the air mover 108 (e.g., to adjustably control a flow rate of return air 106 flow induced by the air mover 108), the compressor 156 (e.g., to adjustably control a flow rate of refrigerant through the heat exchangers 110 and / or 152), the air mover 154, or any combination thereof. As described further below, the controller 140 may be implemented by a computing device, including a memory storing a program of instructions and a processor configured to execute the program of instructions. While the controller 140 is shown as being included within the housing 101 of the air handler 102, it will be understood that the controller 140 may be located external to the housing 101 and, in some example embodiments, may be located within the condenser assembly 104 or may be attached to an exterior of the air handler 102 for ease of manual access.

[0053] Still referring to FIG. 1, when heat is removed from the return air 106 based on the return air 106 passing in thermal communication with the heat exchanger 110, water may condense out of the cooled return air as condensate 120 at the heat exchanger 110. The air handler 102 may include a drip pan 122 located beneath the heat exchanger 110, and the condensate 120 may fall under gravity to collect in the drip pan 122. The air handler 102 may further include a condensateAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA drain line 124 having an inlet opening 128 coupled to the drip pan 122 (e.g., a bottom surface where the drip pan 122 has an inclined surface that is angled downwards towards the inlet opening 128 of the condensate drain line 124) and an outlet opening 130 that is external to the structure 1 and open to the ambient environment 190, as shown. Condensate 120 collected in the drip pan 122 may pass under gravity to the inlet opening 128 of the condensate drain line 124, and the condensate drain line 124 may direct the condensate 120 to flow out of the air handler 102 and out of the structure 1 to the ambient environment 190 via the outlet opening 130 of the condensate drain line 124.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning system 100 may include a float switch 160 that is located in the drip pan 122 and / or in the condensate drain line 124 (as shown). The float switch 160 may be a switch that is configured to be actuated based on backflow and / or overflow of condensate 120 in the condensate drain line 124. For example, the float switch 160 may be any known float switch and may be configured to be closed or opened (e.g., actuated) based on accumulation of condensate 120 in the drip pan 122 to at least a threshold volume held therein. The float switch 160 may be communicatively (e.g., electrically) coupled to the controller 140, and the controller 140 may be configured to shut down some or all of the air conditioning system 100 (e.g., shut down the air mover 108, the compressor 156, and / or the air mover 154) in response to the float switch 160 being actuated, thereby reducing or preventing damage from being caused in the structure and / or air conditioning system 100 due to the condensate 120 accumulation.

[0055] As shown, the air filter 105 may have an upstream side 105us and a downstream side 105ds, and the air filter 105 may be positioned (e.g., mounted) in a particular air filter placement region 184 (also referred to herein as a mounting region, a mounting position, an air filter track structure position, a filter rack, a filter slot, or the like) included in the flow pathway 109 that isAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA between an upstream region 109u and a downstream region 109d of the flow pathway 109. As a result, based on being positioned in the particular air filter placement region 184 (also referred to as being positioned at the particular air filter placement region 184), the air filter 105 may be configured to direct return air 106 drawn into the upstream region 109u of the return air flow pathway 109 through the air intake 103 to pass through the air filter 105, from the upstream side 105us to the downstream side 105ds, and to be further drawn from the downstream side 105ds to the air mover 108 through the downstream region 109d (e.g., through ducting 107, although in some example embodiments the ducting 107 may be omitted). The air filter 105 may remove particulate matter from the return air 106 passing through the air filter 105, so that return air 106 drawn out of the air filter 105 through the downstream side 105ds and toward the air mover 108 through the downstream region 109d has reduced, minimized, or eliminated particulate matter therein, in relation to the return air 106 flowing through the upstream region 109u.

[0056] It will be understood that, where the air filter 105 is referred to as being included in the air conditioning system 100, the air filter 105 is placed (e.g., mounted) at the particular air filter placement region 184 so that the air filter 105 is configured to direct the return air 106 flow to flow through the air filter 105 from the upstream region 109u to the downstream region 109d and further towards the air mover 108 (e.g., based on occupying and / or defining some or all of the flow cross-sectional area of the flow pathway 109 at the particular air filter placement region 184).

[0057] It will be understood that the downstream side 105 ds of the air filter 105 may be referred to interchangeably as a downstream surface of the air filter 105 that faces towards a downstream region 109d of the return air flow pathway 109 that is defined between the air filter 105 and the air mover 108, based on the air filter 105 being positioned in the particular air filter placement region 184. It will be understood that the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105 may be referredAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA to interchangeably as an upstream surface of the air filter 105 that faces towards an upstream region 109u of the return air flow pathway 109 that is defined between the air filter 105 and the external environment 150 and / or the air intake 103 based on the air filter 105 being positioned in the particular air filter placement region 184. The upstream side 105us and the downstream side 105ds may be opposite-facing sides (also referred to as opposite-facing surfaces) of the air filter 105. The air filter 105 may be configured to enable return air 106 to be drawn into the air filter 105 through the upstream side 105us, to be further drawn through the air filter 105, and to be drawn out of the air filter 105 through the downstream side 105ds based on operation of the air mover 108 to draw return air 106 through the pathway 109 and further through the air filter 105 positioned in the particular air filter placement region 184.

[0058] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air conditioning system 100 may include an air filter track structure 182 at the particular air filter placement region 184 in the air conditioning system 100. The air filter track structure 182 may at least partially define the particular air filter placement region 184. For example, the air filter track structure 182 may include one or more inner surfaces (e.g., surfaces 182ss, 182es, etc.) at least partially defining some or all boundaries of the particular air filter placement region 184, and the air filter track structure 182 may be configured to at least partially receive and accommodate the air filter 105 to position the air filter 105 in the particular air filter placement region 184 at least partially defined by the air filter track structure 182, to thereby position the air filter 105 in the return air flow pathway 109 such that the air filter 105 is configured to direct return air 106 drawn into the return air flow pathway 109 through the air intake 103 to pass through the air filter 105, from the upstream side 105us to the downstream side 105ds, and to be further drawn from the downstream side 105ds to the air mover 108 through the downstream region 109d (e.g., through ducting 107, although in some example embodiments, theAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA ducting 107 may be omitted). As shown, the air filter track structure 182 may include two or more air filter track structures 182 A and 182B configured to at least partially accommodate and position opposite edges of the air filter 105 in the particular air filter placement region 184. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto, and the air filter track structure 182 may comprise any known structure configured to at least partially define the particular air filter placement region 184 and / or to position the air filter 105 in the particular air filter placement region 184. It will be understood that positioning the air filter 105 in the particular air filter placement region 184, as described herein, may include holding the air filter 105 in place, in one or more directions, in the particular air filter placement region 184.

[0059] Still referring to FIG. 1, in some example embodiments, an air conditioning system filter monitor system 1000 may be configured to enable monitoring of the performance of the air filter 105 based on monitoring a return air flow speed value of the return air 106 flowing through the air filter 105 towards the air mover 108. The performance of the air filter 105 may be represented by a determined service life level value of the air filter 105. The air conditioning system filter monitor system 1000 may include an air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 and a computing device 600 that is communicatively coupled to the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0060] The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 is configured to be mounted in relation to the air filter 105 (e.g.. mounted in relation to the particular air filter placement region 184, and in which the air filter 105 may be positioned in the particular air filter placement region 184 in the air conditioning system 100) to enable the monitoring of the return air flow speed value of the return air 106 flowing through the air filter 105 towards the air mover 108. At least one of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 or the computing device 600 may beAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA configured to determine a performance state, also referred to herein as a service life level value, of the air filter 105 based on the return air flow speed value of the return air 106 flowing through the air filter 105 towards the air mover 108.

[0061] It will be understood that, where the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 or any portion thereof (e.g., anemometer device 510, structure connector 520, etc.) is described herein to be mounted or configured to be mounted at a particular position in relation to the air filter 105, the description may apply equally to mounting of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 or any portion thereof in relation to the particular air filter placement region 184 at which the air conditioning system 100 is configured to position (e.g., mount) the air filter 105, such that the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 or any portion thereof may be configured to be mounted at a particular position in relation to the position at which the air filter 105 (and / or a particular side thereof) would be positioned in relation to the air conditioning system 100 based on the air filter 105 being positioned (e.g., mounted) in the particular air filter placement region 184.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 2, the air conditioning system filter air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 may include an anemometer device 510 and a structure connector 520. The anemometer device 510 may be configured to generate sensor data indicating an air flow speed of an air flow based on interaction between the air flow and the anemometer device 510 and to further transmit information associated with the sensor data to at least one remote device. The structure connector 520 may be coupled to the anemometer device 510 and may mount the anemometer device 510 at a particular position in relation to the air filter 105 of the air conditioning system 100, for example based on mounting the anemometer device 510 at a particular position in relation to the particular air filter placement region 184 (e.g., filter rack, filter slot, air filter track structureAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA position, etc.) of the air conditioning system 100 so as to configure the anemometer device 510 to generate return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air 106 drawn from the external environment 150 to the air mover 108 within the air handler 102 through the return air flow pathway 109.

[0063] In some example embodiments, the return air sensor data may be processed to determine a performance state of the air filter 105, said performance state referred to herein interchangeably as a service life level value of the air filter 105, where the service life level value may correspond to an effective cross-sectional flow area of the air filter 105. Based on the determined service life level value of the air filter 105, a determination may be made as to whether the air filter 105 is to be replaced, to restore the effective cross-sectional flow area of the air filter 105 for return air flow drawn into the air conditioning system (e.g., air handler) to preclude excessive performance degradation of the air conditioning system 100, and / or whether to adjustably control operation of the air conditioning system 100 (e.g., to adjust at least an operation of the air mover 108 of the air handler 102), for example to account for reduced effective cross-sectional flow area of the air filter 105 as indicated by the service life level value of the air filter 105.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 3, the anemometer device 510 may include an anemometer 512. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the anemometer 512 is shown to be a vane anemometer (also referred to as a windmill anemometer or a propeller anemometer). Such an anemometer 512 may have a plurality of vanes 512a (or airfoils) coupled to a central axial shaft and configured to spin around the longitudinal axis defined by the central axial shaft based on interaction between the vanes 512a and an air flow. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto, and the anemometer 512 may include any known anemometer device that is configured to generate sensor data indicating an air flow speed of an air flow based on interaction between the air flow and the anemometer 512.Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA For example, the anemometer 512 may include a hot-wire anemometer, a laser Doppler anemometer, an ultrasonic anemometer, an acoustic resonance anemometer, a cup anemometer, any combination thereof, or the like.

[0065] The anemometer device 510 may include a housing 511 that may enclose one or more components of the anemometer device 510. As shown, the housing 511 may at least partially surround and / or at least partially enclose the anemometer 512, but example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0066] The anemometer device 510 may include a computing device 514. The computing device 514 may be implemented by one or more instances (units) of processing circuitry as described herein, an electronic device 4000 as described with reference to FIG. 4, or the like. The computing device 514 may be configured to process sensor data generated by the anemometer 512.

[0067] The anemometer device 510 may include a communication interface 516. The communication interface 516 may include any known communication interface and may include at least one of a wireless network communication interface, a wired network communication interface, or any known wired communication interface. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication interface 516 may be included in the computing device 514, but example embodiments are not limited thereto; in some example embodiments, the communication interface 516 may be separate from the computing device 514 in the anemometer device 510.

[0068] The anemometer device 510 may include a power supply 518, and one or more components of the anemometer device 510 may operate based on electrical power supplied by the power supply 518. As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply 518 may include a battery power supply including one or more batteries. The one or more batteries of the power supply 518 may include one or more replaceable batteries, one or more rechargeable batteries (e.g., one or more lithium-Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA ion batteries), or any combination thereof. It will be understood that the power supply 518 is not limited to a battery power supply. For example, the power supply 518 may include a wired power connection that may be configured to couple with an external power source to enable the anemometer device 510 to receive electrical power from the external power source. The wired power connection may be configured to couple with an external power supply that may include a power outlet of the structure 1 shown in FIG. 1, a component of the air handler 102 (e.g., an AC / DC transformer included in the air handler 102, the controller 140 of the air conditioning system 100 and / or of the air handler 102, or the like).

[0069] The anemometer device 510 may include a connection bracket 519 that is connected to the housing 511 based on connecting with a connection interface 517 of the housing 511. The connection bracket 519 may be configured to be connected to the structure connector 520 of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto, and in some example embodiments the connection bracket 519 may be omitted, and the housing 511 may connect to the structure connector 520 at the connection interface 517 of the housing 511.

[0070] It will be understood that the anemometer device 510 may omit one or more of the components as shown in FIG. 3. For example, the anemometer device 510 may omit one or more of the connection bracket 519, the power supply 518, the housing 511, or the computing device 514. For example, in some example embodiments the anemometer device 510 may include the anemometer 512 and a communication interface 516 (e.g., a wired communication interface) that is separate from any computing device 514.Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA

[0071] Referring back to FTGS. 1 and 2, the structure connector 520 is coupled to the anemometer device 510 and is configured to mount the anemometer device at a fixed position in relation to the air filter 105, based on the structure connector coupling to a separate structure 188.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in some example embodiments the structure connector 520 is configured to mount the anemometer device 510 at a downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105 of the air handler 102 of the air conditioning system 100, such that the anemometer device 510 is mounted at a fixed position in the downstream region 109d of the flow pathway 109, between the air filter 105 (and / or the particular air filter placement region 184 at which the air conditioning system 100 is configured to mount the air filter 105) and the air mover 108, such that the anemometer device 510 is configured to generate return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air 106 drawn through the air filter 105 toward the air mover 108 at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105. The structure connector 520 may be configured to couple to a structure 188 to mount the anemometer device 510 at the downstream side 105ds such that the anemometer device 510 is located within 0-3”, 0-6”, 0-12”, or the like from the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105 within the downstream region 109d of the return air flow pathway 109 between the air filter 105 and the air mover 108.

[0073] As shown, the structure connector 520 extends between a proximal end 520P and a distal end 520D. As further shown, the structure connector 520 may be coupled to the anemometer device 510 at the proximal end 520P and may be coupled to a fixed structure 188 at the distal end 520D. The structure connector 520 may include an extension structure 524 extending between (and in some example embodiments, at least partially defining) the proximal end 520P and the distal end 520D of the structure connector 520. In some example embodiments, the extension structure 524 may be directly connected to the anemometer device 510 (e.g., connection interfaceAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA 517) at the proximal end 520P, but example embodiments are not limited thereto. As shown, the structure connector 520 may include a connector 522 at the distal end 520D, where the connector 522 is configured to couple to the fixed structure 188 to at least partially fix the structure connector 520 at a fixed position in relation to the fixed structure 188 and thereby, based on the coupling between the structure connector 520 and the anemometer device 510, to at least partially mount the anemometer device 510 at a fixed position in relation to the fixed structure 188 (and thus at a fixed position in relation to at least the particular air filter placement region 184).

[0074] Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the structure connector 520 is configured to couple to a structure 188 so as to mount the anemometer device 510 that is coupled to the structure connector 520 at a position that is at a downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105 (e.g., at a downstream side of the particular air filter placement region 184, a downstream side of an air filter track structure 182 at or defining the particular air filter placement region 184, etc.), such that the anemometer device 510 is between the air filter 105 and an air mover 108 of an air handler 102 of the air conditioning system 100. As a result, the anemometer device 510 may be configured to interact with (e.g., to be directly exposed to) return air 106 drawn through the air filter 105 toward the air mover 108 of the air handler 102 at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105 and thus may be configured to generate return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of the return air 106 drawn through the air filter 105 toward the air mover 108 of the air handler 102 at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105.

[0075] In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the structure connector 520 is configured to mount the anemometer device 510 at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105 based on coupling with a structure 188 at an upstream side 105us of the air filter 105. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the structure connectorAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA 520 may include a connector 522 that is configured to connect to a structure 188 at least partially defined by a portion of an air filter track structure 182 that is at the upstream side of the air filter 105 (that is, between the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105 and the air intake 103, for example within the upstream region 109u of the return air flow pathway 109), and the extension structure 524 may include one or more members having contours and / or bends configured to enable the extension structure 524 to extend around an outer edge surface 105e of the air filter 105 that is positioned at the particular air filter placement region 184 by the air filter track structure 182 (e.g., between the outer edge surface 105e of the air filter 105 and an opposing surface 182es of the air filter track structure 182). As a result, the extension structure 524 may be configured to extend around the outer edge surface 105e of the air filter 105 between the anemometer device 510 at the downstream side 105ds and the structure 188 at the upstream side 105us (e.g., a portion of the air filter track structure 182 that is upstream of the air filter 105 (and / or the particular air filter placement region 184), so as to be between the upstream side 105us and the air intake 103 in the return air flow pathway 109) to hold the anemometer device 510 in place at the downstream side 105ds (that is, between the downstream side 105ds and the air mover 108 in the downstream region 109d of the return air flow pathway 109).

[0076] In FIG. 2, the connector 522 is shown to include and / or to define (e.g., to be) a clamp that is configured to couple to the structure 188 based on engaging opposite surfaces 188ss, 188os of the structure 188 at the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105 (e.g., in the upstream region 109u between the upstream side 105us and the air intake 103 of the air conditioning system 100). For example, as shown, the structure connector 520 may include a movable jaw 523a that is movable in relation to an opposing surface 524s defined by the extension structure 524 based on operation of a device 523, such as a thread, where the opposing surface 524s defines a fixed jawAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA of the clamp, and the movable jaw 523a may be moved in relation to the fixed jaw defined by surface 524s to enable the clamp to engage opposite surfaces 182ss and 182os of a portion of the air filter track structure 182 upstream of the air filter 105 (the opposite surfaces 182ss and 182os defining opposite surfaces 188ss and 188os, respectively, of the structure 188) so as to “clamp” the portion of the air filter track structure 182 defining the structure 188 at the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105 to fix the structure connector 520 in a fixed position in relation to structure 188 (e.g., the air filter track structure 182) and thus to mount the anemometer device 510 at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105. As shown in FIG. 2, the structure 188 may be defined by a portion (e.g., a limited portion) of the track structure 182. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto, and in some example embodiments the structure 188 may be a separate structure from the track structure 182. For example, in some example embodiments the structure 188 may be defined by at least a portion of ducting (e.g., ducting 107). the air intake 103, any ducting between the air intake 103 and the placement region 184, or the like.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 2, the structure connector 520 may be configured to engage at least one surface 182ss that at least partially defines an air filter track structure 182 of the air conditioning system 100 to couple to the structure 188, for example, an air filter track structure 182 that is configured to at least partially position the air filter 105 at the particular air filter placement region 184 (e.g.. a filter rack) of the return air flow pathway 109 extending from the external environment 150 to the air mover 108 of the air handler 102. The structure connector 520 may engage the at least one surface 182ss based on the connector 522 clamping the structure connector 520 at the distal end 520D thereof to the structure 188. However, it will be understood that example embodiments are not limited thereto.Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA

[0078] While the connector 522 is shown in FTG. 2 to be a clamp, it will be understood that example embodiments of the connector 522 are not limited thereto, and the connector 522 may be any known connector, fastener, or the like (e.g., an adhesive, magnet, any known fastener, or the like) that is configured to couple the structure connector 520 to a structure 188 to mount the anemometer device 510 in a fixed position in relation to the air filter 105 at the particular air filter placement region 184 (e.g., at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105, in the downstream region 109d, etc.).

[0079] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the extension structure 524 may be configured to extend over one or more inner surfaces 182ss and / or 182es of the air filter track structure 182, for example, to extend conformally over said one or more inner surfaces 182ss and / or 182es, so that the extension structure 524 is configured to be engaged by the outer edge surface 105e of the air filter 105 based on the air filter 105 being positioned at the particular air filter placement region 184 by at least the air filter track structure 182. The air filter 105 positioned at the particular air filter placement region 184 may engage a portion of the extension structure 524 extending over at least an opposing surface 182es of the air filter track structure 182 to compress the portion of the extension structure 524 between the opposing surfaces 182es and 105e. Restated, at least a portion of the extension structure 524 may be configured to be compressed between the outer edge surface 105e of the air filter 105 and a surface 182es that at least partially defines the particular air filter placement region 184 (e.g.. an end surface of the air filter track structure 182) based on the air filter 105 being positioned at the particular air filter placement region 184 by the air filter track structure 182. Accordingly, the air filter 105 may assist in holding the structure connector 520 (and thus the anemometer device 510 coupled thereto) in a fixed position in relation to the air filter 105 and / or the air conditioning system 100 based on engaging at least a portion of the extensionAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA structure 524 to hold the portion of the extension structure 524 against the air filter track structure 182.

[0080] While some example embodiments of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 as described herein include a structure connector 520 that is configured to mount the anemometer device 510 at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105 based on coupling with a structure 188 at an upstream side 105us of the air filter 105, for example based on the structure connector 520 including an extension structure 524 that is configured to extend around an outer edge surface 105e of the air filter 105 between the anemometer device 510 at the downstream side 105ds and the structure 188 at the upstream side 105us to hold the anemometer device 510 in place at the downstream side 105ds (e.g., in the downstream region 109d of the flow pathway 109), it will be understood that example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, in some example embodiments the structure connector 520 is configured to couple with a structure 188 at a downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105 without extending to the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105 (e.g., without extending through or around an outer edge surface 105e of the air filter 105). The structure connector 520 may omit the extension structure 524. In some example embodiments, the structure connector 520 may be the connection bracket 519 as shown in FIG. 3 that may be configured to couple with a structure at a downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105 without extending to the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105.

[0081] While some example embodiments of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 as described herein include a structure connector 520 that is configured to mount the anemometer device 510 at a downstream side 105ds of an air filter 105 of an air conditioning system 100, such that the anemometer device 510 is between the air filter and an air mover 108 of the air conditioning system 100, such that the anemometer device 510 is configured to generateAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air 106 drawn through the air filter 105 toward the air mover 108 at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105, it will be understood that example embodiments are not limited thereto. In some example embodiments, the structure connector 520 is configured to mount the anemometer device at the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105, such that the anemometer device 510 is between the air filter 105 and the external environment 150 and / or the air intake 103 of the air conditioning system 100. As a result, the structure connector 520 may configure the anemometer device 510 to generate return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air 106 drawn towards the air filter 105 from the external environment 150 at the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105.

[0082] Referring back to FIG. 1, in some example embodiments the air conditioning system filter monitor system 1000 may include, in addition to the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500, a computing device 600. The computing device 600 may include and / or may be implemented by an electronic device 4000 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0083] The computing device 600 may be communicatively coupled to the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 through at least the anemometer device 510 (e.g., the communication interface 516 thereof) of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the anemometer device 510 and the computing device 600 may be communicatively coupled via a communication link 580 therebetween, where the communication link 580 may be a wireless network communication link, a wired network communication link, any known wired communication link, an ad hoc wireless network communication link, any combination thereof, or the like. In another example, as shown in FIG.1, the anemometer device 510 and the computing device 600 may be communicatively coupled via a communication link 710 defined by respective communication links 590 and 690 to aAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA communication network 700 (e.g., any known communication network), so that the anemometer device 510 and the computing device 600 may be communicatively coupled to each other through a communication link 710 extending through the communication network 700 (e.g., via communication links 590 and 690 and the communication network 700). Communication links 590 and 690 may each independently be a wireless network communication link, a wired network communication link, any known wired communication link, an ad hoc wireless network communication link, any combination thereof, or the like.

[0084] As further shown in FIG. 1, the anemometer device 510 may be communicatively coupled (e.g., via a communication interface 516) to a controller 140 of the air conditioning system 100 through a communication link 570. As shown in FIG. 1, the computing device 600 may be communicatively coupled to the controller 140 of the air conditioning system 100 through a communication link 680 and / or through a communication link 720 extending through the communication network 700 and at least partially defined by respective communication links 690 and 149 of the computing device 600 and the controller 140 with the communication network 700. Communication links 570 and 680 may each independently be a wireless network communication link, a wired network communication link, any known wired communication link, an ad hoc wireless network communication link, any combination thereof, or the like.

[0085] It will be understood that at least some of communication links 570, 580, 590, 680, and / or 690 may be omitted in some example embodiments. For example, in some example embodiments, the anemometer device 510 may be communicatively coupled to the computing device 600 through a communication link 710 defined by respective communication links 590 and 690 and the communication network 700, and the computing device 600 may be communicatively coupled to the controller 140 through a communication link 720 defined by communication linksAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA 690 and 149 and the communication network 700, while communication links 570, 580, and 680 may be omitted.

[0086] As further shown in FIG. 1, a remote computing device 800 (e.g., an end-user device supporting a human end user) may be communicatively coupled to one or more of the computing device 600. the controller 140, or the anemometer device 510 through the communication network 700 based on a communication link 890 (e.g., a wireless network communication link) between the remote computing device 800 and the communication network 700. For example, the computing device 600 may be communicatively coupled to the remote computing device 800 through communication link 730 at least partially defined by communication links 690 and 890 and the communication network 700. For example, the computing device 600 may be communicatively coupled to the monitor assembly through communication link 740 at least partially defined by communication links 590 and 890 and the communication network 700. The remote computing device 800 may include and / or may be implemented by an electronic device 400 such as shown in FIG. 4.

[0087] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in some example embodiments, the anemometer device 510 is configured to generate sensor data indicating an air flow speed of an air flow based on interaction between the air flow and the anemometer device, and to further transmit information associated with the sensor data to at least one remote device to which the anemometer device 510 is communicatively coupled (e.g., via communication interface 516). As shown in FIG. 1. the anemometer device 510 may be communicatively coupled with one or more of the computing device 600, the controller 140, and / or the remote computing device 800, and therefore the anemometer device 510 may be configured to transmit information associated with the sensor data to at least one of the computing device 600, the controller 140, or the remote computing deviceAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA 800. The information associated with the sensor data may include the sensor data itself and / or information generated based on processing the sensor data at the anemometer device 510 (e.g., by the computing device 514).

[0088] In some example embodiments, the anemometer device 510 may process sensor data generated by the anemometer 512 to determine an air flow speed value indicated by the sensor data, and the anemometer device 510 may transmit, as the information associated with the sensor data, information indicating the air flow speed value to at least one remote device (e.g., at least one of the computing device 600, the controller 140, or the remote computing device 800). In some example embodiments, the anemometer device 510 may process sensor data generated by the anemometer 512 to determine a service life level value of the air filter 105 as described herein and may transmit, as the information associated with the sensor data, a status signal indicating the service life level value of the air filter 105 and / or a control signal configured to cause an operation of the air conditioning system 100 (e.g., a return air 106 flow rate through the air handler 102 that is induced by the air mover 108) to be adjustably controlled based on the determined service life level value of the air filter 105. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto. It will be understood that, in some example embodiments, the service life level value may include a value indicating, for example, a usage rate of the air filter 105, estimated remaining useful service life of the air filter, remaining effective cross-sectional flow area of the air filter 105 as an absolute amount and / or as a proportion of a full (e.g.. original, maximum, etc.) effective cross-sectional flow area of an unused air filter 105, any combination thereof, or the like.

[0089] Still referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in some example embodiments, the computing device 600 may be communicatively coupled to the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500, where the anemometer device 510 of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 isAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA mounted at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105, between the air filter 105 and the air mover 108 along the return air flow pathway 109, such that the anemometer device 510 is configured to generate return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air 106 drawn through the air filter toward the air mover 108 at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105, based on interaction between the anemometer 512 and such return air 106. The anemometer device 510 may transmit information associated with the return air sensor data to the computing device 600 via a communication link (e.g., at least one of communication links 580 or 710).

[0090] In some example embodiments, at least one device 1010 of the computing device 600 or the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 is configured to determine a service life level value of the air filter 105 based on processing information associated with the return air sensor data generated at the anemometer device 510.

[0091] In some example embodiments, the at least one device 1010 is configured to determine the service life level value of the air filter 105 based on determining a particular service life level value that is associated with the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data. For example, the at least one device 1010 may process information associated with the return air sensor data (where such information may include the return air sensor data itself, information indicating a return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data, any combination thereof, or the like) to determine a return air flow speed value indicated by said information. The at least one device 1010 may determine a corresponding service life level value of the air filter 105 based on accessing a database (e.g., an empirically generated look-up table) that associates respective service life level values with respective sets of one or more air flow speed values. Such a database may be stored in a memory of the at least one device 1010 or may be accessed by theAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA at least one device 1010 from a memory at another, separate device (e.g., remote computing device 800, controller 140, etc.) through a communication link therebetween. For example, the at least one device 1010 may access the database and determine, as the service life level value of the air filter 105, a service life level value that is indicated by the database to be associated with the determined return air flow speed value.

[0092] In some example embodiments, the at least one device 1010 may be configured to determine the service life level value of the air filter 105 based on determining that the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data at least meets one or more threshold air flow speed values associated with a particular service life level value. For example, the at least one device 1010 may compare the determined return air flow speed value with one or more threshold air speed values and / or ranges therebetween that are associated with respective service life levels, such that the at least one device 1010 may determine a particular service life level value of the air filter 105 based on determining that the determined return air flow speed value is above one or more particular threshold air flow speed values, located within a particular range between two or more threshold air flow speed values that is associated with a particular service life level value, or the like. The threshold air flow speed values and / or ranges therebetween may be stored in a memory of the at least one device 1010 or may be accessed by the at least one device 1010 from a memory at another, separate device through a communication link therebetween.

[0093] Each service life level value may represent (and / or may indicate) a value of an effective cross-sectional flow area of the air filter 105. The effective cross-sectional flow area of the air filter 105 may be reduced over time based on accumulation of particulate matter from return air by the air filter 105, such that the service life level value may decrease over time. The return air flow speed value of return air 106 exiting the air filter 105 at the downstream side 105ds based onAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA operation of the air mover 108 may correspond to the effective cross-sectional flow area of the air filter 105, for example, assuming that the air mover 108 is operating at a constant rate configured to draw a particular flowrate of return air 106. The threshold air flow speed values, ranges, and / or database associations that may be accessed by the at least one device 1010 may represent an empirically-determined relationship between the return air flow speed value and the effective cross-sectional flow area of the air filter 105 having particular characteristics, dimensions, properties, manufacturer serial number, and / or model number, or the like. Based on comparing the determined return air flow speed value to the one or more threshold air flow speed values, ranges, and / or associations indicated in a database, the at least one device 1010 may be able to determine a remaining service life of the air filter 105 and / or may determine replacement of the air filter 105 and / or may cause adjustable control of the air conditioning system 100 (e.g., air mover 108) to preclude reduced performance and / or damage to the air conditioning system 100.

[0094] In some example embodiments, the one or more threshold air flow speed values, ranges, and / or particular databases associating return air flow speed values to particular service life level values (e.g., flow area values) of the air filter 105 may be associated with the particular characteristics of the air filter 105, including dimensions, filter material, initial (e.g., maximum) effective cross-sectional flow area, manufacturer seriaf number, manufacturer model number, any combination thereof, or the like. The at least one device 1010 may be configured to determine a particular database and / or set of threshold air flow speed values and / or ranges corresponding to the particular characteristics of the air filter 105, for example, based on being programmed and / or receiving information based on user interaction with the computing device 600 and / or remote computing device 800 to indicate a particular air filter 105 and / or particular characteristics and / or particular threshold air flow speed values thereof. Based on such information, the at least oneAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA device 1010 may determine a particular set of threshold air flow speed values, ranges, and / or one or more particular databases corresponding to the particular characteristics and / or threshold air flow speed values, and the at least one device 1010 may access the particular set of threshold air flow speed values, ranges, and / or one or more particular databases to determine a service life level value of the air filter 105 based on processing information associated with sensor data generated at the anemometer device 510.

[0095] In some example embodiments, the at least one device 1010 is configured to perform one or more operations based on the determined service life level value of the air filter 105 that is determined based on processing information associated with the return air sensor data generated by the anemometer device 510. The one or more operations may include at least one of: causing an operation of the air conditioning system 100 (e.g., at least the air mover 108) to be adjustably controlled, or transmitting a status signal indicating the determined service life level value to a separate device (e.g., remote computing device 800). For example, the at least one device 1010 may compare the determined service life level value to a threshold service life level value (which may be stored at a memory of the at least one device 1010 and / or may be accessed from a memory of a separate device via a communication link), where the threshold service life level value may be included in and / or determined based on characteristics of the air filter 105 determined based on provided information that is programmed into the at least one device 1010 or provided to the at least one device 1010 based on user interaction with a device (e.g., computing device 600 and / or remote computing device 800). In response to a determination that the determined service life level value (e.g., flow area of the air filter 105) exceeds the threshold service life level value (e.g., is below the threshold service life level value, also referred to interchangeably as being smaller than the threshold service life level value or less than the threshold service life level value, althoughAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA example embodiments are not limited thereto), the at least one device 1010 may transmit a control signal, either directly to controller 140 or to a separate device to cause the separate device to transmit a control signal to the controller 140, to cause the controller 140 to adjust the operation of the air mover 108, compressor 156, air mover 154, or any combination thereof, for example to reduce the rotation speed of the air mover 108 to reduce the flow rate of return air 106 flow, with corresponding adjustments to the refrigerant flow rate by the compressor 156 and corresponding flow rate induced by air mover 154. Such adjustment of operation of the air conditioning system 100 may reduce, minimize, or prevent damage to the air conditioning system 100 (e.g., to the air handler 102) caused by reduced effective cross-sectional flow area of the air filter 105 due to accumulated particulate matter. The adjustment of operation may include shutting down at least the air mover 108 to stop airflow through the air handler 102, in order to prevent damage to the air handler 102 in response to the service life level value of the air filter 105 being determined to exceed (e.g., to be below) a particular threshold service life level value.

[0096] In some example embodiments, the at least one device 1010 may cause a status signal indicating the determined service life level value to be transmitted to one or more separate devices, for example to computing device 600, controller 140, and / or remote computing device 800, in response to a determination that the service life level value exceeds (e.g., is below) a particular threshold service life level value. In some example embodiments, the at least one device 1010 may cause a status signal indicating the determined service life level value to be transmitted to one or more separate devices, for example to computing device 600, controller 140, and / or remote computing device 800, in response to a determination that the service life level value of the air filter 105 exceeds (e.g., is below) a particular threshold service life level value, where such a statusAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA signal may include a warning signal indicating that the air filter 105 should be replaced to reduce, minimize, or prevent performance degradation or damage to the air conditioning system 100.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 1, in some example embodiments, the at least one device 1010 may be the computing device 600. The air conditioning system filter air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 may transmit (e.g., at the anemometer device 510. including communication interface 516 thereof) the return air sensor data to the computing device 600 as the information associated with the return air sensor data. The computing device 600 may process the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter 105, for example based on processing the return air sensor data to determine a return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data and comparing the return air flow speed value to at least one of (1) a set of one or more threshold air flow speed values and / or ranges of air flow speed values associated with respective service life level values or (2) a database associating respective service life level values with respective sets of one or more air speed values, so as to determine a service life level value of the air filter 105 associated with the return air flow speed value. The computing device 600 may transmit, to a separate device (e.g., at least one of the remote computing device 800 or the controller 140 of the air conditioning system 100), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value of the air filter 105 or a control signal (e.g., a control signal transmitted to the controller 140 to cause the controller 140 to execute a particular control operation to control the air mover 108, compressor 156. and / or air mover 154, including implementing a particular operating rate reduction or shutdown thereof) to cause an operation of the air conditioning system 100 to be adjustably controlled (e.g., to reduce or halt induced flowrate of return air 106 through the air handler 102), based on the service life level value of the air filter 105.

[0098] In some example embodiments, the at least one device 1010 may be the air conditioningAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA system filter monitor assembly 500. The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 may be configured to process the return air sensor data generated at the anemometer device 510 to determine the service life level value of the air filter 105, for example based on processing the return air sensor data to determine a return air flow speed value indicated by such sensor data, and comparing the determined return air flow speed value to one or more threshold air flow speed values, ranges, and / or database associations of air flow speed values to service life level values to determine a particular service life level value that is associated with the determined return air flow speed value. The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 may transmit, to at least one of the computing device 600 or a separate device (e.g., at least one of the remote computing device 800 or the controller 140 of the air conditioning system 100), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value of the air filter 105 or a control signal (e.g., a control signal transmitted to the controller 140 to cause the controller 140 to execute a particular control operation to control the air mover 108, compressor 156, and / or air mover 154, including implementing a particular operating rate reduction or shutdown thereof) to cause an operation of the air conditioning system 100 to be adjustably controlled (e.g., to reduce or halt induced flowrate of return air 106 through the air handler 102), based on the service life level value of the air filter 105.

[0099] The status signal with a warning signal may be transmitted (e.g., from the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500, computing device 600, controller 140, or any combination thereof) to a remote computing device 800 (e.g., a user device) to cause a notification to be provided to a user supported by the remote computing device (e.g., via a display), for example, a warning prompt to a supported user that the air filter 105 should be replaced (e.g., should be replaced within a certain amount of time).Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA

[0100] In view of any portion of the above, the monitor system 1000 may enable replacement of the air filter 105 of the air conditioning system 100 in response to detecting deterioration, reduced service life level value, or the like (e.g., reduced flow area) of the air filter 105 as indicated by a reduced air flow speed value of return air 106 drawn through the air filter 105 and exiting the air filter 105 into the air handler 102 through the downstream side 105ds to which the anemometer device 510 of the air conditioning system filter monitor system 500 is exposed.

[0101] Based on determining when an air filter 105 should be replaced and sensing a warning signal to prompt air filter 105 replacement, the monitoring system 1000 may be configured to enable the air filter 105 to be replaced more consistently prior to excessive restriction of the effective cross-sectional flow area through the air filter 105, thereby improving operational efficiency of the air conditioning system 100 and reducing strain on internal components of the air conditioning system 100 (e.g., the air handler 102). Accordingly, the air conditioning system filter monitor system 1000 may enable improved performance, reliability, and / or operating efficiency of the air conditioning system 100.

[0102] While example embodiments herein describe the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 as being configured to generate sensor data indicating an air flow speed, such that the air flow speed may be determined and processed to determine a service life level value of the air filter 105, example embodiments are not limited thereto. The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 may generate sensor data indicating at least one of air flow speed, local air pressure of a space to which any portion of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 is exposed, or any combination thereof. The at least one device as described herein may be configured to determine a service life level value of the air filter 105 based on processing one or more of a determined air flow speed and / or air pressure as indicated by sensor data generated byAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500. Any description herein with regard to air flow speed and determining a service life level value of an air filter 105 based thereon, including any description of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500, computing device 600, at least one device 1010, controller 140, remote computing device 800, or the like with regard to air flow speed, will be understood to apply to air pressure and determining a service life level value of an air filter 105 based thereon.

[0103] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an electronic device 4000 according to some example embodiments. The electronic device 4000 may implement any of the computing devices, controllers, processors, or the like according to any of the example embodiments, including an anemometer device 510, a computing device 514, a computing device 600, a remote computing device 800, a controller 140, any combination thereof, or any portion thereof. In some example embodiments, an individual electronic device 4000 may implement two or more of an anemometer device 510, a computing device 514, a computing device 600, a remote computing device 800, a controller 140, any combination thereof, or any portion thereof. In some example embodiments, multiple electronic devices 4000 may collectively implement an anemometer device 510, a computing device 514, a computing device 600, a remote computing device 800, a controller 140, any combination thereof, or any portion thereof.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic device 4000 may include some or all of a processor 4020 (e.g., a CPU), a memory 4030 (e.g., a solid-state drive, or SSD), a communication interface 4040 (e.g., a wireless network communication interface, which may, for example, implement a wireless network communication interface and / or a wired network communication interface, any combination thereof, or the like), and a power supply 4050 that are communicatively coupled together via a bus connection 4010. It will be understood that any type of non-transitory computer-Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA readable storage device may be used as the memory 4030 in addition to or as an alternative to an SSD. The electronic device 4000 may include additional devices, including a user interface device 4060 (e.g., an “interface”) that may include a display device (e.g., an LED display screen, OLED display screen, etc.), a touchscreen display, a button interface, any combination thereof, or the like. The user interface device 4060 may be communicatively coupled to the bus connection 4010.

[0105] In some example embodiments, some or all of any of the electronic device 4000 may include, may be included in, and / or may be implemented by one or more instances (e.g., articles, pieces, units, etc.) of processing circuitry such as hardware including logic circuits; a hardware / software combination such as a processor executing software; or a combination thereof. For example, the processing circuitry more specifically may include, but is not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a System-on-Chip (SoC). a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, an application- specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other device or devices capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined manner. In some example embodiments, the processing circuitry may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage device, or memory (e.g., memory 4030), for example, a solid state drive (SSD), storing a program of instructions, and a processor (e.g., processor 4020) that is communicatively coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable storage device (e.g., via a bus connection 4010) and configured to execute the program of instructions to implement the functionality of some or all of any of the devices and / or mechanisms of any of the example embodiments and / or to implement some or all of any of the methods of any of the example embodiments. It will be understood that, as described herein, an element (e.g., processing circuitry, digital circuits, etc.) that is described as “implementing” an element (e.g., a monitor system 1000, an air conditioning system filter monitorAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA assembly 500, an anemometer device 510, a computing device 514, a computing device 600, a remote computing device 800, a controller 140, an air handler 102, an air conditioning system 100, any combination thereof, any portion thereof, or the like) will be understood to implement the functionality of said implemented element and / or any other elements (e.g., the functionality of the monitor system 1000, the functionality of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500, the functionality of the anemometer device 510, the functionality of the computing device 514, the functionality of the computing device 600, the functionality of the remote computing device 800, the functionality of the controller 140, the functionality of the air handler 102, the functionality of the air conditioning system 100, any combination thereof, any portion thereof, or the like).

[0106] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method S500 of operating an air conditioning system filter monitor system 1000 according to some example embodiments. The method S500 may be implemented by the air conditioning system filter monitor system 1000 shown in FIG. 1, for example, based on operation of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 and the computing device 600 thereof, but example embodiments are not limited thereto, and it will be understood that the method S500 shown in FIG. 5 may be implemented by a monitor system 1000 that is different from what is shown in FIGS. 1-4. One or more operations of method S500 may be implemented based on processor 4020 of an electronic device 4000 (e.g., included in and / or implemented by anemometer device 510, computing device 600, or any combination thereof) executing a program of instructions stored at memory 4030 of the electronic device 4000. It will be understood that operations shown to be performed in FIG. 5 may be performed in a different order than shown. One or more operations of method S500 may be omitted, and one or more operations may be added to method S500.Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA

[0107] At S502, the method S500 includes generating, at the anemometer device 510 of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 (e.g., the anemometer 512 thereof), return air sensor data indicating the value of the return air flow speed value of the return air 106 drawn through the air filter 105, toward the air mover 108 of the air handler 102 of the air conditioning system 100, at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105, based on interaction between the return air flow and the anemometer device 510 (e.g., the anemometer 512 thereof) at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105.

[0108] In some example embodiments, at S504, the anemometer device 510 may transmit information associated with the return air sensor data to computing device 600. However, example embodiments are not limited thereto, and in some example embodiments, S504 may be omitted.

[0109] At S506, the method S500 includes determining, at at least one device 1010 of the computing device 600 or the air conditioning system filter air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500, the service life level value of the air filter 105 based on processing information associated with the return air sensor data. The determining at S506 may include at least one of comparing the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data with a set of one or more threshold air flow speed values and / or ranges associated with corresponding service life level values to determine a particular service life level value corresponding to the return air flow speed value (S508), or determining a particular service life level value associated with the return air flow speed value (e.g.. as indicated by a database that associates service life level values with respective sets of one or more air flow speed values) (S510), any combination thereof, or the like.

[0110] In some example embodiments, the determination at S506 includes performing one of S508 or S510. In some example embodiments, the determination at S506 is performed at the anemometer device 510, such that S504 is not performed. In some example embodiments, theAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA determination is at least partially performed at the computing device 600, such that S504 is performed, and the computing device 600 may process the information according to at least one of S508 or S510 to determine, at the computing device 600, the service life level value of the air filter 105.

[0111] For example, the determination at S506 may include the at least one device 1010 processing information associated with the return air sensor data to determine, at S508, the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data, and further comparing the return air flow speed value with a set of one or more threshold air flow speed values to determine that the return air flow speed value at least meets one or more threshold air flow speed values associated with a particular service life level value associated with the air filter 105, and / or that the return air flow speed value is within a range that is below one or more threshold air flow speed values associated with the air filter 105, above one or more threshold air flow speed values associated with the air filter 105, and / or between two or more threshold air flow speed values associated with the air filter 105, where said range is associated with a particular service life level value.

[0112] In another example, the determination at S506 may include determining, at S510, the service life level value of the air filter 105 as a particular service life level value that is associated with the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data. For example, the determination at S510 may include accessing a database, stored at the at least one device 1010 or accessed from a separate device via a communication link, where the database may be an empirically generated look-up table that associates respective service life level values of the air filter 105 (e.g., an air filter having particular characteristics associated with the air filter 105, including dimension(s), manufacturer model number, etc.) with corresponding sets of one or more air flow speed values, and the determination at S510 may include applying the return air flowAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-000293-WO-POA speed value indicated by the return air flow sensor data to the database to determine a particular service life level value of the air filter 105 that is indicated by the database to be associated with the return air flow speed value.

[0113] At S511, one or more operations may be performed based on the service life level value of the air filter 105 that is determined at S506. The one or more operations performed at S511 may be performed by the at least one device 1010 that includes the device that performs some or all of S506, but example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0114] As shown, at S511 the at least one device 1010 may compare the determined service life level value that is determined at S506 to a threshold service life level value (which may be loaded from a memory of the at least one device 1010 or obtained from a separate device via a communication link) to determine, at S512, whether the determined service life level value exceeds (e.g., is below) the threshold sendee life level value. If not (S512=NO). at S514 the at least one device 1010 may transmit a status signal indicating the determined service life level value to a separate device, including, for example, the controller 140 of the air conditioning system 100, the remote computing device 800, the computing device 600 (e.g., in example embodiments where the at least one device 1010 performing S511 is the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500), or any combination thereof.

[0115] If the determined service life level value is determined at S512 to exceed (e.g., be below) the threshold service life level value (S512=YES), at S516 the at least one device 1010 performing S511 may determine whether the air conditioning system 100 and / or the monitoring system 1000 is configured to enable adjustable control of air conditioning system operation according to a determined service life level value of the air filter 105. If not (S516=NO), at S514 the at least one device 1010 may transmit a status signal indicating the determined service life level value to aAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA separate device, including, for example, the controller 140 of the air conditioning system 100, the remote computing device 800, the computing device 600 (e.g., in example embodiments where the at least one device 1010 performing S511 is the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500), or any combination thereof. In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments where S514 is performed in response to a determination that S512=YES and S516=NO, the status signal that is transmitted at S514 may include a warning indication that indicates that the air filter 105 should be replaced (e.g., to prevent performance degradation and / or damage to the air conditioning system 100 due to excessive restriction of the flow area of the air filter 105). The status signal may cause a separate device, such as computing device 800, to generate a warning indication to provide to a supported user through a user interface (e.g., a display screen) to instruct the user to replace the air filter 105 at the air conditioning system 100.

[0116] If the determined service life level value is determined at S512 to exceed (e.g., be below) the threshold service life level value (S512=YES), and the air conditioning system 100 and / or the monitoring system 1000 is configured to enable adjustable control of air conditioning system operation according to the service life level value of the air filter 105 (S516=YES), at S518 the at least one device 1010 may cause an operation of the air conditioning system 100 to be adjustably controlled. For example, at S518 the at least one device 1010 may transmit a control signal to at least one of the controller 140 or computing device 600 (wherein the control signal transmitted to the computing device 600 may cause the computing device 600 to transmit a control signal to the controller 140), to cause the controller 140 to adjustably control operation of one or more components of the air conditioning system 100 to reduce or stop return air flowrate through the air handler 102 (with corresponding adjustments to refrigerant flowrate induced by compressor 156Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA and corresponding cooling of the refrigerant by the airflow induced by the air mover 154). The process may then proceed to S514.

[0117] In some example embodiments, including the example embodiments where S514 is performed in response to a determination that S512=YES and S516=YES and further performance of S518, the status signal that is transmitted at S514 may include at least one of a warning indication that indicates that operation of the air conditioning system 100 is being adjustably controlled according to the service life level value of the air filter 105 or a warning indication that indicates that the air filter 105 should be replaced (e.g., to prevent performance degradation and / or damage to the air conditioning system 100 due to excessive restriction of the flow area of the air filter 105). The status signal may cause a separate device, such as computing device 800, to generate a warning indication to provide to a supported user through a user interface (e.g., a display screen) to instruct the user to replace the air filter 105 at the air conditioning system 100. In some example embodiments, S514 may be omitted. For example, in some example embodiments, in response to the at least one device 1010 causing an operation of the air conditioning system 100 to be adjustably controlled at S518, at S520 the method S500 (e.g., the at least one device 1010) may bypass S514 such that the method S500 may end without performing S514.

[0118] In some example embodiments, the at least one device 1010 that performs the determination of the service life level value at S506 is the computing device 600. In such example embodiments, method S500 may include, at S504, transmitting the return air sensor data from the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 to the computing device 600 (e.g., the sensor data itself, a return air flow speed value indicated by the sensor data, or any combination thereof). The method S500 may further include, at S506, processing, at the computing device 600, the information associated with the return air sensor data (e.g., processing the return air sensor dataAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA itself) to determine the service life level value of the air filter 105, for example based on determining that the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data at least meets one or more threshold air speed values associated with a particular service life level value (S508) or determining a particular service life level value that is associated with the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data, for example as indicated by a database such as an empirically-generated look-up table accessed from a memory at the computing device 600 or a device communicatively linked thereto (S510). The method S500 may include performing at least some of S511 at the computing device 600 such that the computing device 600 performs the determination at S512 and further transmits, from the computing device 600 to a separate device (e.g., at least one of remote computing device 800 or controller 140), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value of the air filter (S514) or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system 100 to be adjustably controlled, based on the determined service life level value of the air filter (S518), for example based on transmitting a control signal to the controller 140 through at least one of communication links 680 or 720 to cause the controller 140 to adjust (e.g., reduce or stop) return air 106 flow through the air handler 102 based on adjustably controlling (e.g., stopping) the air mover 108.

[0119] In some example embodiments, the at least one device 1010 that performs the determination of the service life level value is the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500. In such example embodiments, method S500 may omit S504. The method S500 may include, at S506, processing, at the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500, the information associated with the return air sensor data (e.g., processing the return air sensor data itself) to determine the service life level value of the air filter 105, for example based on determining that the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data at least meets one or moreAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA threshold air flow speed values associated with a particular service life level value (S508) or determining a particular service life level value that is associated with the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data, for example as indicated by a database such as an empirically-generated look-up table accessed from a memory at the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 or a device communicatively linked thereto (S510). The method S500 may include performing at least some of S511 at the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 such that the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 performs the determination at S512 and further transmits, from the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 to a separate device (e.g., at least one of computing device 600, remote computing device 800, or controller 140), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value of the air filter (S 514) or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system 100 to be adjustably controlled, based on the determined service life level value of the air filter (S518). For example, the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 may transmit a control signal to the controller 140 through at least one of communication links 570 or 750 to cause the controller 140 to adjust (e.g., reduce or stop) return air 106 flow through the air handler 102 based on adjustably controlling (e.g., stopping) the air mover 108, or for example based on transmitting a control signal to the computing device 600 through at least one of communication links 580 or 710 to cause the computing device 600 to further transmit a control signal to the controller 140 to cause the controller 140 to adjust (e.g., reduce or stop) return air 106 flow through the air handler 102 based on adjustably controlling (e.g., stopping) the air mover 108.

[0120] While some example embodiments are described herein with regard to an air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 that includes an anemometer device 510 that is mounted at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105, it will be understood that exampleAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA embodiments of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 are not limited thereto. For example, in some example embodiments, the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 may include an anemometer device 510 according to some of the example embodiments and may further include a structure connector 520 that is coupled to the anemometer device 510 and is configured to mount the anemometer device at the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105 of the air conditioning system 100, such that the anemometer device 510 is between the air filter 105 and an air intake 103 of the air conditioning system 100, such that the anemometer device 510 is configured to generate return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air 106 drawn toward the air filter 105 from the external environment 150 at the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105.

[0121] While some example embodiments are described herein to include an air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 that includes a single anemometer device 510, and a monitor system 1000 including same, it will be understood that example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, in some example embodiments, the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly 500 may include multiple anemometer devices 510, where one or more structure connectors 520 may be configured to mount the multiple anemometer devices 510 at separate, respective positions in relation to the air filter 105 of the air conditioning system 100. For example, the one or more structure connectors 520 may be configured to mount at least one of the anemometer devices 510 of assembly 500 at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105 and to further mount at least one other anemometer device 510 of assembly 500 at the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105. As a result, the anemometer device(s) 510 at the downstream side 105ds may be configured to generate first return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air (106) drawn through the air filter toward the air mover of the air handler at theAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA downstream side of the air filter, and the anemometer device(s) 510 mounted at the upstream side 105us may be configured to generate second return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air 106 drawn toward the air filter 105 from the external environment 150 at the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105. The one or more structure connectors 520 may include a single structure connector 520 that is configured to couple with one or more structures 188 to both mount at least one anemometer device 510 at the downstream side 105ds of the air filter 105 and to mount at least one other anemometer device 510 at the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105. The one or more structure connectors 520 may include multiple structure connectors 520 that are each configured to couple with one or more structures 188 to mount a separate anemometer device 510 at a separate one of the downstream side 105ds or the upstream side 105us of the air filter 105. The system 1000 may be configured to determine a service life level value of the air filter 105 based on processing information associated with both the first and second return air sensor data, for example, based on processing the first and second return air sensor data to determine a pressure differential across the air filter 105 due to flow of the return air 106 through the air filter 105 and further determining a service life level value associated with the pressure difference value (e.g., based on accessing an empirically generated look-up table stored in a memory).

[0122] Example Embodiments

[0123] Example Embodiment 1: An air conditioning system filter monitor assembly (500), comprising:an anemometer device (510), the anemometer device configured to,generate sensor data indicating an air flow speed of an air flow based on interactionAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA between the air flow and the anemometer device, andtransmit information associated with the sensor data to at least one remote device (600, 700, and / or 140), anda structure connector (520) coupled to the anemometer device, the structure connector configured to mount the anemometer device at a downstream side (105ds) of an air filter (105) of an air conditioning system (100), such that the anemometer device is between the air filter and an air mover (108) of an air handler (102) of the air conditioning system, such that the anemometer device is configured to generate return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air (106) drawn through the air filter toward the air mover of the air handler at the downstream side of the air filter.

[0124] Example Embodiment 2: The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of Example Embodiment 1, wherein the structure connector is configured to mount the anemometer device at the downstream side of the air filter based on coupling with a structure (188) at an upstream side (105us) of the air filter, the structure connector including an extension structure (524) that is configured to extend around an outer edge surface (105e) of the air filter between the anemometer device at the downstream side and the structure at the upstream side to hold the anemometer device in place at the downstream side.

[0125] Example Embodiment 3: The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of Example Embodiment 1 or Example Embodiment 2, wherein the structure connector includes a clamp (522), the clamp configured to couple to the structure based on engaging opposite surfaces (188ss, 188os) of the structure at the upstream side of the air filter.Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA

[0126] Example Embodiment 4: The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of any of Example Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the structure connector is configured to engage at least one surface (182ss) at least partially defining an air filter track structure (182) of the air handler to couple to the structure, the air filter track structure configured to at least partially accommodate the air filter to position the air filter at a particular air filter placement region (184) in a return air flow pathway (109) extending from an external environment (150) to the air mover of the air handler, to enable the air filter to filter the return air drawn to the air mover through the return air flow pathway.

[0127] Example Embodiment 5: The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of any of Example Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the extension structure (524) is configured to be engaged by the outer edge surface of the air filter based on the air filter being positioned at the particular air filter placement region in the return air flow pathway.

[0128] Example Embodiment 6: The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of any of Example Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein at least a portion of the extension structure is configured to be compressed between the outer edge surface of the air filter and a surface at least partially defining the particular air filter placement region based on the air filter being positioned in the particular air filter placement region by the air filter track structure.

[0129] Example Embodiment 7: The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of any of Example Embodiments 1 to 6. further comprising a battery power supply (518).

[0130] Example Embodiment 8: The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of any of Example Embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the communication interface is a wireless network communication interface.

[0131] Example Embodiment 9: An air conditioning system filter monitor system (1000), comprising:Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of any of Example Embodiments 1 to 8; anda computing device (600) communicatively coupled to the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly through at least the communication interface of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly,wherein at least one device of the computing device or the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly is configured to determine a service life level value of the air filter based on processing information associated with the return air sensor data.

[0132] Example Embodiment 10: The air conditioning system filter monitor system of Example Embodiment 9, wherein the at least one device is configured to determine the service life level value of the air filter based on determining that the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data at least meets one or more threshold air flow speed values associated with a particular service life level value.

[0133] Example Embodiment 11: The air conditioning system filter monitor system of Example Embodiment 9 or Example Embodiment 10, wherein the at least one device is configured to determine the service life level value of the air filter based on determining a particular service life level value that is associated with the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data.

[0134] Example Embodiment 12: The air conditioning system filter monitor system of any of Example Embodiments 9 to 11, wherein the at least one device is configured to perform one or more operations based on the service life level value of the air filter, the one or more operations including at least one of,causing an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, or transmitting a status signal indicating the service life level value to a separate device (800).Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA

[0135] Example Embodiment 13: The air conditioning system filter monitor system of any of Example Embodiments 9 to 12, wherein,the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly is configured to transmit the return air sensor data to the computing device,the computing device is configured to process the sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, andthe computing device is configured to transmit, to a separate device (800, 140), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.

[0136] Example Embodiment 14: The air conditioning system filter monitor system of any of Example Embodiments 9 to 13, wherein,the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly is configured to process the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, andthe air conditioning system filter monitor assembly is configured to transmit, to at least one of the computing device or a separate device (800, 140), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.

[0137] Example Embodiment 15: A method of operating the air conditioning system filter monitor system of any of Example Embodiments 9 to 14, the method comprising:generating, at the anemometer device, return air sensor data indicating the return air flow speed value of the return air drawn through the air filter toward the air mover of the air handler at the downstream side of the air filter; anddetermining, at the at least one device of the computing device or the air conditioning systemAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA filter monitor assembly, the service life level value of the air filter based on processing the information associated with the return air sensor data.

[0138] Example Embodiment 16: The method of Example Embodiment 15, wherein the service life level value of the air filter is determined based on determining that the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data at least meets one or more threshold air flow speed values associated with a particular service life level value.

[0139] Example Embodiment 17: The method of Example Embodiment 15 or Example Embodiment 16, wherein the service life level value of the air filter is determined based on determining a particular service life level value that is associated with the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data.

[0140] Example Embodiment 18: The method of any of Example Embodiments 15 to 17, further comprising:performing, at the at least one device, one or more operations based on the service life level value of the air filter, the one or more operations including at least one of,causing an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, or transmitting a status signal indicating the service life level value to a separate device (800).

[0141] Example Embodiment 19: The method of any of Example Embodiments 15 to 18, further comprising:transmitting, at the air conditioning system fdter monitor assembly, the return air sensor data to the computing device,processing, at the computing device, the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, andtransmitting, from the computing device to a separate device (800, 140), at least one of a statusAtty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.

[0142] Example Embodiment 20: The method of any of Example Embodiments 15 to 19, further comprising:processing, at the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly, the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, andtransmitting, from the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly to at least one of the computing device or a separate device (800, 140), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.

[0143] Some example embodiments have been disclosed herein; it should be understood that other variations may be possible. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA WHAT TS CLAIMED:

1. An air conditioning system filter monitor assembly (500), comprising:an anemometer device (510), the anemometer device configured to,generate sensor data indicating an air flow speed of an air flow based on interaction between the air flow and the anemometer device, andtransmit information associated with the sensor data to at least one remote device (600, 800, and / or 140); anda structure connector (520) coupled to the anemometer device, the structure connector configured to mount the anemometer device at a downstream side (105ds) of an air filter (105) of an air conditioning system (100), such that the anemometer device is between the air filter and an air mover (108) of an air handler (102) of the air conditioning system, such that the anemometer device is configured to generate return air sensor data indicating a return air flow speed value of return air (106) drawn through the air filter toward the air mover of the air handler at the downstream side of the air fdter.

2. The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of claim 1, wherein the structure connector is configured to mount the anemometer device at the downstream side of the air filter based on coupling with a structure (188) at an upstream side (105us) of the air filter, the structure connector including an extension structure (524) that is configured to extend around an outer edge surface (105e) of the air filter between the anemometer device at the downstream side and the structure at the upstream side to hold the anemometer device in place at the downstream side.Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA 3. The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of claim 2, wherein the structure connector includes a clamp (522), the clamp configured to couple to the structure based on engaging opposite surfaces (188ss, 188os) of the structure at the upstream side of the air filter.

4. The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of claim 3, wherein the structure connector is configured to engage at least one surface (182ss) at least partially defining an air filter track structure (182) of the air handler to couple to the structure, the air filter track structure configured to at least partially position the air filter in a particular air filter placement region (184) of a return air flow pathway (109) extending from an external environment (150) to the air mover of the air handler, to enable the air filter to filter the return air drawn to the air mover through the return air flow pathway.

5. The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of claim 4, wherein the extension structure (524) is configured to be engaged by the outer edge surface of the air filter based on the air filter being positioned in the particular air filter placement region of the return air flow pathway.

6. The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the extension structure is configured to be compressed between the outer edge surface of the air filter and a surface at least partially defining the particular air filter placement region based on the air filter being positioned in the particular air filter placement region by the air filter track structure.

7. The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a battery power supply (518).Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA 8. The air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of claim 1, wherein the anemometer device further includes a wireless network communication interface (516), the wireless network communication interface configured to transmit the information associated with the sensor data to the at least one remote device.

9. An air conditioning system filter monitor system (1000), comprising:the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly of claim 1 ; anda computing device (600) communicatively coupled to the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly through at least the anemometer device of the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly,wherein at least one device (1010) of the computing device or the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly is configured to determine a service life level value of the air filter based on processing information associated with the return air sensor data.

10. The air conditioning system filter monitor system of claim 9, wherein the at least one device is configured to determine the service life level value of the air filter based on determining that the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data at least meets one or more threshold air flow speed values associated with a particular service life level value.

11. The air conditioning system filter monitor system of claim 9, wherein the at least one device is configured to determine the service life level value of the air filter based on determining a particular service life level value that is associated with the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data.Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA12. The air conditioning system filter monitor system of claim 9, wherein the at least one device is configured to perform one or more operations based on the service life level value of the air filter, the one or more operations including at least one of,causing an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, or transmitting a status signal indicating the service life level value to a separate device (800).

13. The air conditioning system filter monitor system of claim 9, wherein,the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly is configured to transmit the return air sensor data to the computing device,the computing device is configured to process the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, andthe computing device is configured to transmit, to a separate device (800, 140), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.

14. The air conditioning system filter monitor system of claim 9, wherein,the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly is configured to process the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, andthe air conditioning system filter monitor assembly is configured to transmit, to at least one of the computing device or a separate device (800, 140), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA 15. A method of operating the air conditioning system filter monitor system of claim 9, the method comprising:generating, at the anemometer device, return air sensor data indicating the return air flow speed value of the return air drawn through the air filter toward the air mover of the air handler at the downstream side of the air filter; anddetermining, at the at least one device of the computing device or the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly, the service life level value of the air filter based on processing the information associated with the return air sensor data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the service life level value of the air filter is determined based on determining that the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data at least meets one or more threshold air flow speed values associated with a particular service life level value.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the service life level value of the air filter is determined based on determining a particular service life level value that is associated with the return air flow speed value indicated by the return air sensor data.

18. The method of claim 15. further comprising:performing, at the at least one device, one or more operations based on the service life level value of the air filter, the one or more operations including at least one of,causing an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, or transmitting a status signal indicating the service life level value to a separate device (800).Atty. Dkt. No. 1793-OOQ293-WO-POA 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:transmitting, at the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly, the return air sensor data to the computing device,processing, at the computing device, the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, andtransmitting, from the computing device to a separate device (800, 140), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:processing, at the air conditioning system fdter monitor assembly, the return air sensor data to determine the service life level value of the air filter, andtransmitting, from the air conditioning system filter monitor assembly to at least one of the computing device or a separate device (800, 140), at least one of a status signal indicating the service life level value or a control signal to cause an operation of the air conditioning system to be adjustably controlled, based on the service life level value of the air filter.

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