Capacitive Fluid Detection Units for Basement Pump Malfunction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid detection systems in basements fail to promptly alert users of pump malfunctions, leading to flooding due to delayed detection of water level increases, as they rely on manual activation and lack real-time monitoring capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A fluid detection apparatus comprising capacitive detection units and a sensing circuit that generates impedance variations in response to fluid submergence, coupled with a smart power supply and environment detection unit to provide immediate status indication signals and alarms for abnormal fluid spread and pump malfunction detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual water level monitoring is used in existing fluid detection systems, then device complexity is reduced, but detection speed and reliability deteriorate leading to delayed alarm activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical water level monitoring with an automated capacitive sensing system. The fluid detection apparatus uses capacitive detection units that automatically detect fluid levels and trigger alarms, eliminating the need for manual intervention while improving detection reliability and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-monitoring through the control unit that automatically processes signals from multiple capacitive detection units, determines fluid spread circumstances, and activates alarms without human intervention. The apparatus serves itself by continuously monitoring and autonomously responding to fluid level changes.
2Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring capabilities are added to detect pump malfunctions, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection system into multiple independent capacitive detection units arranged at different positions. Each unit independently monitors its local area, and the control unit processes individual signals to determine overall fluid spread circumstances. This segmentation improves detection precision while keeping individual sensor units simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes signals from all capacitive detection units, determines fluid spread circumstances, controls alarm activation, and can reset the pump system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated circuits for each task, managing complexity while maintaining high detection precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables timely and accurate detection of fluid spread and pump malfunctions, preventing flooding by emitting alarms and potentially resetting the pump, thus ensuring immediate action can be taken to address the issue.
Implementation Method 1
each of the capacitive detection units generates an impedance variation in response to a submergence of a fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid detection apparatus and a fluid detection method are provided. The fluid detection apparatus includes a plurality of capacitive detection units and a sensing circuit. The capacitive detection units are sequentially arranged along a detection direction, wherein each of the capacitive detection units generates an impedance variation in response to the submergence of the fluid and accordingly generates a corresponding fluid detection signal. The sensing circuit is coupled to the capacitive detection units so as to receive the fluid detection signals and send a first status indication signal indicating a spread circumstance of the fluid along the detection direction according to the fluid detection signals.