Flexible Water Metering Sensor with Periodic Low-Power Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water metering systems lack the ability to efficiently monitor water flow in real-time and detect anomalies such as leaks or unusual usage patterns, especially in residential and commercial settings.
Innovation Solution
A flexible sensing device equipped with sensors like microphones, vibration sensors, and temperature sensors that can be externally fitted to pipes to monitor fluid flow. This device operates in low-power mode and communicates through a low-power local area network, allowing it to extend its battery life and provide continuous monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensing device continuously monitors water flow using multiple sensors, then measurement precision and detection capability are improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing device alternates between active monitoring mode and low-power mode, periodically waking up to collect sensor data and then returning to sleep mode. This periodic operation allows the device to maintain measurement precision when needed while dramatically reducing average power consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically changes its operational parameters by adjusting the sampling frequency and sensor activation states based on flow conditions. During normal operation, sensors operate at lower sampling rates to conserve energy, while increasing precision when anomalies are detected or during critical monitoring periods.
2Reliability
If the sensing device operates in full-power mode to ensure continuous monitoring, then reliability is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device implements periodic monitoring cycles where it switches between active and sleep modes. During active periods, full monitoring capability ensures reliability, while the device returns to low-power mode between cycles to extend battery life, achieving a balance between continuous monitoring and power conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing device uses feedback from initial sensor readings to determine when full-power monitoring is necessary. When flow conditions are normal, the device reduces power consumption; when anomalies are detected, it increases monitoring intensity, ensuring reliability only when needed while extending overall battery life.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to detect various parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing device integrates multiple sensor types (acoustic, vibration, temperature) into a single multi-functional unit that can detect various parameters simultaneously. This universal design allows the device to maintain high measurement precision for different parameters while managing complexity through integrated architecture rather than separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions into one consolidated device that monitors acoustic signals, vibrations, and temperature together. By merging these sensors and their processing circuits into a single integrated unit, the device achieves comprehensive measurement precision while reducing the overall system complexity compared to using separate monitoring devices.
4Ease of manufacture
If the sensing device is externally fitted to pipes, then ease of installation is improved, but measurement precision may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing device uses a flexible substrate that can be wrapped around pipes of various diameters and shapes. This flexible shell design allows easy external installation while maintaining close contact with the pipe surface, ensuring that sensors can effectively detect acoustic and vibration signals without requiring invasive installation that would compromise measurement 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
The sensing device effectively determines flow rates and detects events such as appliance usage or leaks by analyzing sensor data, enabling intelligent monitoring and alert systems that can improve water management and reduce waste.
Implementation Method 1
a wake-on-sound microphone that can wake the sensing device from a low-power mode when it detects audio energy levels above a threshold audio energy level
Implementation Method 2
The sensing device can include one or more sensors that are used to collect sensor data from the medium, such as a microphone, a vibration sensor, or a temperature sensor
Implementation Method 3
The collected sensor data can be used by one or more computer systems to determine, for example, a flow rate for fluid or material flowing through the medium and the temperature of the fluid or material flowing through or in the medium
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for water metering are disclosed. In one aspect, sensor data can be received from a flexible sensing device fitted to medium that includes a restricted area through which fluid can move over a period of time. At least one of a level of vibration of the medium or a level of audio energy from the medium in the period of time is identified. A flow rate of fluid moving through the restricted area of the medium is determined. An event at a property that receives at least a portion of the fluid moving through the restricted area of the medium is determined. A notification indicating the event at the property is generated.