# US 10,119,952 B2 · Inline water contaminant detector and filter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,952 B2 - Document ID: US10119952B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/458,189 - Filed: 2017-03-14 - Published: 2017-07-13 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-07 - Assignees: Shenzhen Yimu Technology Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Ecomo Inc. - Inventors: Gang Chen; Zhiqiang Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119952B2 ## CPC - G01N 33/18: Water - B01D 29/60: integrally combined with devices for controlling the filtration - B01D 29/96: in which the filtering elements are moved between filtering operations; Particular measures for removing or replacing the filtering elements; Transport systems for filters (B01D29/09, B01D29/70 take precedence) - B01D 35/143: Filter condition indicators - C02F 1/003: {using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices (C02F9/20 takes precedence)} - C02F 1/283: {using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them} - G01N 21/33: using ultraviolet light (G01N21/39 takes precedence) - G01N 21/59: Transmissivity (G01N21/25 takes precedence) - G01N 21/85: Investigating moving fluids or granular solids - G01N 33/1826: {Organic contamination in water} - C02F 2209/06: pH - C02F 2209/10: Solids, e.g. total solids [TS], total suspended solids [TSS] or volatile solids [VS] - C02F 2209/20: Total organic carbon [TOC] - C02F 2307/06: Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead - G01N 21/51: inside a container, e.g. in an ampoule (G01N21/53 takes precedence) - G01N 2021/8571: {using filtering of sample fluid} - G01N 2201/062: LED's - Y02A 20/20: Controlling water pollution; Waste water treatment - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract An affordable, low-power, low-profile water contamination detection and/or filtration device that can be installed directly onto a home faucet or other water line. The contamination detection part uses photometric and other sensors to collect data pertaining to levels of Total Organic Carbon, Total Dissolved Solids, heavy metals, turbidity, harmful bacteria, and other contaminants. The device uses efficient circuit design so that parts of the sensor, LED, and calculation circuit are only activated when the faucet is turned on and water fills a measurement chamber. The filtration part of the device can be switched on and off using simple twist interface, such that filtered water can flow directly into the contamination detection part for testing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for installation onto a tap comprising: a filter unit operable to filter water when the tap is operated; a chamber located below the filter unit, wherein the chamber receives a flow of fluid from the tap when the tap is operated; an ultraviolet LED that when the chamber is substantially full at least one photometric receiver measures the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by fluid within the chamber; and a circuit configured to convert ultraviolet light absorbance from the photometric receiver to generate a signal for transmitting contaminant data; wherein the filter unit comprises a housing that is rotatable around the axis of the tap; a compartment, situated in-line between the tap and the exit, enclosed by the housing, and containing a filter; and a switch rotatable around the axis to switch between covering and uncovering an opening located above and leading to the compartment, and coupled to the housing, wherein when the housing is rotated the switch is rotated, diverting water to the compartment, or to the chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the chamber receives flow from the bottom of the chamber to fill the chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 further comprising two metal conductors, situated on opposite sides of the top of the chamber, such that when the chamber is substantially full a capacitive charge between the two metal conductors activates the LED. ### Claim 4 An apparatus operable to receive data from a device installed on a tap, the data relating to the tap water, wherein the device comprises: a filter unit operable to filter water when the tap is operated; a chamber located below the filter unit, wherein the chamber receives a flow of fluid from the tap when the tap is operated; an ultraviolet LED that when the chamber is substantially full is activated to emit light to the chamber such that at least one photometric receiver measures the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by fluid within the chamber; and a circuit configured to convert ultraviolet light absorbance from the photometric receiver to generate the data relating to the tap water; wherein the filter unit comprises: a housing that is rotatable around the axis of the tap; a compartment, situated in-line between the tap and the exit, enclosed by the housing, and containing a filter; and a switch rotatable around the axis to switch between covering and uncovering an opening located above and leading to the compartment, and coupled to the housing, wherein when the housing is rotated the switch is rotated, diverting water to the compartment, or to the chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4 wherein the chamber receives flow from the bottom of the chamber to fill the chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4 further comprising two metal conductors, situated on opposite sides of the top of the chamber, such that when the chamber is substantially full a capacitive charge between the two metal conductors activates the LED. ### Claim 7 A device for installation onto a tap comprising: a housing that is rotatable around the axis of the tap; an exit for dispensing fluid, the exit of the device situated in-line with the tap; a compartment, situated in-line between the tap and the exit, enclosed by the housing, and containing a filter; and a switch rotatable around the axis to switch between covering and uncovering an opening located above and leading to the compartment, and coupled to the housing, such that when the housing is rotated the switch is rotated, diverting water to the compartment, or to the exit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, further comprising: a chamber located between the compartment and the exit, wherein the chamber receives water diverted from the compartment; an ultraviolet LED that, when the chamber is substantially full, is activated to emit light to the chamber such that at least one photometric receiver measures the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by fluid within the chamber; and a circuit configured to convert ultraviolet light absorbance from the photometric receiver and to generate a signal for transmitting contaminant data.