# US 10,121,353 B1 · Water detection assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,121,353 B1 - Document ID: US10121353B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/636,352 - Filed: 2017-06-28 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-28 - Assignees: United Services Automobile Association (USAA) - Applicants: United Services Automobile Association (USAA) - Inventors: Bradly Jay Billman; Kade Scott; Matthew T. Flachsbart; Cory Matheson; Benjamin D. Ethington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121353B1 ## CPC - G01M 3/045: {with electrical detection means} - G01M 3/18: for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; {for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators} - G01M 3/183: {for pipe joints or seals} - G01M 3/40: by using electric means, e.g. by observing electric discharges - G01N 27/048: {for determining moisture content of the material} - G06K 19/06037: {multi-dimensional coding} - G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs} - G08B 21/20: responsive to moisture - G08B 25/10: using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} - H01M 6/32: activated through external addition of electrolyte or of electrolyte components - H01M 10/36: Accumulators not provided for in groups H01M10/05-H01M10/34 - H01M 50/247: specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a water detection device that includes a water-activated battery configured to supply an electrical voltage upon contact with water, an electronic circuit configured to receive the electrical voltage from the water-activated battery, where the electronic circuit is configured to communicate with an external, electronic device upon receipt of the electrical voltage, and a housing configured to receive the water-activated battery and the electronic circuit, where the housing has passageways configured to facilitate movement of water into the housing and toward the battery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water detection device, comprising: a water-activated battery configured to supply an electrical voltage upon contact with water; an electronic circuit configured to receive the electrical voltage from the water-activated battery, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to communicate with an external, electronic device upon receipt of the electrical voltage; and a housing configured to receive the water-activated battery and the electronic circuit, wherein the housing comprises passageways configured to facilitate movement of water into the housing and toward the battery, wherein the passageways are formed in an external surface of the housing, and wherein the passageways comprise channels configured to direct water into the housing via capillary action. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The water detection device of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is removably connected to the water-activated battery within the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The water detection device of claim 1, comprising memory disposed in the housing, wherein the memory is electrically coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to store instructions executed by the electronic circuit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The water detection device of claim 3, comprising an interrogator configured to electrically communicate with the memory external to the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The water detection device of claim 1, comprising an additional power source electrically coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to provide electrical voltage to the electronic circuit for periodic testing of the electronic circuit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The water detection device of claim 1, wherein the passageways comprise openings disposed over the water-activated battery. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The water detection device of claim 1, wherein the passageways are spaced a uniform distance apart from one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The water detection device of claim 7, wherein the uniform distance is between 0.3 centimeters (cm) and 0.5 cm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The water detection device of claim 1, wherein a coating is disposed over the passageways, and wherein water is configured to dissolve the coating upon contact with the coating. ### Claim 10 A water detection and notification device, comprising: a housing; a multiple-layer wall of the housing, the multiple-layer wall defining at least one side of a chamber of the device; a water porous layer of the multiple layer wall; a water soluble layer of the multiple layer wall that limits or blocks access of water, contaminants, or both into the chamber through openings of the water porous layer; a material of a water-activated power source disposed within the chamber, the material changeable upon exposure to water from a dormant condition, in which no electrical voltage is generated by the water-activated power source, to an active condition, in which electrical voltage is generated by the water-activated power source; passageways formed in an external surface of the multiple-layer wall of the housing, wherein the passageways comprise channels configured to direct water into the housing toward the water-activated power source via capillary action; and an electronic circuit connected to the water-activated power source configured to transmit an electrical signal out of the device in response to a change of the material of the water-activated power source from the dormant condition to the active condition to indicate a water leak. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The water detection and notification device of claim 10, wherein the water soluble layer comprises sugar glass, a water-soluble polymer, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The water detection and notification device of claim 11, wherein the water soluble layer comprises the water-soluble polymer, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, sorbitol, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The water detection and notification device of claim 10, wherein the electronic circuit is disposed within a component housing configured to be disposed in an opening of the housing, wherein the component housing is modular with respect to the housing, and wherein the electronic circuit is removably connected to the water-activated power source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The water detection and notification device of claim 10, wherein the dormant power source has an anode comprising magnesium, aluminum, zinc, lead, thallium, manganese, silicon, iron, calcium, nickel, copper, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The water detection and notification device of claim 10, wherein the dormant power source has a cathode comprising silver chloride, cuprous iodide, cuprous thiocyanate, lead chloride, cuprous chloride, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The water detection and notification device of claim 15, wherein the cathode comprises a depolarizer. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: linking a water detection device having a water activated battery and an electronic circuit with an electronic device; directing water into a housing of the water detection device via a plurality of capillary passageways disposed on an external surface of the housing, wherein the plurality of capillary passageways comprises a plurality of channels configured to direct water into the housing via capillary action; activating the water-activated battery upon exposing the water detection device to water; and reporting a detection event upon activation of the water-activated battery to at least the electronic device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the water is directed into the housing and toward the water-activated battery through adhesion, cohesion, surface tension, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising dissolving a coating on a surface of a housing of the water detection device to expose the water-activated battery to water.