# US 10,872,515 B2 · Method and apparatus for monitoring and reporting salt level in a water softener

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- Number: US 10,872,515 B2
- Document ID: US10872515B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/174,342
- Filed: 2018-10-30
- Published: 2020-09-03
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-30
- Applicants: Lee R. Jones; Kenneth C. Andrews
- Inventors: Lee R. Jones; Kenneth C. Andrews
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10872515B2

## CPC

- G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold}
- G01N 27/226: {Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor}
- G01N 33/1886: {using probes, e.g. submersible probes, buoys}
- H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
- H04L 67/55: Push-based network services
- C02F 1/42: by ion-exchange (ion-exchange in general B01J)
- C02F 2209/008: comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
- C02F 2209/05: Conductivity or salinity
- C02F 2303/16: Regeneration of sorbents, filters
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- 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)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- 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)

## Abstract

A system for monitoring the level or amount of salt within a water softener brine tank is provided. The system includes a detection apparatus that uses at least three sensors that each measure the capacitance measured through the wall of a salt brine tank. The presence of salt adjacent a sensor causes the capacitance to increase and the sensor to report a salt present condition. Each sensor reports to a controller that will combine the signals from the sensors to detect when the level of the container is below a predetermined level. When at least one or more sensors report the salt level is below the predetermined level, the controller generates a push notification or an audio and/or visible alarm to alert the user the water softener tank needs to be replenished.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for monitoring a salt level in a water softener brine tank having a perimeter wall extending upwardly from a bottom and having a maximum brine level, said device comprising:
a first capacitive sensor located at a first position on an outside surface of said perimeter wall of said brine tank and spaced from said bottom at a first distance, a second capacitive sensor located at a second position on said perimeter wall and spaced at a second distance from said bottom, and a third capacitive sensor located at a third position on said perimeter wall and spaced at a third distance from said bottom, said first, second, and third distances being above said maximum brine level;
each said capacitive sensor having a corresponding sensing probe located between said perimeter wall and a shield, said shield overlaying said sensing probe, each said capacitive sensor having a corresponding output, said corresponding output movable between a salt absent reading and a salt present reading, said absent reading defined by a capacitance reading corresponding to said salt level being below said sensing probe, said present reading defined by said capacitance reading corresponding said salt level being overlaid by said sensing probe;
each said sensor communicating with a controller, said controller reading said corresponding outputs from each said capacitive sensor, said controller comparing said outputs from said first, second, and third capacitive sensors;
said controller reporting a low salt condition when at least two of said outputs of said capacitive sensors read said salt absent reading.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, said controller connected to a computer network, said reporting of said low salt condition occurring over said network.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device according to claim 2, said reporting includes a recurring push notification while said low salt condition exists.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third positions are substantially equally spaced around said perimeter wall.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third distances are at substantially equal vertical positions on said perimeter wall.

### Claim 6

A method of monitoring a salt level in a water softener brine tank, said brine tank having a perimeter wall extending from a bottom, said method comprising:
providing a first, second, and third capacitive sensor, each said sensor having a sensing probe;
providing a controller in communication with said sensors;
attaching said first, second, and third capacitive sensors on an outside surface of said perimeter wall with each said sensing probe above a maximum brine level;
said controller monitoring and comparing outputs of said capacitive sensors;
said controller converting said outputs of said capacitive sensors into a value between a salt present or salt absent value; and
reporting a low salt condition when at least one of said capacitive sensor values have a salt absent value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein said reporting of said low salt condition generates a visual or audible alert.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein said reporting of said low salt condition occurs wirelessly from said controller.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein said reporting occurs through a push notification.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein said reporting is recurring while said low salt condition is reported by said controller.

### Claim 11

A device for monitoring a salt level in a water softener brine tank having a perimeter wall extending upwardly from a bottom and having a maximum brine level, said device comprising:
a first capacitive sensor located at a first position on an outside surface of said perimeter wall of said brine tank and spaced from said bottom at a first distance, a second capacitive sensor located at a second position on said perimeter wall and spaced at a second distance from said bottom, and a third capacitive sensor located at a third position on said perimeter wall and spaced at a third distance from said bottom, said first, second, and third distances being above said maximum brine level, each said capacitive sensor having a corresponding sensor probe;
each said capacitive sensor having a corresponding output, said corresponding output movable between a salt absent reading and a salt present reading, said absent reading defined by said salt level being below said sensor probe, said salt present reading defined by said salt level being above said sensor probe; and
when at least two of said capacitive sensors substantially agree, a controller reporting said output.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11, said controller connected to a computer network, said reporting occurring over said network.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The device according to claim 12, said reporting includes a recurring push notification while said salt level being below at least two of said sensor probes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11, wherein each said sensing probe having a corresponding shield overlaying a sensing probe to place said sensing probe between said perimeter wall and said shield.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11, wherein said first, second, and third positions are substantially equally spaced around said perimeter wall.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The device according to claim 11, wherein said first, second, and third distances are at substantially equal vertical positions on said perimeter wall.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, when said output corresponds to a salt absent condition, said controller generates a visual or audible alert.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein said reporting occurs through a push notification.