# US 11,079,347 B1 · Moisture sensor including volume sensing

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- Number: US 11,079,347 B1
- Document ID: US11079347B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/041,562
- Filed: 2018-07-20
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-20
- Assignees: Enco Electronic Systems, LLC
- Applicants: Enco Electronic Systems, LLC
- Inventors: Terry Lance Beasley; Daniel L. Dietzen; Gary H. Dietzen; Ronald R. Murphy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079347B1

## CPC

- G01M 3/186: {for containers, e.g. radiators}
- G01N 27/223: {for determining moisture content, e.g. humidity (rain detectors on vehicle windows B60S1/0825)}
- G01N 27/226: {Construction of measuring vessels; Electrodes therefor}
- G01N 27/228: {Circuits therefor (measuring capacitance per se G01R27/26)}
- G08B 21/20: responsive to moisture
- 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)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A moisture sensor includes a circuit board and a plurality of circuits monitoring a plurality of moisture probes, wherein at least two sets of a plurality of probes are on the bottom of the sensor, one set in direct contact with the floor, a second set separated from the floor; a set of conductive pins that enable the body of the circuit board to be spaced from the floor to help any moisture accumulation beneath the sensor to evaporate, preventing mold growth; two sets of a plurality of probes along the edge of the sensor, such that when the sensor is installed edge on, these edge sensors will be in direct contact with the floor. The sensor transmits data periodically when sensed resistance is below a predetermined value.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A moisture sensor including:
a printed circuit board;
a plurality of moisture probes;
a plurality of circuits on the printed circuit board monitoring the moisture probes;
a battery for powering the circuits; and
an enclosure containing the battery and the circuits, the enclosure having a bottom, wherein the printed circuit board is the bottom of the enclosure;
wherein at least two sets of probes are on the bottom of the sensor, one set in direct contact with a floor when the sensor is placed on the floor, a second set separated from the floor, and further comprising a set of conductive pins that enable the printed circuit board to be spaced from the floor; and
wherein the enclosure has four edges, and a pair of the probes are present along each edge of the sensor, such that when the sensor is installed on any edge, a pair of probes will be in direct contact with the floor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sensor of claim 1, wherein by analyzing the data from the plurality of circuits monitoring the plurality of moisture probes, it is possible to detect false alarms, such as a damp mop temporarily setting off a subset of probes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sensor of claim 1, wherein the moisture probes are present in the printed circuit board.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sensor of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer that reports the current position of the sensor (flat, upright, etc.), and if the sensor is disturbed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The moisture sensor of claim 1, further comprising an ambient light detector.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The moisture sensor of claim 5, further comprising a humidity sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The moisture sensor of claim 6, further comprising an ambient noise level sensor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A method of detecting leaks, comprising using the sensor of claim 7 to monitor an area.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The sensor of claim 7, further comprising a temperature sensor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The sensor of claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor is in the moisture sensor enclosure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The sensor of claim 10, wherein the temperature is transmitted with moisture sensor data.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The moisture sensor of claim 1:
wherein the moisture probes include electrical conductors in or on the enclosure;
wherein the circuits for monitoring the moisture probes include a capacitive sensing circuit on the printed circuit board electrically connected to a pair of the electrical conductors for measuring a volume of water in a space near the enclosure by measuring the capacitance between the conductors in the pair of the conductors;
wherein the moisture probes include sensing contacts on the exterior of the enclosure;
wherein the circuits for monitoring the moisture probes include resistance sensing circuits to allow measurements of electrical resistance between at least two sensing contacts representing a relative level of moisture present near the sensing contacts;
and further comprising:
a timer to cause periodic measurements of electrical resistance between at least two sensing contacts and to cause periodic measurements of capacitance between the pair of conductors; and
a transmitter for periodically transmitting capacitance and resistive measurements.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The sensor of claim 12, wherein the electrical conductors comprise two insulated, parallel substrate conductors.