# US 12,007,306 B2 · Method for associating a leak detector with an appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,306 B2 - Document ID: US12007306B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/829,401 - Filed: 2022-06-01 - Published: 2023-12-07 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-01 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Janghwan Hahn; Ryan James Scheckelhoff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007306B2 ## CPC - G01M 3/24: using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations - G08B 21/20: responsive to moisture - H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles} - H04R 1/08: Mouthpieces; {Microphones;} Attachments therefor - H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) - G08B 21/18: Status alarms (G08B21/02 takes precedence) - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A method for associating a leak detector with an appliance includes receiving data from a leak detector; detecting a sound signature of the appliance based at least in part on the sound signal; identifying the appliance as one of a plurality of appliance types; and associating the leak detector with the one of the plurality of appliance types. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for associating a leak detector with an appliance, comprising: a leak detector with a microphone configured for monitoring sound generated during operation of an appliance; a computing device in signal communication with the leak detector, the computing device configured for receiving, via a wireless network with the leak detector, data corresponding to a sound signal generated by the appliance; detecting a sound signature of the appliance based at least in part on the sound signal, the sound signature corresponding to one of a plurality of appliance types; identifying the appliance as the one of the plurality of appliance types; and associating the leak detector with the one of the plurality of appliance types. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sound signal generated by the appliance corresponds to noise emitted by the appliance during operation of the appliance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured for transmitting data corresponding to the association of the leak detector with the one of the plurality of appliance types to a remote server. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the leak detector is further configured for transmitting data corresponding to a leak detection alert in response to the microphone receiving a leak sound signal generated by the appliance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the appliance is deactivatable in response to receiving the data corresponding to the leak detection alert. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured for identifying the appliance as the one of the plurality of appliance types by comparing the sound signature of the appliance to a plurality of reference sound signatures for the plurality of appliance types. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises one of a tablet, a smartphone, and a personal computer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of appliance types comprises two or more of a dishwasher appliance, a refrigerator appliance, a washing machine appliance, an ice maker appliance, and a water heater appliance. ### Claim 9 A method for associating a leak detector with an appliance, comprising: receiving data from a leak detector at a computing system that includes one or more computing devices via a wireless network, the data from the leak detector corresponding to a sound signal generated by an appliance received at a microphone of the leak detector; detecting, with the computing system, a sound signature of the appliance based at least in part on the sound signal, the sound signature corresponding to one of a plurality of appliance types; identifying, with the computing system, the appliance as the one of the plurality of appliance types; and associating, with the computing system, the leak detector with the one of the plurality of appliance types. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the sound signal generated by the appliance corresponds to noise emitted by the appliance during operation of the appliance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving, at the computing system, data corresponding to a leak detection alert from the leak detector via the wireless network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting, from the computing system, data corresponding to a deactivation command to the appliance via the wireless network in response to the leak detection alert. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein identifying the appliance as the one of the plurality of appliance types comprises comparing the sound signature of the appliance to a plurality of reference sound signatures for the plurality of appliance types. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more computing devices comprises a tablet, a smartphone, or a personal computer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of appliance types comprises two or more of a dishwasher appliance, a refrigerator appliance, a washing machine appliance, an ice maker appliance, and a water heater appliance.