# US 12,111,232 B2 · Zoned roof monitoring system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,232 B2 - Document ID: US12111232B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/461,345 - Filed: 2021-08-30 - Published: 2023-03-02 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-30 - Assignees: Detec Systems LLC - Applicants: Detec Systems LLC - Inventors: David Vokey; Andrew J. Preiksa; Mark K. Bridges; Bryan McGough - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111232B2 ## CPC - G01M 3/165: {by means of cables or similar elongated devices, e.g. tapes} - E04D 11/02: Build-up roofs, i.e. consisting of two or more layers bonded together in situ, at least one of the layers being of watertight composition (gravelling of flat roofs E04D7/00; venting or ventilation E04D13/17) - E04D 13/006: {Provisions for detecting water leakage} - G01K 1/024: for remote indication - G01N 27/048: {for determining moisture content of the material} - H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom - H04Q 2209/10: using a centralized architecture - H04Q 2209/40: using a wireless architecture - H04Q 2209/88: Providing power supply at the sub-station - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - 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) - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract A leak in the membrane of a generally horizontal roof support deck includes dividing the membrane into separate zones and locating a sensor to detect moisture underneath the membrane. A movable scanning device carried by a worker has a power supply antenna for supplying power by an electromagnetic wave to the sensor and the worker moves the scanning device to selected ones of the zones. At each selected zone the power supply antenna activates the sensor in the zone and the sensor to emits signals related to the moisture underneath the membrane as detected by the sensor device which are detected and recorded at the mobile scanning device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of detecting a leak in a roof, wherein the roof comprises a generally horizontal roof support deck with a water impermeable membrane applied on top of the roof support deck, the method comprising: dividing the membrane into a plurality of separate zones; in each zone applying at or adjacent the membrane a sensor device arranged to detect moisture underneath the membrane; providing a movable scanning device having a power supply antenna for supplying power by an electromagnetic wave to the sensor device; moving the scanning device to selected ones of the zones; wherein in each respective zone, at least one length of a moisture sensor detection tape arranged to detect moisture underneath the membrane is applied at or adjacent the membrane; where said at least one length of the moisture detection tape has conductors arranged so that a resistance between the conductors is proportional to moisture in the respective zone; wherein in each zone the sensor device includes measurement and signaling electronics to take resistance readings from said at least one length of the moisture detection tape which are proportional to moisture in the respective zone; at each selected zone causing the power supply antenna to supply power to the sensor device in the respective zone; using the power supplied, causing the sensor device to emit signals related to the moisture underneath the membrane as detected by the sensor device; and detecting the signals at the mobile scanning device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein each sensor device is unpowered and unconnected to power supply wires. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the sensor devices provide a wireless moisture measuring system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the antenna uses a low frequency resonant antenna system in the scanning device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the low frequency energizing signal is modulated to communicate and transmit data between the scanning device and the sensor device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein, when energized, the sensor device communicates with the scanning device via UHF transceivers employed in both the scanning device and sensor device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein, on command from the scanning device, the sensor device takes resistance readings on a moisture detection tape and transmits the data to the scanning device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the sensor device transmits the data to the scanning device for display and storage for future analysis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein each sensor device also includes a sensor for humidity in a location surrounding the sensor device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein each sensor device also includes a sensor for temperature in a location surrounding the sensor device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one length of the moisture detection tape is arranged in a two-dimensional array. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the said at least one length of the moisture detection tape of each zone is electrically separated from said at least one length of the moisture detection tape of each other of the zones. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one length of the moisture detection tape comprises at least first and second lengths arranged to lie in different directions in the zone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13 wherein the zones are rectangular and each of the first and second lengths spans across the zone passing substantially through a center of the zone, either diagonally or parallel to sides of the zone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein the scanning device is manually portable to be moved from one zone to another zone. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for detecting a leak in a roof, wherein the roof comprises a generally horizontal roof support deck with a water impermeable membrane applied on top of the roof support deck, the apparatus comprising: a sensor device arranged to detect moisture underneath the membrane; the sensor device comprising a moisture sensing component responsive to presence of moisture to generate a change in signal indicative of the presence of the moisture; wherein said moisture sensing component comprises at least one length of a moisture sensor detection tape arranged to detect moisture underneath the membrane is applied at or adjacent the membrane; where said at least one length of the moisture detection tape has conductors arranged so that a resistance between the conductors is proportional to moisture underneath the membrane; wherein the sensor device includes measurement and signaling electronics to take resistance readings from said at least one length of the moisture detection tape which are proportional to moisture underneath the membrane; the sensor device comprising a control component arranged to receive the resistance readings and for generating a communication signal for transmission thereof to a remote location; the sensor device including an antenna operable to transmit a location signal to a receiver positioned above the membrane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the sensor device also includes a sensor for humidity and/or a sensor for temperature in a location surrounding the sensor device.