# US 12,181,377 B2 · System and method for monitoring settling of a building > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,377 B2 - Document ID: US12181377B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/110,628 - Filed: 2023-02-16 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-13 - Assignees: Independence Materials Group, LLC - Applicants: Independence Materials Group, LLC - Inventors: Ben Bayless; Andy Burran; John Calagaz; Michael Cox - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181377B2 ## CPC - G01M 5/0041: {by determining deflection or stress} - G01M 5/005: {by means of external apparatus, e.g. test benches or portable test systems} - G01M 5/0091: {by using electromagnetic excitation or detection} - G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold} - 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 - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A system and method for monitoring conditions in a crawl space is provided. The system generally comprises at least one sensor, computing device, data aggregator operably connected to the at least one sensor, processor operably connected to the computing device, power supply, and non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and having instructions stored thereon. The system is designed to collect condition data via the at least one sensor and determine whether the conditions within the crawl space could have a detrimental impact on the building. In particular, the system is designed to monitor settling of a building over time and alert a user if the settling exceeds a predefined threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for monitoring conditions within a building, the system comprising: multiple sensors for measuring condition data within a building, wherein the multiple sensors at least comprise multiple time-of-flight sensors positioned opposite one or more reflective materials, wherein the condition data is distance data between the multiple time-of-flight sensors and the one or more reflective materials, and wherein the multiple time-of-flight sensors are used to determine settling of the building; one or more processors; one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums operatively coupled to the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon, which when executed cause the one or more processors to: receive the condition data from the multiple sensors; and transmitting a computer readable signal regarding the condition data to a user computer system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the time-of-flight sensors comprise direct, indirect, or gated time-of-flight sensors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple sensors further comprise one or more additional time-of-flight sensors for measuring a water level within the building. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple time-of-flight sensors are secured to one or more beams and the one or more reflective materials are secured to the ground within a crawl space within a building. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple sensors further comprise: a current sensor for a sump pump, wherein the condition data is current data for the sump pump, and wherein the current sensor is used to determine if the sump pump is dry running. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple sensors further comprise: a water level sensor or float switch sensor, wherein the condition data is a water level, a change in the water level, or an estimated water height. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple sensors further comprise multiple water level sensors that form a water sensor chain in order to provide an estimated water height. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple sensors further comprise multiple water level sensors in order to measure a water level, a change in water level, or an estimated water height in multiple locations. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple sensors further comprise a movement sensor, and the condition data is movement for detecting pests. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple sensors further comprise a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple sensors further comprise a humidity sensor for detecting humidity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple sensors further comprise a gas detector, a microphone sensor, a vibration sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, or a photoelectric sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed further cause the one or more processors to: determine whether the condition data is outside of one or more condition thresholds for at least one of the multiple sensors; and transmit the computer readable signal to the user computer system when the condition data is outside of the one or more condition thresholds. ### Claim 14 A system for monitoring conditions within a building, the system comprising: a plurality of sensors for measuring condition data within the building, the plurality of sensors comprising: a distance sensor for measuring the condition data, wherein the distance sensor is a time-of-flight sensor positioned opposite a reflective material, wherein the condition data is distance data between the time-of-flight sensor and the reflective material, and wherein the time-of-flight sensor is used to determine settling of the building; a current sensor of a sump pump for measuring the condition data, wherein the condition data is current data for the sump pump; a water level sensor or float switch sensor, wherein the condition data is a water level, a change in the water level, or an estimated water height; and a movement sensor, wherein the condition data is movement data for detecting pests; one or more processors; one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums coupled to the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon, which when executed cause the one or more processors to: receive the condition data from the plurality of sensors; and transmit one or more computer readable signals regarding the condition data to a user computer system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the time-of-flight sensor comprises a direct, an indirect, or a gated time-of-flight sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprise a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprise a humidity sensor for detecting humidity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of sensors further comprise a gas detector, a microphone sensor, a vibration sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, or a photoelectric sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions when executed further cause the one or more processors to: determine whether the condition data is outside of one or more condition thresholds for the plurality of sensors; and transmit one or more computer readable signals to the user computer system when the condition data is outside of the one or more condition thresholds. ### Claim 20 A method of monitoring a building through multiple sensors, the method comprising: receiving, via one or more processors, condition data from the multiple sensors, wherein the multiple sensors at least comprise multiple time-of-flight sensors positioned opposite one or more reflective materials, wherein the condition data is distance data between the multiple time-of-flight sensors and the one or more reflective materials, and wherein the multiple time-of-flight sensors are used to determine settling of the building; and transmitting, via the one or more processors, a computer readable signal regarding the condition data to a user computer system.