Air filter condition sensing

A system for determining the useful life of an air filter, the system comprising:

• filter media comprising a downstream side and an upstream side;
• a single sensor attached to the downstream side of the filter media for sensing a condition of the filter;
• and circuitry coupled to the sensor, the circuitry configured to receive data from the sensor representative of the condition of the filter media and wirelessly transmit such data;
• and
• a personal mobile device comprising a processor;
• a display coupled to the processor;
• and a memory device coupled to the processor and having a program stored thereon for execution by the processor to perform operations comprising:
• wirelessly receiving data directly or indirectly from the sensor representative of a condition of filter media;
• providing a visual indication to a user on the display representative of the condition of the filter media as a function of the received data, wherein the visual indication includes a graphical representation of a remaining period of useful life of the filter media over time, including a remaining period of useful life of the filter media, and wherein the operations further comprise wherein the visual indication is provided as a function of user profile or other information indicative of air quality.

A method for determining the useful life of a filter, the method comprising:

• wirelessly receiving pressure information representative of a downstream pressure, the information received from a sensor associated with an air filter and including time-based data points;
• processing the pressure information to determine a drop in pressure over time on the downstream side of the air filter, wherein the processing comprises;
• determining or identifying a threshold pressure difference, calculating a mean difference between received adjacent pressure data points, and identify a pressure difference in adjacent points that is greater than the threshold pressure difference;
• and
• generating one of an indication of remaining useful filter life or an to replace the air filter based on the identified pressure difference.