Remote appliance or machine monitoring method and system

An appliance or machine monitoring system, comprising:

• a monitor and transmitter unit configured to monitor an operation cycle of an appliance or machine and transmit a wireless signal upon completion of the operation cycle, the monitor and transmitter unit includes:
• a three-axis accelerometer sensor, the accelerometer sensor generates signals indicative of acceleration of the appliance or machine along three axes,
• a signal conditioner, the signal conditioner receives and modifies signals generated by the accelerometer sensor to form a moving average amplitude,
• a comparator, the comparator compares the average amplitude of the modified signals with a predetermined amplitude trip point, the comparator generates a signal once the average amplitude falls below the predetermined amplitude trip point for a predetermined time period to indicate completion of the operation cycle of the appliance or machine being monitored,
• a sensitivity selector switch, the sensitivity selector switch being configured to adjust amplitude of the average amplitude, adjust the predetermined amplitude trip point, or both,
• a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter broadcasts a wireless signal based upon the signal generated by the comparator,
• a DC battery providing power to components of the monitor and transmitter unit,
• a housing unit configured for supporting and housing components of the monitor and transmitter unit,
• a releasable attachment unit configured for releasable attachment of the monitor and transmitter unit to a surface of the appliance or machine;
• and
• a portable receiver and alert unit configured to receive signals generated by the wireless transmitter and generate an audio, visual or audio and visual alert indicating completion of the operation cycle of the appliance or machine, the portable receiver and alert unit circuitry being powered by a DC battery.

A method of monitoring an operation cycle of an appliance or machine, comprising the steps of:

• connecting an operation cycle sensor to an appliance or machine, the operation cycle sensor generates signals based upon operation cycles of the appliance or machine;
• conditioning the signals generated by the operation cycle sensor to form a moving average amplitude that is greater than an amplitude setting of a predetermined amplitude trip point when the appliance or machine being monitored is in operation;
• monitoring time periods after the moving average amplitude falls below the amplitude setting of the predetermined amplitude trip point to indicate completion of the operation cycle of the appliance or machine being monitored;
• transmitting a wireless signal after the time period exceeds a predetermined time value;
• and
• generating an audio or visual alert signal based upon the wireless signal received by the portable receiver and alert unit.