Apparatus configured to detect gas usage, method of providing same, and method of detecting gas usage

Abstract

An apparatus configured to detect gas usage by two or more gas appliances. The apparatus can include a processing module configured to run on a computational unit. The apparatus also can include a sensing unit configured to be coupled to a gas regulator. The sensing unit can include at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator and convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first digital acoustic data signals. The sensing unit also can include a transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one acoustic sensor and configured to transmit the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to the computational unit. The processing module can be configured to use the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to determine an individual gas usage by each of the two or more gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator based upon the two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus configured to detect gas usage by two or more gas appliances, the apparatus comprises:
 a processing module configured to run on a computational unit; and   a sensing unit configured to be coupled to a gas regulator, the sensing unit comprising:
 at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator and convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first digital acoustic data signals; and 
 a transmitter electrically coupled to the at least one acoustic sensor and configured to transmit the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to the computational unit, 
   wherein:
 the processing module is configured to use the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to determine an individual gas usage by each of the two or more gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator based upon the two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processing module is further configured to determine the individual gas usage by at least one of a gas stove, a water heater, or a gas furnace by disaggregating the two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator; and   the two or more gas appliances comprise the gas stove, the water heater, and the gas furnace.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processing module is further configured to remove data signals caused by ambient noise from the one or more first digital acoustic data signals.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processing module is further configured to apply at least one of a Fourier transform or a band pass filter to the one or more first digital acoustic data signals.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wire,   wherein:
 the computational unit comprises a receiver; 
 the receiver of the computational unit is electrically coupled to the transmitter of the sensing unit using the wire; and 
 the transmitter of the sensing unit is configured to transmit the one or more first digital acoustic data signals over the wire. 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transmitter of the sensing unit comprises a wireless transmitter; and   the computational unit comprises:
 a wireless receiver configured to receive the one or more first digital acoustic data signals from the wireless transmitter of the sensing unit. 
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one acoustic sensor comprises an omni-directional microphone.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processing module comprises:
 a training module; and 
 an event detection module; 
   the training module is configured to correlate a first gas event with at least a first one of the one or more first digital acoustic data signals and to correlate a second gas event with at least a second one of the one or more first digital acoustic data signals;   the event detection module is configured to use the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to identify one or more first gas appliances responsible for the individual gas usage; and   the two or more gas appliances comprise the one or more first gas appliances.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the processing module further comprises:
 a communications module configured to communicate with a user. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gas regulator comprises a pressure relief vent;   the at least one acoustic sensor is configured to detect the two or more acoustic signals in the pressure relief vent of the gas regulator; and   the sensing unit is configured to couple to the pressure relief vent of the gas regulator.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one acoustic sensor is a component of an integrated circuit.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one acoustic sensor is mechanically coupled to a housing of the gas regulator.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one acoustic sensor comprises of at least one of the following: an electric microphone, a piezoelectric sensor, an acousto-electric transducer, a micro-electromechanical sensor, or an ultrasonic microphone.   
     
     
         14 . A method of detecting usage of a gas in a building, the building having a gas regulator with a pressure relief vent, the method comprising:
 using at least one acoustic sensor to receive one or more first acoustic signals from the pressure relief vent of the gas regulator;   converting the one or more first acoustic signals from the pressure relief vent of the gas regulator into one or more first digital acoustic data signals;   determining a total amount of the gas being used by all active gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator based upon the one or more first digital acoustic data signals; and   determining a first amount of the gas being used by a first gas appliance based upon the one or more first digital acoustic data signals,   wherein:
 the first gas appliance is not the gas regulator; and 
 the active gas appliances comprise the first gas appliance. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 using the at least one acoustic sensor to receive one or more second acoustic signals;   converting the one or more second acoustic signals into one or more second electrical signals; and   using the one or more second electrical signals to correlate the one or more second acoustic signals to the usage of the gas by a second gas appliance of the active gas appliances.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 wirelessly transmitting the one or more first digital acoustic data signals; and   before determining the total amount of the gas being used by all the active gas appliances, wirelessly receiving the one or more first digital acoustic data signals.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 amplifying the one or more first digital acoustic data signals before determining the total amount of the gas being used by all the active gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 coupling the at least one acoustic sensor to the pressure relief vent of the gas regulator.   
     
     
         19 . A method of providing a gas sensing device, the method comprising:
 providing at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect two or more acoustic signals produced by a gas regulator and to convert the two or more acoustic signals into one or more first digital acoustic data signals;   providing a transmitter configured to transmit the one or more first digital acoustic data signals;   electrically coupling the transmitter to the at least one acoustic sensor;   providing a sensor mount configured to mechanically couple to the gas regulator;   mechanically coupling the at least one acoustic sensor and the transmitter to the sensor mount; and   providing a processing module configured to run on a computational unit, the processing module comprising:
 an event detection module configured to use the one or more first digital acoustic data signals to determine a total gas usage by one or more gas appliances coupled to the gas regulator, and to determine an individual gas usage by each of the one or more gas appliances based upon the two or more acoustic signals produced by the gas regulator. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 providing a receiver configured to receive the one or more first digital acoustic data signals from the transmitter.