Flow sensing device

Abstract

A non-invasive, hands-free “water flow device” senses when water is and is not flowing and can give the user a visual display, of the real time water flow duration and quantity of water used by a shower (or other water dispensing device), for example. The water flow device may use an acoustic transducer (e.g., a microphone) to sense the acoustic waves generated by the flow of water during a shower. For example, the flow or lack of flow of water may be determined by analyzing the acoustic signature and/or amplitude of sounds (e.g., within a certain frequency range) in the shower.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for monitoring use of a shower, the device comprising:
 a mounting mechanism for mounting the device on a surface of the shower so that the device is not in direct contact with water carrying components of the shower;   an acoustic transducer;   a processor configured to:
 maintain the device in a first operational mode wherein the processor:
 receives acoustic data from the acoustic transducer; 
 determines an amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data within a predetermined frequency range, wherein the predetermined frequency range includes a peak frequency of sound created by water exiting a shower head or water flowing; 
 in response to determining that the amplitude and/or signal pattern is above a predetermined threshold for a first predetermined time period, initiating a second operational mode of the device, wherein in the second operational mode the processor:
 tracks a time period for which the device is in the second operational mode; 
 monitors the amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data within the predetermined frequency range; 
 in response to determining that the amplitude and/or signal pattern of the acoustic data is below the predetermined threshold for a second predetermined time period, transmitting the tracked time period to an external device and initiating return of the device to the first operational mode.