Sensing Air Conditioner Parameters

Abstract

A system includes a cloud-based system and a plurality of systems for sensing air conditioner parameters coupled to the cloud-based system. Each of the plurality of systems for sensing air conditioner parameters senses parameters about a respective air conditioning system and forwards the sensed parameters to the cloud-based system. The cloud-based system receives the parameters from the plurality of systems for sensing air conditioner parameters, determines a maintenance condition, and forwards the maintenance condition to an interested party.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a cloud-based system;   a plurality of systems for sensing air conditioner parameters coupled to the cloud-based system;   wherein each of the plurality of systems for sensing air conditioner parameters senses parameters about a respective air conditioning system and forwards the sensed parameters to the cloud-based system;   wherein the cloud-based system receives the parameters from the plurality of systems for sensing air conditioner parameters, determines a maintenance condition, and forwards the maintenance condition to an interested party.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the interested party is one or more of a manufacturer, a service provider, a system owner, and a consumer. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one of the plurality of systems for sensing air conditioner parameters includes a misting system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the maintenance condition concerns exactly one of the air conditioning systems. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the maintenance condition concerns an air conditioner model. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the maintenance condition concerns a manufacturer. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 a cloud-based system receiving parameters about a plurality of air conditioning systems from respective systems for sensing air conditioner parameters;   the cloud-based system determining a maintenance condition;   the cloud-based system forwarding the maintenance condition to an interested party.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein one of the systems for sensing air conditioner parameters receives information from a misting system. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for measuring a temperature of a line, comprising:
 an upper shell;   a lower shell coupled to the upper shell by a hinge;   a line passage formed when the upper shell is closed to the lower shell;   a conductive plate adjacent to the line passage; and   a temperature sensor thermally coupled to the conductive plate.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a circuit coupled to the temperature sensor to amplify and condition a signal from the temperature sensor. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a fastening mechanism for opening and closing the upper shell and lower shell around the hinge. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the fastening mechanism comprises:
 a screw that engages the lower shell; and 
 a dowel nut that engages the upper shell and the screw. 
 
     
     
         13 . A system for monitoring the health of a residential air conditioning system that includes a compressor/condenser unit, comprising:
 a sensor that can be mounted on the compressor/condenser unit and that senses a parameter of the residential air conditioning system that can be used to monitor the health of the residential air conditioning system;   a power source that can be mounted on the compressor/condenser unit and that generates power using environmental conditions created by the compressor/condenser unit without accepting power from the power grid;   a processor that receives a signal representing the parameter from the sensor and uses that signal to monitor the health of the residential air conditioning system.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the power source is a sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the processor is incorporated in a housing with the power source. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the processor is incorporated in a housing with the sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the power source comprises a fan generator that can be mounted in a flow of air caused by a fan in the compressor/condenser unit. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the fan generator is also a sensor that detects operation of the compressor/condenser unit.