US Patent No: 7,142,123

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Method and apparatus for detecting moisture in building materials

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Importance

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Abstract

A moisture sensor system is described. In one embodiment, the system provides an adjustable threshold level for the sensed moisture level. The adjustable threshold allows the moisture sensor to adjust to ambient conditions, aging of components, and other operational variations while still providing a relatively sensitive detection capability. In one embodiment, the adjustable threshold moisture sensor is used in an intelligent sensor system that includes one or more intelligent sensor units and a base unit that can communicate with the moisture sensor units. When one or more of the moisture sensor units detects a excess moisture the moisture sensor unit communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the moisture condition. The base unit can contact a supervisor or other responsible person by a plurality of techniques, such as, telephone, pager, cellular telephone, Internet (and/or local area network), etc. In one embodiment, one or more wireless repeaters are used between the moisture sensor units and the base unit to extend the range of the system and to allow the base unit to communicate with a larger number of sensors.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLPIRVINE, CA141

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Kates, Lawrence Corona Del Mar, CA 144 939

Cited Art

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Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP (14)
7,336,168 System and method for variable threshold sensor 23 2005
7,561,057 Method and apparatus for detecting severity of water leaks 11 2005
7,528,711 Portable monitoring unit 26 2005
7,623,028 System and method for high-sensitivity sensor 3 2006
7,411,494 Wireless sensor unit 11 2006
7,583,198 Method and apparatus for detecting water leaks 8 2007
7,412,876 System and method for utility metering and leak detection 12 2007
7,982,602 Testing for interference within a wireless sensor system 2 2008
7,936,264 Measuring conditions within a wireless sensor system 3 2008
7,893,812 Authentication codes for building/area code address 1 2008
7,893,827 Method of measuring signal strength in a wireless sensor system 1 2008
7,893,828 Bi-directional hand-shaking sensor system 2 2008
7,817,031 Wireless transceiver 1 2008
7,669,461 System and method for utility metering and leak detection 2 2008
 
INTEL-GE CARE INNOVATIONS LLC (2)
8,294,572 Method and mechanism for assisted diagnosis and maintenance of health monitoring system 0 2006
8,223,013 Method and mechanism for assisted diagnosis and maintenance of health monitoring system 0 2007
 
DETEC SYSTEMS LLC (1)
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ITRON CORPORATION (1)
8,248,267 Systems and methods for improving reception of data in wireless communication environments 0 2009
 
ITRON, INC. (1)
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OTHER [CHECK PATENT PROFILE FOR ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION] (1)
8,441,371 Method and mechanism for assisted diagnosis and maintenance of health monitoring system 0 2012

Maintenance Fees

Fee Large entity fee small entity fee micro entity fee due date
7.5 Year Payment $3600.00 $1800.00 $900.00 May 28, 2014
11.5 Year Payment $7400.00 $3700.00 $1850.00 May 28, 2018
Fee Large entity fee small entity fee micro entity fee
Surcharge - 7.5 year - Late payment within 6 months $160.00 $80.00 $40.00
Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months $160.00 $80.00 $40.00
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable $700.00 $350.00 $175.00
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional $1,640.00 $820.00 $410.00