Temperature sensor diagnostic for determining water heater health status
US7804047B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M1/007
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining a health status of a water heating device is disclosed. The water heating device may have a controller that incorporates logic to regulate the heater responsive to water temperatures detected at different areas within the water heating device by first and second sensors. Unfortunately, the first and second sensors may fail. To detect fault conditions or otherwise determine the heath status of the water heating device, a logic unit in the controller may perform a test on the first and/or second sensors so as to provide a test output. The logic unit may also determine whether the test output satisfies one or more predetermined thresholds. These predetermined thresholds may be indicative of a properly-functioning sensor. When the test output does not satisfy the at least one predetermined threshold, the logic unit may then set a fault condition indicative of improperly functioning sensors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.