US 12,234,827 B2
Detecting and utilizing water vibrations in sump pump system control
Nathan L. Tofte, Downs, IL (US); Jonathan Christopher Hull, Bloomington, IL (US); John R. Donovan, Bloomington, IL (US); and Richard Jan Tjaden, Bloomington, IL (US)
Assigned to STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Bloomington, IL (US)
Filed by STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Bloomington, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/392,649.
Application 18/392,649 is a continuation of application No. 17/245,668, filed on Apr. 30, 2021, granted, now 11,859,620.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,783, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,880, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,885, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,894, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,909, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,923, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/148,926, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0141905 A1, May 2, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F04D 15/02 (2006.01); F04D 13/08 (2006.01); F04D 15/00 (2006.01); G05B 13/02 (2006.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); G08B 21/18 (2006.01); H04L 12/28 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 15/0227 (2013.01) [F04D 13/08 (2013.01); F04D 13/086 (2013.01); F04D 15/0077 (2013.01); F04D 15/0088 (2013.01); F04D 15/0209 (2013.01); F04D 15/0218 (2013.01); F04D 15/0254 (2013.01); F04D 15/0272 (2013.01); G05B 13/021 (2013.01); G05B 13/026 (2013.01); G05B 13/0265 (2013.01); G05B 15/02 (2013.01); G06N 20/00 (2019.01); G08B 21/182 (2013.01); H04L 12/2823 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for detecting and utilizing motion of water in a sump basin when implementing control of a sump pump, the system comprising:
a sump pump disposed in a sump basin and configured to pump water out of the sump basin via an outlet pipe;
a sensor disposed in the sump basin and configured to detect acceleration;
a sump pump control system communicatively coupled to the sump pump and the sensor, wherein the sump pump control system is configured to:
receive, from the sensor, acceleration data representing acceleration of the sensor;
analyze the acceleration data to determine a sump pump condition, wherein determining the sump pump condition includes:
detecting within the acceleration data, a ripple pattern and comparing the detected ripple pattern to at least one known ripple pattern associated with a known sump pump condition, and
determining within the acceleration data, based on the comparing, a transition from a first ripple pattern indicative of an inlet pipe being above water level to a second ripple pattern indicative of the inlet pipe being at least partially submerged below the water level; and
in response to the determining, activate the sump pump.