US 11,754,427 B1
Resource consumption measurement system and method
Stuart Eyring, Bountiful, UT (US); Karl L. Connolly, Bountiful, UT (US); Bradly Williams, Buffalo, WY (US); Eric Tres Wangsgaard, Salt Lake City, UT (US); and Brad Wardle, Kaysville, UT (US)
Assigned to HUSQVARNA AB
Filed by Husqvarna AB, Huskvarna (SE)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/668,255.
Application 17/668,255 is a continuation of application No. 16/685,804, filed on Nov. 15, 2019, granted, now 11,281,240.
Application 16/685,804 is a continuation of application No. 15/621,947, filed on Jun. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,534,378, issued on Jan. 14, 2020.
Application 15/621,947 is a continuation of application No. 14/949,739, filed on Nov. 23, 2015, granted, now 9,684,312, issued on Jun. 20, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/113,362, filed on Feb. 6, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/083,171, filed on Nov. 22, 2014.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01F 1/00 (2022.01); G05D 7/06 (2006.01); G01F 13/00 (2006.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01); G01D 4/00 (2006.01); F24F 11/62 (2018.01); F24F 11/30 (2018.01); A01G 25/16 (2006.01); F24F 140/60 (2018.01); F24F 140/50 (2018.01); F24F 11/46 (2018.01); F24F 11/65 (2018.01); F24F 110/00 (2018.01); F24F 11/52 (2018.01)
CPC G01F 1/00 (2013.01) [F24F 11/30 (2018.01); F24F 11/62 (2018.01); G01D 4/00 (2013.01); G01F 13/006 (2013.01); G05B 15/02 (2013.01); G05D 7/0676 (2013.01); A01G 25/16 (2013.01); F24F 11/46 (2018.01); F24F 11/52 (2018.01); F24F 11/65 (2018.01); F24F 2110/00 (2018.01); F24F 2140/50 (2018.01); F24F 2140/60 (2018.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system configured to obtain energy consumption data pertinent to an energy-monitored property, the system comprising:
at least one of:
a gas valve interface configured to place the system in electronic communication with a gas valve associated with heating the energy-monitored property; and
an AC unit switch interface configured to place the system in electronic communication with an AC unit switch associated with cooling the energy-monitored property;
a valve and/or switch controller configured to transmit electrical signals to the at least one of the gas valve and the AC unit switch to open and close the at least one of the gas valve and the AC unit switch in accordance with thermostat schedule data;
an identification module configured to, using one or more processors, identify, based on first actual energy usage data for the energy-monitored property, one or more daily, weekly, or monthly future time periods when energy consumption is not likely to occur or is likely minimal within the energy-monitored property;
a calibration module configured to transmit electrical signals to open and close the at least one of the gas valve and the AC unit switch in accordance with calibration schedule data during a first period of time within the one or more daily, weekly, or monthly future time periods when energy consumption is not likely to occur or is likely minimal within the energy-monitored property;
a timestamp module configured to identify a calibration open time and a calibration close time for the at least one of the gas valve and the AC unit switch in accordance with the calibration schedule data during the first period of time;
a data module configured to receive second actual energy usage data for usage that occurred between the calibration open time and the calibration close time for the at least one of the gas valve and the AC unit switch during the first period of time; and
a computational module configured to calculate a first computed flow rate for the at least one of the gas valve and the AC unit switch based on the calibration open time, the calibration close time, and the second actual energy usage data for usage that occurred between the calibration open time and the calibration close time during the first period of time.