IP Library Granted Patent US 11,231,405
Granted Patent B2
US 11,231,405 · App. 16/162,260 · Granted Jan 25, 2022

Calibrationless operation method

Inventors: Glen John Bertini (Fox Island, WA); Sumadhu Grandhi Arigala (Auburn, WA); Weston Philips Chapin Ford (Seattle, WA); Julien Raul Robert (Puyallup, WA)
Assignee: NOVINIUM, INC.
G01N33/0063G01N33/007G05B19/042G08B21/18E02D29/12E02D2600/10G05B2219/24103G05B2219/25252
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,231,405
App. No.
16/162,260
Granted
Jan 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method that includes obtaining a sensor reading from a sensor installed inside an underground vault and determining whether the sensor reading is indicative of an alarm state. When the sensor reading is indicative of the alarm state, the method obtains at least one new reading and determines whether the sensor reading includes sensor drift based at least in part on the at least one new reading. The alarm state is established when the sensor reading is determined not to include sensor drift. The sensor drift is removed when the sensor reading is determined to include sensor drift.

Claims (55)

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a sensor reading from a sensor installed inside an underground vault;

determining whether the sensor reading is indicative of an alarm state;

if the sensor reading is indicative of the alarm state, triggering variable active dilution inside the underground vault, obtaining at least one new sensor reading after triggering the variable active dilution, and determining whether the sensor reading includes sensor drift based at least in part on the at least one new sensor reading;

establishing the alarm state when the sensor reading is determined not to include sensor drift; and

removing the sensor drift when the sensor reading is determined to include sensor drift.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the variable active dilution is dilution of a first type.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the variable active dilution is dilution of a second type.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

notifying a user that the alarm state has been established.

5. A system comprising:

a sensor installed inside an underground vault; and

a system controller comprising at least one processor connected to memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, causing the at least one processor to:

obtain a sensor reading from the sensor;

determine whether the sensor reading is indicative of an alarm state;

when the sensor reading is indicative of the alarm state, trigger variable active dilution inside the underground vault, obtain at least one new sensor reading after triggering the variable active dilution, and determine whether the sensor reading includes sensor drift based at least in part on the at least one new sensor reading;

establish the alarm state when the sensor reading is determined not to include sensor drift; and

remove the sensor drift when the sensor reading is determined to include sensor drift.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one new sensor reading comprises one or more confirmation measurements obtained from the sensor.

7. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:

at least one corroborating sensor installed inside the underground vault or in at least one adjacent underground vault, the at least one corroborating sensor being different from the sensor, the at least one new sensor reading comprising one or more confirmation measurements obtained from the at least one corroborating sensor.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to notify a user that the alarm state has been established.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to display a notification, on a display device, indicating the alarm state has been established.

10. The system of claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to instruct an air moving device installed inside the underground vault to change an airflow rate after the alarm state has been established.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the airflow rate is increased after the alarm state has been established to increase thereby a turnover rate of an atmosphere inside the underground vault.

12. A system comprising:

a sensor installed inside an underground vault; and

a system controller comprising at least one processor connected to memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, causing the at least one processor to:

obtain a sensor reading from the sensor;

determine whether the sensor reading is indicative of an alarm state;

when the sensor reading is indicative of the alarm state, trigger variable active dilution inside the underground vault, obtain at least one new sensor reading after triggering the variable active dilution, and determine whether the sensor reading includes sensor drift based at least in part on the at least one new sensor reading, the variable active dilution being dilution of a first type;

establish the alarm state when the sensor reading is determined not to include sensor drift; and

remove the sensor drift when the sensor reading is determined to include sensor drift.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one new sensor reading comprises one or more confirmation measurements obtained from the sensor.

14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

at least one corroborating sensor installed inside the underground vault or in at least one adjacent underground vault, the at least one corroborating sensor being different from the sensor, the at least one new sensor reading comprising one or more confirmation measurements obtained from the at least one corroborating sensor.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to notify a user that the alarm state has been established.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to display a notification, on a display device, indicating the alarm state has been established.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to instruct an air moving device installed inside the underground vault to change an airflow rate after the alarm state has been established.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the airflow rate is increased after the alarm state has been established to increase thereby a turnover rate of an atmosphere inside the underground vault.

19. A system comprising:

a sensor installed inside an underground vault; and

a system controller comprising at least one processor connected to memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, causing the at least one processor to:

obtain a sensor reading from the sensor;

determine whether the sensor reading is indicative of an alarm state;

when the sensor reading is indicative of the alarm state, trigger variable active dilution inside the underground vault, obtain at least one new sensor reading after triggering the variable active dilution, and determine whether the sensor reading includes sensor drift based at least in part on the at least one new sensor reading, the variable active dilution being dilution of a second type;

establish the alarm state when the sensor reading is determined not to include sensor drift; and

remove the sensor drift when the sensor reading is determined to include sensor drift.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one new sensor reading comprises one or more confirmation measurements obtained from the sensor.

21. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:

at least one corroborating sensor installed inside the underground vault or in at least one adjacent underground vault, the at least one corroborating sensor being different from the sensor, the at least one new sensor reading comprising one or more confirmation measurements obtained from the at least one corroborating sensor.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to notify a user that the alarm state has been established.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to display a notification, on a display device, indicating the alarm state has been established.

24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to instruct an air moving device installed inside the underground vault to change an airflow rate after the alarm state has been established.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the airflow rate is increased after the alarm state has been established to increase thereby a turnover rate of an atmosphere inside the underground vault.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; NOVINIUM HOLDINGS, INC.; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 072299/0141 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Oct 23, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC (F/K/A COLEMAN CABLE, INC.); TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC (F/K/A TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CORPORATION); SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS, LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC; WATTEREDGE, LLC; TAPPAN WIRE & CABLE, LLC; UNITED COPPER INDUSTRIES, LLC; TOPAZ LIGHTING COMPANY LLC; OBI PARTNERS, LLC; WIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 069235/0104 →
AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO GRANT OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Jun 13, 2022
From: NOVINIUM HOLDINGS, INC.; NOVINIUM, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 060345/0058 →
AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Jun 13, 2022
From: SOUTHWIRE COMPANY, LLC; SUMNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC; COLEMAN CABLE, LLC; TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC; MADISON ELECTRIC PRODUCTS LLC; NOVINIUM, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 060345/0048 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 4, 2022
From: NOVINIUM, INC.
To: NOVINIUM, LLC
Reel/Frame 059854/0073 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2021
From: BERTINI, GLEN JOHN; ARIGALA, SUMADHU GRANDHI; FORD, WESTON PHILIPS CHAPIN; ROBERT, JULIEN RAUL
To: NOVINIUM, INC.
Reel/Frame 057230/0869 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2020
From: NOVINIUM, INC.; UTILX CORPORATION; UTILX OVERSEAS HOLDINGS, INC.; PLENOVO, INC.
To: STAR MOUNTAIN DIVERSIFIED CREDIT INCOME FUND III, L.P.
Reel/Frame 053609/0185 →