IP Library Granted Patent US 12,357,935
Granted Patent B2
US 12,357,935 · App. 17/806,878 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Filter module with radio-frequency identification tag for tuning a filtration system

Inventors: Jeff Goergen (Warren, MI); Erik Ward (Buford, GA); Ricardo Gonzalez (Valparaiso, IN); Kent Kekeis (St. John, IN)
Assignee: Purafil, Inc.
B01D46/009B01D46/0086B01D46/429B01D46/442B01D46/444B01D46/446B01D46/46G06K7/10366B01D2201/52
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,357,935
App. No.
17/806,878
Granted
Jul 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for filtration systems are disclosed. In an example, a filtration system interrogates, via a radio-frequency identification (RFID) access device, a RFID tag that is positioned on a filter module that is positioned in the filtration system. In response to interrogating the RFID tag, the filtration accesses, an operational parameter stored on the RFID tag and associated with the filter module. The filtration adjusts an operational setting of the filtration system based on the operational parameter. The filtration system operates the filtration system based on the adjusted operational setting.

Claims (57)

1. A method comprising:

interrogating, from a radio-frequency identification (RFID) access device in a filtration system, a RFID tag that is positioned on a filter module that is positioned in the filtration system;

accessing, in response to interrogating the RFID tag, a value of an operational parameter of the filtration system, wherein the value comprises an operational speed of a fan in the filtration system and is stored on the RFID tag and associated with the filter module;

adjusting a value of an operational setting of the filtration system based on the stored value of the operational parameter, wherein the operational setting comprises the operational speed of the fan; and

operating the filtration system based on the adjusted value of the operational setting.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interrogating comprises transmitting, to the RFID tag, a first signal that energizes the RFID tag, wherein the accessing comprises receiving a second signal comprising the stored value of the operational parameter.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an existing value of an additional operational parameter of the filtration system;

interrogating, for an additional time, the RFID tag via the RFID access device; and

writing, to the RFID tag, the existing value of the operational parameter as an updated value of the additional operational parameter.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the additional operational parameter is a remaining shelf life of the filter module or a remaining use time of the filter module, and wherein the updated value of the additional operational parameter is (i) an updated shelf life of the filter module or (ii) an updated remaining use time of the filter module.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising disabling a device of the filtration system in response to determining that the updated value of the additional operational parameter is equal to a minimum or a maximum value, is lower than the minimum value, or exceeds the maximum value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operational parameter further includes a runtime of the fan in the filtration system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operational parameter further includes an elapsed installed time of the filter module, an elapsed operational time of the filter module, or a remaining useful life of the filter module.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

interrogating, for an additional time and from the RFID access device, the RFID tag;

accessing, from the RFID tag, a target value of a performance parameter of the filtration system;

determining that a measured value of the performance parameter differs from the target value of the performance parameter; and

responsive to determining that the measured value of the performance parameter differs from the target value of the performance parameter, further adjusting the value of the operational setting of the filtration system to cause the measured value of the performance parameter to approximate the target value of the performance parameter.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the performance parameter includes a pressure drop across the filter module, an airflow rate of air across the filter module, a measurement of air purity across the filter module, or a static pressure drop across the filter module.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: in response to the interrogating, unlocking one or more features of the filtration system.

11. A filtration system comprising:

a housing having an opening sized to receive a radio-frequency identification (RFID) filter module,

the filter module comprising a filtration media and an RFID tag;

an RFID access device communicatively couplable to the RFID tag and positionable proximate to the opening for receiving the RFID filter module, for interrogating the RFID tag;

a device configured to operate at least one function of the filtration system; and

a processor configured to perform operations comprising:

causing the RFID access device to interrogate the RFID tag;

accessing, in response to interrogating the RFID tag, a stored value of an operational parameter of the filtration system, wherein the value comprises an operational speed of a fan in the filtration system and is stored on the RFID tag and associated with the filtration media; and

adjusting a value of an operational setting of the device based on the stored value of the operational parameter, wherein the operational setting comprises the operational speed of the fan.

12. The filtration system of claim 11 , wherein the device is the fan, and wherein the fan is operable to cause air to pass through the filter module.

13. The filtration system of claim 11 , wherein the interrogating comprises transmitting, to the RFID tag, a first signal that energizes the RFID tag, wherein the accessing comprises receiving a second signal comprising the stored value of the operational parameter.

14. The filtration system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining an existing value of an additional operational parameter of the filtration system;

interrogating the RFID tag via the RFID access device; and

writing, to the RFID tag, the existing value of the additional operational parameter as an updated value of the additional operational parameter.

15. The filtration system of claim 14 , wherein the additional operational parameter further includes a remaining shelf life of the filter module or a remaining use time of the filter module, and wherein the updated value of the additional operational parameter further includes (i) an updated shelf life of the filter module or (ii) an updated remaining useful life of the filter module.

16. The filtration system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to perform operations comprising disabling a device of the filtration system in response to determining that the updated additional operational parameter has been exceeded.

17. The filtration system of claim 11 , wherein the operational parameter further includes a runtime of the fan in the filtration system.

18. The filtration system of claim 11 , wherein the operational parameter further includes an elapsed installed time of the filter module, an elapsed operational time of the filter module, or a remaining useful life of the filter module.

19. The filtration system of claim 11 , where the operations further comprise:

interrogating, from the RFID access device, the RFID tag;

accessing, from the RFID tag, a target value of a performance parameter of the filtration system; and

responsive to determining that a measured value of the performance parameter differs from the target value of the performance parameter, adjusting the value of the operational setting of the filtration system to cause the measured value of the performance parameter to approximate the target value of the performance parameter.

20. The filtration system of claim 19 , wherein the performance parameter includes a pressure drop across the filter module, an airflow rate of air across the filter module, a measurement of air purity across the filter module, or a static pressure drop across the filter module.

21. The filtration system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise: in response to the interrogating, unlocking one or more features of the filtration system.

22. A system comprising:

a filter module comprising filtration media and a Near Field Communication (NFC) tag that includes one or more operational parameters relating to the filter module; and

a filtration system comprising:

a housing having an opening sized to receive the filter module;

an NFC access device communicatively couplable to the NFC tag and positionable proximate to the opening for receiving the filter module, for interrogating the NFC tag;

a device configured to operate at least one function of the filtration system; and

a processor configured to perform operations comprising:

causing the NFC access device to interrogate the NFC tag;

accessing, in response to interrogating the NFC tag, a stored value of an operational parameter of the filtration system, wherein the value comprises an operational speed of a fan in the filtration system and is stored on the NFC tag and associated with the filter module;

adjusting a value of an operational setting of the device based on the stored value of the operational parameter, wherein the operational setting comprises the operational speed of the fan; and

operating the device based on the operational parameter.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2025
From: GOERGEN, JEFF; WARD, ERIK; GONZALEZ, RICARDO; KEKEIS, KENT
To: PURAFIL, INC.
Reel/Frame 071255/0856 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230398482A1 · Dec 14, 2023
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