Apparatus for Displaying, Monitoring and Controlling Shower or Bath Water Parameters

Abstract

A monitoring display apparatus with certain components affixed to a shower or bath water supply piping incorporated within a shower, or bath or faucet head. The display apparatus includes a power generation, CPU or microprocessor, temperature sensor and/or water flow sensors, timing circuits, an electronic display means, wireless communication technology and communicates with a remote monitoring display apparatus or a remote computer system. The present invention can include a remotely located wireless receiver apparatus. Ergonomically placed buttons can be incorporated into the display means, or a touch screen display, to change parameter units (e.g. metric to US), set alarm conditions (e.g. temperature over set point time past a set point, flow rate set points). The display means must be able to provide sufficient lighting in shower conditions. In addition, the display means must be able to sustain capability in moist wet conditions.

1 . A water parameter monitoring apparatus for attaching to the water supply line for a shower, bath or faucet bead, comprising:
 a joint, articulating, or moveable means for connecting a housing to a shower, bath or faucet head water supply line;   a first electrical circuitry including a first programmable microprocessor and/or microcontroller contained within said housing;   a temperature sensor that is in close proximity or in communication with said water supply, said temperature sensor in communication with said electrical circuitry;   a timing circuit in electrical communication with said first electrical circuitry, said timing circuit providing cumulative timing parameter upon the initiation of water use;   a flow sensor that is in close proximity or in communication with said water supply, said flow rate sensor in electrical communication with said first electrical circuitry, said flow sensor capable of calculating a water flow rate parameter;   an electronic display means located remotely from said housing, said electronic display simultaneously or sequentially exhibiting temperature, time and water flow rate parameters on the display means said electronic display means communication with said first circuitry by wired or wireless means; and   a remotely located handheld monitoring/controlling receiver or a transceiver apparatus or a remotely located monitoring computer, said remotely located handheld monitoring/controlling receiver or transceiver apparatus or said remotely located monitoring computer having a second programmable microprocessor and/or microcontroller with a second electronic circuitry said remotely located handheld monitoring/controlling receiver or transceiver apparatus or said remotely located monitoring computer in wireless communication or wired communication, or any combination of wireless or wired communication, with said first electrical circuitry.   
     
     
         2 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication is in a radio frequency, Zigbee, WiFI format, Bluetooth format or optical format. 
     
     
         3 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a water shut off means that responds to electrical communication from said first electrical circuitry. 
     
     
         4 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first electrical circuitry and said first microprocessor have program instructions to periodically send water use data to a remote computer system using wired or wireless technology. 
     
     
         5 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said water display apparatus designed to wirelessly transfer water use data from said water parameter display apparatus to said remotely located display/monitoring receiver or transceiver apparatus or the remotely located monitoring computer for water use data download, recording and/or storage. 
     
     
         6 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication is in a IP or DHCP protocol wherein said IP or DHCP protocol allows the said apparatus to access and communicate over the Internet. 
     
     
         7 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said remotely located monitoring receiver or transceiver apparatus has the capability to turn on and off said water shut off means. 
     
     
         8 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication has a frequency in the range of 6 MHz to 250 GHz. 
     
     
         9 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication is in a CAN or CAN-bus protocol. 
     
     
         10 . A time-based shower, bath or faucet head incorporating a water parameter assembly, comprising:
 a shower, bath or faucet head;   a first electrical circuitry including a first programmable microprocessor and/or microcontroller located near or within said shower, bath or faucet head;   a temperature sensor that is in close proximity or in communication with said water supply, said temperature sensor in communication with said electrical circuitry;   a timing circuit in electrical communication with said electrical circuitry, said timing circuit providing cumulative timing parameter upon the initiation of water use;   a flow sensor that is in close proximity or in communication with said water supply, said flow sensor in electrical communication with said electrical circuitry, said flow sensor capable of calculating a water flow rate parameter;   an electronic display means located remotely from said first electronic circuitry said electronic display means communicating with said first electrical circuitry by wired or wireless technology, said electronic display means simultaneously or sequentially exhibiting temperature, time and water flow rate parameters on the electronic display means; and   a remotely located handheld monitoring/controlling receiver or a transceiver apparatus or a remotely located monitoring computer, said remotely located handheld monitoring/controlling receiver or transceiver apparatus or said remotely located monitoring computer having a second programmable microprocessor and/or microcontroller with a second electronic circuitry said remotely located handheld monitoring/controlling receiver or transceiver apparatus or said remotely located monitoring computer in wireless communication or wired communication, or any combination of wireless or wired communication with said first electrical circuitry.   
     
     
         11 . The tune-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said wireless communication is in a radio frequency, Zigbee, WiFI format, Bluetooth format or optical formal 
     
     
         12 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a water shut off means that responds to electrical communication from said electrical circuitry. 
     
     
         13 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said first electrical circuitry and said microprocessor and/or microcontroller have program instructions to periodically send water use data to a remote computer system using wired or wireless technology. 
     
     
         14 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said water display apparatus designed to wirelessly transfer water use data from said water parameter display apparatus to said remotely located display/monitoring receiver or transceiver apparatus or the remotely located monitoring computer for water use data download, recording and/or storage. 
     
     
         15 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said wireless communication is in a IP or DHCP protocol wherein said IP or DHCP protocol allows the said apparatus to access and communicate over the Internet. 
     
     
         16 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said remotely located display/monitoring, receiver or transceiver apparatus has the capability to turn on and off said water shut off means. 
     
     
         17 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said wireless communication has a frequency in the range of 6 MHz to 250 GHz. 
     
     
         18 . The time-based water parameter display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said wireless communication is in a CAN or CAN-bus protocol.