Electronic interface for water filter

Abstract

A water filter includes a filter unit having a body portion adapted to be rotatingly received into a filter head assembly. An engagement protrusion extends from the body portion and is adapted for reception in a complementary receiver in the filter head assembly. An electronic device is disposed on the filter unit having a memory storage unit. A laterally extending key member is disposed on the body portion between the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface. The laterally extending key member is adapted to reposition an interference member from an interference position, whereby the body portion can be fully inserted into the filter head assembly to a non-interference position, whereby the body portion can be fully inserted into the filter head assembly.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid filter comprising:
 a body portion adapted to be received into a filter head assembly of an appliance, wherein receipt of the body portion in the filter head assembly triggers a reconfiguration of a filter system of the appliance;   an engagement protrusion extending from the body portion and adapted for reception in a complementary receiver in the filter head assembly;   an electronic device disposed on the filter having a memory storage unit, wherein the memory storage unit stores at least filter life data to define current filter life data; and   a data relay disposed within the electronic device, wherein triggering of the reconfiguration of the filter system is defined by the data relay delivering the current filter life data to the appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid filter of  claim 1 , wherein delivery of the current filter life data is via a wired connection with the filter head assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid filter of  claim 1 , wherein the reconfiguration of the filter system is further defined by a control unit and a user interface of the appliance utilizing the current filter life data delivered from the data relay of the electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid filter of  claim 1 , where the current filter life data includes fluid flow values, and wherein when the current filter life data indicates that a predetermined fluid flow value is reached, the electronic device activates a replace filter icon of the user interface. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid filter of  claim 1 , wherein the current filter life data includes filter life data gathered during operation of the electronic device in connection with a single appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid filter of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes a circuit board positioned within a protective cover that extends from the body portion, the circuit board adapted to store the current filter life data. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid filter of  claim 6 , wherein the circuit board is in communication with a data portion of the electronic device, the data portion adapted to relay at least the current filter life data between the circuit board and the appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid filter of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is rotatingly received in the filter head assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A method for installing a fluid filter into a subject appliance, the method comprising steps of:
 providing a fluid filter configured for installation in an appliance, the fluid filter including a body portion adapted to be received into a filter head assembly of the appliance, an engagement protrusion extending from the body portion and adapted for reception in a complementary receiver in the filter head assembly and an electronic device disposed on the fluid filter having a memory storage unit and a data relay;   installing the fluid filter within the filter head assembly of the appliance;   triggering a reconfiguration of a filter system of the appliance by installing the fluid filter within the filter head assembly of the appliance;   storing at least filter life data pertaining to the fluid filter within the memory storage unit, wherein stored filter life data is continually updated during use of the fluid filter to define current filter life data; and   delivering the current filter life data to the appliance, wherein triggering of the reconfiguration of the filter system initiates delivery of the current filter life data to the appliance via the data relay of the electronic device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of installing the fluid filter is at least partially defined by the body portion being rotatingly received in the filter head assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of delivering the current filter life data is performed via a wired connection between the memory storage unit and the filter head assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of delivering the current filter life data is performed via a one way communication link from the memory storage unit to the filter head assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of delivering the current filter life data to the appliance includes at least one of a control unit and user interface of the appliance utilizing the current filter life data delivered from the data relay of the electronic device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , where the current filter life data includes at least fluid flow values, and wherein when the current filter life data indicates that a predetermined fluid flow value is reached, the electronic device activates a replace filter icon of the user interface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the current filter life data includes filter life data gathered during operation of the electronic device in connection with a single appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device includes a circuit board positioned within a protective cover that extends from the body portion, the circuit board adapted to store the current filter life data. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the circuit board is in communication with a data portion of the electronic device, the data portion adapted to relay at least the current filter life data between the circuit board and the appliance. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the current filter life data comprises:
 payload information values related to timeout intervals of the fluid filter;   fluid filter capacity;   fluid filter usage date; and   a number of days until a replacement fluid filter unit is needed.   
     
     
         19 . A fluid filter comprising:
 a body portion adapted to be received into a filter head assembly of a subject appliance of a plurality of appliances, wherein receipt of the body portion in the filter head assembly triggers a reconfiguration of a filter system of the subject appliance;   an engagement protrusion extending from the body portion and adapted for reception in a complementary receiver in the filter head assembly of the subject appliance;   an electronic device disposed on the filter having a memory storage unit, wherein the memory storage unit stores at least filter life data to define current filter life data; and   a data relay disposed within the electronic device, wherein triggering of the reconfiguration of the filter system is defined by the data relay delivering the current filter life data to the appliance, wherein the electronic device includes a protective cover having a generally triangular-type cross section extending away from the body portion of the fluid filter.   
     
     
         20 . The fluid filter of  claim 19 , wherein delivery of the current filter life data is via a wired connection with the filter head assembly.