A disposable filter including an integrated sensor is provided for filtering a working fluid and monitoring the working fluid and/or the performance of the filter. The filter includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet with filter media disposed within the housing in a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet. The integrated sensor is disposed within the housing, where the integrated sensor monitors a characteristic of the working fluid or other performance characteristic of the filter. The sensor assembly may include a communication module. The sensor assembly may include a RF tank circuit with a capacitor plate, which may be disposed adjacent a bypass structure that is disposed adjacent the outlet. Movement of a moveable part of the bypass structure in response to a pressure buildup will cause a shift in a resonant frequency of the tank circuit.

Aspects herein include filter systems including short-range wireless tracking features to detect insertion and/or removal of filter elements from filter systems. In an embodiment, a filtration system is included having a housing including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The housing can define an internal volume. A first filter element can be removably disposed within the housing. A short-range wireless communication tag can be associated with the first filter element. A short-range wireless communication reader can be associated with the housing, the reader configured to wirelessly send data to and receive data from the tag when the reader and the tag are at a distance that is less than or equal to a maximum communication distance. Removal of the first filter element from the housing can cause the distance between the tag and the reader to exceed the maximum communication distance. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A filter housing assembly for fluid filtration which may be attached to, and removed from, a filter base by a push-actuated release. The filter housing assembly has a top portion with an ingress port and egress port extending therefrom, and a protrusion extending from the filter housing longitudinally axial center. The ingress and egress port are formed in an hourglass shape. A filter key having a base with a groove for mating with said projection, at least one finger extending from said base, and an electronic circuit component housing attached thereto for receiving a printed circuit board, is connected to the filter housing top portion by mating said top portion protrusion with the filter key groove. Both of said ingress and egress port have at least one cavity for the passage of fluid therethrough, where each cavity is exposed in a direction facing away from the printed circuit board.

A leak detection and response system includes a valve assembly with a housing defining an internal passageway. The valve assembly includes an internal inlet port, an internal outlet port, a valve port assembly, an external inlet port, and an external outlet port each in fluid communication with the internal passageway. The valve assembly includes a first sensor port disposed either between the external outlet port and the internal inlet port, or between the external inlet port and the internal outlet port. The valve assembly includes a first leak sensor positioned in the first sensor port for generating a signal indicating a presence of water. The valve assembly includes a controller configured to receive the signal from the first leak sensor, and control the valve assembly to align the valve port assembly to block water flow from the external inlet port.

In one example, a core cover includes an inner wall that defines a fluid passageway configured to communicate with an interior of a filter core when the core cover is engaged with the filter core. As well, the core cover includes an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall, and a complementary structure located on the outer wall and configured to engage a corresponding complementary structure of a filter core. Finally, the core cover includes one or more indicia that indicate a flow rate, or range of flow rates, associated with the core cover.

A filter for a water cooler includes a housing having a surface and a cavity with cavity ports. The filter end is adapted to be received in the housing. The filter end includes a cylindrical base having a surface and a neck extending from the surface. The neck has filter ports and a side surface. The side surface has oppositely directed axially extending elongated protrusions configured to be received in channels in the housing. The base surface includes a complex set of protrusions which are adapted to be received in a similarly configured set of recesses in the housing surface. The protrusions/recesses may take the form of letters, numbers or symbols. The filter end is be fully seated in the housing in bayonet-type fashion to connect the filter ports and the housing ports o permit water to flow through the filter from the water supply to the water cooler.

A filter base for receiving a mating filter housing assembly having a base platform having fluid ingress and egress stanchions, and a wire harness assembly including a connector housing integral with or connected to the base platform for establishing an electrical connection between the filter base and the mating filter housing assembly. The wire harness assembly having conductors extending between first and second connectors, with one or more resilient contacts provided on the second connector. The contacts are flexible from a first position to a second position when curved contact sections of the one or more contacts engage a mating connection surface of the complementary mating filter housing assembly. The mating connection surface may be a circuit pad of a printed circuit board, wherein the contact curved contact sections are configured to be positioned in mechanical and electrical engagement with the circuit pads when the filter housing assembly is received within the filter base.

A filter identification system is disclosed. The filter identification system may include an identification component disposed in a filter mount configured to hold a set of filters that includes a first filter and a second filter. The identification component may include a sensor system that may include a first sensor configured to provide a first output signal corresponding to a state of the first sensor, and a second sensor configured to provide a second output signal corresponding to a state of the second sensor. The sensor system may be configured to provide a single output signal that is based on the first output signal and the second output signal and indicates a combined state of the first sensor and the second sensor.

System that monitors and manages a network of smart filtering containers, such as water pitchers with integrated sensors. Measurements are collected from the containers and forwarded to a centralized system, such as an Internet server; data may be analyzed to determine performance modifications or recommendations for selected containers. Centralizing the data enables discovery of patterns and correlations across containers; for example, abnormal measurements from multiple pitchers in an area may suggest contamination of the area's water supply. The centralized system may automatically update settings of containers to optimize their performance. It may send messages to users suggesting different usage patterns or configurations. It may automatically order components such as replacement filters or upgrades. A water testing capability may also be provided; users may be sent water test strips that can be imaged using an associated mobile device app, and results may be forwarded to the central database for analysis.

A wire harness assembly including a first connector, a second connector, and conductors extending between the first connector and the second connector. Contacts are provided on the second connector. The contacts have termination sections which are mounted on the second connector, compliant sections which extend from the termination sections, and substrate engagement sections which extend from the compliant sections. The substrate engagement sections have curved contact sections which are configured to be positioned in mechanical and electrical engagement with circuit pads of a mating printed circuit board. Embossments are provided on the curved contact sections to provide additional strength and stability to the curved contact sections.