System for detecting the condition of a container and for transmitting detected data to a central facility
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting the condition of a container for receiving contents therein, comprising:
- a detector operatively associated with the container, wherein the contents fill the container to an established level, and wherein the detector operates to detect established levels of the contents which correspond to a prescribed level; and
a transmitter coupled with the detector, wherein the transmitter transmits a signal to a remotely located receiver when the detector detects that the established level of the contents in the container corresponds to the prescribed level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A signaling device is mated with a conventional container to indicate when the container is ready to be emptied of its contents. The signaling device includes a combination of radio frequency (RF) devices that can detect the condition of a particular container, primarily the level of the contents present in the container, and transmit data pertaining to the condition of the container to a central, data-monitoring facility. The data which is received by the monitoring facility is then used to determine when collections are to take place, and to establish efficient routing for the necessary refuse-collecting personnel and equipment.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting the condition of a container for receiving contents therein, comprising:
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a detector operatively associated with the container, wherein the contents fill the container to an established level, and wherein the detector operates to detect established levels of the contents which correspond to a prescribed level; and
a transmitter coupled with the detector, wherein the transmitter transmits a signal to a remotely located receiver when the detector detects that the established level of the contents in the container corresponds to the prescribed level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for detecting the condition of a container for receiving contents therein, wherein the contents fill the container to an established level, comprising the steps of:
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detecting established levels of the contents which correspond to a prescribed level by operating a level detector coupled with the container; and
transmitting a signal to a remotely located receiver, by operating a transmitter coupled with the detector, when the detector detects that the established level of the contents in the container corresponds to the prescribed level. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification