OPTICAL PRODUCT DETECTION SENSOR
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- directing light into a fluid delivery medium in which presence or absence of a product is to be determined;
detecting light in each of a plurality of wavelength ranges transmitted through the fluid delivery medium and producing therefrom a plurality of detector outputs;
calculating at least one combination output based on at least two of the detector outputs;
associating each of the plurality of detector outputs with at least one out-of-product threshold;
associating the at least one combination output with at least one out-of-product threshold;
comparing each of the detector outputs with the associated at least one out-of-product threshold;
comparing the at least one combination output with the associated at least one out-of-product threshold; and
determining presence or absence of product within the fluid delivery medium based on the comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical detection sensor detects presence or absence of a product within a fluid delivery medium. An emitter directs radiation into the fluid delivery medium. Each of a plurality of detectors detects light within an associated one of a plurality of wavelength ranges transmitted through the fluid delivery medium. The output of each detector is further associated with at least one out-of-product threshold. A controller may further combine detector outputs, such as by multiplication, summation, or other mathematical operation, to produce additional measures of product presence or absence. Each combination output is also associated with at least one out-of-product threshold. The controller compares the output of each detector with the associated out-of-product threshold(s) and compares each combination output with the associated out-of-product threshold(s) to determine presence or absence of product within the fluid delivery medium. The sensor is able to determine presence or absence of a variety of products having different color, transparency or turbidity.
118 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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directing light into a fluid delivery medium in which presence or absence of a product is to be determined; detecting light in each of a plurality of wavelength ranges transmitted through the fluid delivery medium and producing therefrom a plurality of detector outputs; calculating at least one combination output based on at least two of the detector outputs; associating each of the plurality of detector outputs with at least one out-of-product threshold; associating the at least one combination output with at least one out-of-product threshold; comparing each of the detector outputs with the associated at least one out-of-product threshold; comparing the at least one combination output with the associated at least one out-of-product threshold; and determining presence or absence of product within the fluid delivery medium based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A sensor, comprising:
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an emitter that directs light into a fluid delivery medium in which presence or absence of a product is to be determined; a first detector that generates a first detector output based on detection of light within a first wavelength range transmitted through the fluid delivery medium; a second detector that generates a second detector output based on detection of light within a second wavelength range transmitted through the fluid delivery medium; a controller that calculates a combination output based on the first and second detector outputs, compares the first detector output with at least one first out-of-product threshold, compares the second detector output with at least one second out-of-product threshold, compares the combination output with at least one combined out-of-product threshold and determines presence or absence of the product within the fluid delivery medium based on the comparisons. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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directing light into a fluid delivery medium in which presence or absence of a product is to be determined; generating a first detector output based on detected light within a first wavelength range transmitted through the fluid delivery medium; generating a second detector output based on to detected light within a second wavelength range transmitted through the fluid delivery medium; calculating a combination output based on the first and second detector outputs; comparing the first detector output with a first group of out-of-product thresholds; comparing the second detector output with a second group of out-of-product thresholds; comparing the combination output with a third group of out-of-product thresholds; and determining absence of product in the fluid delivery medium when at least one of the first group of out-of-product thresholds, at least one of the second group of out-of-product thresholds, or at least one of the third group of out-of-product thresholds is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A device comprising:
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means for directing light into a fluid delivery medium in which presence or absence of a product is to be determined; means for detecting light in each of a plurality of wavelength ranges transmitted through the fluid delivery medium and producing therefrom a plurality of detector outputs; means for calculating at least one combination output based on at least two of the detector outputs; means for associating each of the plurality of detector outputs with at least one out-of-product threshold and for associating the at least one combination output with at least one out-of-product threshold; and means for comparing each of the detector outputs with the associated at least one out-of-product threshold, comparing the at least one combination output with the associated at least one out-of-product threshold and determining presence or absence of product within the fluid delivery medium based on the comparison.
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Specification