AUTOMATED PILL DISPENSING SYSTEMS CONFIGURED FOR DETECTING BOTTLES IN OUTPUT CHUTES AND RELATED METHODS OF OPERATION
First Claim
1. An automated pill dispensing system, comprising:
- an output chute configured to hold pill-containing vials;
an optical sensor located at a predetermined location in the output chute, the optical sensor comprising an optical emitter and an optical detector configured to be operated cooperatively to output a detection signal indicating a presence or absence of a vial at the predetermined location of the output chute; and
a controller coupled to the optical sensor and configured to receive the detection signal output therefrom, detect the presence or absence of the vial at the predetermined location of the output chute in response to the detection signal, and control a next depositing event whereby a next vial is deposited in the output chute responsive to the detection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated pill dispensing system includes an output chute configured to hold pill-containing vials and an optical sensor located at a predetermined location in the output chute. The optical sensor includes an optical emitter and an optical detector configured to be operated cooperatively to output a detection signal indicating a presence or absence of a vial at the predetermined location of the output chute. A controller is coupled to the optical sensor and is configured to receive the detection signal therefrom, detect the presence or absence of the vial at the predetermined location of the output chute in response to the detection signal, and control a next depositing event whereby a next vial is deposited in the output chute responsive to the detection. Related methods of operation are also discussed.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An automated pill dispensing system, comprising:
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an output chute configured to hold pill-containing vials; an optical sensor located at a predetermined location in the output chute, the optical sensor comprising an optical emitter and an optical detector configured to be operated cooperatively to output a detection signal indicating a presence or absence of a vial at the predetermined location of the output chute; and a controller coupled to the optical sensor and configured to receive the detection signal output therefrom, detect the presence or absence of the vial at the predetermined location of the output chute in response to the detection signal, and control a next depositing event whereby a next vial is deposited in the output chute responsive to the detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating an automated pill dispensing system including an output chute configured to hold pill-containing vials and an optical sensor at a predetermined location therein, the method comprising:
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receiving a detection signal from the optical sensor; detecting a presence or absence of a vial at the predetermined location of the output chute responsive to the detection signal; and controlling a next depositing event whereby a next vial is deposited in the output chute responsive to the detection. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer program product for operating an automated pill dispensing system including an output chute configured to hold pill-containing vials and an optical sensor at a predetermined location therein, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising:
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computer readable program code that is configured to detect a presence or absence of a vial at the predetermined location of the output chute responsive to a detection signal received from the optical sensor; and computer readable program code that is configured to control a next depositing event whereby a next vial is deposited in the output chute responsive to the detection.
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Specification