WATER DISPENSING SYSTEM UTILIZING A SMART FILTER
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- tracking usage of a filter, the filter comprising (i) a filter medium having an operational life related to an amount of fluid passed through the filter medium and (ii) a one-bit memory element having a first state that indicates that the operational life of the filter medium has not expired and having a second state that indicates that the operational life of the filter medium has expired; and
switching the one-bit memory element from the first state to the second state in response to the usage of the filter reaching a threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to one illustrative embodiment, a water dispensing system may include a replaceable water filter comprising (i) a filter medium having an operational life related to an amount of water passed through the filter medium and (ii) a one-bit memory element having a first state that indicates that the operational life of the filter medium has not expired and having a second state that indicates that the operational life of the filter medium has expired and an electronic control unit (ECU) remote from the replaceable water filter, the ECU configured to track usage of the replaceable water filter and switch the one-bit memory element from the first state to the second state in response to the usage of the replaceable water filter reaching a threshold value.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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tracking usage of a filter, the filter comprising (i) a filter medium having an operational life related to an amount of fluid passed through the filter medium and (ii) a one-bit memory element having a first state that indicates that the operational life of the filter medium has not expired and having a second state that indicates that the operational life of the filter medium has expired; and switching the one-bit memory element from the first state to the second state in response to the usage of the filter reaching a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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tracking usage of a water filter, the water filter comprising a filter medium and a fusible link, wherein a state of the fusible link indicates whether the operational life of the filter medium has expired; and applying a burn signal to switch the state of the fusible link between a short circuit and an open circuit, in response to the usage of the filter reaching a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A water dispensing system comprising:
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a replaceable water filter comprising (i) a filter medium having an operational life related to an amount of water passed through the filter medium and (ii) a one-bit memory element having a first state that indicates that the operational life of the filter medium has not expired and having a second state that indicates that the operational life of the filter medium has expired; and an electronic control unit (ECU) remote from the replaceable water filter, the ECU configured to track usage of the replaceable water filter and switch the one-bit memory element from the first state to the second state in response to the usage of the replaceable water filter reaching a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification