Non-Invasive Identification Of Solutions
First Claim
1. A fluid identification assembly for use in combination with a fluid container, the fluid identification assembly comprising:
- a light source configured to direct a light substantially transmitted by the fluid container to the fluid container for reflection by the fluid container and by a fluid present in the fluid container;
a light detector positioned to receive at least a portion of the reflected light; and
a dual-band bandpass filter positioned such that at least a portion of the light passes through the dual-band bandpass filter prior to being received by the light detector, whereinthe dual-band bandpass filter is configured to allow light having a first wavelength or a first range of wavelengths and a second wavelength or a second range of wavelengths to reach the light detector and to substantially prevent other wavelengths of light from reaching the light detector, andthe light detector is configured to, after receiving said at least a portion of the reflected light, generate a signal indicative of the identity of the fluid present in the fluid container based, at least in part, on the amount of light received from the light source.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid identification assembly is provided to determine the presence or absence of multiple components within a fluid in a conduit. The assembly includes a light source and a light detector positioned to receive a portion of light from the light source reflected by the conduit and fluid. A dual-band bandpass filter may be associated with the light detector to allow multiple wavelengths of light to be monitored, thereby monitoring the composition of the fluid based on the amount of light of each wavelength absorbed by the fluid. Rather than a dual-band bandpass filter, a second light detector may be provided, along with a beam splitter to separate light from a single source for receipt of light of different wavelengths by the light detectors. The dual-band bandpass filter may also be replaced by a second light source and detector pair for analyzing fluid using multiple wavelengths of light.
11 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A fluid identification assembly for use in combination with a fluid container, the fluid identification assembly comprising:
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a light source configured to direct a light substantially transmitted by the fluid container to the fluid container for reflection by the fluid container and by a fluid present in the fluid container; a light detector positioned to receive at least a portion of the reflected light; and a dual-band bandpass filter positioned such that at least a portion of the light passes through the dual-band bandpass filter prior to being received by the light detector, wherein the dual-band bandpass filter is configured to allow light having a first wavelength or a first range of wavelengths and a second wavelength or a second range of wavelengths to reach the light detector and to substantially prevent other wavelengths of light from reaching the light detector, and the light detector is configured to, after receiving said at least a portion of the reflected light, generate a signal indicative of the identity of the fluid present in the fluid container based, at least in part, on the amount of light received from the light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A fluid identification assembly for use in combination with a fluid container, the fluid identification assembly comprising:
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a light source configured to direct a light substantially transmitted by the fluid container to the fluid container for reflection by the fluid container and by a fluid present in the fluid container; a beam splitter positioned such that at least a portion of the light reflected by the fluid container and by the fluid present in the fluid container is intercepted by the beam splitter and separated into a first separated light beam and a second separated light beam; a first light detector positioned to receive at least a portion of the first separated light beam; and a second light detector positioned to receive at least a portion of the second separated light beam, wherein the first light detector is configured to, after receiving said at least a portion of the first separated light beam, generate a first signal indicative of the presence or absence of a first fluid component in the fluid present in the fluid container based, at least in part, on the amount of light received from the light source, and the second light detector is configured to, after receiving said at least a portion of the second separated light beam, generate a second signal indicative of the presence or absence of a second fluid component in the fluid present in the fluid container based, at least in part, on the amount of light received from the light source. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A fluid identification assembly for use in combination with a fluid container, the fluid identification assembly comprising:
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a first module including a first light source configured to direct a first light substantially transmitted by the fluid container to the fluid container for reflection by the fluid container and by a fluid present in the fluid container, and a first light detector positioned to receive at least a portion of the reflected first light; and a second module including a second light source configured to direct a second light substantially transmitted by the fluid container to the fluid container for reflection by the fluid container and by a fluid present in the fluid container, and a second light detector positioned to receive at least a portion of the reflected second light, wherein the first light detector is configured to, after receiving said at least a portion of the reflected first light, generate a first signal indicative of the presence or absence of a first fluid component in the fluid present in the fluid container based, at least in part, on the amount of light received from the first light source, and the second light detector is configured to, after receiving said at least a portion of the reflected second light, generate a second signal indicative of the presence or absence of a second fluid component in the fluid present in the fluid container based, at least in part, on the amount of light received from the second light source. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for identifying a fluid in a fluid container comprising:
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directing a light substantially transmitted by a fluid container to the fluid container for reflection by the fluid container and by a fluid present in the fluid container; detecting reflected light having a first wavelength or a first range of wavelengths and a second wavelength or a second range of wavelengths; and determining the identity of the fluid present in the fluid container based, at least in part, on the amount of reflected light detected. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification