PRODUCT LEVEL MONITORING IN A CHEMICAL DISPENSING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A monitoring unit for monitoring multiple probes in a chemical dispensing system, the monitoring unit comprising:
- a detection circuit including an input and an output, the detection circuit configured to output a first signal in response to detecting a low impedance at the input and output a second signal in response to detecting a high impedance at the input;
a switch matrix including a plurality of electrical input ports, and an electrical output port coupled to the input of the detection circuit; and
a processor operatively coupled to the switch matrix and configured to cause the switch matrix to selectively couple the electrical input ports to the electrical output port.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring the levels of product in a chemical dispensing system. A probe assembly is operatively disposed in a container holding product to be dispensed. A detection circuit including an oscillator sensitive to the impendence coupled to the detector is selectively coupled to the probe assembly and produces a signal in response to the impedance of the probe assembly indicating if the level of product in the container has dropped below the probe assembly. The probe assembly includes conductive probes formed from corrosion resistant material infused with carbon and separated by an angle. The level of the first and second conductive probes is adjustable to provide control over the level of product to be detected. Multiple probe assemblies may be selectively coupled to the detection circuit in a repeating sequence by a multi-probe monitoring unit to allow monitoring of multiple containers by a single remote alarm.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A monitoring unit for monitoring multiple probes in a chemical dispensing system, the monitoring unit comprising:
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a detection circuit including an input and an output, the detection circuit configured to output a first signal in response to detecting a low impedance at the input and output a second signal in response to detecting a high impedance at the input; a switch matrix including a plurality of electrical input ports, and an electrical output port coupled to the input of the detection circuit; and a processor operatively coupled to the switch matrix and configured to cause the switch matrix to selectively couple the electrical input ports to the electrical output port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of monitoring a level of a product in a dispensing system, the method comprising:
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causing, by a processor, a switch matrix to selectively couple a plurality of electrical input ports of the switch matrix to an input of a detection circuit; in response to detecting a low impedance at the input, outputting a first signal at an output of the detection circuit; and in response to detecting a high impedance at the input, outputting a second signal at the output of the detection circuit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer program product comprising:
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a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and program code stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, when executed by a processor of a monitoring unit, causes the monitoring unit to; selectively couple a plurality of electrical input ports of a switch matrix to an input of a detection circuit; in response to detecting a low impedance at the input, output a first signal at an output of the detection circuit; and in response to detecting a high impedance at the input, output a second signal at the output of the detection circuit.
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Specification