ELECTRONIC INDICATOR FOR MONITORING EFFICACY OF A CLEANING CYCLE
First Claim
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1. An electronic indicator to monitor efficacy of a cleaning cycle, comprising:
- a barrier layer comprising a first dielectric material, the barrier layer having a first barrier surface and a second barrier surface, the first barrier surface being opposite to the second barrier surface;
a volume of wash-removable artificial soil disposed on at least a portion of the first barrier surface; and
a sensor having a first major sensor surface and an opposing second major sensor surface,wherein the first major sensor surface is adjacent to the second barrier surface, andwherein an electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator varies in response to a change in the volume of the artificial soil.
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Abstract
An electronic indicator includes artificial soil and sensor. An electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator can vary due to a change in the volume of the artificial soil. In some embodiments, the electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator can be measured by an electrical characteristic reader and used to determine efficacy of a cleaning cycle.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electronic indicator to monitor efficacy of a cleaning cycle, comprising:
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a barrier layer comprising a first dielectric material, the barrier layer having a first barrier surface and a second barrier surface, the first barrier surface being opposite to the second barrier surface; a volume of wash-removable artificial soil disposed on at least a portion of the first barrier surface; and a sensor having a first major sensor surface and an opposing second major sensor surface, wherein the first major sensor surface is adjacent to the second barrier surface, and wherein an electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator varies in response to a change in the volume of the artificial soil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wash efficacy measurement system, comprising:
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an electronic indicator configured to be disposed in a wash chamber during a cleaning cycle, the electronic indicator comprising; a barrier layer comprising a dielectric material, the barrier layer having a first barrier surface and a second barrier surface, the first barrier surface being opposite to the second barrier surface; a volume of wash-removable artificial soil disposed on at least a portion of the first barrier surface; and a sensor having a first major sensor surface and an opposing second major sensor surface, wherein the first major sensor surface is adjacent to the second barrier surface, wherein the sensor is configured to produce a sensor signal associated with an electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator when the electronic indicator is measured by an electrical characteristic reader, and wherein the electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator varies in response to a change in the volume of the artificial soil; and an electrical characteristic reader configured to measure an after-wash electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator after the cleaning cycle starts, wherein the after-wash electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator indicates an efficacy of the cleaning cycle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic indicator to monitor efficacy of a cleaning cycle, comprising:
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a barrier layer comprising a first dielectric material, the barrier layer having a first barrier surface and a second barrier surface, the first barrier surface being opposite to the second barrier surface; a volume of wash-removable artificial soil disposed on at least a portion of the first barrier surface; a sensor having a first major sensor surface and an opposing second major sensor surface, the first major sensor surface being adjacent to the second barrier surface; and an insulating layer comprising a second dielectric material and having a first insulating layer surface and an opposing second insulating layer surface, wherein the first insulating layer surface is adjacent to the second major sensor surface and covers at least a portion of the second major sensor surface, and wherein the electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator varies in response to a change in the volume of the artificial soil.
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18. A method for measuring wash efficacy, comprising:
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(1) disposing an electronic indicator in a wash chamber during a cleaning cycle, the electronic indicator comprising; a sensor configured to produce a sensor signal associated with an electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator, and a volume of wash-removable artificial soil disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the electronic indicator, wherein the electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator varies in response to a change in the volume of the artificial soil; (2) measuring an after-wash electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator after the cleaning cycle; and (3) recording the after-wash electrical characteristic of the electronic indicator. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification