Real-time electronic spray deposition sensor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing deposition of sprayed droplets of liquid on a surface, comprising:
- a sensing surface;
the sensing surface comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements disposed across the sensing surface;
wherein the conductive elements are closely spaced apart from each other and electrically insulated from each other on the sensing surface; and
at least one comparator circuit coupled to the conductive elements;
the comparator circuit configured to detect the presence of liquid at the conductive element;
wherein the conductive elements are disposed in an array across the sensing surface such that information regarding the presence, distribution, deposition density, size, and location of the sprayed droplets of liquid on the sensing surface may be determined; and
wherein a deposition map and summary data of the sprayed droplets of liquid may be produced from said information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic spray deposition sensor for sensing deposition of liquid on an exterior surface is disclosed. The deposition sensor has a sensing surface comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements disposed across the sensing surface. The conductive elements are closely spaced apart from each other and insulated from each other on the sensing surface. A comparator circuit is coupled to the conductive elements to detect the presence of liquid at the conductive element. In particular, conductive elements are disposed in an array across the sensing surface such that the presence and location of the liquid on the sensing surface may be determined.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing deposition of sprayed droplets of liquid on a surface, comprising:
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a sensing surface; the sensing surface comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements disposed across the sensing surface; wherein the conductive elements are closely spaced apart from each other and electrically insulated from each other on the sensing surface; and at least one comparator circuit coupled to the conductive elements; the comparator circuit configured to detect the presence of liquid at the conductive element; wherein the conductive elements are disposed in an array across the sensing surface such that information regarding the presence, distribution, deposition density, size, and location of the sprayed droplets of liquid on the sensing surface may be determined; and wherein a deposition map and summary data of the sprayed droplets of liquid may be produced from said information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of detecting sprayed droplets of liquid on a sensor surface;
- comprising;
supplying voltage to at least a first portion of a plurality of electrically conductive elements disposed across the sensor surface; checking at least a portion of the conductive elements for the presence of liquid droplet deposition at the conductive elements; and displaying the location of a conductive element having liquid droplet deposition; wherein a pluralitv of said displayed locations forms a deposition map of the sprayed droplets of liquid. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- comprising;
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28. An electronic spray deposition sensor, comprising:
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a sensing surface; the sensing surface comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements disposed in an array across the sensing surface; and means for monitoring the plurality of conductive elements to determine the presence and location of deposition of sprayed liquid droplets on the sensing surface; wherein a deposition map of the distribution and deposition density of the sprayed droplets of liquid and a numerical summary of the map information may be produced from said information. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification