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Systems and methods for detecting the presence and/or absence of a solid liquid or gas

  • US 7,482,818 B2
  • Filed: 04/16/2007
  • Issued: 01/27/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2006
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A system for determining the presence and/or absence of a solid, liquid or gas within a physical space comprising:

  • an RF energy signal source;

    an RF energy emitter;

    an RF energy receiving element;

    an RF energy detector providing a signal corresponding to an amount of RF energy received from the RF energy emitter;

    circuitry for providing a signal indicating whether a solid, liquid or gas is located in a space between the RF energy emitter and the RF energy receiving element at a given time;

    wherein the RF energy emitter and RF energy receiving element are located on opposite sides of a channel within which the solid, liquid or gas is located, the RF energy being transferred between the RF energy emitter to the RF energy receiving element via a near field effect transmission; and

    wherein the system determines when a vending system is out of product.

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