System for detecting a container or contents of the container
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for detecting a container, the system comprising:
- a diffuser for retaining the container, the container configured to hold an active material therein and having a porous wick extending therefrom; and
a light emitter and a light receiver disposed within the diffuser;
wherein when active material is present within the porous wick, light emitted by the light emitter is refracted through the wick and at least some of the emitted light is received by the light receiver and, when no active material is present within the porous wick, light emitted by the light emitter enters a dry wick and is absorbed by the wick and none of the emitted light is received by the light receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting a container or contents of the container. The system includes a diffuser for retaining the container, where the container is configured to hold an active material therein and may include a wick extending therefrom. The system further includes a sensor positioned to detect, for example, the container retained in the diffuser and/or the contents of the container retained in the diffuser.
554 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for detecting a container, the system comprising:
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a diffuser for retaining the container, the container configured to hold an active material therein and having a porous wick extending therefrom; and a light emitter and a light receiver disposed within the diffuser; wherein when active material is present within the porous wick, light emitted by the light emitter is refracted through the wick and at least some of the emitted light is received by the light receiver and, when no active material is present within the porous wick, light emitted by the light emitter enters a dry wick and is absorbed by the wick and none of the emitted light is received by the light receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for dctecting a container and contents of the container, the system comprising:
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a diffuser for removably retaining the container, the container configured to hold an active material therein and having a porous wick extending therefrom; an emitter disposed outside the container and attached to the diffuser at a position adjacent the wick when the container is disposed within the diffuser; and a receiver disposed outside the container and attached to the diffuser at a position adjacent the wick when the container is disposed within the diffuser; wherein the emitter and the receiver are operatively connected to detect whether the container is disposed in the diffuser and the presence or absence of contents disposed in the container when retained in the diffuser. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for detecting a container, the system comprising:
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a diffuser for removably retaining the container, the container configured to hold an active material therein and having a porous wick extending therefrom; an emitter disposed in the diffuser and adjacent the wick when the container is disposed within the diffuser; and a receiver disposed in the diffuser and adjacent the wick when the container is disposed within the diffuser; wherein the emitter and receiver are operatively connected to detect whether the container is disposed in the diffuser; and
wherein when the container is disposed within the diffuser and active material is present within the wick, light emitted by the emitter is retracted through the wick and at least some of the emitted light is received by the receiver and, when no active material. is present within the wick, light emitted by the emitter enters a dry wick and is absorbed by the wick and none of the emitted light is received by the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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11. The system of 10, wherein the emitter and receiver are positioned such that when the receiver does not receive a detectable signal from the emitter, a condition that the container is empty is indicated by the system.
Specification