Method of operation of photochromic optically keyed dispenser
First Claim
1. A method of controlling operation of a dispensing mechanism having a removable component removably coupled thereto, comprising the steps of:
- selectively inputting input electromagnetic radiation into a waveguide carried on a removable, replaceable component for transmission through the waveguide;
sensing transmitted electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the waveguide; and
permitting operation of the dispensing mechanism only if the step of sensing electromagnetic radiation determines that the waveguide includes a photochromic portion which contains a first reversible photochromic dye which is activated by a dose of first activation electromagnetic radiation in a first range of activation wavelengths.
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Abstract
A removable and replaceable keying component which is required for operation of a mechanism and which component includes a waveguide having a photochromic portion. A method of controlling operation of a mechanism, preferably a dispenser, having a removable component comprising the steps of measuring electromagnetic radiation passing through a waveguide carrying at least in part on the removable component and permitting operation of the mechanism only when the measured electromagnetic radiation corresponds with one or more pre-selected parameters. Preferably, the method involves directing emitted electromagnetic radiation with pre-selected input parameters selected from a plurality of input parameters.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of controlling operation of a dispensing mechanism having a removable component removably coupled thereto, comprising the steps of:
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selectively inputting input electromagnetic radiation into a waveguide carried on a removable, replaceable component for transmission through the waveguide; sensing transmitted electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the waveguide; and permitting operation of the dispensing mechanism only if the step of sensing electromagnetic radiation determines that the waveguide includes a photochromic portion which contains a first reversible photochromic dye which is activated by a dose of first activation electromagnetic radiation in a first range of activation wavelengths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling operation of a dispensing mechanism having a removable component removably coupled thereto, comprising the steps of:
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measuring electromagnetic radiation passing through a waveguide carried on a removable, replaceable component, and permitting operation of the dispensing mechanism only if the measured electromagnetic radiation determines that the waveguide includes a photochromic portion which contains a photochromic dye which is activated by a dose of activation electromagnetic radiation in a preselected range of wavelengths, the photochromic portion having a first transmission characteristic when the photochromic dye is not activated, the photochromic portion reversibly assuming a second, different transmission characteristic for a period time after the photochromic dye is last activated, the photochromic portion when having the second transmission characteristic returning from having the second transmission characteristic to having the first transmission characteristic after the period of time from last being activated has passed, the method including radiating the waveguide with the dose of activation electromagnetic radiation sufficient to activate the photochromic portion to assume the second transmission characteristic and in the period time after the wavelength has been so radiated measuring electromagnetic radiation passing through the waveguide to detect whether the waveguide has the second transmission characteristic.
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13. A method of controlling operation of a mechanism having a removable component removably coupled thereto, comprising the steps of:
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selectively inputting input electromagnetic radiation into a first waveguide carried on the removable, replaceable component for transmission through the first waveguide; sensing transmitted electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the first waveguide, determining from the transmitted electromagnetic radiation sensed as transmitted through the first waveguide whether the first waveguide includes a primary photoreactive portion which contains a reversible photoreactive first dye which has been activated by radiation with a dose of first activation electromagnetic radiation in a first range of activation wavelengths, the first dye when unactivated is activated by radiation with the dose of first activation electromagnetic radiation in the first range of activation wavelengths, when the first dye is not activated, the primary portion having an inherent transmission characteristic for relative transmission of electromagnetic radiation in a first range of test wavelengths, when the first dye is activated, the primary portion having an activated first transmission characteristic for relative transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the first range of test wavelengths different from the inherent transmission characteristic of the primary photochromic portion, inputting into the first guideway for transmission through the first waveguide as input electromagnetic radiation the dose of the first activation electromagnetic radiation in the first range of activation wavelengths, after inputting the dose of the first activation electromagnetic radiation in the first range of activation wavelengths into the first guideway;
(i) further inputting into the first guideway for transmission through the first waveguide as input electromagnetic radiation test electromagnetic radiation in the first range of test wavelengths, (ii) sensing transmitted electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the first waveguide for electromagnetic radiation in the first range of test wavelengths and (iii) determining from the electromagnetic radiation in the first range of test wavelengths sensed in step (ii) if the first waveguide has the first transmission characteristic of the portion, and (iv) if the first waveguide is determined in step (iii) to have the first transmission characteristic assuming the first waveguide includes the primary photochromic portion and if the first waveguide is determined to have the inherent transmission characteristic of the primary photochromic portion assuming the first waveguide does not includes the primary photochromic portion, andcontrolling operation of the mechanism dependant on whether the first waveguide is assumed to include the primary photochromic portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification