Photochromic optically keyed dispenser
First Claim
1. A dispensing system comprising:
- a reservoir assembly including a reservoir containing material to be dispensed;
an activation unit,the reservoir assembly removably coupled to the activation unit for replacement by a similar reservoir assembly,an electromagnetic radiation waveguide having an inlet and an outlet and providing a path for transmission of electromagnetic radiation from the inlet to the outlet,an electromagnetic radiation emitter carried by the activation unit directing electromagnetic radiation into the waveguide via the inlet,an electromagnetic radiation sensor carried by the activation unit sensing electromagnetic radiation from the waveguide via the outlet,at least part of the waveguide carried by the reservoir assembly and removable therewith, anda control mechanism to control the operation of the emitter and receive input from the sensor to determine whether the electromagnetic radiation sensed by the sensor indicates that a portion of the waveguide carried on the reservoir is photochromic.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dispensing system comprising:
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a reservoir assembly including a reservoir containing material to be dispensed; an activation unit, the reservoir assembly removably coupled to the activation unit for replacement by a similar reservoir assembly, an electromagnetic radiation waveguide having an inlet and an outlet and providing a path for transmission of electromagnetic radiation from the inlet to the outlet, an electromagnetic radiation emitter carried by the activation unit directing electromagnetic radiation into the waveguide via the inlet, an electromagnetic radiation sensor carried by the activation unit sensing electromagnetic radiation from the waveguide via the outlet, at least part of the waveguide carried by the reservoir assembly and removable therewith, and a control mechanism to control the operation of the emitter and receive input from the sensor to determine whether the electromagnetic radiation sensed by the sensor indicates that a portion of the waveguide carried on the reservoir is photochromic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification