Apparatus for counting and dispensing pills using pill volume calculations
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for counting and dispensing pills, comprising:
- a) a hopper for containing a plurality of pills;
b) a transport tube operatively connected to said hopper for receiving pills therefrom, said transport tube having an outlet;
c) a detector mechanism operatively connected to said transport tube for detecting pills proximate said detector mechanism and for generating a pulse width signal and an amplitude signal for each of said detected pills, said signals being dependent on the interruption of electromagnetic signals generated by photodiodes and received by detectors in said detector mechanism; and
d) a microcontroller operatively connected to said detector mechanism and to said inlet aperture, said microcontroller having means for receiving said pulse width signal and said amplitude signal for each of said detected pills and for analyzing said pulse width signal and said amplitude signal, for calculating a slice volume therefor, and for calculating the volume of detector mechanism blockage as a function of the sum of said slice volumes, said analysis being dependent upon both the time of occlusion of said electromagnetic signals and the degree thereof, generating a three-dimensional analog pill data signal representative of the actual volume of said detected pill volume for each of said detected pills.
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Abstract
A self-contained pill dispenser is disclosed. A housing is provided and a hopper for containing a plurality of pills is supported by the housing. A feed chute having a detector mechanism is operatively connected to the hopper for receiving pills therefrom. A microcontroller is also operatively connected to the hopper, the feed chute, and the detector mechanism. The microcontroller calculates the volume of each of the pills transiting the detector mechanism based on occluded electromagnetic signals detected by the detector mechanism and the time of transit of each pill relative thereto.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for counting and dispensing pills, comprising:
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a) a hopper for containing a plurality of pills; b) a transport tube operatively connected to said hopper for receiving pills therefrom, said transport tube having an outlet; c) a detector mechanism operatively connected to said transport tube for detecting pills proximate said detector mechanism and for generating a pulse width signal and an amplitude signal for each of said detected pills, said signals being dependent on the interruption of electromagnetic signals generated by photodiodes and received by detectors in said detector mechanism; and d) a microcontroller operatively connected to said detector mechanism and to said inlet aperture, said microcontroller having means for receiving said pulse width signal and said amplitude signal for each of said detected pills and for analyzing said pulse width signal and said amplitude signal, for calculating a slice volume therefor, and for calculating the volume of detector mechanism blockage as a function of the sum of said slice volumes, said analysis being dependent upon both the time of occlusion of said electromagnetic signals and the degree thereof, generating a three-dimensional analog pill data signal representative of the actual volume of said detected pill volume for each of said detected pills. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for counting and dispensing pills, the steps comprising:
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a) providing a hopper for containing a plurality of pills and a feed chute operatively connected to said hopper for receiving pills therefrom; b) providing a detector mechanism proximate said feed chute, said detector mechanism comprising photodiodes and light detectors respectively associated therewith; and c) calculating the volume of each of said pills transiting said detector mechanism based on occluded electromagnetic signals detected by said detector mechanism and the time of transit of each pill relative thereto, said calculating step (c) comprising calculating a slice volume dependent on blockage of said detector mechanism, calculating the volume of detector mechanism blockage as a function of the sum of said slice volumes, and generating a three-dimensional analog pill data signal representative of the actual volume of said detected pill volume for each of said detected pills. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification