Counter using an inductive sensor for determining the quantity of articles in a receptacle
First Claim
1. A counter for measuring a quantity of articles and for controlled dispensing of the articles contained within a receptacle comprising:
- a conductive target;
an inductive sensor configured to measure a displacement of the target relative to the sensor, wherein the displacement is caused by a dispensing event in which one or more of the articles are dispensed from a dispenser of the receptacle; and
a processor coupled to the inductive sensor to receive an output of the inductive sensor, wherein the processor is configured by executing instructions in the form of code stored in a non-transitory memory to calculate a quantity of the one or more articles dispensed from the receptacle during the dispensing event as a function of the measured displacement and a prescribed weight of an article.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for measuring articles contained within and/or dispensed from a receptacle. The present invention incorporates a counter device that measures the displacement of a conductive target relative to an LC circuit using an inductance-to-digital converter. In operation, a change in weight of articles in a receptacle will displace or deform a conductive target relative to the position of the LC circuit and, as such, it will create a measurable differential relating to inductance. Based on the measured differential, the number of articles (e.g., pills) within and/or taken from the receptacle is determined using a processor. In accordance with a further aspect, the counter is configured to compensate for a temperature-dependent variation in the measured electrical parameter algorithmically using the processor and/or through the particular configuration of the receptacle components.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A counter for measuring a quantity of articles and for controlled dispensing of the articles contained within a receptacle comprising:
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a conductive target; an inductive sensor configured to measure a displacement of the target relative to the sensor, wherein the displacement is caused by a dispensing event in which one or more of the articles are dispensed from a dispenser of the receptacle; and a processor coupled to the inductive sensor to receive an output of the inductive sensor, wherein the processor is configured by executing instructions in the form of code stored in a non-transitory memory to calculate a quantity of the one or more articles dispensed from the receptacle during the dispensing event as a function of the measured displacement and a prescribed weight of an article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A device for measuring a quantity of a substance contained within a receptacle comprising:
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a conductive target; an inductive sensor configured to measure a position of the target relative to the sensor, wherein the position is a function of the quantity of the substance within the receptacle; and a processor coupled to the inductive sensor to receive an output of the inductive sensor, wherein the processor is configured by executing instructions in the form of code stored in a non-transitory memory to calculate the quantity of the substance as a function of the measured displacement and a prescribed weight of the substance.
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Specification