Dispensing apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A dispenser, comprising:
- a housing for receiving a removable container containing a liquid;
an actuator dispensing means for dispensing the liquid from the container;
a capacitive sensor comprising an electrically conductive a sensing element for positioning proximal to an exterior of the container, the capacitive sensor being operative to measure the capacitance between the electrically conductive element and the liquid in the container, and to generate a capacitance signal providing an indication of the measured capacitance; and
a processor for receiving a capacitance signal from the capacitive sensor, the processor being configured to estimate a quantity of liquid in the container in proportion to the dependence on said capacitance signal;
wherein the electrically conductive element is spring biased against the exterior of the container.
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a dispenser for dispensing a liquid (LQ). The dispenser has a housing for receiving a removable container containing the liquid (LQ) and dispenses the liquid (LQ) from the container. The dispenser includes a capacitive sensor having a sensing element for positioning proximal to an exterior of the container. A processor is provided for receiving a capacitance signal (SIG1) from the capacitive sensor. The processor is configured to estimate a quantity of liquid (LQ) in the container in dependence on the capacitance signal (SIG1). The present disclosure also relates to a method of estimating a quantity of liquid (LQ) in a container.
33 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A dispenser, comprising:
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a housing for receiving a removable container containing a liquid; an actuator dispensing means for dispensing the liquid from the container; a capacitive sensor comprising an electrically conductive a sensing element for positioning proximal to an exterior of the container, the capacitive sensor being operative to measure the capacitance between the electrically conductive element and the liquid in the container, and to generate a capacitance signal providing an indication of the measured capacitance; and a processor for receiving a capacitance signal from the capacitive sensor, the processor being configured to estimate a quantity of liquid in the container in proportion to the dependence on said capacitance signal; wherein the electrically conductive element is spring biased against the exterior of the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for estimating a quantity of liquid in a container, the apparatus comprising:
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a capacitive sensor comprising an electrically conductive element for positioning proximal to an exterior of the container, the capacitive sensor being operative to measure the capacitance between the electrically conductive element and the liquid in the container, and to generate a capacitance signal providing an indication of the measured capacitance; and a processor for receiving a capacitance signal from the capacitive sensor, the processor being configured to estimate a quantity of liquid in the container in proportion to the dependence on said capacitance signal; wherein the electrically conductive element is spring biased against the exterior of the container.
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15. A method of estimating a quantity of liquid in a container, the method comprising the step(s) of:
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using a capacitive sensor comprising an electrically to generate a capacitance signal, the capacitance signal providing an indication of a measured capacitance between the electrically conductive element and the liquid in the container; and estimating a quantity of liquid in the container in dependence on said capacitance signal, wherein the quantity of liquid in the container is estimated in proportion to the received capacitance signal; wherein the electrically conductive element is spring biased against the exterior of the container. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification