System for detecting a container or contents of the container

• US 20060219962A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: EMD Technologies Inc (Benchmark Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gach, Eric B., Harwig, Jeffrey L., Gruber, Dennis W., Dancs, Imre J., Heathcock, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,589,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/577
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2077 using an electrical resistance as heat source A01M1/2083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/265 for discrete levels
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/268 mounting arrangements of probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2921 for discrete levels

Abstract

A system for detecting a container or contents of the container. The system includes a diffuser for retaining the container, where the container is configured to hold an active material therein and may include a wick extending therefrom. The system further includes a sensor positioned to detect, for example, the container retained in the diffuser and/or the contents of the container retained in the diffuser.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a container or contents of the container, the system comprising:

a diffuser for retaining the container, the container configured to hold an active material therein and having a wick extending therefrom; and

a sensor positioned to detect at least one of the container retained in the diffuser and the contents of the container retained in the diffuser.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a capacitance-type sensor that detects a change in capacitance of an area adjacent the sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a light emitter and a light receiver disposed adjacent the wick when the container is retained in the diffuser.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the light emitter is a light emitting diode and the light receiver is a phototransistor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a light emitter and a light receiver disposed adjacent the container when the container is retained in the diffuser.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the light emitter is a light emitting diode and the light receiver is a phototransistor.

7. A system for detecting a container or contents of the container, the system comprising:

a diffuser for retaining the container, the container configured to hold an active material therein;

an emitter disposed adjacent the container; and

a receiver disposed adjacent the container;

wherein the emitter and the receiver are operatively connected to detect at least one of the container retained in the diffuser and the contents of the container retained in the diffuser.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the emitter and receiver are positioned such that when the receiver does not receive a detectable signal from the emitter, at least one of an empty or absent condition is indicated by the system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the emitter is disposed adjacent the container below a fluid level in the container and the receiver is disposed adjacent the container below the fluid level of the container.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the emitter and the receiver are aligned with one another such that when the receiver receives a detectable signal from the emitter, at least one of an absent container or an empty container is indicated by the system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein one of the emitter and the receiver is disposed adjacent the container below a fluid level in the container and the other of the emitter and the receiver is disposed adjacent the container above the fluid level of the container.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the emitter is a light emitting diode and the receiver is a phototransistor.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the container further comprises a wick extending therefrom.

14. A system for detecting a container or contents of the container, the system comprising:

a diffuser for retaining the container, the container configured to hold an active material therein and having a wick extending therefrom;

an emitter disposed adjacent the wick; and

a receiver disposed adjacent the wick;

wherein the emitter and receiver are operatively connected to detect at least one of the container retained in the diffuser and the contents of the container retained in the diffuser.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the emitter and receiver are positioned such that when the receiver does not receive a detectable signal from the emitter, a condition that at least one of the container contains the active material, the container does not contain the active material, and the container is absent from the diffuser, is indicated by the system.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the emitter and receiver are positioned such that when the receiver receives a detectable signal from the emitter, a condition that at least one of the container contains the active material, the container does not contain the active material, and the container is absent from the diffuser, is indicated by the system.

17. A system for detecting a container or contents of the container, the system comprising:

a diffuser for retaining the container, the container configured to hold an active material therein and having a wick extending therefrom;

a capacitance element disposed adjacent the wick; and

a capacitance sensor for sensing a change in capacitance of the capacitance element.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the capacitance element comprises two pieces of foil disposed adjacent the wick and opposing one another and wherein the capacitance sensor and the capacitance element are operatively connected to detect a change in capacitance between the two pieces of foil.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein a wet wick increases capacitance in the capacitance element, thereby indicating that the container has active material therein and wherein a dry or missing wick nominally increases capacitance in the capacitance element, thereby indicating that the container is absent or empty.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the capacitance element comprises a tubular foil structure disposed around and adjacent the wick and wherein the capacitance sensor and the capacitance element are operatively connected to detect a change in capacitance in the tubular foil structure.