Apparatus for monitoring the content of a container and method therefor
US10952927B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 24, 2019 |
| Grant date | Mar 23, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 18, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65D2211/00
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for monitoring the content of a chamber of a container via electrical capacitive tomography (ECT) or acoustic imaging are presented. The three-dimensional volume of the chamber and its content are imaged by developing a map of permittivity or acoustic impedance by (1) applying a stimulus signal between each of a plurality of electrode pairs of a plurality of electrodes that is arranged about the chamber and (2), for each stimulus signal applied, measuring a response signal at each of the remaining electrodes of the plurality. Once the map of permittivity or acoustic impedance is established, the number and type of tablets (or liquid) within the chamber is determined.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.