Patent · US Active

Optical product detection sensor

US7924424B2 · kind B2 · utility

47Cited by
36References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 23, 2009
Grant dateApr 12, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 19, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2201/0627
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical detection sensor detects presence or absence of a product within a fluid delivery medium. An emitter directs radiation into the fluid delivery medium and detectors detect transmitted light at a plurality of wavelengths. The output of each detector and combinations of outputs of multiple detectors are associated with at least one out-of-product threshold. In addition, a color ratio is established. A controller compares the detector outputs and combination outputs with the associated out-of-product threshold(s). If any of the thresholds are satisfied, the controller compares the color ratio with an associated out-of-product threshold to verify an out-of-product event has occurred and reduce errors due to batch-to-batch variation of the product. The sensor is able to determine presence or absence of a variety of products having different color, transparency or turbidity.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.