Acoustic Dispenser Monitoring for Remote Consumable Level Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring and refilling consumable products in dispensers is laborious and inefficient, often resulting in unnecessary visits due to the lack of effective remote monitoring solutions that do not require costly upgrades to existing dispensers.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic sensing module is installed to identify and track dispensing device actuations using unique acoustic signals, allowing for remote monitoring of consumable product levels without the need for new dispensers with communication capabilities, and generating alerts for low product states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If RF communication systems are installed in dispensers to enable remote monitoring, then monitoring capability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
An acoustic sensing module is introduced as an intermediary device that listens to and analyzes acoustic signals from dispensers. This external monitoring system captures operational data without requiring any communication hardware to be installed inside the dispensers themselves, thus enabling remote monitoring while keeping the dispensers simple and cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic communication systems (RF modules, transmitters, receivers) with an acoustic sensing approach. Instead of having dispensers actively transmit digital signals, the system passively listens to mechanical/acoustic events such as product dispensing sounds, container filling sounds, and operational noises to infer dispenser status and inventory levels.
2Ease of manufacture
If existing dispensers are monitored using acoustic signals, then installation cost is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected by environmental noise
Solution Approach 1:
The acoustic monitoring system is divided into multiple distributed acoustic sensors placed throughout the environment. Each sensor monitors a specific zone or dispenser, and the system processes signals from multiple sensors to triangulate and identify the source of acoustic events. This segmentation allows the system to filter out ambient noise by comparing signals across multiple locations and focusing on coherent patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously analyzes acoustic signals and compares them against known patterns of dispenser operations. When environmental noise is detected, the system can adjust its sensitivity thresholds and filtering parameters in real-time based on the acoustic environment feedback. The system learns from repeated observations to distinguish between genuine dispenser signals and background noise, improving precision over time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces unnecessary visits and maintenance costs by accurately tracking consumable product levels and maintenance needs in existing dispensers, enhancing building management efficiency without requiring costly retrofits or complex communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
acoustic signals generated by actuations of the dispensing devices
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4
AI summary
Methods, systems and apparatus for determining product use by acoustically sensing actuations of product dispensers (104) to determine how much product remains, and, optionally, alert a provider when low product states exist.