Capacitive Sensor Fill Level Detection for Waste Containers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for determining the fill level of containers, particularly waste containers, rely on complex and expensive sensor technologies that require specific container designs, lacking a retrofittable, low-cost solution for various types of containers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a presence sensor arrangement, such as capacitive, pressure, optical, or acoustic sensors, to detect interactions between a person or object and the container, with a local counting unit recording these interactions and a remote processing unit calculating the fill status using a data model, which can be updated by machine learning algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex sensor technologies (ultrasonic, RFID, mechanical sensors) are used to determine fill level, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensor systems (ultrasonic sensors, mechanical level indicators, RFID tags) with a capacitive sensor that detects fill level through electrical field changes. The capacitive sensor measures variations in capacitance caused by the dielectric properties of waste material, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts or complex electronic systems while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a low-cost capacitive sensor that can be easily manufactured and deployed without requiring expensive specialized components. The sensor uses standard capacitive measurement techniques with simple electrode structures, making it economically viable for widespread deployment compared to ultrasonic or RFID-based systems.
2Measurement precision
If specific container designs are implemented to accommodate sensor components, then measurement precision is improved, but adaptability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive sensor system is designed to be universally applicable across different container types (wheelie bins, dumpsters, compactors) without requiring container-specific modifications. The sensor measures capacitance changes that occur regardless of container shape, size, or material, enabling a single sensor design to serve multiple container applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive sensor acts as an intermediary that indirectly measures fill level by detecting changes in electrical field capacitance caused by the presence of waste material, rather than requiring direct physical contact or line-of-sight measurements. This indirect measurement approach works effectively across various container geometries and materials.
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
Enables a retrofittable, cost-effective method to accurately calculate and predict the fill status of containers, optimizing waste collection timing without requiring specific container designs, using presence sensor interactions and machine learning for efficient data processing.
Implementation Method 1
A retrofittable container system for calculating a current fill status of a container comprises a capacitive sensor arranged on an outside of the container, in particular on an outside wall of the container
Implementation Method 2
A method for calculating a current fill status of a container comprises determining a current capacitance value from capacitance values measured by the capacitive sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A container system (10, 110) and a method for calculating (S6) a current fill status (64_CURR) of a container (30) using a plurality of presence sensor interactions (34) is disclosed. The container system (10, 110) comprises a presence sensor arrangement (32, 132) for calculating (S6) the plurality of presence sensor interactions (34) with the container (30); a local counting unit (40) for recording (S2) numbers of the plurality of presence sensor interactions (34) as presence sensor interaction data (36); and a local communication unit (60) for transmitting (S3) the presence sensor interaction data (36) to a remote processing unit (55) for calculating (S6) the current fill status (64 CURR).