Dispenser Control Device Using Light Reflection Slope
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispenser control devices lack reliability in automatically stopping the dispensing of material into receptacles before overflow, especially for varying container types, sizes, materials, and fluid properties such as viscosity and temperature.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser control device that uses IR and visible light to monitor the receptacle's filling status by adjusting light pulse quantities and detecting reflected light intensity, calculating the slope of change to determine the optimal termination point for dispensing, thereby calibrating and conjecturing the receptacle type and terminating dispensing when a specific light reflection intensity is reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing dispenser control devices are used to automatically stop dispensing, then dispensing can be stopped before overflow, but reliability is poor for varying container types, sizes, materials, and fluid properties
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes optical parameters (light intensity, wavelength) and measurement parameters (reflection intensity thresholds, slope calculations) to adapt to different receptacle and fluid conditions. The calibration process adjusts these parameters based on detected characteristics, enabling reliable dispensing termination across varying container types, sizes, materials, and fluid properties without requiring separate devices for each condition.
2Measurement precision
If light intensity monitoring is used to determine dispensing termination, then accurate stopping point can be achieved, but the system must calibrate for different receptacle types and fluid properties
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration actions before actual dispensing to establish baseline light reflection characteristics for different receptacle types and fluid properties. This pre-calibration stores reference data that simplifies subsequent dispensing operations, allowing the system to achieve high measurement precision without requiring complex real-time adjustments during dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from light reflection intensity measurements to continuously monitor filling status and determine when to terminate dispensing. The feedback loop compares real-time measurements against calibrated thresholds and uses slope calculations to precisely identify the optimal stopping point, achieving high measurement precision through systematic feedback control.
3Reliability
If the system calibrates for different receptacle types and fluid properties, then reliability improves, but calibration time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal calibration framework that handles multiple receptacle types, sizes, materials, and fluid properties through a single integrated calibration process. The calibration system identifies receptacle characteristics and automatically selects appropriate calibration parameters, eliminating the need for separate calibration procedures for each specific condition and reducing overall calibration time while maintaining high reliability.
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
Ensures reliable and accurate dispensing termination, preventing overflow while accommodating diverse receptacle types and fluid properties, ensuring efficient filling without spilling.
Implementation Method 1
as the receptacle is filling: changing intensity of light (IR light and/or visible light) directed at the receptacle and detected by one or more light detectors aimed at the receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser control device, comprising: at least a first light emitter and at least a first light detector, a memory component, a calculation component and a signal transmitter. The dispenser control device configured to conduct one or more of (1) calibration, (2) receptacle-type conjecturing, (3) stopping-intensity value determination, (4) receptacle filling status assessment, and (5) dispensing-termination signal transmission. Also methods comprising one or more of (1) calibration, (2) receptacle-type conjecturing, (3) stopping-intensity value determination, (4) receptacle filling status assessment, and (5) dispensing-termination signal transmission.